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-   -   Recommend me some 2022 albums +1000th album halp (http://www.flashflashrevolution.com/vbz/showthread.php?t=137263)

rayword45 05-17-2020 07:11 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 742: SAWAYAMA by Rina Sawayama

Internalized racism made me assume off the bat this was gonna be some J-Pop or other weeb shit. It isn't, and she's based in the UK without an Asian accent. It sounds like Myspace-era scene girl music most of the time. A mix of weirdo dance-pop and lame alt metal that straight up just does not appeal to me.

This album is well-made, but I don't think I enjoyed any song in full. I'm really not the target audience here I feel, so I do feel bad giving this a low rating, but I've gotta be honest. The entire time I was just annoyed and thinking "why am I listening to this?". Maybe I'll like one of her future albums, if she does a complete stylistic 180 that is (or to be quite honest, just ditched the cringy metal side of things), because if it's more like this I have no interest.

Also, how many fucking songs have used the main melody that is in Chosen Family?

Best Track: Comme Des Garçons (Like the Boys)
Rating: 3.5/10

rayword45 05-19-2020 12:17 AM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 743: How I'm Feeling Now by Charli XCX

Ahh.... Fuck. Great. Now I'm a hipster whiteboy. Just kill me.

Best Track: Visions
Rating: 8/10

MixMasterLar 05-19-2020 02:51 AM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
You might have seen this already but

https://panchiko.bandcamp.com/album/d-e-a-t-h-m-e-t-a-l

Not gonna pretend it's 10/10 stuff but despite hating some of the lyrics I found the album worth my time

rayword45 05-21-2020 08:43 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 744: Set My Heart On Fire Immediately by Perfume Genius

Listened twice and I can't think of a single useful sentence to say, that about summarizes my opinion on this one.

Best Track: On The Floor (not as good as the IceJJFish song tho)
Rating: 5/10

rayword45 05-23-2020 12:59 AM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 745: Dedicated Side B by Carly Rae Jepsen

The weird thing is I enjoy this more than the original album. That being said, it starts out AMAZINGLY with the first 4 tracks, then the rest peters off with a couple of good cuts in between a sea of boring and bland. Still, I can recommend this without qualms. Fun dance-y stuff that feels like an 80s throwback but with backing tracks that would be absolute BANGERS in the club as instrumentals

Best Track: Stay Away
Rating: 7/10

dAnceguy117 05-23-2020 01:26 AM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
hmm I will listen to a carly rae jepsen release if rayword gives it a 7/10 tbh

_DJ Vinyl_ 05-23-2020 12:27 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Beats by Dr. Dre

aperson 05-23-2020 04:03 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by dAnceguy117 (Post 4730920)
hmm I will listen to a carly rae jepsen release if rayword gives it a 7/10 tbh

7/10 seems to be a good r-word cutoff for whether I should go check something out.

rayword45 05-25-2020 05:01 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 746: Will This Make Me Good by Nick Hakim

I got really drunk, listened to this last night and thought "yo this album fucking slaps".

Then I woke up this morning, listened to this album again and thought "yo this album fucking slaps". I'm a sucker for lo-fi production, and this feels like a sort of less depressing cousin to Solace. Definite new fave.

Best Track: Bouncing
Rating: 8.5/10

rayword45 05-26-2020 03:27 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 747: Purple Moonlight Pages by R.A.P. Ferreira

AKA Milo the rapper. Not Yiannopolopodopolis. Just like the 2017 album of his I reviewed, this has good-to-fantastic beats and pretty decent lyrics, but at times I found it cringy and boring.

That's all I'm gonna say for this one everyone else is hyping the fuck out of it (or was) way more than me you don't need my opinion.

Best Track: Ro Talk
Rating: 6.5/10

rayword45 05-27-2020 10:37 AM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 748: WUNNA by Gunna

About a year and a half ago I listened to Drip Season 3 and found it incredibly boring.

Now, I listen to dude's newest album and... It's literally just as boring? This dude hasn't even tried to make any improvements or stylistic shifts? What the fuck man

Best Track: the one with Travis Scott
Rating: 3/10

rayword45 06-5-2020 10:45 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 751: Cenizas by Nicolas Jaar

I remember I said that I should save this for posterity. And then I didn't. And then the website reset again even though literally no extra data from the past week has come up. Genius. Anyways, Lady Gaga gets either a 5 or 6, Jeff Rosenstock gets either a 5 or 6, or they're both 5s. I don't remember except they're definitely not both 6s. Also I'm saving this one right after I hit "Post Quick Reply". It gets a 7.

Best Track: Garden
Rating: 7/10

rayword45 06-5-2020 10:47 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 752: RTJ4 by Run The Jewels

Also saving this one right after I hit the reply button. This one isn't as good as Run The Jewels 3 but it's still damn solid. I'm not in love with every beat and a few of the hooks are questionable, but still a damn fine album.

Best Track: A Few Words For The Firing Squad
Rating: 8/10

dAnceguy117 06-5-2020 11:34 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 

dAnceguy117 06-5-2020 11:35 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
rtj all day
el-p and killer mike been killing it for years and years and years now
fuck police brutality
black lives matter

Deadlyx39 06-10-2020 10:52 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Killswitch Engage released some Atonement B-Sides, dunno if you'll like em any better than the actual album from last year tho cause I remember you not liking it.

