Genre: Pop Format Reviewed: Spotify 320 kbps Rating: 8/10 Commentary: This is superficially a pop/R&B albumb, but remarkably diverse and sophisticated, both musically and lyrically. It takes a few listen-throughs to realize how great it really is. More info: here. Listen: here.
Genre: Electronica/North African Format Reviewed: Spotify 320 kbps Rating: 9.5/10 Commentary: This album is a full-on sensory assault of deep bass, electronic beats and traditional North African instruments. It is so intense it is hard to listen to in the background; it demands that you stop and give it your full attention. It ends up… Read More »
Genre: Opera Format Reviewed: Spotify 320 kbps Rating: 7.5/10 Commentary: “Dance of the Blessed Spirits” is core material in Flute II, which I suffered through in a methodical and unmusical way. But that left me with a great nostalgia for this opera, but I haven’t really enjoyed most of the recordings. This one is great,… Read More »
Genre: Metalcore Format Reviewed: Spotify 320 kbps Rating: 7/10 Commentary: So I guess this will be my metalcore album for the year. Not my favorite genre, as I’ve made very clear. I kinda like this album though. It has all these swooping choruses and feel very arena-ready. Not that I would ever go to an… Read More »
Genre: Country/Folk Format Reviewed: Spotify 320 kbps Rating: 6.5/10 Commentary: So Chip Taylor is this guy who wrote “Wild Things” — yes that Wild Things— then chugged out some kinda dreary Nashville records and then spend a few decades as a professional gambler. Now, for at least a decade or so, he’s been back churning… Read More »
Genre: Stadium Metal Format Reviewed: Spotify 320 kbps Rating: 7.5/10 Commentary: So then there is this moment where you here thischeesy metal shtick… and you think this is the best thing ever. Ghost is basically the heir apparent to cheese-coated stadium metal, and this is the album that solidifies that status. They’ve shed enough of… Read More »
Genre: Death Metal Format Reviewed: Spotify 320 kbps Rating: 6.5/10 Commentary: There is this genre of death metal that is, according to the Encyclopedia “brutal” and focused on “gore” “sickness”. What is interesting is that most of that actually ends up being pretty monotonous and boring. This is the best “gore” album I’ve heard in… Read More »
Genre: Country/Folk Format Reviewed: Spotify 320 kbps Rating: 6/10 Commentary: Gretchen Peters’ new album is more political than her last, with several dark reflections on our country’s current evil fascist mood. It also feels more scattered, and it doesn’t hold up quite as well when inevitably compared to her last album Blackbirds, which was an… Read More »
Genre: Classical Format Reviewed: Spotify 320 kbps Rating: 7.5/10 Commentary: John Adams is not a composer that I’ve ever really gotten into… but this recording of by violinist Leila Josefowicz is just magnificent. Apparently there is also a significant backstory, with Josefowicz and Adams have a strong mutual longstanding attraction to each others’ compositions and… Read More »
Genre: Choral Format Reviewed: Spotify 320 kbps Rating: 8/10 Commentary: Paul McCreesh and the Gabrieli Consort have been producing wonderful choral recordings for a long time, including my favorite choral recording ever. This album is also wonderful, a collection of Mary-themed pieced both contemporary and traditional (blended in just the right way). One of my… Read More »