dremolus - solarpunk
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 11, 2021 9:37:01 GMT -5
And here we have the second list.
The lockdown provided an excuse to be listening and exploring more music. There were many individual narratives (both organic and manufactured) that persisted this year: the post-humous albums for Mac Miller, Pop Smoke, Juice WRLD, and Chester Benington, the resurgence of disco collectively in pop, and country coming back in a big way with the most commercial success it's seen in years but also a ton of great albums from the indie set. We also saw a ton of success both critically and commercially for international acts: from reggaeton superstars like Bad Bunny and ROSALIA, to K-Pop crossing over to English, to a handful of Japanese acts so garnered several acclaimed albums across a variety of genres (you'll be seeing some of them in this very list!).
I listened to over 250 albums this year, discovering dozens of artists and becoming familiar with hundreds of genres, including ones I'd been hesitant to listen to like post-hardcore, screamo, industrial, and so much more. And despite being overloaded with music, more often than not, a ton of these albums were great discoveries: so much so that for a while I had actually 50 honorable mentions for this list! And unlike with singles, my opinions on albums doesn't really change from day to day. So these rankings have mostly stuck throughout the year. Hopefully though, we can start to going back to what feels like normalcy, and artists are allowed to tour more and get more revenue in general. But for now, it's time to celebrate the albums that stuck with me the most throughout last year: the ones that hit me emotionally the most, the ones that challenged musical conventions, and the ones that simply were the most fun to listen to.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 12, 2021 8:22:07 GMT -5
Gonna start with all my honorable mentions this time since there's less.Honorable Mention:
'Hey u x' by BENEE A bit basic in its themes of being the "shy, lonely, and uncool girl who's looking to fit in but is too weird for the crowd"? Undoubtedly but man does BENEE have a lot of charm and character in doing so. If you liked or even loved 'Supalonely' I highly recommend you check out her debut. Again, it's not uncharted ground for this sort of twee indie pop but it's the sort of 'underdog teen soap' that's less cloying and immature, and more endearing, thoughtful, and even cute. Give this one a listen, really overlooked album.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 12, 2021 8:31:49 GMT -5
Honorable Mention:
Eternal Atake by Lil Uzi Vert
Yes. It's too long clocking on an hour that should've been cut down 10-15 minutes, Lil Uzi's lyrics are meaningless fluff - if not questionable like on 'Venetia', and if you aren't a fan of trap, I can't pretend you'll like or enjoy much of this. But at the same time, I'm not gonna deny how much fun I had listening to this album. As someone who's still not a Lil Uzi fan, the fact I wound up really liking this album was the biggest surprise of the year. While the lyrics are nothing to care about, I thought Uzi upped up his game with more catchy flows, particularly on cuts like 'You Better Move' and 'Lo Mein' in the first third of the album, and I actually think the emotion in songs like 'I'm Sorry', 'Celebration Station', and 'P2' were effective. But what I really wound up loving was the futuristic and spacey theme of the instrumentals; they really help create an alien, out of this world atmosphere that really set this apart from other trap or even other Uzi projects. Again, it's a very flawed album - I'm not gonna ignore that - but for a genre this mindless, this was really fun.