Also Lamb of God's self-titled album is coming out next week.

dAnceguy117 06-10-2020 11:14 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
ahhh shit I'm a sucker for both of those

rayword45 06-13-2020 11:55 AM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day Konami: Alfredo by Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist

I liked this one more than the last Gibbs album.

Best Track: Frank Lucas
Rating: 8/10

rayword45 06-20-2020 12:13 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 754: Eternal Atake by Lil Uzi Vert

Too fucking long.

Best Track: Urgency
Rating: 5.5/10

choof 06-24-2020 05:10 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
lil uzi vert hyped that album up like crazy and it ended up being just another forgettable mixtape

did you ever listen to everywhere at the end of time

Gravity Kitten 06-24-2020 05:33 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
nathan u never listen to my recs but i'll still give u one anyway

jean dawson - bad sports

rayword45 07-2-2020 04:04 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 755: Punisher by Phoebe Bridgers

Fuck you melon you got it right this time and I hate that. I feel like if it wasn't rona time, I'd be a lot harsher on this but somehow this just speaks to my isolation, cabin fever, loneliness and desperation for human connection that is likely going to lead me to some uncomfortable, dangerous places.

Wait, fuck, all of that about myself still applies outside a pandemic. Godfuckingdamnit. But still, I'm gonna have to revisit this when I can go outside again and see if I like it as much.

Best Track: Moon Song
Rating: 8/10

rayword45 07-4-2020 04:50 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 756: Bridge to Quiet by Animal Collective

Fuck this holiday.

This EP is at least better than their last 3 or 4 releases. It's honestly pretty nice stuff! How is this throwaways?

I need to leave this country.

Best Track: Title track
Rating: 7/10

dAnceguy117 07-4-2020 09:07 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
https://twitter.com/weedhitler/statu...74518337556480

rayword45 07-5-2020 02:56 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 757: KiCk i by Arca

I wonder what Arkuski is up to these days. This is better than their previous albums for sure. A bit too long though.

Best Track: Calor
Rating: 7/10

rayword45 07-7-2020 12:23 AM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 758: The Album by Teyana Taylor

That EP (or was it an album?) with the Kanye production Ms. Taylor dropped in 2018 is one I still return to. It's brief, full of personality and totally consistent.

This is overlong, kinda generic and VERY hit-or-miss. It's also frontloaded as all heck. Disappointing. The features are mostly good though.

Best Track: Lowkey
Rating: 4.5/10

rayword45 07-15-2020 01:47 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 759: Shall We Go On Sinning So That Grace May Increase? by The Soft Pink Truth (Album Choice: zperson)

I'm a waste. As of right now I'm a fucking NEET (that only partly changes in a month) living in my mom's dining room. I've burned bridges. I've missed countless opportunities. Some of those I wonder if they'll come back but they probably won't. Maybe it's for the best. Maybe I'm doing them a favor. I rely too much on the fun times to get me through the utter horror of daily life, and with COVID severely stymieing one of my main replacements for a personality, the utter void of nothingness that has become my daily life consumes me to an agonizing degree. I know that when remote classes come back in a few weeks this will not change, as I'm not a real academic, I'm a fraud and a failure. Was college a waste of time? Did I waste my money? Am I about to waste more? Paying this much for digital classes should be illegal. The thought of how far behind I feel, even if it doesn't match my age nor whatever else the fuck, brings insane existential agony. Hell, the return of my fake personality, that being going out to places that serve alcohol while trying to pretend to live "spontaneously" that only annoys people, won't cure me. Well, at least it'll make it less annoying to deal with knowing there's actually something to look forward to. I need to get the fuck out of MA. Whatever, man.

This album was mostly really good. I liked the seamlessness. A few annoying bits, but I'm gonna have to relisten to this more than once to really decide if I like it more or less than I did first listen.

Best Track: We (I'm a sucker for the groove what can I say?)
Rating: 7/10

rayword45 07-15-2020 03:52 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 760: Domingo by Chip Tanaka

I'm a waste. As of right now I'm a fucking NEET (that only partly changes in a month) living in my mom's dining room. I've burned bridges. I've missed countless opportunities. Some of those I wonder if they'll come back but they probably won't. Maybe it's for the best. Maybe I'm doing them a favor. I rely too much on the fun times to get me through the utter horror of daily life, and with COVID severely stymieing one of my main replacements for a personality, the utter void of nothingness that has become my daily life consumes me to an agonizing degree. I know that when remote classes come back in a few weeks this will not change, as I'm not a real academic, I'm a fraud and a failure. Was college a waste of time? Did I waste my money? Am I about to waste more? Paying this much for digital classes should be illegal. The thought of how far behind I feel, even if it doesn't match my age nor whatever else the fuck, brings insane existential agony. Hell, the return of my fake personality, that being going out to places that serve alcohol while trying to pretend to live "spontaneously" that only annoys people, won't cure me. Well, at least it'll make it less annoying to deal with knowing there's actually something to look forward to. I need to get the fuck out of MA. Whatever, man. I'm starting to come to accept that these feelings are just how life is.

Been a while since I reviewed something game related I believe, this guy has composed for Nintendo for over 3 decades now. As a diehard Nintendo fan I'm coming into this with two opposite expectations, either I love it to bits or simply appreciate it but think it sounds too "video game-y". Not all video game soundtracks are that for me, like I love every second of every Kyle Gabler game soundtrack but... IDK fuck off I can't think of the words.

