Average Rating: 3.19 Rating Variance: 0.78 Objectivity Score: 90% (Well Balanced)
Sort by: Rating | Release Date | Rating Date | Name5.0 classicBjork VulnicuraCasualties of Cool Casualties of CoolKishi Bashi LighghtSteven Wilson Hand. Cannot. Erase.4.5 superbBADBADNOTGOOD IIICloud Nothings Here and Nowhere ElseFoxing The AlbatrossGavin Harrison Cheating The PolygraphKyary Pamyu Pamyu Pikapika FantajinLupe Fiasco Tetsuo and YouthMarissa Nadler JulyAlthough I initially described this album as being "good" but a bit samey, patience and several listens has unveiled it as one of the most chilling and emotive folk records I have heard in years. Lyrically, Nadler is out of this world.Panopticon Roads to the NorthSun Kil Moon BenjiHonest and highly reflective lyricism parallels American fingerstyle guitar playing which strums and drones in poetic, meditative ways. No topic is sparred scrutiny of the intense self-examination. Occasional confidence is countered by fragile honesty. r4.0 excellentAlcest ShelterIf "Voyages" were a transitional album, "Shelter" has the band seeming more focused and confident in their sound once again. As has been the trend, Shoegaze elements now nudge the more metal sound out completely, but the music is still atmospheric and dreamy, bringing a welcome diversity of shimmery sounds and southing moods. While the album lacks momentum, and can be dense at times while too minimalist at others, "Shelter" proves that Alcest can be successful after metal.Andy McKee MythmakerAnimals As Leaders The Joy of MotionBeck Morning PhaseFrom the first note to the last, Morning Phase walks a razor's edge of ambivalent feelings, paradoxically combining melancholic and reflective lyrics with music that is slow but hopeful sounding. The contrast is poetic, deep, and satisfying. Cloudkicker SubsumePowerful music, high quality and ballsy production. Lacks some of the climactic build-up of previous records such as "Beacons", but the heavy groove is as good as ever. Devin Townsend Project Z2Earth Primitive and DeadlyFlying Lotus You're Dead!Hop Along Painted ShutJose Gonzalez Vestiges and ClawsKendrick Lamar To Pimp a ButterflyLaura Marling Short MovieLow Roar 0Mastodon Once More 'Round the SunMaybeshewill Fair YouthNicole Atkins Slow Phaser"Slow Phaser" can't be pinned down. It's an album chock full of generic twists and subtle surprises. In terms of scope, the music ranges from Americana to fusion; from high school theater to prog rock. If I had to say, I'd offer that "Slow Phaser" falls somewhere between Fleetwood Mac and Deep Purple, but with modern pop sensibilities. Several tracks are standouts. rNordic Giants A Séance Of Dark DelusionsNot a Good Sign From a DistancePeriphery Juggernaut: AlphaS. Carey Range Of LightSithu Aye PulseSithu's sense of melody continues to be astounding - but his tone, songwriter, and production sense have improved leaps and bounds. In a sea of progressive metal and djent instrumental acts, Sithu still stands above thanks to that melodic sense. The new EP is non-stop excitement. rSOHN TremorsSteven Wilson 4 1/2The Contortionist LanguageThe Hotelier Home, Like NoPlace Is ThereThom Yorke Tomorrow's Modern BoxesTigers Jaw CharmerVali SkogslandskapVashti Bunyan HeartleapWeezer Everything Will Be Alright in the EndWeird Al Yankovic Mandatory Fun3.5 great50 Cent Animal AmbitionAgalloch The Serpent and the SphereAlabama Shakes Sound & ColorChris Letchford LightboxCities Aviv Come To LifeThe unique beats and overall production defy genre. Gavin May's voice is old school, atonal, gritty, and most of all, exuding confidence. Rhymes that rely more on philosophy and content than pure word play, but the well-crafted and atmospheric beats always take the songs where they need to go. The best thing I can say about this album is that it's never boring.rEnslaved In TimesGodspeed You! Black Emperor 'Asunder, Sweet and Other Distress'Have a Nice Life The Unnatural WorldI don't love the whole thing, but at its best, this record has momentum, and at points it can really hit you square in the chest. Cropsey is the example that best fits that description, I think.Interpol El PintorKimbra The Golden EchoLantlos Melting SunNe Obliviscaris CitadelNick Murphy (fka Chet Faker) Built on GlassOpeth Pale CommunionPanopticon KentuckyRun the Jewels Run the Jewels 2Skyharbor Guiding LightsSufjan Stevens Carrie and LowellThe Antlers FamiliarsThis Will Destroy You Another LanguageWarpaint WarpaintIf Dream Pop, as a genre, offers swooning soundscapes, Warpaint offer an echo of a trance heard from the opposite end of a dark tunnel - and I think I like it. The vocals are lethargic but ghastly, accompanied by music that emotes and gives plenty of reverb-washed sonic space for the rock trio. Toward the end of the mid-section, the magic goes on for a bit long enough to seem mundane, and the production flaws become appararent - there are lots of clippy parts for music that doesn't need to be loud. But for truly focused listeners, there is plenty to brood on, and patience is rewarded.Whirr Sway3.0 goodalt-J This