Musicphantom's Records Reviewed

music_phantom13 · 09-02-2009, 08:25 AM

Why thank you, in fact when I searched for the album artwork that one right there didn't show up as amazon, it linked me to one of your posts. Also, I switched around the tracklisting a bit and added one song and took out another because I did the second half of trak reviews and numbered the songs through lala. What I failed to remember was that this is me reviewing my vinyl (it's early here) and I only have the reissue on mp3. Ah well. Glad you enjoyed it.

sidewinder · 09-02-2009, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by music_phantom13

4. Coitus Interruptus

This song's all about modern day relationships (at least at the time of release), and he uses some stupid puns ("Emission impossible"). At the end, a very out of tune background noise of some sort kicks in and Fad Gadget begins yelping, followed by an organ with some very harsh bizarre synthesizer noises over Fad Gadget just making strange noises.

I'm listening to this album again right now (checking out your reviews with each track) and it's funny how some of those strange noises he makes near the end of this song (the less silly ones) remind me of sounds in early Skinny Puppy. In fact I think it's fair to say that Fad Gadget was influential to many second-wave industrial bands like Skinny Puppy, with the dark synths and all.

Edit: I hadn't even seen your comment on the following track, "Newsreel", that it sounds like something on a Skinny Puppy album. Good call. Not only the sound but the subject.

music_phantom13 · 09-08-2009, 04:52 PM

Sorry guys I pretty much forgot about this thread. I'll try to review a few more records this week. Glad you enjoyed the review sidewinder!

music_phantom13 · 04-02-2011, 10:17 PM

That's right, it's back! Though I doubt anyone remembers this thread, I forgot it myself, I will hereby be reviving it.

Yppah - You Are Beautiful At All Times (2006)

1. Ending with you
2. I'll hit the Brakes
3. Again with the Subtitles
4. The Subtitles that Count
5. We Aim
6. What's the matter
7. In two, the Weakly
8. Almost in that Category
9. Good like that
10. Cannot see straight
11. It's not the same
12. Longtime

I'll start out with saying this is one of my favorite electronic albums. Yppah, Joe Corrales Jr.'s best musical alter ego, creates a unique fusion of post rock, shoegaze, hip-hop drum beats, and occasionally house music into a highly underrated masterpiece that defines what the genre of post rock should be to me. The songs maintain a consistent enough feel that the album never feels fractured or leaves me wondering how it got to where it is, but plenty of variety to the point that I don't know that I've ever listened to the album partially. The music flows along like a downtempo album mixed with the distorted haze of shoegaze and often quick tempos (I know, it will make since after you listen) leaving listeners in a melancholic sonic trance of bliss and curiousity. It never forces itself in your face, and the best way that I can explain it as that rather than guiding you through an experience as most albums do, it provides a basis and lets you explore it on your own however you choose.

1. Ending With You - The first track on this album lets you know exactly what to expect. A fast paced drum loop, roaming bass line, and fuzzy ring form the basis of the track lead into a distorted melancholic guitar melody. Around this melody he builds a busy cacophony of sound through the use of glitchy sounds, bells, and all sorts of interesting noise. But throughout, the song retains a feeling of simplicity and contentedness that allows it to simply float over you and immerse you in it, a quality that is present on the entirety of the album (why it's so hard to stop once you've started).

3. Again With The Subtitles - This song starts off with a driving melody that would be more in place on a dance album were it not for the glitched out drums and use of effects, and that simplistic sine-y synthesizer in the background. The most energetic song on the album, it's also my favorite, and it's moments like these that I imagine for some could pull them back in on an instrumental album that might otherwise get boring (I don't echo these sentiments myself, obviously).

4. The Subtleties That Count - On first listen, it may sound like the bouncy stacatto synth that starts of the song is struggling along, but it actually blends perfectly with the acoustic guitar and filtered, grainy drums. It makes a unique rhythm that stresses unusual beats and creates a very odd happy atmosphere for the song.

7. In Two, The Weakly - This song to me most noticeably displays Yppah's love for the shoegaze greats of the 90s, and to me is almost like a look back at what made these bands so great. Rather than using distorted walls of sound for the melody, he uses a synthesizer and acoustic guitar, and the distorted wall of guitar floats along slightly behind the music. It all works out to sound like a musician reminiscing on the music he grew up to that influenced him and capturing the ethereal, nostalgic drenched atmosphere of shoegaze while creating his own unique work. Fan-fucking-tastic, possibly my favorite song on the album.

8. Almost in that Category - The album picks up speed again, this time starting with a glitched out melody and fast paced drums with the acoustic guitar once again taking a spot underneath and very subdued behind the rest of the music. He definitely plays into post rock dynamics on this, with a simple idea building into that climax that post rock fans will know and love, complete with crashing cymbals.

12. Longtime - Closer Longtime is a fitting slower and less busy song than some of the others, and flows along smoothly and happily. It leaves me feeling inspired, reminiscent, and creative, and ends out the album perfectly.

All in all, I feel my writing doesn't do this album justice but it is one of the best I have heard, and certainly one of the most inspirational - every time I listen I am inspired to create something artistic. He uses elements of so many styles to create a style entirely of his own, creating an album that can almost be classified in several genres but really doesn't fit anywhere. Yppah has continued on his unique style of music, recording one more album and an EP (I think) to date plus tons of remixes that always showcase his unique sound and attention to detail, definitely worth checking out. But his debut is the shining masterpiece of his collection in my eyes.