Well, there's some real instrumentation in here I... think? Very sparingly at that, this is mostly chiptunes and MIDI. Both of my predictions were correct, but the ones I don't enjoy as much outnumber the ones I do. Those ones are BEAUTIFUL though, I'll probably return to those tracks only, plus the ones that felt a little more left-field in general.

On a random note, something about Tubeworm Dub I findly oddly hilarious.

Best Track: Guiding Light Dub, Calm Sea, A Song For Stars, and the last two will make up my playlist to return to
Rating: 5/10

rayword45 07-15-2020 08:45 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 761: Fist Me Til Your Hand Comes Out My Mouth by Crywank

Great album title. I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected, the opening part is amazing.

Best Track: The first 8 tracks
Rating: 8/10

choof 07-17-2020 11:01 AM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
https://idlesunder.bandcamp.com/album/psygnosis

rayword45 07-22-2020 09:14 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 762: Legends Never Die by Juice WRLD

The fact that this dude died makes me go from uncaring to salty that my school lost the Tinder swipe off when he was the prize performer. Anyways, I've been in a super bad depressive funk for a week over someone that was probably doing me a favor when they told me I'm too good for them and I was hoping this music would help me, knowing how I stereotyped it before he died.

It didn't help. Nothing will help.

Best Track: Tell Me U Luv Me
Rating: 4/10

robertsona 07-24-2020 02:08 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
I liked "climbing towards a wall" by Ulla

rayword45 08-7-2020 12:43 AM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 763: The Microphones in 2020 by The Microphones

My emotions right now are very very confusing and I don't know what the fuck to put here because I'd rather just smoke weed and feel sorry AND ecstatic for myself.

This is a better album for that kinda conflicting mood than A Crow Looked At Me would've been. There's a sense of longing in this single piece, but it's definitely more nostalgic and introspective as opposed to outright "holy fuck this is so depressing what is the meaning of life?". I like the pacing, I like the vocals and lyrics, this is good shit.

Best Track: It's one 45 minute song.
Rating: 8/10

robertsona 08-7-2020 09:58 AM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
"tumbling towards a wall"* jeez I had one job

Wiosna 08-8-2020 06:38 AM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by choof (Post 4732536)
did you ever listen to everywhere at the end of time

Only Stages 3 and 6:
Quote:

Day 413: Everywhere At The End Of Everything, Part 3 by The Caretaker

So this is apparently some of the best ambient of the year. I'm doing this three-part series of albums in scattered backwards order because

1. This one has the best ratings
2. Part one is from 2016
3. Fuck you

This was rather different from what I was expecting, based on my preconceptions of what constitutes "ambient" and "turntablism". This consists mostly of piano playing chopped up, swirled around and run through filters to make it sound wax cylinder lo-fi. Not the atmosphere I tend to go for when searching for either of those genres, but it's not bad!

Apparently, this is supposed to sound like dementia. I definitely read that some time ago on RYM but I had forgotten it until I was about halfway through the album. With that context in mind... the hell? If anything that just makes it seem more kitsch with all the 1910s ballroom atmosphere. This predated Bojack Horseman season 4 but that felt like a better, more tasteful portrayal of dementia than this. And you guys should KNOW I'm a sucker for context (A Crow Looked At Me is a case where the depressing backstory worked except this one isn't nearly as "What the Jesus fuck..." tragic).

As one long piece this is rather enjoyable, yet oddly enough the tracks are mostly very same-y. Different chords and everything yeah but the mood and minimalism here is oppressive, though not necessarily in a bad way. It's also now dawning on me why I should listen to this in order... Nah fuck you.

Anyways, solid enough although the horn-y (hurrhurrhurrhurr) mood gets old after a while and it's hard to pick a best track. I'll listen to the others parts eventually, maybe. This gimmick is still trash, though.

Best Track: Gradiation of Arms Length or Mournful Cameraderie
Rating: 6/10
Quote:

Day 619: Everywhere at the End of Time - Stage 6 by The Caretaker (Album Choice: choof)

Did I review one of these earlier? Lemme check.

I did. It was the third one. Either way, go read up on the story behind these albums if you want, but I'm jumping straight into the most recent part because 2019, and because I want to see how it holds without the context.

I barely remember what the other one sounded like, but I do remember how it had far more tracks, with this one only having 4 pieces. And compared to the more obviously sample-based work displayed on that earlier album, this one is far more minimalist and seemingly focused on soundscapes, or really just, like, static. The final track is absolutely gorgeous, but with the other ones I get the sense I really should've listened to this whole project lol

Oh well, one day I will listen to the whole thing as intended. For now, ehh

Best Track: Place In The World Fades Away
Rating: 6/10
I'd still suggest listening to Stage 5 over any of the other stages if you're planning on reviewing just one stage.

I like it 08-15-2020 09:49 AM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
listen to that new sable valley

rayword45 08-17-2020 09:09 AM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 764: Tumbling Towards A Wall by Ulla (Album Choice: robertsona)

Ambient music is probably a wack choice for waiting music as I await this rapid COVID test that cost me $160. I am not getting a fucking covid test every damn time I see my girlfriend, I am really hating my current living situation and need to move out ASAP.

This album has a good amount of variety amongst its relatively few tracks, no two songs sound too much alike. This album is quite backloaded, I wasn't into a bunch of the starting songs but it ends very nicely.

