I have such a conflicted relationship with this album. On one hand, I love most everything about it: the world music and jazz elements, the intense vocals, the sludgy guitars. On the other hand, I just can't make it through in one siting without being overwhelmed. It just feels too long. It definitely gets easier with time, but at any rate, it's proven to be the hardest album I've ever tried to get into.

I felt the same after my very first listen, but after that it grew on me immediately. It's just so huge.

Well if Jeff Lynns War of the Worlds proved anything its that I can survive a long album. Since my journal is going to focus on recent releases besides discography reviews Ive thought about adding albums that are older to the nominees that I thought would be worth reviewing.

So once or twice a week I'll throw a random album from my collection up on the nominations. It will be through a randomizer so it could be not good enough which will make the process a lot more fun when it comes to my nominees. Keep the nominations coming though I am really enjoying what you are sending my way.

Oh and here is the first album that was picked through the randomizer.

Act II: The Father of Death by The Protomen

If you're not too busy, I think it's been a little while since this thread was active.

Does anybody hate the idea of me posting any new reviews on this thread if I have already done so on my Journal? That way I can keep tabs on all albums I review so they can get into the hall.

Either way is cool with me. Whatever you feel like though.

Feeling blue? Not after this record.


Year: 2015
Genre: Sludge/Alternative Metal
Nationality: American

The Review: I will be adopting my new format for reviews on this journal from now on. This album came out of the blue, many more color puns to follow (JK), and ended up being one of the greatest metal records of this year. I had a blast playing this record for the first time, the third, and now the fifth time. It seems that it doesn't get old. Quick disclaimer, Chlorine and Wine was my first Baroness track whenever it was released so I felt obligated to listen to the previous three records and study up on the band. What I found was a treasure of a band that definitely needed to be in my collection. Unfortunately tragedy struck the band in a terrible bus crash that left nine injured. Recovery from such an event provides many opportunities though. One of those being the creation of this album. A culmination of understanding, emotion, and new horizons creates an atmosphere in which one can connect with almost instantly. Sonically this album creates a massive wall of sound and melody. The vocals of lead singer John Baizley combined with the instrumentation form a very melodic sound on the album while still containing traces of edginess. Tracks such as the opener Morningstar and follow up single Shock Me are perfect examples of this. These tracks especially bleed emotion mixed with melody to create excellent alternative rock/metal. I cannot stop listening to these tracks in particular. The Vocals carry each track with soaring choruses and melodic verses. Try to Disappear carries the formula on with another solid melodic rocker. Kerosene however brings so much energy creating a much rawer take on the sound built up thus far. The instrumentation carries the track with excellent guitar work and fast paced percussion. Its after the instrumental track Fugue that the album transforms into something almost perfect. Chlorine and Wine one of the best tracks off of the album sets up The Iron Bell, another catchy yet energetic, melodic yet raw, rocker similar to Kerosene. Desperation Burns gets real heavy right off the bat with chugging guitar riffs and pounding drums. Melodic vocals are par for the course on this track with variety in the guitar riffing later in the song. The album finishes up with the wonderful If I Have to Wake Up (Would you Stop the Rain?). Dare I say the vocals almost reach a James Hetfield ballad style making the song truly the best that Baroness has too offer. The lyrics on most of these songs feel a little simplistic for the subject matter but I feel that is just nit picking. These guys are just firing on all cylinders for this album. It shows a lot of maturity when a band is able to create a wonderful album out of such a terrible tragedy. I cannot believe that this album released so late in the year. It makes me question why I created a top 10 list before January 1st.

Purple receives a 9.7/10

Standout Tracks: All of these tracks are wonderful but if I had to pick a few, Shock Me, Morningstar, Kerosene, Chlorine and Wine, If I Have to Wake Up (Would you Stop the Rain?)

Weaker Tracks: :rofl:

Everyone should listen to this album. No matter what, it is an absolute must for any music fan I cannot even describe the emotion when I listen to this record.

