The Weeknd-After Hours:
Reaching the milestone birthday of 30 has seemed to cause some change in The Weeknd's attitude. After cultivating an image based around nihilistic behavior, After Hours sees the R&B superstar breaking out of that sex-and-drug-fueled haze to explore the pain he's caused himself and others by living that lifestyle. The largely new wave/synthpop-inspired production and muted vocals, sometimes aided by well-deployed effects that really mesh with the tone of the album, create a melancholic universe where his deep-rooted feelings of regret really gets magnified. Even the more upbeat numbers ("Blinding Lights", "In Your Eyes", "Save Your Tears") contain a longing for the type of meaningful relationship he's deprived himself for so long underneath the bright chord progressions. While emotional pain has always played a sizable role in The Weeknd's music, taking accountability for his past recklessness and romantic missteps shows off a vulnerability that has never really existed.
Remarkably despite the generally depressive atmosphere, After Hours also features some of the catchiest music he's ever created. The icy, complex melodies come together in beautifully haunting fashion and the hooks of both the flashy ("Scared to Live", "Heartless", the aforementioned "sunny" tracks) and restrained variety ("Too Late", "Snowchild", "Until I Bleed Out") that emerge at various points of these unconventionally-structured tracks are home runs. Being able to create a project that is so emotionally transparent without sacrificing its more traditional pop sensibilities is exactly why After Hours is the first time he's achieved top-to-bottom excellence for the first time since House of Balloons.
Grade: A
Standout Tracks: 1.After Hours 2.Too Late 3.In Your Eyes
Dua Lipa-Future Nostalgia:
After a very solid self-titled debut in 2017, Dua Lipa has quickly graduated to greatness with Future Nostalgia. This is a brisk (just under 37 minutes in length!), toweringly confident record that rides its thumping vintage disco-meets-modern electropop production, powerful hooks and gusto-filled vocals to its neon-drenched finish line without losing any of its bubbly edge along the way. Future Nostalgia is the type of consistent, bop-filled release that can elevate a popular young artist to international superstar status and if another single or two take off to the degree that "Don't Start Now" has, Lipa will hit that benchmark by the end of the year.
Grade: B+
Standout Tracks: 1.Hallucinate 2.Levitating 3.Cool
August Burns Red-Guardians:
As boring as they are write to about, August Burns Red's consistency remains very impressive. They've established a sound that works for them (progressive metalcore) and every couple years they hammer out some new tunes that operate within that framework. That approach or the quality of the results that come from them once again remained the same on Guardians. Outside of a couple of minor changes (scaling back a bit on the extended melodic interludes that they've utilized on their past few efforts, utilizing more of the clean-ish vocals they introduced on Phantom Anthem), Guardians is just another sturdily-assembled collection of passionate, melodic anthems from the grizzled Pennsylvania outfit. It's not their best effort nor is it their worst, but the general enjoyability of their music as well as their unblemished discography remains in tact-which is really all that matters.
Grade: B+
Standout Tracks: 1.Extinct by Instinct 2.Empty Heaven 3.Ties That Bind
The Black Dahlia Murder-Verminous:
2017's Nightbringers was an unexpected masterpiece that saw The Black Dahlia Murder put forth one of the finest efforts of their career thus far after slipping into a state that at least resembled complacency on their prior two releases (Everblack, Absysmal). The follow-up Verminous sadly sees the group regressing back to the form they showed on Everblack and Abysmal. This isn't to say that Verminous is bad. To be honest, it's even not close. Black Dahlia have been consistently producing punchy melodic death metal tracks for nearly 20 years now and Verminous' 10 tracks show that their steady, workman-like approach can still yield compelling results. The problem is that Nightbringers was an electric offering that saw the group embracing a faster, more relentless sound that put a refreshing new spin on their established strengths (big riffs, sweeping solos, breakneck drumming, Trevor Strnad's menacingly chaotic vocals) as a group. By returning to a more deliberate, ominous sound that's especially akin to Everblack, those strengths aren't as well utilized and make it feel like they're holding back a little. I realize that it isn't totally fair to dump on Black Dahlia for simply returning to a sound they've embraced extensively in the past, but it's hard not to feel kind of cheated and disappointed when they just how showed you have a bigger, better collection of stuff lurking in the depths of their unholy musical arsenal.
Grade: B+
Standout Tracks: 1.Child of Night 2.The Wereworm's Feast 3.Sunless Empire
Showing posts with label quick album reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label quick album reviews. Show all posts
Thursday, May 7, 2020
Thursday, March 21, 2019
Quick Album Reviews: 2 Chainz-Rap or Go to The League, Children of Bodom-Hexed, Offset-Father of 4
2 Chainz-Rap or Go to the League: The artist formerly known as Titty Boi continues to mature as he enters middle age. His fourth solo LP Rap or Go to the League features forays into serious subject matters like losing loved ones to gang violence ("Forgiven"), love ("Rule the World") and being fortunate enough to still be alive after selling drugs for a prolonged period of time ("Threat 2 Society") sandwiched in between his typical hard-nosed trap bangers ("Whip", "NCAA", "Momma I Hit a Lick")-which are as good as ever. While this newfound introspection isn't without its clunky moments ("Sam", "I'm Not Crazy, Life Is") the sincerity and confidence behind the sentiments paired with the variety they help establish are enough to keep Rap or Go to the League very engaging throughout.
Grade: B+
Standout Tracks: 1.Rule the World (feat. Ariana Grande) 2.Momma I Hit a Lick (feat. Kendrick Lamar) 3.Whip (feat. Travis Scott)
Children of Bodom-Hexed: Stumbling upon an unexpected pleasure is one of the more beautiful and rewarding experiences that can come from being exposed to something as fiercely subjective as a piece of art. "Unexpected pleasure" isn't strong enough to describe the feeling of glee-induced shock that swept over me while I was listening to Children of Bodom's Hexed. These Finnish melodeath vets had been putting out interchangeable collections of mediocre-to-decent material for roughly 15 straight years, so there's no way they'd suddenly return to the over-the-top energy and guitar/synth theatrics they displayed in their early days right? After realizing this wasn't some kind of cruel mirage upon subsequent listens, I couldn't help but marvel at all of the blistering riffs, raw aggression and vintage metal fun that drive this relentless little record. Never thought I'd see the day where Bodom returned to their delightfully cheesy wheelhouse and since we don't how long this surprise visit from an old friend will last, I plan on basking in Hexed's warm, nostalgic glow for as long as possible.
Grade: A-
Standout Tracks: 1.Kick in a Spleen 2.Glass Houses 3.Hexed
Offset-Father of 4: Offset performed the ultimate act of artistic courtesy by closing out the Migos solo album trilogy on a perfectly competent albeit unexciting note. His decision to open up about fatherhood and his widely-publicized infidelity gives Father of 4 a nice little personal touch that was relatively unexpected from an artist whose prior output had almost exclusively been boisterous trap anthems. Once that initial surprise over the subject matter wore off, it becomes a relatively monotonous listen as Offset raps somberly for nearly an hour over some of the most forgettable atmospheric production Metro Boomin and Southside have ever released to the public. Now that the Migos have gotten the solo album bug out of their system, they can turn their attention to what really matters: Reconvening as a group to finish Culture III.
