Review Albums in the TH Love or Hate Style
 

I mean, it's a pretty great template. It's very easy to get the overall opinion of the album on a quick glance but the writer can put a lot more depth into the reviews as well for people that care more deeply about the results. It's quick to write up too so not a whole lot of stress on the writer. So props to Trollheart and credit for the whole idea goes to him.

Basically the style is to list out album information and go track-by-track with a simple color system: red if you hate it, white if its meh, orange if you like it, green if you love it, and blue if you truly love it. A recent example with several of the colors can be viewed below:

I plan on doing some reviews in this style in the near future so figured I'd make an overarching topic for anyone else that's potentially interested in doing the same.

colors is to much work

the ***** 5 star system is the best of the best to rate a album

Oh God no! I've created a monster!!!! :laughing:
Seriously, the idea behind the colour-coded ratings is to give an overall idea of how well or badly the album is put together, how it progresses/regresses as it goes along, and a star system does not do this, only gives a general idea of whether you thought it was good or not. Of course, I'm responding to Norg here so I don't know if I should expect him to get it, but that's the idea anyway.

May as well be the first to drop in a rec then:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...lbum_cover.jpg
Oceanic --- Vangelis --- 1996
Since you're someone who likes ambient instrumental music, you should probably enjoy this, and as it's basically a concept album based around the sea, it could be interesting for you, but I'd be intrigued to see what you think of it.

i don't think he is asking for requests....but rather created a thread for anyone to use your format to review albums :)

which personally i think is a great idea :)

Yeah as bob said this wasn't specifically intended to be a rec thread but I will still happily take a few if they sound interesting, which TH's does. I'll definitely do a review of that soon!

^I'd like to hear your thoughts on the new OPN record if you're down for that.

Oh yeah that's a good one for a review, I'll do that too

Uhh the star system does exactly that if u review every song come on bra u can't beat the star system trollheart

I don't really agree Norg, giving a track/album the blue rating just feels more impactful than a 5/5 for some reason. I personally greatly prefer the color system

There are also a ****load of threads on here where you can use the star system if you like.

Well yeah, if you're boring. Getting insight on albums with a track by track review is actually quite nice.

Oh. Considering I'm currently reviewing the Genesis discography, I must say "There must be some misunderstanding (Oh-woo-oo!)" ;) Sorry, just assumed...
Thanks. If you want any others let me know. Be interesting to see how this develops.

Note@ Frown: glad your ban/error was sorted out man. Place would not be the same without ya! :thumb:

The thing about the colour code system though is you can see at a glance if the person liked, hated, or was meh about the album. You're either going to see a solid line of green, red, or a mixture, but you'll know immediately how it went. With the star system, even if you do it individually per track, you still have to count up before you can come to a conclusion. Mine is more immediate and striking, I feel.

http://www.piccadillyrecords.com/imgrec/sl-105516.jpg
Title: Garden of Delete
Artist: Oneohtrix Point Never
Genre: Electronic
Familiarity: Very, I've heard his entire discography at this point. One of my favorite artists around

