Vxspertine Posted December 23, 2018 Author Posted December 23, 2018 Sorry everyone I was really sick all week last week I'm gonna try to do this this week
Vxspertine Posted December 23, 2018 Author Posted December 23, 2018 Kamasi Washington – Heaven and Earth Ima start this off with an album that I was pretty disappointed by. The new Kamasi album is not even close to his amazing last album, The Epic (which is probably my favorite Jazz album of this decade), or his amazing EP that came out last year. While the performances on this album are still great, the sound and style of this album is pretty generic & predictable for the most part. Only a few tracks here are close to the level of perfection The Epic has to offer. I feel like if this album wasn't a Kamasi album I wouldn't be mad about it, it's a decent Jazz record, but since his last album and EP were so fantastic, this one just feels disappointing. Best tracks: Fists Of Fury, The Invincible Youth, Street Fighter Mas. Worst track: Connections Kids See Ghosts – Kids See Ghosts While this isn't bad, I can't get over how much this reeks of overused Kanye sample-based production. Kanye lost what made his production interesting in the last few years imo. Some songs are good like Fire and Freeee, and I do love some of the details in the production of those songs, but then Fire abruptly ends after a short outro that just feels like it was glued to the end of it, and Freeee just gets so ****ing repetitive. The album feels so unfinished to me, and it also lacks interesting lyrics or just anything interesting to say. I can see the recording process of this, Kanye in the studio with Cudi and a few hype beasts for a few days and they just didn't feel like developing these ideas more and were like "maAAan this is on such a ~~~higher level than everyone else in the game, let's just put this out like this!!!HAHAHA!!!" Best tracks: Fire, Freeee, Reborn. Worst track: Feel The Trash
Vxspertine Posted December 23, 2018 Author Posted December 23, 2018 (edited) Vince Staples – FM! This is a cute lil project. It does have some bops and I do like the concept, but it just feels small and insignificant compared to his other WAY more ambitious projects. He doesn't offer anything new here. Just a fun lil album to keep us bopping. A thoughtful king. Best tracks: Outside!, Feels Like Summer, No Bleedin. Worst track: Run the Bands Anderson .Paak – Oxnard It's a cute album, but that's pretty much it. Nothing really all that special or interesting. Even his vocals are pretty boring and there aren't many noteworthy collaborations imo. Malibu did it a lot better. Best tracks: Tints, Headlow, Mansa Musa. Worst track: Sweet Chick Edited December 23, 2018 by Vxspertine
Vxspertine Posted December 23, 2018 Author Posted December 23, 2018 (edited) Current 93 - The Light Is Leaving Us All I swear to GOD if he says anything about the light and it's leaving one more time… **** it gets SO dreadful and annoying. Wish this was just an instrumental album since the instrumentation is great. Best tracks: The Birds Are Sweetly Singing, Fair Weather. Worst track: The Postman Is Singing Mitski - Be the Cowboy Well… here we are with this bitch. She decided to go on a metaphoric yeehaw on this one. The album that has some of the best singles of the year, Nobody and Geyser… It's Pitchfork's Album Of The Year… but let me tell you, a *** is disappointed. I'm a Mitski stan. And I do love Geyser and Nobody. But wtf do people see in this? It's a bunch of random songs that just sound like a bunch of small, unfinished ideas. It's nothing compared to her previous 2 albums. Her lyrics still deliver though, and I can't say I'm not happy for her. And this isn't a bad album. But it is not an album I'd recommend to someone who hasn't listened to her before. Best tracks: Nobody, Geyser, Remember My Name. Worst track: Blue Light (Kelelegend did it better) Edited December 23, 2018 by Vxspertine
Vxspertine Posted December 23, 2018 Author Posted December 23, 2018 (edited) Against All Logic - 2012 – 2017 This is overrated as ****. Still pretty good though. But if you want to hear a better minimalistic deep house album just give Space Is Only Noise or Psychic a listen. Best tracks: Such A Bad Way, Now You Got Me Hooked, Flash The Pain. Worst track: Rave On U Nine Inch Nails - Bad Witch This is pretty good! Love the energy on this, it's kind of terrifying and very in-your-face, not boring like other more recent Nine Inch Nails projects, and I love the production and delivery. Wish it wasn't just EP-length though, it definitely doesn't go far enough to be a highlight. Best tracks: **** Mirror, Over and Out, Ahead Of Ourselves. Worst track: God Break Down the Door Edited December 23, 2018 by Vxspertine
Vxspertine Posted December 23, 2018 Author Posted December 23, 2018 (edited) Noname - Room 25 This album is kind of a mixed bag in my opinion. Her lyrics are great, but her flows come off as boring on some tracks. The instrumentation is decent, but there's nothing special about it. The thing I love the most about this is when she gets emotional and deep, and raps about stuff like religion and politics, on songs like Prayer Song and Don't Forget About Me. She does that really well. Still, her mixtape was a lot better and a lot more unique and enjoyable than this. Nothing here tops anything on the mixtape. Best tracks: Prayer Song, Window, No Name. Worst track: Regal MGMT – Little Dark Age Missing my list by a tiny little bit, this album just aged pretty badly for me. I loved this initially, but now I can't get myself to enjoy it anymore. Even my favorite tracks, When You Die and Me and Michael, don't really do much for me anymore. I still think it's a decent album and I did enjoy it, just not anymore. Best tracks: Me and Michael, When You Die, She Works Out Too Much. Worst track: Tslamp Edited December 23, 2018 by Vxspertine
ATRL Moderator Unoriginal Posted December 23, 2018 ATRL Moderator Posted December 23, 2018 some solid choices FM!, Heaven & Earth, Oxnard and Be the Cowboy are all good, some definitely deserved higher spots though
ATRL Moderator madonnas Posted December 23, 2018 ATRL Moderator Posted December 23, 2018 I like the small unfinished style of BTC. TSLAMP the worst?
