Reviews

Oh, so this is what it felt like when Pink Floyd dropped a five-track full length banger in the 70's, huh?

it's kind of amazing how bad this song is, despite the components of it being used in so many other trashy singles of the same era that I would defend with my life. The music video feels like a human anticipated AI slop stock video and decided to make some of his own while he still could

Today, after quite some time, I listened to Life by Boy George and Culture Club again, and it immediately captivated me. This album has a unique quality that’s hard to find—it feels distinct and incomparable. What stood out to me the most is the sense of maturity that runs through the entire production.

The songs are stylish, thoughtful, and authentic without trying to be overly youthful or trendy. It’s this balance that makes Life so successful. There’s no forced nostalgia, as can sometimes be the case with bands attempting to revive their past popularity. Instead, it feels timeless, as though Boy George and Culture Club have found their place in the present while staying true to… More

Sturgill has this crazy infectious energy that is only replicable by the outlaw country greats. On this record, he gives you a good litmus test for different types of country. While I don’t think the lyricism and compositions match the sophistication and vibes of previous releases, it’s definitely a fun listen. Tracks like “If The Sun Never Rises Again”, “Jupiter’s Faerie” with the auto tune, and “Mint Tea” remind you why Sturgill is the modern goat of country.

I aint got much to say but yeah its dits definitely hella chill , its good although i prefer some of his previous album but yeah definitely a vibe

Well… Shit… This really is their best album. My reasoning? Starless. Enough said.

i see some of you giving this less than 5* and I'm just curious what is going on in your brain

Good to the last drop. ⚡️

Kinfolk, Black Truck, Planet U, Sandstorm 🔥

Mereba is slept on, consistently able to produce sounds that are hard to get out of your head.

Unfortunately, Michael Kiwanuka has set a very high bar for himself… then comes out and lets us know Danger Mouse is producing his next album (this one). Hype is at an all-time high, yet the energy on this record is at an all-time low. The middle is quite a spectacular and beautiful collection of pseudo-ballads, but are sandwiched by blander ballads. I honestly expected more from the production throughout, where “Floating Parade” got things off to such a hot start. At the end of the day, it’s still a solid release and I genuinely enjoy a good 65% of the tracks, just not as much as previous releases.

completely missed this record coming out earlier this year, just now getting around to it, solid, maybe not full of surprises but very pleasant to listen to.

My favourite soundtrack by Blanck Mass (so far) is Ted K. This album is better in some ways and just different in others.

This album breathes differently than Ted K. It's often calmer and mixes minor and major key-themes throughout the album. Not surprisingly, perhaps because Gazza had more ups and downs in his life than Ted Kaczynski, also known as Unabomber.

Blanck Mass is one of the great so-far underappreciated electronic-music artists of our time. This is proof of how very, very good he can be.

Yet another dream-state recording from The Black Dog, who earlier this year released an entire album full of sleep-deprivation-based songs. This EP is lovely; each song is like an incision into the mind of a sleepwalker.

The Dø’s Live at l’Olympia, Paris is a dazzling experience that effortlessly captures the raw energy of this French-Finnish duo’s live performances. Honestly, I can’t recall how I stumbled upon this album—or them, for that matter—but it has completely hooked me. There’s an irresistible pull that keeps me coming back, track after track, like I’ve uncovered a secret treasure trove of creativity.

What makes this live recording so special is the undeniable electricity of the crowd paired with the duo’s dynamic artistry. Tracks like A Mess Like This / Omen and Miracles (Back in Time) shine with an emotional intensity that feels almost otherworldly, while Trustful Handscarries a hopeful, uplifting vibe… More

the only record ever

This album is so very important to me. I wrote about it here, a few years ago.

> Every once in a while, maybe three or four times a year, I stumble upon a new artist or album that makes me happier. (…) Fewer and a lot farther between are the songs that take the ground off my feet. Music that I don’t have to “get”, because it “got” me first by the mere fact that it exists.

