dremolus - solarpunk
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 26, 2021 12:51:06 GMT -5
37. Marlowe 2 by Marlowe Y'know, for as complex and obtuse as some underground can get, it's comforting to know. The use of b-movie samples L'Orange to create this dusty instrumental and the loose framing devise of Solemn Brigham as this "out of this world entity" make this a very fun album. And it's Solemn Brigham who's the star of this project: not precisely for his lyrics though he does have a great sense of humor and is a tight wordsmith, it's his flow. The way he rides across beats, the flow changes from fast rapping to exaugurated, it's all fun and manic. It's an album that you really need to think hard about, like what the skits entail: you just have to marvel at L'Orange and Solemn doing their thing.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 26, 2021 12:58:41 GMT -5
36. Shrines by Armand Hammer
It's taken awhile for me to get used to billy woods' style of nihilistic rap, off-kilter flow, and wonky beats but I think I've finally gotten the appeal and seen why many have held him up as one of the best underground rappers. And yet for as bleak as his material can seem, the album he dropped this year was more optimistic in it's tone and all about finding hope and peace amidst a cruel environment. The album art says it all: a zoo built in a trap area meant to give people joy but falling apart. It's an album of relapses but one that doesn't stew in it's own misery. billy woods' poetry is on point as ever, as is the production production from Elucid, and a lot of the guest star really do shine, especially the singers like KeiyaA and FIELDED. That joy may be hard to cultivate and really stabilize in the dark world in billy woods' mind...but that doesn't mean it's any less worth trying to cultivate.
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dremolus - solarpunk
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 26, 2021 13:06:58 GMT -5
35. Descendants of Cain by Ka
To conclude the unintentional row of streak of great underground rap albums...
Like with billy woods, Ka is not an easy rapper to really get but I oddly found it easier to get into his low, quiet, storytelling. There's an rough age and maturity to his sound: both in his instrumentation and his content, and that wisdom is matched by his creativity and ambition. As the title suggests, this album revolves around the story of Cain and Abel and how that's reflected in the rough world of sinners Ka grew up in. Whether it's idolizing these sinners as saints, protecting your brother through crimes, even wanting old fashioned justice upon yourself for everything you've done, it's a cruel, unforgiving world, made all the more bleak by Ka's world weary and tired voice. And by the end, the only thing that gives him hope are is the love from the women around him: his wife, his mother, and his child. It's not an album that's really easy to enjoy but one that's satisfying to dissect and really let simmer with you. And I couldn't ask for a better observation on the story of Cain and Abel than that.
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dremolus - solarpunk
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 26, 2021 13:17:13 GMT -5
34. Jump Rope Gazers by The Beths For as heavy as some of the albums I've talked about have gotten, sometimes a band really needs to win me over is charm and I don't think I've heard a more charming band than The Beths. Both of The Beths' albums have been full of blissful and youthful writing, a lot of summery guitar tones, and Elizabeth Stokes very earnest delivery but I actually think their sophomore effort was a step over their debut. And the reasons why are very simple: the writing might still be simple on first listen but there's a sincere and honest core to songs like 'Do You Want Me Now', 'Just Shy of Sure', 'Acrid', and the title track not to mention stronger hooks and guitar tones that even though it doesn't alter that much from the debut, still makes for a great pop album. And sure, it might seem basic but as I said, when there's this much charm to the album, I can't help but smile and enjoy gazing at it all.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 26, 2021 13:50:31 GMT -5
33. Royal Swan by Phoxjaw