Loud yet not proud...


Year: 2000
Genre: Post-Hardcore
Nationality: American

The Review: I would like to apologize for the late posting. I had to listen to this album nine times through before I felt comfortable writing this review. You see I found this record to be a little different and tough to digest. Maybe it was because of all the distractions in my life pulling me away from the album, but I was having trouble diving deep into this album. Anyway the album is interesting to say the least. It provides no obvious lyrical themes that coherently flow throughout the album. With lines like "Kill me with the favorite comb," I am not seeing much "sense" being poured into these songs. However, when has punk ever been about making sense, thus lyrically the albums doesn't really bring it down. What is special about this record is the instrumentation. That is where this album shines. In tracks like Fever Sleeves and Hooray for Humans I am really digging the guitar work. For the most part I can dig the vocal delivery like on Line in the Sand and We Heart Our Hive, but on tracks like Kiss Distinctly American I find myself being bored to death. That just should not be happening on this type of record. The latter half of the record is all solid without really standing out as much as I was hoping. I feel very indifferent to this record, in fact I do not really feel much at all with this record. With the exception of Kiss Distinctly American I am really enjoying the instrumentation, but the vocal delivery is so spotty on the second half of the record I just can bring myself to get through it. I was skipping tracks at one point just to get to the last track, Sleeping the Terror Code, because I sort of enjoyed it. I feel like this album is squandering quite a bit of opportunity because these guys are talented musicians and the vocals would probably have no problem being improved. I am not sure if I will tackle the other two records these guys put out before disbanding but if I do I will certainly review them on this thread.

No Kill No Beep Beep receives a 6.8/10

Standout Tracks: Fever Sleeves, Hooray for Humans, Sleeping the Terror Code

Weaker Tracks: Kiss Distinctly American, Little Sparkee, Y Plus White Girl

Just not feeling it Tristan. Sorry, maybe next rec will get me going.

I really didn't know how you'd feel about this record honestly. Guess it was a bust, sorry about that. I really only listen to a handful of tracks from it regularly. I get what you mean about the vocals, they can really drag at times.

Here's one I'm sure you'll like: Home, Like Noplace There Is by The Hotelier

And, from what I've heard, their second album is the sweet spot. Can't speak from experience though.

(Their being Q and Not U, not Hotelier/Hotel Year)

One step forward twenty steps back...

Tell Me I'm Pretty by Cage the Elephant

Year: 2015
Genre: Garage/Psychedelic/Blues Rock
Nationality: American

The Review: After a wonderful album with 2013's Melophobia, I was awaiting this record. When it was announced I was super excited, then I heard that Dan Aurebach, of Black Keys fame, was going to produce it. Excitement left the building and dread creeped in uninvited. After listening to the discography of the Black Keys, his solo work, and his new band the Arcs, I figured out that Dan couldn't do something different if his life depended on it. While his work is solid, he writes the same thing with every record. I was worried that this fate would befall one of my most anticipated releases of the year. Unfortunately it did. Cage the Elephant have created an album that lacks originality. I have three major issues with this record. First, Matt Schulz, lead vocalist, has just dumped every ounce of energy he ever had in his voice into a bucket and threw it out the window. Tracks like Cry Baby got me excited because it was a change of pace from the other tracks the band has written in the past, less energy a little slower. However, I quickly found that in every song, his voice sounds the exact same. Some of that is due to the production I get that. But come on, its like no one gave this guy a chance to really sing, if that makes sense. Secondly the song writing is very repetitive. From the first single, Mess Around, to Portuguese Knife Fight I hear the same song. The songs are not bad, don't get me wrong, its just the lack of variety is killing me. In fact I do enjoy some tracks like Cry Baby and Mess Around. Its just the rest of the album doesn't stand out on its own. Finally I cannot stand the fact that these guys, or Dan that piece of ****, decided to shove every type of garage/psychedelia/Blues/Classic Rock influence they could find into not one, not two, not three but all ten tracks on this album. Why?!?!?!?!?!? I just don't get it. This band created the most frustrating release of the year for me. Disappointment follows with every single listen, I am sad that I am even writing this about Cage the Elephant. I am going to use my new found blind hatred of Dan Aurebach as a way to forgive this band. I hope they can clean up their act and get back on track for the next release.