(P.S. I'm looking at the original version of Eternal Atake, not including LUV Vs. the World 2)
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 12, 2021 8:47:19 GMT -5
Honorable Mention:
Cenizas by Nicholas Jaar
Of three projects Nicholas Jaar released this year, this was by far my favorite and the most captivating and intriguing one. There's just something about the world the instrumentals paint: cold, brittle, dusty, isolated like on 'Menysid', 'Mud', 'Faith Made of Silk'. It helps that there are lyrics for once that help enforce this rather bleak, haunted atmosphere but there's still that brilliant use of quiet. It's a project that says more while saying little. It's abstract ambient that definitely does take a while to not only get into but to dissect, but if you have the time and patience and our willing to challenge yourself, I say go for it. It's interesting and difficult art that once you're able to decode, is a very rewarding experience.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 12, 2021 9:16:45 GMT -5
Honorable Mention:
SOUL LADY by YUKIKA
This album grew on me in a surprising way. It's not like it's an album that tackles complex themes or emotions, or that it's doing anything revolutionary with the city pop sound. And yet, whether or not it's just a fondness for the city pop aesthetic, I couldn't help but come back to the sound of this album from time to time. The instrumentals are gorgeous and exuberant, and with the lyrics, it really does help create a vibe of falling in love with the city you find yourself entranced by. And it also really helps that Yukika Teramoto has shown herself to be a very charismatic singer: subtly soulful and pretty, that she fits right in with classic 70s pop soul lounge singers. Even with her contract ending, Yukika has stated that she'll continue to release more city pop and whether the style can be interesting for more than one album, we'll have to see. Until then though, I can see this album gaining a cult following for the years to come, and for good reason.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 12, 2021 13:01:13 GMT -5
Honorable Mention:
Man Alive! by King Krule
I mentioned cold, brittle environment when talking about Nicholas Jaar but if you want a more concrete, direct and more importantly, real look into a world that's just as broken and selfish, look towards King Krule. Whether it's the drugs or the poor conditions around addicts, it's a slow wallow in misery and yet it never feels long or overly voyeuristic. Not just because the lyrics have enough biting detail in them but the jazz, rock, and moody psychedelic instrumentation help make it lighter than the subject matter and themes of this song. Not to mention, Archy Ivan Marshall really great deep baritone: reminiscent of Leonard Cohen, yet still expressive in showing both real nihilism and still having empathy for those in this situation. It's a dark and heavy album that like with the instrumental and overall mindset, takes it's time to burn. But once the flames and the smoke hit you, it's a trippy, often times frightening time.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 13, 2021 3:05:46 GMT -5
Honorable Mention:
As God Intended by Apollo Brown and Che Noir
A really solid throwback to 90s boom-bap hip-hop, not just instrumentation wise with the record-scratching and the sample based production but with callbacks to Wu-Tang on 'Money Orientated'. There's even a tribute to all the classic 90s rappers who inspired Che Noir. And while most hip-hop heads will come for the production, Che's storytelling and lyricism of both systemic racism and sexism throughout songs like 'Money Orientated', 'Freedom', 'Daddy's Girl', and 'The Apple' show a lot of hunger and bite for a newcomer on the scene. If you're craving for that old school sound from a young artist, highly recommend this.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 13, 2021 3:12:35 GMT -5
Honorable Mention:
Pink by RAY
It's a rather simple shoegaze album but even if you don't translate most of the lyrics from Japanese and even with it clocking at over an hour, this was a surprisingly pleasant and very pretty disocvery. This album is doing anything revolutionary in terms of the genre but the instrumentation behind cuts like 'Everything About My Precious You' and 'The End of the World with You', the dreamy mood of it all the songs just filled me with a lot of joy in a way other simple pop and rock just weren't able to hit. It's a great example of when you do the simple things good, even when you don't stray too far, it can still make for incredible music.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 13, 2021 5:31:27 GMT -5
Honorable Mention:
Thunder in the Mountains by Dzö-Nga
Another great example of doing the simple things and really. There's no shortage of great symphonic black metal out there and even black metal with pro-environmentalist themes, but between the great Native American angle in their lyrics and the absolutely gorgeous instrumentation, especially the way woodwinds are integrated, if you're an outsider to this music, I say this is a good starting off point to get into more black metal.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 14, 2021 1:54:19 GMT -5
