Tacos Needs Jams, Sputstyle
hi |
| 1 |  | Heroin Party
Summer Made Me Blue; Summer Gave Me The Sky
its the new year and im hopping on the list bandwagon so rec me anything you think id fux with and ill rate/blurb review it by the end of the year guaranteed yo.
i'll take 2 recs from everyone |
| 2 |  | Wild Beasts
Present Tense
dbizzles
3.6
First rec on the clipboard and its a nice one. In a sea of been there/done that indie pop music, “Present Tense” was able to stick out by making good use of percussion and 2 very unique vocalists. Tracks bounced between a deep soulful baritone to a higher pitched, almost effeminate falsetto. While the electronic and traditional instrumentation is adequate and work well enough together here, I believe the dynamic of the two leads is the album’s most powerful weapon. |
| 3 |  | A Textbook Tragedy
A Partial Dialogue Between Ghost and Pri
dbizzles
3.7
Bizzle fo shizzle’s second rec and its some angry hxc/grind kids who also like jazz jams. Ferocious mathy riffs and noodling come together in a 30 or so minute display of aggression. Vocalist is solid and his screechy wails really compliment “unpredictable” style the band is trying to pull off here. The album doesn't attempt too much to separate itself from its counterparts, but when it’s done this well, who really cares. |
| 4 |  | Supercar
Highvision
Frippertronics
4.1
An interesting gazey/electronic/pop mashup that is a just plain fun time. The album feels like a yellow-y youthful summer. Full of uplifting bleeps and bloops, gorgeous vocal melodies, and catchy repeated sections. The album does take some nice risks too, you’ll probably be surprised “Storywriter” and the “Strobolights” are on the same album. If you’re not too big on the japanese’s style of electro-gaze then you may want to skip, but otherwise this shouldn't be missed. |
| 5 |  | David Bowie
Diamond Dogs
Frippertronics
3.4
“Wow tacos, you haven't heard david bowie?” I’m sorry guys, im too busy browsing bandcamp for 3/5 ambient post rock releases, cut me some slack. My first Bowie experience was actually kind of what I expected. “Diamond Dogs has charisma, variety, and some rockin’ tunes. This is the kind of music that would feel best if experienced live with a grand performance accompanying it. I tried my best to seperate from the name “David Bowie” as much I could and judge the music only. What i found was a nice, very well rounded art rock album but not *too* much else, for me personally anyway. Seems like a grower. |
| 6 |  | Ellende
Todbringer
kingdedethefifth
3.3
First true black metal album on the list and it was kind of what i expected but a little extra. “Todringer”’s ethos is not very far off from from my relationship with black metal as a whole; the future looks quite bleak but there is a small light of hope that can still be seen. Ellende are admittedly great at crafting emotional soundscapes while also plumbing you with fast guitar playing and tortured shrieks. |
| 7 |  | Danimal Cannon
Lunaria
kingdedethefifth
3.4
So uh, i wanted to hate this but i just can't. Its so ridiculous and fun. “Lunaria” is a insanely sinful combination of video game bit music/chiptune and metal. I can’t really give it too high a score though as it gets to be a bit “much” and the vox are kinda cheesy. Even still, you’ll probably feel like a champion 8 bit sprite at the top of a massive digital corpse pile in space by the end of this, if that’s, like, your thing of course. |
| 8 |  | Death (MI)
...For the Whole World to See
wham49
4.0
No guys, this isn't a long lost Chuck Schuldiner EP that you’ve never heard of; It’s a 1975 garage-y proto-punk JAM. This album embodies the jam, lives the jam, IS the jam. With every rockin’ punk riff and song-end-solo you can’t help but nod your head in modest but fast dips. This is the kind of old school punk I usually like. It’s fast, earnest, bass-y, and is just a simple fun time. Really sweet rec here, more people should get on this if it sounds like your thing. |
| 9 |  | Roky Erickson
The Evil One
wham49
3.5