Tell Me I'm Pretty receives a 4.9/10

Standout Tracks: Cry Baby, Mess Around

Weaker Tracks: Everything Else

Dan Aurebach, if this is his fault he gets the biggest **** of the year award from me. But If its not then he still gets it because I need someone to focus my anger and disappointment on.
__________________

Thought I would post this just so everyone can see my new found hatred for Dan Auerbach.

Tristan: I will add both albums to my listening list. I really wanted to like the album but it didn't click. I'll try number two and see how it goes.

Memories found on remedy lane...

Remedy Lane by Pain of Salvation

Year: 2002
Genre: Progressive Rock/Metal
Nationality: Swedish

The Review: The fourth studio album by progressive rock/metal act Pain of Salvation is a different beast compared to the first one I reviewed, One Hour by the Concrete Lake. I mean this in a sonic way because this album lacks a lot of the industrial overtones that surrounded One Hour by the Concrete Lake. However, I found that the progression of the album did feel similar to OHBTCL due to the story of a protagonist searching for self discovery. I read that this album is supposed to be loosely based on the frontman of the band, Daniel Gildenlöw, and his trials and tribulations in life. So there is a definite connection to OHBTCL which I think is really cool considering I already reviewed that album. Now on to Remedy Lane. The album begins with an interesting prelude, Of Two Beginnings, then moves into the first track, Ending Theme. A very dark and intimate track that sets up the rest of the album quite nicely. The vocals are perfect fit for the mood of the song and I am definitely digging the Geoff Tate style vocalization for the track. The infamous piano that I was quite fond of on the other record returns in the next track Fandango. I have no idea why but I see the song as being very ethereal. The distant vocals mixed with the tougher instrumentation makes it feel ghostly in nature. It progressively moves into a much more staccato delivery in the same vein as some Dream Theater tracks. Trace of Blood is a fantastic slice of progressive rock with a heavy edge. The intimacy returns with This Heart is Mine (I Pledge) reminding me of Genesis almost. I hope you have noticed the pattern here. These guys are taking a ton of influences from other bands and putting it to work in their own songs. I hear Rush (Chain Sling) Genesis, Dream Theater and Queensryche all intermixed within these tracks. Waking Every God gets heavy, along with Rope Ends. More prog in the track Beyond the Pale, which is a fantastic closer in my opinion. The remaining tracks hit me in a different way though. A sound that was a little different. I ended up loving Second Love even though the concept seems so simple on paper. I think that is where these guys shine. When they simplify their sound and concept to a level in which they can develop it within the song. It shows true progressiveness when they manage this feat. I am not sure I understand the point of putting two instrumentals right in a row. Dryad of the Woods is a very Zeppelin style track in my opinion mixed with the intimacy of their sound, minus the vocals, (cause there aren't any) but Remedy Lane right after it seems off to me. Overall I found the vocalist has really found his place in the band. He was struggling just a slight bit in OHBTCL but here I feel he shows his talent very well. I believe he wrote most of the record by himself if I am not mistaken. The greatest thing about this whole record though is that I am still finding new ways to view each track on the album with each listen. A lot of ideas and details left unexplored makes me excited to keep diving into this album and probably the rest of their discography. My main issue with the record though is the lack of originality in some of the tracks. But it isn't a big enough issue to ruin the album for me at all.

Remedy Lane receives an 8.6/10

Standout Tracks: Ending Theme, A Trace of Blood, Rope Ends, Chain Sling, Second Love, Beyond the Pale.

