Album Rating: 4.0

"Falling Down" and "Out Loud" are the exact same song and i don't even care because they're both THAT good

Album Rating: 4.5

@YoYo I'm glad you're diving in, curious what you'll think of all this. It's a huge album both literally and metaphorically, so much musical depth and breadth to unpack. The album starts with 3-4 songs that are all sort of pop-folk, but as you said they're so good that I don't care about the repetition. Plus at 21 tracks, this has plenty of room to unfurl and become ambitious - which it does.

@Pika: Right, a 2.5 then. I'm somewhat kidding somewhat serious, but avant pop never really struck me as your thing so now I'm curious where you're going with this.

@KCmo: I agree in nearly all regards. It seems like whatever style he decides to tackle becomes his new wheelhouse, like he's been doing it forever. It's genuinely refreshing to hear the way he integrates everything, including more daring ventures like 'Spelloutriver' or 'Magic'.

Album Rating: 4.0

okay Movie Screens is a BOP

Album Rating: 4.5

If you like that song then I predict you'll love Felios

"Here's a link to a condensed re-imagining that I just created, for you heathens ;-)

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/73hnCZSSOWYVhReZePooLr?si=30c462222d8c4063"

Thank you, Sowing < 3

If I find myself thoroughly enamoured, I'll take a listen to the full package

Album Rating: 4.0

first half of this has been very very good, but I'd say Malibu is the first miss. Doesn't do a whole lot to separate itself from the rest of the pack and that "my head is spinning around" part is pretty repetitive

Album Rating: 4.5

Haha you're welcome. If I'm being truly honest I don't even know if that's the best possible representation. I listened to this all the way through twice (not to diminish that time spent though, because that's almost 4 hours lol) and then couldn't contain my excitement and reviewed it. I'm still unpacking this thing just like everyone else.



I love Malibu for what it's worth, in fact I think I included it in my condensed playlist of highlights lol. We'll see though, first impressions often change.

okay, another Sowing 5, time to check this tonight I guess

Album Rating: 4.5

Sorry/not sorry ;-)

2021 has been off the charts amazing and it's not even close to over

Album Rating: 3.0

This one is a very Sowing thing ;D



Three tracks in and that’s my sugar allowance for the week gone

Album Rating: 4.5

That much I can agree with!

It's a pop album, it's okay to let your figure go... just this once ;-)

Album Rating: 3.0

The approach is growing on me a little - the nu jazz parts of ‘Beautiful’ are well worked in



The song writing isn’t really my favourite but I get the appeal of the album, it’s ambitious

Album Rating: 4.5

Yeah the combo of Beautiful and Blesser is one of my favorite moments. It's when the album really starts to open up. In my opinion, it becomes more ambitious as it goes, culminating with the stretch from the t/t to Magic, which features everything from piano movements to noise rock and hip-hop. The nice part is that it isn't done in a way that says "look at me, I'm diverse and experimental, man", it all just flows like it belongs to the greater entity; this massive all-purpose pop experience.

Eagerly awaiting your next "this year I swear I'm gonna stop with all the 5s" list sowing (;

2022. The year Sowing goes nuts and 1.5's everything. I weep for the not-confirmed-taking-out-my-ass Taylor Swift triple album next year.

this is good but very muchly way too long, not sure i'll ever make it through to the second half again

This is a pretty wild ride. Thanks for the spotlight on this one. Absolute lush and beautiful. Has an upbeat Kings of Convenience vibe.

Reminds me of holding hands in the summer, taking a moment in the shade, and just not having a care in the world.

Album Rating: 4.0

I'm starting to dig this a lot



Felios is so good

Omg calm down sowing. I'll check this though.

Have to say after skimming the comments that one of my least favorite arguments in music discourse is "2 hours = too long". Before even considering an artist's intent or how well a mood is sustained, there's a presumption that an artist is demanding too much of your time or testing your patience.

I find albums of this length really effective at world-building, and heightening awareness of when you enter/exit a listening experience (40 min albums can pass you by when thrown in a queue). Plus, in the pandemic era most of us have long stretches of time that are well-suited to 2 hour albums. For three years going, my fav electronic lp has been in this time range (juneunit's s/t, hvl's alignment, and this year's skee mask). It's become my preferred length for an album.

"Alejandro is the man, bro what is with 2021 and insanely long albums"

TWIABP have a very long album releasing this year too, 2021 said not short albums ever again