Catfish And The Bottlemen – The Ride

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

stomping heart on your sleeve pop rock

Moods

captures the excitement and energy of a 20 something's life in the moment

Thoughts

it's a solid record overall. Bit 'one note' as far as songwriting goes, general pop rock fare. Songs are high energy, rousing and stomping. Lyrically he sings in a highly personal manner with details of relatable memories about failed relationships, getting drunk, and general adulthood confusion.

Sound like a lot of albums? I'd say where this delivers is on the genuineness of those moments and that it sounds exactly like a good night out on the Lower East Side of Manhattan feels: an exciting energy powered only by the moment.

It's fun if you live that or, if you're like me, a bit removed relive those memories for a bit. I imagine this band would be fantastic live.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Catfish-And-The-Bottlemen-The-Ride/release/8580322

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mLD8FL28Nk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjo34xdVyuY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YRi8PCFqfU

Spotify


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Catfish And The Bottlemen – The Ride

Description: Album Review of Catfish And The Bottlemen – The Ride


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Laurel Halo – Dust

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

electro art pop

Moods

DIY hip electro lounge music

Thoughts

Sexy, layered electronic productions with real instrumentations (sax solo here or drum line there) that provide welcome accents. Halo can write, her voice isn't particularly strong but it's fine in these abstract streams of conscious; provides a bedroom intimacy. 'Moontalk' is a good example of when this all comes together well.

Uneven but more good than bad, an accessible introduction to her sound.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Laurel-Halo-Dust/release/10500770

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrjeMN_U1hw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y9AQfqnUvs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcZ-JK8EZlw

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

Spotify


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Laurel Halo – Dust

Description: Album Review of Laurel Halo – Dust


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Self Esteem – Compliments Please

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

pop with production that incorporates string elements and theatrical idea

Moods

It's like the glee club geeks got stylized by mtv

Thoughts

Initially I enjoyed some moments of this but it felt uneven. Great harmonies, acapella-group-like, which is technically impressive. Productions feature mostly sexy beats and lyrics that are genuine and heartfelt. It's pop in many flavors: full on Acapella, dramatic seriousness that soars like a Broadway solo, and danceable club ready tracks. She sings with such confidence that's hard to deny. Definitely a natural talent as melody is offered at every turn with a well-thought out vision at play. This is not an amateur effort and clearly a project of someone who has experience as a songwriter (she was previously a member of the group slow club).

I'm gonna give this album credit for sticking with me throughout 2019 and improving on relistens. That aspect alone suggests there is something worthwhile for alt-pop fans to checkout.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Self-Esteem-Compliments-Please/release/13311628

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w-FzH0008c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZF5GSshWU3w

Spotify


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Self Esteem – Compliments Please

Description: Album Review of Self Esteem – Compliments Please


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Stars – In Our Bedroom After The War

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

dramatic art pop

Moods

A theatrical guilty pleasure

Thoughts

Musically it varies from synth pop to theatrical show songs, piano ballad on 'Barricade' is a standout example. The dual harmonies of Torquil and Amy are beautiful and delivered with a poetic sincerity. Lyrical scenes are painted vividly with an erudite literary astuteness.

These earlier Stars albums strike a guilty pleasure chord for me. I'm not typically into lyrics like these – grandiose, overly romantic, so straightforward – but something here works well. When I'm in the mood for that type of thing nothing satisfies like Stars does.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Stars-In-Our-Bedroom-After-The-War/release/3986030

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzSUIxYQI2E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-K05oBku10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5qx_ZMY7tU

Spotify


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Stars – In Our Bedroom After The War

Description: Album Review of Stars – In Our Bedroom After The War


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Quincy Jones – Walking In Space

★★☆☆☆ = 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

 

Shy Layers – Midnight Marker

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

jazzy electro pop rock with vocoder

Moods

A record that puts me in a good mood: chill with a pop, happy but not cheery, loose while tight.

