awakebutstillinbed - what people call low self-esteem is really just seeing yourself the way that other people see you
Recoil if you must from thatbandname and long-ass album title and lowercase necessity and screamo kicking off 2018. But their organic old-school mien and quiet-loud facility strike a nerve; if too sad or shy or sweet for too long in comes that resounding eruption and the bloodcurdling shrieks for catharsis. Good on the canorous pop-punk immediacy and raw rabidity right along with the tension building and truly tender. 7/10
Bloodbark - Bonebranches
*******HIGHEST RECS*******
Its pace can be plodding and the dramatic rigidity nears comical, but coming through at the end of the day is a damn-well symphonized and enthralling epic. Too pretty and measured to transmit malice but thunderous and blackmetals with the best of em -- the type that WOULD have icy Planet Earth-esque cover art instead of cryptic scribbles, and actually kinda live up to it. Keybs feign flutes+strings+ghost choirs, cymbals splash, pianos twinkle, somber soaring is on point, snarls are vicious, thrashin' is intense-n-touching; and it's all immaculate enough to render it straight stately. Would be nice to see a followup tarnish things up a bit tho. Presumable title of followup: 'Tendontrunk'. 7.5/10
Hookworms - Microshift
*******HIGHEST RECS*******
Production doesn't always properly showcase the cram, strip away some minutes and their rigorous momentums and a layer or four and they may depict dime-a-dozen dance-rock. But this goes deep -- assertive and infectious, reassuring and radiant, formidable flow+stunner centerpiece as decisive selling points. Grooves and discord are straight from the punk-kraut playbook, shimmering simmering synth-dives consuming, warbles-n-wails that, well, certainly could be worse. 8/10
Migos - Culture II
On one hand it's rather remarkable how much they've got their shtick down to a science, on the other their ability to incessantly churn it out is extinguished by mindless+egregious excess. No one needs a hundred-plus minutes of Migos, and the handful of slight standouts ain't worth the slog -- this is quintessential quantity over quality; an adequate autopilot mass meant to manipulate streaming platforms and bound to wallow in the background. Given the infinite mentions of the ice they're rockin' and infatuation with further broadening their bank accounts, no shame in the ol illegal download with this one. ~*~meh~*~
Nadine - Oh My
Placidly minimal pop arrangements, passing moments of pep, moderately soulful, cautious coffeehouse complementer -- but far too reserved for resonance. 5/10
No Age - Snares Like a Haircut
*******HIGHEST RECS*******
They may never again be as hungry as on decade-ago-now-wow Nouns, and comparatively our current musical climate ain't exactly hungry for no haze-punk dudes neither. But these two dudes happen to be a prevailing powerhouse -- in that they can stir up quite a racket but also really know how to write a tune, plus they've got the sunny shimmer/basement scuzz synthesis down to a T. Xtra dreamy interludes are more substantial and less obtrusive than previously, vague monotone shout better than overdoing it and fits fine amongst hard-hitting vigor and catchy muck. And when they snatch a riff from Nirvana's "Been a Son", well that's a-ok with me. 7.5/10
Portal - Ion
///BRAV-FUCKING-O\\\
Thrashy and terrifying and extraordinary enough to tolerate the burnt-to-a-crisp trebly production, which don't exactly alleviate their penchant for erratic farragoes -- they make Krallice sound like groovemaster softies. Frontcreature's constant gasp-grunt bizarrely baleful but not the most dynamic of vox; sections of all-encompassing intensity outnumbered by strained slogs camouflaged in commotion; welcome brevity yet feels kinda brusque. Maybe-fave is "Spores": most clear-cut, most cacophonous, second quickest. 6.5/10
Ty Segall - Freedom's Goblin
At an hour fifteen it sports surplus sure, the fertile song-after-song format sans flow gets tiresome. But this anything-goes garage rock agglomeration seldom spits out a dud and the stretch makes room for heightened pop sensibilities, thrashers with spouse as guest shrieker, feelings beyond the fun+fuzz but yes plenty of that too. Horns come both classy and crude, and their divergent full-band durability bolsters balladry and crunch and the warped. As a parting gift, their very own "Free Bird". 7/10
Sylvie Courvoisier Trio - D'Agala
Now I'm certainly no jazz guru, but methinks this deft piano-bass-drums trinity may be too aberrational for their own good -- I'll be damned if lotsa these detours don't seem dubious. Rapid+random key traipsing and being free-n-ugly while sustaining traditionalism, terrific; but so contented in creepin' and guesswork. Background or in passing okay, close+complete listens at times enthralling often frustrating and sometimes funny. Touches of abrupt commotion and meager creaking there to keep you on your toes; I prefer that out-the-gate lowly piano march and The Sierra Grille gone awry. 5.5/10
Justin Timberlake - Man of the Woods
Early teaser vids for "Suppli-i-ies" and the title track predicted this timbered Timberlake undertaking was gonna be polarizing when putting it nicely and painful if we're being forthright. Vids themselves each wretched commercial camp in their own unique way, the tunes close to that but hey I've hummed em -- which as a cram-full complete project is essentially the gist, only many ain't really hummers. I've been jivin' with JT's corn for a while now, albeit amidst the bolder+funner production of albums past. But this is so safe and stale and strained more often than not, something like fetching at times but moreso positively cringe elsewhere. So-called-Southern sounds/sendups and out of place XPeRiMeNTaL passages seemingly vacuous and phony as it gets, then comes the how-can-ya-not-laugh "Hers" interlude; which nearly confirms conceptual caricature. Most comfortable when cooing for wife-n-son, a good sign. ~*~meh~*~
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A Pregnant Light - Lucky All My Life [EP] 6.5/10
Daniel Avery - Slow Fade [EP] 6/10
Various Artists - Waystation Compilation: Sequence I 6.5/10
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