Wolfmother: Victorious ALBUM REVIEW

I remember a cold morning in Wisconsin back in 2006, my brother and I were watching VH1 (back when they used to play music on that channel) and we came across a song called "Woman". That song was a big surprise; here among tracks from Coldplay, The Fray, and Seether was a rock song that strutted like a true classic tune, reminiscent of bands like Led Zeppelin. Sure, it wasn't the smartest or most original tune out there, but that track was enough for my brother and I to purchase the band's debut, self-titled album. And the album itself wasn't bad either, though the same criticism of "Woman" could be applied to the entirety of that album.

However, a lot has happened since the release of that album, not just for me, but also for Wolfmother. The band followed that debut with an equally strong sophomore release, titled Cosmic Egg, but then tensions were at an all time high and the band ended up calling it quits, at least everyone but frontman, Andrew Stockdale, who trudged on with a new band. Andrew followed Cosmic Egg up with an album I honestly didn't know existed until doing my research for this album review. However, that isn't surprising since the album never actually got a proper release. Alas, we do have this, the fourth album under the Wolfmother name, titled, Victorious.

With a title like that, you'd expect this to be the record where Stockdale proves he can still conjure up the solid rock tracks of the first two albums, without the aid of his former bandmates, or in this album's case, hardly anyone else, save for a studio drummer or two. In fact, this album is pretty much an Andrew Stockdale solo effort, and it shows.

The album kicks things off with two really solid tracks, "The Love That You Give" and the title track "Victorious". Both of these tracks showcase how well Stockdale can emulate rock classics without outright copying them, and the fact that these two tracks ignited that original fire for the band is no surprise. However, it doesn't take long for this album to take a turn for the mediocre. "Baroness" is okay, but it's a pretty bland affair with some medieval themed lyrics that don't go over so well. But the following track "Pretty Peggy" is where things go full on terrible. It's an acoustic tune; which is fine, but instead of sounding like a Houses of The Holy cut, it comes off as a bad impression of the Lumineers. Plus, the lyrics are horrendous, with Stockdale literally saying "Roses are red/ Violets are blue".

The rest of the LP alternates from passable ("City Lights", "Best of a Bad Situation", "Gypsy Caravan") to patently forgettable ("Eye of the Beholder", "Happy Face") and that's a shame, because the start gives you the impression that you're in for a solid, if not entirely unique Rock album, but instead, Victorious is incredibly inconsistent.

5.5/10

Rihanna: ANTI ALBUM REVIEW

ANTI is the long awaited 7th full length from pop star Rihanna, and with it, the expectation of experimentation and growth. This is because for the longest time, Rihanna was releasing full length projects year after year. almost as if she were on a clockwork schedule to maintain relevance. However, ANTI breaks that trend, since it took nearly four years for it to be released. But, the real question is; was the wait worth it?

Well, as someone who has enjoyed a good amount of the singles that Rihanna has put out in the past decade or so, but never found anything too compelling in here full length efforts, ANTI is a bit of a mixed bag. This is do to a lot of factors, most notably, the fact that a lot of the songs here are sort of bland and by the numbers, which is a shame, because a lot of the singles that were dropping before the release of this album had a lot of promise. Most notably, "American Oxygen" and "Bitch Better Have My Money" both of which showed a darker side to Rihanna, and were pretty catchy to boot. There was also the polarizing "fourfiveseconds" which I liked quite a bit for how raw Rihanna sounded on it. Unfortunately, none of these tracks landed on ANTI, and the album suffers for it.

Instead, the only single was teased pre-release that ended up on the finished product is the 'just okay' single "Work" which is brought down by mediocre Drake feature and a sort of flaccid beat. In fact, the latter complaint about "Work" can be applied to pretty much the entire first half of this album. "Desperado" especially, is such a plodding track, that just meanders for three minutes before calling it quits. Also, the lone Travis $cott beat here, the one on "Woo" is easily the albums weakest instrumental; in short, the shrill sample and unenthusiastic moaning display the worst qualities Travis possesses.