Best Track: Smile (better than the Gothic Archies song with this title)
Rating: 7/10

themastergrant 08-20-2020 07:12 AM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Check out God, forgive these bastards by The Taxpayers. It’s not Christian even though it has the word god in the album title.

rayword45 08-24-2020 10:45 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 765: What's Your Pleasure? by Jessie Ware

I saw this high on the RYM charts and thought "nu-disco? I love nu-disco!" and this album is pretty good. Nothing outstanding and a bit too long but the production is pretty fucking gorgeous and there's no real obvious clunkers. I wish I could've lived through the 80s instead of the current hellworld. Then again, back then things were definitely more racist and homophobic. Whatever, good album. Will return several times this year and decide if I love it more or less than I do right now. Thanks /mu/-kiddies, you did me right this time unlike most of the time.

Best Track: The Kill
Rating: 8/10

rayword45 09-9-2020 02:36 AM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 766: Telas by Nicolas Jaar

Two albums by the same guy in one year! Also, I'm turning 23 on Sunday and they just cancelled Venture Bros, two reasons why this week fucking SUCKS.

This album sounds... very similar to the last one I heard from this guy. It's pleasant enough to me, nothing really sticks out, I'm honestly kinda bored, the end.

Best Track: meh
Rating: 5.5/10

robertsona 09-11-2020 12:10 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
thanks for listening to ulla, it's a cool alb

Deadlyx39 09-15-2020 11:52 AM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Oh yeah the S&M2 album finally got released. No more bootleg YouTube videos needed for that.

rayword45 10-2-2020 12:06 AM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 767: Ohms by Deftones

Damn it's been nearly a month since I've done one of these, last time I did one I was 22 and now I'm 23! I also still have nothing interesting to say about anything I listen to. This has never really been my kind of band, but the acclaim they get from random internet circles and from a lot of people I know like several roommates I've had made me want to check this out, further by the hype this album is getting.

And I can't lie, this album is really well-done. There are remarkably few moments I'd call boring or bad, and when this album is at its peak, it's brimming with life and energy. I might actually return to this, and for something that sounds like this, from a band where the strongest reaction I can remember at all is a resounding "this is kinda cool" I'd say that's an accomplishment.

Best Track: This Link Is Dead
Rating: 7/10

rayword45 10-2-2020 01:42 AM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 768: Ultimate Success Today by Protomartyr

Insert text here

Best Track: fuck you it's 3AM I'm bored of doing R homework and doing this by now
Rating: 5/10

robertsona 10-11-2020 09:52 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Godcaster - Long Haired Locusts

WildZapdos 10-12-2020 02:05 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by rayword45 (Post 4730769)
Day 743: How I'm Feeling Now by Charli XCX

Ahh.... Fuck. Great. Now I'm a hipster whiteboy. Just kill me.

haha sweeet

WildZapdos 10-16-2020 12:09 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
obviously i'm gonna suggest nectar, you should also do magic oneohtrix point never when that comes out but both of those are fairly obvious

choof 10-17-2020 06:55 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
new autechre
btw I don't think it's all that great

rayword45 10-29-2020 12:26 AM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 769: SIGN by Autechre (Album Choice: choof)

yeah you're right choof this isn't very good to be honest, I still haven't listened to NTS Sessions and probably never will but I found most of this to be kinda boring. I like that it feels more melodic as a whole than most of elseq was but it's way too hit-or-miss for me to really love it. There are some really good cuts though.

I hate school.

Best Track: si00
Rating: 5/10

rayword45 10-29-2020 02:04 AM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 770: PLUS by Autechre

This one came out days later after SIGN and I, err, like it more than the last one? Hard to say when you're listening to them back-to-back but this, while being less melodic overall, captures more of what I liked about most of Elseq. There are still a good chunk of tracks I find to be boring and uninspired overall but at the very least there are more obvious standouts on this one! Still not in love with it though, maybe a few more listens to both of these will help.

Best Track: X4
Rating: 6/10

Travis_Flesher 10-29-2020 02:34 AM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to listen to these bands.


atomic spliff - well now
smash hit combo - spin the wheel
tribuman - slackline raggamuffin
emmure - a gift a curse
crystal lake - disobey
slave machine - relevant
fox lake - death from above
anything produced by Brice Hincker
gojira - the cell
tallah - no one should read this


You shold start receiving youtube channel recommendations to the hottest new heavy metal music videos and some superb bands coming outta France after viewing the material.

rayword45 10-29-2020 11:19 AM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 771: It Is What It Is by Thundercat

Seeing Louis Cole featured on here is funny. I still jam that first track off the album and NEVER play the rest of the album.

I've been dying to see this guy live for the longest time, but COVID put a halt to my plans for that. My mental health is worsening by the day, no it's not just lockdowns.

Anyways, this album, right, there's a few bangers, but it's just kinda boring. This sounds like my last review! Why am I still doing this? What the fuck am I gaining from this? Jesus Christ, whatever, anyways, yeah, few bangers, and a few softer songs are absolutely divine, but the rest is just what I'd call "pleasant enough" without leaving any sort of impact on you. I'm like 7 months late to reviewing this fuck me.

I still hate school.

