Britch2tiger
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Album Edits 11,193

Album Ratings 1533
Objectivity 80%

Last Active 07-13-20 8:28 am
Joined 06-27-14

Review Comments 67

Average Rating: 3.38
Rating Variance: 0.56
Objectivity Score: 80%
(Well Balanced)

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5.0 classic
Acid Bath When the Kite String Pops
[SLUDGE METAL] My intro into stoner rock and doom metal has never felt so good to be visceral. Cherry on top knowing this was a band from my home state.
Alice in Chains Dirt
[ALT ROCK] One of, if not, the most brutal alternative rock album of the 90's.
Bark Psychosis Hex
[POST ROCK] One of the most pleasant albums to sit back to or fall asleep to.
Brand New The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me
[EMO] One of the best crafted emo albums of all time.
Brian Wilson Smile
[ROCK] The lost album of the 60's was finally made to fruition, but how does it stack to Pet Sounds? The reviews already state all that can be heard in this magnificently orchestrated album. Oh dude, just listen to this album already!
Catch 22 Keasbey Nights
Considering the lead from Streetlight Manifesto was the main lyricist for this album before parting ways, this "pre-SM" album was fantastically energetic. It's nothing short of a miracle when a group/band/person can create 2 fantastic albums in less than 10 years, but Tomas Kalnoky managed to do the near-impossible. For any fans of Sublime's 40 Oz to Freedom but looking for something w/ more of a kick, THIS is the album for you!
Chrome Alien Soundtracks
This album... Where do I start... This album was certainly ahead of the curve regarding industrial music. The drops w/in the songs, distorted feedback, amazing use of synthesizers, those creepy vibes from the murky mixing and samples - this must be the industrial music that Steven Stapleton (Nurse With Wound) was chasing for when he was creating his first experimentation of the same ending decade. Now if Nine Inch Nails adapted this experimentation into their group, I may be more inclined to listen to their work.
David Bowie The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars
Dead Kennedys Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
Failure Fantastic Planet
[GRUNGE] Grunge plus bleak space rock equals one of the best albums of the decade. There're too many amazing tracks for just one album: Sergeant Politeness, Pillowhead, Dirty Blue Balloons, Solaris, Nurse Who Loved Me, Another Space Song, AND Heliotropic! If you like any of these songs, do yourself a service and LISTEN TO THE ENTIRE ALBUM ALREADY!
Groundation Hebron Gate
Oh my God... HOW IS THIS ALBUM NOT A MORE REVERED REGGAE STAPLE!?!?!
Helmet Betty
Worst choice of an album cover EVER! But certainly one of the best noise rock albums you will ever hear. Somehow this band took all the great features from Meantime and cranked them up to 11. This is a must for anyone wanting to get interested in noise rock.
King Crimson In the Court of the Crimson King
maudlin of the Well Bath
This album would be if Estradasphere decided to go even FURTHER w/ metal experimentation - WOW! Totally worth my objectivity percentage decrease. This is an awesome metal album!
Miles Davis Kind of Blue
Modest Mussorgsky A Night on Bald Mountain
Even as an infant, according to my Ma of how I could play Fantasia on our VCR, I could recall this segment as my favorite
piece. No matter how terrifying the sound was as then and now, I cannot help feeling this intrinsic pull that came from this
piece.
Morphine Cure for Pain
My rating might be biased, but I really couldn't care! This album just has all the right moments of harmony w/ the vocals (sounding as a cross b/w Martin Gore and Mr. Mackey [just saying]) & instrumentations. Favorite instrument of choice in this album was the sax, second to the drums, and guitar/bass coming last. That list in itself blows me away 'cause I usually give my 1st place trophy to guitar instrumentations. Even the lyrics, as some being romantically oriented, were just so finely tuned to the music.
Naked City Naked City
The star of this album, or this group for that matter, is John Zorn. As much as I currently disapprove of the grind genre, this composer helped brew an album for any relatively new listener to delightfully ingest. The minor downside to this feat unfortunately was made only possible through Zorn's jazz background. This album for the majority sounds like a chaotic jazz album w/ the experimental incorporation of an industrial feel. Each song/composition has a unique realm w/ everything given to us provided by their title. For every new title, the song gives it's listener a unique sound. For every setting, a complementary tune of the environment. For every (tragic) event,, a high tempo structure w/ nearly all instruments blaring w/ an occasional screaming of horror, and near terrifying. Only this grind genre made this album possible, while complementary jazz composing made this album all so enthralling (or at least bearable enough to listen). All romanticizing aside, it's a definite listen for all industrial appreciators.
Nirvana In Utero
Pink Floyd The Wall
Portishead Dummy
Radiohead OK Computer
Rage Against the Machine Rage Against the Machine
In music, I acknowledge that it's a rarity to find a sociopolitical band that can embody what "ought" to be felt when you hear their music. In this album, every song features an aggressive voice w/ an element of "hip-hop delivery" accompanied by music that sounds just as loud and angry. With messages/songs about violence toward peacemakers, the inequality of general power between the Elite and the People beneath, or having to struggle in order to gain certain (taken-for-granted) privileges, it sounds rather difficult to NOT feel angry when hearing this music. And it's for these reasons, this alternative rock & hip hop hybrid of an album ranks slightly higher than some of the best hip-hop staples such as 36 Chambers (Wu-Tang Clan), Liquid Swords (GZA), The Infamous (Mobb Deep), and It Takes a Nation of Millions (Public Enemy).
Ravi Shankar The Sounds Of India
Even though this album hasn't shown much of a difference in playing compared to Ravi's first album, Three Ragas, this album places us into a realm where Mr. Shankar personally introduces it's listeners into the world to Hindustani classical music, one of the foundations of music that gave birth to the psychedelia genre. This is one of the few psychedelia albums that deserved to be considered a "classic" for how it attempts to educate it's listeners in what goes into these compositions, as well as playing such structures w/ such a flow that, I dare say, is unrivaled.
Refused The Shape Of Punk To Come
Thinking how amazing one genre of music can bring light to lead the way for future genres of such varying differences. From punk gave way to an "extreme" form of punk, later to be named hardcore. And assuming later hardcore led the way to post hardcore. Wonders if this album took any Rage Against the Machine albums as an influence... The point is revolution makes for a killer genre theme in any album. Oh yeah, and incorporations of jazz and electronica are just extra audible gravy to my earholes!
Rishloo Eidolon
After weening off of Feathergun, I began listening to this album. With enough hearings, I can hear all sorts of modifications the lead made to better his voice for Feathergun. Nonetheless, I believe this album to be their magnum opus as of yet. Assuming the flow of each song, I believe this to be a concept album, and damn-near perfect at that. Each song makes it's place noticed, and even the filler tracks make their place to have the listener aware of the "phases" of this album - personally my favorite phase is tracks 8-10. Even w/ the hidden track on the final song, I consider this album to be a classic alongside TOOL's Aenima.
Skinny Puppy Too Dark Park
Perhaps one, if not THE epitome, of industrial music. The perfect blend of brooding metal, glitchy & grimy electronica, and "synthetic" distorted vocals make this an industrial electronica staple. For anyone that is getting interested in this subgenre, just be sure to listen to this founding pillar of an album cause it is BRUTAL!
Sublime 40 Oz. to Freedom
Personally one of the classic ska albums that truly dabbles a bit in everything regarding their punk rock and reggae influences. This is practically a summer staple for my ears. I even dare to say this album is a bit under-appreciated, or at least is ought to be on par w/ some of Bob Marley and the Wailers' middle discography.
Swans Children of God
Not used to the bleak heaviness of this album, at least by the third track, 'cause it's a bit much to take in. The initial two tracks places the listener into some rather more "comfortable" folk rock due to Jarboe's contribution. From then on the listener is taken to a dark atmosphere from the lo-fi, industrial-esque instrumentations w/ the vocals of Jarboe and Michael Gira, whose voice is reminiscent to that of a hushed Johnny Cash. Definitely a 4-spectrum album, but not sure if this album is to be considered a "classic" as of yet. 2/27/16 - Until I've heard better from Swans, THIS is their magnum opus.
The Dynospectrum Dynospectrum
Hands down the closest that any hip-hop album will come to be categorized as a classic. A hip-hop album w/ great soundboard work, instrumental loops, evoking lyrics, and the near perfect tracklist order that make this album one of my favorites to leave on sweet, sweet repeat. For anyone wanting to listen to what hip-hop SHOULD sound like, this album ranks as one of my highest standards/recommendations.
The Seatbelts Cowboy Bebop
The Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream
The Tiger Lillies Circus Songs
Perhaps one of the most masterfully crafted albums is catered to, perhaps, the most befitting theme of dark cabaret: a carnival. The lyrics provide it's listeners such an illustrious environment of a run down circus filled w/ the most miserable scoundrels, but provided w/ enough background to make the audience feel (potential) pity on such carnival folk. I tip my hat to you, Tiger Lillies. I'm so glad to have listened to such a dark album!
Tool Ænima

4.5 superb
A Bunny's Caravan Draining Puddles, Retrieving Treasures
Acid Bath Paegan Terrorism Tactics
AJJ Knife Man
Alain Goraguer La Planète Sauvage
Alice in Chains MTV Unplugged
Alice in Chains Jar of Flies
All Them Witches Our Mother Electricity
I feel dumb having been sitting on this album for about a year now and feel even dumber for not listening to this album sooner. It's like you took the works of Kyuss, dimmed down the metal, and transfused some heavy blues-esque atmosphere into the entire album. Now starting to get curious of this decade regarding stoner rock. QOTSA released an awesome album but this effort comes eerily close!
Binary Star Waterworld
Ratings have a purpose in music in giving people a fair reference of an artist/group's creativity. The album can also be romanticized further when they have such a humbling origin story. THIS was one of those stories. An album paid w/ the remaining money these two rappers had gathered, and risked it all on the creation of their solo album. One Be Lo and Senim Silla w/ only $500 they were able to find a label willing to give these guys studio time, each track elaborately mixed & mastered, and for the most impressive detail of all: the following tracks were all performed on only ONE take. Their gamble certainly paid off, and now I think it's fair to say that this album has successfully earned it's status as nothing short of legendary in the hip hop underground.
Binary Star Masters of the Universe
The remastered and re-arranged effort of their Waterworld album. The album alone is already amazing, and this re-arrangement makes album a tad more enjoyable than their previous effort. Yet this change had little to no enhancement of this stellar album. I guess my "track re-arrange" theory cannot be applied for every album...
Bjork Homogenic
Beth Gibbons, I regrettably type that your voice has been tied, if not bested, by this enchantress. Just the near-perfect amount of vocal range alongside classical instrumentation & bombastic electronica, just wave after exquisite wave flooding my ear canals, and flushing my skin w/ goosebumps. Joga (personal favorite, even w/ all the repetition) is one of such tracks on this album to induce such an experience. Perhaps one of, if not THE, best experimental album of any category I have heard. (2/1/17) Will admit this album has lost it's repeatability when compared to other trip-hop albums, but this is still very enjoyable.
Bjork Vespertine
Blackalicious Blazing Arrow
Blind Melon Blind Melon
... Wow... I've never heard such an impressive first album from a grunge band of the early 90s. I'll admit the similar artists were what originally had me interested in this group: Led Zeppelin, the Melvins, and even Candlebox (the lesser of the three). Somehow this album brilliantly blended a bluesy 60s/70s rock w/ an inclusion of garage rock guitar play and vocals that are akin to a male Janis Joplin. As odd as the mixture appears, the sound must be heard to be believed how good this is.
Bob Marley and The Wailers Catch A Fire
Another solid album under this group of reggae juggernauts, but cannot help but feel this as a little short of a solid-superb rating...
Botch We Are the Romans
I am new to the hardcore spectrum so I'm treading light water here while taking a historical approach to understand how an album could be rated/regarded so highly. Being "one of" the first to do something is difficult AND to do well on the first attempt is a hefty feat, which is why sophomore albums are usually regarded as a band's better work from my experience. A little research and one could certainly cite at least 10 albums. In all that being said, I am hesitant to regard this album as a classic (yet) considering how this (90's) decade of hardcore was heavily influenced from the punk scene of the 80's. The 80s had a punk and (latent) hardcore scene that had far less abrasive vocals, as on this album. Personally I'm not a fan off the vocals but the instrumentations well make up for that minor aesthetic indifference.
Camel Camel
Anyone else find it weird how I think this album sounds better than their Mirage album?
Carissa's Wierd Songs About Leaving
Damn... This is one of the few 4.5-5/5 albums I've had the pleasure of hearing. This is without a doubt the most sobering album I've heard ever since Mazzy Star's work. Another example of (slowcore) shoegaze done right: soft vocals, great acoustic & classical instrumental accompaniment, and both sound in near-perfect harmony. For anyone else interested in this genre of music, I recommend anyone under the production of Graveface Records, like Dreamend and The Marshmallow Ghosts. Neither are as impacting as this album but pretty good imho.
Chelsea Wolfe Abyss
[INDUSTRIAL] Disturbing industrial noise experimentation, Mrs. Wolfe, you're doing industrial proud. Track order seems a bit off for me, but aside from that minor detail (which could definitely enhance the album's experience [at least for me]) this is a killer album w/ haunting vocals and an eerie noise rock (near-perfect industrial) atmosphere.
Cocteau Twins Heaven or Las Vegas
Somehow the near-perfect blend of dream pop w/ some dashes of alternative rock to adapt to the 90s music trends. Bravo Cocteau Twins, bravo!
Current 93 Thunder Perfect Mind
Imagine if The Tea Party removed all their hard rock influences of The Doors and wore a full fledged folk outfit like that of Nick Drake (after watering down his shoegaze-ish qualities) and you have this near masterpiece of neofolk.
Current 93 All the Pretty Little Horses
Where their Thunder Perfect Mind album was perhaps their most successful neofolk album w/ little to no other genres intertwined, this album takes a very mild hint of industrial ambience in this album. Another near perfect album that has sounds in nearly all the right places. Although their longer tracks at some point felt a tad repetitive (or dull) in some regard. I still enjoy this album but left feeling their respective lengths could've been handled w/ a little more creativity.
Cynic Focus
Dark Soho Combustion
Wow... Bleak yet catchy are difficult to come by, and I think this album managed to do the near impossible!
David Bowie Hunky Dory
Deep Puddle Dynamics The Taste of Rain...Why Kneel?
Probably one of the closest albums to blend that of The Dynospectrum album and Mobb Deep's The Infamous album. The near perfect blend of downtrodden hip-hop and long passages of existential lyrical density. This album is a must for all hip-hop enthusiasts!
Deltron 3030 Deltron 3030
For all the nerds of the world out there, here is the sci-fi hip-hop album of your dreams.
Depeche Mode Violator
Dio Holy Diver
Dolly Parton Jolene
Just the near-perfect mix of instrumentals and excellent vocal talent(s) all throughout this album. Younger Dolly is definitely one of my newly favored female vocalists (certainly as my current country favorite).
Doof Lets Turn On
Wow... Look at the pretty timbres... This is such a layered electronica album, I don't know how this album just slipped past all these accounts. It would not surprise me if any of these tracks became rave essentials to any DJ's playlist.
Down NOLA
Pretty much the sound you'd hear if Clutch adapted a heavy metal sound and expanded vocals, even if they are drastically differing in extremes. Still a heavy album for future metal acts that more or less have created a sound just as on this album.
Dusty Springfield Dusty in Memphis
Need to look further into this soul genre before I can discern the "excellent" nature of such albums, but DAMN this is (at least) an excellent sounding album...
Earthside A Dream In Static
Failure Magnified
Faith No More Angel Dust
Fleetwood Mac Rumours
Definitely one of the best albums of the 70's and you are do yourself an audible disservice by not listening to this album at least every once in a while.
Floater Sink
Heard their 3rd album first and didn't really feel anything that great for an indie rock group. Then I listened to Sink... Literally the first two bands that came to mind were Pink Floyd for songs that flowed into one another and came "full circle." Then, I heard a Pantera bass that killed nearly every track. I hope their other albums are like this one.
Front Line Assembly Tactical Neural Implant
A dragging start makes the buildup all the more anticipating. Now we have post-punk and distorted vocals to look forward to in this album. The lengths are also being taken seriously now that each track has a noticeable sound variety of differing effects as opposed to an over-repetitive sound structure. One minor flaw I have w/ this album is that some samples are a tad distracting, but they do not take away the overall entertainment from any track.
God Possession
Dammit, John Zorn!! Why are your contributions so AWESOME!?
Gospel The Moon Is a Dead World
The instrumentals alone are amazing! Hell, the muffled screamo doesn't even phase me. If anything, this album reminds me of Quicksand's Slip, minus the grunge and replaced w/ prog rock & a dash of psychedelia. This album, no question, deserves it's mark as a post-hardcore staple. Thank you Gospel!!
Grotus Slow Motion Apocalypse
This industrial album is all kinds of weird, and never expected a "funky" industrial album. All that can be said about this album is, "WOW!" How this fell under sputnik's radar makes this album feel (incredibly) underrated. This may very well be one of my top 10 industrial albums!
GZA Liquid Swords
For anyone looking into an interest for hip-hop, I strongly recommend this album alongside Wu-Tang Clan's Enter the 36 Chambers. This album has everything every mainstream hip-hop music forgets to do, spread The Message of the Streets. For those who don't know, I'll elaborate. Essential hip-hop music contains a beat accompanied w/ clever illustrations/rhymes of the social horrors regarding a lifestyle amongst the downtrodden - Gang-on-gang violence, drugs, the norms of a broken home, and The Struggle called LIFE! Personally though, I like this album a tad more than 36 Chambers as a VERY LIGHT 5/5.
Hector Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique
Perhaps one of the earliest concept albums regarding classical music. An entire 1 hour-ish classical number w/ 5 movements or tracks that build on one another about a story involving a dude's obsession that kills not only his beloved but also himself... Damn that's depressing!
Helmet Meantime
Perhaps one of the grandfathers of all (mainstream) hard rock oriented bands of the 90's, the 00's, and even the 10's. Without this band, we wouldn't even have Chevelle, Clutch, or pretty much any differing hard rock band for the next few decades. This band, especially this album, deserve all the praise you've heard or ever will hear.
Infected Mushroom Classical Mushroom
Trippy, groovy, and brilliant transitory flows throughout the album.
Infectious Organisms Infectious Organisms
Every track was worth EVERY penny spent on this album. For anyone interested in CunninLynguists or Blackalicious w/ a lyrical density that rivals to that of The Dynospectrum or Typical Cats. The instrumental plays (even as looped) are fantastic. For anyone even interested in some mellow hip-hop, I highly recommend this album for everyone!
Janelle Monae The Electric Lady
KaLL is very spot on when referring how this album is certainly not as adventurous as Ms. Monae's debut album but manages to find a sound that's uniquely poppy and highly cerebral. Perhaps one of the few "pop" albums I actually enjoyed listening to and definitely recommend this for any interested. (12/18/16) This is perhaps one of the best electronica albums of this decade, and I cannot wait to hear the "finale" of Ms. Monae's "concept" albums.
Janis Joplin Pearl
Jimi Hendrix Live at Woodstock
Johann Sebastian Bach Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565
Personally, the best interpretation of this piece is done by Miklos Spanyi. If you're looking up "Halloween music," you'll hear lightning and thunder before you hear this piece which really suits the background of a stormy night.
Judas Priest Sad Wings of Destiny
King Diamond Abigail
Kyuss Welcome to Sky Valley
Lizards Exist Lizards Exist
I'll first mention that I usually find instrumental bands rather dull w/ the absence of a singer, so I might being a tad biased when I mention how I actually liked this album. Lemme lay out the basis of this album: a band from Croatia decides to make a space rock sound like that of King Crimson - how do they do that? They located & salvaged analog audio equipment and instruments that all predate before 1976... And w/ that, I believed to have "heard" the phenomena of time-traveling. Even w/ all the romanticizing aside, this band knew how to lay a sound that any 70s-80s prog rock fan will enjoy.
Marilyn Manson Mechanical Animals
Mobb Deep The Infamous
Another essential hip hop album in my ears w/ having little fat (boastful rapping) to trim and a lot of meat (Message-of-the-Street hip hop). I would figure another supergroup of artists would have to compromise together to make an album rivaling that of the 36 Chambers, and then I was amazed to find that a humbling hip hop duo created this album. Staring to notice a pattern that most of the better/essential hip hop albums originating in the 90s. Hope to find more albums such as these very soon!
Mr. Bungle California
I was experiencing an album out of my comfort zone, but this bombastic album playing on your ears soon turn into a grand
experience of varied tempos and masterful instrumentation patterns. Perhaps the best (and better consisted) album of Mr.
Bungle's discography.
My Bloody Valentine Loveless
My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult 13 Above The Night
An industrial album w/ a LOT of funk that I was not expecting (wow). I think I found a new industrial staple!
Nick Drake Five Leaves Left
Perhaps one of the greatest predecessors to the next generation of post rock and soft shoegaze artists. Without this musician, I bet we would not have either Catherine Wheel or Carissa's Wierd.
Nirvana MTV Unplugged in New York
During a time when MTV actually used to air music of great quality, fans of garage bands can only be so fortunate to know there was a talent that worked for their recognition and rightfully earned their legend in music history. Perhaps not as one of the greatest, not THE greatest, but definitely a great band. After only 3 albums, they were then requested to play a live show and even that almost didn't happen. MTV was pushing them to play the tracklist they wanted, and Mr. Cobain near threatened to drop from the show for not allowing the band to play the songs they wanted. I suppose to keep the band happy and fruitful, the producers allowed Nirvana to play their show, their way, and it REALLY paid off. Even when playing live, the vocals could still sing w/ such passion & the instrumental talent was just as appealing as any of their studio recordings. The band was even humbling enough to credit their cover tracks of their various inspirations. This is definitely a great live album any alternative rock fan should own.
Nujabes Metaphorical Music
Nujabes Good Music Cuisine Ristorante
Just thoroughly impressed w/ how much jazz hop diversity that can be found in this one mixtape and have it arranged in a way that just syncs nearly every track together. This compilation is a must for any listeners interested in jazz w/ a well-rounded blend of hip-hop.
Oceansize Effloresce
Tyler Fisher could not have written a better review for this album. An awesome prog rock album w/ post rock electronica, making this one of the superior prog-electronica albums I've heard in a while.
Opeth Still Life
Osamu Kitajima Masterless Samurai
Patsy Cline Patsy Cline
There is so much audible diversity in each track, from the vocals and the accompanied band's musicianship. The one factor that keeps me from rating this album higher is the fact that I have yet to diversify my tastes regarding country. Until then, I can still go on saying this is a pinnacle country album worth hearing!
Psychotic Waltz Into the Everflow
Public Enemy It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
The album that gave birth to the (later) hardcore hip hop genre... Yeah, nostalgia feels good. I only feel bad for JUST getting into this music. The album that fathered the futuristic Straight Out of Compton (NWA), the vicious 36 Chambers: Enter the Wu-Tang (The Wu-Tang Clan), and the black sheep that is Rage Against the Machine (self-title debut). This album deserves all the glorification you will ever hear. The minor letdown is that it was not "brutal" enough - thank goodness for Public Enemy's children!!
Queens of the Stone Age ...Like Clockwork
... Now this is a comeback album I won't soon forget. It's like the band took all the best elements from their self-titled album & their Lullabies album then took all the best stoner rock atmospheres w/ vocals that just harmonize in nearly all the right instrumental segments.
Quicksand Slip
Ravi Shankar Three Ragas
Return to Forever Romantic Warrior
Rishloo Living as Ghosts with Buildings as Teeth
As much as I enjoy the various changes in vocal delivery appearing in each Rishloo album, I can't help feeling this album was a tad anti-climactic compared to their prior two albums. Living As Ghosts is the closest this band has created music to embody their shoegaze influences. The sound reminds me of My Bloody Valentine's Loveless. Not completely implying that is a bad quality, it just makes me wonder what could've been done different to make this shoegaze stand out by (certain) comparison. Another quality I liked was the attempt at lengthening their songs. Where I normally find most lengthy prog songs to be pretentious, this is one of the few albums w/ songs I could enjoy from start to finish from all parts involved making this music. This is an easy 4/5, but ranking this a 4.5/5 rating may be a tad generous. But SCREW IT, this album is still AWESOME!
Sade Love Deluxe
Imagine Sade's Promise album and managing to make THAT even better. This album ought to be a staple in any person's music library. Tracks 1, 4, 5, 8, and 9 serve as my highlights for this album.
Skinny Puppy VIVIsectVI
Sonic Youth Daydream Nation
Soundtrack (Disney) Fantasia
Stevie Ray Vaughan Texas Flood
Streetlight Manifesto Everything Goes Numb
Swans White Light From the Mouth of Infinity
System of a Down Steal This Album!
Thank You Scientist Stranger Heads Prevail
TYS knock another album right out of the ball park as another solid post-hardcore album w/ heavier jazz influences when compared to their first album. Still hesitant to rate this album any higher than superb, but I'm enjoying this album very much!
The .357 String Band Fire & Hail
The Beach Boys Pet Sounds
I honestly think the first track was the only song that could've held a candle to their prior work 'cause the rest of their album is more like a furnace by comparison. The melodies remind me of Nick Drake's vocal style & enveloping instrumentations in how they both "duet" w/ their sound in perfect harmony to transmit their listener into the beautiful music landscape they have created. A true pinnacle album of the 60's!
The Beach Boys The Smile Sessions
Lakes. has given well detailed review already of this compilation of what would soon become Brian Wilson's SMiLE album in the late 00's. Nonetheless, this (first) interpretation of the album has revealed the creativity that could've kept The Beach Boys as one of the greater bands beyond their 1960's peak. This is a compilation album worth hearing (at least once)!
The Jesus Lizard Liar
The Jesus Lizard Goat
The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble Here Be Dragons
I am really pressed to rate this a 4.5/5 on the count how I have yet to fully indulge in jazz to give a more objective rating... This album managed to take the ambiance to that of Portishead, strip nearly all of the trip hop elements, replace them w/ jazz, and additional classical instrumentation to create a haunting atmosphere that even industrial enthusiasts would appreciate. THIS is a solid album, and dare I say a "must own" for any music listener.
The Tiger Lillies Bad Blood + Blasphemy
WTH did I just listen to!? Somehow this album manages to take the best of their slow ballads and their spastic travesties (audible & thematic alike), then craft a more digestible auditory experience for the ears! As of now, this might be their best album of this decade.
The Velvet Underground The Velvet Underground
Third Eye Blind Third Eye Blind
Tiamat Wildhoney
Will admit being very new to the gothic genre of music, but a combination of "that" and doom metal create a really eerie ambiance on this album... and WOW! I think I found another staple for Halloween music finally!
Tool Lateralus
Upon my first listen to this album in it's entirety, I was actually puzzled why this album was rated so high. That's when I knew I had to do some research on this album. There ARE good songs on this album, but they were scattered all throughout the album... Whether the info I read to be rumor or fact, I read how this album had it's tracks in the "wrong" order. Then I came upon the Internet's "The Holy Gift" arrangement, arranged the tracklist in said order, and the change blew me away - the experience actually felt different. That's when I had an epiphany: track orders DO MATTER when listening to an album! Never before has an album made me consider the possibility of rearranging the track order to enhance the listening experience. Now I wonder if there are other albums that can be enhanced w/ a little rearranging... Here's another new arrangement I've been trying out: 6, 7, 3, 10, 8, 5, 13, 1, 12, 9, 4, 11, 2 (The Regression).
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Requiem in D minor, K. 626
Wu-Tang Clan Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Hip hop music now-in-days, at least the mainstream variety, has gotten deplorable. The funny thing is that people are always surprised that I haven't listened to any of the garden variety "rappers" such as Kevin Gates, Kanye West, Lil' Wayne, etc. Then when I tell them I admire artists w/in the Wu-Tang, people look at me in bewilderment... Then the conversation segues into me dissecting how there must be a difference b/w "hip hop" and "rap" music. Where rap involves boasting about one's status, regarding his/her financial security (how much money), promiscuity (how many bitches/ladies he/she slept w/), materialism (ex: how many cars he/she has), or pretty much anything insisting how "awesome" he/she is. This album makes any mainstreamed rapper sound like white noise by comparison, and for one reason: this album tells listeners about The Message/Warning of the Streets. It's one of the few hip hop albums that does the genre justice by elaborating how horrific the general life is w/in a ghetto. Messages/songs would serve as beckons to get people to understand what is going on in ghettos by getting mass attention, and provide inspiration that their lifestyle is worth fighting for and can (potentially) change for the better. As much as I am romanticizing about the hip-hop genre, I end w/ saying that this supergroup made an album that eventually set the standard for all future (great) hip-hop albums. However great this album is, I say that GZA's Liquid Swords is a future album that is a tad better than this one.
Zao Liberate Te Ex Inferis
An album that proves you don't need your music to be industrial- you heard that Trent Reznor -or death metal to make your album "brutal." This album barely ties w/ Naked City's self-titled album, and manages to do so w/o the use of an industrial feel like that of Naked City, which I found intriguing. Sonically, the tracks combine a mixture of stoner rock fuzz, sludge metal time measures, and hardcore vocal delivery. This album though is still slightly underneath Acid Bath's first album. Aside from that minor detail, this is one of the few Christian metal albums worth owning!

4.0 excellent
2 Foot Yard Borrowed Arms
A rather folksy sort of prog rock w/ great lyrical & vocal accompaniment. Honestly, this entire album is worth finding AND owning!
21 Eyes of Ruby Conquer the World Part V
3 (USA) The Ghost You Gave To Me
Really need to get around listening to this band again for a better evaluation... Another solid album from such an underrated band!!
3 (USA) Wake Pig
3 (USA) The End is Begun
Better than any Coheed and Cambria album I've listened to so far...
3RDegree Ones & Zeros: vol. 1
Now this prog album is all sorts of weird, and I'm starting to come around... The album has an odd presence of "futuristic" electronica blended w/ their (often) mellow rock, and fair vocals. The lead doesn't have a wide range, but the vocal harmonies (similar to 10 Years imo) balance out that problem. The stronger rating lies w/in the lyrics w/ their indifferent, mildly humorous perception of the universe accompanied by the abstract commercialism preludes & interludes w/in their songs. I kinda have a proggy-electronica-Faith No More-feel from this album. I definitely believe this an album worth owning.
A Perfect Circle Mer de Noms
A Tribe Called Quest Midnight Marauders
Akua Naru Live & Aflame Sessions
Hearing the performance and delivery live in studio was insane! The final third of the album though comes off a tad grating imo but still worth hearing.
Alice in Chains Facelift
Allen Toussaint Southern Nights
I can hear how this album has so many reprints to its credit.
Alter Bridge Blackbird
This is one of the few post-grunge albums of the 00's decade to come close to being a 4.5/5 in my ears - wow! I think I hear some latent King's X Dogman influences in this album. The big difference though w/ this album would have to be that the vocal range is CLEARLY superior. Now onto a tangent: how THIS album doesn't have a better average rating compared to Hurt's Vol II album is insanity! THAT album is easily their 2nd best album, and that still blows by comparison to this album! (12/7/16) After more consideration, this album likely IS one of the best 00's (post-)grunge albums. Thus, earning the right to be a near-classic of grunge.
Amerigo Gazaway The Miseducation of Eunice Waymon
Kinda makes me wish these two did make an actual album together.
Amplifier Amplifier
Imagine a combination of (Helmet) hard rock and really crunchy (Kyuss) stoner rock alongside pleasant vocals. The combination just works so well... Especially by track 3.
Animal Collective Strawberry Jam
Becoming new to neo-psychedelia music, I can say that this album was... Interesting. Experimentation I feel is either a hit-or-miss for certain albums, as well as myself. Where I liked Merriweather Post Pavillion, it didn't seem challenging enough as a psych or electronica-album as I was forewarned. But here the sounds are chaotic and engages the listener into having that "What? Oh Hell no! Hold up... Huh? Oh okay..." (yes Impractical Jokers reference) mentality. I believe this requires at least another few listens to entail a proper experience.
Anyone Anyone
Okay... I think I get it now... Roadrunner Records just happens to be this production company that just happens to be have been responsible for pumping out some really cool albums from discreet band names... Back to the album! Here you have the beginning w/ what sounds like psychedelic jam rock like that of 70's prog rock. By track 4 or 5, the album then transitions into something harsher like that of the metal variety. Loving all the varying psychedelia sounds this one album offers. Major props to this group!
Arcturus The Sham Mirrors
This album is awesome, especially the instrumentals. High props to the drumming being INSANE on this album. Figured I'd have to listen to death metal albums to hear this kind of mastery. Hope to own this metal album in the near future!
Aspid Extravasation
ASPO Romance Without Finance
[REGGAE] So take their sophomore album strengths and crank them up by a few notches,
specifically more singing and more instrumental improv. This is the near-perfect audible
combination of catchy ska and soothing reggae. Just a REALLY solid album all throughout.
At the Drive-In Relationship of Command
Atheist Unquestionable Presence
Atomic Rooster Atomic Roooster
Bjork Post
Bjork's experimentation is really paying off, especially in this album. Where her Debut album focused on the instrumentations (assuming from how each track sound was unique to each other), this album has a noticeable focus on her vocals. Post unveils a remarkable variation in her vocal range that is much more diverse & daring than from her Debut album. Post comes off as a very solid 4/5 (or a light 4.5/5). Bjork is coming very close to becoming my 2nd or 3rd favorite female vocalist!
Bjork Debut
This album has some really good electronica and great female vocals. What's not to like about this album?
Black Moon Circle Andromeda
Blind Melon Intimate and Interactive [DVD]
Blind Melon Soup
Okay, now it's clear to me. At least on this album, Shannon Hoon sounds like the male equivalent to Janis Joplin. Not really a bad quality, especially if you enjoy that type of voice. This album also has a noticeable change of tone in their music w/ the addition of acoustic instrumentation in some. This is pretty much their most folk of Blind Melon's Hoon albums.
Blind Melon Live at Woodstock '94
Bob Marley and The Wailers Soul Revolution
An occasional "meh" song somewhere in the middle of this record, but this album is very chill and familiar to the classic Marley we may hear at your local exotic shops - Spencer's RULES!
Bob Marley and The Wailers Natty Dread
A much more bombastic reggae album when compared to this group's prior catalogue. Even so, the addition of more audible jazz elements, such as background choruses, are certainly not a bad change-up in the least. I'm also enjoying the production quality improvement heard in this record.
Bob Marley and The Wailers Exodus
Outside of the title track, the first half of this album pales in comparison to the record's second half. A minor track rearrangement could do this album a favor, perhaps the one thing that keeps this album from tying w/ their Catch A Fire effort.
Boris Amplifier Worship
Brainchild Mindwarp
Oh man... I wished Filter would've stumbled upon material like this earlier in their career. Just the near perfect balance of the heavy that an industrial rock sound could make, the mixing & sampling that create that eerie feel upon listening, and just the overall angry approach in their lyrics. The beginning is awesome, but those feels dimmer down a bit after track 5. Still a pretty awesome industrial album!
Brant Bjork Jalamanta
Possibly the most mellow stoner rock album I've heard and mostly instrumental like that of Kyuss' Blues For the Red Sun. Pretty bluesy album amongst all SR albums I've heard so far.
Breaking Orbit The Time Traveller
Brother Ali Shadows On The Sun
BT Ima
Just one weird entire-album song (broken in parts) here, but so worth the listen!
Buena Vista Social Club Buena Vista Social Club
Props to the musicianship of such an album, although I'm sure my ignorance towards the lyrical portions are what keep me from rating this a 5/5 rating. But if there were such an album ENTIRELY in Spanish I would be asked about, THIS would be my recommendation. Definitely a solid jazz album for anyone's music collection.
Bungalow Bums Lawless Days in Reservation
This is a solid 4 - 4.5 ranged album, considering this is a very refreshing stoner rock album. I'd say the experience is almost similar to listening the works of Kyuss for the first time, again. Need to look further into Russian music - this album is awesome!
Bush Sixteen Stone
Butthole Surfers Rembrandt Pussyhorse
Cage (USA-NY) Hell's Winter
Instrumentals AND lyrics sound more compatible in this album than Cage's first album. The instrumentals are given more atmosphere & "mainstreamed" rhythm w/ the lyrics. Where the instrumentals sound rather improved on this album, the lyrics noticeably are less bleak than from the Movies For the Blind album. A minor trade-off but makes for a rather more balanced album for this "tamed" sophomore effort.
Camel Mirage
Camille Saint-Saens Danse macabre, Op.40
Cap'n Jazz Shmap'n Shmazz
An emo album w/ great instrumentals but the vocals just come off as punk rock yelling, and can barely understand a single word. That's a difficult compromise for the instrumentations to play so well you don't even care what's being yelled (at least for me personally). This is a fun, but regrettably short, album.
Catherine Wheel Chrome
Chelsea Wolfe Pain Is Beauty
[INDUSTRIAL] Now THIS album is a solid 4/5. A bit more incorporation of electronica in this album than I'd wish, but still able to maintain that haunting feel. If this incorporation of extra instrumentation continues, I'm thinking Chelsea Wolfe's band self-titled band name at this point ought to be renamed into something else, 'cause that feels to be the evolution of this continued experimentation: a band experience, not an artist experience.
Chelsea Wolfe Apokalypsis
[INDUSTRIAL] This group is just getting better after every album. Another borderline 3.5-4/5 album on the list. Aside from the beginning track (very short, needless really), this album has nearly everything to make this album sound as depressing yet enveloping: creepy-sounding synthesizers, shoegaze-like guitar & bass work, and distorted vocals (technically a double-edge for me w/ as much as I love her voice). Another pretty enjoyable album to listen if you have the time.
Chevelle This Type Of Thinking (Could Do Us In)
(9/12/15) Personally my favorite Chevelle record alongside The North Corridor. THIS is still a consistent album I spin when I need a quick & aggressive metal fix. Maybe repetitive upon closer hearing, but I still think they each hold a uniqueness w/ each track.
Chevelle The North Corridor
I'm currently at a loss of words to properly describe my impression of this album. This album manages to stay in their (usual) performance rating as a solid "great" album to their respective genres, but I feel conflicted in calling this album was worthy of being "excellent" quality amongst the metal genre... The album manages to keep that aggressive tone like that of their Thinking album and simultaneously emit a more polished experimental quality than compared to their La Gargola album. This main difference recognized b/w this album and LG is that while the North Corridor had a heavier emphasis on the guitar & bass sections while La Gargola featured much more impressive drumming sections. I'm just surprised that this album had not managed to incorporate both strengths into (this) one album. Still conflicted on how high this album ranks compared to their prior work, but any listener of Chevelle will certainly not be disappointed w/ this purchase. PS - This album is so much better than Deftones' Gore effort.
Chrome Half Machine Lip Moves
Circle of Dust Circle of Dust
I'm guessing a heavy inspirational dose of Skinny Puppy went into this album, maybe some latent sounds of Marilyn Manson, and a lot of techno. Even if Klayton doesn't like this album, I still think this album is not half bad album... If given the choice b/w this album or Front Line Assembly's Caustic Grip, I'd prefer this album.
Civil Twilight Civil Twilight
A band that wears it's influences on it's sleeves, like that of Radiohead and Muse, but comes off as one of the better borderline 4/5 rated albums I've heard in a while... Track 5 serves as my highlighted track. Feels good to be back, Sputnik!!
Clutch The Elephant Riders
Cobalt Gin
Cocteau Twins Treasure
Digging an album's tracklist pretty early is always a good sign for me. This album may have some indiscernible lyrics (at least upon the first few listens) but the singing, the soundscapes, and the diverse track identities really kept this album going in all sorts of great places!r
Codec Horizontime
Admitting here that I was skeptical about this project after learning of their association w/ 32 Leaves, an "okay-ish" alt rock band. The first 2 tracks were written off due to the hard rock riffing, and then track 3 (an interlude) turned this album to a pleasant surprise of this atmospheric experience. I'm having a hard time narrowing if the sound is shoegaze or noise rock. Nonetheless, this became album that (again) re-taught me to not judge a book by it's cover. For anyone interested in shoegaze OR noise rock this may be an album of your liking, after hearing those first 2 (relatively unnecessary) tracks.
Control Denied The Fragile Art of Existence
Cop Shoot Cop Consumer Revolt
copywrite.int A Heart of Glass
The vocals sound familiar to another female artist (Sara Bareilles?), which kind of takes away from their "unique" quality. The instrumentations were what really interested me in this album. This album I feel focuses on "surprise" or sudden changes in the melody and tempo at a moment's notice. Variety of that sort makes this album feel challenging and delightfully cerebral. The downside is the pacing was not segmented. Again, a paradox involving the control of chaos. One example of this was featured in track 3, categorized (to me) as an interlude. If there were more interlude tracks to segment the album into "phases," this album could've categorized it's tracklist in a more fitting matter in accordance to their following phases. And the saxophone(?) sound always gets a ++ in my ears! Track 7 was my favorite song.
Cream Disraeli Gears
Crustation Bloom
Some very chilled trip-hop music here... Aside from Bjork and Portishead I'm admittedly ignorant to what makes an "essential" trip-hop record (a fusion of hip hop and electronica until neither genre is recognizable - Wiki), but I still feel this to becoming a future addition to my CD collection. The only tracks that qualify as "mediocre" are 1, 3, and 6. This is an awesome album!
CunninLynguists A Piece Of Strange
This is a strong 4-spectrum album for their attempt at using actual instrumentations alongside soundboard editing. Some songs that embody this great quality are tracks 2-5, 8, 10, and 14. What hinders this album though is that some tracks either have a build-up (the making for an epic track) that sounds more impressive than the "bulk" of the track, such as in tracks 6 and 11, OR the "bulk" is replaced w/ over-repetition and lacking more stanzas, as in tracks 9 and 15 (now that track was good enough to be twice as long). Also a double interlude (tracks 12 then 13) could've been spaced better imo. In short, this album had a near-perfect first half, but slowly that same cerebral feel began to erode past track 10.
CunninLynguists Will Rap For Food
Alright now, A Piece of Strange was very good (especially the first half of the album) but THIS is the better album by comparison. The tracklist is segmented more evenly w/ a prelude followed by 2-3 tracks, as opposed to APS was segmented using tracks w/ longer (no vocal) interludes. Also, the sound on this album that comes close to being in the jazz hop territory like that of Nujabes but the intelligent, gripping, and at times humorous lyrics keep this album strongly rooted in the hip hop genre. Although this album is not as "heavy" as other hip hop albums, this is a mellow, conscious hip hop album that deserves more recognition. Favorite/best song was track 15, equally beautiful yet brutal.
Cynic Traced in Air
D'Angelo Voodoo
A definitive improvement from his first album on every front. Really wished there were more collaborations (like Left and Right) but whatevs. The instrumentals again are the center stage of this record and YES there're more lyrics featured per track. Albeit some songs can feel a tad bloated, but w/ instrumentals as good as these, I don't mind the lingering as much.
Dan Swano Moontower
Dark Suns Grave Human Genuine
Datura (NZ) Visions for the Celestial
A discreet stoner rock album that just caught my ears. W/ only going on 7 songs, this record shows little to no filler in impressing it's listener(s) w/ hard & trippy jam rock tracks, esp the distorted guitar and bass, that near epitomize the stoner rock genre. This is one of the few SR albums that comes close w/ Welcome to Sky Valley. Have yet to find a 5/5 SR , but I think I'm coming close!
David Bowie The Man Who Sold the World
Perhaps one of the best hard rock albums before the (hard rock) genre became mainstream. Great lyrics and instrumentals alike can be found in this wonder album from Mr. Bowie's magnificent discography.
Dead Meadow Dead Meadow
A stoner rock album w/ some actual psychedelia that doesn't rely on just fuzz to build such a dreamy atmosphere. A tad better than Queens of the Stone Age's self-titled album mainly due to the drag of the album's first two tracks. They're not bad but definitely feel lesser than compared to every track onward.
Death Human
Death in June Rose Clouds of Holocaust
Perhaps the folk near-equivalent album to Depeche Mode's Violator. Much more expansive soundscapes and better songwriting.
