VaxXi
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Last Active 09-14-19 2:57 pm
Joined 10-07-13

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 Lists
05.12.18 Stop posting "top" lists and disabling 04.05.18 2018 Q1 - The good stuff
01.01.18 100% Arbitrary 2017 Awards Show09.06.17 random selection from the 2017 charts
07.27.17 '67 -'17: The Cool Edition ♦07.06.17 Half of 2017
06.15.17 yo what the fuck?04.14.17 New Star Wars trailer
01.14.17 Music For Your Consideration - 1 ♦11.16.16 Music For You 7
11.06.16 Favorite letter in your music library?11.05.16 Shoutbox broken for anyone else?
11.02.16 Music For You 610.20.16 The new Nintendo console: The Nintendo
10.10.16 Music For You 5 (+ 1-4 Mega Pack)04.27.15 Best of Bandcamp Free Vol. 4
02.13.15 Best Of Bandcamp Free Vol 3.01.12.15 Best Of Bandcamp Free: Vol. 2
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Music For Your Consideration - 1

Another year and another thousand albums to consume. This year is gonna be the big one for me between graduating highschool, going to college, and leaving this town behind so I'm a bit anxious as to how everything will play out. I will prolly stick to the good ol' days of Sputniking and make lists filled with the awesome (and slightly less awesome) records I heard through my day to day life. This list also includes stuff from 2016 that I never got around to sharing.
1Dreamboy
It Means The World To Me

[Pop Rock] Massive mixing pot of influences across the realm of pop rock, punk, and indie music that comes together for an entirely convincing and infectiously catchy rock record. Heavy lyrical themes of nostalgia and reminiscing on life mistakes. A bit corny, but very heartfelt with how outstanding the instrumental back is. Also carries a unique sing/shout vocal constraint that only further maximizes the ear-wormy effect of the music. Highly recommended!

For Fans Of: Weezer, Jeff Rosenstock, The Offspring, Modest Mouse
Try Out: What Have I Done?
2Nao
For All We Know

[Electronica/RnB] For All We Know is an obvious expansion on February 15th and a solid effort to right the wrongs found on that EP. The songwriting on this release is a lot more consistent and has a lot more meat to the production, creating a thick atmosphere of seduction and comfortable warmth with an abundance of heavy synths and quirky electro riffs. At 18 tracks, For All We Know demands some dedication, but I think its consistent and composed well enough to make a full listen worth it.

For Fans Of: BANKS, Kelela, AluanaGeorge
Try Out: Bad Blood
3Brad Sucks
I don't know what I'm doing

[Folk/Rock] Heavy Beck influences across the board. This album is overwhelmingly thick with crisp guitar tones, analogous synths, and humorous irony that makes the day-to-day woes and problems of Mr. "Brad Sucks" all the more endearing and charming. If you like well composed, incredibly straight forward folk rock (or Mellow Gold-era Beck) with heavy emphasis on good hooks then you will undoubtedly like Brad Sucks.

For Fans Of: Beck, Louis XIV
Try Out: Look and Feel Years Younger
4MF Grimm
The Downfall of Ibliys: A Ghetto Opera

[Hip Hop] The story behind the recording of Downfall of Ibliys is just as interesting as the material itself. This record was written and recorded (and then produced primarily by MF Doom later) in the course of a 24 hour "one day bail" period. Grimm himself was incarcerated for a life sentence in prison on conspiracy and drug charges, and his future didn't look too bright. Downfall of Ibliys frames a reflection period for Grimm, who spends his day with an orchestra of delicate piano loops reflecting on life decisions, expressing confusion, and asking hard hitting questions that (at the time) would most likely never get answered. Its one part dark and one part sad, resulting in a narrative that given the proper context, becomes an amazing piece for the genre.

For Fans Of: MF DOOM, KMD
Try Out: Howl
5DJ Icey
Different Day

[Breakbeat/House] A curious blend of breakbeat, electro, and house music that sounds incredibly unique and unlike many other records in the genre (as far as my limited knowledge goes, at least). DJ Icey frames subtlety above a foundation of heavy-hitting and pulsating breaks and grooves that proves his technical craft and eye for satisfying progression is his most valuable asset as a producer and is the most awarding aspect for the listener.

For Fans Of: Hybrid
Try Out: Different Day
6The Alan Parsons Project
Pyramid

[Prog Rock] A vaguely conceptual album that ties in light Egyptian mythos and architecture to Alan Parson's daunting emotional baggage. Pyramid (save for Pyramania, the worst track ever) is an amazing rock record that strips back the over the top technicality that defined their two previous albums and allows the cadence of sparse instrumentals and keys to create the empty-room atmosphere that Alan Parson secludes himself in. The Eagle Will Rise Again is up there for one of the best songs I've ever heard.