Grade: B-
Standout Tracks: 1.Clout (feat. Cardi B) 2.North Star (feat. CeeLo Green) 3.Legacy (feat. Travis Scott and 21 Savage)
Grade: B+
Standout Tracks: 1.Rule the World (feat. Ariana Grande) 2.Momma I Hit a Lick (feat. Kendrick Lamar) 3.Whip (feat. Travis Scott)
Children of Bodom-Hexed: Stumbling upon an unexpected pleasure is one of the more beautiful and rewarding experiences that can come from being exposed to something as fiercely subjective as a piece of art. "Unexpected pleasure" isn't strong enough to describe the feeling of glee-induced shock that swept over me while I was listening to Children of Bodom's Hexed. These Finnish melodeath vets had been putting out interchangeable collections of mediocre-to-decent material for roughly 15 straight years, so there's no way they'd suddenly return to the over-the-top energy and guitar/synth theatrics they displayed in their early days right? After realizing this wasn't some kind of cruel mirage upon subsequent listens, I couldn't help but marvel at all of the blistering riffs, raw aggression and vintage metal fun that drive this relentless little record. Never thought I'd see the day where Bodom returned to their delightfully cheesy wheelhouse and since we don't how long this surprise visit from an old friend will last, I plan on basking in Hexed's warm, nostalgic glow for as long as possible.
Grade: A-
Standout Tracks: 1.Kick in a Spleen 2.Glass Houses 3.Hexed
Offset-Father of 4: Offset performed the ultimate act of artistic courtesy by closing out the Migos solo album trilogy on a perfectly competent albeit unexciting note. His decision to open up about fatherhood and his widely-publicized infidelity gives Father of 4 a nice little personal touch that was relatively unexpected from an artist whose prior output had almost exclusively been boisterous trap anthems. Once that initial surprise over the subject matter wore off, it becomes a relatively monotonous listen as Offset raps somberly for nearly an hour over some of the most forgettable atmospheric production Metro Boomin and Southside have ever released to the public. Now that the Migos have gotten the solo album bug out of their system, they can turn their attention to what really matters: Reconvening as a group to finish Culture III.
Grade: B-
Standout Tracks: 1.Clout (feat. Cardi B) 2.North Star (feat. CeeLo Green) 3.Legacy (feat. Travis Scott and 21 Savage)
Friday, March 23, 2018
Quick Album Reviews: Between the Buried and Me-Automata I, Logic-Bobby Tarantino II, Rivers of Nihil-Where Owls Know My Name
Between the Buried and Me-Automata I: In July 2015, Between the Buried and Me shattered my spirit by transforming into the shameless Dream Theater-ripoff their detractors had long pegged them to be on their infuriatingly dull seventh LP Coma Ecliptic. On their latest record Automata I, the North Carolina-based progressive metalcore vets prove that Coma Ecliptic was merely a brief detour to the sewage plant. It may lack the level of technicality that was present on their earlier records, but this relatively brief opening chapter of the two-part Automata saga brings back the perfectly-executed tempo changes, crushing heaviness and massive scope that you come to expect when you put on a BTBAM record. If the second part can build upon the momentum they established here, Automata should go down as yet another classic for these guys.
Grade: A-
Standout Tracks: 1.Blot 2.Condemened to the Gallows 3.Yellow Eyes
Logic-Bobby Tarantino II: After dropping the heavy sociopolitical concept album Everybody last May, budding hip-hop superstar Logic decided to unwind and release a sequel to his self-proclaimed "conscious trap" mixtape Bobby Tarantino. Like every other non-serious project of his, Bobby Tarantino II is a pleasant enough listen that lacks significant replay value. Logic's top-notch technical ability results in a few home runs ("44 More", "Warm It Up", "Contra"), but it's fairly obvious when the dust settles on this 45-minute release that boastful club anthems aren't his forte. A majority of the verses are delivered with a notable lack of confidence and his attempts at writing meme-worthy hooks consistently fall flat. Until his songwriting and creative vision catch up with his mic skills, Logic is going to continue to fall short of his mammoth potential.
Grade: C+
Standout Tracks: 1.44 More 2.Warm It Up 3.Contra
Rivers of Nihil-Where Owls Know My Name: Where Owls Know My Name represents another monumental leap forward for this still relatively unknown progressive/technical death metal outfit. This record expands upon the atmospheric sound of 2015's Monarchy by adding saxophones, synthesizers and clean vocals to their already dense musical arsenal. The addition of these new elements has further strengthened Rivers of Nihil's sweeping yet cohesive songwriting and allowed them to create their most diverse and immense collection of tracks to-date. This is a STRONG early contender for album of the year and I can't wait to see where Rivers of Nihil goes from here.
Grade: A
Standout Tracks: 1.A Home 2.Subtle Change (Including the Forest of Transition and Dissatisfaction Dance) 3.Where Owls Know My Name
Grade: A-
Standout Tracks: 1.Blot 2.Condemened to the Gallows 3.Yellow Eyes
Logic-Bobby Tarantino II: After dropping the heavy sociopolitical concept album Everybody last May, budding hip-hop superstar Logic decided to unwind and release a sequel to his self-proclaimed "conscious trap" mixtape Bobby Tarantino. Like every other non-serious project of his, Bobby Tarantino II is a pleasant enough listen that lacks significant replay value. Logic's top-notch technical ability results in a few home runs ("44 More", "Warm It Up", "Contra"), but it's fairly obvious when the dust settles on this 45-minute release that boastful club anthems aren't his forte. A majority of the verses are delivered with a notable lack of confidence and his attempts at writing meme-worthy hooks consistently fall flat. Until his songwriting and creative vision catch up with his mic skills, Logic is going to continue to fall short of his mammoth potential.
Grade: C+
Standout Tracks: 1.44 More 2.Warm It Up 3.Contra
Rivers of Nihil-Where Owls Know My Name: Where Owls Know My Name represents another monumental leap forward for this still relatively unknown progressive/technical death metal outfit. This record expands upon the atmospheric sound of 2015's Monarchy by adding saxophones, synthesizers and clean vocals to their already dense musical arsenal. The addition of these new elements has further strengthened Rivers of Nihil's sweeping yet cohesive songwriting and allowed them to create their most diverse and immense collection of tracks to-date. This is a STRONG early contender for album of the year and I can't wait to see where Rivers of Nihil goes from here.