Straight outta of a mental institution (literally) and rock and roll town comes Roky Erickson and The Aliens. So yeah, sput’s database version(s?) of this album were not what i found buuuut whatever i heard was pretty cool. Roky plays a style of repetitious psych-y hard rock that really gets your body moving. Horror themed and fun, but suffering from slight ACDC syndrome, “The Evil One” is a great time for fans of jam-y old school rock. |
| 10 |  | Frog Eyes
Tears of the Valedictorian
Rigma
3.7
An out of the ordinary indie rock recommendation here. The first thing you will notice about this record is Carey Mercer’s very outlandish and erratic yet strangely genuine and heartfelt vocal style. It’s not for everyone but I liked it a lot personally. The music itself, while wholly indie rock, shifts around quite a bit. There were times where I was hearing Bon Iver yet others where i was hearing Disillusioned. Very unique album here. “Bushels” is fantastic |
| 11 |  | Kishi Bashi
Lighght
Rigma
3.7
A really cool mix of folk, electronic pop, and orchestral elements. Kishi Bashi have made a very colorful and fun album here. The very eccentric vocal performance really complimented the fast paced and whimsical tracks. I feel the album overall is very successful and has nothing inherently wrong with it, but quite simply put: some songs just didn't grab me as much as others [The first 2, they set the bar pretty high imo]. |
| 12 |  | Rainbow Danger Club
Where Maps End
AdolfChrist
3.5
“Where Maps End” takes you far away. It’s a fantastical child dream brought to life with the help of 4(5?) great musicians. I feel the atmosphere and aesthetic is more successfully crafted than the indie rock/music sections themselves though (if that makes sense). Regardless, I still had a great time with this and I believe the album really picks up after the gorgeous “Babies Grow on Trees.” This is a record i will have to go back to, it very much feels like it needs multiple listens to take in. |
| 13 |  | Lemontrip
Nowhere
AdolfChrist
4.2
A dreamy and relaxed piece of electronic music. The album feels vast but also quite intimate. “Nowhere” is an apt name as the atmosphere created here feels very similar to just that, the middle of nowhere. An endless grey lake. The record slowly shifts to a more light hearted tone from the end of “Wander” and onward but the change seems to feel more like an artificial dream given the context of the first half. A really great listen, certainly a little short but tis the nature of EPs. |
| 14 |  | Anchoress
Anchoress is Ruining My Life
clavier
3.9
Hot dog this album kicked butt. The overall sound of the album remained consistent but there were a good amount of influences in there too. The band knows how to riff and jam out but also make some more unique tracks like ‘Fir’ and ‘All Colours.’ “Anchoress is ruining my life” was like a weird mix of Iron Chic and Touche Amore and Botch (keep in mind i'm bad at comparisons but whatever, this was pretty darn good). Great vocals. |
| 15 |  | Tubeway Army
Replicas
ArsMoriendi
3.4
If there’s anything i can say about Tubeway Army’s “Replicas” is that it sounds really fresh despite being nearly 40 years old. The keys sound light as air and Mr. Numan does his thing well enough. Some fantastic bass on this thing, “You are my Vision” is a great example. The album has a very early punk sound that im typically ambivalent towards but i still had a good time listening to this. |
| 16 |  | PJ Harvey
To Bring You My Love
ArsMoriendi
3.9
I got a taste of PJ Harvey back on Annihilation Recommendation Nation so I wasn't going into this totally blind. The album as a whole though I felt was far more successful than a single track. The context and vibe really helped elevate the songs. PJ has a smooth and cool bluesy-punky sound that just *works*. It’s dark and menacing on the slower tracks but rockin’ on the faster ones. PJ herself has good enough vocals, didn't have me jump out of my seat but they really fit the music. |
| 17 |  | Akercocke
Words That Go Unspoken...