Is All YoursAriana Grande My EverythingBlur The Magic WhipBurial Rival DealerSomewhat fragmented, but still challenges the listener and a nice balance of atmosphere. Common Nobody's SmilingCynic Kindly Bent to Free UsCynic changing their sound to be less metal was expected, but Cynic doing something as airy and frictionless as "Kindly Bent to Free Us" was not. Melodies are strong, if not somewhat lethargic, and for once lyrics are delivered plainly, with only a minimal amount of stylistic effects. Patience and familiarity from repeated listens slowly unveils the power of the record, even if it's a tad underwhelming. Damien Jurado Brothers And Sisters Of The Eternal SonFolk with electronic and rock elements. Early on, the album's goovy rhythms mesh well with anachronistic vocal production, but that subsides as the album drifts into a frictionless middle section that breaks momentum despite fusing indie rock with echoes of classic symphonic rock and droning beats. The album ends on a strong duo of heartfelt Americana, followed eclectic Beatles-like jamboree that fuses pop, folk, and electronic arrangements. Damon Albarn Everyday RobotsDonnie Trumpet and The Social Experiment SurfEd Harcourt Time of DustThis moody mini-album features strong vocals and intiquing arrangments. Lyrically it is strong, but despite all that the compositions are particularly memorable, and Harcourt seems to distance himself more than he emotionally connect. First Aid Kit Stay GoldFloor OblationFlying Colors Second NatureGazpacho DemonLa Dispute Rooms of the HouseLydia Ainsworth Right From RealMark Kozelek Sings Christmas CarolsNatalie Prass Natalie PrassPallbearer Foundations of BurdenPeriphery Juggernaut: OmegaReal Estate AtlasThese relaxed tunes and super-clean melodic leads give the Atlas album a chilled-out, surfer feel. There might not be enough standout tracks to make it a truly great album, but at least it accomplishes being laid back and pretty relaxing to listen to.Sia 1000 Forms Of FearSt. Vincent St. VincentThe album is best for moments like "Prefer Your Love", "Every Tear Disappears" and "Severed Crossed Fingers", when it takes a step back from its over embellished, borderline spastic arrangments. Otherwise, there is too much going on, and it gets docked points for aiming so intently on sounding complex. rSun Kil Moon Universal ThemesSunn O))) and Ulver TerrestrialsThe collaborative album (or EP?) transports the listener to a landscape of cold gray cities full of callous, detached people. Perhaps Godspeed and even Ulver themselves have already accomplished this, but on "Terrestrials" the drone is more pure anguish than imagery. The vocals at the Eternal Return jar me from the painting, but given the title of the song, maybe that is the appropriate reaction. Overall, the music is very dense, and more than challenging, but it's something that requires patience and dedication.rSZA ZThe Decemberists What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful WorldThe Rural Alberta Advantage Mended With GoldThe War On Drugs Lost in the DreamTrey Songz TriggaYOB Clearing The Path To Ascend2.5 averageAnathema Distant SatellitesCrosses CrossesSome of the ideas here are really great, but releasing the album like this is a copout. While the songs are a mixed bag, and Chino's vocals and lyrics veer in equal parts between "great" and "distracting", the way the EPs are shoveled together makes it feel like there's very little cohesion or flow to the album, and just like this album consists of 3 parts (2 EPs and 1 new EP length), I find hard to get through it in one sitting.Dads I’ll Be The TornadoDream Theater Dream TheaterFather John Misty I Love You, HoneybearGhostface Killah and BADBADNOTGOOD Sour SoulGripe In His ImageThe grinding, sludgy riffs are awesome - but snarly, snorty, blechy vocals are just too much for these unseasoned ears of the genre. I can at least appreciate the album's brevity, and how it thematically ties together in a simply but concise package.I Break Horses ChiaroscuroLike many of these recent types of albums, the best thing I can say about Chiaroscuro is that it's inoffensive. At best, it's atmospheric and diverse (for the territory), most of the time, it's just boring. rJeremy Messersmith Heart MurmursThe album is best when Jeremy Messersmith speaks to the broader human condition. Other times, Messersmith's heart-ached swoons land somewhere between confident and creepy. Lyrics are delivered confidently to idolized young girls who are addressed often in the 2nd person. I want to really like Messersmith, but he sounds like a cross between a poor man's Ben Gibbard and Rivers Cuomo.Manchester Orchestra CopeMogwai Rave TapesEssentially, this album is pretty good as soundtrack music - for driving, for doing work, for just chilling out. It's too structured to be ambient music, but there's not enough going on to really focus on it without feeling underwhelmed. Few of the songs really stand on their own, but almost all would probably sound great in Mass Effect 4, whenever that happens.rScHoolboy Q