Demon’s quarantine jams
Just cataloguing my music listening habits/thoughts in these strange times. Will probably update as I go, but then again I might not... |
| 1 |  | Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath |
| 2 |  | Black Sabbath
Paranoid
I jammed this and a ‘best of’ way back when, thought I’d make the effort to fill in some gaps. The first 3 are all very good, as expected. |
| 3 |  | Black Sabbath
Master of Reality |
| 4 |  | Seefeel
Quique
Nice ambient/IDM discovery, heads up to AAS.
This needs a review. |
| 5 |  | Seefeel
Succour |
| 6 |  | Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven
Took a long damn time to grow on me, but now I think this is their best. Appreciating the journey rather than impatiently awaiting the climax(es). Bumped to 4.5/5. |
| 7 |  | downy
Mudai (2) |
| 8 |  | downy
Mudai (3)
Reviewer extraordinaire and all-round good egg JohnnyoftheWell hit me up with this rec to due to my known (known by him anyway) love for early-mid 65daysofstatic. Now although I checked Johnny’s Mudai (7) review this ended up being my preferred ‘downy’ out of the 3 here. |
| 9 |  | downy
Mudai (7)
Interestingly these guys have just as much in common with Radiohead as they do post-rock or glitchy electronics. I didn’t think this release was quite as atmospherically focused, but the more upbeat and eclectic mix should definitely appeal to some and I still enjoyed it. |
| 10 |  | Virvum
Illuminance
Checked this tech death band because Mars likes ‘em and they were mentioned in the First Fragment thread. Solid stuff, but nothing mind blowing to my ears. He did say they were ‘contained’ for the genre. |
| 11 |  | The Mire
Glass Cathedrals
Very solid post/progressive metal. Will be revisiting soon. |
| 12 |  | Big Black
Racer-X |
| 13 |  | Big Black
Atomizer
Ended up bumping this to a 4.5/5 - awesome stuff. |
| 14 |  | Big Black
Songs About Fucking
Wow, what a band! Long time overdue but I finally checked these guys and Albini & Co delivered. Noisy, confrontational, sometimes dissonant, yet also weirdly infectious. With riffs that make a lot of metal bands seem like pussies.
Note to self: check Shellac! |
| 15 |  | Zapruder
Zapruder
Another Mars love, this jazzed-up-core party animal of a record is simply one of the most delightfully entertaining things I’ve heard in a good while. |
| 16 |  | Gorguts
Obscura
Finally awarded this the 5/5 it deserves... which also appeared to kick start a ‘disso death’ run I nearly didn’t return from. |
| 17 |  | Artificial Brain
Labyrinth Constellation |
| 18 |  | Artificial Brain
Infrared Horizon
This has been growing on my significantly of late. The way Artificial Brain create engaging grooves and melodies from a sound that seemingly demands dissonance is mightily impressive. Bumped to 4/5. |
| 19 |  | Ulcerate
Shrines of Paralysis
Bumped this to a 4.5, new album is gonna be m/ |
| 20 |  | Flourishing
The Sum of All Fossils
This new discovery is a keeper, very interesting mix of styles. Part breakneck and cacophonous disso-death, part plodding but unnerving sludge. The changes in tempo are occasionally abrupt, yet somehow deliver the goods regardless. |
| 21 |  | Pyrrhon
The Mother of Virtues
OK I went too far here, anyone got a spare pair of ears as mine were feeling battered and bruised after this harrowing experience. |
| 22 |  | Bark Psychosis
Hex
Post-Pyrrhon wind down? Well actually this was the next day so maybe not, still it was a welcome addition to the rotation. Revisiting this after a few months, it’s holding steady at ‘this is great, but probs my won’t get any better for me personally’. |
| 23 |  | Bathory
Blood Fire Death
This actually got worse, maybe I just don’t really like BM unless it’s the atmo/folky or ‘weird/progressive’ side of the genre. If I could bottle up/use an accurate description for future ref that’d be most welcome, but so far it has eluded me. |
| 24 |  | Black Flag
Nervous Breakdown |
| 25 |  | Black Flag
Damaged
Completing the triumvirate of influential ‘black’ bands I decided to revisit these guys, pretty good for what it is but nothing I would return to very often. |
| 26 |  | Pavement
Wowee Zowee
Eclectic, haphazard, maybe messy and overlong, but it’s charming regardless. This may not have the consistency of Crooked Rain, or even Slanted, yet it may actually be more fun. |
| 27 |  | Pavement
Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
Having said that I couldn’t resist playing this straight afterwards. |
| 28 |  | Joliette
Luz Devora
If the greatest band on the planet hadn’t released a record in 2019 this would’ve been my AOTY. For a minute I had considered elevating Vi Som Alaskarde, but nah it’s Joliette. |
| 29 |  | The Fall
Hex Enduction Hour
Hmm, I listened to this twice and it was an interesting experience, I like some of the ideas, I just wish they weren’t repeated ad nauseam. A few of these tracks could’ve been significantly shortened. I’ll try again. |
| 30 |  | Rainbow
Rising
This is one of my mum’s faves, so naturally I pretended it wasn’t my thing way back when... now I’m old enough to know better this is an absolute blast. |
| 31 |  | Vi Som Alskade Varandra Sa Mycket
Det Onda. Det Goda. Det Vackra. Det Fula.