1. Intro: Really dig the sounds on this one, I honestly wish it was longer and more developed.
2. Ezra: Just an absolutely killer track that really kicks off the album. Love the sections with the guitar arpeggios, and I especially love when the synths start going all over the place and blaring in your face. ****ing superb start.
3. ECCOJAMC1: Pretty strange little vocal sample here but yet another track that feels like it could have been developed more. Kind of disappointing but I certainly don't dislike anything about it.
4. Sticky Drama: Sounds a bit like a clubby dance tune for a while which is pretty weird. Not a huge fan of the screamy vocals in the 2nd half but overall I really like the vibe of this track and the thick, oozing synths.
5. SDFK: Another short one but I absolutely love the atmosphere of this track. The second half when that ambient pad weasels in is amazing, and the sudden change in intensity is goosebumps-inducing. Leads really well into the next track as well.
6. Mutant Standard: There are some truly brilliant sections of this but I feel it overstays its welcome. It takes a little too long for the thumping synth intro develops into anything, but when things finally do happen the track is fantastic. I really love when the thumping synth changes pitch and he brings in the ambient pad. The second half is a really awesome array of bouncy synths that sounds a lot like some of the stuff on R Plus Seven. Really good track overall but I feel it could've been condensed.
7. Child of Rage: Kind of an unnerving introduction with the clip of an interview. Leads into a really cool exotic sounding vibe with some interesting percussion. This is one of the more easygoing tracks on the album and it's truly beautiful at times when the piano comes in. There's still some of that trademark chaotic synths thrown in there that I've come to adore from OPN. Excellent track overall.
8. Animals: KILLER track, probably my favorite on the album and one of my favorite OPN tracks period. Gorgeous instrumentation, awesome melody and mood. Frankly a masterpiece.
9. I Bite Through It: This track is all over the place and it's absolutely kickass. The heavier parts get me hyped as ****, while the discordant softer parts fascinate me. This was a single and it was a damn good pick.
10. Freaky Eyes: Parts of this remind me of the Interstellar soundtrack, which is a soundtrack that I seriously love. The slow buildup in the first half is executed flawlessly and the way it develops and then starts to fall apart in the second half is badass.
11. Lift: Really like how the instrumentation jumps all around for a while. The electric guitar solo in the middle is kickass, but while I think this is a great track it doesn't do quite as much for me as the previous few. For most of the runtime it's just kinda there presenting some cool sounds but not taking me anywhere with them.
12. No Good: Solid track but doesn't really end the album in any specially memorable way. I've always found "Chrome Country" from R Plus Seven to be an utterly brilliant closer that's very memorable and sticks out in a way from the rest of the album but this one doesn't quite do that for me. I think OPN could've switched this with Freaky Eyes in the track order and it would've been a slight improvement.

End Result: Incredible album from one of my greatest influences, and I especially love how he continues to develop his signature sound in new ways. You never know what direction he could go in on the next track. Fucking brilliant stuff, if only I were half as talented.

Love or Hate?: Definite True Love overall for this record. 9 to 9.5/10 territory and will be very high up in the race for my album of the year.

Alright, try Potemkin City Limits by Propagandhi

@Yorke


Nails - Unsilent Death


http://www.invisibleoranges.com/wp-c...ilentdeath.jpg

This isn't a rec thread so just telling me an album isn't gonna get me to listen to it, you'll have to MAKE me want to listen to it with some convincing

Or use blackmail. Worked for me. ;)

Edit: YD, it might be an idea to staple that in red or something on the OP --- THIS IS NOT A REC THREAD! --- as people generally are going to equate it with mine, which IS a rec thread. The connection is in the mind....

Listening to Nails will test whether or not you are as big of a bitch as Trollheart. TH is doing a powerviolence album in The Torture Chamber, so do you really want to puss out when he's willing to set aside his vagina? If you want, you can consider this a Torture Chamber rec and just review this in that thread. IDGAF. Just don't be a pussy. It's only 14-minutes-long FFS.

If you're a fan of crossover thrash, politically charged anarcho-punk, or melodic/post hardcore punk, you'll absolutely love Potemkin City Limits. The definite transitional album from their previous political skate punk days. Even if you're a big capitalist yuppie you'll be sing shouting along with this by the end. Such an emotional album, Chris' vocals really are the best part of it (along with the outstanding lyrics, cool guitars, and fast drums.). Definitely check it out at some point.

I'm sold

I'm sold once again

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...lbum_cover.jpg
Title: Oceanic
Artist: Vangelis
Genre: "New-age", apparently. I don't know what that is
Familiarity: None