hellscythe
3.6
Immature chuckles I get from the band name aside, this was a fun yet eerie trip down proggy blackened death metal lane. To put it quite simply, “words” is just a very competently made extreme metal album. It tick marks a lot of boxes for traditionalists while also changing things up by delivering some progressive clean vocal passages. The dark and grotesque nature of the album never wanes thanks to a very impressive performance by vocalist/riff wizard Jason Mendonça and his lyrical themes. The heavy passages can be a bit familiar but are well done. The more experimental sections is where “words” shines for me though. |
| 18 |  | The Cure
Disintegration
hellscythe
3.8
A sad album for sad boi times. “Disintegration” is a monumentally huge record (both historically and in scale) and I should’ve jammed it ages ago. May sound crazy to most here around sput, but the tags have actually turned me off to the band for so long. Never really liked much post punk or gothic rock. “Disintegration” felt more than that though. It was hauntingly beautiful and it’s atmosphere building was executed near perfectly. The bass is thick and a big highlight here. With all this said, some tracks felt like they just came and went without me really making any connection to them. This is most likely due to my typical ambivalence of the music’s style rather than poor songwriting however. |
| 19 |  | Thangorodrim
Taur-nu-Fuin
Ovrot
3.7
In a shocking twist of fate, tacos ended up liking a dungeon synth album. Despite the memes and dorky associations of the genre name, this was a very lovely atmospheric piece. The album is like an epic trip through the middle ages but manages to sound as un-cheesy as possible. All sorts of orchestral instruments soar and build to create a very believable auditory world. The overall black metal vibe of the album isn’t really my shtick as I never was too enamoured by the genre but this was done in such an accessible way that I ended up enjoying the ride. It’s a pretty bright album despite what the cover art may tell you. |
| 20 |  | National Health
National Health
Ovrot
3.4
In yet another risky endeavour, Ov recs a sput user instrumental prog this time. Have no fear tho guys, it’s good prog. While still big in the wank department, National Health bring in lots of other stuff to make this a swell time. For starters, the bass is a huge plus here; its audible, groovy, and played effortlessly. The inclusion of neo classical and jazz fusion stylings were great additions and “Elephants’ is a total jam. |
| 21 |  | Organ Tapes
Into One Name
sach
3.4
Wow, very pleasantly surprised how much I liked this. “Into One Name” feels very serene and the smooth as silk production certainly helps. I’m not a fan of the “mumbly” lyric delivery used on some tracks or the autotune vocal aesthetic but I believe A: the album was just short enough so that I didn't end up finding it too annoying and B: it actually fit in nicely with a few tracks (the opener “Rust” and “Can I Know” especially) and C: Everything felt genuine. |
| 22 |  | Defleshed and Gutted
The Prophecy in the Entrails
sach
2.5
Sach, im sure you’re very surprised by my rating here /s. Granted, while i certainly didn't love it, i didn't hate it either. The songs are insanely brutal and mindlessly entertaining given their absurd heaviness. The production im sure is intentionally awful and part of the “charm” but i can’t say i was a fan of it lol. As a first slam experience it was better than i thought it would be, not gonna lie. |
| 23 |  | Luwten
Luwten
Clover
3.8
Luwten has a knack for being able to say a lot with very little. Her music feels like a silence that says everything words can’t. The record is mostly subdued ambient pop, but there are small traces of folk rock in here as well. Clean and elegant, Luwten’s self titled debut has enough style and substance to keep your attention but doesn't unveil its true staying power until its bookend tracks begin. Shout out to tracks “Indifference” and “We Talk.” |
| 24 |  | Emanuel and the Fear
Listen
Clover
3.8
After a long string of metal bands i listened to before this, it’s nice hearing something a bit unique and different. Emanuel and the Fear’s “Listen” is a beautiful and amusing pop record with some interesting jazz sections. The faster, upbeat tracks are fun in their own right, but I believe the album is at it’s peak performance with its slower, more mellow tracks; take a listen to “Balcony” and “Trucker Lovesong” so see what i mean. The album feels a bit overlong but that is more than likely something multiple listens can help with. |
| 25 |  | When Icarus Falls
Aegean
CaimanJesus
3.5