Another great debut this year, this time a UK alternative metal and post-hardcore band. And while there are traces of atmospheric post-hardcore on this album, more of it is more focused on alternative metal ragers. Not to say that's a bad thing as there are some great hooks like on 'Teething' and 'Triple AAA' but also some thoughtful and surprisingly political writing. The anger towards trophy hunting on 'You Donβt Drink A Unicornβs Blood', the blunt but still cutting take on the Trump's administration's take on environmental care on 'An Owl Is A Cat With Wings' to even some commentary on England's own dark history regarding class discrimination on the closing title track. It's a surprisingly smart record that even if you're not down with the revolution in some of the lyric, still has enough power and hooks to kick ass.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 26, 2021 13:51:13 GMT -5
32. When I Die, Will I Get Better? by Svalbard
One of the genres I was really glad I got into this year was Screamo. The heaviness is obviously a big turn on for me but what I loved was the variety in sound I heard. We could have the industrial sound but we could also have a more thoughtful and atmospheric fusion with black metal which is what we got on this debut. The passionate and angry vocals from both our lead singers mixed with the atmospheric and occasionally beautiful black metal side. But what really struck me were the lyrics detailing trauma and abuse. Serena Cherry isn't simply content to talk about her own struggles with abuse, she also looks to criticize how society treats victims like her: whether it the misogynistic attitude that puts the blame on her, as well as the commodification of stories like hers for clickbait articles that look for interesting stories without supporting those behind them. It's smart feminist writing that's can be both heavy and beautiful, often at the same time.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Feb 26, 2021 13:52:40 GMT -5
31. Miss Colombia by Lido Pimienta
Latin music had an amazing year in 2020, not only seeing some incredible commercial performance for the acts in reggaeton, but also a fair few Spanish acts garnering some critical acclaim like Bad Bunny, Natalie LaFourcade, TriΓ‘ngulo de Amor Bizarro, and Kali Uchis. Fitting then that one of my favorite Spanish albums of the year is a tribute to Latin culture as a whole. Lido Pimienta is a very proud of her Colombian heritage and she not only show it in the content of her music, particularly in an acoustic chant 'Quiero que me salves', but also in the instrumentation. The blend of Colomobian folk music with art pop and even electronic touches like on 'No Pude' made for some inspired music. If you're looking for an entry point into Latin music, I say Lido Pimienta is a great doorway not into another language, but also in understanding a different culture and hopefully, different sorts of people.
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Post by GP on Feb 26, 2021 15:30:50 GMT -5
I want so much more drem, I'm loving this!! please give me more underground discoveries like these, love them!
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Apr 8, 2021 3:20:00 GMT -5
So I finally finished a quarter of school, might as well finish this now that I have time
30. It Was Divine by Alina Baraz This is my favorite R&B album of the year...which might be a surprise on the surface. It does go a tad bit long, it's not really innovating in terms of production, songwriting, or singing, you could make an argument there were better, more ambitious R&B projects released last year. And while you point and bring up countless other R&B acts, no other R&B album brought me so much joy as this one.
I've been following Alina Baraz for a few years now and seeing all her potential fully realized was great to her. She's always had a beautiful sultry voice that's airy without being too light and full of character and charisma that it doesn't just feel like basic sensual temptation. It's confident and sexy for the most part, traits I want to hear in my R&B. The production has also improved a ton since her breakout EP. While the album can drag in spots, it's just brings a great contemporary vibe. It's a great album to have in the background; to just sink the seductiveness of it all. I understand this is more a personal pick than other albums on this list, but I still feel this was slept on by too many people, even fans of R&B. And considering how much R&B was been blowing up this year in 2021, making a big comeback in the mainstream, I hope that Alina Baraz also gets more recognition, commercially and critically. An R&B singer this talented and with this much potential deserves a bigger audience.
