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AOTD 3/13/2024 - Renaissance Of Rave (Sub Zero Project

[All albums are rated subjectively based off my own enjoyment] 4.5/10

Renaissance Of Rave is a 17 track, one hour long Hardstyle album by Sub Zero Project. It has a consistent sound design that has a tendency to just open up at points, with it's massive lead synth and deep subbass, with catchy hooks and pretty memorable vocals and verses at times

That ends what positive feedback I have about this album. As you can tell, I disliked it. Through it's 17 songs, I had to stop three times to give my ears a break, and while there were some sections and some songs that I could appreciate, all of them were flawed enough to just turn me off. It was so dire that I had to implement a new system for how hard this album missed me: The Complete Whiff Penalty (-0.5 points) When less than 2 songs make it onto any of my playlist. In this case, Not a Single Song was added. Even my lowest rated album had 3 songs that made it in.

While the compositions and lead lines were pretty damn good most of the time, what turned me off completely to enduring any of these songs again was the Sound Design. As I said, it had it's moments where it was Big and Open, with some solid driving percussion. However they were promptly ruined by the worst snares I've ever heard, going between some ultra-distorted Hyper Pop sample and a piercing, shitty sounding ray gun… thing. At times this percussion, and even the Bass became so sharp it prompted me to take my headphones completely off, or to turn my volume down just to endure the track. Sensory Overload is NOT something I want to have while listening to an album, and boy did this album give it to me.

The worst offenders of this were Lions, BASE, and Live Fast Die Young, with Basstrain coming in close behind with it's grating outro. Just absolutely painful drops and instrumental sections without enough of a hook to come close to redeeming it.

The only track that comes close to beckoning a return is HALO, with it's catchy hook echoed on this albums massive lead synth, beautiful female vocals, and mostly tolerable drop and instrumental sections. Easily one of the most approachable song on the album, but I'm not enough of a fan of the genre to go through with playlisting it.

Overall, would not listen again, likely wouldn't recomend to anyone. I need to take an hour or two to recover before going back to my music production, I am in pain.

Favorite Tracks: Halo Least Favorite Tracks: Lions, BASE, Live Fast Die Young, Basstrain

Renaissance Of Rave - 5.5/10 Nightwatch Underground - 6.5/10 Fly With me - 7/10 Trip To Mars - 6/10 Mind Of A Warrior - 6/10 A New Beginning - 6/10 Nightmare Nirvana - 7/10 Trinity Till Infinity - 5.5/10 Lions - 3.5/10 Halo - 7.5/10 One Last Time - 5/10 BASE - 3/10 Live Fast Die Young - 2.5/10 Soft Ass Shit - 5.5/10 Basstrain - 4/10 Aliens Rave In Peace - 5/10 200 Beathoven - 5.5/10

#album review #music review #song review #album of the day #Sub Zero Project #Renaissance Of Rave

[pika2482]

AOTD 3/5/2024 - For Long Tomorrow (toe)

AOTD 3/5/2024 - For Long Tomorrow (toe)

[All albums are rated subjectively based off my own enjoyment] 9/10

For Long Tomorrow is a 13 track album spread over 50 minutes of run time, made by the Japanese based instrumental math rock band Toe. This album was damn consistent, each song was crafted in the same vein as the others, but they all had something of their own to offer, keeping it from becoming Boring. From front to back, it was a pretty damn good experience, one I believe worthy of high praise. However, I didn't feel this was an Elevated track list, not making the album worth more than the sum of it's parts, but it was worthy of rounding up it's score. While it didn't absolutely blow me away, it was absolutely fucking solid, scoring 8's all the way through, with the occasional 9.

