Tag Archives: 2003

Boxhead Ensemble – Quartets

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

effect-laden modern classical

Moods

Cerebral

Thoughts

I can't tell if it's because I listened to this with ear buds or if it's recorded in a certain way but it felt very much 'in my head'. These tracks have space and build tension at times as well as create feelings of intimacy. Reminds me of an indie version of the Kronos quartet.

On second listen I was especially bored, just OK.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Boxhead-Ensemble-Quartets/release/198661

Listen!

Spotify


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Boxhead Ensemble – Quartets

Description: Album Review of Boxhead Ensemble – Quartets


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Centro-Matic – Love You Just The Same

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

alt bar rock Americana

Moods

Articulate bar-fly

Thoughts

pretty good with solid songwriting, I just find myself having less interest in traditional rock. I can't articulate a specific reason for why I don't like this record, it just plays like a boring drag and I wasn't a less to get through a second listen.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Centro-Matic-Love-You-Just-The-Same/release/1225270

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DS_20QTm3Tw

Spotify


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Centro-Matic – Love You Just The Same

Description: Album Review of Centro-Matic – Love You Just The Same


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Nao Tokui – Mind The Gap

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Minimal electro / tech house / ambient / IDM

Moods

Cold winter light

Thoughts

Solid minimal record. *Blips* and *bleeps*. Uses production noise like warm record hiss to create additional character and atmosphere. Not much in the way of songwriting, this is more about mood, but there's enough of a house bump to keep this moving. Things pickup with 'rotation' and ‘pine ave’, blurring the lines between ambient and IDM.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Nao-Tokui-Mind-The-Gap/release/176683

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvh3u6zPmtw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DZrv_A4CPs

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3M7ckJyWj0

Spotify


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Nao Tokui – Mind The Gap

Description: Album Review of Nao Tokui – Mind The Gap


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

The Books – The Lemon Of Pink

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

String acoustic sample electro experimental

Moods

There's a creative thread here that's awesome to watch unravel, I love revisiting this album

Thoughts

I've come back to this album a lot over the years, why? Partially because it sounds lovely: an intimate folk album that incorporates just the right amount of sample based electro elements. I particularly love the first few songs but always find myself staying for the entirety.

The primary reason I keep coming back is due to an inspiring feeling that isn't easy to capture in music. It's almost as if you can feel the creative push at work, forcing themselves to explore new territory.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/The-Books-The-Lemon-Of-Pink/release/196682

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiXpi5u5Vu8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiuC8A8eKu4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FC0jSezdwTU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1irbhY_dgY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ku-g3LiBxmg

Spotify


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The Books – The Lemon Of Pink

Description: Album Review of The Books – The Lemon Of Pink


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

James Brown – In The Jungle Groove (Expanded Edition)

by ·

★★★★★ = Classic, essential listening

Sounds like?
James Brown’s soulful funk

Moods
Having a good time with people that love good music

Thoughts
This is the good stuff: tight extended funk jams, some of my favorite James Brown songs are here. A fantastic record and must hear for any funk fan.

Fun fact: Bootsy is playing bass on a few of the tracks.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/James-Brown-In-The-Jungle-Groove-Expanded-Edition/release/576416

Listen!
Spotify

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James Brown – In The Jungle Groove (Expanded Edition)

Description: Album Review of James Brown – In The Jungle Groove (Expanded Edition)


Rating: 5 out of 5

 

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Fever To Tell

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

What’s it sound like?
Crunchy punky early aughts NYC indie rock.

Thoughts
Fantastic album. Short potent songs that capture a jagged balance of guitar and Karen O’s strength as a leader.

Feels like a seminal LES album of the times. Cleaner than NY in the 80s but still a bit dirty.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Yeah-Yeah-Yeahs-Fever-To-Tell/release/407278

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26wxdvLIiJ8

Spotify

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Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Fever To Tell

Description: Album Review of Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Fever To Tell


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Campfire Songs – Campfire Songs

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

What’s it sound like?

Avantgarde campfire sing-along

Thoughts

An album to get lost in and wonderful introduction to the band. Animal Collective’s early trademark strummed guitars and chant like vocals are the core of the album. The sound is defined by it’s lo-fi recording technique that somehow provides both a boxed in but outside. An ode to the human experience of singing together, it definitely has the effect of transporting you to the moment.

I’d like to include this as part of my piece about our ‘desire to be outside’ and how self mythology strives for this.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Campfire-Songs-Campfire-Songs/release/475021

Listen!

Youtube

Spotify