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User
Reviews 14
Approval 93%
Soundoffs 75
News Articles 2
Band Edits + Tags 57
Album Edits 57
Album Ratings 1876
Objectivity 93%
Last Active 12-11-18 12:34 pm
Joined 03-14-13
Review Comments 9,546
| Sputnik PSA PART II
Yes. It's the very official second part of the much beloved Sputnik Public Service Announcement. But instead of condescendingly telling you how to behave on sputnik because I've gotten to big for my britches since I've got that shiny new mod-tag, (just kidding Sowing, pls don't ban me) I'll bring you plebs a few amazing albums a lot of you suckers missed out on. Rules: Nothing with 100 votes or more + Nothing I've reviewed already + Nothing from 2016 | | 1 |  | John Cale
Paris 1919
Genre: Baroque Pop
The album that sparked my initial desire to make a list, because it's a joke that this isn't bigger around here. John Cale's name should instantly ring a bell, because he's obviously a part of the legendary Velvet Underground, but this album is not at all like any of the Velvet Underground releases. Instead of the raw rock sound, Cale decided to record an incredibly polished and varied pop album that is very easy to get into because of the numerous pretty melodies, but has more than enough depth in terms of lyrics and songwriting to hold your attention. It's a delicious slice of melancholic, warm and opulent Art-Pop that is sadly one of the overlooked gems around here.
Best Songs: Paris 1919, Hanky Panky Nohow, Child's Christmas in Wales, Half Past France | | 2 |  | Ryo Fukui
Scenery
Genre: Jazz, Post Bop
I WILL make you people come around to this album by force if I have to. Japanese Jazz Genius Ryo Fukui sadly passed away a few days ago, but at least we still have his pretty much perfect Debut-Album "Scenery". I'm not hugely into Jazz, but every once in a while there comes an album that is so inviting and pleasant while also being impressive in terms of songwriting and technicality, that I just can't help but fall in love with it. "Scenery" is that album. Seriously check this out, especially if you're not that into jazz.
Best Songs: I want to talk about You, Early Summer, Scenery | | 3 |  | Richard Hawley
Coles Corner
Genre: Singer/Songwriter, Pop, Folk
Very "conservative" pop album by one of the best vocalists around. Richard Hawleys brand of pop is very traditional and can sound a little bit unremarkable at first glance, but the devil is in the details and so is the secret to great songwriting. Hawley just knows how to write great pop-songs, always emotional but never cheesy, he stays classy but never bores. This album should be a crowd-pleaser and if some cute indie chick with a halfway decent voice would release the same set of songs, sputnik would fucking blow their collective load over the retro-charm that album.
Best Songs: Coles Corner, Just Like the Rain, I Sleep alone, | | 4 |  | Grace Jones
Hurricane
Genre: Pop
I don't know why Pop-Albums by old people is the theme of this list so far, but you'll just have to deal with that for now. Grace Jones used to be very famous and recorded for the most part VERY bad music. Now she's basically irrelevant, but recorded a very good Neo-Soul/Pop album, that is at times a bit to experimental for it's own good, but is held together by her undeniable talent as a vocalist, lyricist and performer. Seriously, Williams Blood alone is good enough to justify the time it takes to check this out.
Best Songs: Hurricane, Williams Blood, Devil in my Life | | 5 |  | Uyama Hiroto
A Son of the Sun
Genre: Instrumental Hip Hop, Jazz
I almost didn't put this on the list because 92 ratings isn't that baaad, but considering that all of Nujabes albums have 300 or more ratings around here, it's safe to say, that there are a lot of sputnikkers who need to check this out. Uyama Hiroto's brand of instrumental Hip-hop is VERY similiar to those of his deceased collaborator Nujabes. The main difference being, that Hiroto leans a bit more towards pure instrumentals and only occasionaly has songs with actual rapping. The instrumentals are so sublime though, that you won't miss the rapping.
Best Songs: 81summer, One Dream, Stratus, Vision Eyes | | 6 |  | Fishmans
Long Season
Genre: Dream-Pop, Indie
The third japanese act on this list are Fishmans, who recorded "Long Season" in 1996. The album is a bit hard to describe, the band uses a plethora of different instrument to create an album that is basically just one very long song with a couple of differnt chapters who flow into each other very nicely. As soon as you read that (assuming somebody reads these descriptions lol), you will think of a boring post rock album. But this album has 0% to do with post rock and is 0% boring. It's very wonky and interesting and I highly reccomend it, if you're in the mood for something that is kind out of leftfield.