I’d never have guessed a Swedish emo/skramz release could have ended up being so impactful. Stands amongst the best of 2019 and easily my favourite album of its type... unless you count Gospel, which you probably can, but it is quite different. |
| 32 |  | Modern Life Is War
Witness |
| 33 |  | Imperial Triumphant
Vile Luxury |
| 34 |  | Swans
Filth
Yeah I still don’t get this. Ahead of its time, sure. Enjoyable, most certainly not. The droning repetition present in a lot of these tracks just doesn’t do it for me. |
| 35 |  | Glassjaw
Worship and Tribute
I’m perpetually confused by my lukewarm reaction to these guys, although weirdly, this is the one I hadn’t heard... it’s decent, still not convinced it’ll become anything greater just yet. |
| 36 |  | Metallica
Master of Puppets
Some progress at long last, this is much more enjoyable than I remember. It still has those moments of feeling redundant, homogenous etc. but that’s commonplace in thrash for me personally. Fortunately there’s enough here to separate it from the masses. Bumped to 3.5/5. |
| 37 |  | Metallica
Ride the Lightning
Bumped to 3.5/5.
My entry point into metal was a decidedly weird one, so all these years later I’m still trying to understand the appeal of these guys... definitely getting somewhere. |
| 38 |  | Bjork
Medulla
Bumped to 3/5 - details in thread. |
| 39 |  | Bjork
Volta
Bumped to 3.5/5 - details in thread. |
| 40 |  | Pavement
Brighten the Corners
Yeah more Pavement, this is good as well. Consistent band. |
| 41 |  | Shellac
At Action Park
After experiencing what Big Black has to offer I thought this was the logical next step. Fun listen on initial inspection, surprising amount of vaguely infectious groove for math rock, which follows on nicely from BB.
Update: yeah this rules, Crow, Dog & Pony and Porno Star are all especially satisfying. |
| 42 |  | Azusa
Loop of Yesterdays
Checking a rare (in 2020) new release... unconvinced so far. Decision pending.
This is starting to sink in after 4 spins, definitely not as immediate as Heavy Yoke but the same key ingredients are there. |
| 43 |  | Altar of Plagues
Teethed Glory and Injury
Decided to revisit this expecting to realise it’s greatness, instead I ended up liking it less than I remember. I’ll file this under ‘creative, but not enjoyable as a listening experience’. Demoted to 2.5/5. |
| 44 |  | LCD Soundsystem
Sound of Silver
With the exception of the opening couplet this was a chore, repetitive to a fault. Not engrossing enough atmospherically. Maintained 2.5/5. |
| 45 |  | Iron Maiden
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
Apparently this album is 32 years old, gave it a re-spin and it’s still rather fun. Maintained 3.5/5. |
| 46 |  | Lapalux
Amnioverse
Undoubtedly one of the most impressive releases from 2019. |
| 47 |  | Setentia
Darkness Transcend
Okay yes this does sound like Ulcerate, occasionally it also doesn’t. Potential jam. |
| 48 |  | His Hero Is Gone
Fifteen Counts of Arson |
| 49 |  | His Hero Is Gone
Monuments to Thieves
Damn this is a blistering maelstrom of cathartic heaviness, much prefer it to their first release so far. The production feels err... ‘chunkier.’. |
| 50 |  | Built to Spill
Perfect from Now On
Okay this really impressed me on first inspection. Creative interesting song-writing that’s still accessible enough to not appear obtuse. Engrossing atmosphere, the production is superb. |
| 51 |  | Built to Spill
Keep It Like a Secret
More of a straight-forward release filled with concise, almost poppy little indie numbers. It isn’t striking a chord with me like Perfect is, but there’s enough intrigue here for it be enjoyable for what is is nonetheless. |
| 52 |  | Ulcerate
Vermis |
| 53 |  | The Mars Volta
De-Loused in the Comatorium
I’m beginning to see the faults in this, the throw everything and the kitchen sink at the listener schtick is wearing thin with me. Undoubtedly overblown. There are highs, but having to wait till the end of the album for the best track makes Jack an impatient boy. Still, the nostalgia here probably helps gives it a pass for the most part. Downgraded to 3.5/5. |
| 54 |  | The Mars Volta
Amputechture
This represents the rest of their discog, which I revisited in full.