Honorable Mention:
What's Tonight to Eternity by Cindy Lee (mild CW: themes of abuse)
So fair warning for the list: there are a handful of albums on this list that talk about abuse. And while this album isn't as graphic or as explicit other albums I'll talk about, it still is an interesting project. The eternity in the title refers to the time spent with a toxic partner, with them literally comparing it to hell with them including a skit of a woman dispelling Satan. This is an album that I have to be in a certain mood to listen to, as the overly reverbed vocals and liquid instrumentation can blend together after a while, but it still creates a slow, creeping and haunted atmosphere I admire, which makes the break of light at the end all the more satisfying.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 14, 2021 1:56:12 GMT -5
Honorable Mention:
Impenetrable Cerebral Fortress by Gulch
It's by far the shortest album on this list, barely passing 15 minutes but my god are those few short minutes brutal. Blisteringly fast drumwork, guttural vocals, and gory as hell lyrics, and while at time is can feel like overload, it's still one hell of a violent, adrenalined rush of sound and power. Definitely not for the faint of heart but just for a roar of fury, it packs a big punch.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 14, 2021 2:00:41 GMT -5
Honorable Mention:
UNLOCKED_ by Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats
It's got great production, great flows, amazing punchlines...but if I am being honest, it is really too short for it's own good. It makes me craving for more music from these two but it also feels a bit underbaked. A couple more bangers on this would make this among the best of either men's discography. But still as it is: as a collection of bangers from Denzel and Kenny, it's really good.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 14, 2021 3:05:05 GMT -5
Honorable Mentions:
Sanación by María José Llergo
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 14, 2021 3:10:07 GMT -5
Honorable Mention:
1000 gecs and The Tree of Clues by 100 gecs
The original 1000 gecs project was messy but admirable and respectable little project that showed the imagination and creativity of Dylan and Laura but occasionally felt to abrupt and weird for it's own good. The remix album is an improvement across the board however; as not only are some of the original compositions improved upon, the artists they bring along help tighten the album and keep things focused. With great performances from the likes of GFOTY, Hannah Diamond, Dorian Electra, Charli XCX, and even Fall Out Boy of all artists, and with more hits than misses than the original album, I think this is truly a showcase not just for the gecs but the potential hyperpop genre can bring to the table when all elements come together.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 14, 2021 3:50:12 GMT -5
Honorable Mention:
Empty Country by Empty Country
There were a lot of good midwest, indie rock and folk albums that came out this year and like most great indie rock though, the writing is the true star of the show and the best part of the album. Joseph D’Agostino highlights the poor desperate suburban neighbourhood around him: people getting high of acid, the regular depression and self-doubt in his relationship with his wife, the details of the chaotic natural phenomena that happens around the midwest, and the horrible events that either happen around them or happen to them. From a tragic drunk driving accident that led to the death of D'Agostino's grandmother to a woman having to make money by selling fake sunglasses to sell to people during a solar eclipse. It's the latter story that shows why this album never comes across as misery porn: there's a sense of honesty and empathy throughout that even in the selfish and despicable moments, there is a human touch. And this makes moments of brevity such as the birth of his daughter all the more effective, as D'Agostino feels like he's given a chance to make things right. Truthfully the album isn't doing anything new instrumentation wise but the storytelling and D'Agostino's compassion is enough to pull through and make for a rather heavy and complex listen.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 14, 2021 3:55:46 GMT -5
Honorable Mention:
Warnings by I Break Horses
The last honorable mention on this list and yet another overlooked, underrated gem. A dreamy synthpop where coming to terms with a messy break-up but coming on the outside better and free of the toxicity. Despite many of the songs running long, it goes by well thanks to great vocals and great writing courtesy of Maria Lindén and a great psychedelic mood throughout. It's an album to vibe to but once you dig into the lyrics, makes it worthier of coming back to. If you're itching for new modern synth and shoegaze music similar to Chromatics or HEALTH, really recommend this album.
