February 2016 résumé PART 2
The original list ran out of space, so I'm making another one. This is no best-of list, it is just a bunch of records I've heard, that were RELEASED this month. Not the ones I've heard this month, but ones that were RELEASED this month that I've heard. Therefore, as the time goes, I'll be adding more items on the list, since I listen to stuff constantly. By the way, the names occasionally written under the comments are titles of songs that I recommend. If there are none written, it's either because I didn't like enough of them or because I can't point out a highlight. And now a score guide: 10/9 - 5; 8 - 4.5; 7 - 4; 6 - 3.5/3; 5 - 2.5; 4 - 2; 3 - 1.5; 2/1 - 1 |
| 37 |  | BJ the Chicago Kid
In My Mind
I believe that BJ has a lot of talent. I believe that this albuM's emotional component is executed well. The techical side of this album is great. But the sognwriting needs to get better. So far I've only heard a great display of talent on an enjoyable album, but one that has a poor staying power. 7/10
Church, Shine, Heart Crush, Jeremiah/World Needs More Love, Falling on My Face |
| 36 |  | Harbours (AUS)
Nothing Stays The Same
An emotional and melodic piece that sways more into Post-Hardcore territory than Emo. It's heavy and moving, albeit quite short. 7/10
Take Me Under, Your Eyes, Room Without a View |
| 35 |  | Bullion
Loop The Loop
I don't know, it's definitely intriguing and swell in its oddity, but I just can't get into it all that much. 6/10
Unless, Never is the Change |
| 34 |  | The Dirty Nil
Higher Power
Though it certainly is a decent enough rough and tough Punk on paper and in its concept, the execution is just so underwhelmingly muddy and sloppy that it rarely provokes any emotions of any kind. In the end you just listen to some yelping and dull songwriting and all it has going for it is the harshness of the instrumentation. 5/10 (weak one at best)
Lowlives, Violent Hands |
| 33 |  | Birth Of Joy
Get Well
I'm blown away. This album is massive, even though it uses like three to four instruments. The sheer megalithic songwriting and the instrumentation and the vocals make it an extremely overwhelming listen. Fantastic album and fantastic live show too, I had a chance to watch it, which is how I got to know the band and then the album. 8/10
P.S.: You Got Me Howling is what King Gizzard would sound like, had they been a Heavy-Psych band.
Blisters, Meet Me At The Bottom, Choose Sides, Numb, Carabiner, You Got Me Howling, Hands Down |
| 32 |  | Creeper
The Stranger
I can see the potential in here, but as of right now it is just a slightly more anxious version of nearly every single mild Punk-Rock (not yet Pop-Punk) ever recorded. 6/10 |
| 31 |  | Kokomo
Monochrome Noise Love
Kokomo released yet another incredibly long and tediously monotone and uneventful record. When are these bands going to evolve past the need for lengsty repetativity? Indeed, as for what it is, it isn't terrible, but it just drags on with no real purpose, direction or interest. 6/10 |
| 30 |  | Charli XCX
Vroom Vroom
I mean, there is a concept within that oddity and off-the-wall production...but is it good, that's the question that's bugging me...I think the answer is no. 5/10 |
| 29 |  | Young Thug
I'm Up
Young Thug's utterly unengaging mixtape, on which he sounds possibly the most dissinterested he's ever been. 5/10
F Cancer, Bread Winners |
| 28 |  | Lemon Demon
Spirit Phone
Odd and conceptually humorous Art-Pop album that is sure to stay in your head. There's this undescribable charm in Lemon Demon's weirdo persona and his goofy music. It might sometimes be a little obnoxious, but it is still a worthwhile listen. 7/10 |
| 27 |  | Matmos
Ultimate Care II
Matmos created a wholly original and unique album based purely around samples from a washing machine. And though it is indeed an interesting idea with a good execution, my problem probably lies in me myself. It seems clear to me now that I am unable to withstand an electronic album however long. 7/10 |
| 26 |  | Memoryhouse
Soft Hate
I undersand that this probably has its audience, but it definitely goes over my head. I just felt that this is another watered down and faceless Pop and nothing beyond that. 5/10 |
| 25 |  | Mint Julep
Broken Devotion
A series of underwhelming and to a certain extent boring Pop tracks. But I do admit that this accessibility the band is going for managed to get under my skin at some of those tracks. 6/10
Broken Devotion, White Hot Heart, The Promise, Persuasion |
| 24 |  | The Heliocentrics
From the Deep
I must admit, Jazz in any of its form is a genre that is a bit hard to swallow for me. I admire the instrumental mastery and the vibe of Jazz music, but I was never able to properly appreciate the genre. Unfortunately, that means that the latest Heliocentrics album, however vibrant and charismatic, goes over my head in a lot of ways. 6/10 |
| 23 |  | Biblical Proof of UFOs
Fireballs of Love
Latest EP from a long dismissed Rock band Biblical Proof of UFOs. Sadly enough, this EP will go over people's heads as everything this band ever does. It's a shame really, because the band has a lot to offer. On this release you'll find Lo-Fi and somewhat melodic slow-burners that might not really pump you up, but will definitely set the necessarily relaxed and sophisticatedly angsty mood. 8/10
