Album Rating: 4.5

I just hate mentioning 'influences' here because the 'literal' police stop and say 'it doesn't sound EXACTLY like that'



- yeah I know, it reminded me of it somehow though

it’ll get me listening to this guy for the first time so that’s something fwiw 🤷‍♂️

Album Rating: 4.5

I mean yeah, still expect a singer/songwriter album - but it's quite experimental/'different' within that distinction

Album Rating: 4.0

"I just hate mentioning 'influences' here because the 'literal' police stop and say 'it doesn't sound EXACTLY like that'







- yeah I know, it reminded me of it somehow though"



[2] ahrd though I've def been guilty of nitpicking there too

Album Rating: 4.0

I'm glad this first track is nice and catchy and summery and interesting because ewww just realized this is one of those guys with a band where the band is named after the guy, Lukas Graham and Marilyn Manson are not company you wanna keep Benny boi

Album Rating: 4.3

holy shit I wanted Days of Lantana to never end

Album Rating: 4.5

Neek you should do a "first listen/impression" list or whatever you used to call them for this album

Album Rating: 4.3

oh mannnnnn i thought about doing that for the new A7X and QotSA but I really should bring it back!!

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

yeah i can't wait to see this album spelt out in coldplay and MCU analogies lfg

Album Rating: 4.5

Haha



For real though that was always one of my favorite list series on the site



Whether or not you agree on every song, there's something entertaining about reading a person's hottest of takes as they listen to an album for the very first time

Album Rating: 3.5

Yall are gushing over something thats like 40% random nonsense.



This is coming from a huge ben howard fan... this album is average at best.

Album Rating: 4.0

I like discussions about influences and soundalikes! They're a good reminder that all music draws from long running and complex traditions and cultural ideas, adjectives are great too tho idk about "more insightful"

Album Rating: 4.3

"For real though that was always one of my favorite list series on the site"



thanks so much for saying that!! reviewing is always a motivation and time issue, it was so fun just to crank out thoughts and be done with it

I'll definitely revive it soon (:

weird. ugly name and ugly art. hope the music is better

Album Rating: 4.5

'the comparisons aren’t lame because this doesn’t sound exactly like the things people compare it to, they’re just lame because the entire discussion of an album’s sound often revolves around those comparisons and it’s more insightful and interesting when you describe an album based on its own merits using adjecters or whatever they’re called'



comparisons are literally just another part of describing the sound of an album and a neat reference for people to see if they might like something - I don't see why they'd stop discussion unless they're in the form of "this is a total rip off of bla!"



they're a quick way of saying an awful lot much of the time





I mean the two artists I referenced are most lauded for their work in the '80s so that in itself is interesting, they're vintage influences, and also regarded as more experimental etc



for me personally, I'm not a Scaruffi type who values 'innovation' above all other factors - I expect stuff to have a load of influences and if I don't recognise influences myself I'm not naieve enough to think they probably don't still exist, I just haven't encountered them most likely. So I don't mind too much people claiming something isn't 100% unique or innovative at all and comparing it to other artists until the cows come home (well, it can get boring sure).

Album Rating: 4.0

Originality is overrated and most of the time straight up impossible within most genres, innovation on the other hand is something I value highly within the context of the artist(s) himself or a given genre. Still haven't caught the chance to give this a proper spin from start to finish, but one thing's for sure, the dude doesn't like to rest on his laurels and kudos to him

Album Rating: 4.5

True, I think originality was the more apt term



I guess I rate refinement of ideas, emotional resonance and a general Je ne sai quoi fa factor higher Egan a real ‘academic’ midi approach to engaging with music

Album Rating: 4.5

they're a bit of a lazy shortcut sometimes I guess, they've ruined a lot of RYM comments boxes



the joke used to be 'this new band sounds like The Cure' but I guess it changed to '...like Radiohead' about fifteen years ago and now maybe it's '...like Slint'



so some comparisons are so ubiquitous they end up redundant f'sure



if something's quite unique it works, you can try and describe how Bjork sings to make a comparison but then either you won't do as good a job as just comparing or if you do people will say 'oh, like Bjork!' anyway so yup

Album Rating: 4.0

interesting album from Ben, like usual, some really incredible moments. definitely better than the last one.

Album Rating: 4.3

Days of Lantana is so good