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Post by born on Feb 14, 2021 6:09:00 GMT -5
Tag pls :)
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 24, 2021 3:16:06 GMT -5
Finally caught up with my studies so I think it's best I revive/start this list
50. 真っ黒 (Makkuro) by tricot Math rock can get monotonous. It tends to have a similar problem with jazz sometimes, where even if the playing is solid and competent: if there's not much uniqueness in the compositions or even distinct themes to really ground that takes advantage of the good melodies, than good background noise. That's why it's been refreshing to see math rock tricot not just have smart themes in their writing across both albums, but also have good hooks doing so. Going to the themes for a bit: it was actually surprising how dark the album gets: dealing with a lot of anxiety and existentialism as both an artist and a person. The desire to be your own fish in the sea in the limited time we have while still trying to remind yourself that sometimes it’s good to have some anxiety to figure your shit out. And yet all of it is exhausted energy lynched pin by great guitarwork and some good hooks. If you're looking for an entry point into math rock or even Japanese music as a whole, I recommend this album. Not for every one but maybe you can find something great amidst all the black.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 24, 2021 3:33:56 GMT -5
#49. Alfredo by Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist
I mentioned this before but Freddie Gibbs can start to get formulaic when you follow him for even a little. A lot of good orchestic or symphonic samples, a lot of street hustle about the grind of dealing coke, and a lot of sharp flows, it's no wonder people compare him to Tupac. And yet you can't deny how effortlessly fun this project is. Of course the beats are amazing as per usual from The Alchemist and Freddie Gibbs has a ton of natural charisma and humor, but all the guest stars shine as well, especially Conway and Tyler, and even beyond the fun bragging, the more sensitive and introspective side on cuts like 'Babies & Fools' they stil lshow how capable Freddie Gibbs is when he gets serious. But at the end of it all, it just an album you don't have to think very hard about and just relax to: enjoy the bars, enjoy the music, and enjoy the food being offered.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 24, 2021 3:55:57 GMT -5
48. May Our Chambers Be Full by Emma Ruth Rundle and Thou
Diving headfirst into a heavier genre of music now; I am not a sludge metal or doom metal fan at all and yet even with that bias, I was stunned going through and really dissecting this album. The brutality of the entire aesthetic of the album: the crushing, all-consuming atmosphere help painting that void of death and dust, and the bluntly nihilistic horror of it all, even compared to the metal I'd listened to this year, this felt overwhelming in the best way possible. And Emma Ruth Rundle is incredible on this album; cutting through all the heavy instrumentation and delivering a ghostly, haunted eulogy to the decay and tragedy of death and really the meaningless of all of existence that awaits us in the future. If there was a negative I'd put it's that I think the screamed howls courtesy of the band Thou ironically don't carry as much weight and don't instill that fear as well as Rundle's vocals but they're playing more than makes up for any vocal issues I might have. And going by in less than an hour, it doesn't drag nor does it go by too fast. It gets to the point and stares right at you, and like good horror, stays with you long after everything has gone silent.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 24, 2021 3:56:10 GMT -5
47. Circles by Mac Miller
Even for non-fans of Mac Miller, I think most can agree that Mac Miller's swansong was an achievement on most fronts. It's so bittersweet he was never hear to see how well-received this follow-up would be but it should also be cherished how much thought and care was put in by his team to make this posthumous be as great as it is. And while it should be praised for how crisp and polished the production sounds, it's Mac's lyrics that really hit home. The themes of the process of recovering from addiction and depression, especially on cuts like 'Circles', 'Good News', 'Everybody', and 'Trees', they feel so raw and intimate that they cut and resonate deeply, whether or not it was due to his untimely passing (And yes, I did cry but it took until 'Trees' for it to happen). It's just a beautifully respectful album and one I'm certain if he were alive and had a choice in the matter, one he would be glad he'd end his career on,
Rest in peace, Mac. Thank you for all you've given us and if you're up there in the clouds, you can finally see the sun.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 24, 2021 4:48:24 GMT -5
46. Windswept Adan by Ichiko Aoba
It's hard to describe this album...at least in a unique way because everyone who's listened - myself included - to it will echo the same praises. It's beautiful, quiet, and serene ambient music. It's a simple album and while ambient may seem like a simple genre in general, but the subtleties captured and presented; how clear the production and recordings are how much it puts into the mind the very peaceful natural beauty of the world. And of course the gorgeous orchestrations form the harp and other strings to the piano to Aoba's delicate and quiet spoke word delivery: restrained and quiet, almost as if she's saying poetry over beautiful landscapes. I will say the ability to find proper translations (and from what I've gathered, are not as complex as I expected for music this quiet and seemingly poetic) plus the length of the album does limit its replayability, at least for me. But that said, it's still a beautiful experience and during a year where most of us could not go outside, an album that reminded us what's waiting out there helped with that isolation.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 24, 2021 5:14:08 GMT -5