Best Song: It's one long song | | 7 |  | Julee Cruise
Floating into the Night
Genre: Pop, Jazz
Absolute Disgrace. Shameful Display. 55 Ratings. Are you kidding me. Educate yourself you plebs.
Best Songs: Floating, Falling, Rocking Back Inside My Heart, The Swan, The World Spins | | 8 |  | Agnes Obel
Aventine
Genre: Indie-Folk, Singer/Songwriter
Deliciously written Folk songs who are not focused on an acoustic guitar, but almost exclusively focus on the piano (and sometimes other classical instruments) instead. Yes Please. Agnes Obel is a marvellous vocalist as well. She's also very cute, if that's your thing. So I don't really know how this piece of gold is sitting at 41 ratings while you geniuses are listening to asking alexandria but whatever.
Best Song: The Curse (yes it's so much better than everything you ever listened to.) | | 9 |  | School of Emotional Engineering
School of Emotional Engineering
Genre: Post-Rock, Ambient, Electronic
Read ComeToDaddy's review. He's right on the money.
Best Songs: She dreams in car crashes, Redline, Falling for Sylvia | | 10 |  | Shakti
Natural Elements
Genre: Jazz-Fusion
A John McLaughlin side project, the english guitar virtuoso teamed up with a few indian musicians, most notably violinist L.Shenkar (performed with Talking Heads, Springsteen, U2, Zappa, Peter Gabriel etc.). The two spearhead a group of instrumental virtuosos who create some of the most breathtaking songs you've ever heard. Seriously, every song on this album is pure gold. All of them sound pretty foreign and "indian" to our western ears and that's really great because it gives a totally new spin on Mclaughlin's ball-breaking guitar antics. (Kudos to Mclaughlin who is 100% commited to fitting in with the other musicians and never sounds out of place)
Best Songs: Mind Ecology, Face to Face, The Daffodil and the Eagle, Peace of Mind | |
RadicalEd
03.31.16 | Listen now. Thank me later. | JWT155
03.31.16 | Well played. | wtferrothorn
03.31.16 | Sputnik PSA PART II > Sputnik PSA | RadicalEd
03.31.16 | Waiting for the banhammer over here ;) | Pangea
03.31.16 | some interesting albums here. great list | wtferrothorn
03.31.16 | 1,2,6, and 10 look like stuff I'd dig, great list! | dbizzles
03.31.16 | Good work. Already jamming 5. Sold me instantly with that genre description. | TheCrocodile
03.31.16 | 8 slays | RadicalEd
03.31.16 | thx folks.
@ wtferrothorn I think 8 could (also) be your jam tbh. | wtferrothorn
03.31.16 | I'll give that one a quick look too, see if it really is "so much better than everything you ever listened to". | PappyMason
03.31.16 | "Grace Jones used to be very famous and recorded for the most part VERY bad music."
This is factually incorrect, Grace Jones recorded quite a few great albums and is legendary. | RadicalEd
03.31.16 | I had other people in mind with this, you have listened to a lot of good stuff. But that song is amazing.
@ Pappy: You really liked her old stuff? Never cared for that stuff. And I'd argue most younger people don't know her today. | PappyMason
03.31.16 | Her early-to-mid 80s albums are pretty hot, some belting tunes. | RadicalEd
03.31.16 | What did you think of that newish album though? | Ryus
03.31.16 | 2, 8, 9 and 10 are all great | Shemson
03.31.16 | Yes!!!! As soon as I read the description I was all ready to recommend Agnes Obel as per usual but it's already here! Great job, will check the others I don't know too! | PappyMason
03.31.16 | "What did you think of that newish album though?"