In this album, The Groove is the #1 priority. The drums and bass are always forward, moving the track along - not too charged - but at a very forward pace. The rest of the composition was almost Trance-ish, using repetition to hook the listener into it's groove. I felt that it's use of repetition worked heavily to its favor, building legitimacy rather than feeling lazy or annoying, working perfectly to keep the listener nodding along to that sacred groove. Between the undistorted electric guitars, synths, acoustic guitar, piano, and xylophone for a track or two, the tone of each track were never too happy or down, always perfectly towing the line just north of Melancholic. While it did have it's more Chill, Midnight Burner-y tracks, they never once felt slow, always moving along to those drums. Those wonderful, immaculate drums…

Oh yeah, who the fuck is these guys' drummer? He's fucking Immaculate!! It's easy for drummers to drive a powerful, blazing rock beat, but to tow the line this fucking well, juuust barely edging on Driven, but not quite pulling back to the center of the pocket, always being just perfectly… Forward. Energetic, but never over driven. Genuine 10/10 performance there, holy shit.

My favorite track is Track 9, starting with an almost lazy head melody while the drums just go insane in the back, before syncing up to the melody with some cymbal crashes. The groove then starts, the melody moving between an acoustic guitar and two synths, as the drums push the song just so perfectly forward, taking absolute center stage with fantastic showmanship in it's performance. A Xylophone then comes in to lay down the main idea right before the drums completely drop out for a few bars, before running right back in with the synths and acoustic guitar. Different elements of the song trade and drop out all over this fantastically complex drum groove through the run time, and holy SHIT is it a joy to listen to! The song then breaks down with the drums kind of going off on their own thing as the xylophone keeps the pulse steady while these almost random synths raise the tracks intensity to it's peak, before ritarding down to a close, the synths beeping on for a few moments more before ending off the track. Elements of this song somehow reminded me of C418 between its instrumentation and… ambience? I guess that's what happens with these Trance type of compositions. Will Be coming back to Track 9 in the future, Goddamn. Heavy contender for my top 50.

My biggest critique of this album is probably the Mastering. Overall, it's really good; not over or under compressed, every element is audible, the balance is great, but the EQ is just a bit off, over emphasizing the Mids in some places. Oh well, I'll live. Small critique.

Overall, Great fuckn listen. Will be recommending this to people in the future

Favorite Tracks: two moons, track 9, track 10, long tomorrow

Track 1 - 8/10 Track 2 - 8.5/10 after image - 8/10 Track 4 - 8.5/10 say it ain't so - 8.5/10 two moons - 9/10 Track 7 - 8/10 Track 8 - 8/10 Track 9 -9.5/10 Track 10 - 9/10 you go - 8.5/10 our next movement - 8.5/10 long tomorrow - 9/10

#album review #music review #song review #album of the day #toe #For long tomorrow

[pika2482]

[pika2482]

AOTD 2/23/2024 - Census Designated (Jane Remover)

[all albums are rated subjectively based off my own enjoyment] 8/10

I am frustrated with this album.

The first 7 tracks were fucking Amazing. Shoegaze, slotted perfectly into my taste pallet. 8's and 9's as far as the eye could see! Cage Girl, Fling, Idling somewhere, all running a 9/10. Wonderfuly driven songs with that classic Shoegaze sound with almost Electronic or Pop songwriting, reminding me strongly of Madeon and Shifting Perspectives. Fling especially I was able to Jam with. Fantastic dynamic range, an ambiguous yet mean guitar riff, and a set of distorted drums driving forward the track. God DAMN I can Jam with this one! Genuine contender for my top 50, I'll be coming back to that one a Lot.

And then two of the final three tracks just let the whole album down for me. Video was damn good, being a bit long for my tastes but it held it's own at it's length alright, really picking up toward the end. Contingency Song was…. mostly Noise. Not my thing, fair enough.