Best Track: I Love Louis Cole
Rating: 6/10

rayword45 10-29-2020 01:13 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 772: Middle Ouest by bergsonist

im tired yo, this one is mostly cool

Best Track: L'algorithme
Rating: 7/10

robertsona 10-30-2020 12:54 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
try out that godcaster you bimbo

radioamor 10-31-2020 07:00 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by rayword45 (Post 4730600)
Day 738: Fountain by Lyra Pramuk

good content was written here but I don't want to make the post needlessly long

Ask me again in the fall.

Best Track: New Moon
Rating: 5/10

Hi. It's fall. Would love to further probe your thoughts on this album whenever you have the time since this shit was my bread and butter when I first got ahold of it

MyNameIsNothing 11-8-2020 06:52 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
meitei - kofū

rayword45 11-12-2020 08:14 AM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 773: The Allegory by Royce Da 5'9

I listened to this because it's COVID time and there's anti-vaxx lyrics here.

Without that information, this would still suck. This shit is preachy and annoying, AND BORING. I hate that I subjected myself to this while Master's classes continue to worsen my depression. Also no more spoken word plz. Why did I subject myself to this? What is wrong with me?

Best Track: There were one or two songs I remember finding catchy but I'm not going back to look
Rating: 3.5/10

rayword45 11-12-2020 03:37 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 774: Palimpsest by Lauren Bousfield

So this is Nero's Day At Disneyland apparently, and it mostly still sounds like that project! But there's now vocals, and a sort of pop vibe to a lot of these songs, except that pop vibe is kinda fucked over by the sheer abrasiveness of the glitchiness and drums go fast.

Part of me thinks this needs multiple more listens. Part of me thinks "eh, one more is probably all it takes to get it". I found myself absolutely loving some tracks, and found the rest to just be kinda annoying. Interestingly enough, being long or short has no dictation on how much I like a song on this album! Is that unusual for me? I don't know, so how the fuck would any of you know? I've been doing this shit for 7 YEARS NOW? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

Best Track: Birds Falling Out Of The Sky or Futurelessness
Rating: 6/10

rayword45 11-14-2020 10:21 AM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 775: Dead Cities by The Future Sound of London

This was pretty meh, dunno why it's so highly regarded. A few good cuts but some of the samples they use are annoying as fuck.

Best Track: My Kingdom
Rating: 5/10

rayword45 11-23-2020 05:49 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 776: Positions by Ariana Grande

Shut the fuck up.

I still think that this woman is ridiculously overrated in terms of physical appearance by both men and women, but that has nothing to do with the music, I'm just saying that because it's something I find annoying and have found annoying for an insane amount of years now. In terms of music, overrated? Uh, sure maybe but I don't think I'm the target audience. I have very little opinion of what I've heard of her music mostly, it's mostly just completely forgettable to me.

Yeah, this is a snoozer. Sorry. The lyrics are the least boring part, and they're assfuckingly terrible. I'd like to think I'm a sex-positive person, but Ariana Grande + lyrics about her pussy = c'mon man this is the wrong artist. I get that she's probably trying to seem more mature but I'm just not feeling it. Beats? Snooooooooze. Features? Maybe the best part, and they're still sucky. This was a waste of time.

Best Track: Six Thirty
Rating: 4/10

rayword45 11-30-2020 11:29 AM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 777: Visions of Bodies Being Burned by Clipping

I miscapitalized the artist name. Oh well, who gives a shit? These guys are way better than Death Grips even though I don't think they're all that comparable. This album is even better than the one I heard last year.

I don't feel like writing more. Master's classes and COVID quarantines are a motherfucking bitch.

Best Track: Pain Everyday or Enlacing
Rating: 9/10

rayword45 11-30-2020 12:48 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 778: Dwellers of the Deep by Wobbler

TBH I don't even know how the fuck I found this album or why I'm listening to it. I don't know why, but it vaguely reminds me of Comus despite being nowhere near the same genre. I respect the craft, but for the most part I find this kinda dull. The exception, oddly enough, is the mega-long ending track, which falls victim to all the same things that make me find the rest of the album boring, but somehow when you expand it even more it goes from boring to majestic? Dunno, whatever, meh.

Best Track: I just said it motherfucker
Rating: 6/10

rayword45 11-30-2020 02:09 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 779: Long Haired Locusts by Godcaster (Album Choice: robertsona)

Yet again, there's something in here that VAGUELY reminds me of Comus and I don't know why. Maybe it's just my mindset today. Maybe it's just all these harmonized vocals. I don't know.

Anyways, that's really only slightly, because again but even moreso than that wanky album I just listened to, this really sounds NOTHING like Comus. I don't know what band I'd compare this to really, but this shit is actually 100% my jam when it all comes together. Weird, janky guitar work mixed with slight pop sensibility and a whole lotta art pretension (I mean that in a good way, I promise), all with a feeling that it could all fall apart at any second (I read that this was recorded live-to-tape, giving it a lo-fi sensibility that I really enjoy). I can't say I loved every track on here, some of them just came and go without leaving much of an impact, but when this one clicks, it CLICKS HARD. I will definitely return to this to see if it deserves to be one of my year end favorites.

Best Track: Escape from the Challenger Deep
Rating: 7/10

rayword45 11-30-2020 03:39 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 780: Love + Light by Daniel Avery

Quote:

Originally Posted by rayword45 (Post 4617123)
Day 449: Song For Alpha by Daniel Avery (Album Choice: internet music nerds)

"Yo somehow this music is blending in PERFECTLY with the pop music blasting in this car. They don't contrast at all, which is scary... okay that's probably just a first track thing.