theblackestday Posted December 23, 2018 Posted December 23, 2018 This reads more like a disappointments of the year list than honorable mentions I hope you get to see the light one day with Be the Cowboy, I will not comment further on that one Disagree on Heaven and Earth, though I've not heard The Epic yet so can't delve into this much Can kinda see where you're coming from with Kids See Ghosts, but I still don't really agree and found it to be pretty great from start to finish. I sometimes wish it would have been more fleshed out but its EP-esque length gives it replay value and doesn't feel like it overstays its welcome. Little Dark Age feels like it's supposed to have aged badly but after revisiting it multiple times in the past month or two I've realized I still love it a lot. I pretty much agree with every other album here and your points on them. Aside from NIN's, they all ranged from underwhelming to disappointing
ATRL Moderator Tsareena Posted December 23, 2018 ATRL Moderator Posted December 23, 2018 I liked heaven and earth tho I listened like once fm! slaps whew oxnard omg be the cowboy being hm nopoints on room 25.. thought it was much better than her mixtape
Tom Vercetti Posted December 23, 2018 Posted December 23, 2018 lda has remained consistent for me in areas and ksg's length is enough for me tbh. Everything else, points made.
Vilppu Posted December 23, 2018 Posted December 23, 2018 this is how i imagine you writing what seems to be a disappointing releases of the year list and naming it HMs i liked a fair chunk of these a lot but your criticisms are all fair. KSG in particular definitely feels like stretching out some half-baked ideas but he does it with enough finesse to make me love it still? maybe after ye i was just fishing for anything not completely ****ty
Eeveelution Posted December 23, 2018 Posted December 23, 2018 Girl you are not afraid to be controversial and I kinda love it! However you lied several times (Blue Light and Rave on U are two of the greatest songs of all time) but thank you for your honesty.
fossora Posted December 24, 2018 Posted December 24, 2018 KSG Be The Cowboy 2012-2017 TALENT edit: wait these are honorable??? OH HELL NAW
Lazuli Posted December 24, 2018 Posted December 24, 2018 Mitski in HMs wow sis you're really trying it huh MGMT's album is the definition of a HM tbh it's good and better than usual but then again it's not that much of a slay
TRF. Posted December 24, 2018 Posted December 24, 2018 these backhanded compliments jsafnksdfkjasf well at least A.A.L., Mitski and MGMT made it!
Chamoy Posted December 24, 2018 Posted December 24, 2018 Came for SOPHIE, but stayed for the BTC expose.
Vxspertine Posted December 24, 2018 Author Posted December 24, 2018 23 hours ago, Unoriginal said: some solid choices FM!, Heaven & Earth, Oxnard and Be the Cowboy are all good, some definitely deserved higher spots though Idk about that 23 hours ago, madonnas said: I like the small unfinished style of BTC. TSLAMP the worst? Maybe it needs to grow on me, idk. I hope it will tbh 22 hours ago, Sbbmsve said: Poor Be The Cowboy She's doing fine 22 hours ago, theblackestday said: This reads more like a disappointments of the year list than honorable mentions I hope you get to see the light one day with Be the Cowboy, I will not comment further on that one Disagree on Heaven and Earth, though I've not heard The Epic yet so can't delve into this much Can kinda see where you're coming from with Kids See Ghosts, but I still don't really agree and found it to be pretty great from start to finish. I sometimes wish it would have been more fleshed out but its EP-esque length gives it replay value and doesn't feel like it overstays its welcome. Little Dark Age feels like it's supposed to have aged badly but after revisiting it multiple times in the past month or two I've realized I still love it a lot. I pretty much agree with every other album here and your points on them. Aside from NIN's, they all ranged from underwhelming to disappointing Well it's my list after all Maybe I will, maybe I won't... somehow I'm not too bothered either way Well you should give it a listen it is excellent, atleast try the second disc which is literally perfect I didn't feel like it had any replayabillity tbh I just kinda wanted it to end most of the time 22 hours ago, Tsareena said: I liked heaven and earth tho I listened like once fm! slaps whew oxnard omg be the cowboy being hm nopoints on room 25.. thought it was much better than her mixtape Can't blame you for only listening to it once 22 hours ago, Tom Vercetti said: lda has remained consistent for me in areas and ksg's length is enough for me tbh. Everything else, points made. can't wait to see where they land on your list 22 hours ago, Vilppu said: this is how i imagine you writing what seems to be a disappointing releases of the year list and naming it HMs i liked a fair chunk of these a lot but your criticisms are all fair. KSG in particular definitely feels like stretching out some half-baked ideas but he does it with enough finesse to make me love it still? maybe after ye i was just fishing for anything not completely ****ty Well... 22 hours ago, Eeveelution said: Girl you are not afraid to be controversial and I kinda love it! However you lied several times (Blue Light and Rave on U are two of the greatest songs of all time) but thank you for your honesty. Thanks sis but you made 0 points 17 hours ago, artangel said: KSG Be The Cowboy 2012-2017 TALENT edit: wait these are honorable??? OH HELL NAW 10 hours ago, Lazuli said: Mitski in HMs wow sis you're really trying it huh MGMT's album is the definition of a HM tbh it's good and better than usual but then again it's not that much of a slay 2 hours ago, TRF. said: these backhanded compliments jsafnksdfkjasf well at least A.A.L., Mitski and MGMT made it! I still liked all those albums to a degree but 1 hour ago, Chamoy said: Came for SOPHIE, but stayed for the BTC expose. Glad you could find some entertainment in this before she arrives, it'll be a while before we see her Thank you all for commenting, I'm gonna post 25-20 in a bit
Vxspertine Posted December 24, 2018 Author Posted December 24, 2018 My spoiler messed up somehow, thanks for commenting everyone Will post 25-20 in a bit.