After this point in the album, the tracks just blend together, though I did find "Same Ol' Mistakes" interesting... for the first three minutes. But, there is a light at the end of the tunnel; in fact, the album hits a rather nice stride from "Never Ending" until the last track "Close To Me". And the reason these four tracks work is because they have a very similar quality to them that "fourfiveseconds" did; raw, emotional power. Rihanna's vocals are given a nice place rest and she takes advantage of it; especially on the track "Higher", a track that perhaps the most passionate that Rihanna has ever laid to tape, the only drawback being its brevity.

Aside from a strong finish though, ANTI is a disappointingly drab affair that rarely rises above the quality that is expected of mainstream pop albums.

5.8/10 

Kanye West: The Life Of Pablo ALBUM REVIEW

It's hard to believe it has been a little over two years since Yeezus was released and the Kanye West fanbase was split for the second time (808's had a very similar effect), and to tell you the truth, I was on the side of the people saying that Yeezus was... meh. To me, it sounded like a watered-down "experimental" album that was only experimental if you only listen to mainstream music and, well, Kanye West. And to further my point, Yeezus is the only Kanye album that I think gets worse with each revisit. Even tracks that I thought were pretty good ("Black Skinhead") are entirely passable to me now. To put it bluntly, I needed to see Kanye either push forward with his sound, or go back to what he does best, and with his latest, The Life Of Pablo, we get a bit of both.

Now I'm not going to run through all the various titles that this LP has had in the past few months or even the multiple TRACKLISTS... instead, I'm evaluating this project on the merits of what we were given, in the way we were given it. And, for the most part, it's pretty darn good!

In fact, the early portions of this album are absolutely fantastic. The opener "Ultralight Beam" is incredibly soulful and features a verse from one of my personal favorite ChiTown MC's, Chance The Rapper, who absolutely kills his feature. This is followed by the two part "Father, Stretch My Hands" and the controversial "Famous" which has been getting a lot of buzz for it's line about Taylor Swift...*shrug*... I couldn't care less, but at least the song is great with a nice banger beat and a really nice feature from Rihanna singing a Nina Simone song.

The next few tracks are where the album kind of loses some steam for me. I do like the track "Feedback" and "Lowlights" has a decent beat, but honestly, the tracks in this middle section are all pretty short and tend to bleed together, but not because they are cohesive.

After this slight deadzone, we get the track "Freestyle 4" which is the only remnant of Yeezus that seems to have survived, and it's pretty good for the most part. But the album really hits a nice stride after the interlude "I Love Kanye" with tracks like "FML", "Real Friends", and "Wolves". Especially "Real Friends" which dropped a couple of weeks before the album release and seemed to signal a change in the way Kanye was going to be portraying himself on this album.

After "Wolves" the album goes into what are in some parts of the internet to be the "bonus" songs, though only three of these tracks are actually worthy of being bonus material. Obviously the track "No More Parties In L.A" is fantastic; it has a great verse from Kendrick Lamar, and Kanye sounds hungrier than he has in nearly half a decade. "30 Hours" is good too, but it goes on a little too long, and the closer "Fade" is really catchy, and manages to make Post Malone bearable!

Phew... So, in the end, I think Ye came through pretty well on this album, it isn't the greatest thing I've ever heard, in fact it could have used a slight revision to nix some of the more forgettable short tracks, but the truth is, I haven't enjoyed listening to a Kanye in full for about 5 years and the fact that I can say that about Ye in a post Yeezus world says a lot about how great this album can be.

8.3/10

Baroness: Purple ALBUM REVIEW

It happens every year; an album comes out just after I release my top 10 that actually ends up being so good, I wish I would have waited so I could give it a spot on the list. While this may be a fact year to year I am very happy to say that this year's just so happens to be the new Baroness record. Because while I like Yellow & Green a fair bit, I've been waiting for them to take the directness of their early work and fuse it with that albums ambition and melody, and as luck would have it, Purple does just that.

The album is essentially nine tracks, with the outro being only about seventeen seconds and a really nice A/B side divider instrumental called "Fugue" that is a really awesome change of pace for the record. The tracks up until that point however are no slouch; especially cuts like "Morningstar" and "Shock Me" which has one of the band's strongest hooks ever. Longer cuts like "Kerosene" and "Chlorine & Wine" show how the ambition of the last album can be put to good use in a non- double album format, with intricate song structures and great tempo shifts that keep these longer tracks feeling fresh and full of momentum.

