Charli XCX - Number 1 Angel
*******HIGHEST RECS*******
This half-automaton escapist-partier pop star likes her lovers to match the potency of ecstasy, and if they happen to peddle it as well then all the better. Vacuous saccharinity takes its toll eventually if not instantly, but once again PC Music's pristine booming-n-brash production paired with an infectious tude and boatload of stupidly fun hooks make for an irresistible and surprisingly intricate ride. Each of these ten tracks deliver their own distinct ridiculousness and noteworthy lil touches, but the winner has gotta be the stickiest/ickiest conclusion "Lipgloss". A chorus that somehow beats 'em all and raises the bar on sugary sweet alongside pussy-packed verses from Cupcakke, who brings some much needed+appreciated fiery rapid-fire raunch. Worth fucking around with and getting a cavity for. 7.5/10
Cold Beat - Chaos by Invitation
Their last one saw 'em flingin' both clamant punk and synth-driven electro, here however they dump much of the punk -- a few great guitar-included tracks ("Don't Touch", "62 Moons", "Strawberry Moon") but they're now essentially synth-pop at heart. Which ain't a bad thing; they've certainly upped their electronix game and still excel in the cute+catchy and dark+dreamy. It does kinda dampen their distinction, though. Leaves me missing that momentum too. 6.5/10
Lawrence English - Cruel Optimism
::sits on apocalyptic drone:: ::adds foggy details:: ~*~meh~*~
Father John Misty - Pure Comedy
*******HIGHEST RECS*******
///BRAV-FUCKING-O\\\
I don't dare read through the album-associated essay and will go ahead and paraphrase a forumer cuz it's just so brilliantly spot-on: 'sounds like a philosophy major who's come round to pay too much for an eighth.' But when he's pickin' apart all of our demented monkey ways and this big ol godless rock we've inhabited, this self-affirmed 2017 fake-named speck of a white guy is so calmly eloquent-n-biting that his smug blowhard turns perceptive persuader. Commentary+candor near full-time graceful and he steadily proves himself superb at blurring sincere and not, the plain-yet-grand arrangements and track protractions and "10-verse chorusless diatribe" approach kinda drowsy but are exquisitely provocative. Blips of backward psych and internet androids help seal the cynicism, though when he turns the critique on himself or smoothly serenades his "Smoochie" the realness refreshingly cuts through. Halfway through lofty 74-minute monster and after 13-minute aforementioned chorusless diatribe: "I've got the world by the balls / Am I supposed to behave?". I'm just glad he's no longer talking about cum. 7.5/10
Future Islands - The Far Field
Their cultivated formula is too affable to abhor but routine enough to pester. Genuinely great groovage, ceaselessly creamy bass lines, invincible synths; yet oft so mechanical and mundane. That same ol back-beat every dang time is beyond conspicuous, firework choruses seem fashioned for festival fodder, word-wise they're drab as ever and vox-wise there's a real lack of remarkability; even with a frontman like Sam Herring. Certainly no lack of full-band synth-pop solidity, though. And when Debbie Harry herself comes through for the surprise near-end duet, it's something like a then-meets-now new wave miracle. 6/10
The Golden Filter - Still // Alone
'Still' side thumps sharp-n-minimal artsy house with vox limited to sparse too-cool-for-school spoken phrases and some breathing, 'Alone' side allows in muck, melody, pop, flash, even bits of emotion. Mysterious yet in your face, robotic yet boogie-worthy, beatz deserving and receiving priority even though they ain't house-heads at heart. '//' is muck-starter and interludial separator. 7/10
Cameron Graves - Planetary Prince
*******HIGHEST RECS*******
///BRAV-FUCKING-O\\\
Notably known as saxer Kamasi Washington's piano man, C-Graves has spawned a jazz behemoth of his own -- not as epic as Kamasi's Epic at a 'mere' 80 minutes, but stuffed with so much full-band virtuosity+vim that any longer would overwhelm even more than it does now. Reportedly recorded in a one day sesh, this don't got time for utilizing singers or building to splendid crescendos, instead they kinda just intricately rock the fuck out and incorporate some cool-downs for good measure. Piano is the fo sho forefront, and between racin' around and the rigid key stomps and occasional gentle grace, it erupts with character. But with this ensemble it's hard to pick a fave: amazing-as-always Thundercat bassing, big horn lines that could score a storied showdown, Ronald Bruner Jr.'s wild drumming that I always swear is bout to burst into brutal death metal mode. Ah wait, there it is at Minute 80, song entitled "The Lucifer Rebellion": a rewarding lil double bass blast. 8/10
Kendrick Lamar - DAMN.
*******HIGHEST RECS*******
///DAY-FUCKING-UM\\\
If this is heard as a letdown it's only cuz he's spoiled us so hard with exaltedly complex concepts and nonpareil narratives. And while those are thinly tacked on here via good samaritan intro and single-word-with-period song titles and a conclusive rewind, it's the motley-n-constant killin' it and relative looseness that triumphs. Kendrick is very good and versatile and noble yes yes, let's hear it for those beatmen tho: without whom having hooks that include "sexy" and "I wanna be with you" may not be as persuasive, poppin' beside Rihanna perhaps less propulsive, bangers not so charged and NBA-adopted, "Lust." not so damn uncomfortable, the reflective ones not so damn legit, feeling like God and laughing to the bank not so damn celebratory. 8.5/10
Pharmakon - Contact
Seeing her live in a Brooklyn dump a couple years back was a livid treat; and even though her din-pound-shriek convolutions are frank-n-nasty by nature, she has previously managed to send 'em spiraling onto planes of trancelike tumult while conveying a coherent concept and stickin' to a short timespan. This however is very uninventive and straight grates, dragging at just over a half-hour and draining after about three minutes. I'm all for disturbing via drone, but Jurassic Park raptor squawks and leaden loops kinda render it risible. ~*~meh~*~
Sega Bodega - Ess B [EP]
Sports the same sounds-n-spirit that lotsa electro-alterer's minor offerings bring to the table -- nods to the club with a predilection for collaging and the cuckoo at its core, girl screams, fair amount of formlessness, deep bass thuds fused with the buzzy+bright. But I dig the mix of mischievous and meditative that it accomplishes in a sub-20-minute timeframe, the bookended dramatic string application, Shygirl's phlegmy and echo-crammed interruption preceding the reserved and echo-crammed "Bush Baby". 7/10
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Artificial Brain - Infrared Horizon 6.5/10
Moire - No Future 6.5/10
Craig Taborn - Daylight Ghosts 6/10
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