Deftones White Pony
Deftones Saturday Night Wrist
I'm surprised to have currently found another Deftones album that I liked, aside from White Pony. If there's anyone that deserves thanks for this feat would be Chino's side project, Team Sleep. If not for TS' inception, I think this band's change in sound would have traveled in a different direction. There are sounds ranging from ambient, shoegaze, and even post-rock that are very pleasing & balanced in comparison to Team Sleep's debut (and [currently] ONLY) album. Strangely enough, the track that epitomizes this experimentation is Pink Cellphone by simultaneously featuring the best & worst features of this album: soft, airy post rock (the good) and abstract, obscene lyrics (the bad). Ambiguity in lyrics can be positive toward invoking deeper meaning, which is featured for the majority of the entire track. The lyrics I'm regarding toward the very end, however, really have no significant reason to be counted as part of the track (the REAL bad).
Deftones Diamond Eyes
I think Deftones are coming close to a more stable idea of what to give in their music: a shoegaze atmosphere w/ occasional hints of metal & hard rock. Still not a big fan of the vocalist, but their instrumentations well make up for lead.
Deftones Koi No Yokan
Another solid release from the Deftones. An album that manages polish what can be heard in Diamond Eyes and turn it into more of a concept build-up. Also came to the realization that I'm actually beginning to enjoy Chino's vocals now (mind blown)...
Depeche Mode Songs of Faith and Devotion
Depeche Mode Playing The Angel
Derek and the Dominos Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs
Not really a big fan of songs regarding romance, but the strong jam sessions throughout these songs well make up for some of the lyrics. I dare to say for Eric Clapton's lengthy career, I believe this album is a tad better than Cream's Disraeli Gears.
Dethklok Dethalbum II
Diabolic Liar & A Thief
Aside from a few tracks regarding "flair/boast rap," this album has some hip hop tracks to near-rival the early years of the Wu-Tang Clan. Aggressive, depressing, yet catchy Message-of-the-Street hip hop music.
Digable Planets Blowout Comb
Out of the 4/5 hip-hop related albums, this is perhaps my favorite. From their first album, we heard that this band can adapt jazz samples into their tracks but their lyrics felt as if they were lacking. In this album, however, they've mended their songs to sound more fluid, where the stanzas and the instrumentations/soundboarding sound in marvelous harmony. Certainly better than CunninLynguists' A Piece of Strange album.
Dispatch Bang Bang
Maybe I just have a deep indifference toward "catchiness" when it comes to music... This album is a tad less repetitive, lyrically speaking, and reveals more of their jam rock potential, esp in the second half of the record. Personally not as well blended as I Mother Earth's Scenery & Fish album, but this record comes off as a close second.
Dispatch Four-Day Trials
Outside of I Mother Earth, I cannot help but hearing latent similarities to Sublime w/ their earliest three records... On this record, the jam rock elements of this band are really worth hearing, even w/ some of their prior songs featured and at the cost of their prior-folk elements. This is probably the best album that you'll ever hear that was created in a 4-day period.
Disperse Journey Through The Hidden Gardens
Admiring the atmospheric aspects of this prog rock album, but I think the noticeable electronica elements take away from this album compared to other "symphonic rock" albums that exist, such as Earthside's A Dream In Static (even if the comparison had to wait for another 5 years). Still a very enjoyable album!
DJ Okawari Diorama
dredg El Cielo
An alternative progressive rock album that manages to create a cohesive album filled w/ lush atmospheres and a lyrical w/ such a great flow. This is such a breath of fresh air when compared to their first album.
Eat Static Science of the Gods
For a drifting mind, here's the album to keep it grounded.
Edge of Sanity Crimson
A rather difficult album to listen, considering how lengthy a 1-song album can be... Nonetheless, definitely if broken down (as separate tracks) make an interesting concept album. And w/ lyric sheets handy, this made my listening experience all the better.
Electric Wizard Dopethrone
Maybe the closest experimental album toward a Boris sound w/ more of an entertaining value than their previous efforts if not for some of the excessive lengths on most of these tracks w/ some overbearing repetition. It's pretty good, but still pales when compared to Acid Bath.
Eleven Eleven
Eleven Awake in a Dream
Emma Ruth Rundle Some Heavy Ocean
Wow... Chelsea Wolfe, I think I've found your vocal match. Soft yet brutal vocals and such lush soundscapes that make each track sound better than the last. Have to keep my eye on her works for the future!
Enochian Theory Life… And All It Entails
Brooding symphonic prog rock done RIGHT - wow... This is so much better than some of the prog I've been hearing lately. Now will definitely have to relisten later to objectively critique this album. Wow...
Estradasphere It's Understood
Borderline insanity made sane. Even w/ the bloated first track, which is pretty awesome anyway, this album was an experience unlike anything I've heard from any experimental group. As great Bjork and Radiohead are to the genre of electronica, as well Mr. Bungle for funk, I think I've found an experimental essential to the jazz genre. Take large bowl of jazz, 1 cup of classical, 1 cup of funk, 1/2 cup of metal, 1 tbsp of folk/bluegrass, and sprinkles of electronica & samples. Then... Oh no, I'm getting hungry again!
Eyehategod Take as Needed for Pain
Eyehategod Dopesick
Face Candy This Is Where We Were
This is an album that deserves no less of a rating than in the 4-spectrum. Imagine the idea of recording an entire album in just one take, speaking whatever lyrics come to mind, alongside an improvised instrumental beat, and in front of a LIVE crowd... Yeah, that act is near insane for any recording artist, and this album manages to create such a coherent and intelligent experience for their audience. This is perhaps one of the most coherent, free-form (improvised) hip hop albums I've ever heard.
Failure The Heart Is a Monster
Fair to Midland Inter.Funda.Stifle
One of the few enigmatic albums I've heard. You have a prog rock sound that comes not only w/ variety but is daring for treading in the light waters of varying genres including hard rock, electronica, folk, metal, and psychedelia. This album is also structured into "phases," where each segment of songs begins w/ a prelude track, songs then come next, and future interlude tracks signal the proceeding phase. The vocals are just as unique and distinctive like that of their prior album. Even w/ all the positives that can be said, I still feel this album being a solid 3.5/5 (or a very light 4/5) rating 'cause I know this album can be better. 3/1/16 - After listening to their Arrows & Anchors album, this is now a definitive 4/5 rating for me.
Fair to Midland Fables From a Mayfly: What I Tell You Three Times is True
Slightly more polished than their sophomore effort, but feels like it's missing something. Just can't put my finger on it at the moment...
Faith No More King for a Day... Fool for a Lifetime
Faith No More The Real Thing
Fat Freddy's Drop Based on a True Story
New Zealand is honestly one of the last places I'd expect to find some decent jazz, let alone REGGAE jazz. Bravo good sirs - hope to find other impressive reggae from the 00's decade!
Fiona Apple Tidal
Her singing and piano play make this album worth listening b/c both are done very well, especially w/ her longer tracks. If the indie pop influences, esp in her shorter tracks were toned down from Mrs. Apple's music, I'm sure I'd rate this album much higher. I feel her music may soon rival as one of my new favorite female leads alongside Beth Gibbons (Portishead), Chelsea Wolfe, and Stevie Nicks.
Floater Glyph
Floater Alter
Fredrik Thordendal's Special Defects Sol Niger Within V3.33
Front Line Assembly Millennium
A pretty nice balance of industrial rock and heavy metal. Vocals take a post-punk technique, w/ exception to their Victim of a Criminal (hip-hop oriented delivery) track, that worked very well for this album. The instrumentations & vocals are not as diverse as on their prior album, but FLA still create a very entertaining album.
Front Line Assembly Hard Wired
First half of the album feels a tad boring compared to the second half, but still overall a pretty enjoyable album. By comparison, this is a more interesting 4/5 than Skinny Puppy's *Cleanse, Fold, and Manipulate* album.
Fudge Tunnel Creep Diets
Funkadelic Maggot Brain
Godflesh Streetcleaner
I suppose the majority of this album having a lo-fi approach might be the charming quality of this album that others may be able to appreciate, but it just doesn't really do that much for me. Still, this is an album that has influenced many future industrial artists over the years and that definitely counts for something. Still better than their Songs of Love and Hate album.
Godflesh Pure
Godflesh Selfless
Godsticks Spiral Vendetta
Imagine the melodies of 10 Years decided to incorporate jazz elements into their sound, and you got Godsticks. This is a very solid jazz-rock album, and I hope to find other (and potentially better) albums of this genre.
Gorilla Biscuits Start Today
Gorillaz Demon Days Live [DVD]
Personally enjoyed the clean versions of the tracks played here, but the orchestrations that went into this performance were very admirable to their original content.
Grand Mexican Warlock Hell Sweet Hell
Grip Inc. Power of Inner Strength
Grotus Brown
Hardcore, industrial, and noise rock in just near-perfect harmony. A very raw album if you get the chance to listen to this album. Highly recommended to own this album!
Guano Apes Don't Give Me Names
Now THIS exemplifies how a sophomore album should be - a slight to drastic improvement upon their first. This album learned to make a fair compromise of balancing their shorter, punk-oriented tracks w/ less vocal "shrieking" and gave their longer, artsy tracks the soothing vocals accompanied by their complementary & less aggressive metal (esp. replacing w/ acoustic) sound. A few too many of these tracks are romantic-oriented, but I'm feeling a soft spot for this album. Definitely a nu-metal album worth owning.
Gun Gun
Very surprised at the sound of hard rock from the 60s. A pretty cool gem w/ great instrumentation and vocals. The downside is that one genre can only take you so far. But I suppose for the real historical music enthusiast, you may be very pleased w/ this album. This is an album w/ enough eccentricity that could par on sides w/ nearly any album done by Frank Zappa.
Hallucinogen Twisted
If this album stands as a solid 4/5 rating, I can only imagine what an essential trance album will sound like (when I hear one). I'm glad that I now have a new standard for excellent-rated trance.
Haruka Nakamura Twilight
Second comment of '17! Anyway, some very pleasant ambient, borderline jazz music. Maybe the first track is a bit off, but after that small stumble you've got a pleasant record. As of now, this may be Haruka's best album.
Have a Nice Life Deathconsciousness
Perhaps one of the few ambient albums that I've throughly enjoyed so far, and perhaps that is thanks to all the industrial influences being evoked through this double album.
Hepcat Right On Time
[REGGAE] Perhaps one of the best reggae albums to come out of the 90's, even if being one of the more mellow due to it's highlight rocksteady (slow ska) elements.
Hiatus Kaiyote Choose Your Weapon
Horslips The Book of Invasions: A Celtic Symphony
Hum Downward Is Heavenward
I Mother Earth Scenery & Fish
This record is basically their first album with an instrumental haircut for the (relative) better. The improvisations are more "compressed" and controlled as opposed to their previously raw counterparts heard in the first album.
Idiot Flesh Fancy
Just another weird album here. But REALLY weird in a good way. Enjoy listening!
Igor Stravinsky Le Sacre du Printemps
In the Silence A Fair Dream Gone Mad
Wow... Now first albums (usually) do not sound this momentous w/o some prior background in music (ex: Katatonia). Somehow this album encompassed hard rock instrumentation and created an atmospheric quality w/ the use of prog rock (odd) time signatures. Now I HAVE to listen to Katatonia in the near future! On an unrelated note, if Ceterum were to follow this quality, I think they could've been a 4/5...
Incubus (USA-CA) S.C.I.E.N.C.E.
Incubus (USA-CA) Morning View
Mike Allen and Nick Butler covered all that can be stated about this "improved" Make Yourself album. There's far more consistency in this album which I personally enjoyed that makes this a balanced record with diverse tracks. In short, this is definitely an album worth owning in the near future!
Infected Mushroom Vicious Delicious
Trance is a new field for me, so it may be better to understand the field by listening to a relatively good album first before hearing a couple of terrible ones. Somewhat reminds me of Primal Scream's Screamadelica album for some reason... Although track 2 was rather unnecessary. Will remain at a borderline 4/5 until I can find a better grasp of "essential" trance. (10/23/16) Nope, this is DEFINITELY a 4/5, even w/ the needless second track!
Infected Mushroom Legend Of The Black Shawarma
Acanthus has stated all that can be said about this album. In short, it rules!!
Infectious Organisms Human Experience
This album is just as consistent w/ delivery of creative & invoking lyrics, but I still felt a bit torn on this album's identity... The first half has more of an erotic (r&b) feel while the second half audibly has the "Message of the Streets" feeling. Both sides are great on their own, but I think that's partially due to the track order. If mixed differently, I could see this as another 4.5/5 rated album like their first effort. All in all, this is still a very solid album!
Insolence Audio War
Don't know how this unique band's work has slipped under Sputnik's radar for so long but I am throughly enjoying this album, even w/ all the mixed feeling tracks toward the middle section. I think after their last blunder of an album (Revolution), this band reflected back and came back to their reggae roots by their Stand Strong album. In several tracks, this band incorporated a hardcore audibility that reminds me of Mastodon for some reason. In short, this album comes as their 3-way tie for their best work alongside Terrorists and Poisonous Philosophy. (1/3/17) After Project Konflict, this album has now become the 4th runner up for their best work...
Insolence Project Konflict
Compared to Insolence's other albums, I cannot help but hear how this record appeals as more grandiose by comparison but doesn't sound "that" pretentious. It goes for that instrumental build-up by the first track, a refreshing incorporation of samples, and even added some latent electronica. Maybe Insolence has been listening to some Skindred over the years to try and stay ahead w/in this unique style of music. The only real difference b/w this album and U_N_I_O_N Black [Skindred] is that this album features a stronger metal audibility while UB offers more of an electronica rock. As much as I favor metal overall compared to electronica, I cannot help acknowledging that this album still pales in comparison (by a slim margin).
Iron Claw Dismorphophobia
Jakub Zytecki Wishful Lotus Proof
James Chance and the Contortions Soul Exorcism
Not a perfect jazz record, but this was still incredibly entertaining & catchy! A definite live album I need to add to my collection later on.
Jamiroquai Emergency on Planet Earth
A rather funky jazz album, but still cannot determine how unique this album is for the jazz rock category. Certainly more impressive than The Reign of Kindo's and Godsticks' first albums, at face value, I'm fighting really hard not to have my personal enjoyment cloud my subjectivity of such a fantastic record.
Janelle Monae The ArchAndroid
This is an album w/ a LOT of good ideas, but comes off as so grandiose and diverse that the album feels imbalanced in certain areas, esp during the second third. From the R&B (as the BULK [main genre] of this album) being blended w/ classical/jazz orchestrations, glam rock, and even the trip hop, all have some fine contributions in this album. My main issue w/ the diversity was how choppy some of the blending was delivered in this album. The first and final third of this album came off very soothing, poppy, and eclectic whereas the middle portion just felt "too poppy" and out of place w/ the rest of the album. If anything, the album could've gone the way of Failure's Fantastic Planet and just have all three suites into just one album. Even w/ all this said, it IS a great album but certainly had room for improvement. (12/18/16) As personally indifferent toward my enjoyment of this album, it still deserves recognition as being perhaps as one of the next "new pillars" of R&B in the upcoming decade.
Jayke Orvis and the Broken Band Bless This Mess
Not too much different from the material of The .357 String Band. In short, this is one country album worth hearing!
Jedi Mind Tricks Violent by Design
Jeff Buckley Grace
The potential from this act was phenomenal to say the least. This guy's voice alone was enough to get noticed, and then his near shoegaze guitarplay was great in nearly every track w/ only Lilac Wine feeling the most pretentious... Eternal Life is an example of how good his alternative rock could've been if this guy lived long enough to make a 2nd album. As a musician, this guy made an inspiring album which deserves imo MORE recognition.
Jello Biafra with the Melvins Never Breathe What You Can't See
The punk vocals just suite the sludge metal sound created by the Melvins, and the sound compliments the anti-authoritarian lyrics going for this album. Just as, if not more, entertaining than other Melvins albums I've heard.
Jellyfish Bellybutton
Jellyfish Spilt Milk
Jeru the Damaja The Sun Rises in the East
John Butler Trio Three
Not as lyrically dense as some other jam rock acts, but any listener has to admire the amount of genres blended to enjoy the varied styles of jamming heard on this record. (A jab toward Cage the Elephant) THIS is how you "experiment" your sound!
Karnivool Themata
A nu-metal album that uses well executed post-rock & prog rock instrumentation and a nonabrasive frontman. Compared to a lot of nu-metal I've been listening to recently, I re-evalued this album's rating as a definite in the 4-spectrum.
Killing Joke Night Time
... Okay... A synthpop/new wave album... Was hoping for that industrial sound, but I'll let this one slide... The majority of the album (every song except track 8) has a general beat that's pretty enjoyable which differentiates itself from their prior albums.
Killing Joke Extremities, Dirt & Various Repressed Emotions
Now THIS was the industrial album in their discography I was waiting for!! Now I'm wondering if this album was the inspiration of Cop Choot Cop's first album, or potentially the other way around...
Killing Joke Pandemonium
The next industrial album after their prior (EDAVRE) effort. The industrial in this album is not quite there with other 4/5 efforts I've rated. What keeps this album from standing alongside EDAVRE was how they somewhat regressed back to their post punk roots and began the use of repetition in their songs (again). Lengthening the songs can be a great experience if used for some variation w/ their instruments, but this album featured less variation when compared to their last album. While still VERY enjoyable, this album made a minor error by not using their lengths w/ more creativity.
Killing Joke Killing Joke (2003)
KMFDM Nihil
KRS-One Return Of The Boom Bap
Kubark Ulysses
Kyuss Blues for the Red Sun
Lauryn Hill The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Usually I have an aversion of 'love' songs, but I think romance oriented songs are more forgiving for me when heard from a woman's singing/POV. Other than the endings of most songs going on a tad too long, this is a SOLID hip hop entry.
Lazer Kitty Ruins
Leprous Tall Poppy Syndrome
Leprous Bilateral
Les Baxter Ritual Of The Savage
Aging near 70 YEARS and still pretty impressive. Personally some tracks take a tonal shift either in the middle or closer to the end of most tracks [original 8 songs] where the listener may wish to hear the new direction to only come up on 'oh song's over...' Still an impressive album.
Life of Agony River Runs Red
Lionize Superczar and the Vulture
Perhaps one of the most refreshing variations of stoner rock I've heard in a long time, and that can be credited to their reggae influences in their melodies and instrumentations. Maybe a 4.5/5 is a bloated rating, but I guarantee it's listeners that this album is worth a listen and certainly worthy of a 4/5 rating (or 3.5/5 at a BARE minimum).
Liquid Sound Company Acid Music For Acid People
Live Throwing Copper
This is one of the few 4/5 ratings I have that is borderline 4.5/5 worthy. The band has a bombastic, near-psychedelic sound that only Creed could dream of re-creating w/o sounding too preachy (as a religious band) or repetitive (as a pop rock band). Aside from a few filler tracks (Shit-Towne, Stage, and Horse [Bonus track]), this is one of the most emotional 90s grunge albums to have ever been made.
Lonesome Wyatt and Rachel Brooke A Bitter Harvest
Love Forever Changes
A tad underwhelming for my tastes regarding 1960's rock, but has it's moments that understandably would be regarded as one of the better albums of the decade, esp tracks 3, 5, and 8. A very solid album even w/ my personal indifference to the vocals.
LSD and the Search for God LSD and the Search for God
Lucid Planet Lucid Planet
The wait was well worth it... Ordering from overseas took a bit longer than usual, but let's get back to the album. The instrumentations feature a borderline tribal(?) and atmospheric sound in this stoner-prog album. The vocals for example take the effort of imitating a delivery as that of a shaman, making the album feel all the more culturally diverse than most stoner rock albums I've personally heard. The one downside I have w/ this album is how I could imagine this act or "sound" perhaps being done in the prior decade... Until I've found other such an albums as those, I rate this (as of yet) in the spectrum of an "unique sound" (4 or above).
Ludwig van Beethoven "Pastoral" Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68
Machine Head Burn My Eyes
Madlib Shades of Blue
Mahavishnu Orchestra Birds of Fire
Marilyn Manson Antichrist Superstar
How this album does not have a higher average rating than NIN's The Downward Spiral is beyond me...
Massive Attack Mezzanine
Massive Attack Blue Lines
Mastodon Blood Mountain
If Clutch focused on progressive metal, that's a rough generalization of this album. It's heavy, but actually takes it's time as opposed to it's former records where they just crammed in as many riffs into a short song structure as they could. By the 3rd track, this album became THOROUGHLY good.
Mastodon Crack the Skye
Only by the first track and I think I've found my favorite Mastodon album. A breakaway from their sludge metal roots, but from letting go to venture into progressive territory is taking them to new heights in metal.
Mastodon Emperor of Sand
Aside form track 2, this is a pretty solid record. Especially the second half of this album - wow! Still, this ranks as my 3rd favorite Mastodon record as of now.
Mazzy Star So Tonight That I Might See
Mazzy Star Among My Swan
Meat Puppets Up on the Sun
Meat Puppets Meat Puppets II
Melvins Gluey Porch Treatments
Melvins Houdini
Melvins Lysol
Melvins Bullhead
Mercyful Fate Melissa
Meshuggah Destroy Erase Improve
Metallica ...And Justice for All
MF DOOM Operation: Doomsday
Milk Cult Burn or Bury
Perhaps one of the more "mellow" noise rock albums that actually sound pretty good (even w/ the "lack" of vocals). The downside to this album though is how the record audibly fizzes out by the final two tracks, but still manages to sound better than Praxis' Transmutation album. Credits all go to the instrumentals in this album!
mind.in.a.box Lost Alone
Only my 3rd album into trance and I think I'm getting an understanding of "essential" trance. This album, however, manages to defect partially from that contextual standard and create an identity that slightly differs from the mere lengthy, dance-oriented structure by incorporating thought-provoking lyrics into the majority of their songs w/ lengths that, at times, are shorter than 5-minutes . I'm surprised how this band's discography is not more popular in the industrial circles on this site.
Moloko Statues
Hooray! Aside from my personal (audible) stumbles of tracks 1 and 3, I found an electronica album that manages to sound solid from beginning to end.
Morcheeba Big Calm
This album is much more layered, both instrumentally AND lyrically when compared to their prior (first) album - wow!
Morphine The Night
A great posthumous album that revealed how this band dabbled in songs of slower tempo making them feel all the more enveloping to the ears. Another solid album from the great band known as Morphine!
Mother Tongue Mother Tongue
Mother's Cake Creation's Finest
Motherhead Bug Zambodia
The experimentation on this album is relatively tame, but the art rock layout, orchestra composing, and industrial vocals make this album all kinds of interesting. Paddock of Love [YouTube account], thank you to revealing such great albums tonight!
Mudvayne L.D. 50
(9/12/15) Perhaps one of the few nu-metal albums that you'll find w/ interesting progressive metal qualities. It has hardcore vocals w/ occasional soft vocal delivery w/ killer instrumentations. This record will forever serve as a pinnacle amongst nu-metal albums and can even stack alongside some decent progressive metal albums.
My Bloody Valentine Isn't Anything
Myrath Tales of the Sands
Nas Illmatic
As good as the beats are w/in this album, some of the lyrics w/in the first half of the album have stanzas that focus on "boasting" the artist's image. If there's one thing that I personally cannot enjoy in hip hop albums are lyrics that focus on the artist's features & materialism rather than The Message of the Street. While the first half has this problem, the second half (after Halftime) cranks that problem down a few notches and gets pretty good. Best tracks: Life's A Bitch, Memory Lane, Represent, It Ain't Too Hard to Tell. 7/27/16 - After listening to a few more HH albums, this album has aged VERY WELL by comparison. Still not as good as Liquid Swords or Dynospectrum, but comes pretty close.
Ne Obliviscaris Portal of I
This is no Opeth or Cynic but WOW... Just wow... A prog record w/ lengthy tracks, but each track manages to change sections just long enough to keep the listener wanting for the next section. The drumming is spectacular, the guitar work (when given its time) is thoroughly good, great use of violin (classical instruments often lead to good things), and the vocals actually make an effort to sing clearly to that of Dream Theater. I'd say the one flaw w/ this album was the lack of clear vocals. When present they are actually great to hear (even when shared alongside the growling vocals), but the leads remain silent for roughly one third compared to the two thirds of instrumentals. Was hoping for some really great lyrics...
Neurosis Through Silver in Blood
Neurosis A Sun That Never Sets
While certainly different from Through Silver In Blood's industrial counterpart, this album offers a folk identity to their discography, which I'm sure not many metal acts could pull off. This album offers it's heavier instrumentations sparingly yet offers lyricisms that in some regard are better than their prior records. Also, a pretty sick album cover!
Neutral Milk Hotel In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
Nick Drake Pink Moon
Nick Drake Bryter Layter
Nightmares On Wax Smoker's Delight
A bit too chill for a trip-hop album imo but still an awesome listen esp considering how each track has their own unique identity.
Nine Inch Nails The Downward Spiral
One of the few indifferent 4/5 rated albums I've heard so far. Being from the 90's, this is an industrial album that had to compete amongst the likes of Depeche Mode's Violator (very late 80's [recording-wise] gothic electronica), Skinny Puppy's Too Dark Park (much bleaker industrial electronica [imo]), Front Line Assembly's Tactical Neural Implant (industrial electronica w/ hints of punk), and Marilyn Manson's Antichrist Superstar (industrial-laced hard rock). The uniqueness of this album's identity lies in how Reznor made a great deal of adding more distortion w/in his electronica than they previously had in their first album, creating a heavily brash sound. Where the vocals are not really impressive, the album's improvements can be heard sonically and lyrically. The production & track mixing near embody that nihilistic, gritty quality that is essential to any industrial album following the late 90's. Personally not my favorite industrial album but can certainly understand why this album is considered an industrial staple in most circles....
NOFX Punk in Drublic
Nothingface Violence
Pretty much the better version of Five Pointe O's Untitled album.
Nujabes Hydeout Productions 2nd Collection
Nujabes Modal Soul
Nujabes Hydeout Productions 1st Collection
Nujabes Modal Soul Classics
Oh man, this album is so much better than Black Foliage. The instrumentals just have so much ambience and feels much more carefree... Although the intro (first 2-2.5 minutes) of Children was pretty annoying (my only real complaint). Okay now, Ficus, THIS is how you make a compilation album of tracks inspired by Nujabes' music!
Nujabes Sweet Sticky Thing
More of an R&B sound emitting from this mixtape. The transitions from song to song are a mixed bag when compared to Nujabes' Cuisine Ristorante mixtape. Some pairings work really well while there're some that sound more abrupt upon first hearing (and later repetitive hearings). Still a great preview of the future Nujabes' catalogue to come. Check out archive dot org (in the tracklist) for the album!
One Be Lo S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M.
Operation Ivy Energy
Pantera Vulgar Display of Power
If there was more track diversity in this album, I would feel more inclined to grade this album higher than Metallica's Justice For All album. This album collectively is much more brutal, but again there really isn't that much differentiation w/ these songs. There are a few that really stand out, but still not enough to consider this anywhere near a classic rating.
Parabelle A Summit Borderline/A Drop Oceanic
FINALLY, Evans Blue made an album able to reach the 4-spectrum! The second disc has more "eh" songs than the first, but both collectively build up a melodic hard rock that clearly stands out when compared to other [hard rock] albums. It resonates as a harder variation of the Transatlanticism [Death Cab For Cutie] album.
Patsy Cline Showcase
I was introduced to her pretty early in my life but never took the time to listen to this entire record in full. I can certainly hear how she has certainly had a historical influence for future country singers. The one hold-up I have is that her backup band, however talented as their members are, I cannot help but hear their backing vocals did not really add much value to the album's tracks. Aside from that, this is still a fantastic record!
Pist.on Number One
Plini Handmade Cities
A very solid instrumental prog rock album. There's enough complexity here to keep me entertained when normally I'd lose some interest.
Porter Robinson Nurture
Probably the most schizo electronica album I've heard since Sweet Trip's Velocity : Design : Comfort. Def worth a listen.
Portishead Portishead
Pregnant Whale Pain Pregnant Whale Pain
Primal Scream Screamadelica
What, what the hell did I just listen to? This record is AWESOME!!
Primus Frizzle Fry
If there is any validity to Mr. Cobain's view of how a song's music is the primary focus while lyrics come as secondary, this is an album that certainly supports his premise. Where the instrumentations are funky & quirky, the lyrics heard are just as if not weirder than their audible accompaniment. Definitely an album worth hearing if you are a System of a Down or Faith No More fan!
Primus Sailing the Seas of Cheese
For those that want instrumental brutality alongside humorous lyricisms, then this is the album for you. Another staple for any upcoming Primus fan out there!
Protest the Hero Kezia
Brilliant instrumentation but certainly not the most differing vocals that you may have heard. The vocals consist of half pop-punk, 1/4 hardcore, and the rest in the heavy metal spectrum. A very entertaining & thriving album for the metalcore genre, but was kinda expecting something a little darker.
Protoje Ancient Future
[REGGAE] First half is a mixed bag imo, but the second half (6-11) slaps SO hard. Think I found my favorite reggae album of the 2010's. My highlights include tracks 1, 6, 7, 8, 10, and 11.
Psychedelic Porn Crumpets High Visceral Pt. 2
I'm feeling conflicted... Compared to the first record, this album IS more balanced w/ more audible lyrics (my two grievances w/ their first attempt) at the cost of trimming down their longest tracks (a plus from their first effort). Right off the bat (assuming these were to immediately compliment off their first LP's last song) two heavy hitters sound off to then have a third song that quell down the listener, and that general pattern follows through the rest of the album. Both parts together sound very impressive, but I think Part II comes out as the more polished of the two.
Psychic TV A Pagan Day
... Alright PTV, at least you made a pretty decent neofolk album w/ hints of industrial influences alongside your experimental touches, and that's at least pretty good. This album's sound is a bit better than Dreams Less Sweet in terms of creativity (and personal enjoyment). Not one of the stronger 4/5 industrial albums I've rated, but at least this album serves as the pinnacle of their 80's material. But seriously, WHERE'S THE REAL INDUSTRIAL!?
Psychotic Waltz A Social Grace
Pyotr Tchaikovsky The Nutcracker, Op. 71
Queens of the Stone Age Songs for the Deaf
Queens of the Stone Age Lullabies to Paralyze
This album tops their Songs of the Deaf album by a small margin. In this album, we have vocals (esp the lead) taking the effort to venture into some extreme pitches and tempos that're more impressive in comparison to their near-monotone first album.
Radiohead The Bends
Raekwon Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt II
Raekwon Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...
Rage Against the Machine Bombs Over Brixton '96 / Fear Is Your Only God
Rancid ...And Out Come the Wolves
Rat King The Plague of Hamelin
One of the better experimental industrial albums I've heard since Chrome. A mostly instrumental industrial rock album w/ an eerie feel, and lightly layered w/ some creepy samples. Definitely an industrial album that's not for everyone. I'm sure music veterans would more likely appreciate this album. Even as a 4-spectrum rating, this doesn't sound like an album w/ high repetitive value (for me).
Rat King Larva
Basically the first album's music condensed w/ no concept behind it. However, this album does not need any add ons to make this album brutally eerie. If anything, this music is the audible experience of The VVitch (a pretty authentically eerie movie).
Raunchy Vices.Virtues.Visions.
Just the near perfect blend of metalcore, electronica, and heavy metal all rolled into one symphonic experience. Thank you Dillinger Escape Plan!
Ravi Shankar Pandit Ravi Shankar/Ustad Ahmedjan Thirakhwa
Red Harvest Sick Transit Gloria Mundi
I'll give it that this band knows how to blend some of the harsher elements of metal (sludge and death metal really) and blend them all into a pretty distorted yet balanced industrial album. Brilliant job, Red Harvest, bravo!
Red Hot Chili Peppers Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Aside from a few of the radio singles that I found slightly annoying, this is a pretty solid album that deserves all the recognition & praise.
Rinkadink Rabbit From Darkside
Not as "groovy" as Dark Soho's Combustion album, but still an awesome listen. Perhaps the most left-field trance album I've heard, but I'm enjoying every second of this record!
Rishloo Feathergun
Probably one of the few albums that inspired me to look for music outside of my comfort zone. The album artwork looked so strange as I began listening to "similar bands like Tool" (via Reddit) and I stumbled this album. I really could not hear the similarities, which came as a good thing: I finally found ANOTHER BAND that could actually play. Their psychedelia is unlike any I have heard of before in my few years of adapting to prog music. Another great quality is the singing! The vocals on the front man are amazing - I dare say he might be the male equivalent to Bjork (for prog rock music).
Rx Bandits The Resignation
Rx Bandits ...And the Battle Begun
Ryo Fukui Scenery
Out of the choices of jazz instruments, piano doesn't rank that high for me personally. However, the precision of this man's piano-work alongside the other members' musicianship left unmentioned here make for a very entertaining hard bop (lively jazz) album.
Sade Promise
No denying the soul throughout this album and a significant improvement from their first effort. I admit difficulty in rating this in the context of r&b as this album attempts to go beyond repetitive instrumentals and lyrics, the usual staples that annoy me to no end. The lyrics are far more narrative oriented than a series of 'catchy' sing-along stanzas. There're more breaks where the band begins taking stage giving the vocals time to take a backseat and become more appreciated when they're reintroduced. Def an album worth hearing even with the occasional filler tracks.
Salmonella Dub Killervision
Some lyrical repetitions can be forgiven in this reggae album since (finally) they're outside of the romantic spheres w/in a poppy musical landscape. Here you have a different reggae record w/ strong electronica influences that border along a trance quality that create a pretty chilled album, even amongst their more audibly aggressive moments.
Send No Flowers Juice
Shiina Ringo Kalk Samen Kuri no Hana
I have no idea what this lady is singing in her songs, but I kinda like it... Audibly this album reminds me of Bjork if the vocals were just as jarring as the instrumentations & sound-boarding.
Sigur Ros Agætis byrjun
Sinch Clearing the Channel
Sinew The Beauty of Contrast
Skindred Union Black
... Wow, of all combinations of music, none will perhaps surprise me more than the combination of (nu-)metal and reggae. This is perhaps one of the most unique genre blends of the 00's decade! This album has managed to simultaneously resound as one of better records of the nu-metal genre and sound off as one of the most unique acts this decade. Now wondering about the prior decade's ragga metal act: Insolence.
Skinny Puppy Last Rights
Trying to get back into an industrial feel, but this is an album that shows only few industrial albums can come close to wearing the (truly) nihilistic outfit of the genre. The downside is that by Lust Chance the album starts becoming less "terrifying" to the ear. Still a very solid industrial album!
Sleep Sleep's Holy Mountain
Social Distortion Mommy's Little Monster
Social Distortion Prison Bound
Soilent Green Sewn Mouth Secrets
Sol Invictus Lex Talionis
Surprised how heavy of a sound can be found in album entries of the late 80's, and many much better than that of Pretty Hate Machine. The music makes an effort to suffocate it's listener with a very ominous tone while the vocals take more or less a "reading of the passage" singing style w/ a rhythm. In short, the instrumentations are the strong side to this album in comparison to the singing. But were you really expecting anything else? A very nice segue to get interested in (darker) neofolk if you're coming off a heaviness from industrial rock and potentially sludge metal.
Soundtrack (Disney) Beauty and the Beast
I'll be frank here in admitting that I love this movie, but the one thing that I actually disliked in most Disney musical animations were the music numbers. Maybe I'm just ignorant but I can barely stand musicals, yet I can stomach all of the ones from this movie. For some reason, I think the director found a great compromise to have the songs carry on the story w/o making them sound neither overbearing nor intrusive (as filler).
Soundtrack (Film) Pulp Fiction
For me it's not often enough to have a superb movie have such an excellent accompanying soundtrack to boot. All the songs and segments hold up on their own, but I still cannot describe the obvious bias I would be setting to rate this any higher than a 4/5.
Spastic Ink Ink Complete
Still not the biggest fan of instrumental albums, but the technicality alone deserves praise & worthy of AT LEAST a 4/5 rating.
Spirit Caravan Jug Fulla Sun
Stained Glass Crazy Horse Roads
Stephen Lynch Superhero
Stevie Nicks Bella Donna
Stiu Nu Stiu Ultra Silvam
One of the better shoegaze albums you can find on Bandcamp. Seriously, this site is much worth more sampling than listening to radio.
Stone Temple Pilots Core
Even after all these years, this album still packs all the punch as it had in the 90's w/ all the other big bands of the grunge decade (Nirvana, Alice In Chains, Soundgarden, Smashing Pumpkins, Blind Melon, Bush, etc.). Will admit to only being a fan of a few of this album's songs before but after diving into this genre even further I've began to develop this compass for appreciating the better acts of the 90's. Such a great decade! Man this has been a tragic beginning for music this year. So many people are dropping. David Bowie, Lemmy (technically in Dec '15), and now Scott Weiland.
Strapping Young Lad City
Sublime Sublime
Another amazing album from Sublime, and did their send-off in such a spectacular fashion of musical variety!
Submotion Orchestra Finest Hour
[DOWNTEMPO] The pleasant variety that is trip-hop album offers for its listeners is very refreshing and each track manages to have its own identity amongst each other (YES). The strength of this album is more reliant on its instrumentals rather than the vocalist, however the main vocalist is more appealing than some former jazz infused acts such as Jamiroquai. A definitive album for any interested in electronica!
Suffocation Effigy of the Forgotten
Swans Filth
Only their first album, and enjoy what I'm hearing. Lyrics came a little short-handed, but the sound of this band has the industrial quality that NIN could only dream of. I'm excited how much better their other albums can be. 2/26/16 - Coming back to hear this as one of the few albums I would consider a borderline 3.5/4 rating due to how (historically) impacting this album has become. The faults remain the same, but this was considerably a stepping stone for future industrial-genre artists.
Swans The Great Annihilator
Anything about this album really has already been addressed by Adash and Nixon. Just the near perfect folk w/ a heavy helping of industrial ambiance that's much more balanced than Children of God. That lack of exploring their extreme sonic boundaries, however, are what keep this album from being rated higher than their COG and Eternity albums. It's just as, if not more, accessible to this band's music than their Filth album, but both are equally enjoyable in my ears.
Sweet Trip Velocity : Design : Comfort
This is a rare 4/5 rating that borderlines the 4.5/5 scale. Reason being how this is an electronica album that ventures into so many genres (industrial, psychedelia, shoegaze, and dubstep, for example). However strange for all these sounds to be heard in one album, the end result made a concoction (new to me) known as glitch (industrial/dubstep heavy). Considering how indifferent I am to the dubstep of Skrillex, being "anything but music," I initially thought I'd give this album a cynical 1/5. Then I listened, and was blown away... Beyond the "scratching," this album has a very soothing sound compared to most dubstep I've cared to hear. Thank you Sweet Trip, you've helped me gain an interest in dubstep!!
System of a Down System of a Down
System of a Down Toxicity
System of a Down Mezmerize
TAD Salt Lick
Taiwan MC Cool & Deadly
A very popping reggae album, and I'm not complaining.
Taiwan MC Heavy This Year
Outside of the intro of the FINAL track, this is an AMAZING start!
Tame Impala Lonerism
This album introduces a tad more electronica w/in this album thanks to the obvious synths used in nearly every track. A very enjoyable album. Nonetheless, I think I'm starting to see a pattern amongst the albums. Assuming Innerspeaker was an album w/ a 60s/70s sound, and Lonerism seems to have taken some electronic elements familiar in the 80s, I bet their next album will incorporate some rock elements that were apparent in the 90s. Crossing my fingers that this band will tackle the grunge sound w/ their psychedelia.
Tame Impala Innerspeaker
With even my limited reference for 60s-70s psychedelia music, I can with no regrets say that this band knows how to recreate such an environment that makes me feel I am hearing music from those very decades. If I was not given any info regarding the release dates of this album, I'm sure I couldn't tell what decade of psychedelia I would be listening. As steady as the vocals are, they don't really venture too far, but the instrumentations create a psychedelia sound that could be comparable to The Beatles or the various works of Eric Clapton. This album may not be attempting at anything groundbreaking, yet this is still a very solid first album for this band. I tip my (metaphorical) hat to you, Tame Impala.
Thank You Scientist Maps of Non-Existent Places
Will admit I am not so much a fan of the "typical" post-hardcore genre due to certain stereotypical devices (screamo singing) found w/in this form of music. This album, however, proved to go slightly beyond the standard by having toned those stereotypes down and incorporated a jazz element that I found refreshing, especially in the tracks where the vocalist decided to remain silent. Where the lead can certainly sing much better than I, he just happens to not sound all too impressive (range-wise) nor distinctive. The instrumentals make up for that one deficiency and give an enjoyable album. And in my subjective opinion, I find this album much more entertaining than Thrice's Vheissu.
The .357 String Band Ghost Town
The Afghan Whigs Gentlemen
Perhaps not the greatest grunge album but certainly a very strong contender. It manages to take the better parts of their previous two albums, the soulful lyrical & improved production quality, and cranked them up to either 8 or 9. In short, for any grunge enthusiast this is a record worth owning!
The Beach Boys Smiley Smile
The Butterfly Effect Final Conversation of Kings
(9/12/15) Hydroxybenzo stated all needed to be said about this album. This album is near progressive rock essence: blissfully flowing hard rock that doesn't fair as too abrasive to be off-putting nor too soft/pandering to be pushed aside. THIS is their magnum opus as of yet and hoped to hear more from them in the future, until I read about their most recent disbandment in August '16... At least this band went out w/ one hell of an album!
The Cat Empire The Cat Empire
The Chronicles of Israfel Starborn, Tome I
Semi-instrumental? ... Okay, an area of prog rock I'm not familiar w/ so I listened... First 3 tracks were "mostly" instrumental and then the singing came along. This album just kept getting better w/ every track. And sure, the original concept of this album is based around a story by Dominic Cifarelli but this is a great re-imaging to a work. The experience I suppose would be similar to having seen a great movie and then wanting to read the inspirations or original source material (or vice-versa, no judging). This was a thoroughly great album to hear, and I will go through great efforts to obtain a physical copy of this album one day!!
The Cooper Temple Clause See This Through And Leave
A post-grunge band w/ a great blend of electronica (borderline psychedelia [space rock feel]) and atypical post-hardcore influences. Glad to have uncovered this gem!! **Original post was in Sept '15.
The Dillinger Escape Plan Calculating Infinity
Still not a fan of screamo (or the lyrics, mainly b/c I cannot even coherently understand them) but the instrumentations are insane in this album. One of the few variations of hardcore (or borderline grind) that ought to be heard. Although I still think Naked City's self-titled album offers a more pleasant experience.
The Dubliners The Dubliners With Luke Kelly
The God Machine Scenes from the Second Storey
The God Machine One Last Laugh in a Place of Dying...
The Insect Trust The Insect Trust
The Insect Trust Hoboken Saturday Night
The Jesus and Mary Chain Psychocandy
The Jesus Lizard Head
Thank you, noise rock! Because of your subgenre, I've finally come across the music that led the way to have crafted some of the hard rock variations we've heard in the 00's decade and the next. Helmet is perhaps the only band that can come close to this band's contributions. Kinda cool how Quicksand's sound adapted some notes from this album's Tight'N Shiny track (reminds me of Quicksand's Fazer, especially those higher chords).
The Reign of Kindo Rhythm, Chord & Melody
Track 2 felt out of place and should've been set as the final track on this album. Not a big fan of track 5, but the other 10 tracks were very impressive for a jazz rock album. Yet to be determined if this is worth of that near-4.5/5 average rating. Need to listen to some more "jazz rock" before I can ultimately discern this album...
The Seatbelts Blue
A few years later and I'm still wondering how a tracklist, songs in a specific order, can either enhance or hinder the listening experience of an album... There are really good tracks in this album albeit the existing order makes the listening feel so bewildering than from their first record, esp when opening up w/ such a momentous & depressing track at the very beginning, as opposed to easing the listener w/ a bombastic opener (as in their first). It's not my opening tastes (as one example of the few personal grievances), but still an awesome listen.