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dremolus - solarpunk
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Apr 8, 2021 3:26:59 GMT -5
29. Honeymoon by Beach Bunny I could copy my thoughts of California Boy on My Best Songs List for this entry here because music this sweet, simple, and catchy doesn't need much explanation. It's a quick, fun pop rock album that goes by fast in under 30 minutes, with sticky hooks that'll get stuck in your head for days, and yet dive in even a little and Lili Trifilio proves herself to be a fun and quirky writer. Full of youthful emo teenage angst, but like the best teen TV shows and movies, it's just has a ton of spunk to it and charm you can't help but relate. And for a debut act, an album this immediately catchy, poppy, and as I keep repeating, FUN, it's a welcome edition to hear on the radio. It's the type of rock music I'm sure Zoomers will love growing up on, just like how Millennials grew up on the pop punk emo of the 2000s, and I'm gonna join both camps in enjoying music this much of a dopamine boost.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Apr 8, 2021 3:42:26 GMT -5
28. Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs by KlΓ΄ Pelgag
Travelling to France now for an art pop project that gained a bit of attention last year with a very classical sound and presentation, literally. There's just a lot of beautiful orchestra arrangements, especially gorgeous moments are the strings on 'J'aurai les cheveux longs', à l'ombre des cyprès, the slowly building piano on 'La fonte', and the quiet horns on 'Soleil'. The best moments on this album are the most quiet and atmospheric songs on the album - both instrumentally but also in the lyrics - but even when it gets more bombastic like on 'Remora' or 'La maison jaune', it's still great. Especially with the heavy multitracking and reverb come in and make Chloé Pelletier-Gagnon voice more theatrical. It's just a very...artistic album for a lack of a better word. It's full of formal and tasteful poetry and music but is still nonetheless stunning to admire and dissect. Give this one a shot if you're looking for pretty art pop to scratch an itch.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Apr 8, 2021 4:55:53 GMT -5
27. Spirit World Field Guide by Aesop Rock
I feel that this should go without saying but Aesop Rock does not make easy music. Even in recent years as he's slowly embraced more catchy production and hooks, his labyrinthian wordplay - not just the large vocabulary and obtuse metaphors, but also video-game references, and detours like wanting to go skating - and off-kilter production can still take awhile to not only get used, but actually understand what he's going on about, and the nearly hour long runtime doesn't help. And it also doesn't help either, at least for outsiders, that Aesop is sticking with an introverted backpacker for most of this project. Already paranoid from the first few songs from being stuck in isolation but also being stuck in his head. So much so that when we get to the Spirit World, the reactions are quite quaint. Sure there are odd creatures and places here or there, but there's a more there's also an enlightenment eh gets seeing the happier people. People who have less but are also more content with their lives. The spirit world in this case is mostly a metaphor, most of this being inspired by trips Aesop took to Peru. But it's not all paradise though, Aesop still takes time to critique the effects colonialism has had in stunting more of the "spirit world" from growing and truly being discovered by more people.
Now all of that was just my rather feeble attempt to understand the concept. Because even if I'm misinterpreted some elements of what the Spirit World actually is, or a few punchlines went over my head, I would still wholly recommend this album. As I said, Aesop Rock slowly embracing more catchy production and hooks is great plus to all of his recent projects, so the wonky, acid-tinged production all over the album brings a ton of levity to the runtime, as do the hooks; especially on Pizza Alley, Coveralls, Jumping Coffin, and Marble Cake. This is still a very dense project to get through but at least along the way, Aesop reminds us that we can be enigmatic and fun at the same time (and maybe a little high on acid).
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Apr 8, 2021 5:07:01 GMT -5
26. We Will Always Love You by The Avalanches
The longest album on my list, clocking over at 71 minutes. But there's just something touching about the way The Avalanches approach grief and distance - be that distance be physical, between two people in a relationship, or even losing friends to death, and using music to reach them. Sure, the use of samples is still great from: The Alan Parsons Project on 'Interstellar Love', Perry Farrell on 'Oh the Sunn', the Carpenters on 'We Go On', even the straight up dance track Music Makes Me So High is a fun detour into future funk sounds. But right from the opening skit 'Ghost Story', you can still there's a lot of soul and love being given to those we can't see or are drifting away from. There are moments of solemn introspection, particularly on 'Take Care in Your Dreaming', 'Running Red Lights' and 'Reflecting Light', but it's more about the celebration of that love more than anything else, and how we're able to still feel and communicate that love through the medium of music. And of course there are wonderful guest performances, with my favorites being Blood Orange, Rivers Cuomo, Pink Siifu, Sananda Maitreya, Denzel Curry, and Sampa the Great. Even short guest speakers like Karen O or Orono of Superorganism. It's simply a whole and earnest project and even if it runs a bit long, was still one of the projects that stunned me last year. Definitely a late project to drop but still worthwhile checking out.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Apr 8, 2021 9:26:13 GMT -5
25. Expectations by Katie Pruitt
Country, being as it's mostly been a Southern genre, has always been stereotyped as being rather conservative. And while yes, it's a sad reality that many mainstream acts in country have had less than "forward thinking" positions, there've been more than a few acts to push more progressive agendas, especially in the independent scene. And one of the best breakout stars of this year was Katie Pruitt, a gay country singer who's debut album was a great discovery this year. That said, I don't want to just say Katie Pruitt and other acts like her are groundbreaking just because they're openly LGBT. Because even without that subtext and background context, this is still a fantastic album on it's own. Katie Pruitt is a great singer-songwriter, with an eye for cutting honest storytelling and a lot of passion. Whether it be in the love songs, to confronting the homophobia within her state of Georgia and within her family and still being able to be proud of her identity. And the production is great as well, she sounds great throughout the album as the mix gives her voice a lot of room to belt out like on the closing tracks. It's not an innovative album as far as country releases in 2020, but it does mean that Katie's voice and her writing - her fire, anger, and pride - are able to standout more. Even if you aren't a fan of country music, I still highly recommend you seek this out just for the writing. It might even exceed your expectations.