Bulldog · 04-04-2011, 12:29 AM

Well, I managed a quick listen of I'll Hit the Brakes, and you're right - sounds like quite a unique take on modern post-rock, and goes to show that it doesn't all have to be set up to be overlong and dull. I loved the beat it had to it, and a pretty prominent bass figure too. Quite possibly an album I'll have to check out for myself in time.

Good review sir

Nice to see this thread back in business again too. There haven't been many threads like this knocking about lately, and I'm a bit too lazy these days to start any/dig up old ones myself.

09-02-2009, 08:25 AM	#11 (permalink)
music_phantom13 Music Addict Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 942	Why thank you, in fact when I searched for the album artwork that one right there didn't show up as amazon, it linked me to one of your posts. Also, I switched around the tracklisting a bit and added one song and took out another because I did the second half of trak reviews and numbered the songs through lala. What I failed to remember was that this is me reviewing my vinyl (it's early here) and I only have the reissue on mp3. Ah well. Glad you enjoyed it.

09-08-2009, 04:52 PM	#13 (permalink)
music_phantom13 Music Addict Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 942	Sorry guys I pretty much forgot about this thread. I'll try to review a few more records this week. Glad you enjoyed the review sidewinder!

04-02-2011, 10:17 PM	#14 (permalink)
music_phantom13 Music Addict Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 942	That's right, it's back! Though I doubt anyone remembers this thread, I forgot it myself, I will hereby be reviving it. Yppah - You Are Beautiful At All Times (2006) 1. Ending with you 2. I'll hit the Brakes 3. Again with the Subtitles 4. The Subtitles that Count 5. We Aim 6. What's the matter 7. In two, the Weakly 8. Almost in that Category 9. Good like that 10. Cannot see straight 11. It's not the same 12. Longtime I'll start out with saying this is one of my favorite electronic albums. Yppah, Joe Corrales Jr.'s best musical alter ego, creates a unique fusion of post rock, shoegaze, hip-hop drum beats, and occasionally house music into a highly underrated masterpiece that defines what the genre of post rock should be to me. The songs maintain a consistent enough feel that the album never feels fractured or leaves me wondering how it got to where it is, but plenty of variety to the point that I don't know that I've ever listened to the album partially. The music flows along like a downtempo album mixed with the distorted haze of shoegaze and often quick tempos (I know, it will make since after you listen) leaving listeners in a melancholic sonic trance of bliss and curiousity. It never forces itself in your face, and the best way that I can explain it as that rather than guiding you through an experience as most albums do, it provides a basis and lets you explore it on your own however you choose. 1. Ending With You - The first track on this album lets you know exactly what to expect. A fast paced drum loop, roaming bass line, and fuzzy ring form the basis of the track lead into a distorted melancholic guitar melody. Around this melody he builds a busy cacophony of sound through the use of glitchy sounds, bells, and all sorts of interesting noise. But throughout, the song retains a feeling of simplicity and contentedness that allows it to simply float over you and immerse you in it, a quality that is present on the entirety of the album (why it's so hard to stop once you've started). 3. Again With The Subtitles - This song starts off with a driving melody that would be more in place on a dance album were it not for the glitched out drums and use of effects, and that simplistic sine-y synthesizer in the background. The most energetic song on the album, it's also my favorite, and it's moments like these that I imagine for some could pull them back in on an instrumental album that might otherwise get boring (I don't echo these sentiments myself, obviously). 4. The Subtleties That Count - On first listen, it may sound like the bouncy stacatto synth that starts of the song is struggling along, but it actually blends perfectly with the acoustic guitar and filtered, grainy drums. It makes a unique rhythm that stresses unusual beats and creates a very odd happy atmosphere for the song. 7. In Two, The Weakly - This song to me most noticeably displays Yppah's love for the shoegaze greats of the 90s, and to me is almost like a look back at what made these bands so great. Rather than using distorted walls of sound for the melody, he uses a synthesizer and acoustic guitar, and the distorted wall of guitar floats along slightly behind the music. It all works out to sound like a musician reminiscing on the music he grew up to that influenced him and capturing the ethereal, nostalgic drenched atmosphere of shoegaze while creating his own unique work. Fan-fucking-tastic, possibly my favorite song on the album. 8. Almost in that Category - The album picks up speed again, this time starting with a glitched out melody and fast paced drums with the acoustic guitar once again taking a spot underneath and very subdued behind the rest of the music. He definitely plays into post rock dynamics on this, with a simple idea building into that climax that post rock fans will know and love, complete with crashing cymbals. 12. Longtime - Closer Longtime is a fitting slower and less busy song than some of the others, and flows along smoothly and happily. It leaves me feeling inspired, reminiscent, and creative, and ends out the album perfectly. All in all, I feel my writing doesn't do this album justice but it is one of the best I have heard, and certainly one of the most inspirational - every time I listen I am inspired to create something artistic. He uses elements of so many styles to create a style entirely of his own, creating an album that can almost be classified in several genres but really doesn't fit anywhere. Yppah has continued on his unique style of music, recording one more album and an EP (I think) to date plus tons of remixes that always showcase his unique sound and attention to detail, definitely worth checking out. But his debut is the shining masterpiece of his collection in my eyes.

04-04-2011, 12:29 AM	#15 (permalink)
Bulldog why bother? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Posts: 4,840	Well, I managed a quick listen of I'll Hit the Brakes, and you're right - sounds like quite a unique take on modern post-rock, and goes to show that it doesn't all have to be set up to be overlong and dull. I loved the beat it had to it, and a pretty prominent bass figure too. Quite possibly an album I'll have to check out for myself in time. Good review sir Nice to see this thread back in business again too. There haven't been many threads like this knocking about lately, and I'm a bit too lazy these days to start any/dig up old ones myself.