The Sisters of Mercy First and Last and Always
A post punk instrumentation that's more affiliated w/ new wave (groovy, pop, disco) but still maintains to not focus its sound w/in the electronica spectrum like that of Depeche Mode. The vocals are even familiar to that of Martin Gore (Depeche Mode) if he had a deeper voice. Basically imagine if stereotypical Dracula-sounding fronted a pretty great goth rock band. A pretty entertaining album and another great representation of 80's music.
The Skints Live, Breathe, Build, Believe
NOTE: this is a SKA album w/ a few reggae accessories. Still a very lively album worth checking out.
The Sound of Animals Fighting We Must Become the Change We Want to See
If you have a chance to find the DVD, seize the opportunity and buy it! A live album of this caliber does not reveal itself all too often w/ an energy to make you feel how intense this band is w/ their instrumentations, the endurance these leads have to sing for this genre (mentioning even my dislike for screamo), and the visuals are always so engaging. The crowd, the changing artwork shot from the background, and the band... Surprised how I've yet to rate this album higher, but this is still a very solid performance!
The Sound of Animals Fighting The Ocean and the Sun
The Tea Party Transmission
If there is a group that could near-perfectly blend Middle Eastern sounds and industrial music, this is one of the few (if not the only) album that could attempt such a feat and just nail it so hard! So great to hear another industrial album since the last one. (12/3/16) As of now this album ranks slightly higher than their Edges of Twilight album. For those interested in this type of audible mixture, check out Grotus' Slow Motion Apocalypse.
The Tiger Lillies Births, Marriages and Deaths
... Wow... My first entry into dark cabaret, and thinking I might be in for a wild ride by the first track. Not a bad listen, but the vocals take a while to adjust getting used to - this is probably the highest pitched male vocalist that can ACTUALLY sing. The lyrics are perhaps the most highlighted feature about this album - as if my kin toward dark humor has been finally matched!
The Tiger Lillies The Brothel to the Cemetery
This album is not as lyrically dense as their first record, but the continuation of that particular vocal & instrumental delivery from the same record is still great to hear. Tracks 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, and 16 serve as my personal highlights here!
The Tiger Lillies Shockheaded Peter
An actually humorous accompaniment to the Strewwelpeter children's book (as far as children's books came to pass).
The Velvet Underground Loaded
Third World 96 Degrees In The Shade
First reggae album I heard w/ guitar improvisations in some of the tracks (nawce)!
Thrice Vheissu
Titanic Eagle Rock
Toad (CHE) Toad
Tool Undertow
Toots and The Maytals Slatyam Stoot [Vinyl]
The early (condensed) versions of some of their songs that went on toward future records, such as Funky Kingston, and a variety of other songs as well. The track order is a bit jarring but there are plenty of excellent worthy songs here. Tracks 1-3 are SOOOO GOOD! 4 is okay, 5 ('72 version) is a bit short, and 6 thru the end is a near 4.5/5 experience. WHY CAN'T THIS RECORD BE RE-ISSUED TO CD!?
Toots and The Maytals Pass The Pipe
Dude... The rhythms are so relaxed and the vocals sound off so naturally, as if the members are not even trying to sing w/ actual effort. It's almost difficult to officially pin down this record as brilliantly lazy or lazily brilliant. Outside of track 7 (the only exception), every track just sounds velvety soft to the ears. For anyone looking for a new reggae staple, THIS is an album you definitely should consider adding!
Truckfighters Gravity X
Truly Fast Stories... from Kid Coma
Typical Cats Typical Cats
The hip hop in this album is congruent or balanced much more than compared to Digible Planet's first album. Another impressive feature was the amount of lyrical content on here was very layered like that of Jedi Mind Tricks, but nowhere near as intimidating. If not for that track toward the end (track 12 or 13) being given no instrumentals to compliment the beginning section of that track mentioned, I'd be more comfortable giving this album a 4.5/5 rating.
Unjust Glow
Uyama Hiroto A Son of the Sun
Vampire Rodents Lullaby Land
Perhaps one of the more interesting industrial albums since Grotus' Slow Motion Apocalypse album. The big differences noticed in this album were where the Vampire Rodents reveal as a noise rock outfit w/ schizoid appearances of various classical music alongside post punk vocals; while Grotus featured an industrial rock w/ ethic/exotic instrumentations that're usually unheard of in most industrial rock albums heard alongside a hardcore vocal delivery. This record is often unsettling yet oddly comforting (for those into industrial). Definitely worth listening if you have the chance!!
Ved Buens Ende Written In Waters
Viktor Vaughn Vaudeville Villain
Ween Chocolate and Cheese
Pretty good experimentation in this album but the album starts spiraling downward after track 7. Personally, if 8, 13, and 14 were not included, this would make for a killer 4/5-spectrum album. To compromise though, the rest of the album make up for those 3 tracks mentioned. Only speculating that Ween abandoned the "long song" attempts (6+ mins tracks) since this is the 2nd to last album to feature these tracks.
Ween The Mollusk
White Zombie Astro Creep: 2000
The near epitome of groove metal, a combination of heavy metal w/ hints of psychedelia. Since we're dealing w/ this WZ album, there is latent industrial. Point being, this album knows how to actually give it's listeners VARIETY in an album. Like their prior album, we're given a B-rated horror movie treatment for the lyrics, samples to "intensify" their album (in the campy way), and the heavy metal varies off into several territories (ex: thrash, speed, sludge, etc.). This album (again) is not perfect, but this album does not attempt to please everyone. And THAT earns my respect.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Die Zauberflote, 'The Magic Flute', K. 620
X Japan Vanishing Vision
I can't understand one damn word on this album, but the instrumentations well make up for my ignorant loss in translation!

3.5 great
.hinge Something To Adore
Only a tad better than their more recognized sophomore effort.
.hinge The Rise & Fall Of Living Great
10 Years The Autumn Effect
(9/12/15) First heard this album, then upon a few more listens came to an epiphany. There ARE some good songs on hear, but they are definitely scattered all throughout this album. In here you have a mid-00's nu-metal album w/ scattered post rock sequences that work surprisingly well, especially toward the final third of the album. In an attempt to better enhance my experience, hoped to tackle this album's track order. The following doesn't sound half bad: 14 (Slowly Falling Awake) / 10 / 7 / 4 / 1 / 15 (Pacemaker - optional) / 5 / 6 / 8 / 2 / 9 / 3 / 11 / 12 / 13. (5/4/17) This may be 10 Years' best work as of yet, but still comes short of a solid 4/5 rating...
10 Years Minus the Machine
10 Years begins diving into some prog rock territory, assuming that tracks 3-4 and 5-6 synchronize pretty well (so exciting). Some of the transitions sound a bit off. One can hear their improvements made in their next album (Birth to Burial).
10 Years Division
Quite refreshing after coming off from listening to some slightly disappointing Hurt albums. The main difference b/w these two is while Hurt made the effort to use different instruments from the average hard rock outfit, the lead vocalist (sadly) didn't possess a wide-ranged voice nor less intrusive accompanied music. The limited lyrical genres didn't help them either... Now, 10 Years has several "sappy" songs on this album as well. The difference, however, was how 10 Years made an attempt to diversify each song's identity w/ a different soundscape. Up until Hurt's Goodbye to the Machine album, the majority of their albums sound too similar. 10 Years on this album used their vocal and instrumental harmonies into more of a shoegaze-esque album. Certainly not a unique album, but an enjoyable album nonetheless.
16 Drop Out
As popular as Clutch is on this site, I'm a bit surprised how this band, or at least this album, doesn't have as much recognition. Not as instrumentally complex as Mastodon (any album before Blood Mountain) but slightly better than Clutch (self-titled, but not Elephant Riders). I suppose this album is the fine line in between them... Sniper serves as my highlighted track.
21 Eyes of Ruby Conquer the World Part IV
Everything after the "Days of November" track (3) show the 4/5 potential for this band if they decided to mend their romantic lyrics.
3 (USA) Summercamp Nightmare
3 (USA) Paint By Number
311 Grassroots
The instrumentals are def hitting those alt rock vibes, good vocal delivery is there, but the instrumentals in my ears have a lower production quality. The reggae influences I think are muddled until you reach track 7 (Taiyad), and even then they're very faint. I think I'm a tad harsher from expectations of wanting to hear more reggae influences from 'like Sublime' recs. Odd enough the album's second half gives me a lot of System of A Down lyrical vibes.
311 311
Production value is DEF better from their prior two albums. Even got a few singles worth spinning again. I'm convinced this is aesthetically their first album w/ a higher budget, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
311 Transistor
Has a slow start but gets thoroughly good by the 14'' mark. Not as lyrically dense, but as w/ their Music album, this album I think is their Grassroots album w/ a higher production backing. Maybe a tad bloated due to the sampling elements as well, but this is my personal favorite 311 album. Def will be revisiting this album in the future.
4 Non Blondes Bigger, Better, Faster, More!
Extremely spirited 70's revival music for the already impressive 90's decade. For any fans of Blind Melon or generally classic rock w/ a kick, THIS is the album for you. More surprisingly, I don't understand how the average rating for this album is below 3.5/5 - this is at least a borderline 4/5 album right here!
A Perfect Circle Thirteenth Step
a-ha Hunting High and Low
Perhaps not the most "innovative" new wave electronica album, but still serves as an impressive innovation in electronica music w/ the mainstreamed use of synthesizers in the 80's. Take On Me is still as brilliant of a track as ever, and the rest of the album isn't half bad either. Again, not a classic but still very enjoyable. MEME SONG FOUND HERE!
Aaliyah Aaliyah
'Dust yourself off and try again' - I think I found the fem equivalent to Seal.
Acroma Orbitals
This album's sound parallels to a blend of TRUSTCompany's first album w/ Live's Throwing Copper album, a lively sound w/ occasional vocal harmonies and extremes in terms of singing & instrumentals. There are a few songs that come off as filler for the album (generic songs) while there are some tracks on here that are definitely worth hearing (ex: 2, 5, 6, 10, and 13). For a hard-alt rock band, this is one of those "one album wonders" that everyone ought to hear.
Akua Naru The Journey Aflame
Personally not a fan of the singer's vocals but her instrumentals & lyrical density per track are KILLER! Run Away is my favorite track.
Alchemist Spiritech
Alien Sex Fiend Acid Bath
I'm only going off on this album w/ the post-punk experiences I've come to hear from Killing Joke. The instrumentations are eerie enough but come off as a bit too repetitive to rate this a unique album. Even so the album is more desirable than Killing Joke's first album. Track 6 comes off as this album's best track.
Alton Ellis Sings Rock And Soul
Damn, even low budget produced music in the 60's can sound great. Some of the lyrics are a tad repetitive but there're def some tracks worth revisiting esp track 14.
Alton Ellis Sunday Coming
Enjoying the pipes and instrumentals a tad more than the first album. The Winner (Extended) outwore its welcome after a while, so find the original version instead.
Amaseffer Slaves for Life
The samples and track lengths feel a tad burdening throughout the album, but still an impressive album nonetheless. Personally not one of the most appealing 3.5/5 albums I rated, but I imagine there are those that'll appreciate the samples more than I would. Hope this band will get around to releasing their 2nd album in the near future...
Amerigo Gazaway Yasiin Gaye: The Departure (Side One)
I think what makes rating Gazaway albums a tad more difficult to judge is in HOW the music of two artists are blended. They're a weave of hiphop and a second genre (soul or motown usually) that also include samples from varying interviews about the artists mentioned, elaboration about the mixing process (rarely self-serving), and live session snippets. The accumulation of these samples form each album into a type of audible mockumentary about the music itself, where the albums' tracks can vary from being interesting bangers w/ complementary add-ons to the occasional song blended w/ sample bits that alter the tune's impact for worse. Collectively though, I think these albums create a unique POV w/ these fantasy mashups of younger & older artists, which I think latently aids w/ packaging older musicians for younger audiences, than the traditional mixes of layering one artist's vocals over another artist's instrumentals. This imo is one of the better blends of the Gazaway catalogue.
Amerigo Gazaway The Notorious J.B.'s: The B.I.G. Payback
[REMIX] Might be even better than Yasiin Gaye The Departure.
Angry Johnny and the Killbillies Hankenstein
Animal Collective Merriweather Post Pavilion
Arcane Chronicles of the Waking Dream
Arcane Known/Learned
Another Aussie act that doesn't disappoint, esp on this album. The vocals are near superb for anyone interested in vocals as that of Rishloo or Transience. The instrumental work though reminds me of the hard rock variation that occasionally alternates their time signatures w/ dashes of improv. It works for this album but certainly not in the realm of being the next imitated act in the music realm. A VERY high 3.5/5 rating but comes very short of being in the 4-spectrum...
Arcturus Arcturian
Artificial Brain Infrared Horizon
Instrumentally savage, but I dare not to rate this any higher (at the moment) until I have a better "objective" references for death metal. Still a pretty brutal album!
ASPO In the Web of Love / Love Potion N 2
[REGGAE] More rocksteady w/ the occasional vocal accompaniment, but now incorporating a
little more reggae in their sound and personally more repetitive-worthy of a listen than
their first album.
Aswad Aswad
I mean it's pleasant, but cannot help acknowledge how relatively simplistic this album sounds, even from being in the 70's.
Avenged Sevenfold The Stage
I think a group has been listening to Mercyful Fate or King Diamond records for a while... At least this band didn't take 15 years (w/ a 7-record gap) to finally craft a decent heavy metal album (cough-cough-Korn-cough-cough). Definitely sounds different from their metalcore roots, but that may be for the better to showcase their instrumental mastery. Even the vocalist is more bearable. I tip my hat to you, A7X.
Backbeat Soundsystem Together Not Apart
Maybe a tad better than By the Rivers' self-titled album, where not as bombastic they manage to have more moments of ease to balance their record's experience. Don't let the first song fool you it's not obnoxious.
Bad City Welcome to the Wasteland
An album that pays an honest tribute to the best things that came from glam rock of the 80s. I've heard of prog-revival bands (ex: Lizards Exist) and even some electro-revival bands (ex: Perturbator) from the same decade, but hearing the heavy metal sound in this album was very refreshing when compared to such bands that have lost their luster over the decades. For anyone looking for an album that could pass as one of the big names in the 80s, this is a great listen!
Bad Company Bad Company
Battle Of Mice A Day of Nights
I still don't know what I have against female vocal leads in metal music, but I always wind up being disappointed... I imagine my bias derives from my expectations of feminine voices being more "angelic" (ex: Portishead's Dummy) than masculine voices. Finding such feminine (approving) voices/vocals in music is difficult enough, but finding such singers in a specific genre makes this task even more daunting & exhausting. Borderline-screamo to me sounds better than (actual) screamo, but this rating I feel is earned moreso due to the instrumental work provided by the rest of this group. For a goth album, this is a pretty heavy album but definitely not good enough (to me) for a repetitive listening.
Beats Antique Tribal Derivations
A tad conflicted w/ my rating on this album. I'm imagining Weirdship, instead of adapting to ska and prog rock, decided to take a blender and pureed the following genres: 1-part jazz, 1-part Hindustani classical, 3-parts electronica, and a hint of folk. Tracks 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, and 10 were really enjoyable. Then there were tracks that seemed out of place: 11 and 13. I'm sure w/o those last two mentioned I'd be more comfortable giving this rating, but a 3/5 feels a bit unfair. I thought this album was fair enough. But I'm sure to get a better understanding of this album once I hear their "worst" and "best" albums.
Bedouin Soundclash Sounding a Mosaic
Maybe the low production value is what adds more charm for this reggae album. Personally not for me, but the instrumentals and vocals are THROUGHLY good. Sometimes the lyrics can sound repetitive. You've been warned.
Black Light Burns Cruel Melody
Pretty awesome for Wes Borland to finally be putting out his own music after carrying the weight of Limp Bizkit after all those years. The downside w/ this album was how it wears it's influences on it's sleeves (thanks lead vocalist). A pretty decent effort all around. Gotta keep this band under my radar.
Black Moon Circle Black Moon Circle
Black Moth Super Rainbow Dandelion Gum
As a person that doesn't really enjoy synth instrumentations often, this album surprised me at how trippy a synth can provide to a psychedelia album. I kind of wished the album lasted longer, considering their first track is the longest at a little over 4 mins. I also claim this album to be slightly better than Animal Collective's Merriweather Post Pavilion.
Blind Guardian Tales from the Twilight World
Blindspott Blindspott
Linkin Park could've made this album after Hybrid Theory, but they didn't. Now they'll have to live w/ knowing someone already made their sophomore album.
Boa (UK) The Race of a Thousand Camels
Boa (UK) Twilight
Pretty much the first album where the first 3 tracks are rearranged and 3 new songs, including an acoustic version of Duvet (first and best track). If on the cheaper side, I recommend buying this album as opposed to the more expensive The Race of a Thousand Camels album.
Bob Marley and The Wailers Burnin'
Aside from their first track (a BM staple placed too early in the track listing imo), this was another pleasant reggae record in the Bob Marley and the Wailers catalogue. Also, Small Axe was a nice throwback to their prior production quality - all the most cementing of how (early) Celebrity Deathmatch was the most cleverly scripted 90's animated shows on television (Bob Marley vs Shaggy).
Bob Marley and The Wailers The Wailing Wailers
Bob Marley and The Wailers Soul Rebels
A beautifully flawed sophomore effort that has the first albeit faint resemblance of the sound that solidified this group as one of the biggest roots reggae legends of all time.
Bob Marley and The Wailers The Best Of The Wailers
The production quality has drastically improved compared to the rest of their pre-existing discography. However, this album's songwriting sounds a bit more reminiscent of their Soul Rebels album effort. Oh sure, the audibility sounds more polished but the song writing feels a bit off in some areas. Even so, a pretty nice addition to any reggae collection.
Bob Marley and The Wailers Rastaman Vibration
Nothing that hasn't been heard in Natty Dread, but still a really laid back album. Also, I have to note how this record doesn't have Natty Dread's 2nd track blunder (No Woman, No Cry [Studio version]) in their tracklist, making this album more audibly balanced by comparison.
Box Car Racer Box Car Racer
Boy Hits Car Boy Hits Car
A pretty decent post hardcore record. Also, another impressive nu-metal band that may be a bit Linkin Park inspired than it cares to admit. If Ra's first album was more metal oriented, and oddly more in tune w/ a stronger Eastern music presence, then this is the album you would hear. Another pretty good nu-metal album if you are interested in something better (personally) than Deftones' first album.
Boy Hits Car The Passage
Breaking Benjamin Phobia
Even knowing how I'm a bit critical w/ hard rock bands (especially from the 00's decade), this is pretty solid hard rock album. The guitar sections were what grabbed my interests in this album. Even w/ the romantic atmosphere of the entire album, this still makes for a better sound heard than on any Three Days Grace album.
Bunny Wailer Blackheart Man
A softer roots reggae album for any interested. Personally, the middle is a bit dull compared to the beginning and the ending tracks to this record. Definitely an album worth having in one's personal collection.
Burst Lazarus Bird
A prog metal album that offers a little bit of every style imagined: post, sludge, progressive metal (obvious), and some hardcore. This album is definitely an interesting listen.
Butthole Surfers Locust Abortion Technician
Butthole Surfers Psychic... Powerless... Another Man's Sac
By The Rivers By The Rivers
Vocal harmonies are a plus, but the instrumentals sound too consistent for each track. To be precise THEY DO have their unique identity (another plus), however the "level" of such instrumental complexity sound being about the same, and that lack of variability, could argue this album as a solid 3/5 rating esp when they have songs that bloat their length time by repeating the same stanzas over and over. Highlight tracks: Hit and Run, Take Control, Rocksteady.
Cage (USA-NY) Movies for the Blind
With the gritty illustrations and fluidly versed "disturbing" lyrics (involving body mutilation and "abstract" imagery), this is certainly a hip-hop album meant to entertain a niche set of fans. As much as I enjoy the horrorcore variety of hip-hop, the experimental elements created a few instrumentals (primarily in the middle third) that felt a bit disappointing, in that the instrumentals hushed out the vocals. Still a very interesting album for the adventurous listeners!
Candlebox Candlebox
As stated before, THIS is some definitive 90s music. Although the grunge outfit has been done better by other acts of the decade, this band manages to craft a "replicate" album w/ portions of Blind Melon and 4 Non Blondes.
Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band Safe As Milk
Considering Frank Zappa's work, I would've thought the tracks on here would be much better, but this album's biggest flaw is how long they made the average track. Hell, their bonus tracks going beyond the 5-minute mark were more entertaining for their jam rock quality. If all their tracks focused on that principle, I'm sure this album would be worth the average +4/5 rating this site allows.
Carry On A Life Less Plagued
Perhaps one of the shortest hardcore, or studio album, I've ever heard to date. Even w/ this album's short longevity, this was a fun album to hear. The big downside is that this album was just too short! This one of the few albums that'd I classify as an "ear teaser."
Catherine Wheel Ferment
A pretty impressive album w/ a voice that in itself is perfect for a shoegaze album for it's atmospheric & enveloping nature over every track, but the biggest flaw w/ this album is the lead's lack of expanding their songwriting beyond romance... Maybe I'm being a bit hard on this album, but I cannot feel anything beyond puzzled as to why this band would squander it's potential in this manner.
Ceterum Fathom
Another pretty good hard/prog rock album w/ vocals that're pretty impressive, at least compared to many other Tool-duplicate bands.
Chaos Divine The Human Connection
I honestly do not hear the "surprises" from the 4.5/5 review, but this album wasn't bad to any stretch of the imagination. I just know I've heard better from other acts of any of the genres mentioned. Ne Obliviscaris, for example, have certainly done this sound better. But, that's only my opinion...
Charming Hostess Eat
Just as impressive as their third album, but wondered why they left out instrumentations on the third record still... The instrumentals are very fun to hear!
Chelsea Wolfe The Grime And The Glow
[INDUSTRIAL] I think I found my Beth Gibbons (Portishead) of lo-fi/industrial music. Her voice is alluring yet haunting, and
suits the feel of the album very well as a black glove to a funeral. The downside is that her shorter tracks' lyrics on here
tend to feel repetitive (mildly dull), while her longer tracks (ex: Halfsleeper) really shine amongst this dark album. Another
recommended album for people who enjoy this type of feel would be The Long Forgotten Friend by Dreamend.
Chevelle Wonder What's Next
Chevelle Point #1
Chevelle La Gárgola
Perhaps their strongest 3.5-rated album among their discography, but not quite great enough to earn a solid 4/5 rating imo...
Chevelle Sci-Fi Crimes
CHVRCHES The Bones of What You Believe
Never thought an electronica pop album would actually seize my curiosity w/ such vocals and instrumentation that makes me wonder if a soundboard is worthy of being labeled as an instrument... Now I'm interested if this band can make an even better album. I tip my hat to you, CHVRCHES.
Circa Survive Blue Sky Noise
Circle Takes the Square As the Roots Undo
City of Caterpillar City of Caterpillar
Maybe I'm just missing out on what makes a post-hardcore (PH) album "A" classic worthy PH album since I've yet to expand my PH palette, but I think I'm getting there. This record still reveals an impressive musicianship like that of Circle Takes the Square's As the Roots Undo, but still needs further listening on my end.
Clann Zu Rua
Clutch Clutch
Longer jam rock instrumentations and the vocals are trying out different ways of vocal delivery and duration. Two great improvements recognized in comparison to their first album.
Clutch Pitchfork
Coheed and Cambria The Second Stage Turbine Blade
Cold 13 Ways to Bleed On Stage
A post-grunge, nu-metal album that actually sounds awesome (with exception to the first two tracks [oddly placed at the front of the album])... That's something you don't hear everyday. Kinda feel dumb for putting this album on hold for so long.
Cold Year Of The Spider
Perhaps not the best nu-metal album, but in many ways it outdoes it's 13 Ways to Bleed album (certainly more balanced). In short, if you had to pick one album to own from this band, choose this one!
Colorfinger Deep in the Heart of the Beast in the Sun
Comaah The Beautiful Empty
An album that could stack alongside some early nu-metal albums of the 90's but this album is guilty of using hard rock riffing that really could've been replaced w/ other sonic effects, considering how this album has plenty of differing soundscapes that're pretty good and not even attempted in previous (and some current decade) nu-metal albums.
Cookin Soul Doom Xmas
Not even a fan of the ORIGINAL Christmas songs. Glad to know parodies & remixes exist to lighten my Grinchey heart.
Cop Shoot Cop White Noise
Tracks 2, 6, 7, and 11 really shine in this thoroughly good industrial album. It has a lot of songs featured around anti-consumerism, making a very entertaining album than most 3.5/5 albums offer. This album, however, was just not as eerie to the ear as other industrial music like that of Chrome, God, and Godflesh.
Cop Shoot Cop Ask Questions Later
Crunt Crunt
Comes off as some pretty good noise rock. Don't know why, but this album reminds me of a sound trying to create a noise rock variation of 70s blues rock like that of Hendrix. The downside is that the tracks all sound a bit too alike. Tracks 3, 4, 7, and 8 were my highlights. Also, HEY CAGE THE ELEPHANT, I FOUND THE ALBUM YOU WISHED WAS YOUR SECOND LP!!
Current 93 Earth Covers Earth
Now this album has the (beginning) industrial folk I was looking for. Starts of pretty folksy at the very beginning, which then slowly drifts into gothic-esque folk. Once this album gets to the end, the final two tracks feel more like passages accompanied by music rather than actual songs. Still enjoyable nonetheless. A similar album w/ more consistency regarding folk but has less industrial influences is The Tea Party's Splendor Soils album (my personal favorite of the two stated here).
CZARFACE CZARFACE
Already promised to listen to this album after hearing Czarface's 2nd album. Try to understand my mentality: this is a hip-hop (not rap) concept album of a supervillain - sound familiar? The familiarity rests in another hip-hop artist, MF Doom, who did this concept in '99 w/ his album Operation: Doomsday. Historically, THAT was a new (and relatively fresh) idea in music. As for the album's execution, THAT album was a solid 4/5 provided w/ MF Doom's lyrical creativity and samples from cartoon & live-action shows of the same decade (and even that decade's past decade). Now let's have a look at Czarface's premise (14 YEARS LATER) - the key difference b/w the 2 is that Czarface is villain of Inspectah Deck's mind. Now THAT is considered fresh. Czarface is anonymous to everyone else aside from the group, and the story in itself is told inside of a comic! A very neat story idea (Goosebumps reference anyone?). Execution wise... I say it hold's a vibrant flame, esp w/ the low production, comic alongside comical lyrics, and use of various samples to make the world of Czarface into an entertaining form. A definite album worth owning!
CZARFACE Every Hero Needs a Villain
Considering the main lead of this group was Inspectah Deck (ex-Wu-Tang), I finally heard this album (first) and... It's okay. Using comic themes regarding heroes and villains as lyrical material has been done before by others but this album just doesn't have anything relatively "original" when compared to other (certain) hip hop albums attempting the same feat. One, ironically being the Operation: Doomsday by MF Doom. Credited there are some very good tracks on this album (Red Alert, Junkyard Dogs, When Gods Go Mad, Ka-Bang! [feat. MF Doom] and Sinister), I just feel most of these songs will not hold up after "x" years later. Lyrics involving "celebrity" events, trivial social media references, and the flair rap (i.e. boasting) only make lyrics imo unimaginative. With all that said, most of the second half of this album makes up for the first. After hearing BOTH albums, this be the lesser of the two, this still stacks as a STRONG 3! Or... A very light 3.5/5, considering how the "concept" was still on-going.
D'Angelo Brown Sugar
I was honestly expecting a letdown after hearing the first three songs (track 1 being the best there) and my prior grievances about romanticism. Glad I stuck around for the rest of the album which changed my prior views regarding r&b. Of all the features to praise of this album, instrumentals are first, vocals come in second, and lyrics are in third. Some songs imo were too short. Tracks 2 and 3 barely featured any differing lyrical stanzas at all compared to the first song as one example. Luckily songs 4, 5, 8, and 10 featured more stanzas to keep my interest. Likely not his best album, which makes me more excited to hear his future discography.
D'Angelo Black Messiah
Idk... I wanted to like this album more than Voodoo. A tad more collaborations, one of few issues I had w/ Voodoo, were featured here but hearing the first few tracks made me have more initial doubts than the first two records. Tracks 2 and 3 disrupted the momentum of interest from the first song.
Daft Punk Discovery
Dance Gavin Dance Downtown Battle Mountain
A very bombastic PH album for any interested in excellent-esque instrumentations w/ some awesome (clean) vocals that sound much more pleasant than the vocals from Orbs, even amongst the "harsh" vocals in this album.
Daniel Waples and Friends 'Lisn
Definitely more consistency (use of all instruments) amongst most of the songs than the "Flow" album, making this rating a tad higher for my tastes. If you love the sound of violins, you'll enjoy this album for sure!
Dark Suns Existence
Dark Suns Orange
Definitely a diff prog than their former albums, and (this genre of prog rock) has certainly been done better in past decades. Still a pretty impressive album Dark Suns, great work!
Dax Riggs Say Goodnight To The World
De La Soul De La Soul Is Dead
Of this 27-track album, at least 13 registered as fillers... Nonetheless, I find this album a bit better than their 1st record. Reasons stating how this album made an attempt to keep the spirit of their first album by leaving us off where the 1st ended, and then branched onto a new concept involving thieves listening to a bootleg edition of this (new) album. They pretty much detest it from start to finish (mostly). As for their validity, I'm inclined to believe "some" of this album is great. Some high points include their continuation of the 80s hip-hop sound in their music and maintaining their indifferent image w/in their lyrics. The big letdown is the track listing. Some of the filler tracks go as far as 2 to 3 tracks one after another. A little more uniformity w/ their listing (2:1 - tracks to filler) may have improved this album.
Deafheaven Sunbather
Death Cab for Cutie Transatlanticism
Death in June The World That Summer
Certainly better than their Nada album. Some repetitive instrumentals however linger in this album as well, but at least this album gives a genuine feel as a dark (industrial element) yet dreamy (dream pop element) feel. Not much of an album w/ high repetitional (listening) value mainly due to the final (reprise 3-part) track. This album, however, still serves as an interesting progression in this band's sound. Definitely need to look further into some 80's to early 90s dream pop once I get over this apocalyptic folk interest.
Death in June Brown Book
A much more direct/condensed neofolk album w/ some heavy post-punk influences. It's like this album took the catchiness of their Nada album w/ the bleakness of their World That Summer album, and the sound pans out pretty evenly. If you want some "pop" (or overall repetitive listening value) w/ your Death In June album, I'd suggest this album in comparison to their heavier World That Summer album.
Death in June But, What Ends When the Symbols Shatter?
Sadly, a lot of the faults you've read about this album are true. Lyrically lazy, predictable instrumentation patterns, and pretty much else Joshua (the 2.5/5 review) stated. However, this is an album that features other good qualities as heard in their prior albums such as their folk outfit w/ industrial ambience in '92. This is an album that had a helping in setting the standard for apocalyptic folk and that counts for historic value, but certainly nothing different from their last two albums. Basically the album is a longer version of Brown Book, if Brown Book was too short for anyone out there.
Deconstruction Deconstruction
For anyone interested in some Blind Melon w/ some experimental funk (chunky) blended in, then I believe this is the album for you.
Decyfer Down End of Grey
Deftones Around the Fur
Depeche Mode Music for the Masses
A tad overrated IMO. Credited the vocals and synths played their parts well, I just have a problem w/ bands/musicians having to resort to lyrical genres regarding romance in their songs. A "few" songs in an album CAN be acceptable, but encompassing nearly an entire album is classified in my mind as "wasted potential" and/or "lazy effort."
Depeche Mode Black Celebration
Dethklok The Dethalbum
Dethklok Dethalbum III
Digable Planets Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space)
Dishwalla Opaline
(Paddy Tanniger voice): Yeah, it's a sappy alternative rock album that I like. Big whoop, you wanna fight about it? But seriously, if Live took their Throwing Copper album and made it simultaneous more instrumentally tame and heavily encompassed around the vocals, you still got an entertaining album.
Dispatch Silent Steeples
Credited that this album has some great tracks (ex: 1, 3, 7, 11, and 12), especially the harmonizing vocals, I cannot help but hear how the instrumentals just don't compliment most of the songs. There're moments where they have jamming sessions that could par alongside I Mother Earth's discography, but most of the album featured sub-par (repetitive) lyrics alongside instrumentals that (from my impression) COULD'VE sounded better than some of the early Red Hot Chili Peppers' music. Even so, this sound comes off as an energetic jam rock, folk hybrid of an album. Hopefully their second album is better.
Disturbed Ten Thousand Fists
Divine Ratio Split By Unity
Dizzy Mizz Lizzy Dizzy Mizz Lizzy
Some pretty laid back grunge music but still comes a bit short of ranging as a 4/5 album. The album's sounds comes off as a paler variation of I Mother Earth's first album - still pretty good and even better in some aspects (by comparison). For some odd reason I can hear a faint Maynard James Keenan likeness in this album's vocals.
DJ Muggs Vs GZA Grandmasters
DJ Okawari Kaleidoscope
DJ Okawari Mirror
doubleDrive 1000 Yard Stare
As far as post-grunge albums go, this is actually a pretty decent album. Nothing really too spectacular, yet reminds me of a watered down Blind Melon sound w/ slightly more aggressive hard rock.
Downer Downer
A hardcore, nu-metal variation of a Tool sound, but this album is certainly not bad. As a bonus, this is a pretty cheap album online. Definitely one of the better nu-metal albums of it's decade.
Dr. Alimantado Best Dressed Chicken In Town
Just a decent reggae album passing along. A bit flawed in some areas but still a pleasant listen overall. Poison Flour, Can't Conquer Natty Dreadlocks, Ride On, Ital Galore, and Tribute to the Duke serve as my highlights for this album.
Dreamend The Long Forgotten Friend
Dreamend And the Tears Washed Me, Wave After Cowardly Wave
Dub Syndicate North of the River Thames
A tad more balanced and not as "experimental" as their prior album, but FAR more palatable... To be fair though, reggae dub is a pretty niche genre I'm not as familiar w/ than compared to roots reggae (as of now). This is even better than some earlier contributions by Lee Scratch Perry and his efforts w/ The Upsetters. Too bad this Doctor Pablo has such a limited contribution to reggae...
Dub Syndicate Time Boom X De Devil Dead
Oh lookie here, we got lyrics in this album! Personally not my flavor of (dub) reggae, but it might be for those that don't mind the "weird" that is Lee Scratch Perry.
Dub Trio IV
This is not the reggae you've been looking for... Instead you've found a pretty solid alternative punk (instrumental) album. It shares the same schizophrenic energy as Sweet Trip's Velocity:Design:Comfort album which is a plus in my ears.
Eden Circus Marula
Excellent by only a fraction, but still holds a candle better than some other hard-prog outfits. Such as better than Fair to Midland's Arrows and Anchors album but not as good as Grand Mexican Warlock's Hell Sweet Hell. I cannot hear the Tool influences in this album (as told by another account), but I honestly don't mind that.
Electric Wizard Electric Wizard
Electric Wizard Come My Fanatics...
Very riff heavy which was entertaining, but all the songs sound too similar. However toward the end they show their latent heavy metal roots toward the very end showing this band have the makes for a decorated stoner rock outfit.
Emptyself Emptyself
Engelwood Yacht World
Beats that bop just long enough to not wear out their welcome. MEME SONG FOUND HERE!
Ephrat No One's Words
A bit over-bloated, but not a half bad of an album...
Etched In Red Dylate
If you somehow took instrumentations of (early) Mudvayne, lyrics reminiscent of Tool, and w/ a vocal delivery like that of Korn (and latently Tool [again]), this would be the very album in a nutshell. Not a bad listen but now leaves me wondering what happened to this band...
Evans Blue The Melody and the Energetic Nature of Volume
A very emotional debut album, where this sound managed to take their 10 Years influences and adapt it into a sound all their own. Sure, a few too many romantic-themed songs but lyrically these tracks are more elaborate and allegorical than most bands following this same pattern of music. A solid 3.5, but certainly not a 4/5.
Evans Blue The Pursuit Begins When This Portrayal of Life Ends
Everclear Sparkle And Fade
Eyeshine My Paper Kingdom
Not really the biggest fan of pop punk, nor do I really have a reference for "classic" pop punk, but this was still a pretty good effort for this album.
Failure Comfort
Fair to Midland Arrows and Anchors
A sound definitely differing than that of their Fables album. Kinda scratching my head as to why they regressed to using the "hard rock" variation on their guitars. Now this album sounds more of an eclectic hard rock album instead of an album from that of a prog rock band... Still pretty good, but just expected better. I mean even the better Chevelle or 10 Years' albums sound more impressive than this album. Also, why did track 10 exist? Still one of the better 3.5/5 rated albums I've heard.
Far Water & Solutions
Some decent emo so far, but cannot determine how good this is compared to other records of the same genre during this decade (since emo is not one of my familiar genres). Hope to find an interest in this genre soon for a better evaluation of this album later.
Fear The Clown Within
Feeder Polythene
If there ever was a category of "grunge pop" (grunge that's not as mopey and more uplifting [i.e. poppy]), then this is such an album. Reminds me of Third Eye Blind actually.
Filter Short Bus
How this album is not rated a 4/5 (on average) is beyond me. An alt rock sound w/ a fun blend of distorted rock w/ minor amounts of electronica (w/ exception to the drums). For a 90s album and having to compete w/ Nine Inch Nails' Pretty Hate Machine in terms of mainstream industrial rock popularity, THIS (in my opinion) is the better debut album. For anyone willing to begin an interest into the industrial genre as a light touch, I recommend this as one of your first 5 industrial albums. For anyone curious here are the other 4: Visitation (Chrome), White Noise (Cop Shoot Cop), Bites (Skinny Puppy), and Filth (Swans). From then on, I recommend listening to some of the better albums. Here are 3 to name a few: Possession (God), Alien Soundtracks (Chrome), and Naked City (Naked City).
Fingertight In the Name of Progress
Another essential "nu-metal" album spotted! Now I admit my definition for nu-metal differs a bit than others may commonly classify. Here you have an alternative rock album than manages to skate along the metal genre w/o relying heavily on the guitar distortions that're more common in the hard rock genre w/ accompanied lyrics that sound occasionally too melodramatic (my understanding of nu-metal). What makes this "essential" nu-metal is how the alternative rock relies on differing genres to make a unique sound, amongst the other nu-metal acts, as well as lyrics that sound off w/ more creativity & character. Personally, other bands that fit this category include Mad At Gravity, Aroma, Sloth, Cold, and Smile Empty Soul.
Fiona Apple When the Pawn...
Five Pointe O Untitled
Still not the biggest fan of nu-metal or post hardcore (and [latently] death metal), but I believe I can hear certain qualities that could distinct other bands as "better" than most out there. Nu-metal has obtained a really bad rep over the years, esp after the early 00's (mainly due to the rap-core variety, but that observation is just my limited opinion). There are bands that choose to focus moreso on their metal qualities, and those concentrations have paid off for most like those of S.O.A.D., Mire (CAN), Sunk Loto, Fear the Clown, and Vex Red. This band's album has a lead that reminds me of Zach de la Rocha if he decided to go straight-up hardcore w/ instrumentation that's just as aggressive & depressing as the lead sounds. The beginning mostly registers as filler, but by track 4 the album began picking up. This album is not a classic but still marks as another great one album wonder.
FKA Twigs LP1
(U.S.) TIME magazine actually declared THIS album as the top album of 2014. Honestly, they were way off (they didn't even have Rishloo's '14 album). Nonetheless, I'm certainly not indifferent to this album. From the mixture of r&b vocals and sound mixing similar to that of Portishead or Bjork, this album makes for an entertaining listen alongside the great trip-hop artists mentioned. Perhaps this album is an effort that could've been replicated in the prior decade (2000's), but any solo effort that takes this many successful risks in their arrangements is someone who's earned their mark as a great artist. (10/5/16) - A few more listens still remind me of her talent, but even this album could've been polished further. Still a solid album!
Floater Angels in the Flesh and Devils in the Bone
Floater Burning Sosobra
Floater Acoustics
Floater Stone By Stone
This album is still a tad better than their Acoustics album, considering how this album brought back a few of their distortion effects from their first couple of albums. However, these sounds have been heard before (again) from their earlier work... Still a solid record!
Floating Points Crush
Production value is great but this type of electronica usually isn't usually for me. It varies from chilled & laid back to atmospheric glitch, but I think this album comes short of my preferences like Velocity:Design:Comfort (Sweet Trip) and Nurture (Porter Robinson).
Floorpunch Fast Times At The Jersey Shore
An album that near epitomizes what every punk album wants to aspire: (short) songs packed w/ loads of energy, great frontman delivery, and awesome instrumental work!
Florida Snow Florida Snow
From the sections of hazy soundscapes, the smooth vocals, and occasional moments of excellent instrumental work, this album serves as a definitive in the great (and above) category. Depending on one's favorability for the a summation of the three qualities could rank this as a higher-rated alt rock album but doesn't really do much else to come off as extraordinary. Still, a very nice find for anyone scrolling through BandCamp.
Fluid Minds Vaporizer
Forty Birds Shotgun Therapy
A very consistent album regarding screamo vocals, metal guitar, and some cool drumming. My grievances are the fact this album has screamo vocals occurring too often and the drumming was really underplayed...
Four Year Strong Rise Or Die Trying
Fredrik Thordendal's Special Defects Sol Niger Within
Certainly much better and refreshing than that of Meshuggah's Nothing album. Was going to make an attempt at a horrible pun, but I got nothing here... All jokes aside, you have here a near-grind album that I think John Zorn would appreciate for all the technicality and great musicianship. Now if these two could make an album together, I dare to think THAT work might even rival to that of Naked City's self-titled album.
Front Line Assembly Caustic Grip
Now this band is getting better. This album makes an attempt to differentiate their tracks w/ varied vocals ranging from post-punk to heavy metal (however small). They're still an audible trace of their 80's industrial influences making this album feel less intense compared to other rivaling industrial acts. Another minor flaw is the repetitive lyrical structures in some songs. Come on, if you have a lengthy track, you ought to be expected to have varied, differing lyrical stanzas. Tracks 3, 6, and 10 appeal as this album's weaker tracks. This album could appeal as a LIGHT 4/5, considering how the good to "eh" track ratio (7:3) is on this album. Track 9 is on the fence considering it's rather odd, elongated length...
Frozen Alice The Torino Scale
Link: (http://www.amplifier.co.nz/release/61909/the-torino-scale.html). Each track was roughly $1.79 US, so I instead burned what I could find via YouTube (7 tracks), then bought the other 3/4 (tracks 4, 5 [technically a demo on YT before becoming FA], 8, and 10). This album describes the singing as bipolar, soft singing to high-pitched growling, and that was certainly apparent in their 1st track. From then on to halfway thru track 3 the vocals & instrumentation took an art rock session. Perhaps each track is overpriced, but the variety offered on this album make the worth of each track all the more worth owning than most music for the oncoming decade. SUCK IT PHEDORA!!
Fudge Tunnel Hate Songs In E Minor
Fuel Something Like Human
Aside from Bad Day, this is a pretty fair improvement for Fuel's instrumentation (more soloing) and vocals in all their tracks in comparison to their first album. However, the improvement is not significant enough to be given a 4/5. Both of Fuel's first and second albums are pretty good, but I believe this to be the superior of the two.
Fuel Sunburn
Fuzzy Duck Fuzzy Duck
Gemini Syndrome Lux
Is it just me, or is nu-metal making a comeback w/ artistic direction? I've only noticed how many albums I recently began rating that have some nu-metal qualities...
Glass Empire Cognitive Dissonance
The shifts are everywhere in this album: slow to fast tempos, soothing to bombastic vocals, and awesome instrumental work all around!
Glassjaw Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Silence
God Lives Underwater Empty
Godflesh Songs of Love and Hate
This album gets really crunchy by track 5, and remains pretty solid. The beginning four tracks reveal the group's experimentation of using an actual drummer as compared to their drum machine. The beginning tracks are not really bad but sound different when compared to their prior work, especially their lo-fi Streetcleaner. Can only wonder what further experimentations this band will dabble w/ in the future.