Weaker Tracks: Undertow

A great record that shows some cool ideas being fleshed out. I can't wait to dive into the rest of their albums. Congratulations again Chula Vista you have hit two for two with this band. What else you got for me?

Hey everyone just letting you all know that I am a little backed up with the listening list I have going on right now and I am working hard trying to get through these albums and review them.

What a wonderful style...


Year: 1993
Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
Nationality: American

The Review: Considered an absolute classic by many, Enter the Wu Tang has appeared on so many "best of" lists that really its become quite the enigma. I get a strange nagging feeling that this album was put on all of those lists due to its age and release time rather than its artistic merit. Don't get me wrong, I have a dozen reasons why I consider this album a classic (spoiler alert: I have heard this album before) but I feel that better records have been released in this genre since then and they still do not get as much praise. 2000's MF DOOM for example. I guess what I am getting at is that this album looks to be a bit overrated based on the fact it wasn't released in the 2000's. Moving on, I truly enjoy quite a few tracks off of this record. The organic beats behind the verses serve to be some of the best of the time. Tracks like Method Man and Protect Ya Neck are two of my favorite rap songs from the early 1990s period. The whole concept behind the record and the real progression of the tracks equate to a very smooth listening experience. I do find that the second half of this record shines a bit more than the first. C.R.E.A.M and Tearz combined with the aforementioned Method Man and Protect Ya Neck and that wonderful finisher the Wu Tang: 7th Chamber/Conclusion is the strongest back half of any rap album period. The first couple of tracks though like Bring da Ruckus and Clan in Da Front aren't really doing it for me. I guess its the flow of the narrative in these tracks that seem a little boring to me. Narrative is key for me when it comes to hip hop and rap and this album can sometimes struggle with that. I feel I may be a bit ignorant to the subject matter of the album, gang violence and society of that time, but I won't hurt the album for it. Instead I praise it for tackling such issues and weaving a narrative that listeners could easily follow. It's cool to think about. My gripes with the album is simply based in the ability for me to get into the early songs off of the record. Its tough for sure, but the strength of the second half of the album make up for that in a huge way. I enjoy this record a ton whenever it gets a spin here so I appreciate the rec.

Enter the Wu Tang (36 Chambers) receives an 8.5/10

Standout Tracks: Method Man, Protect Ya Neck, Wu Tang: 7th Chamber/Conclusion

Weaker Tracks: Bring Da Ruckus, Clan in da Front

A classic to some but a great record to me. Welcome to the Hall of Fame DwnWthVwls

They might be considered a gangster rap group, but I see those as trimmings on an old school, 80s rap group who just raps about how they can rap better than you. They've got the odd song that's about social issues, but by and large they don't have much to say. Lyrically, they're just about having fun with wordplay.

Gregory Alan Isakov - The Weatherman
http://images.cdbaby.name/g/r/gregor...e-4661e7281dd0

Just a small point: you have the PoS album title shown as Remedy Land, when it's Lane...

^^^

Fixed

Expect quite a few reviews this coming week. I have Bowie at the top of my list to do here and my main journal.

What a way to start 2016...