45. Mystic Familiar by Dean Deacon
Like with most metal genres, I'm not a big fan of psychedelic genres although in this case, it's more of a lack of background with the genre than an adverse dislike of the aesthetic. And yet even with that, I was surprised how much I enjoyed this album. I wanna try and keep as much of this album a secret because the transitions throughout and especially the progressions on 'Sat by a Tree', 'My Friend', and 'Bumble Bee Crown King', they need to be heard rather than read through transcriptions. They all help capture that feeling of heavenly euphoria; of reaching that sought after mystic familiar that as cheesy as it may be, I really can't describe this album better (and without spoiling the best crescendos) than saying it's magical. This is one you have to hear to really understand what I'm saying and even if you don't find it as transcendent as I or so many others have, I still think it'll make for a listening experience most albums in 2020 won't give.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 24, 2021 5:23:27 GMT -5
44. SAVAGE MODE II by 21 Savage and Metro Boomin
Hip-hop had itself a very good year, especially in the mainstream. I already mentioned Lil Uzi Vert but both of Pop Smoke's albums this year were also great surprises, but Polo G, I got the appeal of acts like Lil Baby, Don Toliver, and the late Juice WRLD, and even if I didn't love everything they put out, rappers like Megan Thee Stallion, Roddy Ricch, Don Toliver, and Jack Harlow showed a ton of promise, character, and versatility. Though if we want my favorite mainstream rap release, we go to 21 Savage and Metro. Both men have undoubtable improved by leaps and bound since the first Savage Mode tape, and now that 21 is a better rapper - with more dynamic flows and especially strong lyricist and writer for hooks, and Metro's status as a one of the best producers in hip-hop means a bigger budget, he's allowed more to play around with more elegant samples and turn them into hard bangers. Yeah, there's still the occasional corny bar here and I'd say that outside of Young Nudy none of the guests really add anything, but when you've got catchy banger after catchy, plus the Morgan Freeman skits about street hustle that add to the awesomeness of it all, it's just all around a great fun trap project, and one that'll be held as one of the genre's best for years to come.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 24, 2021 5:35:03 GMT -5
43. After Hours by The Weeknd
Of the albums on this list, this will be the most flawed in my opinion. It runs long and can drag in spots, some of the songs have questionable production that I feel won't age well, and in terms of themes and even a narrative, this is not at all new territory for The Weeknd. I can even say that objectively, there were "better constructed" albums I heard last year.
And yet, despite all the flaws, I kept coming back to this album time after time again. I've compared this album a lot with DAMN. in being the best version of an artist's aesthetic being commercialized and I mean that as a positive, and not just because 'Blinding Lights', 'Heartless', and 'In Your Eyes' were some of the best hit songs of last year that show Abel evolving into a decade defining popstar. Like DAMN., it may not have the fresh rawness of the artist's best work, but it still shows Abel growing as an artist in terms of balancing his poppier instincts with the alternative R&B he helped make famous. And with cuts like 'Faith', 'Escape from LA', 'After Hours', and one hell of a closer in 'Until I Bleed Out', bringing Illangelo back and calling back to his trilogy ways, I've said it before but it bears repeating: even with a decade under his belt and now a pop superstar, The Weeknd is still showing he's got a ton of creativity and ambition in him, and that he's more than deserving of being one of the defining artists of our generation.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 24, 2021 5:42:34 GMT -5
42. PEACEFUL AS HELL by BLACK DRESSES
Whether solo or working together, none of Ada Rook and Devi McCallion's work is music that's easy to understand and like. In fact, for the longest time I thought I would never get behind their blend of industrial, metal, glitch, and electropop. And yet once I gave them the time and patience, it finally clicked. The demented energy in the fusion of noisy genres, Ada's knack for sticky hooks and mantras, Devi's monstrous and nihilistic writing, and yet at the core of it all, the honest and intimate themes of isolation, discrimination, depression, and companionship. Not the uplifting side regurgitated by pop stars, the real honest human touch that comes from real friends, online or otherwise. Again, this is not music that's easy to get but if you're willing to dive into hell, you're gonna see some sparks along the way.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 24, 2021 5:54:28 GMT -5
41. Draining Love Story by Sewerslvt (cw: themes of self-harm, suicide, depression)