Godsticks The Envisage Conundrum
I guess there's props in wanting to take a more aggressive sound, but this album doesn't still pales ever slightly to the instrumentals & vocal sections of their first album. Again, NOT a bad album. This record just doesn't offer anything I haven't heard since their first.
Goldfinger Hang-ups
Alright, this is a definite 3.5/5. HOWEVER, a little bit of track re-arranging and this could be a light 4/5, I don't care! This is a pop punk album that's actually fun!
Gorguts Considered Dead
Alright, some death metal where I can actually hear some of the lyrics. An instrumentally impressive album overall but still a little lost in what makes up for an "essential" death metal album. Hope to find define one in the near future!
Gorillaz Demon Days
(9/12/15 - original rating) (12/18/16) Still captures glimpses of electronica that's not only accessible but offers a lot of variety after all these years... Still a tad short of a 4/5 but comes near close.
Gorillaz Gorillaz
A catchy experimental album for Gorillaz. For no matter the genre of music this group was going for per track, one can always put this 3.5 on sweet, sweet repeat!
Groundation Each One Teach One
I'm pretty sure I've been spoiled by Hebron Gate 'cause this album pales significantly by comparison. Even with only the middle section (or general second half) as this record serving as this album's strongest series of tracks, this experience overall is still a very solid reggae album for those looking something different in reggae. One More Day, If I, Waterfall, Nyabinghi Order, and Each One Teach One serve as my highlights for this album.
Guano Apes Proud Like A God
Sorry Evanescence, I've found your better vocalist right here... I'd be more inclined to give this album a higher rating if this album concentrated on their alternative rock strong points (ex: Never Born, Scapegoat) and had not been inclined to incorporate random segments of hip-hop delivery in this album (ex: Crossing the Deadline, Get Busy, Suzie). Still a pretty cool alt rock album w/ a female vocalist.
Guts (SPN) Paradise For All
Not sure of this man's awareness of Nujabes and jazz hop, but this album is DEF better than his last two efforts. The sampling is not as intrusive anymore and the instrumentals sound 'richer' overall. I'm really enjoying (2012 order) tracks 2, 4, 5, and 8 here!
Guts (SPN) Beach Diggin' Vol. 1
If there's anything that Guts is here to prove w/ this compilation is that HE KNOWS what are good instrumentals. Now I'm REALLY curious what his other compilations have to offer.
Guts (SPN) Beach Diggin' Vol. 2
Not as chilled compared to Guts' 1st compilation due to some of the vibrant big band songs w/ a more grandiose sound. Not bad tracks but they're not what I'd call 'tropical.' Tracks 3, 6, 9, 11, and 12 however do fit that quality.
GZA Beneath the Surface
GZA Legend of the Liquid Sword
Hail the Villain Population: Declining
Think I'm starting to feel out of touch w/ hard rock music b/c nothing really seems to stand out as "original" that much in this genre anymore... Still manages to tie w/ Volbeat's Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood album. Perhaps not as groovy but manages to keep a high octane energy that's not whiny (recent Linkin Park) or nauseatingly masculine (recent Five Finger Death Punch).
Haruka Nakamura Melodica
Headswim Flood
A purposefully quirky album, and it does not care! Occasionally has some odd instruments of choice and just leaves the listener w/ tons of surprises for any interested in alternative rock, and especially those who enjoy such oddity albums.
Hepcat Scientific
[REGGAE] This is a very nice rocksteady album that'd do it's ancestral albums proud.
Hiata Vessel Receptor
Another discreet prog album that deserves recognition. The instrumentations are atmospheric/electronica but not (directly) enveloping like that of dream pop or shoegaze. The prog sounds like a cross b/w symphonic prog and space rock. The vocals currently remain illusive by concrete description (at least to me). The vocal lead and harmonies remind me of a pop to emo rock variety. The album is not as momentous as other acts, such as Thank You Scientist's Maps album, but still remains very inviting to the ears. If you have a chance to listen to this album, then do a Shia LaBeouf and "JUST... DO IT!"
Hiatus Kaiyote Tawk Tomahawk
Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions Through the Devil Softly
Nothing really too different from Mazzy Star, but that's not really a bad quality at all. Hope's voice is still just as alluring as ever...
Hotwire The Routine
Another discreet 00's album worth hearing if you enjoy punk rock.
I Mother Earth Dig
What makes this album a bit different from other grunge records is how this album decided to go further by crafting songs that were often longer than the (personally subjective) standard 3 min, 30 sec track length. Having such an uncommon feature regarding the mentioned genre gives it's listeners a unique listening experience. For the most part, this album's elongated instrumentals work out but still feels there could've been instrumental sections that should've remained unheard. Still an awesome record!
I Mother Earth The Quicksilver Meat Dream
NOTE: this is an album that is NOT for early IME fandom 'cause this sound is an entirely different behemoth altogether. I never would think funk and industrial could ever really blend well together, at least as a decent listen, but I Mother Earth proved me wrong...
iLa Mawana Soldiers of Sound (Remix & Remaster)
[REGGAE] FINALLY a 2010's reggae album w/ some HORNS! Overall a pleasant album w/ tracks that have their own identity to them. Thankfully sold pretty cheap thru their Bandcamp page.
Ill Nino Revolution/Revolucion
I think I found an album to stack against Ra's From One album. Although the differences in (metal) extremes are very apparent, the link that binds them are the bands' ability to incorporate different cultural elements w/in their albums. Where Ra's album mentioned had a latent Middle Eastern sound, (this) Ill Nino's album featured a latent Latin flair into their instrumental tempos. Perhaps such influences have been done better in different acts, but this sound is relatively refreshing to hear in a nu-metal album.
Incubus (USA-CA) Make Yourself
Majority of the album is excellent (definitive 4/5 album), especially from the instrumentals alone, but what keeps me from personally enjoying this record as such would be for that obnoxious track 8 (Drive). Then again, if you weigh out the amount material on this record that is great worthy (first and final third) clearly sound better than the "eh" middle section of this album.
InI Center of Attention
Tracks 1-4 create an odd stumble into this album for me. From then on it gets thoroughly good. Kinda reminds me of Dynospectrum's self-titled album, ANOTHER one-album hip hop group.
Inside Out No Spiritual Surrender
Zach was a rough-cut diamond in this act, and Rage Against the Machine eventually chiseled and polished his persona to give its listeners one of the most unique voices in hardcore and punk music. This album may not be perfect, but the music honestly sounds like they don't even care about our opinions and plays on anyway. That I can respect!
Insolence Poisonous Philosophy
The reggae influences don't really show themselves until track 5... Nonetheless, what you have here is a hardcore (metal) hip-hop act that ACTUALLY sounds pretty good and consistent. Essentially a watered down Rage Against the Machine met Nothingface, then had a kid. THIS is that album!
Insolence Terrorists
Only by track 2 and can already feel how this album comes slightly better than their (future) Poisonous Philosophy album. Hardcore hip-hop w/ a reggae fusion make this for a very entertaining album!
Insolence Stand Strong
Their hip-hop influences may be diminished a bit in this album compared to their prior work but at least the rhythm sections still manage to keep a funky beat. While not as aggressive as most of their prior work, this album resounds as their most tame & accessible album for those interested in some relatively new metal music.
IQ Tales from the Lush Attic
Jackson Conti Sujinho
Aside from a few moments of studio silence/interruption, the listener hears a very smooth Caribbean sounding album. Anyone looking into adding some Summer tunes to their music library, I highly recommend this album. Makes a car ride feel ever so short...
Jah9 9
[REGGAE] Instrumentals are def better with the incorporation of additional folk elements that were not as present within her first album. Albeit some tracks feature lyrics that tend to become repetitive, which is expected in much longer songs where all but one song are longer than 4.5 minutes. Tracks 1, 5, 7, and 9 serve as my highlights for this record.
Janus Nox Aeris
This album makes a very feint attempt at adapting some prog rock elements in here but this band is far too comfortable w/ their hard rock & nu-metal roots. If this band doesn't make changes as 10 Years had w/ From Birth to Burial this group might soon come off as being only "above average." A pretty good album but still doesn't hold a candle to Inward/Outward.
Japanese Breakfast Jubilee
Need to check out more dream pop, but this album is pretty bumpin'. First song and middle third are my favorite portions of this album.
Jedi Mind Tricks The Psycho-Social
With my hearing of Diabolic's Liar & A Thief as my reference, I dove into this different (cerebral?) area of hip hop. The potential in this album is amazing - probably one of my few 3.5 rating(s) that remain on-the-fence. The lyrical creativity reminds me of Wu-Tang's GZA but w/o much of that Message-of-the-Street lyrics. The level of vocabulary used in this album is so vast that it's near intimidating. Nonetheless, I definitely found the challenge in processing this album to be very entertaining.
Jerry Cantrell Boggy Depot
Tracks 2-4 are what hindered this album, but by track 5, Mr. Cantrell really brought the brooding nature back that relates to his former Alice In Chains' contributions. A pretty enjoyable album but it just doesn't feel heavy enough (yet)...
Jerry Cantrell Degradation Trip
In terms of the former Alice In Chains, the first half of this album was pretty slow for me. This certainly wasn't a bad listen. My beef was that his prior album already felt restrained. In this effort, the 1st half was too mild in comparison to track 8 and onward. I know he can do better, but this album made little to no effort to improve his already brooding instrumental play. At least Mr. Cantrell is consistent... Tracks 7, 9, and 12 were my favorite tracks.
John Butler Trio John Butler
Great instrumentals all throughout this record, however there are long periods of time where the vocals remain absent. Aside from that inconsistency, this was an AWESOME album!
Jolly Forty-six Minutes, Twelve Seconds of Music
(9/12/15) Still not the biggest fan of piano in 00's progressive rock, but this album certainly does have it's share of great qualities in the least w/ it's lyrics and musical accompaniment. Will admit to being a sucker for "concept" albums. Not a fan of the vocals themselves though, hmm... Carousel of Whale serves as my highlight of this album.
Joseph Magazine Night Of The Red Sky
Now THIS is a very impressive (mostly) instrumental prog metal album. Most of the arrangements are centered around the piano and synthesizers heard in this album. Not the most heavy material I've heard, but the symphonies are so compact and precise w/ such energy- Sorry, I'm getting too excited. As not being the biggest fan of instrumental music, I'm delighted to have found another instrumental album that I enjoy. For anyone being a fan of Animals As Leaders or Cynic, then you will definitely like this album!
Joystick! This Time It's Personal
A pretty short album for 15 tracks. The trumpet serves well for delivering a New Orleans signature in their sound. Also enjoyed the dirty guitar in their tracks, but just not enough for me. Still, a good punk album to listen to at least once. Shout out to my home state for making good music!
Karnivool Sound Awake
(9/12/15) Re-evaluating a few albums again... Still find this album troubling for how mixed this album sounds. Some tracks (ex: Fire to the Hive) sound more fitting for their first album as bonus tracks rather than the tracks that have evident differences sonically. Where the album certainly has more apparent post rock qualities (and excellent moments) that stand out much more than their first album, they just feel too far in between due to this album's elongated track lengths. Not a bad album but certainly could've been polished a bit more to emphasize their post rock qualities...
Karnivool Asymmetry
Finally getting a prog feel. First heard this album a while back and didn't find this all too appealing. This album first came off as a chaotic mess and had to stop listening all together. Upon coming off an industrial binge (and latent grind), I had to reconsider another listen. Compared to most prog rock w/ all their either simplistic or technically orchestrated instrumentations, this album definitely differs from most prog albums, and certainly differs from their (post rock-esque) Sound Awake album. Most of the album comes in differing phases, although not nearly as organized as (for example) Rishloo's Eidolon album. First you hear a (softer) prelude that braces us for next aggressive phase of abrasive guitars and (at times) distracted drumming. The album is a bit of a difficult listen but after a while the album becomes a pleasant listen once you're able to stand the initial few phases of this album before the Asymmetry track.
Kaura That Which Defines Us
An enigmatic prog rock album that definitely has some Tool and 10 Years influences that can be heard throughout this album. Enigmatic in that it has some Eastern music influences heard throughout the album that feature an impressive audible experience that I believe is rather difficult to do well. This band was able to do what Ra's first album couldn't yet still does not do as well as The Tea Party's Edges of Twilight album. Although, this album comes VERY close to being on par w/ the EOT album.
Killing Joke Fire Dances
Personally I enjoy this album much more than their self-titled debut album. Much more lyrical creativity and inviting. Where the first one had much more apparent industrial sound which I enjoyed, the sound & lyrical delivery became bland after an extended amount of repetition. In THIS album, lyrical repetition became apparent toward the end of their songs while the sound came closer to their post-punk roots. The music, too, featured sound variations every so often near the middle and endings of each track. This album took the effort to experiment w/ their sound but they're still missing those industrial qualities that had me so intrigued about this band's sound.
Killing Joke Brighter Than a Thousand Suns
Aside from the singles (first two tracks) being too pop for my tastes, the rest of this album is very sobering and enjoyable. I'd say this album's experience could parallel that of Depeche Mode's Music For the Masses album.
Killing Joke Democracy
Had a feeling this band was slowly coming back to their post punk sound w/ their Pandemonium album, and this album confirmed my suspicion. Upon first listening I would figure this was a concept album regarding a dystopia filled w/ drug dependence, the regression of human intellect, and governmental corruption. Track 6 was the highlight of this album. Definitely a pretty cool album but still is a hair short compared to their Extremities album.
King's X Gretchen Goes to Nebraska
King's X Dogman
King's X finally attempts to wear the grunge outfit within this album, for better or for worse...
Korn Follow the Leader
The album that reveals a significant improvement long after their self-titled effort. The improvements heard on this album vary from catchier rhythm sections and provoking lyrics. Overall a much better album than their Peachy album, although some cameos could've been left out - I'm looking at you Fred Durst!
Korn Issues
Perhaps the closest effort on Korn's catalogue to come close to the 4-spectrum. This album has a tracklist that is has more sonic differences per track than any previous album had done before in their career. Perhaps not as innovative as other nu-metal albums but this comes very close to ranking amongst the other nu-metal albums created by such giants as Deftones, Nothingface, and System of a Down.
Kriadiaz Kriadiaz
Kyuss Wretch
Lazer Kitty SPIES
Linkin Park Hybrid Theory
Lemme brief, I can wrap my head around rap rock genre - hell, the act has been done before and definitely done better by acts such as Rage Against the Machine, and right off their first album. Only giving this '00 album a thorough listening after 15 years makes me feel a bit torn from my nostalgia. The hard rock in this album is enjoyable, the singer has a fair (not great/unique) range, and the "rapping" is not that deplorable. If anything the rapping had potential, but stanzas were either lazily repetitive or not well incorporated into each track. Some tracks even had both of these problems. I don't consider this a revolutionary album, but it definitely spawned off imitators - that impact has to account for something. Not a must hear, but I liked this album.
Live MTV Unplugged - Live in NYC [DVD]
LIVE was great but a bit uneven vocally, even w/ Ed giving all that he could for every track. But the crowd was just obnoxiously disrespectful throughout the entire performance w/ random shout-outs and early applauses before certain songs were completed. If the audience paid the respect of the band's music like that of Nirvana's or Alice In Chains' Unplugged performance, I may be inclined to grade this as a 4/5. Even though I admit that "4" is a bit generous for my tastes.
Live The Turn
Throwing Copper will currently remain the better of these 2 albums, but this album is the closest attempt that Live has ever came to recapturing that energy and harmony that they once exuded in the mid 90's. This is a solid "revival" album that needs more recognition.
Living Colour Vivid
KJ Swantko pretty much summed all that can be said for this album... The first track kills so hard that it has an identity nearly separate from the entire rest of the album. Where the rest of the record is pretty good, tracks 8 and 9 are two tracks that should've been cut from the album (IMO).
Living Colour Stain
More of a grunge and industrial sound as compared to their Vivid effort, but still enjoyable nonetheless. I can definitely hear the Alice In Chains influences in this album. A bit unbalanced in a few places toward the center of this album, but my main problem was the lengths of this album's tracks. Most of the songs had build-up that I suspected would've continued to lead up to some epic climatic end as there was on their Bi track. Sadly, that wasn't the case and a good portion of their songs felt as if they were cut too short. Even the interlude and punk-oriented tracks could've been extended, but that's just me. On the plus side, I imagine this album laid the groundwork for Dogman (King's X album of the grunge period), which is another pretty great album as well.
Local Natives Gorilla Manor
Loom Selva Molhada
Some pretty good sections in this hardcore album, alongside some experimental-esque classical instrumentations, but the vocals become grating after a while. Still a pretty solid post-hardcore album.
Lost Ubikyst in Apeiron Abstruse Imbeciles Nailed on Slavery
Lucid Planet Hidden In Plain Sight
If these guys improve their vocals, I dare to say these guys could become the incarnation of Kyuss. A very solid EP!
Lunatic Soul Lunatic Soul
Pretty sobering ambient music, but not so certain if this album could serve as an essential album (yet).
Machines of Loving Grace Concentration
(2/1/17) This is an album that definitely is better than Filter's Short Bus album, but cannot help hearing how less bombastic this album's industrial qualities are. Still a solid album, but definitely a borderline-4/5 album.
Mad at Gravity Resonance
A hard-alt album that showed promise to a band that could've become a competitor against 10 Years if they continued... Well I will remember, and hopefully others will, too.
Mad Season Above
As much as I've enjoyed all of Layne Staley's contributions to music, this perhaps has to be one of his only group efforts that cannot stack alongside to his work w/ Alice In Chains. A blues group was not that bad of an idea and Mr. Staley proved he had the chops for it w/ (Alice In Chains') Jar of Flies EP. His voice was more or less a depressing Shannon Hoon, which was near perfect for blues. The downside is that the instrumentals were lacking in that they sounded more toward a hard rock (near grunge) sound as opposed to a classic rock w/ psychedelia subgenre like that of, for example, Janis Joplin. The instrumentations were also a bit uneven esp toward the end. If a group's gonna incorporate more instruments, for the sake of the album, one would the band would make an attempt to use them as frequently as possible. But those are the only aesthetic indifferences I have toward this album. It's not perfect, still good, but not really good enough for a repetitive listening (for me).
Madlib Sujinho
Folks, try to understand the following: this album is PRODUCED by Mablib, NOT CREATED by Madlib. I refer you that the correct group responsible for this great summer staple is JACKSON CONTI. He now has a Sputnikmusic page...
Madvillain Madvillainy
This album has all sorts of good things going for it w/ MF Doom at the helm, but my problem lays w/ the tracks. The majority have great loops and hooks, but those very majority barely peak at the 3-min mark. If the tracks lasted longer like that Viktor Vaughn's Vaudeville Villain, or Operation: Doomsday, this album could've been a potential 3.5/5. Also, WHY was Rhinestone Cowboy not a studio track!? (10/28/16) Yeah, this is definitely underrated and a CERTAIN 3.5/5, even w/ my gripes about the track lengths...
Maeth Oceans Into Ashes
Mammal The Majority
Ehhhh, I want to enjoy this album more... I just know that Rage Against the Machine already attempted this same sound in the 90s and rocked it for nearly an entire decade. This album however was a few years too late from providing anything relatively original to this sound of funk metal...
Mammal Mammal
Marilyn Manson Holy Wood
Need a few more listens perhaps to appreciate this album more but this perhaps one of the stronger 3.5/5 rated industrial or a very low 4/5 rated industrial album I've heard in a while. This album just felt more longer than it should've when compared to Mechanical animals. Certainly better than his Portrait album but this album felt much too formulaic (as of yet) in comparison to their Mechanical Animals album...
Marilyn Manson The Pale Emperor
I think someone has been listening to some Dax Riggs and Jerry Cantrell over the years. But seriously, this album could stand alongside their Holy Wood album. The rhythm sections are grimy and nearly "as sludgy" to that of JC's Degradation Trip but much heavier. Aside from a few tracks having some repetitive lyric stanzas, this album is a pretty decent industrial album. Although some may argue THIS album has a sound that could've easily been heard & performed during the '00-decade, which (imo) only a handful of industrial acts made some stellar albums during that decade anyway. Still nice to know that Manson still had another great-worthy album in him.
Mastodon Once More 'Round the Sun
Mastodon Remission
I'm not really digging this album as of now. The technicality of this album is very apparent and MUST be acknowledged when hearing these instrumentations. Vocals & lyrics are not really clear enough for me to appreciate them, but this is considered a very abrasive debut album. With a little research, I'm guaranteed to hear better albums amongst their discography. I certainly hope they're accurate...
Mastodon Leviathan
Personally, I find this album more tolerable than their Remission effort. It's clear to me now that this band HAS certainly made their signature mark in the field of metal, thus having created a unique identity w/ this album (one of my considered qualities for a 4/5 rating). Again great instrumentations, vocals have improved a tad, but cannot help but feel this album as a bit overhyped...
Max Romeo War Ina Babylon
Awesome production and more bombastic interpretations of reggae instrumentation. Although the lyrics are a tad repetitive, this is a pretty catchy record.
Mazzy Star She Hangs Brightly
One of the most sobering shoegaze albums I've listened listened in a while w/ the mixture of folk and a "bluesy" noise rock. The lead reminds me of a Stevie Nicks quality, just not as upbeat, and the noise rock is mesmerizing, near drone-ish imo. Definitely an album worth listening for anyone interested in dream pop or female vocals.
Melvins Honky
It's like the Melvins took Lysol and found a way to make it psychedelic & drone-ish w/o being boring.
Melvins Stoner Witch
Melvins A Senile Animal
Memento Beginnings
Slightly better than Ra's From One album but not quite as good as Acroma's Orbitals album (in terms of instrumentations). Also, the vocals are pretty impressive (for both the hard rock and nu-metal genres). Still a ways off from being an excellent-worthy album [classified as an "original/unique" album of the genre], but still reveals impressive musicianship nonetheless.
Meshuggah Nothing (Re-Release)
Slightly improved variation of the original album. Credited this IS a re-release, so it should be expected, but the audio on this track feels slightly improved compared to the original album. Still not a fan of the vocal work...
MF DOOM MM.. Food
The album that is good enough under the MF Doom name, but this album has the (same) super-villain concept album w/ a LOT of oddly food-related metaphors. Where this album certainly is not perfect, but the quirkiness of the lyrics are what add an unexpected charm to this album. At least this album is more fluently dynamic than his Danger Doom effort. The only downside I have regarding this album is the middle. Around the 21-25 min mark(?) there's just too many samples that mark as an intrusive interlude that temporarily took my interest away from this album. Aside from that one indifferent aesthetic, this is still a very chill hip-hop album that could rival that of Digable Planets' first album.
MF Grimm American Hunger
Even for a 3-disc album this feat has a lot of great tracks sprinkled all throughout. Personally disc two is the best of the three. The downside is that there're a few too many tracks that're collectively not as lyrically involved, if not forgettable, on this record. Still ranks as the most impressive 3-disc album in my ears.
Midnite Unpolished
Pros, you have tracks that contain some of the better lyrics you may hear in reggae. Cons, they are pretty sparse amongst a tracklist of songs that feel a tad bloated w/ regards to the track lengths.
Midnite Jubilees of Zion
Roughly the same length as their first album, and yes, their lyrics are more condensed per track. Although some tracks tend to be repetitive lyrically, this album ties w/ their first in terms of enjoyment.
Midnite Seek Knowledge Before Vengeance
Perhaps the closest effort toward a 4/5 rating in this band's catalogue (as of now).
MIRE (CAN) Inward​:​Outward
Somehow a band has blended the sounds of early Tool w/ a vocal likeness to that of Depeche Mode. I never would have thought such a combination would exist nor sound as pleasant until I heard this album. If you can find this album, I strongly recommend you to buy & support this band's music. This is an album EVERYONE ought to hear at least once! (12/14/16) Still has a lingering sound that's pretty good, but not as a strong prog album as I remembered...
Moloko Do You Like My Tight Sweater?
I think I know where Gorillaz got some of their trip-hop influences from. However, I cannot really define this as a "traditional" trip-hop album since this record sounds much more poppy & upbeat rather than (the "traditional" outfit of) relaxed/chilled, as if trying to imitate the Bjork eccentricity. Not a bad attempt on their part for tempting to be different from other electronica albums, but I cannot help hearing how this record has an inability to balance their funky instrumental elements from their lyrical & vocal accompaniment. Not worth passing up but certainly can be polished further!
Moloko I Am Not A Doctor
A tad more cohesive than compared to their Do You Like My Tight Sweater? effort. In that, I mean the interludes are separate from the main tracks (organized filler), and the tracks take the time to dabble in various orientations of electronica. However, at the cost of their trip-hop elements welcomes tracks that feature techno and house elements. Some tracks come off as stale (ex: Pretty Bridges), and that take away from this album's focus as a trip-hop record (IF that was this album's purpose). However, I would still listen to this over their first album.
Moon Duo Circles
Morcheeba Who Can You Trust?
Account "dont dig dancehall" is pretty spot on about the lack of variety in this album but still offers some pretty entertaining & exceptional tracks. Although lyrically, this album could've been done better (ex: track 2 and 4)... Tracks 5, 7, and 9 serve as my highlights for this album.
Morcheeba Charango
The airy qualities of this act have finally returned on this album. The downside is that there comes an occasional track that just sounds too different from the rest of the album (ex: Charango - pleasant until beats come off heavier then and rapping coming at the final fourth of the track [rather odd placement for lyrical delivery]). Aside from a few tracks being personally indifferent toward, I'd say this album even tops their Who Can You Trust? attempt, as this band's 2nd best record.
Morphine Good
Instrumentations are really good but the lyrics are a bit lacking in comparison toward the music this 3-piece has created. The sound reminds me of Catherine Wheel if they focused on the jazz genre as opposed to shoegaze. A pretty cool album that perhaps could be enhanced w/ a little track re-arranging. Perhaps the most enjoyable 3.5/5 rating I've ever had the great fortune to hear up until now.
Morphine Yes
As much as I enjoy the saxophone in this album, I cannot help but feel that this album focused too much on the sax leaving the other instruments no serious time to shine. The vocals also felt too confident in this album unlike their prior work, making the energizing vocals feel a tide out of place in some areas.
Moving Atlas Et Al
Mr. Bungle Disco Volante
Mudvayne The End of All Things to Come
(9/12/15) How this album could be compared to their first effort is beyond me... (11/28/16) Okay, they dropped most their Slipknot/Nothingface-esque vocals for cleaner vocal delivery AND (most of) their prog rock influences. HOWEVER, this album still offers some heavy instrumental play that deserves recognition, esp the bass and drums.
My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult Confessions Of A Knife
A slow startup but gets better by track 3 (roughly 11.5 minutes in), but that that stumble greatly impacts this album's repetitive listening value...
Nakaido Reichi Serial Experiments Lain OST
I like the variety offered in here. Too bad the opening theme (Duvet by BOA) isn't included. Otherwise a nice blend of alternative rock, blues, and electronica soundscapes. The anime itself is also God-tier, if you enjoy the serial, cerebral, and mind f-ery.
Naxatras Naxatras
Appreciating this (global) wave of music groups trying to replicate sounds from a different time (i.e. 1970s) by resorting to either analog recordings or using analog instruments. This is a pretty good attempt at some space rock and definitely worth a repetitive listen even as a 3.5/5. The downside is that this album doesn't stay as an instrumental album... When hearing the instruments, the abrupt/sudden mention of the vocals feel either out of place or distracting to the album's experience. All that said, the vocals really don't take too much enjoyment away from the album. Definitely worth owning a copy but there really is no rush toward owning this music.
Nero's Rome Togetherly
Neurosis Times of Grace
Night of Sevens The Days Surrounding
For anyone fans of Animal Collective's Merriweather album, you'll definitely like this album!
Nine Horses Snow Borne Sorrow
Not a fan of the (main) vocalist but the instrumentations well make up for that deficit. While there are some excellent sections played on this album, some of the instruments sound independent from one another as opposed to creating one harmonious music pattern. I don't mind a bit of spotlight for certain musicians to strut their stuff, but these tracks do not necessarily offer such opportunities. Even w/ all that said, this is still a pretty solid jazz-rock album!
Nine Inch Nails Pretty Hate Machine
If this is what mainstream industrial music has to offer me, "oh joy..." Now I feel obligated to seek out other bands just to make sure there are other bands who've done the industrial genre justice. Tracks 1, 4, 6, and 8 are pretty good, even w/ some minor aesthetic imperfections. The main grievance I have w/ this album is the lyrical density in this album is not very impressive. Some of the songs didn't even bother to have a third stanza prepared, and the average length per track is roughly 5 mins each. I figured for songs that lasted this long would have more varied lyrical passages in accordance to their length. Then again, not every band can have a great 1st album. (12/8/16) Coming off on an industrial binge, and am now re-evaluating some of my former ratings. Certainly more uniform but still wished for more aggression...
Nirvana Bleach
Nirvana Nirvana
Definitely a cheap way to market another compilation album to market off the very successful band of the decade know as Nirvana, but still worth the money! The (unreleased) first track may not be perfect but still shows how certain direction make the lack of lyrics yet bombarding sounds can make a great track. The rest of the album has some pretty good highlights from their selected discography. As much as I've played this album in my car, I'd say this is the spot-on highlight album of Nirvana. But their entire catalogue cannot (to me) just be comprised onto just ONE disc! Nirvana was much better than that. Although I'm certain Mr. Cobain would incline to tell all of us there are inspirations that are more worthy of being praised, but that's just speculation...
Noiseheads 1994
A bit uncomfortable giving this album a 4/5 only on the condition of how THIS sound is definitely as advocated for a 90s grunge band. We the observers get it, you CAN imitate a sound that could be considered one of the great grunge acts of that decade... And? With at least 2 decades passing, I figured that this act would've incorporated different elements of music into their grunge sound to give a "unique" take of the genre. Nirvana had punk, Smashing Pumpkins were enveloped in shoegaze, Alice In Chains used sludge metal, Soundgarden made do w/ heavy metal, Blind Melon dabbled in psychedelia, and Truly had a crack at prog rock. This group I know has IMMENSE potential, and I KNOW they can do better. Even w/ all that said, I'm still going to buy a copy!
Nonpoint To the Pain
Taking all the best elements from Statement and Recoil and you get this album! In my opinion, this is really the only album worth owning from this band.
Nothingface An Audio Guide to Everyday Atrocity
Alright now this is what I'm talking about: melodic orchestrations, hardcore vocals, and some great guitar play. A much more elaborate album than their first. This may be the second nu-metal oriented band to reach a potential 4.5/5 rating, but just not w/ this album.
Nothingface Skeletons
Now (US) Now That's What I Call Christmas!
Not a really big Christmas music enthusiast (thanks [INSERT MEGASTORE NAME]), but this is one compilation of some timeless versions of Christmas songs. It might just be the only NOW (US version) double-album, or hell any NOW album, worth owning.
Nujabes Spiritual State
Ocean Towers Distractions
Oh Hiroshima In Silence We Yearn
Came upon this album by chance and I enjoy what I'm hearing. Mostly instrumental shoegaze w/ many layers of sound. Not unique but very bombastic to the ears.
ohGr Welt
For those interested in a "poppy" industrial album, this record may be what you're looking for. Some tracks have segments that sound a bit displaced at times, but still pretty enjoyable.
Ol' Dirty Bastard Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version
The majority of the hip hop I favor have a common theme: the smaller the amount of "boasting" and materialism, the better. This album just made the exception. The reason is b/c his boasting is often "backhanded." After insulting his opponent(s), he then (humbly) warns how there's a downside to him acting this way. From his drug use, his promiscuity (evident in his first track, haha), and his association amongst the downtrodden. This album reveals a full spectrum of the life ODB was living, and probably continued to live up until his death. To any Nas fans of the Illmatic album, THIS is the better album, [5/6/16] but by only a hair. The main problems w/ this album stem from a rather long, pointless intro while followed by 4-5 tracks in a row that're much weaker compared to the rest of the album. While this album on the plus side shows a unique perspective of hip-hop lifestyle, the downside is that this is an album w/ less replay value than other regarded hip-hop albums...
Ongkara Ongkara
Pretty much if a TOOL duplicate wanted to focus on folk-oriented music... Still pretty good, but thinks the lengths of each track were too short. Aside from those minor flaws, if anyone doesn't mind these imperfections, THIS is a thoroughly good album!
Ongkara Hopes & Corpses
A few minor changes in this album's sound include the use of samples and more intense vocals (very few instances [ex: tracks 8-11]). A nice effort in mending their tracks to sound more brutal, but still not quite there for me to consider this album as "unique."
Orbs Asleep Next to Science
Orbs Past Life Regression
Still not impressed w/ the vocals but the instrumentations are KILLER on this album, w/ exception to the electronica elements found through tracks 6-8. If you're looking for any impressionable prog rock albums for the '16 year, this is an album worth considering for a listen.
Oriya Light To Dark
Thumbs up Oriya for making a decent hard/prog rock album. Hope to find your CD somewhere and add to my collection.
Parabelle Reassembling the Icons
Pretty good, but I think this album still pales a tad in comparison to their first effort. Still very polished and a great listen!
Parental Advisory Ghetto Street Funk
KRS-One definitely had some influences for this group, but cannot help how it tries too hard to come off as a "not-Return to the Boom Bap" album, and they DID by scratching a LOT of the consciousness influences from their lyrics (in comparison to KRS-One)... Still a pretty nice 3.5/5 hip-hop album that holds fairly well.
Pase Rock Bullshit As Usual
If only Substantial's first album was this chill...
Paul Dukas The Sorcerer's Apprentice (L'apprenti sorcier)
Peach Giving Birth To A Stone
Perfect Beings Perfect Beings II
Perfect Beings Perfect Beings
Perturbator Dangerous Days
Phallucy Valium
An alternative rock album w/ vocals that can be paralleled to the lead of Radiohead and a hybrid of stoner & post-rock instrumentations. A pretty decent album when you're in the mood for something soothing yet turbulent.
Pinwheel Reset
Another TOOL duplicate that found a way to keep their hard rock roots w/ prog rock lyricism in songs lasting on average 4-minutes. Reset, Die Laughing, and Distress were my highlights for this album.
Placebo Without You I'm Nothing
Imagine to vocals similar to that of Green Day (enhanced nasal) w/ and alternative rock style similar to a pale version of Catherine Wheel but more atmospheric than Whipping Boy, and you get this album. Personally not a fan of the vocals, but the instrumentations make for a fair compromise listening for this album. Although I wonder how many listens will it take for me to overlook this guy's singing... The album gets easier to listen to after track 4.
Placebo Sleeping with Ghosts
Okay... So now Placebo is going full boar into an electronica direction... Vocals are still as annoying (to me) as ever, but the instrumentations are pretty nice. The lyrics are a tad repetitive in the beginning, but by after track 4 (title track) the album's lyrics begin to pick up. Tracks 2, 6, and 8 serve as the weaker songs on this album imo.
Placebo Meds
I wonder if there's a pattern w/ Placebo's albums. Their albums usually seem to pick up by track 4 for some odd reason... The lyrics are more romantic oriented than I care for although admit they're at least not obnoxious or nauseating. But yeah, the first three tracks are a tad repetitive for myself to enjoy, but the rest of the album is pretty good. Vocals are still annoying though, haha. Tracks that were "eh": 2, 7, and 9. Best track: Song to Say Goodbye.
Plini Sweet Nothings
A tad better than Other Things. Instrumentals appear more complex than the last EP.
Porcupine Tree Up the Downstair
Has some really excellent instrumental moments sprinkled in this album and stacks up as a great listen. I cannot help but feel this album as a love letter to psychedelic rock of the 70's to early 80's. Still a fantastic album, but must give credit where credit is do: an awesome listen but not entirely unique amongst its genre (yet). Up the Downstair serves as the highlight if this album in terms of an unique song identity.
Portishead Third
Praxis Transmutation (Mutatis Mutandis)
This album came off as excellent until it came about 3/4 the way finished. The last section just sounded boring when compared to the first three quarters. Still enjoyable while it lasted...
Primus Pork Soda
Protoje A Matter of Time
[REGGAE] Not as excellent as Ancient Future but it does come close. Tracks 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 are my choice highlights for this album.
Protoje 7 Year Itch
Really enjoying the variety offered on here. First two songs kinda deflate the initial appeal of this album but picks back up rather quickly. My choice tracks include 3, 4, 8, 10, 12, and 13.
Protoje The 8 Year Affair
[REGGAE] As of now my favorite dancehall reggae album. Tracks 2, 3, 5, 7, and 11 serve as my highlights. Definitely a leg up over his first album, and his collaborations are getting better w/ each record.
Psychedelic Porn Crumpets High Visceral Pt. 1
I might be overselling this album as the 2010's Loveless [My Bloody Valentine]. They both audibly "backseat" the lyrics w/in their songs to have the listener focus on their luscious instrumentals. Unlike Loveless' dream pop, this record instead dawns a grunge outfit for their distorted sections. The longer tracks have a jam rock quality in how they tend to change tempos and rhythms throughout giving off occasional prog rock qualities. Track 10 (Denmark/Van Gogh & Gone) is the puzzling embodiment of this album. It has a buildup (Denmark) toward a great opus (VGAG) that's well worth the listen. However I'd be the side arguing how there were enough Denmark moments throughout this record to ease the listener into or build toward the next VGAG moments. A great record no question, but I think the pacing could've been improved.
Psychic TV Themes
A haunting, yet elongated, instrumental classic-oriented industrial album. Every few so tracks make a mention of (potential) new instrument names that will be heard w/in this album. Admittedly some tracks are more pleasant than others, but this perhaps is one of (if not the only) Themes-named albums that has anything that's worth listening. Even w/ all that's said, I cannot imagine listening to this album as a repetitive listen.
Psychic TV Dreams Less Sweet
... Okay, the psychedelia is at least more consistent in this album in comparison to their prior album... Thinking I've encountered another Killing Joke moment where upon having to listen into a few more albums before I begin hearing a heavier presence of industrial music from this band...
Psychic TV Those Who Do Not
The industrial influences are found in nearly every track (FINALLY). Another quality that works for this album is their varying songs' lengths alongside their Untitled tracks. The Untitles last long enough to make the next track all the more impacting, taking it's listener(s) by surprise w/ distorted or post-punk vocals, distorted feedback, and creepy samples. On a side note: Meanwhile... served as the weakest track on this album.
Psychic TV Trip Reset
Alright, NOW I've come to the realization: Psychic TV is NOT (primarily) an industrial band. They are post punk, and there is a difference... Now back to the album, and... WOW! This perhaps is the most sonically cohesive album in this band's discography, and their choice of genre this time was psychedelia. The difference w/ this album is that it's track approach is elongated for every song, making each song feel a tad drone-ish but not long enough to become uninteresting. Admittedly there are some odd samples and light vocals, but I think they work toward the album's identity.
Public Enemy Fear of a Black Planet
Oddly enough, I feel this to be a 3.5/5 (or the lightest 4/5 hip-hop albums I've ever rated). The beats and pretty good but I feel there to be some real problems w/ this album. First, as big as this group is, I'm surprised how few members get their mention/voice on this album - I only hear either Chuck D or Flavor Flav versing while the rest pretty much remain silent. Second, there are A LOT of samples on here. Samples can add to any "concept" album, but when samples take up the majority of each track, they leave little to no room for the members to splurge their delivery afterward. After samples go on after 30-sec to 1-min, I would feel it necessary for the artists to at least deliver verses that go on at least double (even triple) the length of the track. All that said, I know this album is good, but it is very overrated...
Pulse Ultra Headspace
Pure Reason Revolution The Dark Third
Where the vocal harmonies are impressive [aahing and oohing], I can't hear the instrumental sections as being as strong upon the first listen. Nothing really STRUCK me aside from a few sections throughout the album. Maybe fans enjoy the 'aa/oohing' more than me, but I think that could've been room for more differing lyrical sections. Some of the lyrics at times sound a little repetitive. With that said, I think I enjoy this album more overall than Tool's (no rearranging) 10,000 Days album of the same year. The lead male vocalist faintly reminds me of Brian Wilson. I prefer the second half of this album over its first half.
Queens of the Stone Age Queens of the Stone Age
Quicksand Manic Compression
Quicksilver Messenger Service Quicksilver Messenger Service
Perhaps one of the most tame psychedelia albums I've ever heard, with regards even to their final (and longest) track. The one minor let-down to the whole album is that it's too short - this album didn't even reach the 45-min mark, but I digress. For every minute was very enjoyable, even though barely peaking over 30-mins.
Ra From One
Never heard from bands w/ any Middle Eastern influence before. Now I think I might need to look further into such music, even if the influence is rather fuzzed down from all the nu-metal being blasted into my ears. This is not a really, really great album. This is certainly though better than most nu-metal material being pumped out during this decade (of the album's release).
Rage Against the Machine The Battle of Los Angeles
This album has it's moments where it's tracklist sounds superior to Evil Empire, but still comes off short from being a record that could compare to their first effort.
Red (USA) Of Beauty and Rage
Never really been a big fan of the Christian rock scene, but this band definitely showed some potential w/ this album (nearly a borderline 4/5). Now THIS is the album that should've been in place of their Innocence and Instinct album. I dare say this might be their magnum opus until they learn to stray away from their 10 Years' similarities.
Red Elvises I Wanna See You Bellydance
Some definite Faith No More influences (in terms of funkability) but they REALLY pay off in this album. The lead vocalist reminds me of a cross between Mike Patton and Adam Sandler (when he was funny) alongside Dick Dale guitar and other accompanying funky beats. How they drifted so far away in their next album is beyond me. This album is awesome!
Red Hot Chili Peppers Mother's Milk
Instrumentally impressive through and through, but still has a few meandering tracks (2, 4, 7, and 8) that keep me from immersing in this album as I'd wish to... Still a pretty solid album. A tad more enjoyable than Incubus' Make Yourself album.
Red Hot Chili Peppers The Uplift Mofo Party Plan
Can hear the subtle improvements that went on to craft their Mother's Milk album. A funky little gem but certainly not one of the Red Hot Chili Peppers' best works.
RINI After the Sun
Overall pretty good for a soul album, but Aphrodite EASILY tops all efforts on this release. Good Intentions being the weakest track I could hear. Oceane is also a pretty good collaboration.
Rishloo Terras Fames
When listening to this album after listening to Feathergun and then Eidolon, any fan can clearly hear the improvements that Rishloo has made over the years. This album reveals the potential of a sound that eventually became discernibly unique amongst the progressive rock community. So unique that album serves as my standard for all 3.5/5 ratings regarding prog rock.
Riverside Out of Myself
Robin Finck and Wordclock NOCT
A really great effort from an enigmatic member from Nine Inch Nails. Personally not the biggest appreciator of their interpretations of industrial music, but this take on dark ambiance reminds me of Nurse With Wound that's just as eerie as NWW's first album.
Rusted Root Cruel Sun
Yeah, we've all heard their second song before (whether is be the pancake scene from Matilda or some soulless commercial). Their instrumentals overall are impressive but I cannot really rate their vocal (harmonies) as impressively annoying or annoyingly impressive. For fans of Dispatch you'll def enjoy this album.
S.T.E.M. The .7 Compromise
One of my initial interests for joining Sputnikmusic was to find music that was more or less a likeness to TOOL. Eventually, my interests branched into not finding duplicates but just great musicians or bands that could actually play. While I still occasionally admire the many bands that do emulate their Tool influences, there are a few that I've found that managed to keep their influences subtle while maintaining a "unique" quality in their music (ex: Rishloo). THIS album shows a band that was able to grace the 4/5 rating for their instrumentation that manages to shift from atmospheric to blaring (in nearly all the right places). The lead is an enigma for me at this point, but the sound reminds me of an enthusiasm like that of System of a Down.