Year: 2016
Genre: Art Rock/Progressive Jazz
Nationality: English

The Review: I am a big Bowie fan. I just wanted to preface this review with that in case you want to take my review with a grain of salt or not. I try to be as unbiased as possible so bear with me on this one. From Aladdin Sane to Ziggy Stardust to the Next Day to now Blackstar I have hit up every before now and after work that Bowie has produced and released under his moniker. Each album has a little something new for me to enjoy. I am not going to say his discography is perfect, because it most certainly is not, but I will say I enjoy it immensely. Blackstar is something that I was not expecting. The sounds and lyricism and atmosphere on this record was something that blew me away. Obviously my first taste of the record was the title track's spacey jazz influenced experimental sound that I was hoping that it would represent the overall record. Well it did, but not in the way I was expecting it to. This album is driven by the progressive and free jazz instrumentation that dominates the tracks on this record. But the spacey atmosphere of Blackstar never leaves. From the haunting delivery of Girl Loves Me and the wondrous Lazarus I see a very cohesive style surrounding the album. Something that doesn't always happen with these kinds of records. There are some expletives on this record which can be sometimes a turn off for me. But only if they feel forced. On here it feels like these tracks are completed by them. I did get lost between the tracks Girl Loves Me and Dollar Days. On the first listen I couldn't actually differentiate between the two tracks. I do not like that when that happens as it makes the album at that point feel too cohesive. I need to be able to distinguish between each track. However that doesn't make either track weak in any way shape or form. I enjoy the single power of Sue (Or in the Season of Crime) and it might be my favorite song, at least for right now, off of the album. I cannot stop listening to this record, and I need to because of other reviews. Excellent instrumentation, thoughtful lyrics, beautiful atmosphere... You cannot go wrong with that combination.

Blackstar receives a 8.9/10

Standout Tracks: Blackstar, Lazarus, Sue (Or in the Season of Crime), I Can't Give Everything Away

Weaker Tracks: I guess Dollar Days would be the only track I don't see myself listening a ton too.

If this were too be the last Bowie record... what a send off... Thats all I can say...
__________________

Nice review. I think the album's really stellar. Love the Jazz meets Progressive Rock meets DnB. Has elements of Outside and Earthling in that respect, but I think it's the best realisation of that sound Bowie's created thus far. He should have done more 10 minute opening title tracks, as Station to Station and now Blackstar are absolutely killer.

Completely agree. Glad you liked the review

By the way, if you don't like Laughing Stock I will shoot myself/you/both of us.

Adding on. It's best in a relaxed atmosphere where you can really soak it up. It leaves an amazing impression on first listen but you've gotta give it your full attention. Not saying you won't, but yeah.

Year: 2016
Genre: Death/Thrash Metal
Nationality: Swedish


The Review: What a neat thing the internet and youtube can be. If anyone follows Coverkillernation on youtube, I do obviously, he is one of the bigger names out there for metal reviews. I try everything he recommends due to his wide range of knowledge for the genre. This album was not on my radar whatsoever until his review came out. He praised it quite a bit, and thus I thought I would give it a shot. Your Time is a solid album through and through. It never has any inherently bad tracks on it at all. The guitar work and vocals create a chilling and abrasive atmosphere that is very well done. The musicians on this record are very talented and that talent shows. The lyrics are negative yet never corny or anything weird, in fact I thought they were well thought out and fit the mood. The soloing on this record is top notch. Very melodic and very powerful riffs are used throughout the album combined with punishing drum patterns. However the album isn't varied enough in the sense that it really is just solid track after solid track. No standouts on here. Yet no track is really weak. So its a tough album to review in that case. Tracks such as Your Time and the Human Worth are probably the best on the album if I had to pick any specific tracks. The reason for this is that I like the vocal delivery on these tracks way more than the others. Its just the riffing and soloing isn't exactly standout. A good album yet not a fantastic one. Massdistraction are relatively new and thus I am excited to see what comes next after hearing such a strong effort.

Your Time receives a 7.8/10

Standout Tracks: Your Time, The Human Worth

Weaker Tracks: Raising the Dead

Lets see where this goes and maybe we will have a modern classic in the near future. Sorry for the shorter review. I really couldn't think of much else to say. Laughing Stock is next.

I listened to that recently because of how fondly you speak of it, and it really was all you said it would be. One of my new favorites :)

Then the hype is real for Laughing Stock.

Glad you liked it. Spirit of Eden is very similar too, the album they released before Laughing Stock and just as good, and Mark Hollis' s/t album (he's the lead singer) is like a stripped back version of the two and it's absolutely beautiful.