Sensation is great."

That was all I managed to write down on my first go through with this album, before slinking off into half-sleep. I've listened to this album about five times now. Before, I would shit out a review towards the end of an album to get it over with, but this one caused me to lose words. "Before" was the absolute wrong word to use considering I still do that, it's just that this album is specifically difficult to shitpost out a review to. That's a good thing!

Geogaddi is one of my all-time favorite albums, and this album seems to capture that same vibe that I love in large part, although this one definitely isn't as dark and there are more "danceable" moments here, using that term lightly (basically where the albums house flavor shows up). Either way, a great, great album and rivaling Kali for my current favorite of 2018 spot. Unlike Boards of Canada though, I can confidently say that the short tracks here really don't have shit on the long tracks.

Best Track: Quick Eternity
Rating: 8.5/10

This was in 2018, I still really enjoy that album, but only at really specific moments, it's not something I jam every month to be quite honest. And in retrospect, 8.5/10 was probably 1-1.5 too generous.

Should I compare the two albums or should I review this one on its own merits? I'm not actually going to decide, I'm just gonna barf out my thoughts like normal and see what happens. Compared to Song For Alpha (okay yup we're going that way already) this album is way more accessible feeling, songs seem a lot less understated and things are a lot more upbeat and in-your-face. I assume the first disc is supposed to be Love and the second is supposed to be Light, but honestly they should switch titles if that's the case, as the songs on the first disc are a LOT more danceable and aggressive with percussion than the frequently angelic-sounding (I mean that as neither a compliment or pejorative) second half.

I... I'm really stumped at this point to be quite honest as how to rate this. With the exception of the consecutive annoyances of Depth Wish and Searing Light, Forward Motion, combined taking up less than 4 minutes of this 60 minute album, there is nothing less than pleasant to my ears here. I'm also fond of the pseudo-double album (is it pseudo?) structuring, as it prevents any singular mood or style from becoming overly repetitious. But... I don't know, there's some kind of magic missing that I'm just not sure how to word it. I can honestly say I LOVED at least a good half of this album, and of the remaining 26ish minutes of music it's never anything worse than "okay, this exists and is chill enough" but I'm just not sure if this fully clicks as an album for me.

Fuck it, remind me to re-evaluate this WITHIN A MONTH because I really am stumped.

Best Track: Darlinnn on side one, A Story in E5 on side two
Rating: 7/10

rayword45 11-30-2020 05:01 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 781: Atlas Vending by METZ

I bet if it wasn't for COVID this shit would slap live. However, I'm not that into this kinda anthemic garage punk stuff recorded for some reason. Seems kinda derivative. Not writing more.

Best Track: Hail Taxi
Rating: 5/10

rayword45 12-1-2020 11:44 AM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 782: Róisín Machine by Róisín Murphy

Can you tell by how many albums I've been reviewing in a short span that I'm cramming the fuck out of finals right now? Undergrad wasn't that bad, but accelerated Master's programs are something fucking else I'll you that right now, I really hate my life. Thank god for being autistic, ADHD and having on-and-off hemicrania because it means I can get some nice fucking extensions.

When I looked at the cover of this album I thought that this was going to be an album by a drag queen or trans woman, but then I googled it and this is a cis woman. Is this cultural appropriation? I really have no idea, and the disco vibe of this whole thing makes that question even more confusing. Nothing from this album comes off as mocking or like she's stealing from a culture or anything, and apparently she has a hardcore gay fanbase so I guess that makes it all okay. I dunno, I'm just a cis male. Is this a music review or a Tumblr post?

Anyways, I'm going to compare this to the most obvious choice from this year, that being What's Your Pleasure by Jessie Ware. Both are throwbacky disco-influenced albums, both are being hyped up by the usual corners of the internet you'd expect and both are a similar total run length. Anyways, this album isn't as good, but it's still pretty good I suppose. These tracks are stupid long and not all of them are hits, so it's nowhere near as consistent as that last album. But when it hits, it's great fun. Anyways, back to not doing my research!

Best Track: We Got Together
Rating: 7/10 (can I pull a Fantano and say a "light 7")

rayword45 12-1-2020 06:11 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 783: The Ascension by Sufjan Stevens

It's been 5 years since I last reviewed this guy, because he hasn't put out a relevant album in 5 years. All he's released has been outtake collections, remix bullshit and some collaborations that people didn't pay attention to. I remember Carrie and Lowell made me irrationally angry when I first heard it, but it doesn't do that any more, it just kinda bores me besides like the first track and 4th of July.

This also bores the shit out of me. And it's 80 minutes what the fuck.

Best Track: Landslide
Rating: 4/10

James Somers 12-3-2020 07:45 AM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by rayword45 (Post 4751929)
Day 783: The Ascension by Sufjan Stevens

It's been 5 years since I last reviewed this guy, because he hasn't put out a relevant album in 5 years. All he's released has been outtake collections, remix bullshit and some collaborations that people didn't pay attention to. I remember Carrie and Lowell made me irrationally angry when I first heard it, but it doesn't do that any more, it just kinda bores me besides like the first track and 4th of July.

This also bores the shit out of me. And it's 80 minutes what the fuck.

