2016 pt. 3

2 Chainz - Felt Like Cappin' [EP]

Lax-n-stripped shorty-discharge embodied by the final track's title: "This Me, Fuck It." The carefreewheelin' disposition bears stylish persona aplenty and a refreshing sense of ataraxia, flows and particularly the beats seize quite the clarity-bolster -- but his usually-cunning braggadocio is rendered into shuffling about in the ho-hum as are the monotonous choruses, and the whole of it emits an aura of inessential lenience. Worth it for shining production via Zaytoven/Timbaland/etc., a winning+Shinobi-referencing Lil Wayne verse, and the semi-charm of offhand oeuvre from a guy pushing 40 who apparently just Felt Like Rappin'. 5.5/10

Aluk Todolo - Voix 
*******HIGHEST RECS*******

A presumably single-session and perpetually-careening instrumental that's generously chopped into six time-stamped sections, this is a hypnotic and riotous exercise in all-out steadfast propulsion that scarcely isn't cramming the skull full-a mesmerizing cacophony. Stabile and subtly-chugged dual-note bass repetitions and nimble-yet-constant drumming maintain a well-trudged path while guitars are usually used to twist and shriek, but now and then pluck out a clarion riff for good measure. And though every so often it builds up to peak-like intensifications and wanders into restless tear-downs, the tautological persistence can feel a bit superabundant on the whole. Eh, small price-2-pay for a grime-groove so bewitching-n-jittery that the final calm-down halfway through "9:29" feels like a warranted post-orgasmic release. 7.5/10

Animal Collective - Painting With

Could be conclusive confirmation that these animals have collectively ceased to keep giving a shit following the long-time-coming and merited 2009 breakthrough of Merriweather Post Pavilion -- while lotsa peepz bemoaned the exorbitant clutter of 2012's successor Centipede Hz, at least that felt refulgent, agitated, bustling; hell, kinda filthy. Here we see arrangements similarly thronged but muffled and flattened, an enunciated simpler approach that often comes off as a hasty rush-job, vexatious bouncy-ball harmonies that manage to be both vertiginous and lifeless, and John Cale+Colin Stetson drone+sax guest spots left nearly illegible. Not that its without ear-worms that beckon and standout/bearable moments and a boatload of wonder-sounds, but never before have they come across as clocked in. Eliminating that aura of indifference at least woulda been nice. 5.5/10

Black Tusk - Pillars of Ash

Even-split hardcore-metal trio whose stylistic conventionality would be a straight-up shortcoming if it weren't so-oft played with such plain-hearted vim and power -- a far stretch from breaking new ground and siked on it, complacent but surefire where it counts. So it's a fairly catchy, heavy riffin', devoted kind of shortcoming; not wasting time and shouter swap-outs are certainly pluses too. 6.5/10

Cross Record - Wabi-Sabi 
*******HIGHEST RECS*******

Occupying terrain somewhere between phantasmal and lovely, this hubby+wife+Swans percussionist+part-time femme-choir crawl and soar towards a sort of ramshackle basement bliss, fuzzy tape-tronics and mantric stomp-n-pierce riffs and dusty-crusty acoustics anchored by the forever breathy and clarion dreamghost-vox of Emily Cross i.e. 'wife'. The ramifications of which being somewhat reminiscent of a Phil Elverum project: a prevailing sense of tenderness and soundscapes that can convey psych-laced desolation and toweringly epic majesty with persuasion and character, scrappy as they may be. But for my money, this kinda has the upper hand -- it's concise, for one thing. 8/10

KING - We Are KING

Invariably wafting in a subdued dream-in-the-sky electro-r&b euphoria -- which is intoxicating and intricate as it is fragile and subtle, but does become rather snoozy and rather redundant rather quickly. Bound to happen when all-sounds-concerned are routinely lighter than air and melt before you, I suppose. But their mellow ethereality never isn't pleasant as hell (er or heaven), 6+minute extended mixes allow for structure-play and the chance to get even driftier, and though the capacity for could-be easy hooky hit-making is evident, this self-made trio is duly diligent 'bout bestowing priority to silky-steady trance above all. Refresher in both attitude and execution. 6/10

LNS - Maligne Range [EP]

6-track/sub-half hour techno-house-ambient concoction that soothes and ensnares with its clean refinement and calm complexity -- mood is oft-ominous but never onerous, it's insistent but stays outta your face, preferring to remain unfussy and understated. The studious no-frills no-filler disposition here is nifty, no doubt -- but those particularly-crispy cymbal-hits, vibrant surface-scrapes, and subterranean goo-gurgles make for some pretty gratifying perks as well. 7/10

Pinegrove - Cardinal
*******HIGHEST RECS*******

With their half-hour of emo-ish yearnin' and woes wrapped up in ragged-n-laggard countrified aesthetics, they pull off a nonchalant just-rolled-outta-bed feel that is amiable and intimate -- Evan Hall's erratic and downtrodden whimper-wails serve as a catalyst for instability, and much like his fellow bandmates, doesn't think twice about shrouding brilliance with laxity. Hopefully he takes comfort in the fact that somewhere between the loss of old friends through fuck-ups and resolving to make some new ones, he's got quite the supportive troupe in the meantime. 8/10

Porches - Pool

Sure, I too initially scoffed at the unshakable aching, the scant and mild electro, the near-stagnation via wounded-falsetto uniformity -- but then each-n-every piece-of-cake hook revealed itself to be distinctive and enduring, and soon after emerged the certitude that porticos-pacemaker Aaron Maine uses these attributes to rightfully bolster his aura of affection. The tunes are cushy-smooth and clear-cut enough to make a quick sax-spew and willful keyb-flub protrude like cute lil' anomalies; and for this security-seeking clean-shaven approval-addict who spends his loner/stoner hours in a twin bed floatin'+wonderin' about "her" and admires cars cuz they can get him the hell outta dodge, they leave plenty of room for rudimentary words and aboveboard alienation. Femme-harmony backups for xtra-tender support, occasional auto-tune inflections because why not? 7/10

Two Inch Astronaut - Personal Life

Straddling the line between wacky-tinged 90's-alt-angst and gawky math-rock inclinations with variable prosperity/tolerability; where sex-n-school grumblin' seems inevitable and cello is employed for sleepy time. 5/10

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Future - Purple Reign 5.5/10
Future - EVOL 6.5/10
Obscura - Akroasis 6.5/10