Tag Archives: 5

Pinegrove – Everything So Far

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★★★★★ = Classic, essential listening

What’s it sound like?
Alt rock, has a 90s vibe to it.

Thoughts
Personal favorite band of mine. The songwriting can get repetitive but there’s a heartfelt sincerity that’s created in their music. The lyrics are key to this feeling, he sings with an uncertainty that illustrates a mature approach to life. I hear someone taking experiences as they come, learning and sharing them.

On this collection you hear the band evolving over a couple of albums. The earlier stuff, featured on the later half, is maybe a bit more drawn out, lyrics expanded and unrefined. It’s as if an epiphany is explored musically. I find the newer material is a bit more polished and crafted into some very memorable songs. If you like the band then this is a must have.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Pinegrove-Everything-So-Far-/release/10175309

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Pinegrove – Everything So Far

Description: Album Review of Pinegrove – Everything So Far


Rating: 5 out of 5

 

Pinegrove – Cardinal

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★★★★★ = Classic, essential listening

What’s it sound like?
Young alt rock band with personal exploratory singing.

Thoughts
Pinegrove is one of my favorite new finds over the past few years. Something about this band really just clicks for me. Maybe it’s the familiarity of the chord driven songs with lyrics that I connect with. Either way they’re entire catalog has gotten repeat listens and is a+.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Pinegrove-Cardinal/release/8117868

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Schema Info

Pinegrove – Cardinal

Description: Album Review of Pinegrove – Cardinal


Rating: 5 out of 5

 

Aphex Twin – Selected Ambient Works 85-92

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★★★★★ = Classic, essential listening

What’s it sound like?

Techno with a pleasant floating ambient element. Certain tracks utilize a drum machine for a dance vibe, others are extended and much more in the ambient realm relying on repetition to create feeling.

Thoughts

A masterpiece: this sounds great and is aphex twin at his most accessible. Though the production can feel dated at times it never detracts. It’s distinct and a key album of influence for alt-electro of all stripes, it’s easy to hear how this would go onto influence many different artists while still sounding just as relevant today.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Aphex-Twin-Selected-Ambient-Works-85-92/release/32662

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Miles Davis,John Coltrane – The Final Tour (The Bootleg Series, Vol. 6)

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★★★★★ = Classic, essential listening

What’s it sound like?

Dude… it’s miles and trane

Thoughts

An excellent collection of live jazz. It’s dense for a straight-through listening session but for an abridged selection I’d probably pick a start with the Copenhagen tracks where things are a bit more melodic and playful then get into the Paris tracks. The solos in Paris, particularly from trane, are extra crunchy form, worth the price of admission just ‘on all of you’ where it’s putting his all in.

Can’t recommend this enough, some of my favorite live jazz.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Miles-Davis-John-Coltrane-The-Final-Tour-The-Bootleg-Series-Vol-6/release/11754340

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Blood Orange – Freetown Sound

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★★★★★ = Classic, essential listening

What’s it sound like?

Modern pop / R&B. Has a soulful well traveled hip vibe to it that incorporates elements of 80s synth funk.

Thoughts

Why a 5? This album was there for me in the hottest loneliest summer. It inspires hope fear and honesty. I’ll love it til I die.

Dev hynes you rock, thanks for this one.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Blood-Orange-Freetown-Sound/release/9001208

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Junior Boys – So This Is Goodbye

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★★★★★ = Classic, essential listening

What’s it sound like?

Sparse kinda danceable electropop

Thoughts

I’ve listened to this record a ton over the years and revisiting it now I’m reminded of my 20s. A lot of these tracks are absolute classics. I find the cool/confident delivery of the vocals to be distinct and a big part of the appeal.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Junior-Boys-So-This-Is-Goodbye/release/777988

Listen!

Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdRr8SXATp4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uak5XHVfWqI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpoVR96jFK0


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Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do

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★★★★★ = Classic, essential listening

What’s it sound like?
Singer songwriter with pop sensibility and a strong backing band

Thoughts
An all around masterpiece: compositionally, lyrically, sonically. I like the mastering as the sparse instrumentation is brought forward in the mix, creating a distinct texture as if you could reach out and feel each of the instruments.

Her lyrics are pure poetry, singing relatable vulnerabilities in a confident and experienced way. She’s Fiona as she’s always been: fierce, intense and bursting with feeling.

Not a bad track on here, this is ‘singer songwriter’ at a master level.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Fiona-Apple-The-Idler-Wheel-Is-Wiser-Than-The-Driver-Of-The-Screw-And-Whipping-Cords-Will-Serve-You-/release/3673207

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Phoenix – It’s Never Been Like That

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What’s it sound like?
Radio friendly pop-rock.

Thoughts
These songs are so apart of my fabric it’s hard to think about them objectively. This is pop-rock songwriting at it’s finest, refined in a radio friendly way but with a style that’s distinctly there’s. Thomas Mars is a fantastic frontman and I love his lyrics, kinda cryptic at times but he sings with an understanding of life that’s hard not to find part of your own self or experiences in.

I’ve got to thank Cyril for turning me on to these guys, probably my favorite French export after Daft Punk.

More Info
https://www.discogs.com/Phoenix-Its-Never-Been-Like-That/release/681327

Listen!
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More Info:

https://www.discogs.com/Phoenix-Its-Never-Been-Like-That/release/681327

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#VALUE!