Best Track: Landslide
Rating: 4/10

It happens when you are waiting, waiting for something, but it does not meet your expectations. After all, 5 years is a significant period of time, during this time people can change a lot, their view of things changes, their thoughts change. As a result, the new product will no longer suit the audience that it used to be.

rayword45 12-3-2020 02:21 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 784: Loops of Infinity (A Rave Loveletter) by DJ Metatron

Scrolling through the RYM charts and I find this thing, which only had a very limited physical release on vinyl and otherwise can only be streamed from Soundcloud or YouTube. I started streaming it on SoundCloud, then saw that it cut off a half-hour early compared to YouTube and switched.

This is nothing like the other stuff I've reviewed in that I can't really pick out individual moments as highlights or lowlights. This is just one long DJ set, but it was fucking beautiful to me. I can see someone finding this too long or boring but it's giving me rave flashbacks and in the era of COVID this is exactly what I need.

Best Track: The whole damn thing
Rating: 9/10

rayword45 12-3-2020 03:04 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 785: Inner Song by Kelly Lee Owens

Alright awesome reviewing two things I really like in a row, that's a rarity! I meant to review her self-named debut 3 years ago but never got around to it, and now I'm feeling like that was a massive mistake because this oscillates perfectly between cute synth-pop stuff and atmospheric dance tracks. Never a boring minute to me. Also the song with John Cale reminds me of Cannibal Holocaust for some reason.

Best Track: Melt! or Jeannette
Rating: 9/10

rayword45 12-4-2020 12:25 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 786: GAIA by Blank Banshee

This is a lot better than the last thing I reviewed by this guy, in that it's at least more consistent, but it rarely reaches the point of actually amazing. Actually, it pretty much never does. It's all just pleasantly boring.

Is this still considered vaporwave?

Best Track: blah find out for yourself man this one is short
Rating: 5.5/10

choof 12-4-2020 05:23 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
https://kevinandthebikes.bandcamp.co...m/ironic-songs

pls

it's actually quite good for a band whose legacy thus far is musical ed edd and eddy shitposts

rayword45 12-6-2020 03:19 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 787: Ironic Songs by Kevin & The Bikes (Album Choice: choof)

Thanks for pointing out that this dropped on Bandcamp, nerd. Dorkcore 101 is still one of the strangest yet best experiences I've ever had listening to an album, and even if I don't love every minute of its four hour length I love it as a whole.

I'm surprised at how... not ironic this sounds. I mean I get that's the joke, and some of these songs are still goofy, but for the most part this is pretty well-written lo-fi rock music. And... I like it a lot. Listened to it twice already and liked it even more the second time. SO again, thanks nerd.

Best Track: Salamia
Rating: 8/10

robertsona 12-6-2020 03:35 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by rayword45 (Post 4751847)
Day 779: Long Haired Locusts by Godcaster (Album Choice: robertsona)

Yet again, there's something in here that VAGUELY reminds me of Comus and I don't know why. Maybe it's just my mindset today. Maybe it's just all these harmonized vocals. I don't know.

Anyways, that's really only slightly, because again but even moreso than that wanky album I just listened to, this really sounds NOTHING like Comus. I don't know what band I'd compare this to really, but this shit is actually 100% my jam when it all comes together. Weird, janky guitar work mixed with slight pop sensibility and a whole lotta art pretension (I mean that in a good way, I promise), all with a feeling that it could all fall apart at any second (I read that this was recorded live-to-tape, giving it a lo-fi sensibility that I really enjoy). I can't say I loved every track on here, some of them just came and go without leaving much of an impact, but when this one clicks, it CLICKS HARD. I will definitely return to this to see if it deserves to be one of my year end favorites.

Best Track: Escape from the Challenger Deep
Rating: 7/10


hell yea. it's a bunch of like ~22 year olds too. I essentially agree with you that some of the tracks dont leave a great impression but the whole is so bombastic and creative that its like eh Ill give em a pass hahaha

rayword45 12-8-2020 11:43 AM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 788: Nightmare Vacation by Rico Nasty

If I recall correctly, I actually quite enjoyed Anger Management last year. I remember the exact day I listened to that mixtape while studying like a madman. I had been hip to Rico for quite a while prior to listening to that but never really bothered giving her a shot beyond whenever she featured on something I was listening to, but found myself admiring the energy, personality and the performances on that release.

Now Rico Nasty has dropped her first official album, and... I'm disappointed. The same delivery and energy seems to be there for a lot of these tracks but this whole thing is just kinda boring, which for less than 40 minutes is kinda disturbing. There are some good cuts in here, but there are a fair amount of duds and just a lot of boredom to be found here for me. The lyrics? Mostly fine, a corny line here or there. Beats? Yet again a mixed bag. Features? I would say "mixed bag" but also 100 gecs produced one of these tracks and I feel obligated to dock off a point for that alone.

Man... This is just sad to write.

Best Track: Let It Out
Rating: 4.5/10

rayword45 12-8-2020 12:40 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 789: Savage Mode 2 by 21 Savage and Metro Boomin

The only review I've ever posted from the rapper/mumbler/Brit on this release I believe was I Am > I Was which was actually way better than I expected. I never reviewed it but I heard and hated INNIT... I mean ISSA. Okay I'm just referencing old memes at this point and that's just fucking stupid let's move on.

