JackisJack | Sputnikmusic

	CG5 Patiently CG5's debut album found itself in a strange spot. It came from a YouTube cover artist with nearly 5m subscribers, and somehow found itself flying completely under the radar, even on his own channel. Once you give the album a legitimate listen however, you realize exactly why that is. Every single track shamelessly borrows from tropes found in early 2010s pop trap, from the echoed three second openings to most songs, to the corny "She's bright, she's beautiful, just right and more than suitable, she's like the daylight sun" lyrics, to overall instrumentation work. Even CG5's vocals sound less like he is attempting to make his voice heard, and	1.0 07.20.23
	Soundtrack (Theatre) Heathers: The Musical Heathers the musical has some reasonably enjoyable tracks here and there, borrowing ideas from 70s funk, rock, as well as other theatrical productions--such as the way harmonies are layered. Keeping this in mind however, it may be difficult to enjoy the music separate of the production itself. The satire for the most part is still in tact, and can prompt a smile or chuckle here and there, but simultaneously it finds itself getting tiring. The last thing I want to hear when driving and listening to an album is a high school boy harmonize about how much he wants to have rsex with his classmate for three straight minutes. On top of this, the act	2.5 07.20.23
	Dream Theater Images and Words A progressive metal masterpiece in every sense of the word. From Mike Portnoy's incredible percussion, to the star like synth work by Kevin Moore, John Petruci's guitar, John Myung's basslines and solos.. The musicianship on display is apparent from the first track to the last one. James LaBrie is also at his best vocally here. There is so much power and range to his voice that you can't help but feel as if he perfectly led each track with his singing ability. While many may say Dream Theater is a technically overwhelming band, it's easy for anybody to listen to this album and understand why they have retained such high status in the prog met	5.0 07.20.23
	Machine Gun Kelly Tickets to My Downfall Instead of trying to discover himself as a musician outside of the realm of rap, MGK decides instead to painfully mimic the early 00s pop punk vibes that have been dead for over a decade and a half for good reason. Lyrical substance is at an all time low here, instrumentation finds itself at a weird blend between awkward trap and generic pop punk--and MGK's "Eh, I guess I can sing if you want me to" vocals make my eyes roll. While listeners desperate for a taste of nostalgia from the 2000s may find something to enjoy here, the rest of us can just forget this ever happened.	1.5 07.20.23
	Spyro Gyra Carnaval An underrated album that takes your hand, shoves a coconut drink in it, and welcomes you onto a beach towards dusk. It has a certain romantically inviting aura to a lot of its tracks, and demonstrates why Spyro Gyra has cemented a small legacy for themselves in the history of jazz fusion.	4.0 07.20.23
	Origami Angel The Brightest Days While Origami Angel doesn't reach the highs they achieved with their 2019 LP "Somewhere City", there is still a fair amount to enjoy with this album. Shining outwards with breakdowns like ones on the track "My PG County Summer", I can't help but respect the political and social commentary Ryland introduces with this LP as the duo reflects on whether they are truly okay at heart. Where Somewhere City pulled you in with love as the duo explored a suburban utopia alongside you, "The Brightest Days" sits you down at the beach with them as they vent about the things around them they cannot stand, whilst simultaneously reflecting on themselves.	3.0 07.20.23
	Steely Dan Aja This record is yet another example to throw onto the pile of albums that cement the 1970s as one of the greatest periods in the history of music. The talent on display here is truly stunning, in every single aspect of its composition, instrumentation, vocal work, and variety of songs to choose from. Of course you can sit down and enjoy the album from start to finish, but one of the greatest aspects of Steely Dan's Aja is the fact that you can play any song from it and find both you and any listeners around you thoroughly satisfied and impressed. A perfect album that needs no introduction, and should be on your list of what to visit when ventu	5.0 07.20.23