For Fans Of: Pink Floyd
Try Out: The Eagle Will Rise Again
7Perfume
Triangle

[J-Pop] An exceptionally produced and executed pop record that creates visions of a futuristic, new-age cityscape without being synthwave. Triangle is unashamedly overly-mechanical and focused on creating an image of a future where performers who blur the line between synthetic and human are creating the pop music of tomorrow. In ways, the mechanical effects placed above the vocalists heighten the atmosphere and emotion of the record's lovesick subject matter. Creating a visage of overwhelming emotional disconnect between the vocalists and the material, like, their lovesick is so extreme they've lost touch with humanity or something. Also, this record is really fun, thats important to note, too.

For Fans Of: ???
Try Out I Still Love U
8It's a Beautiful Day
It's a Beatiful Day

[Psychedelic Folk] Easily the most beautiful and sexy vocal chemistry between a male/female duo in the history of music. Heavily psychedelic and bathed in reverb and other weird effects. Also has light elements of violins, keyboards, and outstanding drumming to really tie it all together as a beautiful, beautiful sex bomb.

For Fans Of: Love
Try Out: White Bird
9Songs: Ohia
The Lioness

[Folk/Slowcore] Lioness is just overwhelmingly dark, daunting, depressing, and any other incredibly negative adjective that can be used to describe it. For real, this dude sounds like he needs a nice, long hug and the assurance that everything is going to be OK.

For Fans Of: Hating yourself
Try Out: Lioness
10Doprah
Wasting

[Trip Hop] While the middle half of this album betrays the absolutely haunting and dark atmosphere that make the bookends of this album some of the best out of 2016, Wasting as a whole is still an exceptionally produced trip hop record with enough atmosphere, hooks, and vocal chemistry to make it a worthwile effort.

For Fans Of: Red Giant, Portishead
Try Out: Black Lodge
11Blueneck
King Nine

[Post Rock] Very cold and metallic vocal led post rock, with a vocalist who is as equally distant and disconnected from the realm of reality by the cue of subtle vocal distortion. Very beautiful and very sad, try it out.

For Fans Of: A Perfect Circle, pg.lost, people who like vocoder effects
Try Out: Sirens
12Machinista
Xenoglossy

[Futurepop] Lowkey had to dig around the internet to see if this album was plagiarized from a bigger name musician. I couldn't believe that something with this level of quality only had 12 ratings on RYM. Incredibly fun electro heavy futurepop in the vein of Duran Duran's "All You Need Is Now".

For Fans Of: Duran Duran
Try Out: Take Comfort In Being Sad
13Clem Snide
Songs For Mary

[Folk/Country] Confusingly hard to find record, despite the Band's slight prominence in the 90s. Seems to be an expansion of a song from their 2010 effort thematically, though I can't confirm that. Each track seems to be an open discussion with a faceless "Mary", to which Clem aimlessly trails on about apologies, life stories, and desperate calls for help. The lack of information surrounding the album, on top of a disturbing distorted picture of a girl in a white mask and dress as the chosen album art, only further push the emotional packing of this album. Creating a mysterious and slightly unnerving atmosphere.

For Fans Of: Gavin Clark, The Lumineers
Try Out: Goodnight Nobody
14Dungeon Family
Even In Darkness

[Hip Hop] Massive collaboration between all members of the legendary Dungeon Family. Over the top, bombastic, bold, and energetic - if you're a fan of even a single artist in the Dungeon Family line-up (Outkast, Big Boi, Killer Mike, Goodie Mob, ect) then you will undoubtedly like this record.

For Fans Of: just look up a list of Dungeon Family members tbh.
Try Out: 6 Minutes
15Negative Gemini
Body Work

[Electropop] Quick-paced, atmospheric deep house slightly peppered by a cute vocal performance from Gemini herself. The production on this record is sublime, mixing in influences of modern and classic electronic dance structures and heavily mixing the reverb heaviness of the deep house elements with pretty and sparkly noise.

For Fans Of: NV
Try Out: Infinity
16George Michael
Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 1

[Singer/Songwriter] My only regret is never getting around to this record while George was still around, especially because I had it queued up in my listen log just a few days shy of his death. Listen Without Prejudice was Michael's one shot to make a "serious" album and it paid off immensely. Deeply rooted in soul and contemporary pop music, George indulges in an over the top vocal performance juxtaposed between a grounded instrumental backing (and sometimes an incredibly dark and offputting backing) that perfectly captures his heavy hearted subject matter. Just a beautiful record all around really.

For Fans Of: Freddie Mercury, Jeff Buckley
Try Out: Heal The Pain
17Gal Costa
Gal Costa

[Psych Pop] A very curious record, one that starts off with a nauseatingly loud jumble of screaming synths before transitioning into a very beautiful violin laced intro. Gal Costa's performance on this record is delicate and beautiful, with an instrumental backing that rapidly moves between subdued "standards"-like orchestral arrangement and sudden, jarring psychedelic buzz. If the first track doesn't get your attention, then something is wrong.

