Wes Montgomery – A Day In The Life

by stan · January 11, 2019

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

Light guitar driven jazz

Moods

Wedding cocktail reception

Thoughts

A bunch of covers done in this kinda corny, guitar driven light jazz; overly dramatic string arrangements don't really help things much.

As much as I don't like this record I do include these tracks in mixes when entertaining. Easily recognizable melodies in this 'soft’ format serve well as background music.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Wes-Montgomery-A-Day-In-The-Life/release/10040768

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjHiSePn1ts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86oaCxW2daU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0KZk2Ojxn8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJyarNALJFc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Vp4O3fOLy8

Spotify

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Wes Montgomery – A Day In The Life

Description: Album Review of Wes Montgomery – A Day In The Life

Written by: stan
Rating: 2 out of 5

Mandar – String Theory

by stan · January 9, 2019

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

Whatever electro

Moods

Filler

Thoughts

It's fine electro but not really feeling it overall. ‘Poison words’ is a bit better but not much happening here.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Mandar-String-Theory/release/12001410

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svScti6R3lQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzeFE3GfXnY

Spotify

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Mandar – String Theory

Description: Album Review of Mandar – String Theory

Written by: stan
Rating: 2 out of 5

Mitski – Be The Cowboy

by stan · December 17, 2018

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

Lush singer-songwriter pop with a ‘big’ sound

Moods

A pitchfork 8.8 record

Thoughts

I don't get the hype on this one, mediocre in my opinion.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Mitski-Be-The-Cowboy/release/12384951

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfylNmkR8dw

Spotify

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Mitski – Be The Cowboy

Description: Album Review of Mitski – Be The Cowboy

Written by: stan
Rating: 2 out of 5

Dire Straits – Love Over Gold

by stan · December 16, 2018

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

Classic radio rock

Moods

Soundtrack for driving across Midwestern landscapes

Thoughts

Aside from the tasteful guitar work on the second half of ‘telegraph road’ I wasn't into this. Songs felt overly long with few rewarding moments.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Dire-Straits-Love-Over-Gold/release/3718856

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gej3hLOLDU

Spotify

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Dire Straits – Love Over Gold

Description: Album Review of Dire Straits – Love Over Gold

Written by: stan
Rating: 2 out of 5

Eleanor Friedberger – Rebound

by stan · December 15, 2018

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

Adult contemporary

Moods

OK with how past relationships ended

Thoughts

She sings like ‘something about the girl’ which is a good thing. A variety of pop styles are covered, bubbly in some places. Only listened once but found it lacking memorableness.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Eleanor-Friedberger-Rebound/release/11989814

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmjcSz8aV1Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5jRnL4fHQA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7HeLwsAvM0

Spotify

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Eleanor Friedberger – Rebound

Description: Album Review of Eleanor Friedberger – Rebound

Written by: stan
Rating: 2 out of 5

Crackazat – Rainbow Fantasia

by stan · December 10, 2018

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

Sexy electro

Moods

Cheesy modern hotel bar

Thoughts

Aside from midnight in sector seven I found this to be bland. Seemed too buttoned-up and overly polished.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Crackazat-Rainbow-Fantasia/release/11103373

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oK4Slc-uSZ8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eGeqsOBv4w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLMmbQ8_oYQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUGvJkZEDZ0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czXi-Lctnuo

Spotify

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Crackazat – Rainbow Fantasia

Description: Album Review of Crackazat – Rainbow Fantasia

Written by: stan
Rating: 2 out of 5

easyFun – Deep Trouble

by stan · December 4, 2018

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

PC Music (ultra pop, borderline satire)

Moods

Candy coated

Thoughts

A watered down PC Music release.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/easyFun-Deep-Trouble/release/6703661

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWGXZI6LC5Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgf7cUHiCj8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBHJ0XGZfLs

Spotify

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easyFun – Deep Trouble

Description: Album Review of easyFun – Deep Trouble

Written by: stan
Rating: 2 out of 5

Efdemin – Naïf

by stan · December 4, 2018

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

A variety of minimal electro ranging from accessible club to thumping industrial with a few experimental noise tracks thrown in for good measure

Moods

Berghain

Thoughts

Apparently this is a mix and I heard the unmixed version on Spotify so I'm totally misinformed in reviewing this. Anyhow, good minimal. The later third, starting with a track by Tobias, opens into more aggressive Berlin techno that capture the Berghain mood well. The rest were mediocre open-ended cuts that never build to anything but perhaps would take on a different meaning if mixed.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Efdemin-Na%C3%AFf/release/11966047

Listen!

Spotify

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Efdemin – Naïf

Description: Album Review of Efdemin – Naïf

Written by: stan
Rating: 2 out of 5

AZ – Doe Or Die

by stan · December 2, 2018

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?
Golden age queensbridge

Moods
NY State of mind

Thoughts
I consider this a companion piece to early Nas, stylistically it’s cut from the same cloth; when Nas guests on ‘gimme yours’ and ‘homicide’ it’s clear they’ve got history.

Ultimately I find this to be an uneven listen, AZ feels like a bootleg Nas and the creative vision isn’t as clear as Nas’ early classics. Does have it’s quality moments with ‘Sugar Hill’ and the title track featuring a hot and hazy funk.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/AZ-Doe-Or-Die/release/8887261

Listen!

Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2L47XLmdAk

Spotify