A nice slab of good ol’ no-nonsense post metal. Heavy, dense, and grand in scale, When Icarus Falls have made a great record that I believe fans of Callisto’s older material will be almost guaranteed to to take a liking to. Overall the album is far more competently made than most post metal you’ll hear and has some fantastic moments but some tracks didn't quite grab me as emotionally as others. Aegean and Archeron are bangers. |
| 26 |  | Supercontinent
Vaalbara
CaimanJesus
3.4
Second Caiman rec and we got more post metal for your face. Less on the atmospherics and more on the riffs this time though. “Vaalbara” brings you some crushing melodies and harsh howls served on a larger than life scale but probably won't change the minds of those already indifferent towards post metal as a genre. “Lake of Iron” and “Cataclysms” are standouts here for sure. |
| 27 |  | Moloken
Our Astral Circle
Sniff
3.5
From the small little swedish town of Umea come Moloken, a post metal quartet ready to make some noise. “Our Astral Circle” is unrelentlessly bleak and dark, making use of dense low chords and traditional yet brooding strumming. Moloken have a shtick for breaking into clean sections sporadically which can be a bit jarring but nearly every time they break back into the heavier sections you feel your heart jump and cant help but smile. (So apparently Umea is a quality over quantity kinda deal considering they also birthed both cult of luna AND meshuggah, nice fun fact on sniff’s review). |
| 28 |  | Glassing
Light and Death
Sniff
4.3
Glassing are not here to beat around the bush, they are here to deliver some monumental soundscapes and filthy riffs in a downright devastating guitar tone. The unique shouted vocals are a massive highlight here, they are delivered perfectly. The atmosphere itself is reminiscent of being lost in a cold mountainous region, you are just dwarfed by everything around you. All these things come together to make one of the most exciting and heavy blackened hardcore/post metal/sludge mash ups in years. Thanks sniff, this was dope. |
| 29 |  | Knoblauch Klezmer Band
Fruit of Life
ScuroFantasma
3.3
This was my very first time jamming unironic klezmer music so i was a bit curious going in. Now, i ain’t jewish but who cares, cause this was a load of goofy, feel good fun with mature songwriting to give it extra oomf. Everything you need for a band like this is here; violin, accordion, yiddish lyrics, you name it. Now, while i was thoroughly entertained through the whole thing, the album didn't offer me much more than a simple good time. |
| 30 |  | Nest (FIN)
Fabled Lore
ScuroFantasma
3.2
A short and sweet 4 track dark folk EP with some medieval influence. I can’t say any of the songs really jumped out at me but as an overall piece i thought it was calming and pleasant despite its cold and wintery tone. Nice background music for dungeon crawling/dnd adventures and surprisingly great bass. |
| 31 |  | Black Kirin
National Trauma
Papa Universe
3.7
Based off that album cover im sure you can deduce this is chinese related, and you’d be right! Black Kirin play a style of melodic death/black metal with traditional chinese folk music influence (and the influence is *very* heavy). “National Trauma” is like the metal soundtrack to a movie that doesn’t exist. The music is fast, epic, and even quirky at times. I liked the folk parts a good deal, especially since the theme never seemed to get cheesy/overdone but funny enough I thought the orchestral song was the best on this. |
| 32 |  | The Aliens
Luna
Papa Universe
4.1
Is it indie? Is it prog? Is it psych? I dunno, but it’s a damn awesome time. “Luna” started pretty weak for me but once “Magic Man” hit, the album was on a no holds barred ride into jam land for the rest of its runtime. Despite my usual rocky love/hate relationship of 70s style US prog/60s British Invasion rock, I managed to have a really great time listening to this. It felt fresh and familiar at the same time and even takes influence from modern indie rock. If this was released during the height of progressive rock’s mainstream success, it *may* have gone down as a classic. |
| 33 |  | Bjork
Vespertine
bgillesp
3.9
Welp, oh look another huge artist tacos hasn’t hopped on until 2018, nbd. It’s not like this album features some gorgeous harp instrumentation, lovely opera elements, Mrs Björk Guðmundsdóttir’s angelic icelandic vocal melodies, or even some simply catchy pop tunes or anything. Nah. This album is completely void of all those things. Why do I even bother jamming the big name “classics?” It's not like they’re loved by a bunch of music enthusiasts for nothing or anything. 4/5. |
| 34 |  | Earth, Wind and Fire
Spirit
bgillesp
3.5