For Fans Of: Elis Regina
Try Out: Nao Identificado
18Cities Aviv
Black Pleasure

[Hip Hop] Described by FourthReich as "Death Grips with a different MC. Black Pleasure mixes reverb heavy cloud rap, vapor wave, and just a very faint pinch of harsh noise for a curious mixture that for the most part, works very well.

For Fans Of: Death Grips, Vektron
Try Out: Flex Your Gold
19Dj Metatron
U'll Be The King of the Stars

[House] U'll Be The King Of The Stars is vey straightforward in approach, giving you three or four simplistically structured house tracks that don't really deviate from their repetitive progressiveness. Yet it works, a lot.

For Fans Of: ?
Try Out: Rave Child
20Bebe Rexha
I Don't Wanna Grow Up

[Pop] The only artist I can really compare Rexha to is Ellie Goulding vocally. Beyond that however, she has a unique sound going for her. This album is fun and sweet, tapping into that "even popular, pretty people can relate to real problems" thematic that I really like (See: LIGHTS, Mike Posner) and is backed by a really well composed electronic backing that translates well across genre and style. Its a short collection, so I'd recommend the 20 or so minutes you'll spend with it.

For Fans Of: Ellie Goulding, LIGHTS
Try Out: I Don't Wanna Grow Up
21Camp Lo
Uptown Saturday Night

[Hip Hop] One of the most fun hip hop records of all time.

For Fans Of: De La Soul
Try Out: Black Connection
22Prince Daddy and The Hyena
I Thought You Didn't Even Like Leaving

[Power Pop] Scream-ish vocals and fuzzy pop guitar riffs. With light synth additives that have been popular with the Weezer inspired bands as of late. Fun stuff.

For Fans Of: Weezer, Ozma, Rozwell Kid
Spin: Bromeo/Always Good
23Covenant
Northern Light

[Futurepop] One of the best albums in the genre? Probably. Mixes a dance music base with the futurepop format in aspects to create a weird post-apocalyptic rave vibe. The highlight of this album is easily the production between the amazing, deep vocal melodies and their backing instrumental leads. Try the chorus in Invisible & Silent, its godly.

For Fans Of: Assemblage, Mind.In.A.Box, Celldweller, Dave Gahan, Light Asylum
Try Out: Invisible & Silent
24The Eden House
Half-Life

[Gothic Stuff...] First track blunders a bit with its hilariously confusing bridge and subject matter in relation to the rest of the album, but from there on the record rises up as an amazingly strong contender with a low-key guitar/electronic laced hazy atmosphere and an outstanding female vocal performance. This one is great.

For Fans Of: N/A
Try Out: Indifference
25Studio Killers
Studio Killers

[Dance stuff] The "elusive" (read: it took people about two minutes to figure out who the vocalist was) electro virtual band that suddenly appeared, dropped a few dope jams, and then vanished into the night forever. While not the strongest and consistent album, the highlights of this one are absolutely great, and the slightly trashy/sexual vibes from the Candy character make for good fun.

For Fans Of: Mystery Skulls, The Crash
Try Out: Jenny
26The Exploration
Basement Demo

[Spoken Word/Emo] Short, sweet, and somber. The Basement Demo comes and goes with a moment of beautiful, raw emotion and interesting guitar work and vanishes before you can even blink. Capture the moment of serenity before it vanishes once more.

Try Out: I Guess I'm Leaving
27Z-Ro
Look What You Did to Me

[Hip Hop] One of the few memorable artists from the Screwed Up Click. On his debut Z-Ro set himself out with a dark and gloomy hour long magnum opus filled with aggression, confusion, and sorrow for an environment that he both detests and depends on for survival. Top that with an amazing singing performance and a wide range of outstanding styles in flow, and you get an unforgettable record that demands everyone and everything feels remorse for "what you did to me".

For Fans Of: The Screwed Up Click
Try Out: Look What You Did To Me
281-800-Band
High Beams

[Power Pop] Power pop record from last year that has some slight country undertones. If this record was released in another era, it would be looked back on as one of the greatest in the genre today. But since it was 2016, it just looks like a very solid offering from the world of power pop.

For Fans Of: Teenage Fanclub, Fleetwood Mac
29Ben Kweller
Ben Kweller

[Pop Rock] Cute and dorky pop music with the greatest choruses known to man, probably. Not more to say but its great.

For Fans Of: The Rolling Stones
Try Out: I Gotta Move
30DMA's
Hill's End

[Rock] First few tracks lost me, but around Too Soon this album launches into the stratosphere as an absolutely outstanding rock record. The slow moments are beautifully packed with hazy fuzz and delicate guitar work while the faster moving tracks are incredibly catchy. Don't miss out on this, either.

For Fans Of: Noel Gallanger, Stone Roses, The Districts
Spin: Blown Away
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