Grade: A
Standout Tracks: 1.A Home 2.Subtle Change (Including the Forest of Transition and Dissatisfaction Dance) 3.Where Owls Know My Name
Tuesday, July 11, 2017
Quick Album Reviews: Vince Staples-Big Fish Theory, 2 Chainz-Pretty Girls Like Trap Music, Calvin Harris-Funk Wav Bounces Vol.1, Young Thug-Beautiful Thugger Girls
Vince Staples-Big Fish Theory: Is it too early to call Vince Staples' second LP Big Fish Theory the best hip-hop album of the year? Probably. Am I going to throw all sensible logic out the window and prematurely bestow this title upon it anyway? You bet your sweet ass I am. Behind production primarily handled by a number of EDM heavyweights including Sophie, Zack Sekoff and Jimmy Edgar, Staples is able to create the most abrasive, distinct and consistent project of his brief but thoroughly impressive career thus far. The marriage between Europe's most aggressive styles of electronic music (house and UK garage) and modern hip-hop's angriest MC is almost too perfect for words. The frantic synths and wall-rattling bass that drive the album's beats essentially act as a PED for the rage, misery and sadness that defines Staples' music. While Staples' previous output has boasted excellent production, this new electronic-driven sound was the extra kick in the teeth his music needed to amplify the potency of his pain-filled storytelling. Staples is exactly the type of gifted, envelope-pushing artist that deserves to be at the forefront of the modern hip-hop scene and I really hope the brilliance of Big Fish Theory will finally earn him the level of respect he's long deserved.
4/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Homage 2.Big Fish (feat. Juicy J) 3.Yeah Right (feat. Kendrick Lamar and Kucka)
2 Chainz-Pretty Girls Like Trap Music: Records like Pretty Girls Like Trap Music is why I spend so much time championing the trap genre. The hooks are triumphant, the lyrics are endlessly quotable, the wide variety of killer beats from established vets (Mike Dean, Mike Will Made It, Honorable C.N.O.T.E.) and promising young guns (Murda Beatz, K Swisha, Buddah Bless) is a beautiful showcase of why I believe we're currently living in the golden age of hip-hop production and above all, 2 Chainz finally flexes the level of charisma that has made him the genre's king of show-stealing guest verses over the course of a full-length solo project. I'll be bumping the shit out of this absurdly fun, banger-filled record for the foreseeable future.
4/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Sleep When U Die 2.OG Kush Diet 3.Rolls Royce Bitch
Calvin Harris-Funk Wav Bounces Vol.1: Most mainstream artists aspire to make a song that goes down as an summer anthem. On Funk Wav Bounces Vol.1, Calvin Harris made an album full of them. Funk Wav Bounces Vol.1's laid-back, funk-and-disco-driven sound is a big departure for the Scottish DJ that rose to worldwide fame producing straightforward electropop tracks, but this pretty major stylistic change results in the best material he's ever crafted. Harris' production has never sounded this confident or groovy and despite working with a revolving door of A-list collaborators including Pharrell, Future and Katy Perry that span multiple genres, this record remains cohesive and catchy as hell throughout its efficient 38-minute runtime. Throw this shit on at a cookout or party on a warm night and prepare to let the good times roll.
4/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Heatstroke (feat. Young Thug, Pharrell and Ariana Grande) 2.Faking It (feat. Kehlani and Lil Yachty) 3.Cash Out (feat. ScHoolboy Q, PartyNextDoor and D.R.A.M.)
Young Thug-Beautiful Thugger Girls: When I first heard that hip-hop's most endearing oddball Young Thug was going to drop an "all-singing" album, I let out an audible groan. Thugga has sung a little bit with decent enough results in the past, but the prospect of listening to him sing on an album's worth of material was about as appealing as contracting the Bubonic Plague. To my surprise, Beautiful Thugger Girls proved to be a pretty god damn good release. Thug's goofy swagger and gift for writing unpredictable, catchy melodies seamlessly carries over to the world of pop rap/R&B ,and his singing on the majority of the album is pretty impressive (particularly on "She Wanna Party" and "You Said"). It's definitely more inconsistent than his past two releases (Slime Season 3 and Jeffrey) and there are some bizzaro experiments on here that don't work at all (the country-tinged "Family Don't Matter", whatever the hell "Daddy's Birthday" was supposed to be), but Beautiful Thugger Girls is still a very enjoyable release that successfully expands upon Thugga's already impressive versatility as an artist.
3.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Do U Love Me 2.She Wanna Party (feat. Millie Go Lightly) 3.Take Care
4/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Homage 2.Big Fish (feat. Juicy J) 3.Yeah Right (feat. Kendrick Lamar and Kucka)
2 Chainz-Pretty Girls Like Trap Music: Records like Pretty Girls Like Trap Music is why I spend so much time championing the trap genre. The hooks are triumphant, the lyrics are endlessly quotable, the wide variety of killer beats from established vets (Mike Dean, Mike Will Made It, Honorable C.N.O.T.E.) and promising young guns (Murda Beatz, K Swisha, Buddah Bless) is a beautiful showcase of why I believe we're currently living in the golden age of hip-hop production and above all, 2 Chainz finally flexes the level of charisma that has made him the genre's king of show-stealing guest verses over the course of a full-length solo project. I'll be bumping the shit out of this absurdly fun, banger-filled record for the foreseeable future.
4/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Sleep When U Die 2.OG Kush Diet 3.Rolls Royce Bitch
Calvin Harris-Funk Wav Bounces Vol.1: Most mainstream artists aspire to make a song that goes down as an summer anthem. On Funk Wav Bounces Vol.1, Calvin Harris made an album full of them. Funk Wav Bounces Vol.1's laid-back, funk-and-disco-driven sound is a big departure for the Scottish DJ that rose to worldwide fame producing straightforward electropop tracks, but this pretty major stylistic change results in the best material he's ever crafted. Harris' production has never sounded this confident or groovy and despite working with a revolving door of A-list collaborators including Pharrell, Future and Katy Perry that span multiple genres, this record remains cohesive and catchy as hell throughout its efficient 38-minute runtime. Throw this shit on at a cookout or party on a warm night and prepare to let the good times roll.
4/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Heatstroke (feat. Young Thug, Pharrell and Ariana Grande) 2.Faking It (feat. Kehlani and Lil Yachty) 3.Cash Out (feat. ScHoolboy Q, PartyNextDoor and D.R.A.M.)
Young Thug-Beautiful Thugger Girls: When I first heard that hip-hop's most endearing oddball Young Thug was going to drop an "all-singing" album, I let out an audible groan. Thugga has sung a little bit with decent enough results in the past, but the prospect of listening to him sing on an album's worth of material was about as appealing as contracting the Bubonic Plague. To my surprise, Beautiful Thugger Girls proved to be a pretty god damn good release. Thug's goofy swagger and gift for writing unpredictable, catchy melodies seamlessly carries over to the world of pop rap/R&B ,and his singing on the majority of the album is pretty impressive (particularly on "She Wanna Party" and "You Said"). It's definitely more inconsistent than his past two releases (Slime Season 3 and Jeffrey) and there are some bizzaro experiments on here that don't work at all (the country-tinged "Family Don't Matter", whatever the hell "Daddy's Birthday" was supposed to be), but Beautiful Thugger Girls is still a very enjoyable release that successfully expands upon Thugga's already impressive versatility as an artist.