It's good man. She's pretty awesome, a real character. | PappyMason
03.31.16 | Oh, and I need to get on 10. | RadicalEd
03.31.16 | I mean yeah she's definitely a character and she's got a great voice, but I don't know I didn't really care for her older stuff. And yes more people need 10 in their life
@ Ryus could see you liking 6
@ Shemson Agnes is awesome | SharkTooth
03.31.16 | b& 4 lyf | RadicalEd
03.31.16 | what's that supposed to mean? | Flugmorph
04.01.16 | agnes obel rules
good pick man | Lord(e)Po)))ts
04.01.16 | "to big for my bridges" | wtferrothorn
04.01.16 | lol | Calc
04.01.16 | "I've gotten to big for my bridges"
when you're trying to burn someone correct spelling and knowing the phrases is a must. | Lord(e)Po)))ts
04.01.16 | you wouldnt know anything about that | Flugmorph
04.01.16 | some major potsy tating going on tonight | Frippertronics
04.01.16 | cool to hear you dug Paris 1919 man | RadicalEd
04.01.16 | stfu potsy. updated. dayum. ;)
(I genuinely thought that expression was correct, fucking english) | RadicalEd
04.01.16 | Also @ Fripp, yeah I came around to it, when you rec'd it to doof. It's really really good. | user
04.01.16 | how the fuck does 10 have under 100 votes, damn | Frippertronics
04.01.16 | I'd recommend checking out Fear possibly, it's a complete 180 (for the most part) from Paris 1919. | RadicalEd
04.01.16 | @ Fripp, will definitely get around to checking some more of his stuff.
@ User, I don't know... 27 votes it's sad. | Cygnatti
04.01.16 | Sputnik psa III:
Dont capitalize genre names. Tyvm | RadicalEd
04.01.16 | Jesus fuck who gives a shit. Germans capitalize all the nouns. | Cygnatti
04.01.16 | True, but it just looks bad bruh. You're not the only one. Also, seeing capitalized genre tags IN A REVIEW tends to be a bit of a red flag.
EDIT'D | RadicalEd
04.01.16 | why would it be a red flag. | Cimnele
04.01.16 | who the heck does this Punk think he is | RadicalEd
04.01.16 | Me? | CalculatingInfinity
04.01.16 | Seeing 2 and 10 makes me happy, I should check some of these when I cheer up. | RadicalEd
04.01.16 | Thx man, you rec'd me 10 initially. I'd reckon 6 could be up your alley. | CalculatingInfinity
04.01.16 | Pretty sure I did for 2 as well, I'll keep that in mind thanks. 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8 I'm all interested in. | RadicalEd
04.01.16 | Haha could very well be the case, can't say I remember every rec I've gotten ;) | Lord(e)Po)))ts
04.01.16 | To cyg
Shut up | Sowing
04.01.16 | What is this madness
All of you are banned effective immediately | RadicalEd
04.01.16 | uh oh. Daddy is back. | Sowing
04.01.16 | Guess I have to choice but to get out the paddle, bend you over, and feature the hell out of this list. | RadicalEd
04.01.16 | thx bro. check 8 | Sowing
04.01.16 | A cute indie-folk singer songwriter? Yes. | Ryus
04.01.16 | "@ Ryus could see you liking 6"
it has piqued my interest, thenks | Zig
04.01.16 | Great list. Gonna check 2 and 10 for sure. | Flugmorph
04.01.16 | Ed is the right Man at the right Time.
Also capitalizing Nouns is the real Way. | klap
04.02.16 | Grace Jones one of the headliners at FYF Fest ayyyy | RadicalEd
04.02.16 | what she's still touring? Dayum. Form is temporary, class is permanent I guess. | DrMaximus
04.02.16 | "to big for my bridges"
who is big for my bridges | RadicalEd
04.02.16 | Dunno, have you been outside lately? A lot of fatties and small bridges out there. | ZippaThaRippa
04.02.16 | Not nearly enough condescension in this list | ZippaThaRippa
04.02.16 | http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/12/29/12/2FA93F2C00000578-3377107-Mary_Lambright_23_didn_t_make_it_across_a_historic_bridge_in_Pao-a-1_1451392164426.jpg | RadicalEd
04.02.16 | Yeah it was totally serious, and I was 100% sober when I wrote this. | ShitsofRain
04.02.16 | 2 is sicherlich bald dran | RadicalEd
04.02.16 | Deutsch als Sputnik-Amtssprache! | JasonCarne
04.03.16 | 5, 6, 7, 8, and 10 are all I've heard and they're all really awesome, checking the rest today. | parksungjoon
02.17.21 | cool | GhandhiLion
02.17.21 | 'School of Emotional Engineering'
>post-rock
makes sense
| parksungjoon
02.17.21 | i disagree tbh | GhandhiLion
02.17.21 | how come? | parksungjoon
02.17.21 | mostly the part where it isnt post rock | GhandhiLion
02.17.21 | but he said it was | parksungjoon
02.17.21 | oh ok |
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