Atari
Staff

Reviews 199
Soundoffs 172
News Articles 6
Band Edits + Tags 81
Album Edits 178

Album Ratings 1873
Objectivity 60%

Last Active 01-07-23 8:15 pm
Joined 02-17-12

Review Comments 28,011

 Lists
02.06.24 Atari's Blind Spots ♦01.02.24 New Year Starter Pack
08.08.23 Atari's nostalgic weekend haul02.04.22 help Atari get in shape
01.29.22 Atari’s 2021: last fm edition01.09.22 Atari's Nostalgic Hip-Hop Binge
05.15.21 Atari's Dream Pop/Shoegaze Starter Pack04.20.21 Atari's 2021 in scrobbles: Q1
03.06.21 Catching up on old albums01.22.21 Atari's 2020: last fm edition ♦
08.07.20 August death metal binge03.17.20 Quest for 10,000 ratings ♦
03.11.20 Atari's First 2020 List (Digs) ♦12.31.19 Atari's Electronic Starter Pack
12.22.19 Atari's Decade: FINAL Draft12.17.19 Atari's 2019: Final 100 ♦
12.11.19 Atari's 2019: The Leftovers ♦11.04.19 2019 Punk + Emo Jams ♦
More »

Atari's Blind Spots

I'm feeling (mostly) tired of the same old stuff. So, I randomly went through the database to comprise a list of potential gems I've avoided for no apparent reason. I've heard the first 4 so far but that's it. I'm thinking I'll update this occasionally throughout the year as my personal diary of sorts. BUT I could use some extra guidance to help round out the rest of the list. Not really looking for those obscure finds... rec me stuff that I have no excuse to not have jammed!
1Hammock
Departure Songs

First Hammock and I loved it. There are definitely some stretches that are borderline boring, but they still make for great background music. The first 2 tracks set the scene perfectly, while the serene, minimalistic cuts like "Tape Recorder" keep you invested.

4.2/5
2Unwound
Leaves Turn Inside You

Heard for the first time about a week ago. Gave it a 4.5 but now I'm thinking that was a mistake... this is just too damn good, and the highlight tracks are unique experiences to say the least. Love the guitar wizardry throughout. Also feel like every time I have the record figured out the whole thing shifts on me. Will be exploring this album (and band) for a long time!

4.5/5
3Fugazi
The Argument

4.3/5
4Pavement
Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
5The Stooges
Fun House
6Sonic Youth
Daydream Nation
7Massive Attack
Mezzanine
8The Seatbelts
Cowboy Bebop
9Kyuss
Welcome to Sky Valley
10Slint
Spiderland
11Talk Talk
Laughing Stock
12The Cure
Disintegration
13Nujabes
Metaphorical Music
14Lifetime
Jersey's Best Dancers
15Cap'n Jazz
Shmap'n Shmazz
16Boris
Flood
17Prince
Purple Rain
18Marillion
Clutching at Straws
19Autechre
Tri Repetae
20Boards of Canada
Music Has the Right to Children

I'm not sure if "Rue the Whirl" is a spectacular, warm highlight or it just took until track 11 for this to really start to sink in. Definitely liking it more than I was for the first few tracks. At times it feels like a somewhat subtle experience, but it's really starting to pop in the back half.

Listened again and it feels like this album is VERY slowly revealing itself to me. Certain songs that went in one ear and out the other are starting to embed their way into my soul. Seems like a grower so not rating just yet.

(rating undecided)
21Charles Mingus
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady

*Ryus rec*

I'm such a jazz noob, so I'm glad this list is pointing me in the right direction. Witnessing the progression of these bombastic yet nuanced jazz movements is legit a one-of-a-kind experience. For several days, I just couldn't pull myself away. At first, I was utterly captivated by "Duete Solo Dancers" - specifically the frantic and downright whacky stacking of horns and pianos in the mid-section. Then, I was all about the emotive opening notes of the "Solo Dancer." Something about "Group Dancers" still feels a bit elusive to me, and the final nuanced number has enough (sexy) substance to feel like its own unique achievement. So yeah, can't really pick a favorite at this point but this was an insanely convincing listen. More Mingus will be in my future!

4.5/5
22Basic Channel
Quadrant Dub

*Ryus rec*

4/5
23Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
The Good Son

*Demon rec*
24Joanna Newsom
Ys

*Demon rec*
25Hum
Downward Is Heavenward

*SomeCallMeTim rec*

With its chunky bookends and vocals reminiscent of Christian Holden, Hum was an easy sell for me. I've barely grazed the surface of the lyrics, but this album clearly has a lot going for it. An easy 4 with plenty of room to grow. I love how the fusion of genres here makes for such a unique experience despite brief hints of warm familiarity.

4/5
26The Jesus Lizard
Goat

*SomeCallMeTim rec*
27Boards of Canada
Geogaddi

*SomeCallMeTim rec*
28Steel Pulse
True Democracy

*Sloth rec*
29Crass
Penis Envy

*Sloth rec*
30Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
E 1999 Eternal

*Hawks rec*
31Autumn's Grey Solace
Within the Depths of a Darkened Forest

*Hawks rec*

Went into this with 99% certainty it was an overlooked atmospheric bm gem - that album art, that artist name, plus Hawks, duh - but instead got a heavenly dream pop album that manages to stand out from the norm. The airy vocalist sounds like a gorgeous and mysterious siren - backed by a rich atmosphere and evocative guitars. Instant 4. Has room to grow but this is clearly a winner and an unexpected highlight from this list so far.

