Tag Archives: Pop

The Japanese House – Good At Falling

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Synth pop rock

Moods

Some incredibly catchy and well crafted pop music.

Thoughts

Another BJ Burton jammer, dude is on a seriously good streak at creating memorable pop. After many repeated listens the album is top heavy with good singles like 'maybe you're the reason' and 'you seemed so happy', the later borrows from jangly 80s pop in a good way. Production overall borrows from that big synthetic 80s drum sound. Amber Bain's voice, a lovely indie (re: imperfect) front girl, is produced in a way that could carry ships across seas; full and extending.

The album takes a deliberately quieter and personal midsection. Amber lazily singing lines like "everybody hates me" in true millennial fashion is juxtaposed with Giorgio moroder like synth lines.

Production gets decidedly more basic as the album unfolds with the final two tracks really just leaving her singing some slow songs. It's not my favorite but they are genuine and crafted with love.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/The-Japanese-House-Good-At-Falling/release/13372422

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEzYD4ZielY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J88UF4HxHhw

Spotify


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The Japanese House – Good At Falling

Description: Album Review of The Japanese House – Good At Falling


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Louis Cole – Time

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Quick bedroom synth jazz funk pop

Moods

the white thundercat of synths

Thoughts

He's got a distinct sound of synth poppy synth funk. It's quick like those little soulful flourishes a keys player might lay in but all the time. It's jazzy and technical, good, but songwriting can get tiring. I like the lyrical themes, digital insecurities around sex and relationships; timeless but modern.

I have fond memories of knower shows and wish Louis the best luck as a proficient backbone of brainfeeder.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Louis-Cole-Time/release/12543607

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8Sjam1hnrA

Spotify


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Louis Cole – Time

Description: Album Review of Louis Cole – Time


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

James Ferraro – Far Side Virtual

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

vaporwave (new age synth and computer Muzak with a cynical twist)

Moods

A vaporwave classic, I'd like to logout now please

Thoughts

I'm not a vaporware historian but I appreciate the genre and it's cultural critique: taking the soothing elements of Muzak and warping them into this anxious soundtrack. This is a definitive vaporwave album and representative example of the genres aim. With just the right amount of maddening cheese, it doesn't feel like it's deliberate satire (well maybe on wifi sushi which is almost laugh out loud funny). He really captures the excitement that once existed about globalization's limitless possibility unlocked by the consumer. In hindsight we can see growth in corporate culture has just led to disappointment and further inequality, revealing an entirely new interpretation of this music.

As art I applaud it, its effective and immediate. To sit and listen to this as you would regular pop? I'm not sure it has that appeal.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/James-Ferraro-Far-Side-Virtual/release/7853044

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9ndKlm-G3s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRFn97NyURM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNhP6aoP6XY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w82omu5nrkk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIvR9rqae7Q

Spotify


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James Ferraro – Far Side Virtual

Description: Album Review of James Ferraro – Far Side Virtual


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Corrina Repp – The Pattern Of Electricity

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

folk inspired americana ( arcade fire) pop

Moods

Reflective moments that conjure early arcade fire

Thoughts

She gives nod to modern pop influences in her own way with well done organic instrumentation and dramatic touches that remind me of a slimmed down early arcade fire.

On revisits I was more appreciative of the electronic flourishes in the productions that I didn't hear initially.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Corrina-Repp-The-Pattern-Of-Electricity/release/7121692

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HWFqp7KsZM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz5C4wNVKtc

Spotify


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Corrina Repp – The Pattern Of Electricity

Description: Album Review of Corrina Repp – The Pattern Of Electricity


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Brazilian Girls – Brazilian Girls

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

Worldly downtempo pop

Moods

Comedown classic

Thoughts

An album I've gotten a lot of enjoyment from over the years. Its effective hybrid music incorporating from a variety of worldly styles (reggae, samba, etc) to add to it's core downtempo electronic base. The changes keep things fun and interesting, doing a lot well and staying true to what makes those genres great.

Nothing very deep but all enjoyable. It inspires a wandering worldly feeling and definitely seems as if they've had a share of coming down from heavy nights.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Brazilian-Girls-Brazilian-Girls/release/396418

Listen!

