Hi, everyone! In January, I broadened my horizons towards older albums I hadn’t checked out, and also dipped my feet into some other genres I haven’t often listened to. It was a grind to get through all of these records, but rest assured, I had a lot of great things to say about them.
ALBUMS I LISTENED TO/MY OPINIONS:
Unknown Pleasures- Joy Division
I love the new wave band New Order, but I had never listened to the band that they evolved from- Joy Division. The reason why they had to become a band was because of the sudden death of Ian Curtis, the mind behind the band. This post-punk album is one of the most unusually produced albums of all time, but I love it. The people at Strawberry Studios used some really cool effects to give this album its uniqueness. Additionally, Curtis’s deep baritone vocals play up the griminess of this album very well. Songs like “Disorder” and “Insight” are some of the greatest that I’ve ever listened to, and many other songs on this record prove how unique music can be. I love this album, as it is a masterpiece of production and sound. I can’t believe that I never listened to Unknown Pleasures until now, but I’m glad I finally did! 10/10.
Die Lit- Playboi Carti
Before I explain my thoughts, I want you to know that I’m definitely not someone you should trust to if you want to hear an opinion on today’s rap music. I’m not in the white suburban kid demographic that listens to subpar mumble rap and jack off to how “good” it is. So I warn you to take my review with a grain of salt. Now, to the good parts... I was surprised with some of the quality in Carti’s stuff. Songs like “Love Hurts”, “Foreign”, “Right Now” and “Shoota” have slick beats and flows that make this record actually quite enjoyable to listen to. Most of the songs that detail club life and other misogynistic topics are not my favorite, but there are definitely some bright spots on this album that are worth relistening to. I will say that the second half of this album is a bit weaker on quality content, but it’s still a pretty solid album in its own right. 7.5/10
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot- Wilco
I had heard a lot of good things about this album, so I’m glad I finally sat down and gave it a listen. To say it bluntly, I was incredibly impressed by the Chicago-based band’s 2002 release. I would compare lead vocalist Jeff Tweedy to sounding somewhat like Elliott Smith, as he nails many of the gloomy sounding moments in this album. The album is well-produced, and I enjoy the more somber and quiet sound this album possesses. The songs are ballad after ballad, and I loved that. After listening to Yankee Hotel, it makes me want to listen to more of Wilco’s far-stretching discography. Can’t wait to hear more quality stuff from them! 9/10.
Room on Fire- the Strokes
Since I loved, Is This It so much when I listened to it for the first time, I figured it’d be only fair to listen to the NYC garage rockers’ second album. Overall, I’m very happy that the Strokes did not fall into a sophomore slump with this release. This album differs from its predecessor in the sense lot more of the songs have a deeper emotional maturity, and I like that motif a lot. Critics definitely liked this album significantly less than they did Is This It, but I can’t see why. Room on Fire has so many quality songs, and I love almost every track on this album. “Reptilia” and “12:51” are some high points that I have listened to a lot in recent times. However, I didn’t like tracks like “Under Control” and “The Way It Is” towards the end of the album. However, it did finish on a higher note with its last two songs. Overall, great second release from one of my favorite bands. 8.5/10.
Turn on the Bright Lights- Interpol
I know, I’ve been reviewing too much early-2000s indie rock this month. These New York rockers put out a pretty amazing release, though. TOTBL such an amazing record that harkens back to the 80s post-punk scene, but also powered the indie and garage rock scenes that were emerging in the earlier part of the 2000s. Anthems like “Obstacle 1” and “NYC” serve as powerful representations of a recovering New York City after 9/11. Not only were these two songs great, but almost every song on this album is so damn memorable and super chill. Love the mellow, yet powerful vibes this album gives off. I’ll be coming back to this record in the future, for sure. 9.5/10
Liquid Swords- GZA
GZA is one of my favorite members of Wu-Tang Clan, and hearing him solo made me appreciate him more. The lyricism and beats are second to none, and GZA’s flows are some of the most epic that I’ve ever heard. Its complex themes are very dark yet conscious, and many songs detail the grim, everyday life in New York City. It definitely made for an intersting listen. I actually read an article that detail GZA recalling every song on this album, and it was actually a cool side read. I learned a lot more background on this album that almost made me appreciate this record even more. After listening, I think that this is not only one of the best 90s hip-hop albums ever, but one of the greatest rap albums I’ve ever heard. In fact, I now want to explore more of the other solo albums by Wu-Tang members and see how they compare to Liquid Swords. 10/10
SONGS OF THE MONTH
Reptilia- the Strokes
Award Tour- A Tribe Called Quest
Alien Boy- Oliver Tree
Obstacle 1- Interpol
Heavy metal drummer- Wilco
93 til Infinity- Souls of Mischief
Love Hurts- Playboi Carti
Still Beating- Mac DeMarco
Teen Pregnancy- Blank Banshee
calm- idealism
Hope you guys can find something you can enjoy on this list. Thanks for reading this article, more great content will be coming your way soon!
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