4/5
32Black Swan (USA-NY)
The Quiet Divide

*Hawks rec*
33D'Angelo
Voodoo

*SomeCallMeTim rec*
34Miles Davis
In a Silent Way

*Sunny rec*
35City of Caterpillar
City of Caterpillar

*Dedes rec*
36Genesis
Selling England by the Pound

*Sunny rec*
37Queens of the Stone Age
Songs for the Deaf

*Sniff rec*
38Streetlight Manifesto
Everything Goes Numb

*cylinder rec*
39Burial
Kindred

*Johnny rec*
40Bjork
Post

*Johnny rec*

Finding this instantly likeable and alluring. Someone had warned me this one wasn’t as easy to get into as “Homogenic”, but I’m not regretting giving this one a shot first. It can be highly quirky at times – most notably with the jilted vocal inflections – but Bjork seems to have a knack for balancing her performance just right over a swirling orchestral background. I’m sure I’ll get butchered for this, but I can’t help but feel like Regina Spektor must have been heavily influenced by her music.

4/5
41Type O Negative
October Rust

*Dewinged rec*
42Faith No More
Angel Dust

*Dewinged rec*
43Trespassers William
Different Stars

*Jash rec*
44Townes Van Zandt
Townes Van Zandt

*Jash rec*
45Holy Fawn
Death Spells

*DungeonBoy rec*
46Gillian Welch
Time (The Revelator)

*Butkuiss rec*
47Melvins
Bullhead

*foxxxy rec*
48Pig Destroyer
Terrifyer

*Johnny rec*
49Talking Heads
Remain in Light

*ford rec*
50David Bowie
Station to Station

*ford rec*
51Weyes Blood
Front Row Seat to Earth

*budgie rec*
52Hank Mobley
Soul Station

*MetalMarc rec*

Very chill jazz record that just lifts your mood. Also proves that a musician doesn't have to get too flashy for their playing to shine. Enjoyed the contrast between this and the more challenging jazz selections here.
4/5
53Neurosis
Through Silver in Blood

*Dominion rec*
54Hammock
Everything and Nothing

*Jesper rec*

(Hammock experience #2)

This is just what I needed today: a warm blanket of atmosphere to soothe my soul. After a week of fighting a demonic sickness, it took me to a better place. I’m thinking I prefer Departure Songs overall, but definitely a gorgeous listen. Are all their albums flirting with the 90-minute mark, though? Can’t help but feel like the effect was diminished a tad due to the length. Definitely prefer the more minimalistic touches in songs like “Marathon Boy”, but the slightly more engaging tracks do provide a nice balance.

3.7
55Louis Moholo
Spirits Rejoice!

*Vlac rec*
56Kraftwerk
Trans-Europe Express

*Porcupine rec*
57Alice Coltrane
Journey in Satchidananda

*Porcupine rec*
58Bjork
Homogenic

*cylinder rec*
59Can
Tago Mago

*Porcupine rec*

What the hell do I even know about music, really? That’s pretty much how I felt when listening to this album, and it’s not the first time this list has made me feel so small. During the first minute or so it seemed normal-ish but the longer I listened to Tago Mago, the less I understood. Need plenty more time to crack this code, but this is surely a keeper.
60Three 6 Mafia
Mystic Stylez

*Avagantamos rec*
61The Prodigy
Music for the Jilted Generation

*Avagantamos rec*
62TV on the Radio
Return to Cookie Mountain

*neekafat rec*
63Oceansize
Frames

*PitchforkArms rec*
64Aesop Rock
Labor Days

*PitckforkArms rec*
65Joao Gilberto
Joao Gilberto

*Asleep rec*
66Milton Nascimento and Lo Borges
Clube da Esquina

*Asleep rec*
67Eddie Palmieri
Unfinished Masterpiece

*Asleep rec*
68Down
NOLA

*Dominion rec*
69Katatonia
The Great Cold Distance

*Dewinged rec*

3.7/5
70Cardiacs
Sing to God

*Squiggly rec*
71Cherubs
Heroin Man

*foxxxy rec*
72Pere Ubu
Dub Housing

*foxxxy rec*
73Godflesh
Streetcleaner

*SomeCallMeTim rec*
74John Coltrane
Ascension

*Havey rec*
75Ornette Coleman
Science Fiction

*Havey rec*
76The Knife
Shaking the Habitual

*Demon rec*
77Exuma
Exuma

*Sloth rec*
78Amon Tobin
Supermodified

*Johnny rec*
79M83
Saturdays=Youth

*neekafat rec*
80Portishead
Dummy

*SomeCallMeTim rec*
81Unwound
New Plastic Ideas
82Jawbox
For Your Own Special Sweetheart

*Johnny rec*
83Ornette Coleman
The Shape of Jazz to Come
84Diamond Head
Lightning to the Nations

*budgie rec*
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