You’ve heard the singles, but have you actually delved into the deep cuts? According to sput’s ratings, the answer to that is most likely “no.” But that’s okay because I'm here to give you a totally accurate and not biased opinion on EWaF’s “Spirit” right now! “Spirit” is bright, uplifting, and most importantly...funky fresh! It may not be my favorite funk album but it’s a great access point into the genre. The soulful vocals and twangy guitar grooves will have you bob your head and you should be sold. |
| 35 |  | susquatch
In This World
hansoloshotfirst
3.3
A math rock album with a japanese twist. It’s pretty by the books for the genre but I think i've said before, if it’s done well I usually don't care. “In This World’ feels like sticking your head out the window while taking a drive by the beach. It’s smooth when it needs to be but usually fast paced and more abrasive. My biggest take away here though was the exceptional drumming, it was awesome. |
| 36 |  | Reveal
Flystrips
hansoloshotfirst
3.6
Blackened noisy metal brought to you courtesy of Swedish jammers Reveal. Black metal vox gurgle and shout over noisy and even psych-y riffs. I’m still unsure on how I feel about the vocals personally but the riffs themselves had me bobbing my head and wanting more. What I think is the album’s best quality is its ability to be quite groovy at times despite being wholly terrifying and unhinged. The whole thing really comes together on “Cadmium” and only gets better from then on. |
| 37 |  | Koan
When The Silence Is Speaking
orestt
3.8
Koan is an electronic psybient duo who seem to make some chill trippy jams. Koan’s most powerful asset is their ability to incorporate eastern samples and sounds without it coming too cheesy or in your face like say..shpongle. A long album indeed (majority of songs exceed 8 minutes) but don’t worry guys, it seems to go by in a flash. A record for people looking for Carbon Based Lifeforms-like music but with a less metallic and more worldly like sound. |
| 38 |  | Spook the Horses
Rainmaker
orestt
3.8
Spook the Horses have managed to make a post metal album with little sludge vibes that doesn't bore me! “Rainmaker” is generally a heavy album but never goes full blown riff-your-face-off style. The band relies more on the tone of the music for that. The structure and style of the music sounds strikingly similar to Rosetta’s newer material, the vocalist’s delivery even sounds strangely similar to Mike Armine. This, in my opinion, is a big plus as I love Rosetta and it was refreshing to see a band take influence while still sounding unique and original (there’s less spacey atmosphere here). |
| 39 |  | Deichkind
Noch Fünf Minuten Mutti
Hurricanslash
3.9
An all german hip hop album! There’s a lot of stuff going on here and I like that, I don't know what they're saying, but I like it! I can tell the rappers’ flows are full of attitude, charisma, and pure style. I hate saying “flow” when it comes to rap albums but when the whole thing is in all german it’s hard to talk about the rapping itself yknow. “Noch Fünf Minuten Mutti” is full of accessible rnb and jazz passages but also gets a little weird with its music sometimes. It can be a bit strange at first but you eventually learn to like it and just roll with it. |
| 40 |  | k-os
Joyful Rebellion
Hurricanslash
4.0
Another fantastic hip hop album from Hurricainslash. It really had a bit of everything, Kevin Bereton wears his influences on his sleeves and it comes off very earnest. Despite all the stuff going on, everything blends nicely. Even the cathartic acoustic ballad “Hallelujah” seems to strangely fit in just fine. Religion seems to be a big part of this record though and that may turn off a few people. If that doesn't bother you, then give this a try, there's a true love of musical creation here and a bit of something for everyone. |
| 41 |  | Cop on Fire
Discography
3.9
So your favorite crust band went rock and roll and put out a 29 minute compilation of sorts and it happens to be fire. It’s everything you like about crust with a much sharper punk edge. Some guitar solos even come in and “stage-dive-y” moments prevail throughout. You can see this on tracks like “Cree en Nada,” “Imbecile,” and more. The album flies by in a flash with most songs being under 2 minutes but I was loving every second of it. As you can expect the drums are great here and the vocals are a raspy shouted style that feels just plain raw. |
| 42 |  | Contrastic
Contrastic
4.1