Sade Stronger Than Pride
Here's an album choosing to focus more on the instrumentals by removing the prior big band jazz instrumentals for more alternative beats (esp 5 and 9), with an exception to the track 10 instrumental. A gutsy change that I'm personally not a fan of, but there're some tracks that do benefit w/o the prior jazz outfit. Tracks 4, 6, and 7 serve as my highlights for this album.
Salmonella Dub Inside The Dub Plates
A trance album that has a lot to offer regarding instrumental variation, especially regarding the use of horns & general reggae influences, although the bass in this record is a tad overbearing to recommend a repetitive listen. Highlight Track: Push On Thru
Santeria Year of the Knife
Not exactly the greatest stoner rock album to come out of this decade, but certainly surpasses others around this later half. Nowhere to Go, Mexico, and Sold My Soul For Nothing serve as my highlights for this album.
Scary Mother Tai Laeo
Seal Seal II
(7/21/17) Maybe I'm missing out on what makes an "essential" R&B album due to the variety of interpretations this genre has faced over the decades (Wikipedia is nearly god). On this album though, a good portion of this album's instrumentals didn't really feel as "soulful" as they could've been. Many of the preludes (track beginnings) lasted too long and a fair portion of tracks didn't have those laid-back funk sessions that synced w/ the vocalist. Lyrics though in a lot of the tracks were certainly more elaborate than expected (ex: 1, 3, 5, 7, and 8). In short, not the greatest album but still fairly great every once in a while to hear.
Seether One Cold Night
Perhaps one of the few post-grunge performances of the nu-metal decade that will hold a vibrant flame. While some of the studio tracks featured in this performance are better, somehow we have a band that was able to convert their material into a vibrant acoustic set. The DVD of this performance makes the experience all the better imo.
Shelter Mantra
Shepherd Stereolithic Riffalocalypse
Shorty Thumb Days
Instrumentations are awesome but the vocals are neither very appealing nor venture too far from their "comfort zone."
Shrum Red Devils and Purple Ringers
Silverchair Frogstomp
Six by Seven The Things We Make
Vocals similar to Damon Albarn and Radiohead-ish drawn-out guitar play (esp for the long tracks). Pretty good album for the genre(s) mentioned, but not in the realm of "unique" quality.
Skindred Babylon
A pretty enjoyable metal album w/ a very unique reggae twist that makes that record stand out amongst other metal sounds, especially those of the nu-metal variety. Still could use some fine tuning, but a great listen nonetheless.
Skinny Puppy Bites
Re-evaluating a few albums considering that I'm in an industrial feel at the moment... This album takes it's long tracks rather seriously w/ all the techno effects that the 80s had to offer for this 80s ALBUM (which is a plus for effort) while the much shorter tracks are moreorless cross me as filler, and not contextual filler as used in the conceptual-album sense. One could skip them and still not miss out on the main tracks. In contrast, this sinister-feeling album is much more enjoyable than the romantic Depeche Mode's Music For the Masses (in the industrial sense).
Skinny Puppy Mind: The Perpetual Intercourse
Some of the longer tracks could've been shortened or at least use those industrial loops w/ some more instrumental/soundboard creativity. Then again, this was an album before NIN's Downward Spiral or Marilyn Manson's first album.
Skinny Puppy Cleanse Fold and Manipulate
One of the many more condensed (better imo) industrial albums that Skinny Puppy will provide in their upcoming discography. Another album that proves that what time goes into your tracks can make a significant difference from making a track either boring or intriguing. In this case, the album is a tad short of equaling to that of Caustic Grip (Front Line Assembly album). Has a heavy beginning but eventually becomes very groovy by the middle.
Skinny Puppy The Process
Concept albums usually take a high place in my mind regarding music. Where having to come up w/ one album is not difficult enough, the task becomes even more challenging when filtering & reviewing every track to craft them around one central (agreed) theme. Now back to the album - here the listener has the pleasure of listening to one of Skinny Puppy's more accessible albums. The aggressive SP noise is toned down a bit for an industrial sound w/ hints of art rock plus non-industrial electronica. It's entertaining enough and worth listening, but just doesn't come off as anything we have already heard from this band. Slightly better than Filter's Short Bus album, but not by much.
Sleep Volume One
Slipknot Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses
Okay Slipknot, not bad... Enjoying how these tracks actually sound different! I think I finally have an album to stack against Ten Thousand Fists, and definitely one of the more impressive 3.5/5 albums I've heard!
Sloth Dead Generation
I don't know how this album slipped through the cracks. Song writing that parallels to that of System of a Down at times w/ an instrumentation that's far less bombastic but certainly not outside the realm of art rock. THIS is one of the better nu-metal albums out there that deserves more recognition.
Smerins Anti-Social Club Primordial Cordial
A very diverse album that DOES have occasional reggae flair.
Snakepit Eeyore
The real downside to this album is the quality of these tracks. Mind you, I know that production is NOT a defining quality (for me) w/in music and even some albums benefit from this quality. At least for this album, the sounds would've made for a killer shoegaze-ish album I'm sure if the quality were improved by removing the static from these tracks. The lengths of each track have also reached a longer average to that of 3-mins as opposed to the 2-min average length from the band's first album. May need to listen to some more Dinosaur Jr material in order for me to fully immerse in this album, but this is still pretty good even w/ the bad production.
Snot Get Some
An interesting mix of hardcore, nu-metal, and latent funk. Certainly a different nu-metal album indeed. One that definitely deserves more recognition, but still a tad short of being one of the better funk albums... Still better than RATM's Evil Empire album.
Snowmine Laminate Pet Animal
The airy vocals, the interaction of chilled, dreamy instrumental work, and the occasional infusion of electronica pop make this for a very entertaining album of the indie pop genre but am having difficulty in discerning how this album stacks when compared to those in the shoegaze variety. Above all a very nice gem to hear from Bandcamp when you find the time, but I'm not hearing the tribal quality as promised from this album...
Soen Tellurian
Instrumentals have improved dramatically and took a page from their prior album by focusing on their harmonies (pro) to compensate for the main vocalist's 'range comfortability' (con). Plenty of instances where the tracks feel a tad bloated instrumentally as well. Personally their best tracks rest within the first half of their album overall.
Soen Lykaia
Perhaps their best album to date, yet cannot help but feel this album is still missing something that's preventing them from becoming a 4/5 rated record...
Sol Invictus Trees in Winter
This album makes its focus more on the atmosphere (build-up) of each track in comparison to the lyrics rather balancing the two as in their first album. Not a bad listen in the least but just don't expect any change in comparison to their prior work. Their second half was more impressive than the first half.
Soothsayers Lost City
I think I'm hearing the next (mostly instrumental) Groundation within here, and it sounds pretty good.
Soothsayers Human Nature
It took long enough to center their vocal sections around mostly harmonies as opposed to their lead w/ backup. I personally enjoy this change AND they incorporated more reggae elements. Sucks that it took near a decade to craft an album just as good as their first.
Soothsayers Tradition
Probably a tad better than Human Nature, and ties w/ their Lost City in my ears. This might be the closest Soothsayers has come to a 4/5 rating, at only 18 years later...
Soothsayers We Are Many
Not as bombastic as their last album but a pretty decent variety will keep any dub reggae listener entertained.
Sophie's Earthquake Sophie's Earthquake
Very heavy and bleak psychedelic stoner rock. If Queens of the Stone Age had a leaning toward heavier bass and haunting vocals to that of Dax Riggs (solo work, not "Acid Bath" Riggs). Definitely a gem worth polishing, and really optimistic for their LP now!!
Sophie's Earthquake The Flood
This album is a mixed bag of amazing stoner rock instrumentations, but there's not enough "uniformity" on this album to be considered a solid 4/5 album for me. The experimental elements are just as heavy as ever, but the vocals don't even come until the end of track 2 (nearly 11 mins in). In some degrees this album tops Lucid Planet's debut album since it's so much heavier w/ occasional flairs of improvisation which is not often heard in stoner rock that I really appreciate. Still an awesome listen for when you have the time.
Soundtrack (Disney) Aladdin
Soundtrack (Film) Django Unchained
South Park Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics
Another Christmas album w/ it's own hits & misses of great ORIGINAL tracks and some "eh" Christmas staples. Still better than most Christmas albums!
Spider Island Morals of a Dead Wave
Spinning Black Circle Spinning Black Circle
Spiral Architect A Sceptic's Universe
Perhaps one of the more entertaining heavy metal prog albums I've yet to hear. There are not many albums I could even compare this one to for better reference as so unique. The heavy metal vocals, the prog rock instrumentations w/ hints of hard rock flare. I never thought an album could exist past the 80's, and to my surprise this was an album from an '00 year. Hopefully this album will obtain more favoritism in the near future 'cause this is a "left-field" album that needs more recognition.
Staind MTV Unplugged
Staind Tormented
Aaron Lewis, and importantly Staind, showed definite potential to be a name in mainstream rock w/ later singles in Break the Cycle. Most of their work wouldn't be in my greatest tastes. This album however is entirely different from their later work. Being in '96, this album has a sound that likely was imitated in other metal acts w/in this same decade such as Disturbed and Godsmack. Some even in the next decade such as Slipknot, Drowning Pool, and Five Finger Death Punch. This rating may be a bit biased, even over-bloated, but I believe music that spawns imitators must mean their "sound" must be doing something right that is worth imitating, and even worthy of a higher rating.
Staind The Singles: 1996-2006
A bit disheartening to acknowledge that Staind actually made an album that could be referred as their best hits. Don't get me wrong, some bands have a multitude of great songs that are often compiled onto one album (for easy profit), but Staind at least had enough material for that much. In short, trying to highlight this album will always come off as double-edged. The Hiro Ballroom tracks aren't too bad either. This album is coming close to a 10 year anniversary. I have a glimmer of hope for one day when Staind will release the ENTIRETY of their Hiro Ballroom ('06) performance.
Sticky Fingers Caress Your Soul
More like an indie rock album w/ some occasional reggae flair. Not half bad but kinda deceiving if you're looking for a new reggae staple. Freddy Crabs SLAPS hard!
Strictly Taboo Playing With Fire
Strictly Taboo Speak No Evil
Stuck Mojo Snappin' Necks
Relies on a little more heavy metal influences rather than nu-metal but I'm definitely not complaining. I'm just stating for listeners to expect a heavy metal album w/ a hip-hop delivery of the lyrics. Definitely better than anything Limp Bizkit have ever done, but still not up to par w/ even the 3.5/5 material from Rage Against the Machine.
Submersed In Due Time
Glad to hear some track diversity in a hard rock album instead of the same riffing in every song!
Sugartooth Sugartooth
As good as the instrumentations are, the vocals were not as unique in comparison to other grunge bands out there. Definitely an album worth mentioning in regards to grunge (especially underrated albums), but certainly not one great enough to be considered a classic.
SUMA The Order of Things
The efforts in this sludge metal album were great overall, but nothing really too spectacular. The instrumentations I have no qualms with, but the vocals and lyrics just felt lost in this entire album. Maybe that was the point, but still feel this album could've found time to make them just as apparent as their instrumentals.
Sunk Loto Between Birth and Death
The singing is not too abrasive (better than Deftones' lead imo) and the instrumentals are very respectable, especially the drumming. Lyrics may not be that strong (track 6 is one of their weaker songs), but the energy from their instrumentations well make up for that deficiency. This is a discreet nu-metal album that definitely stands out above most. (5/20/18) Correction: definitely not better than Chino after hearing again, but still one of the better nu-metal records to exist.
Suns of the Tundra Tunguska
Here this album focused more on their soundscapes and improved the general depth of their lyrics. Another niche feature that I also appreciated was how this album also took the time to create interludes b/w every one or two tracks. Not sure if these intentionally convey a concept album but makes for a more entertaining listen than from their self-titled album.
Swans Cop
Swans Swans
Swans Love of Life
A rather eccentric neofolk album that's more uplifting in comparison to this band's normally nihilistic discography. The album itself isn't bad, but just feels a bit off from the rest of their other major albums. In all honesty, Brendan Nixon worded this album better.
Sweet Smoke Just A Poke
System of a Down Hypnotize
Definitely a REALLY good album, but it's also the most tame album in their discography. If anything, this album may serve as the best introduction for anyone interested in this band's music. After Hypnotize, I recommend the following order of listening regarding intensity: Mezmerize, Toxicity, Steal This Album!, and finally their self-titled (first) album.
TAD Inhaler
Taiwan MC DiskoDub
Outside of tracks 5, 7, and 8 (especially) this is a great headbanger.
Tame Impala A Transparent Night (Unofficial)
My rating feels a tad conflicted. While these tracks could easily be w/in the 3.5/5 category, I feel it would be demeaning to rate this music any less. While at the same time, I feel a 4/5 is perhaps too generous. Even not being an official record, this is another compilation of songs that will certainly please any fans of Tame Impala.
Tantric After We Go
This album has improved vocals, added psychedelic sounds, and great harmonies. This album perhaps would be rated higher if this pre-existed in the 90s, but this sound of post-grunge is just a bit off (to me). It somewhat hurts an album when a listener can hear a few songs and just "feel" the music to be similar in another album (for me borderline Seether's Disclaimer II). I can only imagine how disappointed I will be when I start listening to Earshot...
Team Sleep Team Sleep
Temple of Thieves Passing Through the Zer0s
Sometimes imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. Instrumentations are great and the vocals near-imitate that of Tool. Another duplicate, but certainly enjoyable.
Tera Kora Soulswing flips <3
A pretty solid set of tracks alongside a few decent remixes (what keep this from being a 4/5 rating). Give 'em a listen. Summertime Zeze is frickin' sick. SUCK IT MINA!
Tera Kora bassa nova
Short but sweet, so give it a listen. How this guy hasn't or has been contacted by Hydeout Productions or Madlib (to my knowledge) is crazy!
The Afghan Whigs Congregation
The improvement of the production quality can really be heard all throughout this album. Each song manages to come off w/ such a robust feeling almost like that of Blind Melon's self-titled album. The difference though is where BM had more psychedelic instrumentals and diverse vocals, this sound relies more on funky instrumentals w/ vocals that do not have a wide range when compared to BM's Shannon Hoon. Still an impressive record!
The Birthday Massacre Nothing and Nowhere
The music that Mazzy Star could be if she decided to outlay a synth-heavy, gothic rock orientation w/ an industrial feel. Certainly no Chelsea Wolfe, but this comes pretty close.
The Birthday Massacre Violet
A few different songs as from their first album, but leave little difference from their first album. Still thoroughly good, even w/ some of their songs having some lyrics that are a tad juvenile (upon further reading).
The Birthday Massacre Walking With Strangers
More of an alternative rock edge to this one but still manages to keep that near shoegaze-esque industrial atmosphere of their prior album. Another plus goes to the improved songwriting. Starting to think I've found a gothic staple to add to my music collection! Sorry Evanescence, but you have been bested here...
The Birthday Massacre Pins and Needles
A lot more rock in this album compared to their prior work yet still as dreamy as ever! Finally getting comfortable enough to dim down their synth by a few notches and make an attempt at crafting some brooding industrial rock. Still struggling to tell if this is considered a near classic but definitely worthy of being in the 4-rating spectrum.
The Black Keys Thickfreakness
The Black Keys Rubber Factory
Okay, I've come to the realization that I sincerely like this album. It only took me up to track 7 before I settled w/ acknowledging this band, or at least this album, can play some decent songs for a (humble) duo. Even so, I'm finding it hard to rationalize how this band can rank in as one of the "top" blues artists on this site. You have a band that's trying to mark itself amongst the other great blues artists & groups like Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Cream, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, BB King, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Chuck Berry, and even Social Distortion. I've got a lot more listening to do before I can confirm if this album is even worthy of a 4-spectrum rating...
The Butterfly Effect Begins Here
(9/12/15) A hard rock sound that occasionally dabbles in distorted guitars as shoegaze soundscapes w/ odd time signatures (hence the prog rock segments). A really decent debut but does not care to really dabble w/ their strong points enough to craft a solid 4/5 rating. Yet...
The Butterfly Effect Imago
(9/12/15) Definite improvements on the instrumentals by taking sprinkling in more of their guitar distortions, and the vocals sound more pleasant than from their first album where even their romantic-oriented songs sound pretty decent. But still a tad short of being a 4/5 rating.
The Deadlights The Deadlights
The Green Hawai'i '13
A drastic improvement over their last album. Much more instrumental diversity can be heard on each track, outside of the romantically lyrical, to stand out on this record. Sadly, it is the lyrics of a few songs that keep this album from being a solid 4/5 rating in my ears. Still an album worth adding to anyone's reggae collection.
The Mars Volta De-Loused in the Comatorium
The Mars Volta Frances the Mute
Some instrumental sections of this experimental-prog are really trippy, I give this album that and I genuinely enjoyed them. I unfortunately heard several sections that became too repetitive for my tastes. The lyrics were okay, but I think the writing became a bit lazy when stanzas began repeating as well... Repetitive lyrics AND repetitive instrumentals equates in my head as half-baked (lazy-artsy) experimentalism. Mild acceptability for instrumental rock, but just not this album. If this album's runtime was cut in half, this would be a killer album. Where this is an album worth hearing, it does not read in my mind as an album I could hear on repeat (easily). Even w/ all that said, this album is MUCH, MUCH better than Ocean Machine: Biomech. SUCK IT, DEVIN TOWNSEND!
The Marshmallow Ghosts The Marshmallow Ghosts (S/T)
I don't know why I find such an interest in Graveface Records' numerous bands regarding "haunted country," but they seem to be producing some fairly good material for each of their bands. After listening to Dreamend and Black Moth Super Rainbow, I finally listened to this album. The sound I suppose is mostly an odd mixture of electronica, w/ airy vocals, and folk music. I consider this album is on par w/ Dreamend's latest album (Wave After Cowardly Wave).
The Mayan Factor 44
(9/12/15) Re-listening to a few prior rated albums, and will admit this album has lost it's touch... The first track is reminiscent of it's first album, but tracks 2-4 are very mediocre compared to rest of the album, and upon hearing them back to back makes this album's appeal come to a screeching halt. I know this album has good qualities, yet the vocals feel hesitant to "sing" on this record.
The Mayan Factor In Lake 'CH
This band played very well, but I don't know why or how this group segued off course so quickly in this album. Tracks 1-5 were awesome, and then tracks 6 & 8 (technically 8 + 9) thought that a necessary measure to enhance those tracks on the album was to incorporate a "hip-hop delivery" instead of the singing as they had in the rest of their songs. Track 7 also took an odd additive of metal, which also felt a bit out of place compared to their first 5 tracks... Overall, the first half was REALLY good, but tracks 6-8 felt out of place. In short, tracks 1-5, plus 7 would've made for a killer 6-song EP (potentially 4-4.5/5).
The Neville Brothers Yellow Moon
Some of the album has some misses, but has a lot of great vocals & instrumentals in other areas. Generally, the second half if much better than the somber first half.
The Notorious B.I.G. Ready to Die
Album has some thoroughly good instrumental loops, at least better than Nas' Illmatic. Most of the tracks, unfortunately, continue the beat a tad too long (roughly 1-2 minutes each; 10-15 minutes total) and keep going even after the rapping segments end. I get that instrumentals can be cut for remixes, but the segments loop a bit too long imo. Every one of the "filler" tracks even lasted too long, and some (personally) are unnecessary to build-up this album (ex: birthing section of Intro, One More Chance, Fuck Me [Interlude], Respect [ending]). For general entertainment, I acknowledge that the 2nd half of this album is significantly better than the 1st half.
The Pineapple Thief Variations on a Dream
I feel really torn about this rating... In certain songs this record manages to sound superior to other albums of the same year, such as The Mayan Factor's (TMF) In Lake 'Ch (ILC) record. However, it also manages to follow certain stumbles due to their own audible hubris. While ILC had a majority of amazing tracks, the minority of their "out of place" songs kept the album from being an "excellent" worthy hearing. Variations of a Dream starts off nice, pleasant, and airy but doesn't expand beyond treading the shallower waters of their respective genres. It's still a great listen, but not a very strong prog rock/electronica album worthy of being "unique" amongst the genres mentioned... Also, anyone else felt tracks 6 & 7 felt out of place?
The Prayer Chain Mercury
The instrumental heaviness has certainly been refined & lengthened in this album, but the vocals & lyrics still come off as either hit or miss. Tracks 2, 4, 7, 9, and 10 serve as my highlights for this album.
The Receiving End of Sirens Between the Heart and the Synapse
The Seatbelts Vitaminless
The Tea Party Splendor Solis
Took notice of this band for the rather curious selection of similar bands. Led Zeppelin, The Doors, AND Tool - come on... There's no way... At least w/ this album I can definitely hear the first two bands. Both the instrumentations and vocals are just fitting for the whole album. I can imagine this group being perfectly content just performing songs from the Led and Doors catalogue, but this band instead made an album to compliment their interests. Definitely one of the better 3.5/5 ratings I've listened to. Will certainly be owning of copy of this album in the near future!
The Tea Party The Edges Of Twilight
The Tiger Lillies Low Life Lullabies
Crude is probably the only distasteful track that can be skipped on this album. Many of the tracks are not very strong, but they are not terrible either. Track 13 serves as my highlight for this album.
The Upsetters 14 Dub Blackboard Jungle
Sure, it's much better than their prior work and more familiar to the reggae rhythms heard in the 70's, but cannot help this being an album that'd I likely wouldn't replay all too frequently when compared to other reggae records...
The Upsetters Super Ape
The Upsetters Return of the Super Ape
Pretty similar to Super Ape, but some areas in the beginning of this album have sparingly better lyrics heard than in Super Ape. Probably one of The Upsetters' better albums in their catalogue.
The Velvet Underground The Velvet Underground & Nico
The Verve Urban Hymns
The Watchmen Silent Radar
Still got nothing on Throwing Copper, as well as not as one of my higher 3.5/5 recs, but the musicianship has improved all over, especially the lyrics. The album art is pretty good, too!
Thirty Seconds to Mars A Beautiful Lie
Really enjoying some of these 00's decade albums recently. Glad to know I'm finally being able to appreciate other decades of music. Anyway, some bombastic electronica rock that has tracks w/ actually differ in one another. Not perfect, but still enjoyable!
This Misery Garden Another Great Day On Earth
This is pretty much the best Hurt album that Hurt could never create... Good lyrics and pleasant instrumentations. Comparatively speaking, this album reminds me of Machines of Loving Grace that had replaced their industrial atmosphere w/ a gothic atompshere. It echoes w/ melancholy, but doesn't come off as strong "dark rock" album unlike A Fair Dream Gone Mad (In the Silence) which came a few years later. Tracks 1, 5, 7, 8, and 11 serve as my highlights for this album.
This Mortal Coil It'll End in Tears
Is there anyone else that wished the female vocalist should've remained as the ONLY vocalist? Credited the guy could sing far better than I, he just sounded less emotional than his female counterpart... Also, this album just didn't have as much of a lush atmosphere, for me, to really consider this a dream pop album. Still a pretty solid album if not for those indifferences. Another Day serves as my highlight for this album!
This Patch of Sky This Patch of Sky (S/T)
Thought Industry Songs for Insects
Three Legged Fox Not As Far
Production quality is much better on this record. To be clear, this is an ALT ROCK album w/ the occasional reggae flair (esp by the middle third). While not a bad thing, it's just a tad deceiving when expecting an 00's reggae sound. I could imagine listening to tracks 2, 6, 8, and 9 again.
Tool 72826
Tool Opiate
Tool 10,000 Days
Okay, as much as I enjoy Tool's music I should be earnest: this album pales to their prior work... Sure, a lot of excellent-worthy tracks on here (Vicarious, Jambi, and The Pot to name a few) but some filler in here that makes this album sound a bit bloated. Also, Wings For Marie and 10,000 Days were lengthy w/ relatively little pay-off in comparison to the Lateralus' trio track (Disposition-Reflection-Triad). Lipan and Lost Keys, two filler tracks in a row (come on), and what's the deal w/ Intension? I understand the art rock aspect in venturing into new territory, but the electronica aspects sound a bit too different from their alternative metal identity. In short, this may be the 2nd weakest album in their discography, but still makes for a pretty awesome listen.
Toots and The Maytals Funky Kingston
Really should consider viewing the sputnikmusic lists 'cause this is def a good intro album into roots reggae music, outside of Bob Marley and the Wailers.
Toots and The Maytals Sweet and Dandy / Monkey Man
Another example of great-worthy (early) reggae music. Even w/ production lacking, the instrumentations and lively recordings give this album a very authentic feeling toward this sound.
Toots and The Maytals In The Dark
A tad more mellow compared to Funky Kingston (Got to Be There, I See You, Take a Look In the Mirror, etc), even with a few FK tracks incorporated into the tracklist (In the Dark, Time Tough, and Sailing On). Not bad, not bad at all. Tracks 5, 6, and 8 serve as my highlights for this album.
Toots and The Maytals Reggae Got Soul
Perhaps their most balanced album (as of yet) heard so far. It manages a lively atmosphere thru the entire time albeit not nearly as bombastic as their Funky Kingston effort. Note, it's rather difficult to not compare any album this group has created from FK considering it is their most revered record (at least from this site and other sources). Even so, another mellow reggae album from Toots and the Maytals. I tip my hat to you good sirs.
Totem Skin Weltschmerz
Transience Temple
Not expecting any great firsts from this sound, but I certainly hear the potential in this album. Bombastic sounds of hard-prog instrumentations (alongside some differing/odd instrument choices) accompanied by great vocals that sound familiar to that of Thank You Scientist and hints of Leprous. Personally, this band's vocals are much better when compared to TYS. A small tangent here, this album sounds much better than Cog's first album. Now back to this album, I could see this band putting out a potential 4-spectrum album if this band decides to make better use of the their instruments' distortions like that of Hum or Failure. Even w/ all that said, I'm gonna plan on owning this album in the upcoming future!
Traverser Redshift
Trepalium Through the Absurd
Still don't have a strong grasp on death metal, but at least I'm becoming more used to the objective qualities that make up such an album... Still overall impressive instrumentations w/ lyrics that can be audible w/ enough focusing.
Tricky Maxinquaye
Idk... I can understand this album's complexity in crafting a tracklist beyond the laid-back & sensual appeal as other essential trip-hop albums, I can. However, I'd have to disagree in it's execution as an essential trip-hop record. Where duets are not sung in synchronized harmony with occasionally blaring instrumentals that outshine their vocals & sound purposely unnerving make for an interesting album, albeit it's an album that could've been crafted better imo.
Tsar Bomba Silent Queen
The vocal similarity of Dax Riggs of Acid Bath and a bluesy feel as that of Kyuss... Yeah, their description is pretty accurate and make for a very entertaining stoner rock album. An album w/ all the cliched SR instrumentations w/ slight changes in their song structures, but the majority of songs sound too similar to be considered a higher ranking. I'm even detecting a light touch of Clutch - not making any certainties until I have begun ranking their albums. All in all, this album may not be a classic but certainly worthy of the genre and one of the few 3.5's that'd I feel to be an album worth listening for multiple times.
Tsuyoshi Suzuki Trancentral Four / A Trip to Goa
Okay now THIS is a solid 3.5/5 trance album. Such qualities include (1) the "standard" trance formula (fast tempo dance rhythms) per track, (2) tracks have a mild differentiation b/w each making it difficult to discern one another, and (3) still enjoyable enough to have your head bobbing, feet thumping, neck cricking, or maintain any other dance motion really. Still cannot help though that it doesn't sound as layered as some other trance albums I've heard. YAY, NEW TRANCE STANDARDS!
Tumor Circus Tumor Circus
Not sure how to rate this album yet... It has strong similarities to an 80's punk but features minor amounts of improv instrumentations as well as longer track lengths. Enough to at least rate this album as a great within it's genres recognized, but not sure if this album is truly "unique" amongst other punk albums. Having Mr. Biafra (Dead Kennedys) at the vocals as well make this more difficult to consider how "unique" this album is compared to his other contributions... A borderline 4/5 album for me, but still sounds awesome!
Turbowolf Turbowolf
Two People First Body
Some alluring stuff for sure, esp from the vocals (at least from the album's first half). An album worth hearing after an exhausting day at work, but for casual listening a diff experience is likely to follow. While still a great listing experience, I cannot help but hear this as a conditional album... What a start for 2019!
Ugly Kid Joe America's Least Wanted
A lead that has the sound of Pist.On's lead vocalist w/ a heavy metal instrumentation and hints of grunge. A pretty enjoyable album if you're looking for some music outside of the mainstream (80's) heavy metal.
Underbelly For a Cynical Science
A similar background to how Seether came to fame, at least be geographical standards. This album consists of a big scoop of nu-metal, a smaller scoop of System of a Down, and some Rage Against the Machine sprinkled nearly all over.
Unjust Thin Line Emotions
Probably tied w/ Downer in terms of hardcore nu-metal albums are categorized. An AWESOME effort!
Unjust To Lose a Name
Hmm... So they decided to add in electronica elements. An interesting direction. Not as impressive as their prior efforts but still a pretty good album.
Urusei Yatsura Everybody Loves Urusei Yatsura
OH HALLEJULAH! SOME DIVERSE TRACK IDENTITY FINALLY!! But seriously, the songs on this album do not sound all too similar as on their prior two albums. This album takes more of a surf rock approach to their songs w/ more laissez faire (casual listen) feel to their lyrics and instrumental work. Trust me when I say THIS is the only album you'll want from this group.
VESSL Goddess
Definitely better than some Deftones albums, at least by an Around the Fur comparison. Wonder why I cannot find any information about their 2nd album anywhere, other than the release year was 2012...
Vex Red Start With A Strong & Persistant Desire
If you could imagine the Deftones and (Short Bus) Filter had a baby, then this is what you'd get: alluring Chino-like vocals alternative rock w/ spikes of industrial clashing in nearly all the right places. Ranks slightly higher than Concentration (by Machines of Loving Grace) but not by very much...
Voices from the Fuselage Odyssey: The Destroyer of Worlds
I've listened to ambient prog rock before, but I admit to not being well versed. The first listen sounds audibly impressive but needs further examination compared to other albums of the same category... At the moment, I cannot help but hear this album instrumentally pales to Earthside's A Dream In Static. And I'm puzzled why track 6 went straight up electronica compared to the rest of the album - wth Voices!? Again, impressive instrumentations and vocals, but diverting from your album's identity takes appreciation away from this album imo.
Volbeat Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood
Oh FINALLY, some track differentiation!! No seriously, a cameo appearance, a couple cover songs, and now saving their heavy riffs even more than on their previous album. This is like their previous album but slightly enhanced. Oh sure, some may argue how this album doesn't "rock as hard" compared to their prior work, but I would have to disagree on the counts that this album now focuses on a sound that relies on a equal effort on all members of the band as opposed to just relying on their vocal melodies and their guitar sections.
Voodoo Glow Skulls Firme
We All Die (Laughing) Thoughtscanning
First 1-track album I listened to, and admit I'm not that much of a fan when I know I stop myself listening to the whole thing in one sitting. If separated into several tracks as a regular (segmented) album, I'd say it's pretty fair w/ all the numerous genres that are heard throughout the album.
Weirdship Weird Pieces Of The Puzzle
This album is all sorts of things interesting, and perhaps the only way to persuade others (bluntly) is to just listen to the album because mere words cannot truly describe this album's experimentation. For any fans of Mr. Bungle and Buckethead/Primus, I believe you guys would REALLY dig this album.
Whipping Boy Heart Worm
A pretty balanced and discreet shoegaze album for anyone interested in Catherine Wheel. The vocalist is not as adventuring but the instrumentals make up for that deficit.
White Zombie La Sexorcisto-Devil Music Vol. 1
Not a perfect industrial nor heavy metal album, but the charm about this album is that this album doesn't try to be. Unlike their prior albums, this album attempts to take musical interpretation of B-rated horror movies and turn them into an audible experience. Even we know campy horror movies [ex: Evil Dead 2] are meant to be enjoyed and not terrified. This album does the same w/ their music.
White Zombie La Sexorcisto: Devil Music Vol. II
Need to look further into this album, but I'm liking what I'm hearing. Wonder why it took so long to put this out... An album that attempts to continue after Astro-Creep 2000, at least was my initial impression since this album's beginning was the hidden track from the Astro-Creep album. The songs are definitely of the AC feel, and the additional remixes are pretty cool, too. Not something that I find all that often. Link to this album is in the tracklist.
YOB Catharsis
Mostly instrumental, a lot to enjoy, but still finding such elongated sludge metal albums in having such odd placements for vocals. Not a bad album of any sort, I just figured there to be more of a vocal presence w/ these lengths given. Not a lot of repetitive value but still an enjoyable listen when given the time.
Yuri Gagarin At The Center Of All Infinity
As much as I enjoy the atmosphere this instrumental stoner rock album can provide, I cannot help but hear a lot of the same samples and instrumental patterns used are repetitive... Still, a very enjoyable album for any interested.
Yuri Gagarin Yuri Gagarin
A VERY, VERY crunchy beginning for this band. This album just keeps on bringing the heavy doses of guitar distortion, dreamy samples, and groovy (although repetitive) drumming. A pretty good start for this act and will hopefully come to creating some differentiation w/ their tracks so this group, too, can become one of the great space rock acts.
Zombie Frogs Awaken
As impressive as the album is (Ionized being my favorite track), I just have a feeling in the back of my mind that I have heard music similar to this. Even their Bandcamp page pokes at how this sounds very similar to the works of Dream Theater. This is still a very skilled album nonetheless - the sounds are bombastic, each instrument never feels hindering nor intrusive in their tracks, and could easily pass for a 4/5 for many (assuming this to be more "unique" than other albums of these genres). The other minor downside is that this album stems from an instrumental band - those who know my ratings usually do not find high ratings for this realm of prog rock/metal. Still, a very enjoyable album and worth considering to own. I know I will!!

3.0 good
10 Years From Birth to Burial
I'm really appreciating this recent trend of how former bands of alternative rock are dipping their feet into the progressive rock/metal pool(s) in the chances of expanding their music potential for fans young and old. Good to know that there are some musicians that seize such opportunity and adapt to the times. 10 Years has made a pretty fair prog rock album. Now wondering what possibilities await in their rejuvenated future. I admit my rating to be a tad generous w/ the nostalgia of The Autumn Effect, so this album is moreso a 3.5/5 (rating average) - a fair album of the genre but nothing really revolutionary... 5/9/16 - Now I know this is a 3-spectrum album but certainly not on the high end. Although I would debate how this is one of their better low-rated albums in their catalogue, and certainly better than their Wolves album at least.
10 Years Killing All That Holds You
21 Eyes of Ruby Conquer the World Part II & III
A fair improvement compared to their Part I EP, esp after only 1 year. This album features longer tracks involving more segments of instrumentation, giving this album an art rock feel. A few too many of their songs are romantic oriented, but the instrumentations cannot make up for most of the lyrics. Fav track: Unfold Your Mind
311 Music
A lively and instrumentally impressive first album all around, but cannot help in hearing the familiarity of Sublime w/ less reggae influence... This audibly comes off as a significantly less impressive debut by comparison. At least their vocal sections are far more pleasant to hear than from some Red Hot Chili Peppers records. Personally their second half is more enjoyable than their first half.
311 From Chaos
Not enjoying the abrasive direction this band keeps leaning towards. Any reggae influences heard in their prior works appear to be fading. I prefer their first album over this even w/ some of their more spin-worthy tracks like Amber.
311 Soundsystem
I think 311 became scared of change after Transistor.
6gig Tincan Experiment
Has some decent moments of the post-grunge era both vocally and instrumentally, but all have definitely been heard from former acts of yesteryears... Tracks 1, 6, and 10 were my highlights for this album.
A Perfect Circle Three Sixty
Not really a necessary effort for APC. The first 2 albums alone were enough to show Maynard's creativity, but this is an odd mixture of APC's "best of" effort.
Aaron Kamm and The One Drops Feed the Meter
Oh we FINALLY get more noticeable horn sections within the instrumentals. It only took 4 albums (and SIX years) in... Tracks 4, 6, 9, and 10 serve as my highlights for this album.
Absolace Resolve[d]
Absolace Fractals
Absolace's sophomore album show an improvement by diverting away from their heavily laced Tool influences on their first album, but even this new direction has it's share of pros and cons. Incorporation of more vocals in harmony (like that of Chevelle's Wonder What's Next quality) was a plus, but this addition barely compensates for the dragged feeling in the beginning of this album. By track 3 (roughly 18 mins in) was when the album began playing instrumentations w/ more intensity and vocals became more enthusiastic (but not by much). Aside from the "ehh" beginning, this was an okay album. Favorite track: Dichotomy
Acid Bath Wet Dreams of the Insane [as Golgotha]
More of a heavy metal sound, and has some pretty low production value. This sound may not be for everyone, but I'm sure most who enjoy Acid Bath's two albums will appreciate this band's humble beginnings featured in this album.
Acrimony Tumuli Shroomaroom
Agents of Oblivion Agents of Oblivion
Alice in Chains Greatest Hits
If this album would be an authentic Greatest Hits album, I would've expected this album to be a 2/3-CD collection, cause Alice In Chains had A LOT of good songs. Limiting their talent to a mere 10-song bundle is an insult to the band's greatness and the fans' wallets...
Alison's Halo Eyedazzler 1992-1996
The album at least makes an attempt to create a soundscape that resembles a dream pop record, but there audibly doesn't exist that much sound differentiation b/w each track. You can hear a noticeable difference by track 6 and thereon, but to me that's rather slow. In short, the longer tracks serve as the highlights of this album. While not a bad record, but not a very impressive one either. Just beware of buying this album on the expensive end. Leech serves as my favorite song.
Alter Bridge One Day Remains
A pretty good departure from Creed, but the lyrics could use a little fine tuning. Prime examples were the stumble tracks 7 and 8. Major props to some of the guitar work!
Ambulance LTD. LP
The solo album that came before Brandon Flowers decided to form The Killers' Hot Fuss... I'll admit, this album is not that bad but the lack of sonic creativity (indie pop & shoegaze) and vocal range (including oversaturated romance-oriented lyrics [oi]) barely keep this album the 3.5/5 (average) rating this album ought to be. A relatively fair indie effort, but there are certainly others out there that have done better in both faculties. To any reading, I strongly suggest any album done by Nick Drake.
American Head Charge The War Of Art
Tracks 5, 6, 9, and 11 are my highlights for this nu-metal/industrial album. It's a tad better than Dope's first two albums cause at least this album is not afraid to bring out the heavy or their industrial qualities, even when sparingly.
Amerigo Gazaway A Common Wonder
The production value is really good on this, but any of the few tracks worth listening to are scattered throughout this album. Personally felt the first half sounded better than the second half.
Amikdla A Small Step
Definitive proof that Rishloo is becoming one of the next greats of music b/c now we have imitators. Not to say this EP is ripping them off, but upon a good listen you could definitely tell Rishloo's sound was a big influence on here. Then again, they too have a band name that's rather "unique" as well...
Angry Johnny and the Killbillies What's So Funny?
Certainly not a fan of country, but this album classified as "alternative country" doesn't sound all too bad... Guess I got a new genre to check out!
April's Motel Room Black 14
Slightly above the standard grunge outfit w/ occasional moments of greatness, but still not quite as unique to their respective genres. Tracks 1, 5, and 8 serve as my highlights for this album.
Aqua Teen Hunger Force Have Yourself A Meaty Little Christmas
What else was I really expecting, it's the ATHF crew and Carl, alongside a few choice vocals, singing Christmas parody songs. A definite seasonal listening when you get tired of listening to all iterations of the other mainstream Christmas songs you are tired of hearing from late November until Christmas...
Arcade Fire Funeral
Arcane Ashes
ASPO Love Potion N 1
[REGGAE] Much more emphasis toward rocksteady and near-entirely instrumental (first vocals
[samples?] can be heard by track 7). Very solid musicianship but being w/o vocals makes this
album feel less impacting for me personally to gain a repetitive listen. Still better than
some rocksteady albums from decades prior.
ASPO Exquis! / Love Potion N 5
[REGGAE] A decent collection of of ASPO's material over the years, but learn from me: there
should be no rush to add this album to your collection... Just buy this band's 2nd and
third album. If you're also interested in ASPO's live performance, as heard in track 7, then
also check out Alton Ellis' Workin' On a Groovy Thing album
(https://www.sputnikmusic.com/soundoff.php?albumid=287980).
Atoms for Peace Amok
Some pretty good electronica under Thom Yorke's profile, but nothing really that you have yet heard before from prior Radiohead music. Still a pretty good listen anyway. Definitely better than Gorillaz's attempt at their Plastic Beach album.
Atomship The Crash of `47
Re-evaluating some of my older ratings to see if any changed since I've began developing a more refined judgment on what music gravitates toward me. So far, this album still remains as a solid 3/5 (or a VERY LIGHT 3.5/5) - good (or very good) music for what genre(s) the band is playing for, but nothing extraordinary nor unique. Pencil Fight, Agent Orange, Whitfield, and Aliens (and first even some sections of Friends) remain as the better tracks - find it strange how such a high rated prog metal has many songs that have too many lyrics involving nu-metal material... At least this album, too, is better than Devin Townsend's Ocean Machine: Biomech.
Avenged Sevenfold Waking the Fallen
This album vs Mastodon's Leviathan album. (Definitely starting fires here) Outcome... Mastodon's album is still standing! After coming off a recent metal binge, and relistening to this album just reminds me of how Linkin Park was all the rage of it's time, oh the nostalgia... This album IS good (even a bit bloated), but again, just good enough to earn an identity amongst the metalcore community. Not necessarily great but certainly a tad better than the other metalcore acts of this decade. Track 5 was my highlight for this album.
Avenged Sevenfold City of Evil
(9/12/15) Thank goodness for this band's drumming (wow) and guitarists, otherwise this album would face being as "dull" as their prior album. Still impressive instrumentations but the vocalist still comes off as "eh" in a lot of areas. Personally, I blame the album's bloated average track lengths. This album could still be just as impressive if cut even by 10-15 minutes...
Avey Tare's Slasher Flicks Enter the Slasher House
Battling Delirium Locust
What I like about patterns are their cyclical nature of prediction. I already made a prior acknowledgement of Cire from this band's first album, and now I feel the need to bring up Cire again for this album. Where their first album was similar IN POTENTIAL to Cire's Adrenological, THIS album parallels to Cire's Wholesale Buyout. In only a year, Battling Delirium made some adjustments to their sound and crafted a sophomore album that highlights their better features from the first. Here, the majority of their songs are condensed to less than 5-mins, the guitar play of the "djent" sound is more apparent in the tracks, and the vocalist took a chance at exhausting his vocal range. Now the improvements are not as large as I'm romanticizing, this album is still thoroughly good. Rating this a 4/5 may be somewhat bloated since the improvements are not drastic enough compared to their prior album.
Betty's Love Child Angelfish
Some artful punk rock. Not spectacular but manages to peak my interest at least.
Black Lab Passion Leaves A Trace
This album has it's moments of brilliance, due to it's trip hop elements, throughout of the beginning of the album (w/ exception to track 3) and continue through the album's middle third. Vocals remind me of Emptyself and hints of Candlebox. The instrumentations are familiar of pop rock w/ moments of electronica distortion (apparent by tracks 6 and 7). The final two tracks are just as great as well. Not a strong 3.5/5 rating, but can imagine a strong (cult) following. But seriously, why weren't tracks 9 and 10 B-side tracks?
Boa (UK) Get There
This album lyrically doesn't compare to the first two (I'd technically categorize this effort as their second album), but there are still some songs worth hearing on here... Tracks 1, 4, 6, 7, 9, and 11 are my highlights for this album.
Breaking Benjamin We Are Not Alone
First half came off pretty good, but then songs using "the yellow brick road" and "rain, rain, rain - again another day" (kids' rhymes), COME ON! This is just lazy song writing... (11/28/16) After hearing some Three Days Grace, I had to re-evaluate several post-grunge albums. Still not as stellar but at least offer some instrumentations (and occasional vocals) worth admiring. Most of the lyrics are still "eh" at best, but still sound better than TDG.
