I really enjoy their 2021 album Case.
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I know Hadsel came out last year, but I’m ready for a new Beirut album
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I had no idea this band still existed, I’ll have to check it out
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Yeah. I really enjoyed Gulag Orkestar but haven’t even thought of them in a long, long time.
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One could claim that their oeuvre is not terribly dynamic, but I don’t think that is a negative when they are doing something so specific. Lots of good records IMO!
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I’ve been checking out the newest Linkin Park album the past few days. Chester Bennington is irreplaceable as a vocalist, so I tempered my expectations as things were never going to be the same without him. Emily Armstrong has had some controversy because of her past, but I was optimistic about her. I think she’s got great skill as a vocalist. Her vocals can hit a lot of those growls that Chester could, but her timbre is different enough that I could see the band exploring different directions.
This album is, however, pretty preoccupied with recapturing a lot of those classic Linkin Park moments, to a fault. “Cut the Bridge” has a driving snare that is right out of “Bleed It Out.” “Heavy Is the Crown” is almost identical in structure to “Faint.” “Two Faced” has a screaming breakdown that is trying really hard to recapture Chester’s “Shut up when I’m talking to you!” from “One Step Closer.” The production is really good throughout, and this isn’t a bad record exactly. And some moments stand out, especially when Mike Shinoda lets Emily take the vocal lead for an entire song. But listening to slightly watered down versions of Linkin Park’s best moments doesn’t exactly compel me to revisit any of these tracks or add them to my playlists. Oh well, I hope they’re good live!
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I havent listened to it. This does not fill me with confidence. However as the first 4 albums are probably my favorite pieces of music of all time…i probably wasnt going to like this anyway.
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It’s been a while since I posted but I finally listened to another of The Strokes’s albums. I went with Room On Fire and thought it was just ok. I kept getting caught off guard by how suddenly many of the songs end. I felt like many of them could have been longer and maybe fleshed out what they were trying to do some more because as they are they struggle to keep my attention. I could see it being a pretty solid album to put on while focusing on something else though.
I’ll probably check out First Impressions of Earth next and then dive into the debut since that’s the most beloved.
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mustard on the beat
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i feel like the strokes’ abrupt song endings have a lot to do with their pop staying power. they have these (imo) incredible hooks, but you only hear them like 3 times in a song, and before you can click repeat to hear it again, you’re onto another catchy track. i would love to see them get more experimental with longer tracks, but i also think the 3-4 minute track is the strokes in their pocket
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New Opeth and new Kendrick on the same day! We eatin good tonight.
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i am not and never really have been much of a metal guy. you like the new opeth? you think opeth’s new album is worth checking out if someone isn’t a metalhead?
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I think I’d say no but not because you aren’t into metal. Opeth’s last four albums have all been a pretty significant transition from metal to being much more prog rock. I’ve struggled to resonate with them compared to their past work, and they come off as pretty cheesy to me, but they’re still solid enough to get excited for.
The new album though occupies an odd space where it continues that proggy trend but also tries to toss in some heavier riffs and metal growls. On my first listen in the car, it just felt like it was trying to do way too much in each song and nothing really stuck with me. I want to try again with headphones to see if I missed some more subtle stuff going on but my first impression was that the album just doesn’t do either of the two sounds all that well.
If you want to check out the more recent sound (anything since the 2010s) I think my favorites of those albums are Pale Communion and Sorceress. Almost all of their stuff from the 2000s and 90s fits much more comfortably under the metal umbrella, with lots of growled vocals and heavier riffs, but Damnation could be worth checking out because of how much of a departure it is from everything before and after it. Its sound is very somber and melodic-- it hits just right when I’m in the mood for it.
The new Kendrick album is incredible. Might be my favorite of his records, even above TPAB. Just classic after classic.
I was shocked to hear him rap over a Pac beat on “Reincarnated” but man… He did it justice and then some. His performance on this song gives me chills.
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I am dying to see them live soon when they start the world tour!
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We are watching the live steam of The Original Santa Clause Parade. The pre-show is a steam of music by Emma Memma over a live shot of the parade route and boy am I glad I don’t have children 
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