3.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Do U Love Me 2.She Wanna Party (feat. Millie Go Lightly) 3.Take Care
Thursday, June 15, 2017
Quick Album Reviews: Halsey-Hopeless Fountain Kingdom, Mutoid Man-War Moans, Playboi Carti-Playboi Carti
Halsey-Hopeless Fountain Kingdom: If you were expecting Halsey to evolve on her second LP Hopeless Fountain Kingdom, you're going to be in for a rude awakening. The unsuccessful attempts to be edgy, over-the-top corny lyrics and erratic songwriting are every bit as prevalent as they were on her 2015 debut LP Badlands. However, if you dive beneath its rough, sometimes obnoxious exterior, there's some really dope songs scattered throughout this record. Tracks like "Eyes Closed", "Alone", "Devil in Me" and "Strangers" are haunting, lushly-produced synthpop anthems that showcase how effective Halsey's misunderstood outsider aesthetic can be when it's executed properly. Despite it's slew of flaws, Hopeless Fountain Kingdom still manages to be a decent enough entry into the rapidly-growing downtempo pop cannon.
3/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Eyes Closed 2.Devil in Me 3.Alone
Mutoid Man-War Moans It's always refreshing to turn on a heavy record that solely exists to obliterate the listener with pummeling guitar riffs. Few bands fill this underappreciated and underserved niche better than stoner metal/post-hardcore supergroup Mutoid Man. Every single one of the 12 tracks on War Moans is an explosion of beautiful chaos and balls-to-the-wall energy that made me feel like running through every wall in my house. War Moans is a turbo shot of pure adrenaline and without question, one of the most satisfying albums to be released in the first five and a half months of 2017.
4/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Wreck and Survive 2.Date with the Devil 3.Headrush
Playboi Carti-Playboi Carti: The self-titled debut commercial mixtape from Atlanta's latest breakout hip-hop star (his most recent single "Magnolia" is currently soaring up the Billboard Hot 100) is a stirring testament to how far outstanding production can take you in this genre. Playboi Carti doesn't have much in the way of charisma or mic skills, but the atmospheric yet subtly hard-hitting beats from the likes of Harry Fraud, Southside and newcomer Pi'erre Bourne are so consistently jaw-dropping that this tape manages to remain engaging for the duration of its lean 47-minute runtime. While it sure as hell won't be entering my regular listening rotation, Carti's trap-infused brand of cloud rap is fun enough to throw on whenever you feel like vibing out to some ignorant bars and elite beats.
3/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Other Shit 2.New Choppa (feat. A$AP Rocky) 3.Magnolia
3/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Eyes Closed 2.Devil in Me 3.Alone
Mutoid Man-War Moans It's always refreshing to turn on a heavy record that solely exists to obliterate the listener with pummeling guitar riffs. Few bands fill this underappreciated and underserved niche better than stoner metal/post-hardcore supergroup Mutoid Man. Every single one of the 12 tracks on War Moans is an explosion of beautiful chaos and balls-to-the-wall energy that made me feel like running through every wall in my house. War Moans is a turbo shot of pure adrenaline and without question, one of the most satisfying albums to be released in the first five and a half months of 2017.
4/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Wreck and Survive 2.Date with the Devil 3.Headrush
Playboi Carti-Playboi Carti: The self-titled debut commercial mixtape from Atlanta's latest breakout hip-hop star (his most recent single "Magnolia" is currently soaring up the Billboard Hot 100) is a stirring testament to how far outstanding production can take you in this genre. Playboi Carti doesn't have much in the way of charisma or mic skills, but the atmospheric yet subtly hard-hitting beats from the likes of Harry Fraud, Southside and newcomer Pi'erre Bourne are so consistently jaw-dropping that this tape manages to remain engaging for the duration of its lean 47-minute runtime. While it sure as hell won't be entering my regular listening rotation, Carti's trap-infused brand of cloud rap is fun enough to throw on whenever you feel like vibing out to some ignorant bars and elite beats.
3/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Other Shit 2.New Choppa (feat. A$AP Rocky) 3.Magnolia
Friday, March 17, 2017
Quick Album Reviews: Future-HNDRXX, Within the Ruins-Halfway Human, Charli XCX-Number 1 Angel, Havok-Conformicide
Future-HNDRXX: If you've ever wanted to know what a Luther Vandross record would sound like if it was filtered through a bunch of auto-tune, HNDRXX is the album for you. With sentimental lyrics about love, often upbeat R&B production and far more singing than rapping, this record is the complete antithesis of the grimy, somber trap rap that has driven all of Future's notable releases. Future's past thoughts on romance and monotone singing style makes HNDRXX's lovestruck crooner act a bit of a tough sell at times, but this is still a decent release that proves the 33-yeard old rapper can have some success outside of his established wheelhouse.
3/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Incredible 2.Lookin Exotic 3.My Collection
Within the Ruins-Halfway Human: Halfway Human is the record I've wanted Within the Ruins to make since I was first introduced to their brand of robot-esque deathcore on 2010's Invade. The introduction of clean vocals and traditional guitar solos to the fold takes the Massachusetts based-outfit's signature sound to dizzying new heights without sacrificing any of the spastic power that made their first four records enjoyable. The over-the-top technicality and clean production style will undoubtedly repulse some metalheads, but anyone that is down with frantic guitarwork, triggered drums and pummeling breakdowns should have a ton of fun with this record.
4/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Incomplete Harmony 2.Objective Reality 3.Bittersweet
Charli XCX-Number 1 Angel: If the perpetual sadness that comes with rooting for the Chicago Bears doesn't kill me, the spirit-breaking highs and lows of Charli XCX's music will. Number 1 Angel is yet another piece of cruel emotional torture from England's queen of untapped potential. As always, there are moments on Number 1 Angel ("ILY2", "Drugs","White Roses") where Charli displays a level of bubbly energy and hook-writing proficiency that's comparable to the best pop artists in the game right now (Ariana Grande, Tove Lo, Demi Lovato). Of course, these triumphs manage to be overshadowed by the rest of the records bland, forgettable dance/synthpop nature. There's no denying that Charli has all of the tools required to be an elite pop artist, she just doesn't seem to be able to unleash them consistently over the course of an entire project. Stay tuned later this year when I do a slight variation of this review for Charli's upcoming third studio album.
2.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.ILY2 2.Drugs 3.White Roses
Havok-Conformicide: The hostile political climate gave Havok the perfect opportunity to return their furious, teeth-kicking roots. Conformicide is an anti-government gospel that reminded me a lot of the pure venom that drove Overkill's early releases. While the aggression and instrumentation is impressive, the shaky production, bloated runtime (58 minutes) and underwhelming vocal performance from David Sanchez prevent Conformicide from being the shot of pure, unwavering adrenaline it was intended to be. Conformicide is a solid enough return to form for Havok after their failed attempt at writing more mid-paced material on 2013's Unnatural Selection, but it's nowhere near as memorable or headbang-worthy as their 2011 breakout album Time is Up.
3.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Dogmaniacal 2.Peace is in Pieces 3.Claiming Certainty
3/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Incredible 2.Lookin Exotic 3.My Collection
Within the Ruins-Halfway Human: Halfway Human is the record I've wanted Within the Ruins to make since I was first introduced to their brand of robot-esque deathcore on 2010's Invade. The introduction of clean vocals and traditional guitar solos to the fold takes the Massachusetts based-outfit's signature sound to dizzying new heights without sacrificing any of the spastic power that made their first four records enjoyable. The over-the-top technicality and clean production style will undoubtedly repulse some metalheads, but anyone that is down with frantic guitarwork, triggered drums and pummeling breakdowns should have a ton of fun with this record.