This is a rating for both Piedras records, which I’ve heard were originally purposed as a score for a play based in a dystopian future Chile. It feels like just that, with lofi hypnotic dance cuts and a cohesive 2-part journey that is engaging for those willing to put in the time and space to absorb it. Part 2 is a bit less dynamic and emotionally-charged, but fits really well into the overall context.

This is a rating for both Piedras records, which I’ve heard were originally purposed as a score for a play based in a dystopian future Chile. It feels like just that, with lofi hypnotic dance cuts and a cohesive 2-part journey that is engaging for those willing to put in the time and space to absorb it.

a really solid debut and i love to see the Paul institute and its artists continue to do its damn thing. ruthven sounds wonderful on some magical production from AK and this is an album I’ve been going back to a lot lately.

faves: don’t keep it to yourself, itch, rough & ready

it’s undeniable that Tyler is a musical and creative genius and production-wise, i massively enjoyed the arrangements, the exploration and versatility of his bars. maybe he set the bar too high with the flower boy-igor-cmigyl run because this didn’t hit the way i wanted it to.

faves: sticky, darling i, hey jane

Michael Nyman’s soundtrack for The Piano is without a doubt one of the greatest soundtracks ever composed—and one that has been a part of my life for decades. Back in the late ’90s, I played it endlessly on cassette. It was my companion on many melancholic evenings during my youth, and even today, its emotional depth and timeless beauty continue to captivate me.

The soundtrack manages to create an incredible intensity with such minimalistic means. The melodies, carried by the iconic piano, exude a mix of melancholy, longing, and strength that touches you to your core. Pieces like The Heart Asks Pleasure First are so poignant they feel almost tangible—like music that speaks directly to your soul.… More

When I first encountered Woodkid’s music through his contribution to a movie soundtrack, I had no idea he was French. His sound felt universal, grandiose, and deeply cinematic, transcending borders or any sense of nationality. It wasn’t until I explored his debut album, The Golden Age, that I truly began to appreciate the genius behind his artistry.

And what a debut it is—absolutely stunning. From the opening notes, the album sweeps you into a lush, emotional journey. The orchestral arrangements are breathtaking, blending powerful brass, dramatic percussion, and tender strings with Woodkid’s deep, resonant voice. Tracks like Run Boy Run and Iron explode with intensity and urgency, while more intimate moments, such as I Love You… More

España será oscura, feminista y periférica o no será

Nostalgia captures the Hania Rani live experience during the Ghosts Tour (2023/2024). The string accompaniment enhances this performance/recording. It also makes me long for a tour/live recording with a full band featuring bass and drums.

There are few active musicians whose work always satisfies and has me eagerly anticipating what comes next. Rani is on my list.

Speak to Me is a 21st century jazz album that aims to be beautiful, serious, and profound. It succeeds on all fronts. The album’s greatest accomplishment is the playfulness woven into Lage’s compositions and the band’s performance. Repeated listens are rewarded with in-jokes, punchlines, and other feats of humor that catch me off guard and make me chuckle.

Lage, Roeder (bass), and King (drums) are all playing at their prime (no shocker, this is their fourth album together since 2019). Contributions by Warren (keys), Davis (piano), and Henry (reeds) are equal to the challenge set by the rhythm section.

Speak to Me is a special thing.

Huge fan of the first half of the record, where the band is going through a clubbier, fancier phase. Unfortunately, besides the single “Human After All”, the album unravels into uncertainty and flat grooves that leave a poor taste in my mouth. I wonder if the album would be an 8/10 if songs like “Strange Affair” and “The Revolution Will Not Be Anything” were on there.

This is a pretty enjoyable and spunky listen once you lower your expectations a bit, but people have been really wanking this off. I did not find this to be at all living up to the hype, with more linear songwriting and compositions that were less unique and creative than previous releases, this felt like more of a tribute album to indie country and Americana. “Wristwatch”, “Rip Torn” and “On My Knees” remind why I can like MJ of the past.

I knew nothing of Klara Lewis before starting to listen to this album.

After a couple of songs, I wondered what the hell I'd gotten myself into.

The first part was nearly pop-ish; the end was something like Primal Scream mixed by Kevin Shields: noise, mayhem, oblivion, destruction, fast winds through broken metal sheets.

