Reviews

what the fuck im never gonna shut up about this

Weirdly one of those records that ages better with time. I recall when they won a Grammy, lots of dorks said this wasn't a rock album but they were wrong then & wrong now.

king of the mischievous south ii
and it's
completely
different but
also still
king of the mischievous south ii

(re-released with STILL IN THE PAINT)

Personalmente este album es uno de mis favoritos, sobre todo por su elementos electrónicos marcados en sincretismo con la sonoridad de la voz de Juana, retratando una visión onírica de sus composiciones

A Timeless Gem: Double Image by Monday Michiru

Double Image by Monday Michiru is a stunning blend of jazz, soul, and experimental sounds that feels as fresh and vibrant today as it did upon its release. The album showcases Michiru’s incredible versatility, weaving intricate rhythms with her soulful, expressive voice. Every track offers something unique, from sultry jazz numbers to adventurous genre-blurring experiments, creating an album that’s both cohesive and constantly surprising.

This album holds a special place in my heart, not just for its remarkable music, but for how it entered my life. Over 20 years ago, I “borrowed” a Japan Import copy from a roommate who had accidentally left it behind when he moved out. Reconnecting… More

Whoever plays the saxophone on this record, I love them

Violator (1990) by Depeche Mode is a landmark album in electronic music, blending dark, introspective themes with irresistible, anthemic melodies. It showcases the band’s evolution from their earlier, more minimalistic work into a refined, dynamic sound that would define the ’90s. The album’s standout track, “Enjoy the Silence,” remains a timeless classic, not only for its hauntingly beautiful melody but also for its extraordinary music video. Filmed on the roof of one of the World Trade Center towers, the video perfectly encapsulates the song’s theme of isolation and longing, making it a memorable visual experience that complements the track’s atmospheric production.

The album also features other iconic tracks like “Personal Jesus” and “Policy of Truth,” each… More

Whenever I see this cover I always end up listening to Yumi Zouma EP1.

Elephant by The White Stripes is a powerful album that firmly establishes the duo as one of the most influential rock bands of the 2000s. Released in 2003, the album features their probably biggest success, “Seven Nation Army,” a song that has transcended its original context to become a global anthem, instantly recognizable for its iconic bass line. However, the album is much more than just this hit. Songs like “I Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself” and “Ball and Biscuit” showcase Jack White’s raw guitar work and Meg White’s solid drumming, capturing the essence of their minimalist, yet profound, style.

Every track on Elephant deserves attention, with its blend of blues, garage rock, and… More

Moon Safari by Air, their studio debut, is a mesmerizing journey into atmospheric electronic music, effortlessly blending ambient soundscapes with smooth, sophisticated melodies. Tracks like the dreamy “La Femme d’Argent” and the iconic “Sexy Boy” capture the essence of the album, creating a laid-back yet engaging vibe that feels both cinematic and intimate. The album’s sound is timeless, with lush production and subtle grooves that invite listeners into a world of sonic exploration.

I was lucky enough to experience Air live at the Ghent Jazz Festival, where their performance was nothing short of spectacular. The Belgian audience’s energy combined with Air’s magnetic presence made for an unforgettable night. The performance was an exhilarating experience, full of… More

Charlotte Gainsbourg’s 5:55 is a stunning album that blends ethereal beauty with understated elegance. Produced by Air, the album’s minimalist arrangements perfectly complement her subtle, haunting vocals. Standout tracks like “5:55” and “The Operation” showcase her ability to convey deep emotion with restraint. The delicate, almost dreamlike quality of “5:55” contrasts with the darker, more urgent tone of “The Operation,” making them key highlights. Her later work, Stage Whisper, continues this exploration of intimacy and vulnerability, further cementing her ability to craft captivating, introspective music. 5:55 remains a solid, more-than-just-comforting masterpiece in her discography.

MTV Unplugged in New York is an acoustic masterpiece that captures Nirvana at their most vulnerable and powerful. The album’s marvelous atmosphere is built on the intimate setting of the performance, which allows Kurt Cobain’s raw emotion to resonate in every note. Songs like “Pennyroyal Tea,” “On a Plain,” and “Lake of Fire” take on new depth in this stripped-back environment, showcasing the band’s incredible range. The cover versions—particularly the poignant “Where Did You Sleep Last Night”—add further emotional weight, blending perfectly with Nirvana’s haunting sound. This album is a true testament to their versatility and legacy.

Uno de esos discos que, si pudiese, votaría negativo.

Review of Torso by Soap&Skin

With Torso, Soap&Skin once again proves her mastery in transforming familiar songs into deeply personal interpretations. This cover album is a bold and hauntingly beautiful journey through reimagined classics, all filtered through her unique artistic lens.

The album opens with Mystery of Love (originally by Sufjan Stevens), where her ethereal voice brings a tender intimacy to the already poignant track. Voyage, Voyage, previously explored on Narrow, returns with even more depth, its melancholic undertones elevated in this version.

Her take on David Bowie’s Girl Loves Me is daring and hypnotic, pushing boundaries with its raw intensity. And then there’s What’s Up, the iconic anthem by 4 Non Blondes—… More

With slight undertones from Editors, White Lies is this a dark album full of massive songs. Although it sounds familiar IST IST really got their own style and puts the songs right where it belongs: somewhere between your heart and brains

Lovetune for Vacuum is a stunning debut that showcases Soap&Skin’s exceptional talent for creating deeply emotional and intricately crafted music. The album strikes a powerful balance between fragility and intensity, blending minimalist piano arrangements with haunting electronic elements.