no highlights, because it's just 4 tracks and they are all great!! |
| 22 |  | The Frights
You Are Going to Hate This
I like the Lo-Fi production and the slightly oddball vibe and atmosphere of the presented Surf-Rock and the songs are quite compellign compositionally too. Indeed, it is a simple one-off carefree record with a bit silly lyrics, but it still a goodie. Though the album loses me whenever the band tries to go a bit more subtle and quiet. 7/10
All I Need, Kids, You Or Me, You Are Going To Hate This |
| 21 |  | Future
EVOL
Future delivers his usual blend of dreaminess and boredom. 5/10 |
| 20 |  | Destroyer 666
Wildfire
This album is as typical a Metal record as it can get, but goddamn does it kick some ass! 7/10 |
| 19 |  | Erik Blood
Transom
On this four-track EP Erik Blood delivers track after track of solid and catchy Electropop beauty. Each track (except for Nightswin) has a potential to be a banger, but none of them go beyond the line to become overwhelming party anthems. They all simply stay quite sophisticated. 7/10
Rachel, No Idols Only Gods |
| 18 |  | STATIK KXNG
STATIK KXNG
This album is freakin' kickin' it hard and punches right where I'd want it to. And as abonus, there's theNeedleDrop sample there, which I had no idea was coming (so you can imagine my surprise). 7/10
Magic and Bird, Lost a Fan, Stop Playing, Good Gone Bad, Brand New Shit |
| 17 |  | Xurs
Xurs
Though I do appreciate a little inrregular approach to Punk, that approach was still extremely obnoxious (next time at least improve the vocals). 5/10 |
| 16 |  | Death Index
Death Index
Oh yes, exactly the way I like my Noisy Post-Punk; ugly sound, deep-vocals, dirty instrumentation. 7/10 |
| 15 |  | Lucy Dacus
No Burden
Lucy Dacus released an easy-going Indie Rock revivalism album that strikes with its loose sonic vibe, but fails to sound memorable at all (besides the vibe). 6/10 |
| 14 |  | Magnum
Sacred Blood "Divine" Lies
I could argue that it is just another run-of-the-mill Power Metal record, but hell, I gave Avantasia a 7/10, this one is just as catchy and fun to listen to, so 7/10 it is. |
| 13 |  | Field Music
Commontime
How long has it been? And I still don't like you. 5/10 |
| 12 |  | Marching Church
Coming Down: Sessions In April
I honestly have no thoughts on this, at all. It is just a hollow mess without any appeal to me personally. 4/10 |
| 11 |  | Nap Eyes
Thought Rock Fish Scale
This sounds a lot like that Cass McCombs album. In that, it is very slow, calm and gone completely over my head. I just wasn't interested in hearing this kind of sleepy, moody Folk-Rockish Pop. 5/10 |
| 10 |  | School of Seven Bells
SVIIB
This album deserves recognition simply because it is the last SoSB album. Though I personally found some of the material on here to be somewhat redundant, it still has that sweet punch the band always pulls off. 6/10 |
| 9 |  | Young Dolph
King of Memphis
You know, when I started this Young Dolph marathon (beginning with mediocre Rich Crack Baby, continuing with passable Bossed Up EP), I genuinely thought that it is nearly impossible to be consistent and even remotely interesting when releasing four albums in less than a year. But Young Dolph managed to convince me that good albums in such a short period of time are possible (again, if we'll ignore Rich Crack Baby). King Of Memphis has no features on it, it is pure Dolph. It has a lot of personal lyrics, though still a quite self-obsessed. Some tracks in the deeper cut on here and there are a bit subpar and Dolph's flow might sometimes be quite lazy, but an overall experience is still pretty good. Well done, Young Dolph. Let's just hope that Bosses & Shooters (next on my playlist) is at least as good. 7/10
Facts, Royalty, On My Way, It's Goin Down, Real Life |
| 8 |  | Postiljonen
Reverie
A harmless Dream Pop, whose songs, if they had slightly bigger punch to it (say, some painfully obnoxious remix), could have been another annoying burned out crap on the radio stations that have as much relation to the world of music as vaping has to your health (meaning, everybody's into it, but it slowly destroys everything). And really the only interesting moments are intro and interlude (the outro is painfully cringy and silly), because they are so passive, unlike the rest of the album. 5/10
The Open Road, Celebration |
| 7 |  | Them (INT)
Fear Them
You know what would make this EP better? Vocals that are not obnoxious as hell. 6/10
Dead of Night |
| 6 |  | Hyperion (SWE)
Seraphical Euphony
Ever heard of technical Black Metal? 6/10 |
| 5 |  | Splendor
Fragile
A little taster before that Despondency album. 6/10 |
| 4 |  | Hands Like Houses
Dissonants
As a kid I might have been into this... 6/10 |
| 3 |  | We Are Temporary
Crossing Over
A profoundly weirdly produced Electronica that, in my opinion, would be better off vocalless. 6/10 |
| 2 |  | Graf Orlock
Crime Traveler
A series of devastatingly hardcore songs accompanied by some odd interlude sounds from the world in which hate is the only true answer to everything (at least according to Graf Orlock). You know, just Hardcore things. 6/10 |
| 1 |  | Aluk Todolo
Voix
Taking a turn for the dull on here, guys. Watch out or you might fall into a pit of unrecognisable blandness. 5/10 |
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