That's another thing that this album really does possess as a whole, momentum. Though the LP is obviously shorter at around 43 minutes, it doesn't even feel that long; instead, we get an album that has a near flawless flow throughout. The only track that kind of stops things is "The Iron Bell" which isn't bad, but fells like a lesser form of the album's early moments. But even the lesser moments on Purple are still some of the best I've heard on a Metal album all year.

I almost wish the band had released this album earlier in the year just so the metal community could have more time to analyze and understand it, because while it is getting a lot of high praise (and rightfully so), I still wish I could have put it on my end of the year list.

So, I can with complete confidence say that this new Baroness record is one of the band's best, and a shining example of how melody can be incorporated into heavier styles of music without taking the edge off of the music.

9.0/10 

Top 10 Albums of 2015

Here it is! The list that everyone really wants; the one that points to the best collections of songs that the year had to offer, and also shows who the best artists of the year were as well. This list is always the hardest to put together, especially with a year as fruitful and exciting as 2015. But, I've narrowed down my choices, and as always, I'm confident in the decisions I've made. So, without wasting any more time, please enjoy my list!


#10. Ghost: Meliora

Ghost (also known as Ghost B.C) have been kicking around for the past few years, and while I thought their debut was awesome, the album they followed it up with was not nearly as impressive. Luckily, like a lot of artists this year, Ghost have ended up releasing their best work to date, despite a lackluster previous effort and despite any other mitigating circumstances. And that's great, because not only is Meliora the band's effort to date, but it is one of this year's best as well; a perfect mix of Gothic rock and old school metal, mixed with heavily satanic lyrics and imagery, Meliora is the perfect soundtrack to any future Halloween parties, or even a late night play through of Diablo II.


#9. The Decemberists: What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World

Not an especially surprising pick if you've been following the blog this year, (I mean, I started the year by doing a full discog review of this band) but I couldn't help but include this album on the list, it is simply a relief to hear a new LP from this band that is actually, in my opinion, a great one. Not only that, but I also had the privilege to see them perform most of the album live and I've gotta say, that's what really pushed me over the edge in terms of putting this album among  my favorites of the year. Bias aside though, I think anyone who has at least heard a Decemberists track before can say that this album is the band at their best in a good long while, and again, I can't help but be happy about that.

#8. Deafheaven: New Bermuda

I wasn't surprised that I enjoyed this album; I wasn't even surprised to hear that most people were absolutely loathing this album either. What really caught me off guard was just how black and white this album is. New Bermuda finds the band blurring the lines between Black metal and Shoegaze even further, while even throwing in some Emo and Post-Hardcore in for good measure. But, whereas a lot of people look at that and say it's too chaotic and incohesive, I personally, aside from a rough transition here and there, found the duality of this record to be rather refreshing. The record constantly lulls you into a peaceful state and then comes crashing in with blast beats and that familiar Black metal screech which never fails to give me that 'almost fell down the stairs' feeling. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I really loved this record.

#7. Father John Misty: I Love You, Honeybear

Easily 2015's most romantic (and hilarious) record, I Love You, Honeybear also sees Father John Misty expanding his songwriting, pushing past simply sounding like a lighter version of Fleet Foxes and truly becoming his own entity. This album is highly personal, but never makes you feel like you're intruding on someone's privacy; instead it welcomes you in and tells you every little detail with a swagger and sense of humor that you won't find on any other record this year. It may have come out early in the year, but this album is still worth giving a spin well past years end.

#6. Death Grips: The Powers That B

I know, for a former album of the year winner, this album is a bit low on the list, and that's not because I didn't love this album any less than The Money Store, it's because this year was so exceptional. In truth, this record is one of Death Grips' finest moments, and encapsulates every facet of the band's sound while taking them simultaneously in a new direction. Earlier this year, I figured I'd be writing about how this was a fine send-off for one of this decade's most daring bands; however, in true Death Grips fashion, despite clearly stating that they were done making music together, have announced a new album and have even been touring... I have no clue what the future holds for this group, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited to be along for the ride.