Bulletproof Messenger The Crucial Line
How is this related to Filter again? The industrial elements are scarce at best... I mean it's "okay" but nothing really significant to think, "Oh man, I REALLY gotta get this album!" The vocals are okay w/ fair instrumentations heard every now and then, but personally not an impressive industrial album w/ any outstanding tracks.
Cage The Elephant Thank You Happy Birthday
Alrighty, the pop punk features of the first album have been replaced w/ noise rock. Apparent for the first 3 tracks. Track 4 is more or less a track that would seem more fitting for their first album if the distortion was cranked way down. I find it strange how I found another single, from another album by the same band name, that I detest. Personally I blame the radio w/ the over-saturation of playing only selected singles. Anyway, I believe this is great shift in focus for the band's sound.
Cage The Elephant Melophobia
I think your audience gets the picture CATE, you can play, as well as in varying styles. The downside is that your group is continuing to experiment in varying styles rather than focusing on one genre your band is willing to expand upon... Now this album is taking the focus on psychedelia. Personally my favorite album by this band so far, this is still a very tame album. Where diversity can be a positive for most albums, this is more or less a hinderance b/c this is an album made in the 2010's. Revealing that this is an album from a band refusing to remain as one, solidified identity for its audience.
Cankun Only the Sun is Full of Gold
WOW what an improvement from Ethiopian Dreams! The songs' instrumentals may keep going but they DO manage to change their identity as they progress.
Cauzndefx Dymensionalistic
Some odd lyrics but the beats are pretty damn good - someone ought to contact this guy to make an instrumental version of this album!
Celan Halo
Charming Hostess Sarajevo Blues
There is so much vocal variety in this album that I cannot possible feel any less than impressed w/ this album. However, this album overshadows the instrumentations that could've been saved towards the singing of such an enigmatic ensemble of voices.
Chelsea Wolfe Mistake In Parting
This is the bombastic, romantic album in her discography. As much as I am adoring the voice of Ms. Wolfe, I must stick to my principles: romance is an over-saturated area amongst music lyrics, and OUGHT to be distanced. This theme is mildly acceptable for pop music, but I was expecting better. At least better than Evanescence's Fallen, and this album DID meet that expectation. Again, the longest songs are the better tracks. Not high up on my list of albums to own, but it at least reveals the creative potential of Chelsea Wolfe. I hope to hear the improvements from here on!
Chevelle Hats Off To The Bull
Perhaps the most tamed, or easily accessible, Chevelle album out of their discography... The songs in themselves are not that bad but all variations of sound, instrumentally and vocally, we've all heard before from this band. Even if we've all heard this sound w/ every album, this is another album Chevelle fans will enjoy. However, this can be admittedly the weakest album of all their work. Track 6 (Envy) was perhaps the best song to highlight the feel for this album: a hype building toward some bombastic climax that flows w/ the song's closure, but feel left wondering where's that big payoff?
Chevelle Vena Sera
Chevelle NIRATIAS
Appreciating the prog rock effort (instrumentals & buildups) put into here. If they were going for space themes, they really missed their chance imo to incorporate more psychedelia & krautrock elements. This is no Fantastic Planet (Failure) but a decent album from the most consistent hard rock group.
Children of Nova Impossible Landscape
Chrome Visitation
The (psyc-prog) 1st album of this experimental band is fairly good. Nearly every track after Return to Zanzibar is thoroughly enjoyable, esp Caroline (even w/ all the romance-themed songs). Some may gripe how this album doesn't sound all too different from bands playing these very genres mentioned w/in the same decade. Even so, this band has a sound that tempts to go a little further w/ their experimentation. I imagine w/in experimentation, this group is slowly manipulating the "sound of the times," then manipulating and mending that sound into something different (or to put it bluntly "unique"). I feel those hints of industrial rock in this album (every track after Riding You), but those little glimmers do not persuade me to grade this album any higher...
CHVRCHES Every Open Eye
An album that took heavy influences from the 80s synth, and becomes a very enjoyable electronica, pop album. The few differences b/w this sophomore from their first album was how the first album took risks w/ their lyricism and varying tempos. THIS album though played it safer: majority of songs feature lyrics as more repetitive, more dance-oriented rhythms, repetitive synth instrumentations (a double-edge), and even the male counterparts were not offered as much (if not less) singing opportunities than the prior album... The album is good enough, but this album reflects how their sound is not ready to venture their boundaries too much further. I now patiently wait for their next album...
Cire Adrenological
One of my few 3/5 albums that have a great repeat listening value. An alternative rock album w/ a minor prog rock feel. The one big standout in this album is the drumming, while the biggest hinderance is the vocalist. The lead doesn't really have a very powerful voice unfortunately, so the listener is only subjected to hear okay-ish songs w/ a less enthusiastic voice than ought to be heard w/ these lyrics. Even w/ these problems, I still rate this album to be a tad less enjoyable as A Perfect Circle's Thirteenth Step.
Cire Wholesale Buyout
Vocals dare to go a little further and the instrumentations are more aggressive than Adrenological, near Chevelle's metal quality. A mild improvement over their sophomore album, but both are fairly entertaining to hear.
Civil Twilight Story Of An Immigrant
A pretty decent album even if differing greatly from their first post-rock softcore-ish album for more of an electronica outfit. But can anyone tell me why did Holy Dove and River Child even exist on this record?
Clarknova Host
Caught myself foot-thumping to a few of the tracks, so that really deserves a mention at the least. Tracks 8 and 9 serve as my highlights. Just a decent album here...
Clawerfield Circular Line
Clutch Pitchfork & Lost Needles
The first 4 (Pitchfork) tracks are awesome, but the other 6 were alright. Not great enough to give this album higher than a 3/5.
Clutch Transnational Speedway League
Many tracks had some good sections of instrumentations but the vocals remained unimpressive for me. I'd be surprised how anyone can keep their voice w/ that hardcore delivery of a growling voice. I'm sure anyone would be hoarse after only singing two songs. Hoping their albums are more promising.
Cog The New Normal
Collective Soul Hints, Allegations, and Things Left Unsaid
A solid effort, but cannot feel this album feels a bit imbalanced in some areas. First 3 songs are good, then the record gets pretty dull for a while. Tracks 7, 9, 11, and 12 (alongside sections of 13) are decent, even w/ my bias toward romantically-themed lyrics.
Core Hustle is On
Don't let the similar acts fool you, this album is neither THAT grand nor average as well. Personally, you could listen to any Kyuss or Clutch album and you wouldn't be missing anything from this album. If you are interested in owning this piece, strongly recommend finding this on the cheap end (unlike me)...
Corrections House Last City Zero
Counterfist Vertical Mile
Aside from the Drown track taking a section of Parabola, this was an pretty good duplicate. Their hard rock roots were what kept me from enjoying this album, especially in the guitar sessions. There were a few moments in this album when the band decided to add more distortion in their guitar work (Soft Survival, Declaration, Worn Out, Monster), which worked in their favor to the mentioned tracks. Reasons why this band decided not to incorporate this measure in all their tracks is beyond me.
Creed Human Clay
Cromagnon Orgasm
Considering how regarded this album has been for the inspiration of future decades of regarding industrial music, I thought this record would be an easy listen. Boy, I was definitely wrong... In some aspects, this album embodies the industrial spirit by creating a sound that relays unsettling noise rock alongside abrasive (yet unfocused) vocals. In summation, the beginnings of industrial music gave us an unpolished idol of worship, whereby future industrial acts would polish this sound into better industrial albums.
Crosses Crosses
Current 93 Swastikas For Noddy
The differing song lengths are strangely arranged throughout this album. With half the songs being less than 2-mins, I just wonder why C93 wouldn't just combine said smaller tracks into less tracks of longer length. Just one of the few indifferences I have toward this album. By track 6 though, the listener gets it's first listen at a 90's-ish industrial sound like that of Nine Inch Nails thanks to the use of an abrasive synthesizer and that's one of the few tracks that do. There're hints of industrial in this album but they are scarce. Still better than their initial work, but would rather listen to their Earth Covers Earth album if given the choice.
Current 93 Crooked Crosses for the Nodding God
Initiating an interest in this album's beginning was a tad difficult w/ heavy distortion being the first sound emitting from this album. If you can get past the audible stumbling of the beginning you might enjoy this reworking of their Noddy album. Although personally, I don't think this album was necessary. Even w/ all the production put into this reimagine, I would've thought the delivery would've realized the faults of the Noddy album and improved upon them. Sadly, this album did not...
Daisy Pusher Journey Within
The first two tracks are okay but the third is thoroughly good.
DangerDoom The Mouse And The Mask
A hip-hop album that is truly meant for the 1st generation of [as] (i.e. Cartoon Network's Adult Swim segment) viewers. Personally a 3.5/5 for Danger Mouse's beats accompanied by MF Doom's lyrical creativity, but I'm aware of it's niche outreach. Most of the lyrics, samples, and surprise cameos will only be appreciated to the relative few who have been around long enough to have watched around the first to the fourth line-up (changes) of shows featured on the [as] segment such as those from Sealab: 2021, Space Ghost, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, and several others. MF Doom is as impressive as ever, but at times the cameos can be intrusive, if not feel detached, from the songs featured. An enjoyable album for me, but likely just not for everyone...
Daniel Waples and James Winstanley Flow
Pretty fair tribal, chillax music - favorite track: Endless
Dax Riggs We Sing of Only Blood or Love
De La Soul 3 Feet High and Rising
This album has some catchy 80s beats and lyrics that stay away from the "flair rap" that I despise, which are two BIG pluses in my book. Unfortunately, this album is short of the aggression alongside w/ too many filler tracks. The 1st half of the album had a 5:6 ratio of fillers to the main tracks. The fillers make this "abstract concept" of a hip hop album certainly different (uniqueness = [another] plus), but certainly more difficult to process than other hip hop albums such as It Takes A Nation of Millions (Public Enemy) or People's Instinctive Travels (A Tribe Called Quest). The 2nd half's ratio is more bearable but not by much (4:6, and De La Orgee [definite filler] was the worst). This album makes an impression as a different hip hop group w/ this album for sure, but certainly an album w/ not much repetitive value (for me).
Dead Sky Valley Sci-Fi
Death in June Nada!
Instrumentations were a bit too repetitive for my tastes, but still a pretty cool post-punk album for any fans of Depeche Mode out there. Track 6's instrumentations were pretty solid (even though they were [again] repetitive).
Death in June The Wall of Sacrifice
Rather boring when compared to their Brown Book album and The World That Summer. A few good ideas floating around on this album beyond their first, bloated track. Track 5 serves as my highlighted track for this album.
Deftones Adrenaline
Deftones Gore
Ah man... Was really hoping for the release of their Eros album... Even so, there are some qualities in this album that could be heard in prior albums which is my real deterrence that keeps me from highly regarding this album alongside White Pony, Saturday Night Wrist and Diamond Eyes.
Deligma Forever Faded
The sound is good enough for what it has, but it has a long way to go before becoming 4-spectrum material. The hard rock riffs being amended w/ different or other guitar distortions for starters. Considering this band uses synthesizers, you'd hear those sections more audibly throughout this EP, alongside their post-hardcore sound.
Devin Townsend Ocean Machine: Biomech
Some sections are pretty good, but this album is fairly over-bloated as a prog rock album. Hell, some of the lyrics sound as if they came from either a nu-metal or pop rock album. That in itself is not so bad, but that quality lowers my ability to appreciate such albums regarding prog rock/metal. Notable tracks: Bastard and The Death of Music.
Deyacoda Chapter Zero
A decent hard-stoner rock album, but I'm pretty sure I've heard some of these instrumentations from earlier acts like that of Clutch. Religion, Gravity, and Nothing have some great guitar sections that's worth healing. This band's album though has nothing on Bungalow Bums' Reservation album.
Disturbed Believe
Down and Above Anodyne
So this sophomore attempt takes the 2nd half of their Vena Cava album and expand upon their emo hard rock, especially in the lyrics and instrumental departments. Definitely more consistent compared to their first effort. Oh yeah, and track 6 is a Bjork cover. Pales when compared to the original, but at least they have some fun w/ the instrumentals (as did I). The exception though was the long instrumental w/in track 12 - it's not bad but rather pointless compared to the rest of the album.
Downer Wrestling with Jesus
By the first track, you can hear some Tool (especially the vocals) and Quicksand influences. Not a bad album, although this one offers nothing (relatively) new to their respected genres. Even if the music on here is hard to find, just trust me: listen to the self-titled album 'cause you're not missing anything from this album. I just don't want anyone else buying this CD on the high $$ like I did..
Downface Within
Rather surprised how this nu-metal gem flew underneath sputnikmusic's radar... A nu-metal act w/ lyrical creativity and even latent grunge elements. This could even stack up against a few early Chevelle records.
Downface Confidence
Compared to their sophomore effort, this album barely holds a candle.
Downfall of Nur Umbras de Barbagia
Personally, I say it's fairly good. The downside is that I have believed to have heard similar sounds from the Melvins (Lysol album) alongside that with Boris. It is no Neurosis album, but I could understand where people may be inclined to grade this as a 4/5.
Downplay Beyond The Machine
So glad to finally hear this band's potential finally being tapped in this album. Finally incorporating more elements into their sound and provide invoking lyrics so as to not sound like their former (only) hard rock selves.
Downthesun Downthesun
Mark James Irwin is spot on - a lot of metal sub-genres are heard all throughout this album (ex: metalcore from tracks 1-3, industrial & death metal in tracks 4-7, etc.), but there're not really any strong tracks that stand out though...
Dr. Alimantado King's Bread
A bit too familiar to his first album, but the song arrangements are more tame & polished (little to any recorded [studio] interruptions) by comparison.
Dreamend As If By Ghosts
Dreamend So I Ate Myself - After Cowardly Wave [Unofficial]
Dreamend So I Ate Myself, Bite by Bite
dredg Leitmotif
Poor production quality doesn't really add any charm to this album, considering this album came out at one of the worst years for any other prog rock/metal group that was not named Opeth (Blackwater Park) or Tool (Lateralus). Where the instrumentations were good, especially the Movement tracks, the singing was not as good as I had believed. I hope the singer has a better vocal range in the future albums.
Drowning Pool Sinner
One of the few 3/5 rated albums that I could certainly enjoy every once in a while. A nu-metal sound w/ an occasional
hardcore vocal delivery make for one of the few hard rock albums (of a prior decade) that could still stack up to the garden
variety of hard rock albums of the next decade.
Dub Trio New Heavy
Basically the "harder rock" aggressive sophomore album for this act. Sadly Mike Patton sings on only one track during the first half, fades toward the middle, but begins picking back up again after track 7. Def better than their first album.
Dub Trio Another Sound Is Dying
Out of the first three records this is definitely their most aggressive outfit at the cost of discarding their latent reggae origins where the "dub" comes off as garden variety electronica.
DubConscious The American Dream
Improvements heard from the main vocalist and lyrical choice. The instrumentals are in top form as akin to their prior album. More instrumental tracks are sprinkled all throughout this album. Not usually my tastes but they sound pretty chill which is a big plus. This album comes as a tad better than their sophomore effort.
DubConscious NonViolent
Finally some horn sections are included (plus)! Here we have the most balanced effort from DubConscious where I'd consider this as a close second to their third album. Relatively speaking, their final three albums come pretty close to another. Just avoid their first album and you'll have a pretty pleasant selection of DubConscious to choose from. Highlight track: The Possibility
DubConscious Word of Life
The production quality & instrumentations have drastically improved on this album albeit the vocals by comparison are noticeably taking a backseat again... The (main) vocalist also doesn't feature the usual accent element often heard in reggae music, which I find commendable for being different, but even w/ such instrumental improvements to not be paired alongside better vocals makes this album comes off as a "it could have been better" sentiment.
DubConscious Realization
Nothing I haven't heard from their catalogue outside of minor improvisation. Still a pretty decent live reggae album. Track 8 is awesome!
Earshot Letting Go
I must be audibly tone deaf 'cause I don't think the lead sounds JUST LIKE Maynard James Keenan, but certainly imitates a likeness. Anyway, most of the longer tracks are what hinder this album for me in that the instrumentations go off being much more repetitive than the tracks ought to be, and those instrumental gaps between the next section of vocals did not apply little if any soloing (a usual symptom of hard rock). I find this album a bit more entertaining than other nu-metal albums of the same rating.
Earshot The Silver Lining
Even for a '08 album, I'm surprised how I liked this album more so than their 2nd album. This sound unfortunately has reached it's limit for me. 6 years later and this band STILL has made little to no effort to change/better their music into the oncoming decade. Something tells me I'm not going to enjoy their '15 release...
Edgewater We're Not Robots...
A hard rock group that has some good instrumental sections in most of their tracks on this album, but my problem is that there is not really one or more great tracks worth hearing on this album (again).
Effigy (FRC) Black Is Now the Sun
A very solid debut album, but my problem is how close the singer and backing vocals imitate the Maynard James Keenan quality w/ such a limited range. This band comes very close instrumentally in forming a TOOL-esque sound. The frontman, however, takes the Maynard sound and dims his range to something that's rather familiar to "The Hollow" song from A Perfect Circle (another Mr. Keenan derivative). And that's about it - that range is consistent on nearly every track w/ little to (potentially) no change. All in all, I'd say it's a pretty good album paying tribute to their influences. I can only hope this band's imagination goes beyond their TOOL similarities.
Egypt Central Egypt Central
Tracks 2 and 6 were pretty enjoyable but definitely an album w/ sounds that have been done long before, both vocally and instrumentally. At least the second half of this album sounded better than the first.r
Epitome of Frail Leaving the Past Behind
Impressive instrumentations heard, but w/ little room for variety, both instrumentally and vocally alike.
Eryn Allen Kane Aviary: Act I
Honestly came to knowing her through Chance the Rapper's Same Drugs song (structurally flawed/imbalanced [for me] but still good) for her voice from the music video version. However, I couldn't find that same peak interest in this EP. It's not a bad start, but I think my hopes were too high here.
Evanescence Fallen
Even the Slept Sinks the Ocean
Even the Slept Paper Vultures
Everything Super Natural
A pretty laid back funk rock album w/ minor mentions of jazz fusion. Not many solid tracks, but I believe tracks 2, 4, 8, and 10 are the better songs featured on this album.
Fair to Midland The Carbon Copy Silver Lining
An album w/ all the chaotic noise of System of a Down, but w/ no real focus of control. The vocals serve as a double-edge in this album. Sure, the band's lead and backing vocals are great in some areas but then attempt to make the album sound more "brutal" by imitating that of hardcore/metal vocals. The instrumentations are not that bad either. Still one of the better 3/5 rated albums to find if you have the chance to listen.
Fear The Clown System
Filter Title Of Record
Filter Anthems for the Damned
Tracks 4-7, why could they have not been spread out throughout this album? This album has the same problem as Live's first album. Where Live's album had 4 great songs at the beginning w/ all other songs (tracks 5-12) were dull (but still acknowledged their potential), THIS album's best songs only lasted for 3-4 songs (tracks 1-3, and SECTIONS of 9 & 10) while the other 7 tracks felt out of place for not matching the same industrial sound and "enthusiasm" as the prior 3-4 tracks mentioned. Arguably, this album could be better than their Amalgamut album but not by a large margin...
Five Finger Death Punch War Is The Answer
Five Finger Death Punch The Way Of The Fist
FKA Twigs Magdalene
Idk... I wanted to like this album more, but it sounds a tad too aggressive to enjoy this as another R&B album staple. Tracks 2, 4, and 5 are my personal highlights for this record. Keep doing trip hop proud Ms Twigs!
Flaw American Arrogance
A watered-down Rage Against the Machine duplicate, minus the funk and a bit more anger added. Even w/ the poor production value on this (alongside an interesting backstory on the creation of this album), this was a fair album amongst the genre of nu-metal.
Flaw Through the Eyes
Better production in this album but still missing some killer tracks from their first (independent) album release...
Fluid Minds The [as] Mixtape
Pretty enjoyable but this group has not made an album that everybody can enjoy in terms of trip hop. Tracks 4, 7, and 11 are the tracks that highlight this album. On the plus side, this album and all of their other works are "name your price" on their Bandcamp page.
Fluid Minds Covering Chocolate and Cheese
I know this a LIVE album, so this was an uphill battle from the start in their attempt to replicate the awesomeness that was Ween's Chocolate and Cheese album IN IT'S ENTIRETY! A valiant effort indeed, but this record still pales in comparison...
Follow For Now Follow For Now
Not a steady 3.5/5 rating since the vocals are a bit of a hit or miss, but the instrumentals are what keep the listener wanting to hear more funky metal goodness. Tracks 2, 7, and 11 are my highlights for this record.
Frog Kind of Blah
Frogwings Croakin' At Toads
A mostly instrumental jam rock album w/ some muddled vocal sections. I blame the production mostly, otherwise a pretty decent effort.
Front Line Assembly Gashed Senses & Crossfire
The beginning of this album is a bit lacking due to the first 3 tracks sounding too similar. Then track 4 (personal best, a bit slow and too long) makes a turnaround to that late 80s industrial that mirrors Depeche Mode, but have vocals that deeply pale when compared to Martin Gore. Track 5 acts as some build-up to a rather enigmatic track 6 (catchy rather than terrifying/bombarding). Then the album continues w/ not much further differentiation from their previous tracks on this album. Personally, I'd rather listen to Pretty Hate Machine than this album.
Frozensun Frozensun
Agehah's voice is as alluring as ever, but I cannot help feeling this album was performed to only showcase her voice. The instrumentals are great. Unfortunately, I know these instrumentals were really underplayed all in the effort to let the lead have the focus. Hopefully when this group makes a 2nd (official) album, they will rectify this minor injustice. Also, the final third of this album serves as my highlight for this record.
Georgie Sweet Misunderstood
[TRIP HOP] Sonically good, vocals are pleasant, instrumentals not offending, but lyrics in some areas (idk what's w/ me reading into the stanzas lately) are kinda bland.
Givers In Light
Note to self: need to find an interest in indie pop for better evaluation...
Glass Empire EOS
Not as good as their first EP but no significant disappointments w/ this effort. Just hoped for an LP by now...
Godsmack Faceless
(4/27/18) Still serves as Godsmack's best album, has some decent songs on here, but the repetitive value of this hard rock album stems from only nostalgic impulses (at least for me). Stand Alone, Hate You, and Awakening serve as my highlights for this album.
Gorillaz Plastic Beach
Gorillaz D-Sides
Okay now, can anyone out here give me a rational explanation for the existence of the 2nd CD in this compilation?
Grand Mexican Warlock Aeons
Gregory Isaacs Mr. Isaacs
Ah man... I thought this would be an album worth seeking. Good things there're plenty more albums to listen in this hopes of finding another reggae staple somewhere.
Gregory Isaacs Night Nurse
Being the only multi-rated album on here, I should've just started here to get a base hearing. Okay, another lover's rock album ([sarcasm] oh joy)... Well, it's at least better than Extra Classic but not by much. This rating admittedly is biased on a count that I have a personal distaste for romantic-oriented music.
Gregory Isaacs Extra Classic
A variation of reggae known as lover's rock is how Discogs classifies this album, and... It's okay, but it pales in comparison to the subgenre of root reggae music. Luckily he's got a few such categorized albums in his catalogue.
Guts (SPN) Freedom
I find the sampling choices within Guts' songs questionable on this record, esp on the first three tracks here, but afterward that the album is much easier to chill with. Tracks 4, 7, 12, 13, 14, and 16 are my choice highlights on this sophomore effort.
Guts (SPN) Hip Hop For All
Started off pretty good but then some of the more eccentric tracks began pulling back its initial enjoyment (3, 5, 6, and 10). They're not bad but they don't have a flow 'good enough' to merit a repetitive listen from me. Where songs 1, 2, 4, 9, 11, 14, 15, and 16 have some really good instrumentals, tracks are 1, 4, 9, and 15 are my personal highlights.
Guts (SPN) Beach Diggin' Vol. 3
A tad more disappointing compared to the rest of the Beach Diggin' series...
Hammer Passion Engine Machine
Some high octane, bass-bumping nu-metal music here from South Korea! Not too shabby, but very repetitive... I enjoyed track 5-7, 9, and 12's instrumentations though.
Hempress Sativa Unconquerebel
Compared to other reggae albums the vocals here are kinda weak. Too many songs in the beginning (1-4 with Skin Teeth being the best) sound too similar instrumentally. Other tracks that differ via lyrical delivery and instrumentals (ex: Heathen Wage, Fight For Your Rights, We All, Twisted Sheets, Boom, Black King Skin, and Made I Whole) peaked my interest. Tracks 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 12 are the only ones worth regarding imo.
Hepcat Out Of Nowhere
[REGGAE] By Clarence Thomas, this album gets THOROUGHLY GOOD! The downside is that their
least favorable tracks were placed in the beginning of this record. While post-CT there are
some really good tracks, but sprinkled in this second half of the album are some tracks
that're familiar to the first half aesthetically. A decent record, but in terms of quality
this only serves as a nice start.
Hey Mother Death Hey Mother Death EP
Eh, it's okay for dark ambience but definitely not as creepy as Nurse With Wound.
Hiatus Kaiyote Mood Valiant
'Chivalry Is Not Dead,' 'Get Sun,' MAYBE 'Rose Water,' and 'Stone or Lavender' are pretty good. Red Room is sonically good, but the lyrics are lacking and went on too long. Some of the shorter tracks are pretty catchy. Collectively though, this album lacks compared to the funky bite of their previous two LPs.
Higher Learning (GA) Future Memories
HoloH The A 432 Hertz Legend
Well what can really said about another TOOL duplicate band other than: okay vocals, great-worthy instrumentations, and somber lyrics. Certainly has potential but definitely a step backwards from their Effigy (FRC) days...
Horace Andy Skylarking
Admittedly not as well versed in the 'Doctorate' category of reggae artists/pioneers but only a handful of tracks manage to stand out in the face of some tracks whose lyrics are over repetitive (as my only issue). It's almost unfair to compare this to the Bob Marley and the Wailers' and Toots & The Maytals' catalogues around this time since they each released several decent records before Mr. Andy wrote this one alongside comparing such diff styles of reggae heard. If you're a fan of dancehall thouugh you'll def enjoy this album.
Hurt The Re-Consumation
A smaller improvement from their self-released, first album. However, not significant enough to grant a higher rating.
Hurt Hurt
The album is pleasant enough to listen, but this is album is too tame (as a hard-prog album) to be ranked any higher than a 3/5 rating...
Hurt Vol. II
One of the only uncomfortable 3/5 ratings I've given. On one hand, this is an album that unveiled a significant change to their instrumentations and even found the time to chime in "sprinkles" of prog rock in nearly all tracks. On the other, the lead is (still) not that strong of a singer like that of Cire/Emptyself. I was surprised how many extra backing vocals were used in this album compared to their prior work. If this is their strongest album going for them, I can only imagine how their lesser-known material sounds...
Hurt Goodbye To The Machine
As far as hard rock goes, this album is a significant improvement compared to their Vol albums. The incorporation of art rock really did this album a service by integrating melodic (not overly pretentious) preludes. At least for the first 4 tracks, but then track 5 comes along and regresses the album back to their comfort zone that is their "sappy romance" material... Come on Hurt, you're entering into the new decade. If you're going to survive & adapt, you gotta learn to swim and not just stay afloat.
Husk Seven Pyramids
Pretty sweet album art cover, and the 2nd half is pretty good considering it's opposite, aggressive first half. Reminder to keep track of their next album.
Hypnogaja Below Sunset
The sound is sort of an enigma w/ this album. This album has a sound of nu-metal fused w/ some elements of electronica that's near-borderline trip hop. It's as if members of Staind/Seether met w/ members of Linkin' Park and attempted at making an album. It's certainly... Interesting. Although I bet this may have been impressive in the late 90's, it seems a bit dated for a '05 alternative rock album considering this had to compete against other impressionable alt rock albums (ex: 10 Years' The Autumn Effect, Thrice's Vheissu, Team Sleep [self-debut], Gorillaz's Demon Days, etc.) at this time. Still has a few tracks worth listening.
iLa Mawana Soldiers of Sound
[REGGAE] The remix & remaster edition makes a difference. All the instrumentals just sound
more dull by comparison. Vocals on both version are kinda subpar imo.
In My Eyes The Difference Between
Alright now, another short hardcore album (not even 25 minutes). Okay, not as good as Carry On's A Life Less Plagues but I'm sure that's just another aesthetic indifference. Instrumentations are more or less closer to a punk band w/ vocals that are not as abrasive, but we've all heard similar vocals from even non-hardcore bands. Not a bad listen, but definitely has been heard (in certain areas) before.
Index Case Index Case
(9/12/15) As far as "melodic metal" goes, this album isn't that bad but any of the worthwhile tracks (ex: Why Dreams Bleed, Fetish, Sincere) are scattered all throughout this record. At least it's better than the Deftones' self-titled album. And let be clear, the averaged rating for this album is DEFINITELY exaggerative...
Insane Clown Posse Riddle Box
Not too bad of an album, but still doesn't hold a candle to many other other horrorcore hip-hop albums that came into this decade. This could be a potential 3.5/5 rating I'm sure w/ enough listens. However, if this is the pinnacle of their discography, then I cannot imagine how crummy the rest of their albums are.
Insane Poetry Grim Reality
The instrumentals (80's style) are a tad conflicting w/ the lyrics (90's in spirit), both sound literally decades apart from blending... It comes off as so edgelord lyrically that the delivery comes off as more funny than scary. Not necessarily bad but I don't think horror-core is intended to be laughed at. Personally the 2nd half is better than the first half. Being an originator I'd argue is not necessarily grounds for meriting an album as great. This album is to hip-hop's horror-core subgenre what Cromagnon's Orgasm was for the industrial genre.
Insolence Universal
Track 3 is a bit of an oddity for this album. Overall, this album is still better than anything Linkin Park or Limp Bizkit has ever done, and sounds slightly better than some Rage Against the Machine material (Evil Empire specifically). Can't Wake Up is a SICK track!
Jah9 New Name
[REGGAE] rI'm really split on this album's good and 'not as good' qualities. I really enjoy the big band -esque orchestrations in this album (New Name, Intentions, Taken Up, Inner Voices) but some songs either have lyrical delivery that I find uncomplimentary to the instrumentals (Gratitude) or some lyrical portions are not as well written (Preacher Man, Avacado), which I find hard to imagine considering her choice of spoken verses for Interlude. She DOES have the capacity for better lyrics. In similar ways, this is the another (Janelle Monae) 'Dirty Computer' experience in my ears. Tracks 1, 2, 6, 8, 9, and 10 serve as my highlights for this record.
Janelle Monae Dirty Computer
So bummed this wasn't a continuation of the Archandroid (in accordance to this album's Wiki page), maybe by the next album. Will be honest, the best tracks on this album are scarce and scattered on this album... Personally, tracks 5 (Screwed - power symbolism of sex & sects), 8 (Make Me Feel - accepted confusion [?] of sexual fluidity), 11 (Don't Judge Me - love w/ an image), and 14 (Americans - the CONCEPT of an intrinsic good nation) serve as the better tracks for their more elaborative lyrics. However, 14 is pretty "eh" aesthetically when compared to any song from Rage Against the Machine. Tracks 3 (Take a Byte - sexual power is a double-edge), 6 (Django Jane - brag transition to general power dynamics), 7 (PYNK - "pink is 'life' and everywhere"), and 9 (I Got the Juice - sexual restraint) mildly match the same status. Sprinkles of political activism are found all throughout this album, w/ 14 being a real dichotomous choice for most - they'll either love or despise the track. Other than that, a slightly above average album imo.
Janus Red Right Return
Not as well orchestrated as Red's Of Beauty and Rage album, but at least this album roughly had a 6-year start before that album. Vocals remind me of a pre-2000's Chino (Deftones) and instrumentation that's a mix of (early) 10 Years and (early) Chevelle. Pretty decent for nu-metal. For anyone interested in more albums of this genre, I recommend Mire (CAN) and their album Inward/Outward.
JID The Never Story
A bit too high pitched for me, but certainly can hear the potential in this upcoming artist. Lyrics, when they're not repetitive (ex: EdEddnEddy track), are a bit juvenile and "flairy" for my interests though... This album still deserves credit for using actual instruments into their beats (ex: Hereditary). Hope this guy's work gets better from here.
Joan Red Side Effects Of You
Maybe out of pity I could rate this album as a 3.5/5 (average) b/c this is an album that was actually trying AND some of that effort shows in a few tracks. A hard-alt rock sound like that of (Wonder What's Next?) Chevelle w/ great vocals to that of Evans Blue. If this band was able to record on further, I'm sure they could've become another great hard rock staple. A true tragedy this band's lead passed away shortly after this album.
John Brown's Body All Time
[REGAGE] Not a half bad start for 90's reggae. Tracks 3, 5, and 9 are pretty good.
Jonin The Secret
Perhaps it is because I'm not used to power metal that I cannot rate this album any higher. While it is enjoyable just as the many other 3/5 rock albums I've rated, I feel some of the instrumentations feel a bit repetitive for me to thoroughly enjoy, especially the guitar work. Even the vocal melodies feel dull in most of these tracks when these guys try their hardest to stay in harmony...
Jurojin The Living Measure Of Time
Forget the first 3 tracks, Proem is the magnum opus of this EP with the use of a Eastern-oriented instrumentation and a great vocalist comparable to that of The Mayan Factor (RIP Ray Schuler). Everything after track 4 is pretty good, too. Now for the cons. Where the instrumentations are refreshing, they just play their patterns in varying extremes all while the singer goes on (little change to his voice). For some reason, the majority of this EP do not sound reciprocating to one another. I don't really know whether to blame the band's instrumentation not following the orient/alignment of the vocalist, or vice versa. Another downside is that this band (as of April '15) is looking for a new vocalist. After 5+ years, I really hope this band finds a way to craft their sound where the vocalist(s) and the instrumentations can achieve a better harmony.
Kabaka Pyramid Rebel Music
[REGGAE] Overall pretty good (esp lyrical density) but I prefer the first half moreso than this album's second half. Tracks 2, 4, 5, and 9 are my personal highlights for this album. 4 and 5 slap SO hard!
Katatonia Dance of December Souls
I wanted to like this album more but the instrumentals and vocals weren't THAT impressive. The longer instrumental sections transitions weren't seemless at all and the main vocalist had maybe only 3 modes of singing throughout the entire album. I know this group gets better but I don't find this album as very impressionable...
Kensuke Ushio Devilman Crybaby OST
Def some of the better darksynth music I've heard in a long while. CD1 acts as the party-centric half (at least from Buddy, Ryo and onward) while CD2 sounds more melancholic & introspective. The longer tracks on average sound better than the majority of the shorter tracks. In doing so, most of the better short songs are found on CD2. CD1's best tracks can be found in the first and final third of their tracklist while CD2's highlights can be found from the second half and onward (although CD2's first third isn't really bad). Makes me miss some of my former glory days of industrial trance music.
Killing Joke Killing Joke
Okay industrial sound, but far too repetitive for my enjoyment.
Killing Joke What's THIS For...!
This album is slightly longer than their first, yet the amount of repetition in this album's tracks make the listener (potentially) believe (such as myself) that this album goes on much longer than this album should've. Tracks 2, 3, and 5 are prime examples for songs that could've been improved by either (1) cutting the song's length in half, or (2) having more lyrics w/in the song(s).
King's X Out of the Silent Planet
Korn Life Is Peachy
This album feels a tad more balanced compared to their first effort, and that observation can be heard w/ the incorporation of longer rhythm sections alongside hard rock riffing every now and then as opposed to constant, blaring guitar. A bit more bearable than their first album but just not one I would recommend for a high repetitive value.
Korn The Serenity of Suffering
Probably their 3rd best album to their Issues record, but that's not what is my biggest disappointment. This is an album that COULD'VE been done AFTER their Issues effort, yet somehow remained unfathomed for more than 15 YEARS! Before the release of this album, they've had a whopping SEVEN records of trial and error before coming out with this... I probably would be less critical if this was an album released after a long period of inactivity, such as Failure or Gorguts, but this release is not one of those cases... You're better off listening to nu-metal acts w/ much better catalogues: System of a Down, Deftones, Janus, Downer, Karnivool (Themata), Mudvayne (LD 50), Nothingface, Boy Hits Car, and Unjust.
Lee Scratch Perry Black Ark In Dub
Lee Scratch Perry Cloak and Dagger
An album w/ improved production quality that differs from his earlier contributions to The Upsetters discography. Perhaps this be the album to precursor the Blackboard Jungle record - until better record keeping proves otherwise, I'll assume so.
Leisureworld Double Wide Double High
A likeness to that of Filter, at least by the standards of Short Bus, and certainly more enjoyable than Nine Inch Nail's Pretty Hate Machine. Glad to have uncovered another gem in music. (4/22/17) This album hasn't held well, even against NIN's PHM record which (surprise) I'm coming around, although still pales to most industrial music I prefer...
Lesser Key Parallels
Lesser Key Lesser Key
Like Thieves The Wolves At Winter's Edge
I can hear some moments of "great" quality in this EP but they slowly start to become few and far apart by track 3. Still a nice listen from Australia!
Live Mental Jewelry
Tracks 1-4 were amazing, but then mediocrity suddenly tsunami-ed the entire album after that... Tracks 5-12 were just dull in comparison to the first 4 songs. Even so this album definitely revealed a potential in this music and was certainly audible in their sophomore album.
Live Secret Samadhi
Aside from Lakini's Juice, there's nothing really outstanding about this album as a whole, which is really depressing... There are tracks that have sections worth noting, such as tracks 6, 9, and 12; but this is a huge step back from their sophomore album. Mental Jewelry at least had 4 solid tracks from the very beginning, but this album just bewilders me: where the hell did all the energy go? Again, aside from track 2 (mentioned above) the lead reserved his voice for nearly the entire album which was one of the star features about this band's sound... Come on, Ed... You're better than this...
Living Syndication Aneurythm
Another Tool duplicate that has some great sections in many of their songs (17-18 song tracklist), but personally not one song is really worth raving about.
Lo-Pro Lo-Pro
Slightly better hard rock with some latent grunge influences. Above average but certainly nothing really unique...
Loud Lucy Breathe
Personally more enjoyable than Nudeswirl's one (and only) album but I can see why people would prefer either. This album features all the garage rock an album can offer, but not exactly anything really different inside of the spectrum.
Maeth Horse Funeral
Man or Astro-Man? Destroy All Astro-Men!!
Alright now, I'm really digging the way this album sounds but there is really no real variation in most of these tracks, the sci-fi samples really don't add much to the tracks, and the vocals come as random as the varied track lengths. Even w/ these minor faults, I'm hoping to find a better album by this band!
Marilyn Manson Portrait of an American Family
Does anyone out there find it strange how I actually like this album a bit more than Nine Inch Nail's first album? This album has songs that start off pretty well but then suddenly lose their luster w/ too much repetition (mostly in the lyrical department). Cake and Sodomy is one such example: we get it, the name of the song, but you had your first 2 stanzas well-versed and didn't even attempt a third. I know Manson can do better, at least compared to NIN.
Max Romeo A Dream [Vinyl]
Discounting the production quality, not too bad of a record for early reggae.
Max Romeo Let the Power Fall
Production quality improved and the song writing is getting better. Fowl Thief is pretty creative.
Max Romeo Revelation Time
My highest regarded 3/5 rating for Max Romeo at the moment... The lyrics and instrumentations have improved a tad making this pretty enjoyable, esp for foot thumpers like myself. The Part II tracks are merely instrumentals at higher volume (assumed filler).
Meat Puppets Meat Puppets
Mellow Mood Well Well Well
Melvins Stag
Meshuggah Chaosphere
If the length of the final track were to cut out that obnoxious middle section (and potentially the final third), I would be more comfortable giving this a 3.5/5... Best track: Corridor of Chameleons.
Meshuggah Nothing
Instrumentations are good enough but the vocals really don't venture very far. I get it, you're death metal but would it kill these extreme metal bands to actually have a vocalist. If Opeth can do it, why cannot other bands?
Midnite Ras Mek Peace
So take one of their cons from their prior album, a bloated lengthening of their songs, and add an additional 13 minutes... The album is good, but is lyrically lazier when compared to their first record. Lion Wears the Crown has some good instrumentals.
Moloko Things To Make And Do
Some points from "dont dig dancehall" are accurate: some tracks certainly go on for too long and do eventually wear out their welcome. Indigo, Remain the Same (even being short), Dumb Inc, Somebody Somewhere, and If You Have A Cross (again, another short one) are prime examples. Tracks 2, 5, 9, 12, and 18 (NOT THE REMIX) are my highlights for this album.
Monday Morning (AUS) Fool's Paradise
Perhaps not the most unique post-grunge material here, but certainly entertaining enough for an 00's alternative record. One of the better 3/5 rated hard rock albums I've heard. Track 6, however, should be best left avoided...
Morcheeba Fragments Of Freedom
Uh... What just happened? The first track isn't actually half bad, but seems to slowly become lazier by each (main) track. Track 1, 5 (interlude track), 6, and 10 (long interlude) are the only tracks that kept this album above the mark of mediocrity. Come on Morcheeba, you ARE better than this...
Morphine Like Swimming
Perhaps one of my most pleasant 3/5 albums I've rated, but this perhaps is the weakest of their albums I have heard. The beginning of the album sounds good enough until by track 4 this band took away from their charming 3-piece band of instruments and added the use of a synthesizer. Come on Morphine! If you're going to use another instrument in your act, you should at least incorporate that instrumentation into more tracks on this album. Or hell, they could've gone the long way and feature an additional unique instrument, different per track, but you guys hadn't... I know this band is more than capable but chose to not explore this possibility.
Mr. Bungle Mr. Bungle
Experimentation is a new field for me. With that said, I CAN wrap my head around using samples and other non-conventional instruments in place of music. This album has music all over the place for those who are curious and does have some good points. However, I personally cannot give an album a higher rating that uses samples that are better off not used in place of music (esp on Track 2 or 3).
Mushroomhead XIII
Nail Nail
A band w/ great instrumentation, but I think I just have a personal problem w/ female vocalists in metal music. Even w/ that in mind, this is still a pretty good 1st album for Nail.
Ninjaspy Pi Nature
The genre blending choices here are certainly... Different than expected... While not excellent-worthy this album has it's moments that make it stand out from other prog metal albums out there, but I not cannot help hearing how their reggae influences featured were rather chunky as opposed to well blended. For reference sake, check out Skindred's or Insolence's discography. Where the extremes of this album differ greatly from the prior bands mentioned, Skindred and Insolence have imo managed to better incorporate metal and reggae into music that's more palatable to the ear.
Nonpoint Recoil
A bit of a slow beginning, but began to pick up be track 4 and onward. A definite instrumental improvement from their previous album.
Nonpoint Development
Nonpoint become more melodic vocally and lyrically enhanced (hence the concept of the frog development all throughout the album) w/ this album but at the cost of their former hardcore hop (or rap metal?) outfit. Not bad but not really impressive either... Most of the better material can be heard around the final third of the album.
Nonpoint Statement
A good effort from this album to feature lyrics that are not so pandering to a disgruntled teenage demographic. Still a tad underdeveloped when compared to most of Insolence's catalogue.
Nothingface Pacifier
I think an album that tries very hard to become a more brutal variation of Korn or (early) Staind. The drumming was the real glimmer in this album, but I feel at times the aggression was a bit unnecessary for some of their songs. I mean the audience gets it, "You're all angry..." But I still feel puzzled and ask myself, "I should be this angry?" Still better than most of what I've listened to from Spineshank.
Nudeswirl Nudeswirl
Tracks 1, 4, 6, 9, 10, and 12 are the highlights of this album (in certain sections of each track). These sections were what kept this album from being a 2.5/5 since the letdown of this album has tracks that all sound alike, which takes away from my personal enjoyment... Even so, this album at least sounds that it was made w/ some effort.
Of The I Balance Instars
Not the biggest fan of post hardcore, but I've managed to listen to this album w/ greater ease hearing that the vocals were not screamo and their instrumentations remind me Thank You Scientist, although not as bombastic. A pretty cool gem to find, and if you're interested in some PH Jazz fusion, then check the link in their sputnik page - free download of this entire album!