Youtube

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aVUB0nIONo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6TJULYLRBA

Spotify


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Brazilian Girls – Brazilian Girls

Description: Album Review of Brazilian Girls – Brazilian Girls


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Nite Jewel – Liquid Cool

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

synth pop with a fragility

Moods

Kissing the screen

Thoughts

I'm not sure why I decided to revisit this after a few years (twin peaks and a track appearing on playlist maybe reignited an interest?). I like it more and find it's aging well. Songwriting is generally straightforward but memorable.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Nite-Jewel-Liquid-Cool/release/8642522

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uISk3sXmSeg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owGlPrQ7FwE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl6iyzO0nxE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXLGNsc6PUE

Spotify


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Nite Jewel – Liquid Cool

Description: Album Review of Nite Jewel – Liquid Cool


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

How To Dress Well – The Anteroom

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

His emotional croon with dark production borrowing from industrial techno at times, ethereal at others.

Moods

A pained story explored through heavy electronic textures.

Thoughts

If you're not familiar with his style he takes his time, drawing things out in a dramatic fashion. It's effective here but on other releases I haven't had the patience to make it through a whole album. Apparently on the Anteroom he's returned to his earlier roots so maybe I need to go back further in his catalog.

The production is fantastic and totally my style with a range of influences that can be hard and dissonant. His songwriting builds towards enjoyable climaxes that fold into other builds. The whole thing flows together, telling some bizarre confessional love story. It feels like he's low in the overall mix providing an obscured feeling where his voice isn't the focal point as in most r&b.

Tracks are highly accessible with some great singles in body fat and non killing. I love the dark suicidal stream of consciousness on July 13th, which is laid out over postal service dntel like production. Follows in direct contrast to the standout nonkilling just before it.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/How-To-Dress-Well-The-Anteroom/release/12732184

Listen!

Spotify


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How To Dress Well – The Anteroom

Description: Album Review of How To Dress Well – The Anteroom


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Lorde – Pure Heroine

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

Pop with a very distinct nonchalance and sparse dark production.

Moods

Inner white girl

Thoughts

Overly hyped, this is just ok. Like her sound but the songwriting is very generic. I guess this bored kind of style is notable but probably not the right demographic for this.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Lorde-Pure-Heroine/release/5230312

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8Ymd-OCucs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlcIKh6sBtc

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JuxM-snGc

Spotify


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Lorde – Pure Heroine

Description: Album Review of Lorde – Pure Heroine


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Prince – Piano & A Microphone 1983

by ·

★★★★★ = Classic, essential listening

Sounds like?

Prince singing while playing the piano

Moods

An intimate session with the purple one

Thoughts

An interesting artifact that I think all Prince fans should hear once. Here we have a sketchbook like view of Prince's songwriting process (Purple rain, for instance, is just a brief thought in this session. It would be fleshed out months later). Intimacy is immediately established given the stripped down nature of this recording: gone are the sequenced to perfection drum machines and synths that would obscure him at times. It's as if you're hearing him with his guard is down and the beauty of his songwriting takes center stage.

While Prince's multi instrumentation ability is common knowledge here we learn he's a fantastic piano player, effortlessly toying with melody.

I see, feel and understand his soulful approach to music better after listening to this. Not because of the final product but the heart that goes into it.

Essential listening and gem in his esteemed catalog.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Prince-Piano-A-Microphone-1983/release/12548164

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5-HEBGPzFM

Spotify


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Prince – Piano & A Microphone 1983

Description: Album Review of Prince – Piano & A Microphone 1983


Rating: 5 out of 5

 

Abra – Princess

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Indie modern r&b

Moods

Promiscuous r&b

Thoughts

I like this kind of r&b. Free, easy sorta guilty pleasure. Production works well and she's created a persona that works even if it's trying to attention grabbing in it's straightforwardness

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Abra-Princess/release/8804120

Listen!

Youtube

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I-POWtEJ8U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvVJx7dcoqo

Spotify


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Abra – Princess

Description: Album Review of Abra – Princess


Rating: 3 out of 5