Album Review: Cavernlight – As I Cast Ruin Upon The Lens That Reveals My Every Flaw
The thing about albums like this is that they’re hard to describe. Eight tracks, 39minutes, shortest track clocking in at just under four minutes. Consistent. Somethingthat I liked is that all of the tracks are titled in ways that describe a thing, howeverabstractly- A Shimmering View is something, as is (are?) The Ashes of EverythingI’ve …
Album Review: Kendrick Lamar – Mr. Morale And The Big Steppers
The thing about Kendrick Lamar albums is that they become, in their own way, cultural touchstones. To Pimp a Butterfly immediately became regarded as one of the best albums, certainly rap albums, of all time. Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City became enough of a force in its own right to be recognisable by an acronym. Damn., …
Album Review: Various Artists – Judas And The Black Messiah: The Inspired Album
As a standalone album – which is how I’m viewing it, having not seen the film – it’s a good album. Sometimes that’s all you need to know, but you can also see the scaffolding for it to be more than that, and that’s something to look forward to. Having the blanks filled in. Without that context, maybe a 7.5 with room to grow
Track: Genesis Owusu reveals video for new single, Gold Chains
I’m very tempted to twin this single release in with his performance on Triple J’s Like a Version, so… I’m gonna. What you always know you’re getting from Genesis Owusu is diversity in the sounds he draws on, but something he does just as well is executing and committing to these styles, every time he …
Track: Young Thug releases ‘That Go!’ feat. Meek Mill and T-Shyne, ahead of forthcoming album Slime Language 2
In keeping with Young Thug’s status as one of the most truly binary artists of the 21st century- it either clicks or it doesn’t- this is an opinion written as quickly as possible. Don’t want to let it sit. The fuzzy orchestral in the background of latest single ‘That Go!’ gives Meek Mill’s characteristically gritty vocals …
ALBUM REVIEW: slowthai – TYRON
The funny thing about TYRON is how clearly slowthai intends towards something, but never quite approaches it. Nothing Great About Britain was excellent – not to mention very clear in its concept – and bought him considerable goodwill, but it may also have painted him into a corner. Tyron Frampton approaches things differently this time …
ALBUM REVIEW: Psychedelic Porn Crumpets – SHYGA! The Sunlight Mound
The tricky thing about this Psychedelic Porn Crumpets album, particularly when stacked up against the likes of High Visceral {Part 1}, is that it feels like it has to be constantly in motion. When you hear a song early, it’s fresh. When you hear the same concept rehashed even two songs later, it feels stale. …
Album Review: Femi Kuti + Made Kuti – Legacy +
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m no afrobeat scholar, but there’s something undeniably enticing about a double album calling itself Legacy+ that’s attached to the Kuti name. I don’t even think this is necessarily limited or limiting, either, because the work of Fela Kuti is something that you’re likely aware of even if …
Album Review: SAD13 – Haunted Painting
To contrast Sadie Dupuis’ work as SAD13 with her work with Speedy Ortiz feels unfair, yet inevitable as they are essentially two different distillations of her own personality. The former is more Dupuis as Dupuis, for sure ,but even the band work was sprung out of her own ideas and therefore could be reasonably approached …
Album Review: Action Bronson – Only For Dolphins
At some point, someone must have told Action Bronson that words have multiple meanings. This isn’t something I know for sure, but you can intuit it from his lyrics. Keeping in theme, then, he must have learned that it is perfectly okay for things to contain multitudes. As he puts it on ‘C12H16N2’, Action Bronson …