My fave TMV now. Thoughts in the thread (and Johnny’s list). |
| 55 |  | Opeth
Deliverance & Damnation Remixed
Discog re-jam in progress. |
| 56 |  | Ulcerate
Stare Into Death and Be Still
Well obviously... |
| 57 |  | Black Curse
Endless Wound
Another rare new release. I dig the aesthetic more than the song-writing so far. Gets a little tiresome. |
| 58 |  | Unwound
Leaves Turn Inside You
Revisiting this, the better stuff here (Terminus, Off This Century) is really impressive and the melancholic atmosphere has a certain allure when the mood takes. Definitely a grower. Bumped to 4/5. |
| 59 |  | Ne Obliviscaris
Portal of I
I like the violins, the rest is fairly standard (i.e. dull) melo-death. Downgraded to 2.5/5. |
| 60 |  | Prince
Purple Rain
Undoubtedly some jams here, served with a lot less ‘fat’ than Sign o’ the Times. Not sold on everything but pleased I checked this. Basic bitch pick but ‘When Doves Cry’ is excellent. |
| 61 |  | Prince
Sign o' the Times
Yeah not so sure about this one, could do with a trim, or maybe some major surgery? Idk yet. |
| 62 |  | The Jesus Lizard
Liar |
| 63 |  | Unwound
Fake Train |
| 64 |  | Lapalux
Ruinism |
| 65 |  | Fugazi
The Argument |
| 66 |  | Radiohead
Amnesiac
Discog re-jam, this is better than I remember. |
| 67 |  | Melt-Banana
Bambi's Dilemma
Bumped to 3.5/5. |
| 68 |  | Lightning Bolt
Wonderful Rainbow
This is better than the new one, regardless of what Doof says. |
| 69 |  | The Doors
The Doors
Bloody hell what a band, heard them a fair bit when I was younger but never appreciated them before. |
| 70 |  | The Doors
Strange Days |
| 71 |  | Defeated Sanity
Chapters of Repugnance
Don’t understand the appeal of this band. |
| 72 |  | Talk Talk
Laughing Stock
Nearly forgot this. Bumped to a 3.5/5. Pretty chill, just washes over me but sometimes that’s what you need. Morning coffee music. |
| 73 |  | Talk Talk
Spirit of Eden |
| 74 |  | ISIS
Wavering Radiant
Might be their best, weirdly. |
| 75 |  | Pixies
Doolittle
Took me long enough but these guys rule. Checked because Albini. |
| 76 |  | Apparat
Walls |
| 77 |  | Moderat
Moderat |
| 78 |  | The Beta Band
The Three EPs
Really didn’t like any of this. Meandering. |
| 79 |  | Oceansize
Frames
Quality band/album. Prog done right. A bit of a sucker for the orchestral flourishes and other post-rock-isms I guess. |
| 80 |  | Aereogramme
A Story in White
Revisiting this, it’s actually better than I remember. Mild inconsistencies aside. |
| 81 |  | Amon Tobin
Adventures In Foam
Ongoing discog jam. This one is a blast. |
| 82 |  | Suffocate For Fuck Sake
Blazing Fires and Helicopters... |
| 83 |  | Helmet
Meantime |
| 84 |  | SUMAC
What One Becomes |
| 85 |  | Slowdive
Pygmalion
+ discog run |
| 86 |  | The Flaming Lips
Hear It Is
+ discog run |
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