1. Bon Voyage: Ocean sounds followed by some very over-the-top orchestral crescendos. Definitely enjoyable overall
2. Siren's Whispering: Really nice moving through different sounds and ideas while still keeping the same groove and vocal sample in the background. It's not knocking my socks off but again very enjoyable. I began to feel like the over-the-top sound would be kind of a theme of the album, which led me to actually research what "new age" music is. So I guess I'm in for a whole album's worth of this.
3. Dreams of Surf: Not doing as much for me, he's gonna need to get back to the ginormous orchestral stuff to keep me interested. The more sparse instrumentation and slower feel really hurt this track.
4. Spanish Harbour: Really dig the vibe of this one at the start, sounds kind of edgy and makes me think of like...pirates or something. Definitely a nice break in tone for the album. Awesome guitar solo a few minutes in, seriously loving this track.
5. Islands of the Orient: Sort of cool but it was starting to bore me a little after the first couple minutes. The harp glissandos he keeps doing is very overused at this point and we're only halfway through the album.
6. Fields of Coral: It's a decently enjoyable slow burner, I wish this was a lot shorter.
7. Aquatic Dance: Definitely like the vibe of this one a lot, I think the name "Aquatic Dance" is really cool too along with the music. 2nd best track on the album so far.
8. Memories of Blue: Just another slow burner with some pleasant sounds here and there. Doesn't do a whole lot for me but it's certainly not offensive to my ears.
9. Songs of the Seas: Really nice, I liked the feel of this track a lot. Solid ending to the album.

End Result: There are some flashes of brilliance here and there but also quite a lot of samey slow tracks that bored me a bit. Certainly feeling in a nice, peaceful mood after listening to it though which is cool.

Love or Hate?: I'll go Love

http://www.invisibleoranges.com/wp-c...ilentdeath.jpg
Title: Unsilent Death
Artist: Nails
Genre: Probably some very unpleasant version of metal
Familiarity: None and for good reason

1. Conform: Holy mother ****ing christ why????????????/
2. Scum Will Rise: I'm already planning out what I'm going to listen to after this to get the sour taste out of my mouth. Something nice, soft, and pleasant.
3. Your God: I'm tempted to implement a "true hate" just for this review.
4. Suffering Soul: Hey I can actually detect some structure and melody to this one I guess. A step up from the other "tracks", and the breakdown in the middle is sorta cool.
5. Unsilent Death: Actually not that terrible, but I think that's mostly because I like the riff of this one. Sounds kinda like Thrash which is a style of metal I enjoy waaaaay more than the earlier songs on this album.
6. Traitor: Lol ok now we're back to the nonsense of screaming and squeals and gnarly crunch that does nothing for me.
7. I Will Not Follow: The cool change of pace halfway through is the only reason this isn't red.
8. No Servant: A load of garbage except for that cool solo, but since the ~10 second solo takes up a large portion of the not-even-minute-long-song I guess I have to bump up the color a little bit.
9. Scapegoat: Okay now this one is exclusively a load of garbage.
10. Depths: Marginally better than some of the other tracks I guess buuuut still pretty damn lame to me overall.

End Result: **** off Batlord

Love or Hate?: Hate...lol

No wonder your girlfriend dumped you, you pansy.

The relationship would have (mutually) fallen apart a hell of a lot quicker if I was the type that listened to garbage like that regularly

Well, you did say she was a starfish in bed. You need a nice slut in your life who fucks to Dying Fetus.

So if anyone can do this I'd like to. I'm such an uncultured pig give me some culture. All I listen to is Jpop and sad emo acoustics. Kidding, sort of.

Well what genres are you interested in exploring? There are experts for basically everything here, I know a lot about ambient and dream pop type stuff. There's also a lot of great original content made by members here that you could check out and review

I'm your man if you want more music in the vein of 'Five Guys Singing'. :laughing:

Well, honestly I'm open to most things other than heavy rap, heavy death metal, and really off beat type of stuff. I like female singers more but, it would be nice to find some new male ones I might enjoy. Basically I'd like to find something new. Something outside of pop or rock for sure.

I'm seriously curious on how you brought the album straight out of hell when you rose from there.

What about music without singers at all?

I like orchestra music without singing but, that's about it. Sometimes techno. I prefer there to be vocals though because, I focus on them the most in a song usually.

[deleted: wrong thread. God I'm an idiot! :banghead:]

Alrighty then.

Anyone got an album for me? lol.

I mean sure I can throw albums at you all day if you keep asking

Sounds like this will be out of your comfort zone which is a good thing maybe? Feel free to stop after a couple tracks if you hate it, no one's feelings will get hurt

https://daydreamsociety.bandcamp.com/album/for-now

Townes Van Zandt - Our Mother the Mountain


http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51o8Esl%2BV5L.jpg

Doing this one right now.