Contrastic have created an album that will make you both mosh the fuck out and break out on the dance floor. “Contrastic” blends quirky electronic elements with punishing and gross sounding grind. The album certainly doesn't take itself too seriously, but that may just be part of it’s charm. You’re just amazed by the all the wacky stuff happening and loving every second of the fast and furious riffs. The vocals are a big highlight here, they're pretty varied and range from high pitched screeches to low and “brutal” gutturals. |
| 43 |  | glaswegians
severance
Frivolous
3.7
Do you like prog? Good. Cause glaswegians are gonna prog yer face off in this 4 track, multi-instrumental, renaissance-fair vibin’ musical journey of neat-o-ness. Okay, I embellished a bit. The album is actually pretty tame in the wank department and the wide array of instrumentation only help separate it from your usual 4 man cheesy prog outfit. “Severance” seems to take in a good deal of post rock influence, making it a pretty accessible record to boot. Starts very strong with ‘orwellian’ but slightly wanes as it progresses (granted it’s still a great time). |
| 44 |  | Oxbow
An Evil Heat
Frivolous
3.7
“An Evil Heat” is not too shabby a name for this dense and spooky noise rock album. The album is fierce and unrelentingly heavy at times. There’s moments of straight up riffage but Oxbow seem to rely more on atmospherics and building tension to get their point across. The vocalist is a great compliment to the bands unhinged sound as well, he does the drugged out loony bin thing pretty good. Oxbow are a name I’ve heard a lot but never checked, so i’m glad someone rec’d them to me. May need more listens, especially the last song (it’s practically an album in and of itself clocking in at 32 minutes), but great first impression! |
| 45 |  | Rolo Tomassi
Hysterics
ZombieToyDuck
3.8
Really awesome record here. Rolo Tomassi blends together mathy hadcore, electronic, and jazz rock into one very tight package. The addition of female vocals on the cleaner sections is a great contrast to the chaotic shrieks and riffs on the heavier sections. The electronic additions were cool and never felt out of place, granted they never usually take the full spotlight and acted more as a tool to add more hysterics (pun intended). |
| 46 |  | FACT
Fact
ZombieToyDuck
2.9
A fun album that mixes together melodic hardcore, electronic, and pop punk(!). Now I won’t lie, that is not the typical winning combo for me personally. I usually prefer different hardcore subgenres and pop punk is super hit or miss for me. Thankfully FACT had enough cool stuff going on to keep me enjoying myself. “Fact” is fast, surprisingly heavy at times, and super sing-a-long-y. The incorporation of electronic elements on some tracks were a cool touch. |
| 47 |  | The December Sound
The Silver Album
TheSpaceMan
3.9
“The Silver Album” is a sick psychedelic shoegaze experience. The December Sound still maintain everything you love (or hate) about shoegaze here. Vocals are drenched in reverb and distortion, songs are fuzzy and atmospheric, and drugs were most likely consumed during its recording process. What makes the album unique though, is the clear influence it takes from spacey psychedelic rock bands and it’s darker atmosphere compared to other shoegaze outfits. Each song feels vast and may or may not make you feel like your mind stranded on the moon. |
| 48 | | The December Sound
The Silver Album
TheSpaceMan
(second listen)
4.0
Yeah I’d say it’s a solid 4. It’s just a really nicely made shoegaze record. It’s typically more gaze-y but isnt afrait to rock out at times like on “Maker.” Some highlights are “No Heaven Like Hell,” “Drone Refusenik,” “Painkiller,” and “Truth Hurts.” |
| 49 |  | Pile
Magic Isn't Real
Spluger
3.9
“Magic Isn’t Real” sounds like a cigarette scented basement hangout for rock and rollers. It feels earnest and rocks pretty hard. Pile aren't afraid to get a bit slower though. When their not busting out bluesy riffs and wailing at the microphone, they switch to a cathartic post hardcore style. This is a record for those who like a grunge-y sound but with a more youthful “indie” feel. |
| 50 |  | Perfume
Triangle
FullOfSounds
3.2
So uh, this was my first jpop record ever and It sounded pretty much exactly like i expected to be honest. It’s upbeat, fun, and features some catchy as hell tunes. The album isn't too much of a one trick pony though. “Triangle’s” highlight track “Edge” is an 8 minute long pop track and “Speed of Sound” uses vocals in more minimal and untraditional jpop way. Definitely not really my thing but it was an entertaining ride! |
| 51 |  | Richard Dawson
Peasant
FullOfSounds
3.3