4/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Incomplete Harmony 2.Objective Reality 3.Bittersweet
Charli XCX-Number 1 Angel: If the perpetual sadness that comes with rooting for the Chicago Bears doesn't kill me, the spirit-breaking highs and lows of Charli XCX's music will. Number 1 Angel is yet another piece of cruel emotional torture from England's queen of untapped potential. As always, there are moments on Number 1 Angel ("ILY2", "Drugs","White Roses") where Charli displays a level of bubbly energy and hook-writing proficiency that's comparable to the best pop artists in the game right now (Ariana Grande, Tove Lo, Demi Lovato). Of course, these triumphs manage to be overshadowed by the rest of the records bland, forgettable dance/synthpop nature. There's no denying that Charli has all of the tools required to be an elite pop artist, she just doesn't seem to be able to unleash them consistently over the course of an entire project. Stay tuned later this year when I do a slight variation of this review for Charli's upcoming third studio album.
2.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.ILY2 2.Drugs 3.White Roses
Havok-Conformicide: The hostile political climate gave Havok the perfect opportunity to return their furious, teeth-kicking roots. Conformicide is an anti-government gospel that reminded me a lot of the pure venom that drove Overkill's early releases. While the aggression and instrumentation is impressive, the shaky production, bloated runtime (58 minutes) and underwhelming vocal performance from David Sanchez prevent Conformicide from being the shot of pure, unwavering adrenaline it was intended to be. Conformicide is a solid enough return to form for Havok after their failed attempt at writing more mid-paced material on 2013's Unnatural Selection, but it's nowhere near as memorable or headbang-worthy as their 2011 breakout album Time is Up.
3.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Dogmaniacal 2.Peace is in Pieces 3.Claiming Certainty
Thursday, February 16, 2017
Quick Album Reviews: Dropkick Murphys-11 Short Stories of Pain & Glory, Big Sean-I Decided., Overkill-The Grinding Wheel
Dropkick Murphys-11 Short Stories of Pain & Glory: After the somber ballad-driven snoozefest that was 2013's Signed and Sealed in Blood, Dropkick Murphys wisely brought back the catchy, upbeat formula that better suits their Celtic punk skill set on their ninth LP 11 Short Stories of Pain & Glory. It was a good feeling to have some fun listening to a Dropkick Murphys record after being subjected to what was essentially the musical equivalent of being trapped at a funeral in South Boston for 50 minutes on their last record. There's still some serious issues with consistency ("First Class Loser", "I Had a Hat" and "Until the Next Time" are every bit as dull as the stuff on Signed and Sealed in Blood) and the near-complete absence of the aggression that made their earlier records modern punk classics is kind of disheartening, but 11 Short Stories of Pain & Glory is still a decent enough addition to the Murphys hefty catalog.
3/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Blood 2.Paying My Way 3.Rebels with a Cause
Big Sean-I Decided.: Since he transformed into a serious rapper on 2013's Hall of Fame, I've felt that Big Sean has been the most mediocre rapper on the planet. His latest I Decided. spends nearly an hour solidifying the case for that argument. This is yet another semi-conscious pop rap record where Sean blandly raps about his relationship issues and his status as an "underdog" in the hip-hop community over a bunch of forgettable beats that sound like outtakes from 40's back catalog. I'll admit that there are little flashes of potential sprinkled throughout the record ("Sunday Morning Jetpack" is a legitimately great and moving song), but I know god damn well that Sean is too comfortable with where his career is at right now to actually try and take his game to the next level. I would honestly be stoked if he went back to making the type of unintentionally hilarious party songs that drove his breakout debut Finally Famous. At least then his music would have some of the personality that his recent output sorely lacks
2.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Sunday Morning Jetpack (feat. The-Dream) 2.Moves 3.Same Time Pt. 1
Overkill-The Grinding Wheel: History isn't likely going to remember Overkill as one of the finest '80's thrash metal acts, but they should go down as one of the most consistent. The New Jersey-based quintet back up their reputation as the genre's reliable workhorses with another fiery hour of vintage thrash cuts on their 18th (!) LP The Grinding Wheel. The songwriting features a nice blend of aggression and melody, the solos are exactly the type of speedy excess you want to hear on a thrash record and the hard-rock swagger of vocalist Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth is still fully in tact despite the fact that's he rapidly approaching 60. About the only complaint I have is that there's nothing on here that's as attention-grabbing as Ironbound's "The Green and Black" or The Electric Age's "Drop the Hammer Down". Regardless of its inability to match the volume of "holy shit" moments that were on their other recent releases, The Grinding Wheel still manages to be another triumph for thrash's unsung AARP wonders.
4/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Goddamn Trouble 2.Red, White and Blue 3.Mean Green Killing Machine
3/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Blood 2.Paying My Way 3.Rebels with a Cause
Big Sean-I Decided.: Since he transformed into a serious rapper on 2013's Hall of Fame, I've felt that Big Sean has been the most mediocre rapper on the planet. His latest I Decided. spends nearly an hour solidifying the case for that argument. This is yet another semi-conscious pop rap record where Sean blandly raps about his relationship issues and his status as an "underdog" in the hip-hop community over a bunch of forgettable beats that sound like outtakes from 40's back catalog. I'll admit that there are little flashes of potential sprinkled throughout the record ("Sunday Morning Jetpack" is a legitimately great and moving song), but I know god damn well that Sean is too comfortable with where his career is at right now to actually try and take his game to the next level. I would honestly be stoked if he went back to making the type of unintentionally hilarious party songs that drove his breakout debut Finally Famous. At least then his music would have some of the personality that his recent output sorely lacks
2.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Sunday Morning Jetpack (feat. The-Dream) 2.Moves 3.Same Time Pt. 1
Overkill-The Grinding Wheel: History isn't likely going to remember Overkill as one of the finest '80's thrash metal acts, but they should go down as one of the most consistent. The New Jersey-based quintet back up their reputation as the genre's reliable workhorses with another fiery hour of vintage thrash cuts on their 18th (!) LP The Grinding Wheel. The songwriting features a nice blend of aggression and melody, the solos are exactly the type of speedy excess you want to hear on a thrash record and the hard-rock swagger of vocalist Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth is still fully in tact despite the fact that's he rapidly approaching 60. About the only complaint I have is that there's nothing on here that's as attention-grabbing as Ironbound's "The Green and Black" or The Electric Age's "Drop the Hammer Down". Regardless of its inability to match the volume of "holy shit" moments that were on their other recent releases, The Grinding Wheel still manages to be another triumph for thrash's unsung AARP wonders.