#5. Sufjan Stevens: Carrie & Lowell

Sufjan is one of my favorite artists, and he has consistently released some of the most heart-wrenching music I've ever heard, so it really says a lot when I consider this to be his saddest most heartfelt record to date. It's the mixture of somber instrumentation ( the instrumentation hasn't sounded this stripped back since the debut record) and deeply personal stories that really bring Carrie & Lowell together and make it so awe-inspiring. No other record this year made me feel the same mixture of sadness mixed with hope that this record did, and I can say with a fair amount of confidence that this is one of Sufjan's best records yet.

#4. Injury Reserve: Live From The Dentist's Office

Injury Reserve is the little group from Arizona that could. They started the year out pretty tamely, releasing singles and videos from this album, supported by their modest, but devoted fans: However, after a glowing review from "The internet's busiest music nerd" they've become a pretty popular underground group. Though they may not be pulling numbers comparable to the major leagues, I'd have to say they are making music that is definitely better than the vast majority of artists on the charts today. They show influences ranging from Tribe Called Quest to modern artists like Odd Future, but they sound completely like themselves. And it is awesome to see them come into their own so soon and with such a great tape to back them up. I have big hopes for these guys going into this next year, I have a feeling we may be seeing a lot more of them if they can keep this up.

#3. Travis Scott: Rodeo

Talk about improvement, two years ago, I couldn't care less about what Travis Scott was doing. To me, he made beats that just sounded bad, and not in an endearing or interesting way, and his bars weren't anything to get excited over either. However, with Rodeo I feel like we finally got the Travis Scott we were promised back in 2013 and let me tell you... it feels gooood. This album is pure vibes from start to finish, and the production on hear is fantastic. Just give a listen to the track "Oh My/ Dis Side" and you'll see how much Travis' production has improved; smooth transitions and catchy hooks are on this LP track after track. The only thing I'd say isn't a complete improvement over his past work is his lyrics, but he does make his bars at least fit the concept of the song, and doesn't waste any time with verses that could be used for the better elsewhere. Overall, I understand if you're one of the people who didn't like this album, but I just couldn't think of any other album this year I can just put on and zone out to in complete bliss.

#2. Mac Demarco: Another One

I know, Mac is always on these lists, but I can't help it if he consistently puts out the most chilled out and lovable music out there year after year! And while this is technically a "mini-LP" it was my second most payed album of the year; and with good reason, since Another One is Mac's best LP yet and is a perfectly balanced set of songs that flow together beautifully. These tracks explore relationships and love in a way that only Mac Demarco could, and it all sounds glorious. It will be a truly sad day when I don't see Mac's goofy face on my end of the year list, but until then, I'll keep enjoying Another One, 2015's best slacker love album.

#1. Kendrick Lamar: To Pimp A Butterfly

I almost feel like I don't need to tell you why this album is the best of the year. But because it would be rude to leave this space empty, and the fact that I could literally talk about this album for days on end, I'll simply say that no other album this year came close to being as conceptually complete and beautiful as To Pimp A Butterfly. It's message is an important one, but the songs never get lost in it, and the songs also just happen to be some of the best that hip-hop has seen in years. If Kendrick isn't on your radar after this album, I'm not sure what else he could possibly do to get your attention. To me, he's one of the most consistent hip-hop artists of the past decade and this album proves that he's not just a one trick pony. Good Kid M.A.A.D City was amazing, but To Pimp A Butterfly is truly a classic in the making, and should be identified as this years most important and well crafted album, regardless of genre.

Top 5 Singles of 2015

I can usually look back on a year and see if it was good for music by the amount of radio singles I enjoyed. I see radio singles as the overflow of the full albums that were released that year, and if their quality is up to snuff, that usually means that the core music was even better. Unlike last year, which had pretty much no notable singles, this year has been full of them; from up and comers, to old vets, 2015 was a great year for the charts, and here are my top 5!


Quick note: this list is comprised of tracks that I feel work as stand alone products and don't require any further exploration of the artist to enjoy. So, while I loved singles of Kendrick and Travi$ Scott, they won't be featured here.


#5. Justin Bieber: "What Do U Mean?"