Richard Dawson, the avant folk singer, not the actor, has crafted quite the nifty record here. I can't say I remember every lyric and don't know if this is true, but “Peasant” seems to follow a very specific narrative. The music feels like a folk tale being played out in musical form. The songs themselves are nice enough but the “Peasant”’s most grand moments are its longest tracks and when Dawson brings in a choir to give some songs big finales. The choir is smartly used in moderation though; that way when they do come in, it feels far more rewarding. |
| 52 |  | Tinashe
Nightride
Jacquibim
3.1
The world of baby-makin’ sexi time jams was one I was never familiar with. Who cares though, because Tinashe has crafted an insanely chill downtempo pop record here. The album is oozing with style and generally feels like a hazy dream. The album has a fair share of lovely and voluptuous tracks but “Nightride”’s occasional desire to craft “banger” tracks can bring the album down and disturb the flow a bit. Overall though, I dug it. |
| 53 |  | Krusseldorf
Fractal World
Jacquibim
3.5
I like to draw comparisons from the music i listen to and its cover art a lot, and I will make no exception here. “Fractal world” feels soft and warm yet is executed with sharp and precise efficiency. It is a relaxed and mellow idm/downtempro record that is sure to scratch the itch of electric fans just looking for something pleasant. The album incorporates some ambient textures and female vocal samples into the mix to give it that otherworldly feel too. ‘Cemetery for Robots’ is a highlight here, good stuff Jac. |
| 54 |  | Porter Ricks
Anguilla Electrica
Archelirion
3.7
Nice to hear another electronic album. “Anguilla Electrica”’s most captivating characteristic is the sense of subdued urgency, tension and anxiety that maintains itself throughout most of the record. “Port Of Tangency” is a bit of a change up, featuring a more dreamy dance sound yet still works in context. Great first pick arche, you always gave sweet recs. |
| 55 |  | Cicada
Light Shining Through the Sea
Archelirion
3.8
Prepare yourselves guys, you’re entering super fookin’ pretty and uplifting jam territory. Cicada play an ambient/modern classical style of music that feels like the morning dew. You rush out of your house, bread in mouth, ready to take on the day. “Light Shining Through The Sea” is earthy and delicate yet occasionally faster paced and exhilarating. Doesn’t offer too much outside of beauty and tender soundscapes but i live for this shit. |
| 56 |  | Manic Street Preachers
The Holy Bible
TVC15
3.8
Oh man, this along with Disintegration and Vespertine are records I should have jammed ages ago. “The Holy Bible” seems to be a very context sensitive album. At the time of its release, the lyrical themes were a bit taboo. Seeing an album go head first into these topics so passionately must have been huge. James delivers a great vocal performance and a barrage of tasty basslines and punky guitar licks makes “The Holy Bible” an album that shouldn't be missed for fans of punky rock and roll. |
| 57 |  | Beach House
Depression Cherry
TVC15
4.0
Beach House definitely had the reputation established to pique my interest before now, but I never got around to hearing anything by them. They always sounded like something i’d like. Ethereal dream pop with female vocals? Yes please. They did not disappoint with Depression Cherry. Depression Cherry can best be described as cathartic, cohesive, and beautiful. It’s a bit more beachy than “gaze” as i was expecting but i’m not worried about it, I got an enjoyable listening experience out of it. This seems to be one of their less highly rated records which absolutely makes me interested in trying out their other material, considering i liked this one as much as i did. The only real gripe i have with the album was I felt a slight lack of inspiration. |
| 58 |  | Peter Gabriel
Up
neekafat
3.5
Out with the prog rock and in with the...prog pop? I've never been much of a Genesis buff so I was naturally a bit cautious going into a Peter Gabriel solo Project album. Good news though! This was far better than any Genesis i’ve heard. A nice combo of electronic and world elements concoct into a soup of lengthy proggy pop songs. “Up” starts strong but loses a bit of steam by the end however. |
| 59 |  | Alanis Morissette
Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie
neekafat
3.4
Much like Earth Wind and Fire, you’ve probs heard the singles but haven't delved into any full on LPs. If you’ve said no, then you’re like me I guess. I never really saw myself jamming a full Alanis Morissette album but here we are and it’s actually pretty great. Alanis sings her heart out on some tracks but actually makes some nice use of percussion on others like my personal favorite “The Couch.” Great voice and great pop rock with some experimentation here, recommended. |
| 60 |  | Cake Bake Betty
Songs About Teeth
Nazzadan
4.1