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dremolus - solarpunk
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Apr 8, 2021 10:05:00 GMT -5
24. No One Mourns the Wicked by Big Ghost Ltd & Conway The Machine
So I listened to a lot of the Griselda crew last year, as each of the members released one project. I've enjoyed Armani Caesar and Boldy James' work, Benny has been consistently good, and I've even gotten the appeal Westside Gunn (even if I still find his voice annoying). But if I'm going to highlight the member of the group that's impressed me the most and has grown to be my favorite, it was to be Conway. He's just got a great deep bassy voice with a lot presence and in my opinion, he's the most focused and tight rapper in the group. Griselda don't really deviate from each other in terms of content - drug dealing, shooting, gang warfare, money, sex, and maybe the occasional attempt at a love song - but Conway consistently had great wordplay and personality to keep it interesting, even after 5+ albums of the same material. While he did release an album this year that was very good and might've been an honorable mention had I not had a rule of repeating artists for lists, I want to highlight the short project he released with producer Big Ghost Ltd.
One of the things I've found to love most of all about his work, is there's grisly maturity here. It's fitting this album starts out with a sample of the gangster movie Black Mass; it isn't just the usual street hustling and crime, it's a business empire at stake here. And while I said in the beginning still is true; there's not much change to the Grisleda formula lyrically, but the production is what puts this above his album in my opinion. And right from the get go, with the sharp guitars punching through and the gun adlibs, it's just a sharp brutal album, that even at 25 minutes, still packs more visceral energy than most trap albums released in the past 18 months! Like with Freddie Gibbs, if you're sick of the coke-rap schtick then you probably won't get something out of this album, but if you're like me and want to see Griselda succeed, highly recommend this.
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dremolus - solarpunk
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Apr 8, 2021 10:58:19 GMT -5
23. 2,020 Knives by Ada Rook (mild CW: themes of abuse, depression)
I've already praised Black Dresses on this list but I think something worth praising is that even on their solo work, Ada and Devi have shown to be as engaging. Devi's nihilism and and harsh industrial sound was still as in your face on Girls Rituals, and Devi's honest introspection and pop hooks were highlighted even more on her solo album, which I think was the best project either of the two released - solo or together. The subject matter on this album can make this a rather tough album to sit with, as it deals with a lot of trauma and depression, that still lingers even after Ada has found companionship and joy through the Internet and making music. And yet throughout, Ada still displays pop sensibilities that make the dark subject matter easier to digest. Still a more upbeat electronic style (or at least, upbeat in comparison to Black Dresses usual work), and with a lot of catchy hooks like 'Black Cloud in the Sky', it makes the album more repayable than I expected. It's an album all about the painful process of fighting demons, that shows all the graphic memories that still sting but also how warm and comforting the other side is.
I hope nothing but the best for Ada, both as a musician and as a person and hopefully the knives we all experience are able to dull as the years go on.