Of The I Album Sampler
Onesidezero Is This Room Getting Smaller?
The 2nd half of this album is pretty enjoyable compared to it's "eh" 1st half.
Opus Dai Tïerra Trágame
Good instrumentation all around, but lyrical stanzas tend to repeat in some songs. Album is worth as least one listen, especially their finisher Bella Christa.
Orbit Libido Speedway
If you're looking for a Bush record that could be tied to Sixteen Stone, this is the album for you! (6/19/17) Upon re-listening there's a lot of lyrics that's pretty lazy compared to other grunge acts. However, the production quality is pretty good. The second half of this album scales a tad better than the first half.
Pandemic Lessons In Trust
Am I missing something here? Sure, this album has cool instrumentations, lyrics aren't half bad, and the vocals are decent. But how does this record have a better average rating than (comparatively speaking) Fables From a Mayfly (Fair to Midland) or Final Conversation of Kings (The Butterfly Effect)?
Paramaya Beside the Illusion
(9/12/15) EDIT: This album has some production issues (heard in various sound quality) but not too bad for a first effort.
Perturbator Terror 404
Perturbator I Am the Night
pg.99 Document #8
Phase The Wait
A tad better than the first by actually having a vocalist that put in a wee bit more effort. The instrumentals are not as experimental as the prior album. Hopefully to hear improvements in the future.
Phedora The House of Ink
On one hand they have inspiration from Chevelle, but on the other this band also has inspirations from Breaking Benjamin... Alright, the sound is not that bad, but they also took a few bits of Linkin Park electronica (Embers and Wish You'd Lie were pretty evident - and unnecessary). If this album were around maybe a decade prior this could stack alongside Karnivool's Themata or Linking Park's Hybrid Theory. It's alright but personally this album was not worth the $10 I paid via iTunes. I would've been more comfortable buying this at $7 personally.
Placebo Placebo
More of an emo quality than I expected... Even so, the first half is more poppy & uplifting while the second half (i.e. the "better" half imo) is more melancholic and slow. An odd dichotomy for the track listing but doesn't sound bad. However, this album is just not good enough for me to put on a repeat listen in the near future.
Placebo Black Market Music
Now we hear a more aggressive instrumentation from Placebo (plus), although I think their identity was compromised in his album more than it should've been (oh no). An example to highlight this point would be track 4, Spite & Malice. Having never used hip-hop influences before in prior albums yet thought it would be a good idea to shoehorn in a track that completely differs from Placebo's discography. Also the occasional instrumentations of electronica (as differed from their near-shoegaze) in some tracks plus the addition of MORE lyrical repetition really made this album's sound suffer... Tracks 2, 3, 5, 6, and 11 serve as my highlights for this album.
Plini The End of Everything
The most aggressive of Plini's first EP trilogy. Not bad, but perhaps my least satisfying listen so far.
Plini Other Things
Some pretty good instrumental prog. Can't wait to hear the rest of this catalogue.
Pressure 4-5 Burning The Process
One of the few nu-metal albums that stand out from the rest and actually sound better than most of the mainstream hard rock of their decade and even onto the next. Even so, there are (nu-metal) bands out there that have put out better albums of this genre...
Prisma Collusion
The instrumentations are awesome but they barely make up for the vocals. The range on the lead is near-average at best. Best tracks: Maslow, and Normal State.
Prisma You Name It
The vocals are slightly improved and the instrumentations are more bombastic. Not that bad of a listen, but still comes short of being worthy of a 3.5/5 rating. Alpha Fiasco and God's Heir serve as my highlights for this album.
Psychic TV Direction Ov Travel
Not as good as their first Themes album, but this could work in a pinch. Personally not a fan of the East direction on this album. By the time you reach North, you'll start to feel the heaviness. Another problem I have w/ this album is how repetitive the tracks are.
Psychic TV Force The Hand Of Chance
Has an okay sound for a non-industrial album, but that's the least of this album's (relatively) few flaws. The experimentation in this album has roughly a 1:1 hit-to-miss ratio. Let's say for every "different choice of" instrument (violin, bell, horn, etc.) used, there's an odd sample that's needlessly placed in the track. For every long (experimental) track, at least two (rather lacking) tracks occupy as filler tracks. Has more of a psychedelia sound in this album than really anything else. If I could compare this album to any other, I think this work closely resembles an experimentation level to that of Mr. Bungle's first (self-titled) album. Personally not for me but I think I could understand why the eccentric nature of this album feels more appealing to others. Come on PTV, I'm still waiting for that industrial sound... Ov Power was my favorite track, and generally the second half was more entertaining than the first half of this album.
Queens of the Stone Age Rated R
One note that I like to suggest for all stoner rock albums: it's not a good thing to make your album short (yet not too long).
Rage Against the Machine Evil Empire
(9/12/15) Outside of Bulls On Parade and People of the Sun, the rest of the tracks are either a hit or miss for me. The rest of the tracks don't have that same impact as heard more familiar from their first record.
Rambutan Jam Band East Point
Personally not a fan of One by One, but the rest of the album is pretty chill. Clocks is my highlight for this EP.
Rambutan Jam Band Bittersweet, Bitter Breeze
Maybe a tad better than their first EP. Personally not a fan of the hip-hop-esque verse deliveries on some of the vocal sections (ex: Jet Black). Tracks 1, 4, and 5 are the better tracks here.
Rayman and the Raving Rabbids Raving Rabbids [VG Soundtrack]
Maybe the Chipmunks serve as a reminder that we all have some guilty pleasures for things that are purposely not appealing for most people, such as "novelty" acts. This is one of those albums: better instrumentations than vocals, but cannot help listening/watching/playing it. Not appealing for all, but at least interesting to some degree (for me)...
Red (USA) Innocence and Instinct
Surprised how long these nu-metal qualities can still work for certain bands. At least this band attempted to mend their sound alongside classic instrumentation such as the violin & piano. The problem is that this album did not incorporate MORE of these instrumentations in the majority, or all, of their tracks. Even the "hard rock" guitar sound was too subtle to have any real spotlight in this album. Only tracks 7 and 8 had guitar effects that mildly worked in the tracks' favor. The hints of electronica were not bad but personally thinks they were unnecessary (esp on tracks 10 & 12) 'cause this album is supposed to be a RED album, not a Linkin Park "could've been" album. This album stands as a 3/5 (or a VERY light 3.5/5).
Red Hot Chili Peppers One Hot Minute
Not a bad album but this record strays a bit too far from their funkier elements that made this band's prior work so catchy and memorable... Will credit that the final third of this album was the pinnacle of this record!
Regal Worm Use And Ornament
Allow me to note, I can acknowledge the complexity in this album is for some audiences. I know there are people who will appreciate this album for all it's varying structures that make this album sound chaotic, at least to my standard. Some sections are really good, while some are a bit off-putting (to me). Nonetheless, it can make for a good, but perhaps not repetitive, hearing. This sound reminds me of Weirdship, if they decided to incorporate jazz elements into their prog rock rather than reggae & funk elements.
Revis Places For Breathing
Vocals remind me too much of a Creed vibe, but the instrumentals are pretty awesome that have a faint Quicksand sound.
RINI Rini
Here's a decent mixture of hip hop and soul, but the HH elements keep this from being a solid recording like After the Sun.
Robert Wynia Iron By Water
Roberto Zanetti / DJ Savage Tonight
Rook Add Colour
Rorschach Test The Eleventh
This album has it's "great" moments and sounds very raw. This is the album before some of their better songs (on this album) were re-fitted for a nu-metal variation on their second album. Not an impressive gem but this perhaps one of the few 3/5 ratings that sound good enough to be a potential 3.5/5 rating.
Rusted Root When I Woke
Band decided to retry some first-album songs on here. Not a bad album but they still haven't made any significant improvements from their first album...
Sade Diamond Life
The instrumentals sound on point but the lyrics within some songs appear rather repetitive (my usual gripe from r&b generally) & uncomplimentary to the music playing. Sounds as a promising start. Tracks 1, 4, 5, and 7 serve as my highlights for this album.
Salmonella Dub Salmonella Dub
Some of the longer tracks surprisingly are not as good as heard in their later albums on this album, especially early on in this record, too. Aside from that initial stumble, some pretty decent dub music.
Samadhi Band Samadhi Band
Pretty much to summarize, a Tool duplicate sound w/ a Maynard lead singing in a Spanish-oriented language. Not a bad listen by any means, but certainly for those not fluent will lead to some audiences feel they're missing out (lyrically speaking)...
Seether Poison The Parish
Not too bad of an album, a return to a younger Seether, but I had the same perplexity as I had when I rated Korn's The Serenity of Suffering: the listener UNDERSTANDS (insert band name here - Korn/Seether), you ARE capable of crafting such an album. My question to both albums still remains: how & why wasn't this album crafted in OVER A DECADE of prior albums of mediocrity?
Self Is A Seed Siren
Track 4, some sections of 5, 6, 7, and 10, were pretty good but this album feels pretty tame for a prog rock album...
Seo Taiji Ultramania
A lot of half-and-half English/Japanese tracks on here, but the instrumentations aren't half bad. I cannot account for lyrics, but vocals were pretty mediocre...
Sianvar Sianvar
A promising start for this supergroup. I can only imagine how good the first album will be...
Sidewise Digest the Moon
An album w/ some good ideas. Track 4 and onward made the attempt of adapting softer vocal harmonies and abstract lyrics which were great to hear. The downside is that after a few stanzas, this album merely repeated those stanzas rather than expanding into creating more lyrics. The potential of creative energy in this album felt held back, and that's not often to find a nu-metal album that attempted to differ from Staind or Limp Bizkit.
Sinch Hive Mind
This album decided to play w/ a safe hand by incorporating more (small prog) hard rock instrumentations, romantic-oriented songs, and incorporation of easier vocal harmonies. Not a bad album but is just slightly lacking in comparison to their 2nd album. But certainly MUCH, MUCH better than their 1st album!
Sinizen Grass Roots Culture
The strength of this album stems from their instrumental sections while the vocal sections could sound better. There're a few tracks here worth hearing every now and then. Definitely a beginner's album into modern reggae.
Six Side Die That F'n Album
Technically the second Hail the Villain album that doesn't really offer anything new to the hard rock genre. It's good in a pinch, but I wouldn't expect a lot of repeat value from this album...
Skillet Comatose
Skinny Puppy Remission
Certainly not one of the best industrial albums, but it has it's moments of great quality, such as in tracks 3, 4, 6, 8, and 9. If given a choice, I'd much rather listen to this album than NIN's Pretty Hate Machine.
Skinny Puppy Brap (Back & Forth Vol. 3 & 4)
Some fairly good background industrial from Skinny Puppy. Sadly, none of the tracks really fair off in comparison to their main albums. For a double album though it has it's "great" moments, but those moments are oddly distributed throughout this album.
Sleepers Awake Transcension
Some minor improvements both vocally & instrumentally, but still has nothing that has not been heard in either progressive metal/rock genre. For anyone willing to search the better variation, I strongly suggest Leprous. Also, can anyone tell me how this album sounds anything like Tool again? Hell, by comparison the lead from Chevelle sounds more closer to a "Maynard sound" than this group's lead. At least the 2nd half of this album sounds better than it's 1st over-bloated half.
Slipknot Slipknot
Okay your listeners get it, you're all angry. But would it kill to have some self-identity w/ your tracklist? Still better than the first album releases by Korn or Disturbed.
Slipknot Iowa
Slightly better than their first album since they've finally narrowed their aggression into diverse songs w/ their own audible identity. Second half is indefinitely superior than the first half.
Smile Empty Soul Anxiety
Doubting this album will remain a 4/5 rating for long, although I could entertain the concept as being an excellent-worthy album. Here we have a nu-metal album that attempts to recapture the spirit of the former grunge years w/ the Cobain-esque vocals and latent guitar distortions that often veer off from the usual nu-metal distortion (ex: TRUSTcompany - Downfall, Linkin Park - Crawl, Mudvayne - Dig, and Slipknot - Before I Forget [to name a few]). Overall, a different nu-metal album, that I personally find refreshing. (3/22/17) Listening to this album again, but comes off as a tad short of the 4/5 rating, but still certainly higher than a 3.5/5 rating. (5/5/18) Now falling on a hard 3/5 considering how "meh" the lyrics are on the majority of the album (game shows [laughing inside]) and comparing other nu-metal records of the same decade (Ten Thousand Fists & Mesmerize STILL rule).
Snakepit Soul Like a Goat
Soen Cognitive
A heavily Tool-influenced album w/ great production quality. Where not bad it just doesn't offer any stand out tracks, and I kinda blame the main vocalist. Some of the harmony sections are great, but the main singer is too comfortable w/ a limited range.
Soothsayers The Time is Now
Honestly not a fan of the remix tracks, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. I can barely here any reggae influences within this album which is really sad when coming off their first record. The instrumentals are great but I think the vocals (esp from the lead male) are a tad obnoxious in more areas I can't ignore (We Must Return to Earth and Do You Want to Know especially). Tracks 2, 6, 10, 11, and 12 are pretty good though.
Soothsayers Don't Give Up the Fight
Kinda disappointed... The instrumentals are personally the only thing carrying this album cause the lyrics are severely lacking. I figured w/ all the featured contributions there'd be more lyrical variety in the least.
Sorceress Dose
Eh, maybe there has to be a certain mood to feel for this album. Def lively but I think the lyrics are kinda lacking here...
Soundtrack (Anime) Serial Experiments Lain OST Cyberia Mix
This soundtrack offers occasional flairs of decent techno and house music but the remixes are not worth revisiting too often.
Speak No Evil Speak No Evil
Wondering how this group went from this instrumentally diverse (compared to their sophomore effort) album - even if sounding reminiscent to a Godsmack album - to an "eh" album when hearing the potential in this record...
Spineshank Self Destructive Pattern
Blurry (in the ratings) has definitely stated this album w/ similar thoughts I had and worded this album much better than I could write upon. Not an outstanding industrial (and nu-metal) album. Hell, it's more impressive and enjoyable than Staind's Dysfunction album and more invoking than Pressure 4-5's Burning the Process. Still, I'd much rather hear NIN's Pretty Hate Machine than this, and already created a better industrial sound pre-90's.
Staind Dysfunction
Staind Break The Cycle
Will admit that I have a soft spot for Staind, at least for this album. Fade, Outside, Waste, and It's Been A While click as some of Staind's better songs, even if they are reminiscent of the former (teenage) flawed nu-metal years.
Static In Stereo Static In Stereo
A post-grunge album that manages to embody the popular outfit of the 90's grunge acts. The first third of this album is pretty mediocre, but then starts to pick up by the second third w/ more audible diversity. The final third is not really that spectacular but certainly better than the first. An okay album overall...
Static-X Wisconsin Death Trip
Imagined a watered down La Sexorcisto album, and you have this album. Some sections in the beginning tracks are pretty good but are registered as the weaker tracks. Once you get past track 2, the rest of the album becomes a bit better. Some highlights of this album include tracks 3, 6, 7, and 11.
Static-X Machine
A faster yet groovier(?) version of their Wisconsin album. Not too bad, but there have been industrial acts that have done this better (and much, much earlier). Overall, I would rather listen to NIN's Pretty Hate Machine over this album if I was offered the choice.
Stick Figure Smoke Stack
[REGGAE] Instrumentals are really improving on this one, esp their sample choices.
Substantial To This Union A Sun Was Born
I tried to enjoy this album more considering Nujabes' contribution, but some tracks feel a tad too aggressive to wear that jazz hop outfit this album attempts to wear.
Sunna One Minute Science
An industrial album that manages to stay trapped in between its two extremes of the industrial spectrum, atmospheric/unsettling and blaring/intensive. I think this album could've managed to have done either strongly, but instead we're featured an album w/ a variety of instrumental sections that're relatively dull (as opposed to blaring) and atmospheric sections that lose their intimidation after so much repetition. Still a nice album, but again it could've been better... Tracks 3, 5, 8, 9 and 10 serve as my highlights for this album.
Suns of Arqa Revenge of the Mozabites
A bit too experimental and less rhythmic for my tastes, but others may enjoy the assorted genres (electronica, Hindustani classical, folk, reggae, etc.) heard all throughout this album. There are some good segments in a lot of these mostly instrumentals but there are too few tracks to earn a repetitive listen from this record.
Suns of the Tundra Suns of the Tundra
This album in the (technically) Peach discography comes off as a higher 3/5 rating due to some of the abrupt instrumentations that can be heard sonically on this album alongside some interesting lyrics (though could've used some tweeking). What makes this rating personally conflicting was how this album slightly ranks higher than some other prog rock albums (ex: Atomship - Crash of '47; Cog - The New Normal) that take heavy influences from the Tool sound. What makes this album a bit better was how this album had the occasional prog moments of bringing in random instrumental sounds that are not normally heard throughout this album. It's a nice little gem, but certainly not as lustrous as I'd hoped for...
Tame Impala Currents
Unfortunately my prediction was wrong. It seems that Tame Impala's direction was heading toward electronica. This is certainly not bad album but perhaps pales in comparison to other electronica albums. The atmosphere in this album is pretty airy and heavily soaked in an 80s sound. A pretty good effort for Tame Impala in experimentation, but it's a small regression from their alternative rock origins. Hopefully their next album will be the grunge period album I was hoping for...
Tantric Tantric
For any fans of Ed Kowalczyk vocals (Live - Throwing Copper), then you'll definitely like this album. I warn all listeners though that this album has a good first half, but then the album becomes less impressive after Astounded (at least from I'll Stay Here through All to Myself). Not a very impressive gem, but definitely a good listen for anyone interested in finding something different (yet not unique) in the grunge spectrum.
Teengenerate Savage!!!
Tell Amarosa With These Hands
Definitely an act from Australia that I'll be waiting for when they release their 1st LP. Great vocals is a big plus, and their instrumentals sound appropriately in their infancy. Can only anticipate how much better their 1st album will be.
Tera Kora Legend of Kora: Book One
A bit too club-music friendly for my tastes, but def better than Mina's remixes. Tracks 5, 6, and 10 are worth spinning.
The Afghan Whigs Up In It
A pretty fair effort but comes off as too raw to be fully appreciated in similar respects to Collective Soul's first album - Hints Allegations and Things Left Unsaid. Both have a fair amount of material and cater to their respective (unique) interpretations of grunge, but the listener(s) can clearly hear the muddled production quality is not as great as other acknowledged alternative rock albums from this decade.
The Black Angels Directions to See a Ghost
The Black Keys The Big Come Up
I guess fads come in cycles, and I'm ever so delighted that there are groups bringing back the jam & blues rock sound of the 70s. A pretty good effort from this album, although I personally could've seen this album as being another 15-20 mins for the sake of extended jam sessions. Too bad the tracks on average barely peak above 3-mins... Hopefully their next album is better.
The Color Red Clear
If the lead of the Deftones decided to be a part of a hard rock group, then this is what you will hear. An okay album but nothing really worth praising. Track 6 was perhaps their best song.
The Frogs It's Only Right and Natural
Perhaps one of the gayest albums I've listened to in a while... The satirical lyrics may have been new for everyone else at their time of inception, I however believe there exist future albums that have done this delivery better w/ satirical songwriting. My recommendation: Superhero, by Stephen Lynch. Now I'm just waiting for that illusive COMEDY category to be created...
The Green Ways & Means
Some pretty good reggae w/ hints of electronica. The biggest grievance to this album is the choice of lyrics. Nearly every track pertains to some romanticism which is one of my music peeves. Great production & solid instrumentations all around. Perhaps my best reference for a 3/5 rated "new reggae" album. Highlight tracks: Ways & Means, Transparent People, and That's the Way.
The Green Marching Orders
My first hear of a "pop reggae" album, I think... Tracks w/ a more formulaic beat per track (check [I Will]), onomatopoeia for lyrics (check [All I Need, Foolish Love]), and a stronger presence of electronica alongside faster tempos (check [Feel So Cool]). A different audible experience from this band, where not bad, the record doesn't necessarily improve upon their Hawai'i 13 album. Where still an impressive album, it's just not my preference. Highlight tracks: Marching Orders, Going Up, The Garden.
The King's Dead Jerusalem
Back after a long fallout... Pretty well produced album but just not my flavor of hip-hop (too much boasting).
The Machine in the Garden Underworld
The vocals are very good, esp from the female (while the male sounds too close to Martin Gore [Depeche Mode]) but the instrumentals can be hit-or-miss for my ears. Tracks 2, 6, 8, and 16 are my personal favorites.
The Melodians Rivers of Babylon [Vinyl]
The Prayer Chain Shawl
A heavy grunge album, but sounds a bit too instrumentally raw (plus) and lyrically unfocused (BIG minus) to be considered for a repetitive listen... Tracks 5, 6, 8, and 9 serve as my highlights for this album.
The Tiger Lillies Spit Bucket
Rumor has it that some of these tracks predate their first album's material, and some songs (ex: Crappy, Blind Willy, Sinner, Weird) make me feel this rumor have some partial (personal) truth here. I mean it's entertaining in several tracks (ex: Violin Time, Doctors & Nurses, Fallen Hero, Way On Down), but you're not missing anything when compared to their Births, Marriages, and Deaths album.
The Velvet Underground White Light/White Heat
The Watchmen McLaren Furnace Room
Some would declare that imitation is the most sincerest form of flattery, but I'm a tad split on this album. The instrumentations are near-great but the vocalist reminds me too much of (a paler) Ed Kowalczyk [former Live vocalist]. In all fairness to self-identity in music, I cannot rate this album any higher than a 3/5 on the merit of how this album sounds too close to Live's sound... Still a good effort, just not "original." PS Avoid the Falling track (weakest song here).
The Watchmen In The Trees
Finally drifting a bit further from their (obvious) LIVE influences and attempting to create their take on the grunge scene. Track 3 and 6 serve as this album's better songs.
This Misery Garden Cornerstone
Not bad but I think the shift was a bit much... The lyrical quality was slacked while the instrumentals have taken a heavier approach. A tradeoff that may have sound good on paper, but the results were a tad troubling when compared to their first album.
Three Legged Fox Always Anyway
(Oncoming shade) While this album is better than ANYTHING from Aaron Kamm and The One Drops, I cannot help but hear this record backtracking from its reggae influences as heard in their prior work in place of latent electronica. The production quality is still good, but there're little to any audible horns, organs, or instrumentals familiar to reggae. This IS their weakest album so far.
Three Legged Fox Ideas
Now THIS is how you make a good first start. SUCK IT AARON KAMM! Tracks 1, 2, and 7 serve as my highlights. The final track has a bonus instrumental track by the 5:45 mark.
Tommy McCook Reggae In Jazz
Perhaps one of the earliest reggae-jazz albums to exist, and not half bad. Although after listening to Groundation's Hebron
Gate ('02) I definitely set my expectations too high for this record... It has the occasional track w/ a stronger emphasis of
the reggae-dub (strong preference of specific organ, sound similar found in various prog rock albums in the 70's) but it
doesn't take away from the value that this sound could later inspire.
Tool Fear Inoculum
Tool sounds as impressive as ever even w/ these meatier track lengths. HOWEVER, I believe they more or less have become what Chevelle has for their sound: unique but "repetitive." While not inherently bad in having a branded sound as "their own," there's arguably little if any innovation heard on this album when compared within their prior catalogue. Taking (obvious) elements from Lateralus and Aenima are refreshing to hear after all this time is pleasant, but after a decade it's bittersweet to imagine one's favoring band has audibly reached its peak... The first half is imo weaker than it's second half (Descending and onward). I'm only speculating that APC's Eat the Elephant effort acted as a playground for this album's sound quality, where Fear Inoculum comes out as just marginally better. Is this album better than 10,000 Days? Maybe... But 10,000 Days (Altered State) [DaveOfTheDead94]) rearrangement? No... Not even close.
Tratas The Strangest of All Guests Is At the Door
Credited this is 3 member group (of Lucid Planet), this reveals more of an experimental ground that is certainly similar to their Lucid Planet contributions. Still a fun album to listen if you wish to hear more experimentation and a heavy drop AWAY from their (Lateralus) Tool similarities. Just a fun psychedelic prog album...
Traverser Telemetry
This album's tracks felt too comfortable in their hard rock roots to be considered a prog rock album. If these guys incorporated some (more) art rock into their prog as they had in the mentioned tracks, Architeuthis and The Deluge, this album could've become a potential 3.5/5. Still, this album more enjoyable than most of the 3/5 ratings I've heard. Favorite track: Blackwater
Tripod Songs From Self Saucing
A decent comedy album w/ far more hits than misses. The live crowd here is a rather odd here, but that's to blame for any of the on-stage antics we cannot watch as they're performing.
Trust Company The Lonely Position of Neutral
Pretty much the review speaks for itself - a Linkin Park w/ a stronger hard rock orientation, minus the hip-hop influences. A prime example of how Linkin Park spawned off imitators, which unfortunately costs partial ratings for others like this. A good and enjoyable effort, but rating this any higher than a 3.5/5 would be too generous. Recommended tracks:Downfall, Running From Me, Slipping Away, and Deeper Into You.
Ultraspank Progress
Album makes some subtle improvements, solidifying this as the superior album, but not enough for me to rate this record any higher (yet).
Urusei Yatsura Slain by Urusei Yatsura
Slightly better than their first album. Lyrics have improved slightly and instrumentations tend to take some chances at improvisation, but not enough to consider a higher rating.
Vacant Stare Vindication
A tad above average, but comes off being anywhere close to the "next" Pulse Ultra, Mad At Gravity, or Acroma... Tracks 1, 4, 5, and 9 served as my highlights for this album.
Vain Velocity Emerge & See
Lyrics certainly improved and finally hearing more focus toward a prog nu-metal identity. Still has some mending to do before it can craft a unique sound amongst other prog metal acts.
Veio The Antidote
As heavily Tool-influenced this album sounds, I cannot help but feel this album being too tame in some tracks. Also those same tracks mentioned manage to be played even TOO long for my patience... Not a bad album but certainly can be improved upon.
Veio Infinite Light // Desperate Shadows
The first three tracks are a bit generic instrumentally but the album begins picking up by track 4. Not a bad album (again), but still think there's more room for improvement... As of now, this is their best album. Tracks 4, 6, and 9 are my highlights for this album.
Virgos Merlot Signs of a Vacant Soul
Perhaps not one of the greatest records of the 90s, but I think it's still worth a listen due to some really good instrumentations. The singing has definitely been heard before in other bands, so this album is likely to be overlooked. Personally, this band's solo-album surpasses Atomship's solo album, The Crash of '47 - neither are classics, but both are fairly decent. Tracks 1, 5, 6, 8, and 11 serve as my highlights for this album.
Vitruvian Man The Stranger Within
Another decent effort from Australia. It's an okay album that has some flares of jam rock that make the album entertaining for a while, until these sections sound repetitive after a while. Vocals are alright, too.
Volbeat Rock The Rebel/Metal The Devil
Now this album has picked up on their strengths and made a few small changes on this album. Here we have some songs that vary in their tempo and withheld their riffs so that the listener can appreciate them once heard. Kinda on the fence of calling this a 3.5/5 album since some of their tracks still feel and sound similar to one another. The one feature I certainly enjoyed on this album was the drumming.
Wham! Make It Big
A pop album that plays a lot more hits (1, 4, 5, 6, and 8) than misses (2, 3, and 7). Even so, there is a lot of 80s cheesy synths that's layered in this album. Even so, Careless Whispers (meme song) FTW!!
Year of the Rabbit Year of the Rabbit
YUNG BAE Bae
Decent beat music that has a few more hits than misses. Wouldn't surprise me if this album gained traction after a decade.

2.5 average
10 Years Feeding the Wolves
A rule that I have for ratings is where there's (at minimum) ONE good song, an album can at least be in the 3-spectrum. A 3-spectrum album represents to me as an album that (humbly) admits to being imperfect. Where there's glimpses of potential in each track, or one track track worth acknowledging, a 3/5 album shows that a band at least HAS potential and enough creativity to linger. Where some people might find this rule to be odd to have such a low bar of acceptability, I see this as a reminder that most of the potential greats had to have failed a great # of times before being able to create something worthwhile (just not now). Regrettably, this is not one of those albums. Hell, track 8 is the epitome of filler...
21 Eyes of Ruby Conquer the World Part I
Still impressed how far only a 3-track EP can get a such a rating.
3 Years Hollow The Cracks
311 Evolver
Oh no... A tad more aggressive than I was expecting w/ the nu-metal guitar sections.
32 Leaves Welcome to the Fall
One of the hard rock bands that should've started in the late 90s... To hear this in '05 doesn't even come close to being a unique sound. At least the 2nd half of this album is fairly better than the 1st.
6gig Mind Over Mind
While I normally favor elongated track lengths, this is an album that manages to take their lyrical content and have it wear out its welcome far often than not... Songs 3, 5, 7, 10, and 12 are examples of this phenomena. At least the ending of track 9 (Ghosts In the Room) had a decent solo hidden within.
A Perfect Circle Eat the Elephant
Oh man, this is just TOO mellow for A Perfect Circle... And of course I'm going to hear this album from a prior record stethoscope 'cause the IDENTITY of this group was solidified by their first two records. Excluding eMOTIVe (for insert "creative" reason[s]), the airy elements of Thirteenth Step revealed the highlighted features toward making this album. However, the industrial elements were now nearly dissolved (ex: TalkTalk) leaving tracks that only laid on the outskirts of their metal elements which avid APC listeners of this band were familiar with (ex: Hourglass). On it's own, pros, lyrically creative (esp Disillusioned, TalkTalk, Feathers), and a pleasant listen, esp for those unfamiliar w/ Mr Keenan's prior works. Cons, well... This is an alternative rock album that COULD'VE been ("better") crafted from numerous other acts LONG prior before this album's inception. While this 14-year incubator is not bad of an album, it is FAR from being considered one of APC's (if not Mr. Keenan's) best works, but STILL better than eMOTIVe in various aspects.
Aaron Kamm and The One Drops The Bomb and The Beast
I still can't hear a solid 3/5 rating. It's neither a good reggae or blues effort in my ears. However, PHR and Boy Rude are the only intolerable tracks imo. The beginning and final third of the record are generally better than the middle section. It's not offensive but it's still not that impressive either...
Aaron Kamm and The One Drops gnu-gnu
While not bad there just isn't any standout instrumentations or vocals on any track that entice me enough to hear any song, much less this entire album, again. The final three songs serve as my highlights for this record.
Aaron Kamm and The One Drops grow
Marginal improvements can be heard within a few tracks, but the vocals & instrumentals are just following the same boundaries as heard in their first record. Morning Sun, Carry Me, and Save Yourself are my highlights for this album.
Alter Bridge AB III
This album followed in Live's history by trying to create a "darker" album after an already successful album. Live made Throwing Copper and then proceeded to create its darker half: Secret Samadhi. THIS album is Blackbird's SS album. It has it's dark undertones, offers occasional moments that separate it from their prior work, but comes off as sounding like a combination of Soundgarden vocals and Chevelle instrumentations (Still Remains as my track of reference). The downside is that this album comes off as lackluster and bloated...
Ambulance LTD. Ambulance LTD
Amerigo Gazaway Yasiin Gaye: The Return (Side Two)
I guess one can only stretch the better material of two artists so much... As of now this may be the weakest mixing effort heard from this catalogue. Where not bad, this album just doesn't hold the same candle as The Departure nor does it have any standout tracks I'd like to come back for.
Angelfish Angelfish
Pleasant punk rock w/ female vocals. Maybe if I'd get around to listening to Garbage (the lead's future frontman) I would have a better appreciation for this album, but there's nothing really all too special about this album...
Another Race Tag & Release
Vocals are dull, lyrics sound generic, but instrumentations are okay if not for the production quality... Not bad but certainly not worth hearing again or remembering. Lemme redirect you to some better acts that do this band's genres justice: Insolence, Skindred, and Snot. You're welcome...
Avenged Sevenfold Sounding the Seventh Trumpet
Battling Delirium Naturaldelia
Oh boy, I'm encountering another Cire moment here. The sound has bits and pieces to make an insane album, but the vocalist dares not to sing w/ much enthusiasm. Ironically, the name of the track that showed more vitality in the vocals was the track Unnoticed. Cool to find that this is a local band from N'Orleans.
Battling Delirium Super Psychedelic Love Songs For the Dark Hearted
Be The Wolf Imago
Bjork Drawing Restraint 9
The curiosity by name recognition is there for me to listen, but this album's abstracts are all over the place. Tracks 2 & 9 serves as the prime examples of bewilderment I have for this album. Where not awful but certainly too strange/bizarre to not earn a repetitive listen. FUN OBSERVATION: track 9's vocals sound like a Japanese variation of Ol' Dirty Bastard.
Black Lab Your Body Above Me
It doesn't appear to be any real audible diversity in this album, although not entirely boring either...
Blur Leisure
Borialis Straight Out Of the Rug Room
A really watered down 311 album has never sounded so "meh" until I heard this... While certainly not awful, it just sounds too repetitive to even be warranted as "good."
Borialis What You Thought You Heard
Instrumentals on most of the tracks from the first half of the album tend to sound too similar, esp from the guitar and bass work. Some songs meet the exception (ex Toughen the Bones). Still not impressive as their first effort however marginal.
Breaking Benjamin Saturate
Cage The Elephant Cage the Elephant
A pretty decent start for this group, and the album is enjoyable. Punk-rock-oriented blues w/ a clear vocal delivery alongside occasional dabbling in 90's distorted garage rock (nostalgia). The downside is that I feel this band was shooting for too many genres at once in this album. Personally, the majority of tracks on this album sound alike, if not too similar. If you're reading this and expecting a large amount of diversity on this album, this is not the album for you. Excluding the obnoxious "No Rest For the Wicked" track, this is an alright album.
Cage The Elephant Tell Me I'm Pretty
Okay... Someone explain to me, what just happened? A band w/ potential from their last 2 albums and then they suddenly backtracked to create an album that barely ties w/ their 1st album. This album has little to no energy in comparison to the rest of this group's entire discography...
Chevelle Stray Arrows - A Collection Of Favorites
Eh, you're better off just buying any of Chevelle's catalogue from after '04 and on for essentials. But if you're a die hard fan, then Wonder What's Next and Point #1 are pretty good as well. Not essential (to me) but serve as a good starting point.
Civil Twilight Holy Weather
And I thought their latest album was different from their first, but this album drifted FAR, FAR away from their first album's sound... I mean, the album's not terrible, but the experience (by comparison) comes off as left-field after being comfortable w/ their first album. This just takes their electronica influences, cranked them another 5 notches, and added more dance-oriented pop signatures into the mix. A bit disappointing how much this act changed to gain (mainstream) recognition...
Clawfinger Deaf Dumb Blind
A very watered down Rage Against the Machine sound... Maybe a a light 3/5, but I cannot see this as any higher than above average.
Clawfinger Use Your Brain
Slightly better than their first album but not by enough to insist a rating any higher than their first album...
Cromwell Illusion & Obsession
This album shows minor improvements to their instrumentations w/ complimentary vocals, but not by much to leave the "3 spectrum." Tracks 3, 4, 6, and 8 had some sections that were interesting. And their biggest flaw to me is their chokehold on creating romantic-oriented songs... To all inspiring musicians, I plead you to write OTHER material! There's more to music than romance...
Current 93 Nature Unveiled
Pretty creepy drone folk, but this was not the drone I was looking for... It was the industrial folk I was looking for... The album reminds me of Nurse With Wound's first album a few years back, but not as eerie. Also, cannot help but feel this album drags far too long before you hear any changes in the tracks. Definitely some good "party's over" music for any of those obnoxious partiers that refuse to leave.
Dead Sky Valley Theory: Exit, Wave
An odd mixture of punk, electronica, and prog rock make this unknown band form an interesting sound. I'm even more curious about the potential this band has w/ tracks having bits & pieces of audio that sound really good (ex: Great Flower, The Day the Universe Disappeared, Up the Wall, and Drive On).
Dead Sky Valley Dream Impression, Redundant Tongue
Deftones Deftones
... Come on, Chino... Any track w/ a voice crack is a sign of someone is not ready to record yet...
Disturbed The Sickness
Dope Felons And Revolutionaries
Even a 3/5 may sound a bit exaggerative considering this is an album of '99. By this time people already have heard (personally) better industrial music from even mainstream industrial figures such as Nine Inch Nails (Downward Spiral), White Zombie (Astro-Creep), and even Filter (Short Bus). This album has "sections" of good material scattered in this album's tracklist. Some of these pieces can be found in, to name a few, tracks 1, 3, 5, 7, and 12. Track 8 is an "eh" cover - definitely nothing to Godflesh's Christbait Rising (tribute to the rhythm section of Eric B & Rakim's Microphone Fiend). Personally not an industrial album I would invest my money in unless you're looking into some VERY MILD industrial.
Down and Above Vena Cava
Coming back to hard rock always brings back those nostalgic memories of my initially latent interest I had in music... Hear on this album we have some post-grunge (00's hard rock) that actually has some instrumentations that remain slightly above the garden variety 00's hard rock. The harmonies are also pretty good but they're not done as well nor as consistent as that of 10 Years.
Downplay Saturday
Some pretty good guitar work but the mediocre lyrics hinder this album's potential identity. This sound would've made for a good album if in the late 90's but only comes off as average since this hard rock came out during the early 00's when hard rock became garden variety material...
Downplay A Day Without Gravity
Tracks 10 through track 12 were perhaps the only good-worthy songs on this album that truly showcase this album's potential. The rest is pretty much the garden-variety hard rock instrumentation coupled by mediocre song writing. Still hoping better things from this band...
Downplay Rise.Fall.Repeat
I can hear some instrumental improvements alongside some better lyricism in this EP when compared to their prior two albums, but not significant enough to be considered a "good" album.
Downplay The Human Condition
Okay... They're planning to include elements of electronica into their tracks now, but at least in small increments. Personally not as good as their third LP but not all too bad either. Seven-Year Itch was my highlight track for this EP.
Dub Syndicate One Way System
An instrumental reggae dub/electronica album w/ occasional misses amongst it's hits. Independence and Substyle serve as my highlighted tracks.
Dub Trio Exploring The Dangers Of
Instrumental reggae w/ occasional hints of other genres (post rock & electronica [beyond their organs]) sprinkled in. Not half bad but not really much different than a plethora of dub reggae that already exist.
DubConscious Mystery Dogg
The instrumentals are not bad but rather bland. Their vocalist in this one album just sounds disinterested and uninvested in this record. Not a good start, but I think there's hope for future albums. Highlights: Under the Weather.
Ear-Shot The Pain
Album is pretty fair but not really doing anything different than from any of the mainstream groove metal bands (ex: White Zombie) or even hard rock bands (ex: Godsmack) have made over the years. Will acknowledge that Five Beers and Man with The Scissorhands are pretty good tracks.
Earshot Two
Eh... A cool album cover... OH COME ON! I thought this was supposed to be their better album, and I'm hearing a bunch of "eh" nu-metal & hard rock here! At least w/ Letting Go the lead and band took some initiative to experiment w/ their sound as not to sound too much like Tool due to Letting Go being a post-Laterlus album. But this album is far more tame than their first... Hell, this album barely ties w/ Ocean Machine: Biomech - for any interested, THAT is a huge (average) rating difference. At least this album sounds better than Sinch's first album.
Edgewater South Of Sideways
El Grande Get Done
Tracks 2 and 4 for your reggae fix (however latent). The other songs appeal as something heard similar from Cage the Elephant, but song 5 is the better of the remaining three.
Eurobeat Brony Super Ponybeat Vol. 1
Nothing entirely terrible but definitely too repetitive to peak my interest. Kinda sounds like modernized 8-bit loops, and some 8-bit (and latently 16-bit). Music of this nature isn't that bad but comes off more as background music in some people's ears (including my own).
Ficus Black Foliage
Not only Nujabes had no contribution to this album, but it was very apparent to me that I heard the Nujabes influence within Hydeout Productions begin to slowly fade away... Black Foliage makes it's anticipated listeners suffer a rocky transition from the usual ambient jazz hip-hop into jazz rap (if there is a category)... Though this album had a few tracks worth listening to (ex: Next To Me), the other majority suffer varying problems such as over-repetition of certain stanzas in the lyrics (ex: Energies [lazy]), good sounds with uncomplimentary lyrics, or lyrics mentioning various (stereotypical) "flair rap."
Filter The Amalgamut
Probably the gayest album in Filter's discography...
Front Line Assembly State of Mind
Initially bored w/ this album and before I knew it I was bobbing my head by track 3. Main problem of concern like their first album was how the tracks go on for too long w/ little to no change in their instrumental structure and little to no vocals... A lazy effort, but it's not unbearable nor an exhausting chore to listen thru this album. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iOZbpsXZJE
Gargantua Soul The First. The Last. The Tribe.
Some painfully average nu-metal material that tried to become the next Rage Against the Machine, and it doesn't even come close... Hell, Merauder's Master Killer album sounds more impressive than this album. At least Track 4's ending had some nice instrumentation.
Godsmack Godsmack
Godsmack Awake
Slightly more balanced than their first album but for some reason not as impressive than their self-titled effort. I'm sure w/ a little track rearranging it could sound better overall (especially when tracks 3-4 just crank this album down quickly), but just doesn't sound as impacting in certain areas... Trippin' serves as my highlighted track. (4/27/18) Haven't listened to this album in years, and after a recent listen, I can understand why...
Guts (SPN) Le Bienheureux
This album makes the effort to make this sound as one long track, like Nujabes' Ristorante Cuisine Mixtape, which I appreciate and the transitions appear flawless. Some tracks though do not sound "as chill" as I thought this genre implied. Plenty of the tracks feature over-repetitive lyrical stanzas and some have odd moments of disruption that stop their varying songs' "momentum" altogether. I'm sure his sound gets better w/ a new release, right?
Hamburger Helper Watch the Stove
Definitely an enigmatic release but now begs the question for me: which brand will produce an EP promo for their product(s) next?
Hurt The Consumation
Hurt Vol. 1
Can anyone point out to me where the progressive rock material is in this album? Only after listening to their early stuff and frankly puzzled why this album, alongside their prior work, is even categorized as progressive rock... If anything, this album has less prog going for it than Devin Townsend's Ocean Machine: Biomech. To be clear, I'm actually typing/defending OMB as better than this album.
Insane Clown Posse Carnival of Carnage
Okay... Try to keep an open mind here... This album featured an uneven blend of hip-hop delivery alongside soundboard instrumentation w/ an interesting focus in electronica beats. Somehow this album manages to be less overbearing than any Limp Bizkit album, even though the lyrics are either very mediocre or just flat out cheesy/ridiculous (at least compared to many better hip-hop albums). The album is not terrible or overbearing, but I admit this album takes some effort to listen to this album in just one listen.
Insolence Revolution
Come on Insolence... Your reggae influences are so watered down, I feel like I'm listening to a better Korn album. Still better than any Limp Bizkit album, but this is almost painfully average after hearing their previous works. Track 5 serves as my highlight of this album.
Insolence Within
The album just before Insolence began incorporating the hip-hop rhythms and reggae infusion. Just slightly above par hardcore music. Not bad, but definitely not great either... At least the second half was better than the first half.
Insolence Vicious Circle
Some instrumentally impressive musicianship but certainly heard of before and better from prior acts. Vocals and lyrics are pretty "eh" as well.
Isle of Q Isle of Q
An act that sums up most of the stereotypical 90s alternative rock music (in spirit). Not one of the most impressive post-grunge acts following after the 90s, and certainly not the worst either. Just do not expect any track to match up to previous acts like that of Nirvana (In Utero), Live (Throwing Copper), Bush (Sixteen Stone), Smashing Pumpkins (Siamese Dream), and Alice In Chains (everything BEFORE Black Gives to Blue). Track 7, and generally the 2nd half of this album, was pretty good.
Jah9 Note to Self
[REGGAE] Just wondering what happened... Was honestly expecting more.