4/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Goddamn Trouble 2.Red, White and Blue 3.Mean Green Killing Machine
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
Quick Album Reviews: Korn-The Serenity of Suffering, Tove Lo-Lady Wood, Serpentine Dominion-Serpentine Dominion, Gucci Mane-Woptober, Dance Gavin Dance-Mothership
Korn-The Serenity of Suffering: In a plot twist so shocking that M. Night Shymalan couldn't have scripted it, nu-metal icons Korn have managed to release a worthwhile album in 2016. After a decade of churning out lazy alt-metal records and ill-advised collaborations with various trendy dubstep artists, Korn has suddenly rediscovered their creative flame with The Serenity of Suffering. The Serenity of Suffering is a nostalgia bomb full of the massive bass grooves and raw aggression that made them a relatable voice of rage for angst-ridden suburban white kids in the 90's and 2000's. It was so refreshing to listen to a Korn record that was consistently fun, heavy and catchy after watching them waste away as they put out stagnant horseshit for the past 13 years. The Serenity of Suffering isn't anywhere near as good as Korn's signature releases (s/t, Issues, Follow the Leader) but it's still a shocking return to form for a group that long appeared to be DOA.
3.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Die Yet Another Night 2.The Hating 3.Next in Line
Tove Lo-Lady Wood: Tove Lo isn't your average pop star. She hails from Sweden, utilizes a style of production that is heavily rooted in European techno/house music and has autobiographical lyrics that sting with brutal honesty. Her second LP, Lady Wood, further establishes that pop outsider formula with a collection of consistently strong songs that serve as a natural progression from her 2014 debut Queen of the Clouds. The general structure and tone of the material is very much in line with her previous work, but the more dynamic production and greatly-improved vocals make Lady Wood a clear improvement over its predecessor.
3.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Don't Talk About It 2.Flashes 3.True Disaster
Serpentine Dominion-Serpentine Dominion: The long-awaited release from the George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher (Cannibal Corpse)/Adam Dutkiewicz (Killswitch Engage)/Shannon Lucas (ex-The Black Dahlia Murder/All That Remains) supergroup does not disappoint. Serpentine Dominion's unique combination of old-school death metal ferocity with metalcore undertones makes this is a breezy, riff-driven release (it clocks in at just under 27 minutes) with a ton of replay value. While it's not likely going to go down as one of 2016's most important metal releases, Serpentine Dominion is still a blistering gutpunch of a release that is guaranteed to please the people that had been patiently waiting for this project to come out.
4/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Vanquished Onto Thee 2.Jagged Crossed Legions 3.The Vengeance in Me
Gucci Mane-Woptober: The post-prison/sober Gucci Mane-era is quickly shaping up to be one of the finest of his storied career. Woptober-Guwop's second LP since being released from jail in May-blows the doors off of his excellent July release Everybody Looking with a set of certified club bangers and infectious street anthems that are almost all instant classics. The production handled by a team of heavy-hitters including Metro Boomin, Zaytoven and London on Da Track is absolutely majestic and sobriety has made Gucci's rapping much tighter without losing of the bite behind his signature gritty delivery. It's been a long time since Gucci has been this strong on the mic and I hope that the fire that he's had since getting out of jail doesn't fizzle out anytime soon.
4/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Wop 2.Right on Time 3.Aggressive
Dance Gavin Dance-Mothership: Veteran post-hardcore outfit Dance Gavin Dance has followed-up their brilliant 2015 release Instant Gratification with a slightly less infectious yet still very impressive release in Mothership. The more melodic sound allows Tilian Pearson's staggering falsetto vocals and the band's soul influences to take center stage, which makes for a nice contrast from the near-constant chaos that was found on Instant Gratification. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't hoped for more of guitarist Will Swan's signature sweep pick spazzouts and soaring hooks from Pearson, but those petty complaints aren't nearly enough to take away from Mothership's awe-inspiring musicianship and eccentric charm.
4/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Chucky vs. the Giant Tortoise 2.Young Robot 3.Frozen One
3.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Die Yet Another Night 2.The Hating 3.Next in Line
Tove Lo-Lady Wood: Tove Lo isn't your average pop star. She hails from Sweden, utilizes a style of production that is heavily rooted in European techno/house music and has autobiographical lyrics that sting with brutal honesty. Her second LP, Lady Wood, further establishes that pop outsider formula with a collection of consistently strong songs that serve as a natural progression from her 2014 debut Queen of the Clouds. The general structure and tone of the material is very much in line with her previous work, but the more dynamic production and greatly-improved vocals make Lady Wood a clear improvement over its predecessor.
3.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Don't Talk About It 2.Flashes 3.True Disaster
Serpentine Dominion-Serpentine Dominion: The long-awaited release from the George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher (Cannibal Corpse)/Adam Dutkiewicz (Killswitch Engage)/Shannon Lucas (ex-The Black Dahlia Murder/All That Remains) supergroup does not disappoint. Serpentine Dominion's unique combination of old-school death metal ferocity with metalcore undertones makes this is a breezy, riff-driven release (it clocks in at just under 27 minutes) with a ton of replay value. While it's not likely going to go down as one of 2016's most important metal releases, Serpentine Dominion is still a blistering gutpunch of a release that is guaranteed to please the people that had been patiently waiting for this project to come out.
4/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Vanquished Onto Thee 2.Jagged Crossed Legions 3.The Vengeance in Me
Gucci Mane-Woptober: The post-prison/sober Gucci Mane-era is quickly shaping up to be one of the finest of his storied career. Woptober-Guwop's second LP since being released from jail in May-blows the doors off of his excellent July release Everybody Looking with a set of certified club bangers and infectious street anthems that are almost all instant classics. The production handled by a team of heavy-hitters including Metro Boomin, Zaytoven and London on Da Track is absolutely majestic and sobriety has made Gucci's rapping much tighter without losing of the bite behind his signature gritty delivery. It's been a long time since Gucci has been this strong on the mic and I hope that the fire that he's had since getting out of jail doesn't fizzle out anytime soon.
4/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Wop 2.Right on Time 3.Aggressive
Dance Gavin Dance-Mothership: Veteran post-hardcore outfit Dance Gavin Dance has followed-up their brilliant 2015 release Instant Gratification with a slightly less infectious yet still very impressive release in Mothership. The more melodic sound allows Tilian Pearson's staggering falsetto vocals and the band's soul influences to take center stage, which makes for a nice contrast from the near-constant chaos that was found on Instant Gratification. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't hoped for more of guitarist Will Swan's signature sweep pick spazzouts and soaring hooks from Pearson, but those petty complaints aren't nearly enough to take away from Mothership's awe-inspiring musicianship and eccentric charm.
4/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Chucky vs. the Giant Tortoise 2.Young Robot 3.Frozen One
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
Quick Album Reviews: A Day to Remember-Bad Vibrations, Norma Jean-Polar Similar, Vince Staples-Prima Donna, Young Thug-Jeffrey
I've been extremely busy with NFL-related pieces recently and as a result, my music review output has suffered .To make up for that prolonged period of inactivity, here are some quick thoughts on four releases I didn't have time to write a full review for over the past few weeks.