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dremolus - solarpunk
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Apr 8, 2021 11:30:32 GMT -5
22. Shore by Fleet Foxes
I've talked a lot about relaxing and atmospheric music this year but I don't think any other album was as much a breath of fresh air - instrumentally and lyrically - more than this album. You can probably thank good timing perhaps that this was released during on especially turbulent year, but considering how much Robert Pecknold's writing and how much of it focuses on the past few years of violence and chaos in society but more importantly a sense of unity amongst people, this would've been comforting had it been released in any of the past 5 year. The warm melodies just help create an atmosphere of calm and empty mind space, one that can easily be broken and disrupted - Pecknold is self-aware of that, but it's also stable enough to really inspire action to take place. But it isn't just the outward world Pecknold is reflecting on, as the past year of death close to him has also affected him personally. Like the previous album, this is also an album all about processing pain; coming to terms with it and finding content peace amongst the cruelty.
And it is just beautifully arranged and orchestrated folk music, even without the lyrics. A lot of the harmonies are just gorgeous to hear even after multiple listens, and the pacing of the album makes it's length surprisingly breezy. You just get sucked into the peaceful atmosphere of it all. As I've said, good timing probably helped give this album a great reception but it is great folk music at the end of the day, and music that's this calming and reassuring is what we need with the uncertain future we have.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Apr 8, 2021 11:53:02 GMT -5
21. The Avalanche by Owen
Even despite all the albums I've talked about discussing many depressing and morbid themes, very few of them I'd describe as defeating. For as graphic as some of them get, there's still some hope, even a small flicker of it, by the end. And on the surface, that seemed to be true here as well. Mike Kinsella is still an amazingly descriptive and emotive singer in emo, still able to capture the world-weariness so easily. And I love the way KC Dalager is used here; not just role-playing as the partner calling out his behavior, but just as much a dark mirror of himself. And like with Fleet Foxes, there's actually a surprising warmth. Of course, all the warm instrumentals are ironically around the cold nature of Kinsella's self-destructive behavior, not to mention a family history of tragedy and self-inflicted pain. It's all standard emo, with well descriptive poetry and writing and when we get to the end...there is no happy ending. There is no reconciliation or sign things will get better, there's just a sigh of defeat that Kinsella knows he can't escape this cruel cycle. And while usually I would roll my eyes and consider endings like this unnecessarily cynical and nihilistic for no other reason than to shock the audience, here there's a sad reality here. It feels earned...which is the biggest tragedy of it all.
It's one of the toughest albums I've heard last year. Even writing about it and reminding myself of the downer ending, it's still a tough project to revisit. And yet, it's still one of the albums that left a biggest impact on me. For as bleak of an ending as it is, the pained vocals and melodies soften the blow ever so slightly. Given the nature of the ending, it's not an album I can easily recommend, especially with those who don't have patience for the cynical tone of it all. But for those brave enough, prepare for one of the most heartbreaking albums of last year.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Apr 13, 2021 22:06:35 GMT -5
20. Punisher by Phoebe Bridgers
It was only a matter of time before I talked about this album.
Like with What's Your Pleasure and After Hours, there's little new I can add. As so many people have said, Phoebe Bridgers is one of the best songwriters right now. And while the writing is the star, Phoebe herself also deserves a ton of credit. Like with Mike Kinsella, she's just a naturally emotive singer; capturing the pain, that for lesser artists, this album would feel like a slog. For her though, it remained captivating the entire album, even with multiple listens. And like with American Football, she's also good at capturing atmosphere. Many have said it before: while this came out in the summer, this is a fall/autumn through and through: capturing the reflective, bittersweet aura of the season great.
I guess the only thing I can really explain is why it's not higher, which is actually simple. While I do really like this album a ton, I find that I just don't return to it as a whole project as much as other albums on this list. That's not to say this isn't a cohesive album, even my least favorite track 'Garden Song' is pretty good, just that I return and get more emotion towards individual moments and songs than the project as a whole. But again, when those moments are some of the strongest in alt music from last year - cuts like 'This is the End', 'Chinese Satellite', 'Graceland Too,' 'Kyoto', and 'ICU', any these among the best of last year - even nitpicks feel light weight. As I said, I reckon most of you have already heard about or have given this album multiple listens already, and maybe giving this couple more isn't a bad idea.
