album listens #25 - asylum - cressida

 

really really solid 70s prog. really confused as to how this isn't a mainstream album ? it's as good as stuff by yes and early floyd. great instrumentals, production's great. the singing does sound very much like a stereotypical prog singer but it's not really doing anything wrong! my favourite aspect of prog is the winding structures of songs, with all the little riffs included in chord changes that make the songs so bouncy. a really great album just wish they had more! (but i think they only have one other). found this record in a record shop btw but didn't buy it, maybe i should go see if they still have it... 

FAVORITE SONG: Goodbye Post Office Tower Goodbye, Munich, Let Them Come When They Will

RATING: 6 or 7/10 

album listens #24 - self titled (1961) - art blakey & the jazz messengers

 

just some incredible jazz music. art blakey really is one of my favourite ever jazz musicians. not quite as crazy as his stuff on free for all, which is my personal favourite of his, this album has a song for all moods. upbeat, melancholy, happy, groovy. it's got it all. impulse!!!!! art blakey!!!!!!! jazz messengers!!!!! the highlights here really are the trumpet and piano playing in blakey's sextet. full of raw emotion you just cannot beat it!!!!

FAVOURITE SONG: Circus

RATING: 8 or 9/10

album listens #23 - strawberry jam - animal collective

 

i've never really heard an album that sounds like this. it's a lot of different, and very interesting sounding ideas all sort of mashed together, and it works? it's produced in a really interesting way and there are vocal hooks but nothing that's too catchy, the singer always makes sure it sounds slightly off but it really works. the soundscapes and the synth work are really cool. it's melancholy but also uplifiting? there's just so much going on here, i really can't get all of it from just one listen so i'm gonna have to listen a few more times i think. i love the blend of pop and rock and electronic music it all, as i say, is kind of mashed together but it all works. its loud and its outrageous and its experimental but its also kind of sweet behind the scenes. 

FAVOURITE SONG(s): Fireworks, Cuckoo Cuckoo, Chores

RATING: 8/10 (may change on next listen)

album listens #22 - lodger - david bowie

 

>by anyone else's standard this would be a great album, for bowie, it feels somewhat underwhelming. it is still a very solid album and it's hard not to compare this to bowie's other works but realistically it's kinda impossible not to. a lot of really weird moments on here that are really cool, and obviously a handful of "regular" bowie tracks that stand out from the weirder moments, that for me don't always land and feel a little disjointed, like he's trying to hard to force some of his influences into a track that can't really fit them in. that being said, it is still bowie and it's kind of hard for him to go wrong.

FAVOURITE SONG: D.J, Boys Keep Swinging, Fantastic Voyage

RATING: 6/10

album (RE)listens #21 - acabou chorare - novos baianos

 

one of the greatest albums ever. i don't need to explain just go listen to it. perfect brazillian bossa nova, pop rock. amazing. GO AND LISTEN TO IT RIGHT NOW.

FAVOURITE SONG(s): Preta Pretinha, Tinindo Trincando, Misterio de Planeta, Swing de Campo Grande

EVERY SINGLE ONE

RATING: 10/10

album (RE)listens #20 - tone soul evolution - the apples in stereo

 

see, now this is how u do a sunny indie pop album. absolutely nothing complex going on here. just warm guitar tones, a bunch of la la la's and ba ba ba's, a lofi garage feel, perfect! this album does that thing where it's just inexplicable at how it makes you enjoy it so much so you don't have to question it that much; i feel like i've been acquainted with this album my whole life. catchy choruses and riffs and all super simple, it does exactly what this genre is all about perfectly.

FAVOURITE SONG: Silver Chain, Seems So, You Said That Last Night

RATING: 9/10

album listens #19 - her wallpaper reverie - the apples in stereo

 

i love apples in stereo but i did not love this. it's kind of one note and i just really don't enjoy the beatles impression they're doing, it's not subtle at all. don't get me wrong it's pretty and has it's moments and there are a handful of interesting songs but it's very on the nose with the psychedelia themes. not for me personally but a few songs i may listen to again :)

FAVOURITE SONG: Benefits of Lying (With Your Friend)

RATING: 3/10