Will do this one next.

Let me first note that I understand how hard it is to make your own music and cudos to you for doing so. I'm going to be honest about
how I feel because, lying isn't going to help at all now is it?


Encapsulate - This one kind of reminds me of the sound I can hear in my headphones when the USB charger is connected to it at first.I'm not exactly sure what to think of it. I know that once the other sound came in, that was nicer but, still the wer wer wer in the back is really bothering me. Perhaps that's just me though. I do like this part around 2:00 where it starts to get more complex and
that wer wer wer kind of melds into the other sounds as if it's not even there. It even starts to sound like a different beat this way.

Now it's almost completely gone. I feel like it's something born from outerspace. It has a nice smooth drop off at the end.

Beneath Me is Nothing But Brightness - I really enjoy this right from the start. As someone who often pairs imagery with sound this took me somewhere else right from the start. Where somehow there's shades of white, isn't white one color? There's animals in the ocean it's all the shades and you can't tell what's under it until something emerges. I know, this might all sound crazy. Sorry if it does.
Basically it's so simple but, so soothing to my mind. The parts where it starts to get a little distorted as if farther away, it's like I'm sinking into the sound but, in a good way. And as it ends slowly getting less and less complex I feel calm.

After Everyone Leaves - This reminds me of something. Some sort of sound equipment I've played around with. I'm not really sure. Something being switched on and off. The part at 1:30 I don't like at first but, when it changes key it's not so bad. Maybe, I'd like it to change keys a little more than that. So far this is the only one I can't really understand how it ties in to the title. I do like the parts near the end that add more in the background though.

Outer Wave - Is this opening part guitar? Hmmm I'm not sure I like this track much. The sound in the background is just going on over and over. It's not really bad but, not really interesting either so far. And as it goes, even less so. Though, I am starting to get a one two beat that
somehow makes me want to drum on a table or something. Or, it it a four beat now? Hmmm well it's not bad but, it's meh IMO.

Floating In the In-Between - So purgatory maybe? I can really see this from this track. It really sounds like something you'd hear as a person enters an all white room and the door disappears then maybe, the walls disappear but, you can't see them it's all white. Still you know they vanished because, you're floating in mid air now. It's not frightening though. Now it's getting a little more odd maybe you're realizing there's nothing around. Maybe it's a little weird. I little this little bit of static guitar. More ominous. I really like it. I don't love it but, it's a solid good track.

Separation - I have to say, it really sounds like a story is being told with these tracks somehow. Still I'm not a big fan of the constant note playing in the background but, as the other sounds build up it's really rather nice. It's really just kind of mellow though, it doesn't go much from where it
starts.

Mornings Dissipate In Somnolence - The darkest track on the record so far. Rushing water in a cave on your way to the underworld. Maybe the water is full of souls? Who knows. I really like it but, it might be because, I enjoy dark things. Hmmm it's sounding a little lighter now. Maybe you realize that this place isn't as scary as it seemed it's just rumored to be. There are tall crystal trees. There are strange neon creatures.

The Bell Jar - This one I really liked the opening the most. It almost reminds me of 80's tencho piano something kinda retro. Like a super computer. Maybe I'm really enjoying it because, it kind of reminds me of video games. Maybe the giant computer has a video game universe inside of it. No I'm not high. I would have really loved this one if it had more of a climax at some point.

Penultimate - Hmmm. This one is kind of just going along. It's really tame compared to the rest I guess? Oh, ok I like this part. Around like 1:40 where it starts to pick up a little more. Very ambiant. The sounds go nicely together. Somehow I really feel this album would be good in an aquatic performance.

Does It All End How I Want It To? - Another track that isn't really bad but, not really interesting either. Wait what, lol what's with the end. That was odd. I kinda liked it.
I don't like how it ends though with the cut off. It needs something like a fade out.

Over all I did enjoy the album as a whole. Perhaps it would be a good album for relaxing. Something to put on when you're not trying to focus on it. Like going to bed or studying.

Edit: Sorry the paragraphs are such a mess I did it on notepad and when I pasted it, it wasn't so cute.