Vxspertine Posted December 24, 2018 Author Posted December 24, 2018 (edited) 25. Pusha T – DAYTONA I never really cared for Pusha generally and this album does reek of Kanye production, but it is still actually very good, and definitely the best Kanye-produced album of this year. Pusha really MAKES this. Loved his flows and lyrics on almost every track, he brings actual energy and feeling to these beats, and even some of the beats are nice. While I definitely am sick of Kanye's uninspired production everywhere, this time around it feels like Pusha didn't let Kanye just do whatever he wants and put effort into making these tracks make sense. The only reason I didn't place this higher on my list is because I didn't give this enough listens. Mainly because it isn't that interesting from a production standpoint, and we know who's to blame there. Best tracks: Santeria, If You Know You Know, Hard Piano. Worst track: The Games We Play Edited December 24, 2018 by Vxspertine
Vxspertine Posted December 24, 2018 Author Posted December 24, 2018 (edited) 24. Brockhampton – iridescence Somehow these bitches snuck in to my list despite me barely listening to this album. While this is a pretty unpredictable direction for them and for the most part it is done pretty well, I was just tired of their shtick this year. As an FKA Twigs stan I try to stay away from bad vibes and stay close to satan, and because their members were just acting so gross and cocky on twitter before and while this was releasing, attacking people on twitter constantly because they were trying to get a #1 album, and the whole drama with one of their members being kicked out for abusing a woman, it all really took a toll on their vibe and their music for me, and lyrics suffered as a result aswell imo. While this is better than Saturation III (which imo is their worst album), is pretty creative and a lot more daring musically than their previous efforts, it just doesn't feel authentic and I really didn't feel like giving it more listens than I did. Best tracks: Tonya, Fabric, Tape. Worst track: San Marcos Edited December 24, 2018 by Vxspertine
Vxspertine Posted December 24, 2018 Author Posted December 24, 2018 (edited) 23. Rhye – Blood This is a lovely album, it's soft, small and sweet, and has a mundane beauty kind of vibe. But unlike a lot of albums that fit that description, it has quite a lot of upbeat moments, and quite a bit of different and dynamic instrumentation. While the lyrics are not that special or anything, they're still cute and add to this album's mood. I would say that my biggest criticism of this album is that his vocals sound pretty much the same through the entire album. I can see why people who like this style of singing more enjoy this a lot more than me but I really wish he would write different melodies here and there, and would touch different parts of his vocal range. Still, this album is beautiful and intimate, and I enjoyed it quite a bit. Best tracks: Song For You, Count To Five, Stay Safe. Worst track: Softly Edited December 24, 2018 by Vxspertine
Vxspertine Posted December 24, 2018 Author Posted December 24, 2018 (edited) 22. Jean Grae & Quelle Chris - Everything's Fine Quite an experience, this album is very funny at times, awkward at times, scary at times, gloomy at times and interesting throughout. This album is a grimy and hardhitting statement about the state of the world, how we act like "everything's fine" when things are just falling apart all around us and within us. The flows of both Jean and Quelle on this album are smooth and nice, both shine in their own ways and both have great lyricism to back up those flows. They have great energy together and individually. Musically this album is pretty lo-fi, it brings those 90's-early-2000's vibes that remind me of stuff like De La Soul and Deltron 3030. While I feel like the middle of the album gets a bit boring at times, the first few tracks and the last few are all highlights with high energy and creative bars and beats. Really good overall, I just feel like some tracks could have been left out. This is a very interesting and diverse album that you shouldn't miss out on. Best tracks: Ohsh, River, Zero. Worst track: House Call Edited December 24, 2018 by Vxspertine
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