But the one that really made me upset was Census Designated. A great length, phenomenal songwriting and structure, a fucking KILLER ass guitar riff that helps drive the track forward while somehow still remaining relaxed, almost laid back. What more could you possible want- Drums. I want drums. This track does not have drums. I can understand introducing them later to further insinuate the songs dynamics. And so I waited, I waited patiently through it's 6 minutes of run time… But they never once came. I felt Blue Ballsed, cheated, disapointed. The rest of the album was so damn good up to that point, having strong potential of a 10/10, and it just… it let me down. I'm sad. I'm frustrated. I wanted this to be the one. It was the Title Track, the Chosen One, the one spoken about in the prophecy, and Luke Skywalker just… never came.

Overall, some damn good Shoegaze, with some good ol' Rock n Roll blent in to keep things driven. Damn happy to have those tracks in my shuffle, but I won't be coming back for a full listen through. I'll recommend some tracks from it, but given my disappointment in the back half, I don't believe I'll be recommending the album.

Favorite Songs: Cage Girl, Fling, Idling Somewhere Least Favorite Songs: Census Designated, Contingency Song

Cage Girl - 9/10 Lips - 8/10 Fling - 9/10 Holding a Leech - 8.5/10 Backseat Girl - 8/10 Idling Somewhere - 9/10 Always Have Always Will - 8.5/10 Census Designated - 7/10 Video - 8.5/10 Contingency Song - 6.5/10

#song review #album review #music review #aotd #jane remover #census designated

[pika2482]

day 258 Mudkip

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The season 6 premiere of Game Changer is TOMORROW on Dropout…

[pika2482]

"Are you mentally stable?" Well yes my brain can hold *many* horses, why do you ask?

#bad puns #terrible puns #mental illness

[pika2482]

AOTD 2/8/2024 - Good Faith (Madeon)

[All albums are rates subjectively based off my own enjoyment] 8.5/10

This album is about as solid as a California Redwood. From it's deepest roots, it's thick, firm, and tall trunk, all the way up to it's finest branches, this album delivers on everything it's got with absolutely no faltering. From the Compositions, the Production, the Sound Design, the Performances, and just those little tweaks that just pull the listeners ear in a liiiiitle bit more, no song was ever More or Less than Madeon designed it to be. No frills, no points, no pillows, look at it it looks like 4 synths and a kit (reference). This is, by my definition, a Near Perfect Album.

So, why only an 8.5?

Well, welcome to my album thread. If you missed the disclaimer at the top of all my reviews, it reads "All albums are rated Subjectively based off my own enjoyment". While I could fully appreciate, and at times get into this album, due to the nature of my tastes, I was unable to get into it as much as I would have liked. I had the same problem with the last electronic album, Random Access Memories, and I have it again here. For Me specifically, there's just not enough "Physicality" for me to get hooked in; The sweat droplets on the snare, the dead skin between the guitar strings and pickups, the smell of beer on the microphone, and the blood on keyboard, it's that type of Rigidness and Realness that my ears need to latch onto to get my heart thumping, and that just wasn't there for me in this album, nor is it for most electronic music I've heard. This is a fundamental problem for my enjoyment of the genre, that unfortunately, I am not past at this point in my life.

On the topic of Realness, my favorite of this album is Heavy with Hoping, sporting a One-Take Recording for the Lead Vocals. The vibrato and inflections in his voice were high tier not just for the genre, but for my music library as a whole. The percussion is minimalist, only doing exactly what it needs to do to keep the pulse going, and the Production and Sound Design was mwa, as the rest of the album was; never once more than it needed to be. My favorite moment in the album happened here as well: Toward the second half, the vocals start to increase in intensity, showcasing their Barritone fantastically, when all of the sudden the instrumentals just… drop out for a second as he launches up to grab a belted Gb4 right as the instrumentals come back in with a crash. Even with my fundamental distaste to Electronic, I may end up coming back to this song to start my shuffles off.

Overall, this album was Solid all the way through. Absolutely no duds. To my more Electronic inclined friends, this album is going to earn a Mainstay Recommendation. But otherwise, all I could do was appreciate Madeons technical prowless in composition, sound design, and production.