Wait he actually references that whole controversy in some of the lyrics on this release, I... should've expected that actually, but it's still amusing to me. Comparing this to the release I literally just reviewed, this falls into many of the same traps of repetition (does this dude EVER change his delivery? When I saw him live he was screaming over backdrops which felt horribly unfitting, if he's gonna do that live then he needs to make some fucking screaming tracks) but overall I feel this one is at least a bit more consistent. I'm way more fond of the beats here (the repetition complaint is only in terms of delivery, these beats oscillate between sparkly pretty crap, dark shit and party bangers more than often enough), the lyrics are surprisingly way better than I would've expected (lots of good one-liners) and I felt LESS bored by this than Nightmare Vacation which is... uhhh.... weird? My only qualms with this release really are some of the love and sex songs which don't really please me (especially that one with Aubrey Graham's Grooming Parlor) but they at least add variety I guess? Maybe someone wants to hear this mumbly British dude murmur about how he wants the pussy wet?

Anyways, ignoring those, this is remarkably consistent. I'd be lying if I said I liked it as much as the last one I review but this is pretty good stuff. Not top album of the year stuff, works more as something I'd just toss a few of the best cuts into a playlist or something, but pretty damn good.

The only thing I'm not really fond of at all are all the features here, none of which really stand out, but I see them as necessary considering just how monotonous this guy's delivery is. And although I hate Drake as much if not more than I hate 100 Gecs I don't feel like knocking a point off for that since he's not nearly as intrusive when he grossly features.

Best Track: Many Men
Rating: 7/10

rayword45 12-8-2020 01:42 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 790: 333 by Bladee (Album Choice: Hazel H.)

I know that Cloud Rap is a pretty diverse genre, but did this guy actually rap ONCE on this release? It all seemed like autotuned singing. I'm not saying that to knock on it, I'm just surprised that this is classified as hip-hop.

And now I'm knocking on it. This shit is boring. Once again, the descriptor "pleasantly boring" works perfectly for this album. ALL OF IT.

Best Track: Don't got one
Rating: 5/10

rayword45 12-9-2020 12:45 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
Day 791: アダンの風 (Adan no kaze) by 青葉市子 [Ichiko Aoba]

Hey look I put Japanese characters in the title section! Yay copy-paste! I'm reviewing this because as of right now it's the number one album on RateYourMusic for the year and I'm PRETTY damn sure that it wasn't ranked anywhere near there a few days ago.

...Oh wait, this only came out a week ago. I mean, I guess that explains that. Still, is this really gonna remain on top of The Microphones? I'm doubtful, and that's before I listen to this, I'm saying that because lol internet music virgins.

Well anyways, now I've listened to this and... I like it? But I don't love it. This is a mix of brief ambient interludes and floral, almost mystical-sounding folk songs that remind me of that one release that ninjaKIWI recommended to me what must be over 5 years ago at this point. I haven't listened to that one in... what must be over 5 years... but anyways the flashbacks must mean something? God I'm using so many ellipses in this post it's infuriating.

This is really pretty stuff, and I can definitely see the appeal this holds over music nerds, but I'm just not seeing this as MY personal favorite, and I am certainly not against folksy stuff as I have made pretty clear since like 2013. I actually prefer the ambient bits over the heavily orchestrated vocal songs, but either way nothing really sticks out good or bad, why is that a problem I have with seemingly EVERY ALBUM?! Is it an ADHD thing? Whatever, I know that no matter how many times I listen to this before January, I'm not gonna fall in love with it enough to agree with this being the best album of the year or even in the top 10.

But don't let that discourage you! I've come to the realization that ratings are fucking meaningless considering I usually just pull a number out of my ass, but I'm gonna rate this high enough that it might encourage you to listen to it, because maybe you'll love it! I really do see the appeal of this album, and I think that it's a wonderful effort with a lot of love put into it, so just because I'm kinda like "eh... good enough" it doesn't meaFUCK ANOTHER ELLIPSIS GODDAMNIT.

So anyways, just because I think this album is just good enough, doesn't mean you're gonna feel the same way! Please, PLEASE listen to this and tell me what you think in a reply, I'd like to see how people differ in opinion with me.

Best Track: Parfum d'étoiles
Rating: 7/10

choof 12-9-2020 03:18 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp
 
I can't help but feel like the response to adan no kaze has a small element of musical yellow fever

iirc in my time spent perusing the doujin music scene I've heard loads of albums with this same aesthetic

rayword45 12-9-2020 03:45 PM

Re: Recommend me some 2019 albums halp
 
Day 792: Good News by Megan Thee Stallion

Quote:

Originally Posted by rayword45 (Post 4707626)
Day 697: Fever by Megan Thee Stallion

I mean it's a lot of fun, but the whole sexual atmosphere can get a little overbearing at times when it's the same fuckin topic every song.

No pun was intended there.

Best Track: Simon Says
Rating: 7/10

I have literally the exact same opinion on this album as that "mixtape". How the fuck is this a debut album and that's a mixtape? Is it because it's like 9 minutes longer? Because that's fucking stupid.

Actually, I wanna amend what I just said, I didn't find the sexual atmosphere overbearing for the most part at all, except maybe like one or two songs. Otherwise, it's totally fine! What does it mean when it doesn't bother me here that much but it just weirds me out when it's Ariana Grande being horny? Nickelodeon effect?

Best Track: Go Crazy
Rating: 7/10


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