Yeah, you read that correctly; Biebs is on a top 5 BEST list. The biggest compliment I can give this song is that it sounds nothing like a Justin Bieber song, or at least the kinds of songs we're used to hearing from him. Instead of the unbearably awful screech of his voice over a dime a dozen beat, we instead get a sort of tropical neon song with singing that, while not super distinct, does fit the mood of the song. And the lyrics aren't terrible either, it's a nice little song about confused motivations in a relationship. I like a Justin Bieber song, and there's nothing wrong with that.


#4. Selena Gomez: "Same Old Love"

This was another surprise for me, because a couple of years ago, Selena Gomez was putting out music that I considered to be incredibly dull and pointless... a bit harsh, I know. And  while I'm not in love with everything I've heard from her new album, I can honestly say I've fallen in love with this track. Which is sort of funny, considering that the song's subject matter is about how even love can become dull and pointless! Again, as with Biebs above, I'm glad I'm able to enjoy a track form someone who I previously had nothing but ill feelings towards; musically that is.

#3. The Weeknd: "The Hills"

It's no stretch to say that The Weeknd pretty much had 2015 on lock. Not only did he have multiple singles break the top 10, at the same time, but he also had a number 1 album. So, it's only natural that one of the singles would end up on this list, and I picked "The Hills" because I think it stays true to The Weeknd's old sound more so than "Tell Your Friends" or "Can't Feel My Face". Also, the video is simply fantastic, conveying all of the song's imagery perfectly.

#2. Disclosure: "Omen"

I feel like I'm one of the very few people who loved the new Disclosure album. I guess once you stop making every one of your songs sound like a 90's house throwback, you lose some respect. All jokes aside, I really loved the new album, and "Omen" is easily one of the album's highlights. Sam Smith sounds fantastic on this track, and the brothers come together with a sleek and seductive track that just makes Sam's voice ring so much brighter than their last collaboration "Latch".

#1. Drake: "Hotline Bling" 

I couldn't find a direct link to the video... but that's okay because you've probably heard this song a million times and have at least seen memes concerning its music video. In fact, this is one of the year's biggest songs and very few people would call this pick "daring", but I can't deny the fact that I loved this track from the moment it dropped sporting this rather simplistic cover art. The track is just so tight and well made and Drake's singing is perfectly fitted to the song itself. In short, the track sounds effortless, but not half-hearted and it is easily this year's best single.

Top 3 Most Disappointing Albums of 2015

Well, another year is coming to a close, which means it's list time! However, while 2015 has been a fantastic year for music, not all albums are created equal and sometimes, an artist can't help but put out an album that is not up to their usual quality... or just put out a straight up bad album. These are the albums that may not be the "worst" albums of the year, but they left me wanting so much more. Enjoy!

 #3. Tyler, the Creator: Cherry Bomb

While Tyler has never been the most reliable musician in terms of quality, he was at least on to something great with his last album, Wolf. But, just like how Goblin spoiled the good will of Bastard, so we get Cherry Bomb, an album that takes the good ideas of the previous album and replaces them with ones that just don't work. I wanted to love this album's over the top antics, but too often the music was left in shambles, which at the end of the day, is what Tyler is attempting to entertain us with.

#2. A$AP Rocky: AT. LONG. LAST. ASAP

Ugh, just like Cherry Bomb, this album takes the ideas of a truly memorable album and tarnishes them. Rocky went from MVP of his own crew to being an artist who is entirely passable. The biggest thing that this album suffers from is a lack of charisma, which leaves most of this album feeling boring and endless, which is the exact opposite feeling I got from Rocky's last LP. Like I said in my review, I just hope that the next album is better, or at least entertaining in its mediocrity.

#1. Grimes: Art Angels

And this my friends, is the definition of disappointment. I was so excited for this LP, and aside from the demo version of "Realiti" showing a lot of promise, all but maybe two tracks on this album fail to live up to it. I understand that people are totally in the right to be enjoying and praising this album, but I just can't get behind it. In short, Grimes embraces clean production and influences like Madonna, both things that on the surface seem  great, but she also handles both of these aspects with the subtlety of a sledgehammer and comes off extremely corny and cheap. I'm just crossing my fingers for the future, because I really need a new Grimes album to actually enjoy.