Janus Armor
Pretty much the Chevelle and Deftones leftovers, but they are still very appetizing. The downside is that these tracks have been done better on previous Chevelle and Deftones albums. I wonder how their first album sounds... Track 8 was pretty good.
Judas Priest Rocka Rolla
There're hints of okay rock in here, but not enough to persuade any heavy metal enthusiast into adding this into their Judas Priest collection. At least this sounds better than The Velvet Underground's Squeeze album...
Kevin Gates Behind Enemy Lines
Korn Korn
Being a pioneer doesn't necessarily earn high marks in terms of genre crafting, and such an example can be found w/ Cromagnon's Orgasm album in regards to industrial music. While both innovative for being crafted so early, both have created a product that're melodically jarring in an unintended direction. The bass on this album was really good in several tracks but I personally cannot recommend this as an essential nu-metal album. The guitar riffing came off as too repetitive for my tastes but many lyrical sections had revealed speckles of greatness. However, tracks like "Shoots & Ladders" served as proof that these artists, as one example, were too lazy to craft an original track beyond merely reciting a nursery rhyme over their instrumental accompaniment. This album's a rough listen, but reveals the beginning of a decent metal band in the making.
Kunubu K21:N21:B21 (Greatest Hits)
Some pretty decent background music, but this comes from my personal disconnect w/ instrumental albums. It's not bad but no tracks are present that make me want to come back and replay this record, much less a specific track...
Kutless Sea of Faces
Christian rock at it's most average: repetitive instrumentation not meant to be challenging, no abrasive vocal leads or harmonies, and lyrical themes that really do not go too far out of the spectrum of (you guessed it). In the words of Mike Birbiglia, mainstreamed Christian rock can be heard as such, "Woke up in the morning, and I got myself some oatmeal, and I put some raisins on it, and Christ is Gaaaaawd! Christ is Gaaaaaaawd! Christ is Gaaaaawd!"
Limp Bizkit Three Dollar Bill Y'all
A band that was trying far too hard to become a mellow Rage Against the Machine or angry Sublime... Where instead of angrily complaining about their governmental & militarized oppression as Rage had, this band tackles the oppressions & shortcomings of being a teenager. I guess every decade of the popular music suffers from this over-saturation of one genre and making the effort to differ amongst the duplicates makes this effort all the more exhausting. Aside from these mediocre lyrics, the low production also doesn't really add any value to this album. If anything I find it annoying how I have to turn up the volume to hear their tuned-down riffs and verses... Then again, this IS one of those albums that spawned out imitators, so that has to count for something (even if those imitations are even worse than this album).
Limp Bizkit Significant Other
The only real improvement to this album was perhaps the production value. The problem w/ this album was that the tracks outlasted their welcome far too quickly. If they seriously ended when the tracks finished and none of those pointless continuations of audio in nearly each track, this album could be more tolerable. The intro track actually had a nice sound and then the downward spiral began... Still had a few tracks that imo are worth replaying every now and then for nostalgia sake (like tracks 4, 5, 7, and 11), but as a whole I'm likely not going to be playing this album again anytime soon (unless I imagine a time to [purposely] listen to bad music). But again, if this album served as inspiration for future musicians, and included many differing recording artists under one album. So historically, that has to account for something, right?
Linkin Park A Thousand Suns
Went into this album expected to find this album a tad underrated in accordance to the few accounts' higher ratings... And now I ask them: how is this album even good again? 10 years prior to this album, LP had Hybrid Theory, not a classic but worthy enough for a cult-like following and even "imitated" by other musicians. This album however has relatively little to no emotional depth at all compared to Hybrid Theory. The only song that meets my bare standard for a 2.5/5 album is track 8, and it's not even that great of a song, esp w/ the hip-hop segments. Even worse, the majority of all their songs go on for far too long (ring-ring; relative track filler calling). All that said, this album is not terrible but it is awfully mediocre from such a "reputable" band...
Lorde Pure Heroine
Manmade God Manmade God
A pretty average grunge album. It's not weak enough to be poor but certainly not strong enough to be worth recommending to own...
Mark Stewart Control Data
Dream Kitchen and Consumed are probably the better tracks here, but otherwise a forgettable record for me...
Mellow Mood Move!
Reminds me of a watered down Dispatch. It's serviceable...
Merauder Master Killer
Mina Greatest Hits I
Not exactly 'original' to feature a bunch of remixed versions of reggae and non-reggae songs all compiled on one record. The choices aren't bad but I think many would rather just listen to a playlist of the original song versions. Tracks 3, 8, and 12 serve as my highlights for this album.
Mina Flight Paths
Dude... If it wasn't for the production I'd likely rate this lower. There're maybe just two tracks worth referring and I don't even have the patience to listen for them again.
Mindset A Bullet For Cinderella
Not a bad nu-metal punk record, but very impressionable either. Similar to a System of a Down voice but w/o the bombastic sounds from the vocalists or instruments. FYI, this is a record from Mindset in VIRGINIA (VA).
Mindset (VA) A Bullet For Cinderella
Not bad for either a nu-metal or punk rock album, but not very impressionable album either...
Nine Inch Nails With Teeth
The album title must be ironic, 'cause this album audibly is either toothless or still has baby teeth. I've heard of bland, but this is one of the most 'meh' industrial albums I've heard in years. For any that need an industrial fix close to the same release, try Killing Joke (2003) by Killing Joke.
Now (US) Now That's What I Call Classic Rock Hits
Ockum's Razor The Terrible Truth
Aside from the harmonies, this band isn't really offering anything fresh to the rock scene... Memories is a pretty good song.
Papa Roach Infest
Eh, better than any Limp Bizkit album ever made. Will admit this is still pretty drooling compared to the hard rock during the decade of this album's inception. Definitely for my former teenage years, but again, my teenage Self was an idiot. And still "relatively" so...
Phase In Consequence
This album has it's moments instrumentally but the vocalist doesn't really compare when up against their cited influences, esp The Tea Party.
Pinwheel Pinwheel
Pinwheel, what happened? I can understand that your band is trying to seek it's own identity but at what cost to your sound... The industrial rock has now become a hard rock instrumentation w/ electronica synthesizing, almost a completely different album than from their first. There may be some good sections found throughout this album (ex: Bend, Dirt Jar, Spat), but not one exemplary track. I hope their next album sounds better than this...
Protoje Royalty Free Side B
I think I know why this EP was at one point a 'free download.' Not the worst B-sides but most just sound further away from Protoje's prior efforts. Tracks 3 and 4 are the only tracks worth revering here.
Queens of the Stone Age Era Vulgaris
Somehow I found the time to actually listen to this album alongside Lullabies to Paralyze. The reason why I chose LTP for comparison was b/c that album was considered this band's grand experiment in their sound before Era Vulgaris. In this album though, the risks don't pan out so well... The instrumentations nearly mute out the lead as heard in the first two tracks. At least in their first album the listener had repetitive instrumentations w/ moments of improv that worked in accordance w/ their vocal work. This album instead lets the instrumentations have all the spotlight while the vocals lazily occupy the stage's background. I mean it's not terrible, but Lullabies revealed that this band had no excuse to present a better album for their listeners. 3's & 7's is pretty much the only great-worthy track from this album.
Radish Hello
Production quality is "meh" but the lyrics are okay. The album is sadly nothing your haven't heard within the grunge genre...
Radish Dizzy
Production and lyrical improvements heard, just not enough personally for a 3/5 rating...
Red Elvises Better Than Sex
Maybe I need to begin listening to some more surf rock, but this just comes off as very mediocre by this decade. If this sound was in the 60's, maybe I could understand but REALLY!?
Red Expendables Red Expendables
Tracks 9, 10, and 13 were good, but the rest are pretty dull compared to those three. This barely came close to Nine Inch Nail's Pretty Hate Machine...
Rorschach Test Unclean
A mixture of nu-metal, heavy metal, and borderline-industrial electronica. Not a big gem nor that lustrous. Tracks 4, 8, and 10 were the only glimmers I found in this album.
Rumsfield Violent Mood Swings
Eh, not awful but definitely not worth remembering or hearing again (at least not anytime soon)...
Rusty Maples The Western World
Saturate The Point of No Return
A conflict of sounds in here w/ the nu-metal or hardcore-esque vocals and abrasive instrumentations show some creativity in this album. Instrumentations have some moments of distortion that worked in some areas (ex: Regression In Unison), but this band focuses too much on the hard rock (or borderline nu-metal) riffing in nearly every track to make each song sound "heavy." Sadly, this album is not very impressive as a hardcore, hard rock, or even nu-metal album. Cool album cover though.
Self Is A Seed Gratis
RFID and Monkey Business are okay tracks, but the other half are not really quite there for me...
Seven Wiser Seven Wiser
... Eh... This album is pretty enjoyable. The vocals are okay, the riffs make their mark (even get a bit repetitive), but some of the lyrics come off as borderline nu-metal territory. No harm in that necessarily, I was just expecting differing content based in the average 4/5 rating. Then again that was only from an average of 4 votes - my vote counting as the 5th, so... Yay for indifference? Tracks 2, 5, and 7 were pretty good but not really unique. Personally, a better one band record I'd recommend for listeners of this album is Virgos Merlot. And for the really adventurous, a real gem - Liquid by Send No Flowers!
Sinch Sinch
Sadly another bloated "underrated" gem in the alternative rock spectrum. I think the majority of my disappointment lies in me taking this as a nu-metal album. The singing sounds that of Godsmack, and the riffs sound the same in nearly every track... For anyone wanting to listen to a nu-metal album w/ a far more substance and effort, I refer any listeners/readers to Staind's Tormented album.
Skillet Comatose (Deluxe Edition)
The added tracks add no value to this album at all, if anything they make the songs sound even worse. But hey, that just AN opinion.
Sleepers Awake Priests of the Fire
Truthfully the only track giving some effort to be different was the final track. This entire EP was not worth the $1 on this
group's BandCamp page. Will admit this is effort is not bad but is neither creative to the genres given...
Snow 12 Inches of Snow
Some pretty catchy stuff, but those qualities barely excuse other parts of this album that bug me... Tracks 1-5 sound far too similar aesthetically (PKmonkey0401) whereby the 6th track is an audible smack to the ears. 7 and 8 are fair enough, but 9 (Uhh in You) is just over-repetitive trash, esp lyrically. Hell, the majority of the album lyrically only scratch the surface of songs usually sang in the genre (Wiki - Reggae is noted for its tradition of social criticism and religion in its lyrics, although many reggae songs discuss lighter, more personal subjects, such as love and socializing). Tracks 6, 7, 9, and 12 serve as the highlights of this album.
Socialburn Where You Are
Lyrically lazy (being focused near entirely on angsty romance) and instrumentally bland... Not terrible but you've heard everything in this album, vocally & instrumentally, from the prior decade. Overall, the second half is better than the first half. Also, track 7 serves as my highlight for this album.
Socionic Dividing Horizon
An "okay" effort for a Tool-esque band w/ more of a hard rock feel than a prog rock/metal album ought to have. Evidence to support that statement would be this album's first 2 tracks. The rest of the album was fair enough, but this album had not taken any measures to take their sound to any extremes, which is very odd for any prog rock/metal sound. In short, this is a very tame prog rock album. Tracks 6 and 7 were pretty good.
Soen Lotus
I can't help but hear this album as being regressive in a few areas. Oh sure, the main vocalist is a TAD better (tracks 2, 3, and 7) but WHY do the instrumentals sound so 'meh' compared to their prior work? This is supposed to be 2010's prog metal TAKE SOME RISKS!
Soothsayers Tangled Roots
The album is a tad better than the rating, but redoing the majority of their first two albums is a slap to the face after nearly a decade. There're only TWO new songs on this record.
Speak No Evil Welcome to the Downside
Some pretty vanilla nu-metal tracks if I ever heard any recently... Occasional bouts of music innovation, but they really stick to their riffing above all else instrumentally (rather dull).
Spineshank The Height of Callousness
Ladies and gentlemen, I found another beginner's industrial album. The vocals are not too abrasive but the instrumentation exudes an aggression like that of Godsmack w/ hints of industrial-esque electronica. If you don't think Edgewater is heavy enough, then this is an album that might interest you. Some sections even sound better than some tracks from Static-X's Wisconsin Death Trip.
Split Shift Tension
An alternative metal album w/ mixed feelings... It has a clever use of post-rock guitars like that heard in early Karnivool but fails to create an environment to intertwine w/ it's brash nu-metal counterparts. Also the lyrics and vocals come off as pretty weak. Still, tracks 3, 5, 8, and 11 serve as my highlights for this record.
Split Shift 13
Audibly sounds as a clever hybrid of Disturbed and Godsmack. Not a bad combination to try, but still comes of as a tad above generic in all three departments: instrumentals, lyrics, and vocals.
Staind Staind
Alright now... It has been a long time since Break the Cycle. I figured of all the bands of the nu-metal decade, this group would've adapted some new rock elements to refresh their vitality for the new decade. Sadly, this band had not... Some bands of that decade have made comebacks in full stride w/ new experimentations incorporated into their musical interests such as Red, 10 Years, and the Deftones. I'm sorry Staind, I think you have reached your peak...
Static-X Shadow Zone
Tracks 3, 10, 11, and 12 had some okay instrumental choices, but this is an over consistent album to be considered a rating any higher... At least the 2nd half of this album is much better than their first half.
Stealing Eden Truth In Tragedy
I guess this is "eh" in a pinch... The instrumentations aren't that bad but the lyrics kind of suck. Maybe if in the mid to late 00's this could be ranked higher alongside some Red albums, but this sound has been done "before & better" (Decyfer Down - End of Grey) as well as "after & better" (Red - Of Beauty and Rage). Will admit some of these songs have some good intro sections, but the first half is mostly dull. Highlights (instrumental based): Thrown Away, Seed, and Where We Belong.
Stick Figure The Sound of My Addiction
[REGGAE] Instrumental/dub tracks are okay, but the lyrics are pretty bland here...
Stick Figure Burnin' Ocean
[REGGAE] Slightly better instrumentals than their first album but the song writing hasn't
really improved much.
Stria Chimera
This album has some rather interesting beginning sections of each track during the first half of this album, but not one track is really worth anything recommending this as a "must listen" experience. Maybe if in the early 90's it could've competed w/ Pressure 4-5 for an underground fan base, but this is just speculation.
T-Pain Freaknik: The Musical
The 1-hr special itself wasn't too bad (mildly silly entertainment), but the special and it's songs will certainly be forgotten...
The Blank Theory Beyond the Calm of the Corridor
A band/sound with potential, as heard in songs 9 and 10, but definitely downplayed as mediocrity amongst even nu-metal. At least it's not a chore to listen, just a tad repetitive both vocally and instrumentally. No song epitomizes these qualities mentioned more than their 4th track (FYI - Portishead cover)...
The Chipmunks Sing Again With the Chipmunks
PROS: the orchestra compositions are decent and the antics are still there (still slightly amusing)... CONS: Voices are still irritating
The Chipmunks The Chipmunk Adventure Soundtrack
Still not a fan of the vocals but at least the studios responsible made an attempt at some original songs. My Mother serves as the highlight (shut up). There's a version sung by Elin Juhlin which is pretty good (not tearing), if not for that background clicking...
The Chipmunks Let's All Sing With the Chipmunks
Wow, to imagine the creator voiced all these, and the guy wound up winning two grammies (sound editing) before making this debut (Witch Doctor, look it up)... Also, I chuckled to a few of these (mostly due to background shenanigans)... Don't judge me...
The Heavy Pets Whale
I hear POTENTIAL w/ this band in this mixture of songs that are varied of good (few reggae-oriented songs), average (jam rock tracks), and simply grating ('Girl You Make Me Stupid'). If not for the grating material I could see this as a light 3/5. Starting off w/ a "double album" doesn't sound off as a good start imo... Dimitry's Fire has an untitled 21 track by the 6:18 mark.
The Tiger Lillies Ad Nauseam
Even w/ the good songs sprinkled into this album (ex: Beat Me, Whore, Disease, Ghetto, Old, and Snip Snip), I cannot in good conscious give this record a recommended listen on the count that at least MORE THAN HALF of this album could be cast aside...
The Upsetters Return of Django
An entire album full of early ska instrumentals w/ the occasional sample insert. Not bad but not very impressive either...
The Upsetters Clint Eastwood
Nothing heard really different compared to their first album, but more vocals are being applied throughout the album both in form of actual signing and sampling.
The Upsetters Many Moods of The Upsetters
So far, this might be their best 2.5/5 rated albums. Again, the majority of this record is an instrumental reveal of this group, where not terrible but the tracklist is just really bland w/o the incorporation of vocalists. However, there are some tracks on here that sound pretty decent. Ex Ray Vision, Cloud Nine, and Can't Take It Anymore are my highlights on this album.
The Upsetters Scratch the Upsetter Again
Perhaps their best produced pre-70's record to date, and the tracks that featured guest vocalists are not too shabby but are heard few and far in between all throughout this album...
The Upsetters Revolution Dub
The Velvet Underground Squeeze
This album is not terrible but it certainly doesn't hold a candle to any of their prior works...
the wizards purple magic
Wizards Never Die is perhaps the only track worth hearing in this album, but I imagine this to be favored by a very niche following for it's lyrical themes of medieval fantasy.
Three Days Grace Three Days Grace
As true as thesystemisdown's review was, I cannot help but rate this album as being higher than average... Oh sure, there are some tracks worth highlighting on this album (ex: Home), but there are highlights that by near equivalence just halt every worthwhile track on this album (ex: I Hate Everything About You). Having an album w/ a good to bad ratio of 1:1, and songs having little to no instrumental differences, make for a pretty "eh" album in my ears. Personally, most of the hooks kept me from enjoying this album... Still, best to highlight the better tracks: 5, 6, (parts of) 9, 10, 11, and 13.
Three Days Grace One-X
Lyrics are better crafted in comparison to their first album. Such tracks that support this claim would be tracks 1, 2, 6, and 12. Oddly enough this album featured a heightened bass (and instrumentations overall) that nearly eclipsed the vocals in every song (aside from track 4 and 6). Unfortunately, these "improvements" were minimal at best...
Thumb 3
Some pretty stale nu-metal audio, but this album still has it's moments of good quality in every few tracks. Although there are no real solid tracks in this record...
Trapt Trapt
New Life For Lies pretty much covered all that can be said for this album: a strong single carrying the weight of a record of hefty mediocrity...
Tread Blood In the Dust
NewGenerationSlave led me to this discreet album. Some pretty good vocals but the instrumentations come off as pretty mediocre, esp to many other hard rock or metalcore genre albums I've heard. In short you've heard this sound before yet has a more impressive frontman.
Ultraspank Ultraspank
Middle tracks had some potential, yet the industrial elements were very scattered as to which industrial did they wish to focus on. Not too bad for a beginning album, but certainly could've been shortened...
Urusei Yatsura We Are Yatsura
A little above the bare bones of any noise rock, grunge album. Not bad, but tends to come off as slightly repetitive instrumentations and mediocre vocal work. The 2nd half though is much more enjoyable than their first half of this album. Maybe better things will be had on their sophomore album.
Vain Velocity Synergies
This record delivers on it's hardcore vocals during the beginning but quickly becomes more melodic toward the middle of the album and onward. I give credit how this band can sing AND play, however, I cannot help but hear how this album doesn't know which genre of music (nu-metal, hardcore, or prog rock) to build upon - not one genre mentioned is strong in their own right, which I categorized as wasted opportunity...
Volbeat The Strength/The Sound/The Songs
A lot of heavy, amp-damaging, hard rock fuzz and great melodies, but is this all this album has to offer? Yes, sadly it does... Still has some good instrumentations and melodies. The downside is that most of the songs on this album sound too alike, w/ exception to the tracks that offer acoustic variations of course. Your audience understands Volbeat, you "can" play, but can you play well?
WeirdoZ Fake Illusion
I'm assuming this would be the music of Catherine Wheel if the shoegaze influences were turned way down. A very tamed alternative rock album that sounds pretty good, even w/ all the romance-oriented lyrics. That quality though is canceled due to the soothing instrumentals.
xSPONGEXCOREx Don't Mess With TexXxas
Some minor instrumental improvements for this EP and elongated tracks compared to their first EP. Still, this release doesn't differ too much from their first EP...
Zac Apollo Loveset
Not every first R&B release can start off great. Kinda liked Star Lovr and generally the second half over the first half of this album. Discover Each Other is my highlight for this record.
[minus] Structure of Simplicity
Eh, nothing really different than any music Staind or Korn has done before. Tracks 3, 5, 7, and 8 had some instrumental sections that were worth hearing. More enjoyable than any of the albums below this line.

2.0 poor
3PAC ZHG TILL INFINITY
Still the same grievances as from the last album heard in here. Only a slightly better rating in consideration how laughable the "improvements" are heard throughout this album. (Surprise) I think I'm understanding what it means to be a "comedic" album. However, comedic albums have been done better (i.e. Stephen Lynch). With all that said, track 7 was my highlight of this album. RIP big guy...
Adam Fucking West The Lookwell EP
The only of glimmer going for this album is their drummer, (the) Adam West. Seriously, the campy 60's Batman show's Adam West is a drummer (who knew). Perhaps he, and only he, is one of the few best drummers of his age - that meant he was either 82/3 as their drummer! Maybe in the near future, Adam West can actually find another band worth playing for if he's still kicking (or drumming for that matter).r
Brasher/Bogue By God (Part 1)
Cankun Ethiopian Dreams
Avoid the second half of track 6 and you'll be fine. Tracks 3, 4, and second half of the album weren't half bad but the songs sound so dull after a while. I figured the longer tracks would at least have some pleasant changes along their audible journey...
Cromwell ...So Close to Forever
I'm really fighting the urge to grade this a 2/5. The vocals near imitate that of Jesse Hayek (10 Years) w/ no incorporation of vocal harmonies (or potentially the lead for Saliva), the instrumentations for the majority do not even resemble the prog they're categorized, and the lyrics are borderline nu-metal. When the Darkness had some good sections in that track. Hopefully their 2nd album shows some improvement... NO! This IS a 2/5 album!
Dope Life
Sadly the industrial in this album had been metamorphosed into hard rock (at least for the first 3 tracks the sound was apparent). Then their nu-metal roots became so ingrained in this album that the sound began to parallel that of Korn... If musicians wish to gain sincere approval and loyal fanbase, I assume every band/musician attempts this feat by trying to form a UNIQUE sound. Also, I know that nu-metal gets a bad rep but there are a few good albums that exist. There are even good nu-metal albums that came as late as '05 (ex: SOAD's Hypnotize). This album, however, doesn't show any significant improvement from their first album w/ the drastic shift from their industrial beginnings. Some tracks even resemble other previous band names - track 8's vocals & instrumentations sound like an attempt at a White Zombie sound. For being generally more tame than their 1st, this album doesn't even deserve an average rating.
Earshot Aftermath
I had hopes for Earshot's sound every since I've been noticing a lot of post-grunge bands have been adapting some newer genres of progressive rock & experimentation in their sounds of this 10s decade, such as Red and 10 Years. Unfortunately this is a group that stuck w/ what they knew, and it sounds very dated... These songs could've been mixed their appearance in their 2nd or 3rd album's track-lists where you nor I wouldn't hear the slightest difference in improvement or quality. This group had years to improve their sound but Earshot made little to no effort worth waiting for... At least this sounds better than July For Kings' album.
Flapjack Juicy Planet Earth
R u serious? Even Staind's first album hits harder than this... The musicianship is somehow angry but mellow at the same time. You have your typical nu-metal first track. Then every song afterward manages to just dim that impression w/ every proceeding track that features obnoxious amounts of samples being sang over esp on the longer songs. Then #9 brings glimpses of that angry energy from the beginning back that doesn't really go anywhere.
Front Line Assembly Nerve War
Bad production quality, music is found through LONG repetitive loops of mostly electronica w/ hints of industrial feeling, and relies too heavily on samples (or is that spoken vocals?). Oddly feels like 80's RAVE music the more you listen, if you're not paying attention to the vocalist(s). Certainly not the worst thing you'll hear, but even I would rather listen to Pretty Hate Machine than this album... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkqw792nPPA
Godsmack The Oracle
Godsmack, you've had YEARS to readapt your sound for the upcoming decade, and potentially create your own identity in the hard rock genre. Sadly, they decided not to in this album... Even so, there are still a few singles worth hearing from this album (tracks 1 and 4). (4/27/18) I think was too generous w/ this band, esp w/ this album considering it reached at 2010, and haven't made anything audibly new since '03...
Gorillaz The Fall
Even considering how the album was created via iPad, this is a rather disappointment of potential that was squandered for an over-repetitive trip-hop album. There may be only a hand full of "eh" tracks (2, 6, and 9), but that's not enough to motivate many listeners to hear this (mostly instrumental) album. At least this album was free...
Janus Influx
Ouch... I think I now know why this album has been buried for so long. Hyping this as having "-a sound similar to bands like The Smashing Pumpkins, Tool and Soundgarden" (Wiki) likely overhyped my expectations for this record. AT LEAST it's now here for all the Internet to hear. I just cannot un-hear those drum sections...
Judas Priest Turbo
For any fans of glam rock, you might actually "like" this album, but this is a big step away from their heavy metal origins. This album is not detestable, however, Judas Priest IS NOT A GLAM ROCK BAND! Still better than Pantera's debut album...
Limp Bizkit Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water
The only redeeming quality w/ this album is the guitar work. The guitar work is in the great range and the instrumentals are not that bad either. If anything, I'd say the album's weakness like in their prior work was their frontman. Fred Durst has a lot more misses than hits lyrically speaking (oh who am I kidding). With this album (as well as Significant Other), this album features "better" tracks that can be counted and tracked using one hand. Tracks 4, 9, 12, and 13 (very dragged) are the only considered highlighted tracks on this album, which makes for a troubling good to "eh" ratio in my ears.
Limp Bizkit Results May Vary
Sometimes one's Self is one's worst enemy. In the case of Limp Bizkit, that would be Fred Durst. The instrumentations (at least on this album) are the only thing carrying this album w/ Fred Durst still pulling this "act" as their frontman... This album is not painfully terrible but I would've thought after their "pinnacle" that was their Chocolate album, this band would've ended on a rather light note and walk away w/ whatever they've accomplished. But no... Fred just thought he could just continue the trend. Trends come in cycles folks, and some are not worth following...
MellowToy MellowToy
Sorry to all the members of MellowToy, but this rapcore sound is long out of date...
Miley Cyrus Miley Cyrus and Her Dead Petz
This album ought to be called for what it is: a (meh) Flaming Lips album, featuring Miley Cyrus (in every track). The experimentation in here was certainly a bold move which isn't done w/ many, if any, pop artists out there of this decade. The downside is that this album gave us too many bloated tracks w/ little to no cohesion w/ one another to give it's listeners an understanding of what stands as this album's self-identity. By track 15, I could've sworn I was hearing a different album. So much so that one of the few songs that had some spark of creativity (at least in this half) would be track 16 [Lighter]. In short, #RubTheClint was spot on regarding this album...
Now (US) Now That's What I Call the 80s!
Pantera Metal Magic
Not completely unbearable, but this is certainly a sound done better by many other hard rock & heavy metal acts before this album. I could actually name 5 right off my hand: Guns N' Roses, Motley Crue, Judas Priest, Bon Jovi, and Def Leppard. Even so, I'd much rather listen to this parody of "hard metal" than July For Kings' Swim album.
Papercut Massacre If These Scars Could Talk
As nu-metal was appropriate for the late 90s to early 00s, I think the next spectrum that came along to fill the mainstream music gap was hard rock, and still going... Anything this album shows is that Skillet did, or has done, THIS sound better. Hell, Creed made better albums than this! How anyone can rate this higher than a 3.5/5 is perplexing to me.
Porcupine Tree On the Sunday of Life
Puscifer "V" Is For Vagina
As a trip-hop album, this is pathetic... Not awful but pretty bad. The only appeal to this album in my ears is knowing that Mr. Keenan is the lead for this effort if only to just excrete ideas that weren't palatable on any prior Tool or A Perfect Circle record. Imo the industrial and trip-hop elements do not blend well and there's not one track I could hear myself listening to again or on rotation. In terms of MJK's work, this is def some bottom of the barrel territory.
Screaming Lord Sutch Lord Sutch and Heavy Friends
Not detestable, but certainly a waste of any potential from all the cameos in this one album...
Selena Gomez For You
How does this excuse/reason as "decent" music again? You have an electronica EP that doesn't know which identity it wants: house, downtempo, or techno. It attempts to be all three and misses too often to earn a repeat...
Serial Killer Smile The Elephant In The Room
Even an emotional vocalist cannot compensate for the (relatively) bland instrumentations. Lyrics weren't too bad though, and track 4 had a momentary of great-worthy guitar work...
Sinizen Speak of the Devil
The last time I had so much difficulty finding & verifying the sound files for such a lukewarm AND lackluster album was Janus' Influx. The production values were pretty low. Thankfully they were improved on their LP. Black Christmas is a clear throwaway track, so having that as a first song is very jarring. The rock elements are a tad abrasive imo. Honestly the story is more interesting. The album found under Spotify, and info on their Last.fm album page, are featuring songs from a multitude of artists and their 'The Movement' song wasn't even on Spotify. For those wanting to listen, I posted an Archive link in the tracklist.
Stone Sour Stone Sour
Considering how much I really liked Bother, I was mildly disappointed w/ the lyricism of this album. Hell, their final song, Omega, was just some passages read to the listener, and even the pseudo-philosophical dictations were even more elaborate than the majority of all the songs of this album. Aside from Bother and Blue Study, this band has potential but it wasn't well catalyzed. Hopefully their other albums are better...
The Chipmunks Chipmunk Punk
Aside from the vocals, this album's cover songs (i.e. every track) weren't completely terrible. But the vocals ARE terrible, especially on track 3- -Nevermind, by track 4... You have been warned...
The Chipmunks Go To the Movies
The voices are as grating as ever, but at least the album is short by barely peaking over 30-minutes. I wonder how much Walt D***** paid the Chipmunks creator to have a multitude of their Disney signature songs from a "variety" of their family-friendly movies all on one cassette? I guess we'll never know, since he's dead... The reason why David didn't make a feature in any future albums... No punchline, and now feel bad (R.I.P. Ross Bagdasarian, Sr.)
The Crusaders (AUS) Fat, Drunk, and Stupid
Not worth the "under $10" section I found this album... I recommend finding this album cheaper. The anonymity of this act was what pursued me to listen. This album is not terrible, but certainly not impressive either for any "surf rock" that was done much better during this decade.
The Mountain Goats Taboo VI: The Homecoming
The Shaggs Philosophy of the World
And here I came wondering there's no way an album could be that bad? Then I listened... Repetitive instrumentation, off key vocals, and both don't even attempt to sync up w/ one another either. Still better than Hello Kitty Suicide Club's ^_^ album. Is it depraving of me to hope a Lo-Fi band covers this entire album and "improves" upon the album?
The Tiger Lillies Farmyard Filth
Another "experiment" of an album that has only a handful of songs (ex: 4, 7, 10, and 13) worth hearing... Audibly, this is the near antithesis of listening to the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds album.
Tiamat Sumerian Cry
I suppose every climbed mountain is done w/ one step at a time... Compared to their opus, Wildhoney (as of yet), this album represents a band that became one of the front runners of the doom metal genre. That being said, this is an album that greatly differs from Wildhoney w/ the incorporation of speed metal instrumental play alongside sections of conflicting slower tempos and (actual) death metal growling vocals. Both vocals and instrumentations sound as if they're trying to suppress their energy in this album. Going to sonic extremes can either make or break an album. Unfortunately, this album chose to not have their vocals nor instrumental work venture far enough to make a unique impression (yet). Also, why the hell is there a sample on track 8?
Uriah Letters In Blood
For a metalcore album, there's not that many technical features worth appreciating in this album. What a letdown... I mean not awful but still just very mediocre.
White Zombie Soul-Crusher
This is not the industrial you are looking for... I knew that wouldn't work, so I'll summarize this album for you. What you have here is the beginning of White Zombie w/ their sound as a "loose cannon" of random samples, music w/ poor production, and generally an uncoordinated, bare-bones metal & noise rock. Tracks 3, 4, and 9 may have had some sections worth looking into but that still has little to no value for industrial/noise rock enthusiasts... For something of THAT genre and of higher quality, I highly recommend Chrome's Alien Soundtracks I & II. You're welcome...
White Zombie Make Them Die Slowly
Ben pretty much had written it better than I can describe. A shabby record w/ songs that go on too long, but not all too terrible either. Album at least showed some instrumental talent but personally I was wanting to end the record at halfway 'cause I was getting tired of hearing the repetition... I just know this will not be a record I will own in this lifetime.
xSPONGEXCOREx How Tough Are Yah?
I am really confused here. How can this EP even such a diverse rating average? No varying hardcore instrumentals, random Spongebob samples that make to replace any vocalist, can someone explain how this is even rated as a "classic" album?
xSPONGEXCOREx Bold and Thrash
Can only imagine how this band's first LP will sound... I don't know how this EP as well has earned higher than a 2/5. Even worse, this EP has samples outside of the Spongebob samples ("football head" was clearly a Hey Arnold! sample).
Zandata (Demos)
Some pretty "meh" prog rock here. Even so, these are just demos, there really was no expectations for great things here.

1.5 very poor
3PAC 3PACALYPSE NOW
Now this is an insult to hip hop: flair rap, uninspiring vocals, and even worse... Repetitive (lazy) lyrics! Examples include "swag like Osama," Mark Cuban, Mark Cuban, Mark, Mark, Mark Cuban (6x), Chedda, etc. It's music like this that gives that gives hip hop music a bad name, but this is even bad by rap standards - I dare say this album may be just as bad as SouljaBoy's sophomore album...
July for Kings Swim
Imagine if the creative forces of (90s) Live, Creed, and Staind decided to take their instrumentations and creativity (at least from Live), then blend them, and add water to dilute the mixture even further... This album is not god-awful, but it's so generic that the album is near-insulting to the alternative rock genre. For anyone not willing to listen through this album, just scroll a 1.5-2/5 mark on your ratings chart and forget this album...
Kimbra 90s Music Remixes
Alright, one song and then a few remix takes... Well, the main track and second track (1st remix) are not THAT terrible while the others do nothing to add value to the main track any more. I hope no one paid to have this EP...
Now (US) Now That's What I Call the 80s! [iTunes Deluxe]
Now (US) Now That's What I Call Motown!
Now (US) Now That's What I Call Power Ballads!
Now (US) Now That's What I Call Music! 18
Now (US) Now That's What I Call Music! 13
Now (US) Now That's What I Call Music! 12
Now (US) Now That's What I Call Music! 6
Now (US) Now That's What I Call Music!
Now (US) Now That's What I Call Music! 2
Tracks 4, 8, 14, and 15 are about the only thing going for this album...
Okilly Dokilly Okilly Demos
Definitely needs some work in the lyrical, vocal, AND instrumental departments before even considering this a band worth hearing from (again), let alone listening...

1.0 awful
Arnold Schwarzenegger Total Body Workout
A compilation of songs that's supposed to "pump" us up to work out... Okay... Are any of the songs by Arnold (holding in my laughter)? No... Then why is this even an album BY Arnold...
brokeNCYDE BC 13
As if the hip-hop genre had enough problems dealing w/ the rappers of the past & this decade, as opposed to hip-hop artists. Now the great genre has to deal w/ post-hardcore vocalists trying to make an easy dollar from using soundboard beats to create such driveling tracks of uncreative instrumental "beats" w/ lyrics that nearly mirror that of the flair rapping that nearly drove me away from hip-hop music in the first place... To all those that actually enjoy this music, just do me one thing: don't acknowledge me, ever... Ever!
Bruce Willis The Return of Bruno
Cemetery Rapist Children of the Porn
Honestly was expecting worse... A drum machine and metal guitar bore, what sounds like a cricket sampling being overplayed, and a bunch of random (pornogrind) samples from movies and unknown television shows. Hell, it's not even as bad as the ^_^ album. At least this album was short. You have been warned...
Crazy Frog Jingle Bells / Last Christmas
Now readers and music appreciators alike, this is how a music group DOES NOT MAKE a music album, much less a Christmas album...
Crazy Frog Crazy Frog Presents Crazy Hits
Popularity can make people be pushed to do some stupid things, and sometimes people misinterpret popularity as one of two ways: sincerely or sarcastically. Crazy Frog from my memory was in the sarcastic popular (i.e. notorious) category. Anyone remember that one annoying ringtone that every cellphone had, that "everyone" hated yet only played to hear the groans of other people? Yeah, that evolved into an album and became this atrocity of a techno album. A person impersonating a creature that can speak in onomatopoeia and says "bing" in every track. Hey record pushers, a turd no matter how polished is STILL A TURD!!
Dot Dot Curve Everyday Is Halloween
... ... ... Wow... Now I know post-hardcore music is not THIS bad... A bunch of repeated PH screamo alongside a bunch of (repetitive) flair rap. And I though ^_^ was difficult to listen to, but the first track in the first 2-mins wanted me to turn away. Remind you guys that this EP only has 5 tracks... Exact antithesis: The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me, by Brand New.
Elvis Presley Having Fun with Elvis on Stage
Even the King knew when a record company was just trying to make easy money off of a respected name when the artist (himself) requested the album off the stores' shelves. Do not expect any music on this album 'cause there isn't any, literally. Just a bunch of banter and awkward jokes in-between songs, and yes, I did Wiki this album after listening (for my personal clarification).r
Eoghan Quigg Eoghan Quigg
A studio attempt at trying to make a quick dollar w/ another Bieber act, a young-looking youth w/ a "voice" that has lyrics singing of romance-pandering to the youth culture. We all remain unimpressed and are not interested in being a part of the downward spiral that is this recording studio regression phenomena trying to put out even less inspiring music that the last act of the same nature. Next...
Grumblecunt I Piss Shit
I guess I'm a masochist. At least I'm a light one. By the grace of all that is holy, this main track lasts no longer than 3 mins and all you hear is from the title track (lyrically speaking). The instrumentals are not only terrible but boringly repetitive. Thankfully the song mirrors to that of a band-aid, a quick rip, and you're done.
Hello Kitty Suicide Club ^_^
#HelloKittyChallenge - The act of listening to this entire album, once. A fair challenge, a bit rough, but now I am forever grateful to have at least done this. From that moment on, I now have a reference for what terrible music REALLY can sound like. If there was a possible way to rate this a 0/5, I would. A silver lining for your reading - look up Sweet Trip, and listen to their '03 album, Velocity : Design : Comfort (the complete antithesis to this album). I now gave you the spectrum of BAD electronica to GREAT electronica. You're welcome.
Justin Bieber My World 2.0
Kevin Federline Playing with Fire
Kidz Bop Kidz Kidz Bop, Volume 9
Kidz Bop Kidz Kidz Bop, Volume 1
Kidz Bop Kidz Kidz Bop, Volume 2
Kidz Bop Kidz Kidz Bop 23
Kidz Bop Kidz Kidz Bop 26
Kidz Bop Kidz Kidz Bop Sings the Beatles
Kidz Bop Kidz Kidz Bop 4
How this album was not the one used to torture those kept in Guantanamo is beyond me... My middle school nostalgia (1, 4, 9, and 18) has officially been tainted forever!
Lil Wayne The Leak
Lmfao Party Rock EP
Lou Reed and Metallica Lulu
Had to balance out an album that was amazing for another (this) album that was amazingly ostentatious. Best to stay grounded...
Meghan Trainor Title EP
Mickey Mouse Mickey Unrapped
... Is this real life? Why is this happening to me... AAAAAAH!! But seriously, the first song in and can tell this is gonna suck. Alright now for the dissection. In this sample we have guest artists singing all of the tracks all centered around "boasting" about the Disney crew. The Disney characters in question just happen to make cameo appearances all throughout the album. It appears the crew only make rare appearances of "singing" on this album... Analysis: this album is certainly a novelty, but even these tracks are just lacking of any life at all. Conclusion: this album was already dead... Further investigation: how do you kill that which has no life?
Millionaires Rated Xmas
Even for a single, this is just terrible pop music...
Millionaires Bling Bling Bling!
With all their lyrics regarding promiscuity/gold-digging and bling, I would be surprised if this group even spent one cent toward creating anything worth hearing in this EP...
New Boyz Tie Me Down - EP
Swag rap at it's finest, as in another example of what hip hop music should never include: auto-tune vocals, soundboard (not even instrumental) beats taken to a minimalist effort, and an exhausting repetition of boasting alongside w/ petty materialism... How is this sub-genre of hip hop worth respecting again?
NSYNC Home for Christmas
Pretty sure this boy band was not the first group to sing a compilation of Christmas songs, but this trend for record companies to squeeze out a "new" album for the winter holiday shopping is getting tiresome...
One Direction Take Me Home
Prussian Blue Fragment Of The Future
What can you really expect from a teen duo that really had no formal training in singing and less than 5 years of instrumental (guitar and violin) training? I'll answer that for you: not much... The singing has a very limited range, the duets are not worthwhile, and the instrumentals of each track sound too similar to one another. If you listened to one song, you've pretty much heard the entire album. Really not trying to rate this album in relation to this group's (former) beliefs regarding white supremacy. So to answer that question: Yes, I did Wiki this group after hearing the album.
Scene Kidz Fuq-N-Es-Kay
Not unbearably awful, but the the perfect (borderline hilarious) reference for what a hip-hop album to NEVER EVER SOUND LIKE... Basically, an album that resembles Dot Dot Curve, minus the post-hardcore screamo, plus layers of repetitive soundboard loops & flair rapping. It's almost sad how little thought people put into their work and consider their work, or "art," praiseworthy...
Soulja Boy Souljaboytellem.com
Soundtrack (Film) Alvin and The Chipmunks
My brain must have been offline for the majority of the time when watched this cartoon in the 90s, 'cause these voices have no appeal anymore for any of the tracks here. I was tapping out by track 1... Certainly a little better than Hello Kitty Suicide Club's ^_^ album, but not by much. [10/19/16] After listening to some prior The Chipmunks records, I realized their "sound" USED to be better/tolerable. Ross Bagdasarian Sr must be rolling in his grave...
Spermswamp Extreme Cream
Why do I do this to myself? More repetitive instrumentations, odd sample choices for innuendos, and more growling vocals... If most grind albums follow these traits, I can only tell my journey through this muck will be a rough one...
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Coming Out Of Their Shells
And here I thought Nostalgia Critic, tying w/ the Cinema Snob, was just being exaggerative when he mentions how he has watched & heard the "worst of the worst" when it came to movies. Then the Critic mentioned how the TMNT popularity brought upon a music special in one of his numerous clips regarding film comprehension. Curiosity took hold... Then this album... I'll try to digress and rehash what I know. First came the Ninja Turtles graphic novel, then a toy lineup, then a 80s TV show (odd timeline I know, look it up), then the commercialism exploded! That's when it got out of hand: more toys, some campy live-action movies (thank you, and RIP Jim Henson), BREAKFAST CEREAL, and then this... This MUSIC SPECIAL!? WHY!?
Tones and I Welcome to the Madhouse
[POP] I had to hear it to believe it. Lazy & formulaic lyrics? Yep. Instrumentals that sound too similar in each track? Uh huh. Bad singing? More like some of the most grating I've heard, maybe within top 10. This in my ears is if the 'Dance Monkey' track was ballooned into an entire album. I'd tie this w/ Hello Kitty Suicide Club levels of awful.
Torsofuck Erotic Diarrhea Fantasy
A bunch of "terrifying" samples, loud growling (borderline oink-sounding), and stereotypical death metal drumming. Sadly, the drumming was the only glimmer in this entire obnoxious bore of a "death metal" album. Now, if anyone wants to listen to any better grind, I strongly recommend Naked City, by Naked City. You're welcome.
Vanilla Ice To the Extreme
Ice Ice Baby is perhaps the only glimmer of this whole album...
William Hung Inspiration
Wu-Tang Clan Once Upon a Time in Shaolin
Until this album comes out for all to hear, only then can anyone give this album a better rating...
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