Favorite Songs: Nirvana, No Fear No More, Heavy with Hoping Least Favorite Songs: N/A

Dream Dream Dream - 8.5/10 All My Friends - 8.5/10 Be Fine - 8/10 Nirvana - 9/10 Mania - 8/10 Miracle - 8.5/10 No Fear No More - 9/10 Hold Me Just Because - 9/10 Heavy With Hoping - 9/10 Borealis - 9/10

#album of the day #song review #album review #Madeon #Good Faith

[pika2482]

AOTD 2/7/2024 - Fush Yu Mang (Smash Mouth)

[All albums are rated subjectively based off my own experience] 5/10

Honestly I was just bored listening through this, I have no real thoughts. Walkin' On the Sun and Padrino were good, but the rest of the album was just Samey. Every song felt very similar to the rest of the album - Fast Paced, Up Beat, Major Key Rock with a layer of Cheese applied to it (And not the Good cheese like Weird Al can do). I was bored and happy when it ended.

Heave-Ho was the worst. One of the more annoying songs I've heard, but it wasn't so bad as to physically repulse me.

EDIT: also their final song, Why Can't We Be Friends, a cover from War, has no right to exist. They milk the one good moment from that song for like a full minute after the track should end, and it's not even their own moment. Bruh

Edit: Trying to clense my pallet after this album, somehow I like 90's rock LESS after hearing it. What The Fuck did this thing Do to me?

Overall, listen to the two aformention tracks I liked and steer clear of this one. Not a great listen. So much so that I'm not bothering to do a full review and am writing this listening to The Bear by OK Goodnight to help clense my pallet.

Favorite Songs: Walk'n On The Sun, Padrino Least Favorite Songs: Heave-Ho, Pet Names, Push

Flo - 7/10 Beer Goggles - 7/10 Walkn' On The Sun - 8/10 Let's Rock - 6.5/10 Heave-Ho - 3/10 The Fonz - 6/10 Pet Names - 5.5/10 Padrino - 7.5/10 Disconnect The Dots - 6/10 Push - 4.5/10 Why Can't We Be Friends - 6/10

#album of the day #song review #album review #smash mouth #Fush Yu Mang

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[pika2482]

day 253 Grovyle

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help me

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AOTD 1/31/2024 - We Like It Here (Snarky Puppy)

[All albums are rated subjectively based off my own enjoyment] 10/10

I am going to forgo my usual format for this one.

This is a Fusion Jazz album, for the music nerds among us. A Musicians genre, if you will. Personally, I really love Fusion Jazz, finding myself basking in the almost ambience of Pat Methany, and the straight forward energy of Weather Report.

Snarky Puppy is now one of the Genre Mainstay Greats, in my eyes. Each main idea of every song is tight, with each one better than the last, fitting perfectly with the previous measures yet being a breath of fresh air, scarcely overstaying its welcome. The solos were dynamically intensive as they were crisp, tight, and Blazing at times. Frequently I found myself physically stimming to some of the better sections, squealing with joy and laughing maniacally during the highlights of each track. Just… Perfection all around.

The only song that felt repetitive in the slightest was Tio Macaco, a more Brazillian Jazz tune. Even though it's extended trumpet solo was awesome, it's accompanying riff felt like it lingered on for far too long, becoming a bit cheesy to my ears. Still, an 8/10 isn't much to sough at, but with the insane consistancy of the rest of the album, an 8/10 becomes somewhat of a sore point.

The highlights for me were the first two tracks, Shofukan and What About Me?. Given as they're both 6+ minute Odysseys that through several main ideas, each culminating in some of the Finest music I've ever heard, I'm not going to be able to describe them well over text. What I can say though, is that those two songs immediately made me realize that this album had a Serious shot at a 10/10, and wouldn't you know it, the track list remained strong enough to pull it off.

