Recommend me some 2022 albums +1000th album halp

[rayword45]

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp

Day 787: Ironic Songs by Kevin & The Bikes (Album Choice: choof)

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

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

Best Track: Salamia
Rating: 8/10

[robertsona]

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp

Day 779: Long Haired Locusts by Godcaster (Album Choice: robertsona)

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

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

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

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

[rayword45]

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp

Day 788: Nightmare Vacation by Rico Nasty

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

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

Man... This is just sad to write.

Best Track: Let It Out
Rating: 4.5/10

[rayword45]

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp

Day 789: Savage Mode 2 by 21 Savage and Metro Boomin

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

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

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

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

Best Track: Many Men
Rating: 7/10

[rayword45]

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp

Day 790: 333 by Bladee (Album Choice: Hazel H.)

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

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

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

[rayword45]

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp

Day 791: アダンの風 (Adan no kaze) by 青葉市子 [Ichiko Aoba]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[choof]

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp

I can't help but feel like the response to adan no kaze has a small element of musical yellow fever

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

[rayword45]

Re: Recommend me some 2019 albums halp

Day 792: Good News by Megan Thee Stallion

Day 697: Fever by Megan Thee Stallion

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

No pun was intended there.

Best Track: Simon Says
Rating: 7/10

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

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

Best Track: Go Crazy
Rating: 7/10

[rayword45]

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp

Day 793: Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon by Pop Smoke

I've known who this guy was for at least two and a half years, and it seems he only blew up really after he died because now EVERYONE is bumping.

Rest in peace, man, someone born after me dying is always sad. But also, this album is as mediocre and overlong as I was expecting.

Best Track: blah
Rating: 5/10

[rayword45]

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp

Day 794: We Will Always Love You by The Avalanches

You KNOW I had to hop on this one ASAP.

This sounds distinctly like Avalanches but is definitely WAYYYYYY less sample-based than their last two albums. Is this anywhere near as good as Since I Left You? That's really not fair, this should be judged on its own merits, because that's become one of my all-time favorite albums since I've seen them live three and a half years ago and has remained as such. FUCK COVID.

But anyways, this at 72ish minutes is something I would normally call overlong, but I found myself just sinking into the vibe and letting their usual kaleidoscopic magic work itself on me, and I honestly enjoyed every second of this as an almost cohesive piece.

I bet someone else here is going to listen to this and go like "you fucking idiot this shit sucks" well FUCK YOU MAN. EAT MY ASS. This isn't something I'm gonna listen to all the time, and picking out favorite cuts will be hard, but as a singular work this is extraordinary. Also having Denzel Curry feature is mad random but I'm not complaining at all. MGMT is a less bizarre feature, and I priorly only liked one song by these guys but now I like two! This writing has no structure. I am barely awake. All I know is this shit had the exact same effect on me as Loops of Infinity (A Rave Loveletter) but even stronger. Maybe my love of stuff like this, combined with these asinine ramblings, is indicative of my poor mental state.

Best Track: Born To Lose or Music Makes Me High or Take Care In Your Dreaming man IDK
Rating: 9/10

[rayword45]

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp

Day 795: My Agenda by Dorian Electra

Y'know I really don't understand this genre. It's like I hate what I'm hearing with a burning passion, then something comes on that I really enjoy, almost makes me think of DDR or something, then it goes back to cringe shit.

Fuck man I don't have time for this. Why am I reviewing something with Rebecca Black as a feature anyways?

Best Track: I don't know man, this shit is 25 minutes figure it out yourself
Rating: 5/10

[rayword45]

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp

Day 796: Anyways by Young Nudy

Well this is a bit better and less boring than that Pop Smoke album.

Best Track: No Comprende
Rating: 6/10

[rayword45]

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp

Day 797: Food House by Food House

Everything I said about that Dorian Electra album applies here too, but to a somewhat lesser, less frequently annoying degree. Well, besides the fact that this album has no features as far as I can tell.

Anyways, instead of writing about this music, I wanna respond to this

I can't help but feel like the response to adan no kaze has a small element of musical yellow fever

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

I will give 50 credits to the first person to make a joke about Fantano having yellow fever that makes me laugh.

Best Track: 8 Now
Rating: 6/10

[rayword45]

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp

Day 798: Goons Be Gone by No Age

I don't feel like writing shit here. Spotify recommended me this as something I missed and this is just OK, kinda boring.

Best Track: Daddy Can You Please Lick My Bumhole
Rating: 5/10

[choof]

Re: Recommend me some 2020 albums halp

Day 774: Palimpsest by Lauren Bousfield

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

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

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

oh yeah I finally got around to checking this out
if it was instrumental it'd be an 8/10