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Post by willapted33 on Apr 13, 2021 22:11:23 GMT -5
decent album
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Apr 13, 2021 23:04:05 GMT -5
19. Lamentations by American Aquarium
I've talked about politics a number of times on both of my lists and I think I've made it clear that I'm a rather left-leaning liberal when it comes to my ideology. That said, I hope that I don't mean to just highlight art that I agree with morally on a base level or that reinforces my beliefs. In fact, the more an art is able to challenge my pre-existing beliefs and conceptions, there better. Case in point:
This is an album all about while this is an album that celebrates the South that avoids being overly patriotic and jingoistic. In fact, on 'A Better South', frontman BJ Barnham not only acknowledges the history of discrimination, he also calls out modern institutions and the boomer generation for still being backwards looking. Rather instead, Barnham wants to celebrate the hardworking values of the south. The rich history of agriculture that can still be lifegiving but even still, he avoids being patronizing of the subject. But what I love most especially is that Barnham isn't a saint throughout all this. He has his own demons alcohol abuse, and especially in doubting his faithfulness and commitment to his partner when the shadow of his past failed relationships looms over him. Combine all that with rich, organic instrumentation that can both hit hard with the guitars but also be quietly and subtly powerful, and Barnham's own clenched and reserved anger and passion throughout, it makes for one of the best country albums I heard last year. Absolutely recommended, and hopefully that Better South becomes a reality sooner rather than later.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Apr 14, 2021 0:07:58 GMT -5
18. Manger on McNichols by Boldy James and Sterling Toles
I've already talked quite a bit about Griselda so why don't I talk about my favorite release from the group.
Funny thing is is that 'No One Mourns the Wicked' was my favorite Griselda release for a while. I ended up loving Manger on McNichols more in the end. The usual Griselda mantra is here: a lot of mature business in dealing coke, street code, relationships with women, but I think there's two things that puts this above the rest. The first is Boldy James himself. He can be a bit tricky to get used to with his low, matter-of-fact, at times emotionless delivery and a cool, calm, and collected demeanor, similar to 21 Savage or Ka. But like the latter, he's got a great penchant for detail and storytelling. And he's got more of a cynical and nihilistic edge to his music. Being more reflective and less openly triumphant allows him to explore more topics with a darker edge, including the story of how he was almost aborted as a baby The other factor that helped tip the scales was Sterling Toles production. It's got a ton of great experimental moments, with uses of jazz, soul, even 80s R&B on 'Birth of Bold'. And the way Boldy James rides the beats is also very impressive, with less conventional flows but there's still a melodic flavor to everything. It's just a really solid rap release, as I said the best thing Griselda did this year.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Apr 14, 2021 0:33:13 GMT -5
17. Palimpest by Lauren Bousfield
So when it comes to any writing about any art in general, I usually don't like the phrase "x represented this year". I think it's cliche, can date the review and the album to that specific year, and doesn't really spell out properly what makes an album great.
That said if I any album truly felt and reflected what it was like to live in a world of industrial chaos, a planet ravaged by climate change, an overreliance on military power and drones, corporate sloganeering and propaganda, and general corruption in government, a project that really captured the fear and anxiety that I and many felt in 2020, it's this album. The barely audible vocals behind the crushing industrial aesthetic of this album, acting out as cries and rants against obvious present problems, still clinging onto hope, even for a single child. It's a tricky album to listen to, not just because of the content, but also for the electronic production as a whole. It is one of the best examples of an "apocalyptic" album that really felt urgent, necessary, and pressured, one of the biggest surprises of last year. If you aren't keen on industrial music, I can't say you won't get as much as I did but just for a listening experience you won't get anywhere else, highly seek this out. Sometimes, the scariest messages are the most obvious.