A Day to Remember-Bad Vibrations: Rejoice A Day to Remember fans, 2013's Common Courtesy was not just a reactionary blast of rage stemming from their messy breakup with Victory Records. Their latest record, Bad Vibrations, confirms that the angrier version of A Day to Remember is here to stay and that commitment to the heavier side of their sound allows this record to be one of the standouts in their extensive discography. Bad Vibrations features the same breakdown and pop punk-hook heavy formula as Common Courtesy, but the sheer strength of the songwriting and expansion of vocalist Jeremy McKinnon's range prevents this from feeling like a complete retread. Bad Vibrations is further proof that going the independent route was exactly what A Day to Remember needed to rediscover the fire they lost during the Homesick and What Separates Me From You-era.
3.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Paranoia 2.Exposed 3.Turn off the Radio
Norma Jean-Polar Similar: After slumping through most of the past decade, Norma Jean has unexpectedly returned to form with Polar Similar. Polar Similar is easily the most chaotic and focused record that the Christian metalcore group has recorded since founding vocalist Josh Scogin (The Chariot, '68) left the band in 2002. The explosive presence of vocalist Corey Putman and the constantly shifting riffing from lead guitarist Jeff Hickey helps establish the type of unrelenting, punishing atmosphere that math/metalcore enthusiasts salivate over. The dull, ill-conceived melodic material ("Reaction", "A Thousand Years a Minute", the second half of "IV: The Nexus") and the multiple white-noise interludes ("II: The People", "III: The Nebula") kill a decent amount of the momentum built up by the heavier tracks, but Polar Similar is still a very pleasant surprise from a group that appeared to have gone creatively bankrupt a long time ago.
3.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks 1.An Ocean of War 2.Everyone Talking Over Everyone Else 3.Synthetic Sun
Vince Staples-Prima Donna: West coast hip-hop phenom Vince Staples continues his impressive run of excellence with his latest EP Prima Donna. Over 7 tracks that last just under 22 minutes, Staples tells the fictional story of an ex-gang banger who makes it big as a rapper and eventually commits suicide after he realizes fame can't put a stop to his internal pain. The minimal, abrasive production from frequent collaborators James Blake, No I.D. and DJ Dahi perfectly fits the album's bleak tone and Staples' gritty, venom-filled rapping style makes the deep rage and emotional trauma of the record's narrative feel terrifyingly real for the listener. It never quite matches the soaring heights of Summertime '06 and Hell Can Wait, but Primma Donna once again displays the ambition, ferocity and intelligence that has made Staples one of the most buzzed-about artists in modern hip-hop.
3.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Loco (feat. Kilo Kish) 2.Pimp Hand 3.War Ready
Young Thug-Jeffrey: My relationship with Young Thug's music is bizarre to say the least. On the one hand, his complete and utter disregard for enunciating his words and signature high-pitched squawk makes him obnoxious and difficult to listen to. On the other hand, his off-kilter production choices and massive, unique personality is more than enough to consider him one of the most interesting artists in hip-hop right now. His most recent mixtape, Jeffrey, is the first of his projects where the positive aspects of his sound outweigh the negatives. While the slower-paced tracks ("Floyd Mayweather", "RiRi", "Guwop") are still a bad fit for his eccentric style and his incomprehensible vocals are as grating as ever at times ("Webbie", the aforementioned "RiRi"), tracks like "Harambe", "Future Shit", "Swizz Beatz" and "Wyclef Jean" are some of the most unique, hilarious and catchy hip-hop tracks I've heard in 2016. He's still got a long to way go before I fully embrace his work, but Thugga shows enough flashes of inspiration and wit on Jeffrey to make me optimistic about his future projects.
3/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Harambe 2.Future Shit 3.Swizz Beatz
A Day to Remember-Bad Vibrations: Rejoice A Day to Remember fans, 2013's Common Courtesy was not just a reactionary blast of rage stemming from their messy breakup with Victory Records. Their latest record, Bad Vibrations, confirms that the angrier version of A Day to Remember is here to stay and that commitment to the heavier side of their sound allows this record to be one of the standouts in their extensive discography. Bad Vibrations features the same breakdown and pop punk-hook heavy formula as Common Courtesy, but the sheer strength of the songwriting and expansion of vocalist Jeremy McKinnon's range prevents this from feeling like a complete retread. Bad Vibrations is further proof that going the independent route was exactly what A Day to Remember needed to rediscover the fire they lost during the Homesick and What Separates Me From You-era.
3.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Paranoia 2.Exposed 3.Turn off the Radio
Norma Jean-Polar Similar: After slumping through most of the past decade, Norma Jean has unexpectedly returned to form with Polar Similar. Polar Similar is easily the most chaotic and focused record that the Christian metalcore group has recorded since founding vocalist Josh Scogin (The Chariot, '68) left the band in 2002. The explosive presence of vocalist Corey Putman and the constantly shifting riffing from lead guitarist Jeff Hickey helps establish the type of unrelenting, punishing atmosphere that math/metalcore enthusiasts salivate over. The dull, ill-conceived melodic material ("Reaction", "A Thousand Years a Minute", the second half of "IV: The Nexus") and the multiple white-noise interludes ("II: The People", "III: The Nebula") kill a decent amount of the momentum built up by the heavier tracks, but Polar Similar is still a very pleasant surprise from a group that appeared to have gone creatively bankrupt a long time ago.
3.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks 1.An Ocean of War 2.Everyone Talking Over Everyone Else 3.Synthetic Sun
Vince Staples-Prima Donna: West coast hip-hop phenom Vince Staples continues his impressive run of excellence with his latest EP Prima Donna. Over 7 tracks that last just under 22 minutes, Staples tells the fictional story of an ex-gang banger who makes it big as a rapper and eventually commits suicide after he realizes fame can't put a stop to his internal pain. The minimal, abrasive production from frequent collaborators James Blake, No I.D. and DJ Dahi perfectly fits the album's bleak tone and Staples' gritty, venom-filled rapping style makes the deep rage and emotional trauma of the record's narrative feel terrifyingly real for the listener. It never quite matches the soaring heights of Summertime '06 and Hell Can Wait, but Primma Donna once again displays the ambition, ferocity and intelligence that has made Staples one of the most buzzed-about artists in modern hip-hop.
3.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Loco (feat. Kilo Kish) 2.Pimp Hand 3.War Ready
Young Thug-Jeffrey: My relationship with Young Thug's music is bizarre to say the least. On the one hand, his complete and utter disregard for enunciating his words and signature high-pitched squawk makes him obnoxious and difficult to listen to. On the other hand, his off-kilter production choices and massive, unique personality is more than enough to consider him one of the most interesting artists in hip-hop right now. His most recent mixtape, Jeffrey, is the first of his projects where the positive aspects of his sound outweigh the negatives. While the slower-paced tracks ("Floyd Mayweather", "RiRi", "Guwop") are still a bad fit for his eccentric style and his incomprehensible vocals are as grating as ever at times ("Webbie", the aforementioned "RiRi"), tracks like "Harambe", "Future Shit", "Swizz Beatz" and "Wyclef Jean" are some of the most unique, hilarious and catchy hip-hop tracks I've heard in 2016. He's still got a long to way go before I fully embrace his work, but Thugga shows enough flashes of inspiration and wit on Jeffrey to make me optimistic about his future projects.
