By: Grace Koennecke, Columns Editor Atlantic Records, Warner Music Australia; 2022 Rating: 8/10 Key tracks: “Hard to Believe,” “At the End of the Day,” “Permanent Price,” “Missing Out,” “Hurts Me” Wallows, comprised of Dylan Minnette, Braeden Lemasters and Cole Preston, made their mark on the music scene in 2019 with their debut album Nothing Happens,…
Tag: Album Review
Album Review: Ghost — IMPERA
By Adrian Woods, Contributor
[Loma Vista Recordings; 2022]
Rating: 5/10
Key tracks: “Kaisarion”, “Call Me Little Sunshine”, “Griftwood”
The heavy and glam metal outfit Ghost is back with their fifth studio album, IMPERA, and when I say “glam metal” for this album, it is total glam metal. A lot of this album feels like a rock opera, and while that may sound like a positive thing, it ends up being a negative. If Ghost were to just make a pure metal album, it would sound so much better. However, the “glam” sound on this album mixed with the heavy metal instrumentation makes this album feel mixed and disjointed, not quite sure of what it exactly wants to be. Glam metal can be done well, with example from bands like Scorpions and Bon Jovi, that have the perfect mix of using that glam sound while the instruments fit in perfectly. Ghost tries to achieve that level of prestige, but falls achingly short.
Album Review: Black Midi — Cavalcovers
By Venus Rittenberg, Editorial Director
[Rough Trade; 2022]
Rating: 8/10
Key tracks: It’s three songs man
When Black Midi announced Cavalcade, they also announced a contest in which they would cover five songs, and depending on who the listeners preordered Cavalcade from, they would receive a 7” vinyl of one of the covers. Three of the five songs appear on this EP, finally added to streaming (sadly missing the excellent “Psycho Killer” cover that features some of the worst French I’ve ever heard).
Album Review: Broken Equipment — Bodega
By Venus Rittenberg, Editorial Director
[What’s Your Rupture?; 2022]
Rating: 8/10
Key tracks: Thrown, Doers, How Can I Help Ya
Broken Equipment sees Bodega improving upon their already noteworthy work from Endless Scroll, an album that emerged amidst a flourishing third wave of post-punk that was sweeping America and Europe with bands like Parquet Courts, IDLES, and many more. There were many incredible bands in this scene, and I went through a huge phase of obsessing over it during Summer 2020 – this is when I discovered Bodega. They were not my favorite band in the scene, but they were doing something unique with their lyrics. There was specificity to them that made them stand out. They were also loaded with references to other music that I was a fan of which also made them noteworthy. Ultimately, they were very catchy, groovy post punk, and at the time, that was what I craved.
Album Review: Reeling — The Mysterines
By Jonah Cashel, Contributor
[Fiction Records; 2022]
Rating: 8/10
Key tracks: “Life’s a Bitch (But I Like it so Much)”, “Hung Up”, “Under Your Skin”, “All These Things”
Liverpool rock group The Mysterines released their debut Album, Reeling this March. The record exploded immediately, reaching top 10 on the UK charts before the end of the month and garnering millions of listeners in weeks. The album captures exactly what rock music today should sound like, perfectly blending a slew of great influences while equally focusing on the unique meta-frustrations of today.
Album Review: Cities Aviv – MAN PLAYS THE HORN
By: Ethan Hofer, Staff Writer [D.O.T; 2022] Rating: 9/10 Key Tracks: “BLACK PLEASURE”, “SMOKING ON A BRIGHTER DAY”, “THE FINAL SPARK” MAN PLAYS THE HORN is the seventh project released by Memphis-based experimental rapper Cities Aviv. In a city full of boastful trap rappers, Cities Aviv turns away from the Memphis rap scene and focuses…
Album Review: Avril Lavigne – Love Sux
By: Grace Koennecke, Columns Editor DTA Records; 2022 Rating: 7.5/10 Key tracks: “Cannonball,” “Bois Lie ft. Machine Gun Kelly,” “Bite Me,” “Kiss Me Like The World Is Ending,” “Deja vu,” Avril Lavigne has always been known as the pop-punk princess that dominated the early 2000s with hits like “Complicated,” “Girlfriend” and “What the Hell,” which…
Lobster Review: Hop Along – Get Disowned
By Venus Rittenberg, Editorial Director [Hot Green Records; 2012] Rating: 9/10 Key Tracks: “Tibetan Pop Stars”, “Diamond Mine”, “Laments“ Get Disowned begins with a whimper to an ex-lover asking them to not obliterate whatever dignity the two of them have left between each other. “It’s time to exit / with some grace.” Frances Quinlan doesn’t…
Album Review: St Paul & The Broken Bones — The Alien Coast
By Adrian Woods, Contributor
[Self-Release; 2022]
Review: 5/10
Key tracks: “Tin Man Love”, “The Last Dance”
St Paul & The Broken Bones are back with their fourth studio album release, Alien Coast. Listening to their past records, this one felt like a drop in quality for the group. If anticipating another retro-dance R&B record, this album falls flat and feels like just another generic, modern day R&B album.
Album Review: Amber Mark — Three Dimensions Deep
By Grace Koennecke, Columns Editor
[PMR Records, Universal Music Operations; 2022]
Rating: 8/10
Key tracks: “What It Is,” “Most Men,” “Darkside,” “Competition,” “Bliss,” “Event Horizon”
Amber Mark may be a name most have never heard before in the R&B scene, but the singer has been
around for the last six years. She’s dropped two EPs: 3:33 AM in 2017 and Conexao 2018. Both works explored grief and love through the melding of R&B, pop, dance and Bossa Nova sounds together to produce a classy, polished repertoire. Now, Mark is ready to prove herself beyond the world of EPs with her debut album Three Dimensions Deep, taking her voice to new levels and diversifying her use of production.
Album Review: Black Country, New Road – Ants From Up There
By Venus Rittenberg, Editorial Director [Ninja Tune; 2022] Rating: 9/10 Key Tracks: “The Place Where He Inserted the Blade,” “Snow Globes,” “Basketball Shoes” Even when they had just two songs to their name, it was clear that Black Country, New Road was something special. Ants From Up There sees them fully realized, evolving past the…
Album Review: Eels — Extreme Witchcraft
By Jonah Cashel, Contributor
Rating: 7/10
Key tracks: “Grandfather Clock Strikes Twelve”, “Strawberries & Popcorn”, “So Anyway”
tive-Rock band Eels released their newest album, Extreme Witchcraft late last month. The group has been producing funk-infused rock hits since the mid ’90s, and continues to this day with a steady flow of tours and releases. This record makes it clear that even almost 30 years after the band’s conception, there is no sign of slowing down. Band leader, Mark Oliver Everett (aka E), continues to mutate his sound and find new ways to tickle his audiences’ ears.
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