Tag Archives: Fine Albums

Mr Beatnick – The Synthetes Trilogy

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

electro semi dreamy, fun and easy

Moods

Blissed-out moonlight electro

Thoughts

The first half is OK, took me a few listens to warm up to but it improved with time. Things take a positive turn at shifting sands – stretches our gets a little more groovy.

Honestly it's fine record but nothing worth holding onto.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Mr-Beatnick-The-Synthetes-Trilogy/release/5046503

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18MTnH1e5Rs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWFwyP7llKo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNuP-rLb6Uo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK2lVoimj70

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Js_2ni6lJaI

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Mr Beatnick – The Synthetes Trilogy

Description: Album Review of Mr Beatnick – The Synthetes Trilogy


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Tom Rogerson,Brian Eno – Finding Shore

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

Keyboard and general electronic noodling

Moods

A soundtrack for those euphoric and reflective moments

Thoughts

There are some interesting bits but nothing cohesive as individual songs or as an overall album. Not quite ambient, not quite solo keyboard, feels undecided and suffers as a result.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Tom-Rogerson-With-Brian-Eno-Finding-Shore/release/11258667

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SroYdHuv9z8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZri_BOuRy0

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

Spotify


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Tom Rogerson,Brian Eno – Finding Shore

Description: Album Review of Tom Rogerson,Brian Eno – Finding Shore


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Quincy Jones – Walking In Space

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

soulful jazz arrangements

Moods

big band jazz-funk

Thoughts

Arrangements are rich and instrumentation as good as any with exceptional guitar work (best displayed on the bluesy standout 'love and peace').

However it's missing a certain rawness the great jazz-funk of the era holds, limits the appeal.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Quincy-Jones-Walking-In-Space/release/2560746

Listen!

Youtube

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebvHk62DUtA

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXQ4r4y3Wdc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aASXNyc6xmY

Spotify


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Quincy Jones – Walking In Space

Description: Album Review of Quincy Jones – Walking In Space


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Objekt – Cocoon Crush

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

cerebral left field artsy experimental electro with a boom

Moods

Earthworms eating

 

Thoughts

There's this skittering sound he uses that gives it this insect like feel. The blurry line between organic and mechanical nature of bugs,he plays into this with a creepiness.

I enjoyed this the first time through with it's detailed and rich production, lots of little earworms to get lost in. These are songs and it's a testament to his ability as a songwriter (lots of electronic musicians focus only on the sound and develop little in the way of composition).

However after multiple listens I feel it's missing something. I moved past the immediacy of the beauty and found myself bored and thinking about what's next. I can appreciate these songs as singles but as an album it felt too much.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Objekt-Cocoon-Crush/release/12777177

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlW2naIokwA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QwceWXWi-w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqZF0wTEwF4

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zUAoHc4eZc

Spotify


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Objekt – Cocoon Crush

Description: Album Review of Objekt – Cocoon Crush


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Traffic – The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

70's rock with a rhythmic Latin element, soulful, long prog rock structures

Moods

Light up or leave me alone

Thoughts

I've saved a few tracks to playlists but this isn't the type of thing I plan on revisiting much in the future. The title track is well regarded by critics. It's good, especially through its composition and phases, but a long one at almost 12 minutes.

Something always feels a little square with Traffic records, can't put my hands on it. Might be the flute. Still hard to deny their ability and this has that 'classic' sound that only this era can produce.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Traffic-The-Low-Spark-Of-High-Heeled-Boys/release/5503643

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4Yb2bEekkE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YY-_Y_7p55M

Spotify


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Traffic – The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys

Description: Album Review of Traffic – The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Dream Theater – Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

Progressive metal

Moods

Self indulgent and overly technical

Thoughts

Did I like this at one point? I don't anymore. The whole thing feels self indulgent with overly technical instrumentation and lyrics that are forced.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Dream-Theater-Metropolis-Pt-2-Scenes-From-A-Memory/release/387439

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1W4BwLEykGU

Spotify


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Dream Theater – Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory

Description: Album Review of Dream Theater – Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Kettel – Smiling Little Cow

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

IDM

Moods

Like an unpretentious aphex twin record

Thoughts

quick but not aggressive. Intelligent but fun. flirts with drum and bass but never goes there.

A representative album of golden age IDM – electronic music with folk sensibilities. Taken as a whole it drags, too over blown without appropriate variety.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Kettel-Smiling-Little-Cow/release/46619

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43ayL6PpzCI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6G7vC_T860

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isUkpMY3AIw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpGxO9bj6_4

Spotify


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Kettel – Smiling Little Cow

Description: Album Review of Kettel – Smiling Little Cow


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Owane – Yeah Whatever

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

jammy prog rock with nu-jazz chops

Moods

guitar wanking

Thoughts

Progs not really my thing. I admire the technical prowess on display ( this album is impressively precise) but it lacks heart and songwriting. It veers heavily into wanky jammy stuff, making music for the sake of making music; not sure what purpose it serves.

There are moments and talent but I think you can find a better album to turn on.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Owane-Yeah-Whatever/release/11900528

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNjiQt1GbH8

Spotify


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Owane – Yeah Whatever

Description: Album Review of Owane – Yeah Whatever


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Happy Mondays – Pills ‘N’ Thrills And Bellyaches

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

brit-pop with an incorporation of dance ideas (80s style)

Moods

Manchester kids discover rave  

Thoughts

A bit dated but I can understand the influence. This sounds like a definitive representation of rock kids discovering the joy of raving, there's something undeniably youthful about this. I prefer modern versions of rock / dance-pop hybrids as they sound more refined, the initial impact of this albums originality is waning.

There are comparisons to the stone roses ( I guess cause their both from manchester?) which I don't agree with. I much prefer the stone roses brand of brit-pop infused with  psychedelica.

I don't plan on revisiting this. Though give it a try, allmusic thinks it's a perfect 5.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Happy-Mondays-Pills-N-Thrills-And-Bellyaches/release/79847

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6i_a6UGrhs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WifHgsBhd4M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CQLAhNlbfQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6M0xdLO_bmo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hD4Nfdv0tcc

Spotify


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Happy Mondays – Pills ‘N’ Thrills And Bellyaches

Description: Album Review of Happy Mondays – Pills ‘N’ Thrills And Bellyaches


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Blood Orange – Negro Swan

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

Modern day emo synth pop with flourishes of hip hop

Moods

Comfortable with who you really are

Thoughts

Dev hynes feels fully exposed on negro swan and I'm not sure I like it. I love his songwriting (see my other reviews of his records) but the quiet style he portrays here lacks his great pop songwriting I've come to expect. I feel like a jerk writing this, he's getting more personal and yet I like it less? The production is great. His basic synth thing has just the right amount of modern dark hip hop production to it. I like the overall message (be yourself) and his inclusion of the recurring narrator works well. Just won't be the album of his that I come back to

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Blood-Orange-Negro-Swan/release/12647360

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVH_wxk9ZtE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fSgsvJC9Nw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj5uvKrDbmQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIlauccaH88

Spotify


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Blood Orange – Negro Swan

Description: Album Review of Blood Orange – Negro Swan


Rating: 2 out of 5