Anja Plaschg’s voice is nothing short of breathtaking, carrying a raw vulnerability that transforms each song into an intimate confession. Her interpretation of themes like grief and longing is not only heartfelt but also displays remarkable artistic depth.

A standout track is “Sleep,” where her expressive vocals and poignant delivery shine the brightest. It encapsulates the album’s essence: emotional in an elaborated form, drawing the listener into a beautifully melancholic world.

While a few moments might feel… More

I'm enjoying digging into this one while going back and listening to the original work in tandem. It's a pleasure as a listener but also fascinating to think about as a creative exercise. It doesn't operate like a re-mastering, remix or even a re-recording of a work by the same artist. It's a kind of re-creation where it's given to room to transform into something else while maintaining the same DNA as the 2002 recording.

i will literally listen to this album instead of going to therapy 👍

There's an eerie unsettled vibe that looms throughout the rapid 17 song 32 minute album. Is it the quavering warping of the lo-fi cassette media? the distressing soul revealing words? or the feeling that you are standing outside a therapy session voyeuristically eavesdropping?

Whatever the experience is; I've never listened to music that has given me an anxiety headache the way that Hi, how are you? did.

Happy to have listened to such a seminal album. But not an album I will be returning too any time soon.

Soap&Skin is back with her album "Torso". Very melodic again and that incomparable voice. Her own songs and cover versions in her own version create a harmonious picture.

Her beautiful voice in her self-written song "Gods & Monsters" or the cover of "Voyage, Voyage" originally sung by Desireless.

I'll definitely listen to it more often.

I will be honest, up until a year ago I hadn’t given Father John Misty much thought, actually ignore that, I had given him a lot of thought and decided I found him quite pretentious so decided to pay no mind to his music. That was until I saw him open for Lana Del Rey in Hyde Park and had what could be described as a spiritual revelation because unfortunately he has some insane level rizz. Believe the cult leader moniker, it’s a real phenomenon, and it changed my life (for better or worse).

They'll never make me stop believing in you, Father.

感觉是包含了hiphop 发展至今风格的大杂烩，有几首喜欢的。

还可以

Dark Ambient. Perfect for running through the woods at night with a headlamp. Only you, the sound of your breath and Bibio's Music.

This is quite a nice, Hollywood-but-not-plucky-strings-predictable type of Hollywoodesqueness that could have been the case. I like a lot of the 'aaaaaaaaAAAAH!' human-voice breathy things that come and go. Kind of reminded me of Diamanda Gàlas's vocals in the 'Dracula' film by Francis Ford Coppola.

The Quietus wrote nicely about this album.

If you love the title track from the new Father John Misty record, man, do I have an album for you

Ha intentado la Quique González vía y bueno

Highly recommend listening to this on a boat as it’s approaching a mysterious island

Brittany Howard is undefeated. I may come back and change this to 5 stars depending on how much I replay this.

edited: 11.22.24
5 stars

On Kuma Cove, Luke Wyland overlays loops of live improvisations, in different tempos, as a representation of his own stutter. As he says, “the musicality of my disfluency is revealed in its frictions, elongations, and foreshortenings.” What we get is a collection of songs with often slightly-disconcerting tones and drones, sometimes metallic, sometimes rumbling, sometimes soaring, with soothing motifs of melody in the foreground and unpredictable, staccato plucked strings or piano, giving Wyland his voice. There's structure and development to the songs, creating a narrative of contrasting emotions locked in tension, battling for ascendency. This is exactly what Tim Hecker does and Kuma Cove offers that intensity, albeit with less abrasive sounds. It's amazing to get lost in this music.… More

Time to update your Tinder profile again: I hope you realize: I’m not for Christmas, I’m for life. 

Just in the first few listens, but thoroughly enjoying the world she's creating here with all the delicate details. I'd love to hear this accompanying the film but it's also doing so well accompanying my life on the rainy autumn west coast of Canada at the moment.

I have to say, I love the album titles and the song titles. Witch house is not dead!!111one

This is a lovely and weird mix between oddness and pop. It's composed and constructed a bit like a...Tetris game. ProTools-ed out, but in a good way.

The album starts out like something by Alessandro Cortini: slow-building, electronic, analogue, and then, in the second track, going into pop.

That kind of set me up for the album.

OK, I've heard it once, but I have to hear it again. This is a lovely album that can sate an unruly soul. I dig the orchestral bits, by the way. Feels like this duo like to collaborate with others and are really playful. I dig this.

Uno de los discos de ¿hardcore? del año. Aquí cabe todo, rock, punk , post punk, melodías tarareables, delays a lo U2 en las guitarras y agresividad a partes iguales. Si en directo cumplen, un grupo a tener muy en cuenta.

This album suffers for having to follow her first album. I think I would have liked Motomami better without El Mal Querer setting such an impossibly high bar, but that one was the album of a lifetime and this one feels only okay in comparison. It's solid, but I don't feel the urge to listen to it endlessly.

Sad that this is their last album, because it is definitely the best and most well thought-out. Filled with quirks and twists and turns without abandoning their central identity, this album is a pleasant listening experience. I think they make great use of their features, which cover many genres all within a post-punk heart. There are definitely a few rawer points and a few duds, but overall, they managed to put something together that matches my expectations of their potential. I love "Body Shock" with Lianne La Havas, especially in context with the Janet Planet and Coucou Chloe features.

Here before he blows up

them dropping their best album seven years and eight albums in is one of the craziest things I can think of