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dremolus - solarpunk
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Apr 14, 2021 1:28:50 GMT -5
16. KiCk i by Arca
Mami, quiere mequetrefe Ella se lo merece Mira cΓ³mo se crece
And now we have my favorite electronic album of last year, and explaining as to why is really cut and dry. The appeal is basically split into two parts: the first are beautiful, ethereal art pop ballads like Time, No Queda Nada, and especially Afterward with an absolutely gorgeous performance from BjΓΆrk. They're stunning, and they capture the euphoria Arca is going through as an open trans woman. And the second being the abrasive, deconstructed club, IDM bangers with Mequetrefe, Rip the Slit, La Chiqui with the late SOPHIE, KLK and Watch which actually sounds like a cut that would've been on SHYGIRL's EP from last year. They hit are, are ridiculously catchy, and yet can still be just as insightful and forward thinking as the quieter ballads on this album. And while it's easy to compare this to other trans individuals making abrasive, hyperpop music, like SOPHIE or Dorian Electra, the Latin flavor Arca incorporates helps her stand out more. Not just in using Spanish music elements in the compositions, but also in the lyrics: highlighting LGBT Spanish culture and the street language of the community, which is a nice touch when you consider how gendered Spanish is as a language. The album hints at the change that needs to be done and acts like Arca are helping us move towards a more accepting and understanding society towards trans issues.
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Post by born on Apr 14, 2021 4:31:14 GMT -5
21. The Avalanche by Owen
Even despite all the albums I've talked about discussing many depressing and morbid themes, very few of them I'd describe as defeating. For as graphic as some of them get, there's still some hope, even a small flicker of it, by the end. And on the surface, that seemed to be true here as well.
It's one of the toughest albums I've heard last year. Even writing about it and reminding myself of the downer ending, it's still a tough project to revisit. And yet, it's still one of the albums that left a biggest impact on me. For as bleak of an ending as it is, the pained vocals and melodies soften the blow ever so slightly. Given the nature of the ending, it's not an album I can easily recommend, especially with those who don't have patience for the cynical tone of it all. But for those brave enough, prepare for one of the most heartbreaking albums of last year.
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dremolus - solarpunk
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Apr 14, 2021 7:31:11 GMT -5
15. Purple Moonlight Pages by R.A.P. Ferreira
I've listened to this album about 5-6 times now, I've gone through the lyrics and did my best to analyze them, look for themes...and if I'm being honest, I still don't fully understand this album. The piecemeal fragments I am able to decipher: meanderings about the meaning of life, poetry, milo's legacy as an underground rapper, various references to literature and black culture, it's all fascinating in a labyrinthian kind of way. Hell, truthfully I could probably try and analyze one of the songs on this album for hours, let alone the full 16-17 tracks. And yet like with Boldy James' album, it's all held tightly with R.A.P. Ferreira's literally poetic flows and rhyme schemes, and some great jazzy production courtesy of The Jefferson Park Boys. It is the type of album to listen to at underground clubs around other underground and unknown poets and creators, all there to just revel in the creation of something, even if they don't understand everything around them.
While the enigmatic core of the album might turn or even annoy people, for me that just adds to it's charm. A simple rap album full of abstract meandering poetry yet there's still a sly and wise tint to it all. And of course, some great jazz along the way. Even if you get lost like I did, it's some fantastic music to get lost to.
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dremolus - solarpunk
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Apr 14, 2021 8:37:45 GMT -5
14. The Fallen Crimson by envy I listened to quite a bit of metal albums this year, really getting used to the style of vocals and instrumentation of various metal acts and really learning to love the heaviness of the genre and the flair for the brutality and darkness in the lyrics. Of all the metal albums I listened to, this was by far my favorite, even if it took a while for this to really click.A Japanese screamo band with showcasing some truly guttural, primal howling and heavy almost blackgaze instrumentation, and the atmospheric post-hardcore side, with more calm clean singing and some beautiful instrumental passages. The post-hardcore side is easily worth highlighting as this really is some of the most prettiest and even soothing musical passages out of any music project last year, even outside of metal. And yet it was actually the lyrics of this album that truly won me over. The contrast between harmony and destruction isn't just in the pacing of the album. Once I was finally able to find translations for all the lyrics, I found it to be the central theme. Being able to find and cherish the beauty of life and nature while destructive tendencies, anxieties, depression, and other forces are working against you. The wonderful contrast makes the harsher moments that much more crushing and the peaceful moments that much more euphoric. I can't really recommend this album if you aren't into metal and the language barrier might make things harder, but for those willing, I really hope you're able to see the beauty amongst all the heavy crimson.