3/5 Stars
Standout Tracks: 1.Harambe 2.Future Shit 3.Swizz Beatz
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Quick Album Reviews: Overkill-The Electric Age, 3 Inches of Blood-Long Live Heavy Metal, Municipal Waste-The Fatal Feast: Waste In Space, Hour of Penance-Sedition
Here are some quick reviews of albums I heard while my computer was messed up for the past two weeks.
Overkill-The Electric Age: New Jersey thrash icons Overkill still have it after all these years. Despite not being my favorite thrash band ever, since the dawn of the new millennium they have been the most consistent old-school thrash band. The Electric Age continues Overkill's trend of kicking ass well into their third decade. While not quite reaching the heights of their amazing last effort Ironbound, The Electric Age has a very similar feel and an almost equal end-result. This album is full of speed, catchy riffs and hooks, and Blitz's trademark snarl. The laggy midsection of "Wish You Were Dead", "Black Daze", and "Save Yourself" bring down the incendiary opening duo of "Come and Get It" and "Electric Rattlesnake" and temporarily derail the momentum of the album. Thankfully the second half is thoroughly consistent and just as good, if not better than the first two tracks. I know it's early, but I doubt we will hear finer thrash this year than The Electric Age.
4/5 Stars
Standout Tracks
1.All Over But the Shouting
2.Come and Get It
3.Electric Rattlesnake
3 Inches of Blood-Long Live Heavy Metal: The album title say it all: 3 Inches of Blood is a band that is hellbent on keeping traditional heavy metal alive. This record is a throwback to their earlier days and they are able to recapture the magic of their earlier albums. The riffs on this record are absolutely killer. Their last record Here Waits Thy Doom was lacking the thrashy and classic metal riffs they are known for so it's awesome that they brought it back. The thrash influences are turned up to the level they were on Fire Up The Blades. The thrash-edge to their sound is when they are at their absolute best. "Leave it on the Ice" might be the thrashiest song in their catalogue, it sounds almost exactly like 80's Metallica (from a riff-standpoint). Cam Pipes's vocals have declined a bit, but he still maintains his over-the top awesome style very well. 3 Inches of Blood still is not for everyone, but this is an absolute must-listen for fans of classic heavy metal. Their best since Fire Up The Blades.
4/5 Stars
Standout Tracks
1.Leave it on the Ice
2.Die For Gold (Upon The Boiling Bridge IV)
3.Look Out
Municipal Waste-The Fatal Feast: Waste in Space: This record didn't really make that much of an impression on me, but it definitely exceeded my expectations. The lead single "The Fatal Feast" was pretty weak, so I was glad to hear the rest of the record that was better. The odd thing is the the instrumentation is a lot stronger here than on Massive Agressive, but Tony Foresta's vocals have definitely gone down in quality. At times he sounds fine, but at others he sounds pretty weak. Still solid, fun, crossover thrash, but the Waste has definitely seen better days.
3.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks
1.Covered In Sick/The Barfer
2.Jesus Freaks
3.Standards and Practices
Hour of Penance-Sedition: My main thought while listening to Sedition was why I haven't to Hour of Penance sooner? This some seriously badass brutal/technical death metal. They combine the two sides brilliantly and effortlessly and it makes for extreme metal bliss. They remind me a lot of Behemoth and Fleshgod Apocalypse (which makes complete sense considering how many members of Fleshgod were once in Hour of Penance). "Ascension" is one of the best songs I've heard all year. The groove-esque riff in the middle is guaranteed to start crazy pits in the live setting. Sedition is great stuff and I will be delving more into Hour of Penance's discography soon.
4/5 Stars
Standout Tracks
1.Ascension
2.The Cannibal Gods
3.Decimate the Ancestry of the Only God
Overkill-The Electric Age: New Jersey thrash icons Overkill still have it after all these years. Despite not being my favorite thrash band ever, since the dawn of the new millennium they have been the most consistent old-school thrash band. The Electric Age continues Overkill's trend of kicking ass well into their third decade. While not quite reaching the heights of their amazing last effort Ironbound, The Electric Age has a very similar feel and an almost equal end-result. This album is full of speed, catchy riffs and hooks, and Blitz's trademark snarl. The laggy midsection of "Wish You Were Dead", "Black Daze", and "Save Yourself" bring down the incendiary opening duo of "Come and Get It" and "Electric Rattlesnake" and temporarily derail the momentum of the album. Thankfully the second half is thoroughly consistent and just as good, if not better than the first two tracks. I know it's early, but I doubt we will hear finer thrash this year than The Electric Age.
4/5 Stars
Standout Tracks
1.All Over But the Shouting
2.Come and Get It
3.Electric Rattlesnake
3 Inches of Blood-Long Live Heavy Metal: The album title say it all: 3 Inches of Blood is a band that is hellbent on keeping traditional heavy metal alive. This record is a throwback to their earlier days and they are able to recapture the magic of their earlier albums. The riffs on this record are absolutely killer. Their last record Here Waits Thy Doom was lacking the thrashy and classic metal riffs they are known for so it's awesome that they brought it back. The thrash influences are turned up to the level they were on Fire Up The Blades. The thrash-edge to their sound is when they are at their absolute best. "Leave it on the Ice" might be the thrashiest song in their catalogue, it sounds almost exactly like 80's Metallica (from a riff-standpoint). Cam Pipes's vocals have declined a bit, but he still maintains his over-the top awesome style very well. 3 Inches of Blood still is not for everyone, but this is an absolute must-listen for fans of classic heavy metal. Their best since Fire Up The Blades.
4/5 Stars
Standout Tracks
1.Leave it on the Ice
2.Die For Gold (Upon The Boiling Bridge IV)
3.Look Out
Municipal Waste-The Fatal Feast: Waste in Space: This record didn't really make that much of an impression on me, but it definitely exceeded my expectations. The lead single "The Fatal Feast" was pretty weak, so I was glad to hear the rest of the record that was better. The odd thing is the the instrumentation is a lot stronger here than on Massive Agressive, but Tony Foresta's vocals have definitely gone down in quality. At times he sounds fine, but at others he sounds pretty weak. Still solid, fun, crossover thrash, but the Waste has definitely seen better days.
3.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks
1.Covered In Sick/The Barfer
2.Jesus Freaks
3.Standards and Practices
Hour of Penance-Sedition: My main thought while listening to Sedition was why I haven't to Hour of Penance sooner? This some seriously badass brutal/technical death metal. They combine the two sides brilliantly and effortlessly and it makes for extreme metal bliss. They remind me a lot of Behemoth and Fleshgod Apocalypse (which makes complete sense considering how many members of Fleshgod were once in Hour of Penance). "Ascension" is one of the best songs I've heard all year. The groove-esque riff in the middle is guaranteed to start crazy pits in the live setting. Sedition is great stuff and I will be delving more into Hour of Penance's discography soon.
4/5 Stars
Standout Tracks
1.Ascension
2.The Cannibal Gods
3.Decimate the Ancestry of the Only God
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