Thoughts

all around enjoyable, strikes a nice balance. Has the precision of jazz and electronic but maintains a loose feel. The vocoder lyrics add a nice touch: never trying to steal the spotlight but adding an accessible hook. This record succeeds with it's songwriting and leaves rewards got repeat listens. It's presented simply but is an intricate production.

Philip Sherburne did a nice write-up for Pitchfork on this:

As before, Midnight Marker’s breezy melodies and lilting grooves make for a nice, chill listen—good morning-coffee music, cooking music, countryside-drive music. But this is nothing like the studied, stoned remove of anything you’ll find filed under “#chill” on any streaming service. His synths have real bite. His drums, recorded with real sticks on real skins, are enviably muscled. Walsh has said that one of his takeaways from both highlife and funk was that the guitar could function primarily as a percussive instrument, and he continues down that path here, backing up more melodically outgoing riffs and runs with plucked pulse and flicker.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Shy-Layers-Midnight-Marker/release/12081230

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYuYnAdVZ7Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFwx4Ay70CU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28GZ8Nomy1w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbCAdmysIT0

Spotify


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Shy Layers – Midnight Marker

Description: Album Review of Shy Layers – Midnight Marker


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Tirzah – Devotion

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

DIY R&b

Moods

Somewhere in love

Thoughts

The unpolished rawness defines this album, the beats are sparse and highly repetitive with just a drum machine and synth short loop for each song; almost like a modern acoustic album. Her natural singing voice is subdued and focused on love; often in big statements but never too excited. I guess it's a testament to her songwriting that this works as well as it does.

It's an intimate listen, definitively British and at times ghostly like early James Blake.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Tirzah-Devotion/release/12415861

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZPP38OVT-M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oA6c0WXGKjU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2EIDPpzXUE

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWUODt6LJ0Y

Spotify


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Tirzah – Devotion

Description: Album Review of Tirzah – Devotion


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Kindness – World, You Need A Change Of Mind

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Electro-pop, bit of instrumentation, light soul funk

Moods

Mainstream panda bear

Thoughts

I like his brand of pop, he's got this lazy delivery that feels very much his own. It's got a reverb effect which is really the extent of the panda bear comparison. Just the right amount of house friendly electronics and chilled out pop band.

Confident with a clear vision in mind, the end result speaks for itself with good and varied pop songs; I can honestly say I like every track here with a few standouts early in the album:

'Swinging party' is a nice little sing along, he can cut a good pop-friendly house beat too,

Album opener 'SEOD' sets the mood appropriately.

Good fun vibes on 'anyone can fall in love'.  

Recommend for male alt-pop fans who like acts like twin shadow and how to dress well.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Kindness-World-You-Need-A-Change-Of-Mind/release/3488609

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdeR3Mw1fhE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZxPsLjinP4

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI73NFINsyo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROAjl5JkunI

Spotify


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Kindness – World, You Need A Change Of Mind

Description: Album Review of Kindness – World, You Need A Change Of Mind


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

U.S. Girls – In A Poem Unlimited

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

Gritty 70s rock with a strong modern lyricst

Moods

A gritty, literary, pop-rock masterpiece

Thoughts

I'm not familiar with Meg Remy's entire catalog but this is a good example of something that borrows heavily from music in the past but without trying to imitate entirely. Great textures and jazzy horns that move quick. Not polished, gritty and textured with modern electro flourishes here and there.

Great pop writing at its core. Her voice is a delicate alto which naturally adds a vulnerable personalness. She's a fantastic lyricst who can keep up with the best abstract and literary singers albeit in a direct wit. She's protesting, it carries aggression towards aspects of life from emotional abuse to plastics, most importantly the struggle of being a woman in today's world.

Very full, not a bit of filler on this and a standout of modern rock.

Incidental boogie.. damn love that track.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/US-Girls-In-A-Poem-Unlimited/release/11564458

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YkIvuGYGqA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9PLXHDEUFE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtGb5NiGBjc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cFnewlPpzI

Spotify


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U.S. Girls – In A Poem Unlimited

Description: Album Review of U.S. Girls – In A Poem Unlimited


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Blood Orange – Negro Swan

★★☆☆☆ = 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