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dremolus - solarpunk
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Apr 14, 2021 9:11:13 GMT -5
13. Daughter by Lydia Loveless We listen to a lot of music about relationships not working, break-ups, and toxic behavior in general that we've gotten numb to it. We tend to forget that these emotions and experiences in real time are the furthest thing from being artistic. Splits are be draining, ugly, and painful for both side, and even then all that emotion and negativity, that social separation, can just feel magnified in the moment. And I don't think any album in 2020 exemplified that more than Lydia Loveless' Daughter. It's an album detailing her messy divorce and the messy process of it all. Coming to terms with the relationship not working out, the bitter, blind, and spiteful rage at her former partner, the loneliness that accompanies it, and even the fleeting moments of regret; cherishing the good memories and wanting to stay forever. It even leads to even sadder and uglier reflections; wondering what the point of love is, and what'll be remembered of them when they're gone. None of it is pretty, nor does it tilt into being overly somber melodrama. And Lydia doesn't excuse herself from what is happening either, she frames herself as partly being to blame. And it is a draining album but like with Owen and Phoebe Bridgers, it's also an extremely powerful album. It's a human album, a side of humanity that's damages everyone involved, but still a important one to recognize. I feel like this flew under the radar for far too many people, so for country fans and fans of singer-songwriters, please seek this album out. You won't be disappointed, even if you will be heartbroken by the end.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Apr 14, 2021 12:18:33 GMT -5
12. maze by chelmico
I've been talking a lot about albums that are depressing, dive into deep themes, or are complex in general. So how bout we take a break and take about an album that's just so damn fun?
chelmico was one of my favorite discoveries last year. A pair of Japanese rappers with insanely fast flows making fun as hell pop music with a ton of infectious wild energy and great dance grooves. That's not to say there's no substance to their music. Once you find translations, there's actually a bit of clever subtext to the album. With a lot of the album being about the creation of artistic identity; pushing one's limit to create something unique, the routine that occurs from touring endlessly, and simply dancing to the rhythm of your own beat. There's actually a bit of tense anxiety to this record but what matters the most is that the music keeps you moving and dancing, and boy does this album ever. Some of the catchiest hooks of last year, and a ton of variety in the instrumental - including a disco-pop song, literally titled 'Disco (Bad dance doesn't matter)' - It's simply one of the albums I had the most fun listening to last year. If you simply need a record to turn your brain off and have fun, you're gonna have a great time with this.
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Post by dremolus - solarpunk on Apr 14, 2021 12:32:34 GMT -5
11. Lament by TouchΓ© AmorΓ©
I mentioned how with Lydia Loveless, she tackled a part of the human experience that isn't the most pleasant, but we nonetheless need to acknowledge and accept. Take those emotions except remove any person being at play because there's truly no one to blame when losing a loved one to illness, particularly stage 4 cancer. Death will forever be a painful, cruel, and unfair part of our existence and one of the more interesting things about TouchΓ© AmorΓ©'s album is that there's a stubborn part that refuses to have any acceptance. Throughout the album, as Jeremy Bolm's does his best to cope with the aftermath of the loss of his mother, even as he becomes invested in raising awareness about cancer, there's still clearly a part of him still processing and refusing to believe his mother died. Not to mention all of this compounded by other tragedies all around him: his loved ones being screwed out of healthcare thanks to the government, the death of his two pet dogs, and his general depression throughout. And yet, through his pained screamed vocals, he's still able to find some closure to it all, some hope and love in life worth living for. If my descriptions didn't spur you into thinking this album was one of the most emotinally affecting and tearing listens, then I suggest you just listen to it yourself. Music like this - for better or for worse - can speak a multitude of complex emotions that words can't.
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