OxymoronThese are some great beats; percussive and musical, almost theatrical. Hooks are often out of sync with beats (a pet peeve of mine), and lyrical content is low (how many times can you describe getting laid on one album?) There's potential, but immaturity is abound. The duo of "Los Awesome" and "Collared Greens" is addictive, though.The Tallest Man on Earth Dark Bird Is HomeThee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra Fuck Off Get Free We Pour Light on EverythingSometimes the album absolutely drives, other times it's bogged down in its own cleverness. I'm not a big fan of the male vocals, which add nothing to the music (except making it sound "punkier"), but the female vocals in parts are nice. The Chinese Opera sounding melody on "Take Away These Early Grave Blues" is amazing, a sure highlight. I can't emphasize how much better this album would be without the distracting vocals which are just poorly poured over everything.Transatlantic KaleidoscopeWhile the band are showing age in the vocals department, the melodies are as strong as ever, with the production as crisp and drum/bass section as punchy as ever. Overall, the album is a small step up from Whirlwind - while it's not as conceptually realized, it's also not burdened by an overbaked concept and endless refrains. It'd be nice to see the band try to do something truly "progressive", but at least they're consistently great at what they doWithin Temptation HydraThe album sounds poppier than anything Within Temptation have done before, and a bit dicier - Xzibit gets a verse on one song, "And We Run". But despite the poppier vibe, there is really not much to grasp onto. Taken as individual works, many of the songs are strong. But altogther, as an album, there is little cohesion. While the album is trim, it would benefit greatly from some direction.rWolves in the Throne Room CelestiteYes Heaven and Earth2.0 poorBigelf Into The MaelstromBigelf have an interesting creative direction and artistic vision governing their records. Now, they need a singer who can really sell the material. Bruce Springsteen High HopesIt's hard not to like Bruce, but the album just doesn't add much to Bruce's already bountiful discography. The recordings also feel a bit sterile, but maybe the live performance will liven them up. Even Tom Morello's playing fails to make the arrangements move. Dream Theater Breaking the Fourth WallAnother album. Another tour. Another live album. Another expensive commemorative box set for the live album. This is Dream Theater in 2014. At least BtFW is not as bad as the high budget butchery of Live at Luna Park. Dream Theater The AstonishingHammerFall (r)EvolutionIced Earth Plagues of Babylon"Death Magnetic" style production. Does this band have a bassist? Inspired title track. Surpsingly good "demonic chorus" style background vocals on several tracks - works to mix up IE's recent blandness. Stu Block's posturing "deep" voice wears poorly as the album progresses. The songs begin to sound too similar for an album of this little cohesion. The intro to "Cthulhu" where Stu sings in his natural voice is the best musical moment on the album. Jack White LazarettoMorrissey World Peace Is None of Your BusinessPanda Bear Panda Bear Meets the Grim ReaperPatterns Waking LinesThe atmosphere of dreamy, synth pop nuggets is well established, but few of the songs manage to stand out from one another. While the constant wash of colorful sounds is nice, the album is samey and immemorable. Planningtorock All Love's LegalSwans To Be KindFor nearly 2 hours, all I could think of is Scott Weiland spazzing over looping Tool riffs. The Winery Dogs The Winery DogsVancouver Sleep Clinic WinterSo much of this album blatantly rips off Bon Iver, Bon Iver. I love the style, but I can't handle it. 1.5 very poorBlind Guardian Beyond the Red MirrorDream Theater Live at Luna ParkJames LaBrie I Will Not BreakDespite including 38 minutes of music, this EP is suprisingly low on content, featuring no new music, just bonus songs from previous releases, alternate mixes, and pre-JLB demos which reveal how shockingly little James LaBrie has to do with any part of the writing process of these albums.Pain of Salvation Falling HomeRick Ross MastermindXiu Xiu Angel Guts: Red ClassroomThe music paints vivid images, but the hushed, breathy vocals make everything sound like a nightmare trip to the dentist where a frenzied harrasser half-whispers half-yodels bizarre things in your ear. It's too bad, but I can't get past it. r1.0 awfulAdrenaline Mob Men Of HonorThe Mob is back, and everything is worse this time around. Musically, "Men of Honor" shows how Mike Orlando's book of 80s metal riffs is already beyond exhausted, and lyrically, Allen spends the majority of the album channelling a 13 year old who just learned his first dirty words. Adrenaline Mob like to saturate their music in Godfather imagery, but they're not Godfather. At best, they're the Sylvester Stalone rehash of "Get Carter"Adrenaline Mob Dearly Departed
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