Like with ambient and math rock, breakbeats are another genre that really need good and interesting themes to be more than good dance grooves. And yet, I was completely thrown off guard by how honest and brutal Sewerslvt went into detailing her depression and self-harm in her work. I don't mean to be melodramatic with putting a content warning for this album, many of the samples used to provide context for the themes, once you decode them through the textured beats and synth work, are heartbreaking and at points, it can dive into going into the "too real" territory. It's the type of reality about mental health I didn't to hear in an electronic album, let alone in breakbeats! And yet while there moments of deep, black, despair, there also moments of beauty; when the beats and clouds clear up and we're allowed to breathe for once. And there is a cathartic, therapeutic breath of air finishing this album; that even with the darkness in can wallow in, it's not the end. The themes are very serious so if you're hesitant about listening to this album, I understand. But as someone who's experienced bouts of depression and suicidiation and knows many people who do, knowing this is out in the world and could potentially help people understand depression and suicidal tendencies, that it could help people understand each other, makes me I discovered this.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 26, 2021 10:12:41 GMT -5
40. Melee by dogleg
This debut snuck on me in a big way because while it seems like dogleg doesn't deviate too much from the midwest emo aesthetic at first glance, it's all the great nuances that make this a great pop punk record. Great hooks and energy without sacrificing grit and texture in the instrumentation, coupled with a great sense of humor and populist energy. And while this doesn't go as deep or cutting as other midwest emo or pop punk bands, the hot streak of 'Prom Hell', 'Headfirst', 'Headlines', and 'Cannonball' show capable the band is at storytelling. Overall, it's a pretty short and sweet album that goes by in half an hour, if you're looking for more great emo and pop punk to spend your time on, I highly suggest this.
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dremolus - solarpunk
Diamond Member
Best In This Chaotic Hell with the best taste
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Posts: 12,712
My Reviews
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 26, 2021 10:27:37 GMT -5
39. What's Your Pleasure by Jessie Ware
Okay, so I have a bit of mixed feelings on this album, if I'm being honest. On one hand, it is one of the best pop albums of last year. It's well produced with instrumentation that modernizes disco in a way that feels like both a throwback and also an expansion, especially with simmering cuts like the title track on 'Spotlight'. Jessie Ware also sounds great, and the writing is also very tasteful. A lot of dance party vibes to get lost to but there's also a more intelligent side that cautions getting to lost in the dance floor. On the other hand...I think it's a bit overrated?
DON'T GET ME WRONG: this is still a very good album...but if I'm being honest, it does run a bit too long, and the best song do come early on in the tracklist and because of that it can drag a bit, especially since I don't think it ends strongly. But again, this is still a great pop record and if it gets people more interested in disco, not just the flashy party side but the sensual, intimate side of disco as well, that's a great thing.
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dremolus - solarpunk
Diamond Member
Best In This Chaotic Hell with the best taste
Joined: August 2019
Posts: 12,712
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 26, 2021 12:41:13 GMT -5
38. Eastern Medicine, Western Illness by Preservation One of the most frustrating things to see in the hip-hop fandom over the past few years has been the masturbatorial like praise to hailing 90s and 2000s rap over the rise of trap and SoundCloud rap. Not only just because of the historical revisionism in ignoring how much of the rap that was popular back in the days was just as junk and basic, but also there's this sense that what rappers like TuPac or Biggie or Nas or The Wu-Tang Clan did, it can never be done again which I think is wrong. There are a ton of great rappers, underground or even signed to labels - that. I've already mentioned that call back and pay tribute to the classic 90s sound while updating it and making it feel fresh. Che Noir and Freddie Gibbs on this list, but for another example, let's turn to hip-hop producer: Preservation.With the sample heavy sound of instrumentation, the fact there's a posse of rappers across the album, and the Asian theme in the samples used and even in content in comparing the rise of opioids to gang hustle, the most obvious comparison is debut album of the Wu-Tang Clan: 36 Chambers. And it's clear that was Wu-Tang was a big influence. But not only are there amazing showings from rappers like Quelle Chris, Mach-Hommy, billy woods, Ka, and a plethora of some of the best underground rappers right now, it stands alone as it's own project because of how much talent is on display. I love the setting of Hong Kong and how much it's built up as a city of sin to make commentary about western drug culture. It's the closest thing we'll get to an album that successfully calls back 36 Chambers (and is also better than the last few Wu-Tang albums). Whether or not you're an old head stuck in the old ways of rap, I highly recommend this album for you. If you find something new or familiar, you'll find something special.
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