Tag Archives: #VALUE!

Gene Ammons’ All Stars – The Big Sound

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Sax centered bop

Moods

background music at a jiving dinner party with the neighbors

Thoughts

Lots of ammons here, a tenor player I wasn't familiar with. He's good, great in fact, but this is limited in enjoyment as I'm not crazy about bop overall.

Coltrane plays Alto on the real McCoy which is a curiosity on its own.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Gene-Ammons-All-Stars-The-Big-Sound/release/2884852

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6GHN_-NWL8

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH07y7nLF1g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zm7cFZIMs04

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

Spotify


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Gene Ammons’ All Stars – The Big Sound

Description: Album Review of Gene Ammons’ All Stars – The Big Sound


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Jim James – Eternally Even

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

Dark indie rock, folk

Moods

Chilly breath of death

Thoughts

First time I heard this I was driving upstate late on a Friday night in winter. The empty roads, cold dry winter landscape outside with closed shops providing the only break in landscape seemed a fitting scene for this soundtrack.

I like his style: ethereal, nocturnal and dusky natural singing voice doused in reverb. I found the straightforward pop songwriting a bit boring as an album however.

The ‘we ain't getting any younger’ refrain has stuck with me, something particularly effective about it.

I plan to revisit this and more of his catalog in the future.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Jim-James-Eternally-Even/release/9290528

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u67Tf0lbgzY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-5JUqv8LcY

Spotify


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Jim James – Eternally Even

Description: Album Review of Jim James – Eternally Even


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Bluestaeb – Everything Is Always a Process

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Hip hop beats with a backbone of 80s gfunk

Moods

Cali cool

Thoughts

Modern and slick production with just the right amount of vocals mixed in. Couple notes on tracks:

Left and right being a better track. Goes into a light r&b thing at times.

Hot shit is a bit forced, taking the original and scrubbing it if it's rawness.

Mind control is ok

While the album is uneven and boring at times I like it overall.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Bluestaeb-Everything-Is-Always-a-Process/release/12135628

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X3kqctM9lQ

Spotify


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Bluestaeb – Everything Is Always a Process

Description: Album Review of Bluestaeb – Everything Is Always a Process


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Eleanor Friedberger – Rebound

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

Adult contemporary

Moods

OK with how past relationships ended

Thoughts

She sings like ‘something about the girl’ which is a good thing. A variety of pop styles are covered, bubbly in some places. Only listened once but found it lacking memorableness.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Eleanor-Friedberger-Rebound/release/11989814

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmjcSz8aV1Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5jRnL4fHQA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7HeLwsAvM0

Spotify


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Eleanor Friedberger – Rebound

Description: Album Review of Eleanor Friedberger – Rebound


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Joe Armon-Jones – Starting Today

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Hip modern funky chill jazz

Moods

Feeling cool

Thoughts

I like the instrumentation a lot, groove focused over technical playing (he played keys on that makaya mccraven ‘where we come from’ album I enjoy). Competent bass keeps a hip hop flavor alive, ‘mollison’ is great pure dub revival that I bet is a fun jam live. Vocals really detract on 'starting today' which felt forced but work on 'too far' which reminds me of thundercat in it's melancholic mantra repetition and 'London's face' where the tempo is kicked up a bit.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Joe-Armon-Jones-Starting-Today/release/11972498

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdz9jHg-mWM

Spotify


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Joe Armon-Jones – Starting Today

Description: Album Review of Joe Armon-Jones – Starting Today


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

AZ – Doe Or Die

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?
Golden age queensbridge

Moods
NY State of mind

Thoughts
I consider this a companion piece to early Nas, stylistically it’s cut from the same cloth; when Nas guests on ‘gimme yours’ and ‘homicide’ it’s clear they’ve got history.

Ultimately I find this to be an uneven listen, AZ feels like a bootleg Nas and the creative vision isn’t as clear as Nas’ early classics. Does have it’s quality moments with ‘Sugar Hill’ and the title track featuring a hot and hazy funk.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/AZ-Doe-Or-Die/release/8887261

Listen!

Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2L47XLmdAk




Spotify

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AZ – Doe Or Die

Description: Album Review of AZ – Doe Or Die


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Kids See Ghosts – Kids See Ghosts

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?
Cudi and Kanye rapping over Kanye productions that fit like a glove

Moods
Feeling a little older but still feel young

Thoughts
Really like this, a collaboration that works; feels like a relevant addition to Cudi’s catalog and not just a detour featuring Kanye. The productions in particular seem really well suited to Cudi. Stylistically similar to Cudi’s previous catalogs but with a fresh update courteous of Kanye.

Tight, memorable, overall great release for any Kid Cudi fan.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Kids-See-Ghosts-Kids-See-Ghosts/release/12167505

Listen!

Youtube





Spotify

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Kids See Ghosts – Kids See Ghosts

Description: Album Review of Kids See Ghosts – Kids See Ghosts


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

DJ Esco, Future – 56 Nights

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?
Future’s ATL trap style at his darkest and highest

Moods
Nocturnal, top of the world and nothing to lose

Thoughts
Future at his best: exploring dark escapist thoughts over gritty heavy booming Southside productions.

One of his better mixtapes.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/DJ-Esco-Hosted-By-Future-56-Nights/release/6808379

Listen!

Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FH7IC-AK-s

Spotify

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DJ Esco, Future – 56 Nights

Description: Album Review of DJ Esco, Future – 56 Nights


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Dawn People – The Star Is Your Future

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?
Instrumental sample / synth based electro with influence from early Beck or The Avalanches.

Moods
Energetic studio adventures

Thoughts
An album of ideas rather than songs exploring rich instrumental productions. I liked the general approach just felt it would have benefited from polishing and structure.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Dawn-People-The-Star-Is-Your-Future/release/11221994

Listen!
Spotify

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Dawn People – The Star Is Your Future

Description: Album Review of Dawn People – The Star Is Your Future


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Future – Beast Mode

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?
Future’s trademark flow over Zaytovens piano focused production

Moods
ATL nodding

Thoughts
Some standout tracks from Future’s prolific years. Zaytovens production works though is a little too happy for Future’s sadness.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Future-4-Zaytoven-Beast-Mode/release/6533917

Listen!

Spotify

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Future – Beast Mode

Description: Album Review of Future – Beast Mode


Rating: 2 out of 5