This is a very pleasant surprise!

While I am familiar with their biggest hits, I have never actually listened to Linkin Park before. I was intrigued with them coming out with a new album, especially with a new singer, as I knew how big Chester was and how his death impacted fans.

So instead of listening to some of their previous albums, From Zero is the first LP album I have listened and relistened to. The verdict? I quite like it!

The singles are great, I love The Emptiness Machine, Heavy is the Crown, Over Each Other, and Stained. The other songs are a split between forgettable and catchy-but-not-great.

All in all, I love what LP has done with this album and it just made me… More

Discovered her in late October and this album (plus her entire discography) has been on loop since. Truly the sound of the szn. I love you quiet lightttttttt

One of my favorite and most listened to records of 2024. All Gist is discursive. James and Nathan “speak” to each other throughout; trading licks and ideas. Building songs that tell stories via melody and repetition. More than that, All Gist speaks directly to me. It tickles something deep and awakens a profound connection to something I cannot name, even after countless listens over the last eight months.

My weird feelings for All Gist are best encapsulated in the final song, “Buffalo Stance.” This song always stops me in my tracks. I put down whatever I’m doing, whether I’m at work, doing the dishes, or playing with the kids, and listen. Buffalo Stance makes me want to make… More

I don’t understand the hate. From here in the dark December nights of late 2024, this sure feels right to me.

Someone pitched this album to me as ethereal and gauzy, a delicate web needing multiple listens in different contexts to unpack. After the first listen, I was shocked. AAA is not really any of those things.

It is, instead, an incredible pop/rock record that conjures familiar elements from Western tradition (psychedelia, garage, surf, smooth rock, new wave, and so much more). It ignites those influences with joyous abandon, then gathers friends and family around the burning remains to sing new songs to new gods about a new and better world. Everyone laughs and sings all night long and in the early morning hours as the new sun rises above the still warm embers and sleeping bodies huddled close, this… More

(Perhaps) No record label in jazz history has focused on cultivating a singular sound like Criss Cross Jazz. Since 1980, the Dutch label has released hundreds of albums extending the jazz traditions of the 1950s and 60s, with bold yet modest interrogations of the textures, forms, and tones that make hard-bop and straight-ahead jazz so pleasant to hold and so accessible across generations.

Criss Cross’s discography is an alternate history where jazz ensembles won a hard-fought battle to be central to the cultural discourse and septets perform for 21st-century martini-drinking guests at hotels on the moon.

Solid Jackson, Criss Cross’s 2024 release, is delightful. It features modern jazz luminaries and asks what they would sound like if transported… More

That "I Heard You Looking" does not continue forever and ever is my only disappointment.
♾️❤️♾️

Ok, this is the one that hits me the hardest atm. I find it so well recorded - really captures the band's energy on stage. Now playing Live Jack on repeat, makes me feel like a little girlboss doing a little job - tired af but hopeful that one day I'll have it all. The Long Black Veil cover is probably alt-country's greatest not-so-hidden jewel.

I was always sort of into their previous stuff (Twenty-Two Strings especially) but this is a step above for them. They’ve hit on songs with a real groove and everything is just fuller - the step up to a four piece making the difference maybe.

Title track Norther is definitely up there for song of the year for me.

perhaps japandroids sucks and they should have never covered that song in the first place. perhaps the song itself rules. perhaps that band blows japandroids out of the water. perhaps there are like seven other songs on this very album that it would have made more sense for japandroids to cover. many things to consider.

Se nota que las guitarras vuelven a estar de moda porque la banda londinesa The Love Triangle haciendo algo parecido (y en mi opinión mejor) comieron mierda hace 10 años y ahora Bad Nerves son lo más cool. También tiene que ver la promo que tienen mientras que el "Triángulo Amoroso" no tenía ni redes sociales.

Básicamente suenan a The Marked Men y a toda la ola de bandas de punk pop con toques garage que aparecieron a principios de siglo. Veremos a donde pueden llegar sin perder la identidad.