One of the most quirky yet adorable albums on this whole list. A cute and heartfelt indie folk album complete with youthful female vocals and unusual eating and teeth references! “Songs About Teeth” isn't that one note tho, singer/songwriter Lindsay Powell throws some piano and occasional electronic elements in there to keep you on your toes. Overall, this album was a just a really swell and snuggly time. For fans of The Motifs and Tigers on Trains. |
| 61 |  | Nocturnus
The Key
Nazzadan
3.6
Buckle your seatbelt and get ready for riffs cause “The Key” is here to bring em. Nocturus play a blend of death metal and solo-tastic sci fi thrash, dorky keyboards and all! The combo is certainly headbang worthy and the concept is also pretty darn em-slash (an evil android goes back in time to kill jesus and rule the world). With this all said the album loses a bit of its shine by the end of its run and may seem a bit repetitive for those looking for something more diverse. |
| 62 |  | Kalafina
Seventh Heaven
Aberf
3.4
Another trip down the jpop lane, but this time less on the pop and more on the classical side of things. Kalafina combine modern classical, pop, and rock into one complete and engaging package. Kalafina do their best to make every song feel larger than life and epic in its own way. “Seventh Heaven” however still has its fair share of the usual anime-intro-core that i’m not too big on but I suppose that’s more of a preference thing than a music thing *shrugs.* Regardless, the album was a swell time and whoever the singers are do great jobs, they sound wonderful; i don't know what they’re saying, but they *sound* wonderful lol. |
| 63 |  | DJ Koze
Amygdala
TheWrenKing
3.7
One of the few electronic albums on the list and this one was for sure a goodie. DJ Koze brings you a sweet and...well...cozy house record for summer days. “Amygdala” feels warm and trippy and features a multitude of different vocal samples over soft house beats. The first half has some pleasant and enjoyable jams but the second half feels more complete. This is an album that’s easy to get lost in given its drug induced vibe, just don’t get too lost or you may end up losing touch with it. |
| 64 |  | Disco Inferno
D.I. Go Pop
TheWrenKing
3.9
Arguably the most unique album rec’d to me here, “D.I. Go Pop” play a sound collage mish mash of plunderphonics post rock with some post punk influence. Disco Inferno mess around with a lot of contradicting samples and even guitar passages that would feel at home within ambient duo Hammock’s discography. The result can be both beautiful and downright strange at the same time. Overall the album has a strong start which begins to wane a bit before coming back full swing in its last two tracks. |
| 65 |  | Spicelab
A Day On Our Planet
L4titudes
4.2
Spicelab’s “A Day On Our Planet” is quite the ride. The album is a cosmic journey through a multitude of progressive trance beats and ambience. The record’s tone is spacey in nature and really feels vivid and exciting. Tracks are structured in contained segments each one blending into the next naturally. The album is certainly long and separating your trip into only 4 songs can look intimidating/unfavorable for some but believe me, this goes by in a flash. You’ll be too busy having fun blasting off into spicy trance land to even notice. |
| 66 |  | Spooky
Found Sound
L4titudes
3.7
The not-very-aptly-named Spooky crafted a fresh and uniquely organic idm/electronic record. Spooky’s signature sound here can honestly best be described as a “pots and pans” type deal that manages to not sound cheap. The album’s tone varies quite a lot here ranging from playful (‘Fingerbobs”) to cathartic (“Consume”). “Found Sound” didn't manage to totally grab me on some tracks but others I was completely engrossed in. “Hypo-Allergenic” is phenomenal standout here. |
| 67 |  | Ancestortooth
Elephant Graveyard
Zippa
This is nowhere to be found, i tried yt, bandcamp, soundcloud, and slsk. Nuthin' :( |
| 68 |  | The Becoming
Vol. 1
dfevil085 |
| 69 |  | July Talk
Touch
dfevil085 |
| 70 |  | Of Machines
As If Everything Was Held In Place
SteakByrnes |
| 71 |  | Ghost Atlas
All Is In Sync, and There's Nothing Left to Sing
SteakByrnes
3.4
Some nice modern post hardcore tracks wrapped up in a neat and well delivered package. Normally not my style of jams but i liked this a good deal actually. The songs are catchy, youthful and made well enough. The faster, harder hitting tracks are fun but I found some of the slower ones to be the best on the record (“Scouts Honor” specifically). Best track is still the closer/title track though, really nice song there. |
| 72 |  | Lantlos
.neon
kingdedethefifth |
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