Hi, everyone! February was a relatively easy month of listening for me! Though some of the albums I listened to were not as good as ones I’ve listened to in the past, I did find a great batch of songs that I have played endlessly this month.
ALBUMS I LISTENED TO/MY OPINIONS:
Helplessness Blues- Fleet Foxes
I had put this album on hold from my listening list for a couple of months, but I’m glad I finally got to sit down and listen to this record in full! This album really is special, and totally defies the trendy indie scene that was developing. Its folk and baroque pop elements are amazing and reminds me a little bit of Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys. The instrumentation is super diverse, and lead singer Robin Peckinold’s vocals gave this album a bigger punch. I still believe the key to this album’s success was consistency! There are very few songs on this album that I would consider “bad”. I have at least one redeeming thing to say about each track because they’re all layered with such musical depth. This album is well-crafted and is a musical masterpiece from the early 2010s. 10/10
Let It Be- The Replacements
I thought this album had me kind of divided. This album has a lot of different sounds going on it, and I think what drew me to Let it Be was because it was categorized as “post-punk”... I was hoping for a sound more like predecessors Joy Division or Talking Heads. Though some songs were kind of loud and irritating to listen, there were a few bright spots on this album that I would definitely listen to a lot in the future. Songs like “Unsatisfied”, “Androgynous” and “Black Diamond” are all very good, but some of the songs at the beginning and end of the record do not sit well with me. The lack of identity the band had on this album bumps them down for me, but the quality on some of these tracks (considering it was their first record) seem very mature and polished. 7/10
clipping.- CLPPNG
This is the side group of Hamilton original cast member, Daveed Diggs. I was incredibly fond of his performances as both Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson in the musical, so I figured I would check out his other rap stuff. All in all, clipping. showed more of a Death Grips-esque production and rapping style on this record. Diggs’ stream-of-consciousness type lyricism hearkens to Death Grips frontman MC Ride (but less hardcore). He really shows off his rapping talents on this record, but I think the industrial hip-hop production on this record clashes so hard with his overall flow. Many of the beats are too loud and overpower his rhymes. Sonically, this record was somewhat irritating to listen to, and many songs missed the mark for me. However, since I’m not the biggest fan of “noise rap” groups, please take this review with a grain of salt. If you’re someone who’s a fan of Death Grips, though, you should give this record a chance. 6/10.
You Won’t Get What You Want- Daughters
This was YouTube music critic Anthony Fantano’s most recent 10/10, a very special title to receive (5 albums have ever received that label). I guess I can’t really blame Fantano for liking this so much, because he’s into noisier music. For me, it was very hard for me to get a read on this one. I personally wasn’t a fan of the gritty, overbearing guitars and drums that overtook the vocals. Many of the tracks’ instrumentation was not pleasing to listen to and didn’t really have a lot of substance. Same with the songwriting- across the board, it was very drony and virtually insufferable. Though many songs on the second half of this album were okay, the only above-average songs on this album were probably “Satan in the Wait” or “Less Sex”. This album will probably take me a couple more listens to appreciate, but let’s just say the album’s title was emblematic of my experience with it. 5.5/10.
Remind Me Tomorrow- Sharon Van Etten
Pitchfork’s first Best New Album of the year was actually pretty solid. The Brooklyn-based crooner put out a solid arsenal of tracks on her fifth outing. Her emotionally-empowering vocals are nailed very well, and I think the haziness of the instrumentation help play that up on many songs. The production is super diverse and was enjoyable to listen to. In fact, it almost has a dream-pop vibe- a la Beach House. Overall, I was quite impressed with what Van Etten had going on this record, and Remind Me is an early bright spot for 2019. 8.5/10
SONGS OF THE MONTH
Starlight- The Supermen Lovers
Don’t Look Back Into The Sun- The Libertines
Better than Love- Hurts
In Between Days- The Cure
aisatsana [102]- Aphex Twin
Lone Digger- Caravan Palace
The Things We Do For Love- 10cc
Answering Machine- The Replacements
New House- Rex Orange County
In The Name of Love- Martin Garrix
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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