Just everything about this album is fucking amazing. The composition, the groove, the solos, the energy, the dynamics, the range and variety, it's just… Perfect. Next to no notes. A+.

Overall, if you're any amount of a Music Nerd, listen to this album. This album is going to become a mainstay recommendation for me.

Favorite Tracks: Shofukan, What About Me?, Sleeper, Outlier, Kite, Lingus Least Favorite Tracks: Jambone, Tio Macaco

Sidenote: Shofukan and What About Me are going on my top 50 most likely. I just have to figure out which tracks to cull…

Shofukan - 10/10 What About Me? - 10/10 Sleeper - 9.5/10 Jambone - 8.5/10 Kite - 9/10 Outlier - 9.5/10 Tio Macaco - 8/10 Lingus - 9.5/10

#album review #song review #album of the day #snarky puppy #we like it here

[pika2482]

Pokémon Human Character Tournament: THE FINAL SHOWDOWN

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AOTD 1/26/2024 - In the End It Always Does (The Japanese House)

[All albums are rated subjectively based off my own enjoyment] 9/10

A rich, giant oak tree ecosystem teaming with life; mice scampering about the natural mulch, bluebirds and woodpeckers pecking and twittering among the branches, a family of racoons camping out on a low yet sturdy branch - All juxtaposed onto a bustling Futuristic Cityscape with just as many green groves as there are balconies on the high-rises. Organic Beauty and Life seamlessly teaming up with the populous urban landscapes that we call home.

In a paragraph, that's how I'd describe The Japanese House's In the End It Always Does sound. Rich, natural tamburs of guitars and strings slotted in flawlessly to an Electronica soundscape, with perfectly processed yet organic lead vocals towing the line between the two, and masterful songwriting, mellow and organic, to tie it all together. The production on this album was as shiny and sparkly as it was deep and rich. It had an almost Opioids feel to it with how much it drew me in and begged for me to stick around for a few hours of loop streaming. Hell, I still might after finishing this review.

My highlight for this album is without a doubt Boyhood. It's a bit more driven than the rest of the album, sporting a 4 on the floor kick beat and palm muted acoustic guitar driving the percussion, with some wonderful plucked guitars and synths making out the body. A set of relaxed, almost slurred vocal melody leads you through the track, with the chorus adding some subtle snare and hi-hat elements. The song slowly progresses adding and subtracting more minor elements as needed until it ends up at the solo, trading off seamlessly between a light, almost playful synth and a chirpy violin, playing back and forth like two birds twittering to eachother in the trees on a sunny spring day. This song is a masterclass in Micro-dynamics and Song Structure, and is absolutely the listen from this album.

I have no real gripes about this album. It doesn't fit my usual MO, but gosh-darnit when has that stopped me from enjoying these types of genres? I'm trying to expand my tastes, not shrink them back down. This album was a Bomb-Digity-Vibe to listen through, and I believe that you'll feel the same way. While I don't feel much value in listening through it from A to B, each and every song on here deserves your attention for at least it's runtime, and if you like it, whenever you feel the craving.

Overall, yeah I'd recomend this album. I don't anyone in my circle of friends that hasn't heard it that would enjoy it, but boy is this a top tier vibes album.

Favorite Songs: Morning Pages, Boyhood, Suneshine Baby, Baby goes again Least Favorite Songs: Spot Dog

Spot Dog - 6.5/10 Touching Yourself - 8/10 Sad to Breathe - 7.5/10 Over There - 8/10 Morning Pages - 9/10 Boyhood - 9.5/10 Indexical reminder… - 7.5/10 Friends - 8.5/10 Sunshine Baby - 8.5/10 Baby goes again - 8.5/10 You always get what you want - 8.5/10 One for sorrow - 9/10

#album of the day #album review #song review #In the end it always does #the japanese house

[pika2482]

So Australia has a yearly tradition going back over 20 years, that every Australia Day we all gather round our screens to watch an ad for a certain product. It's so ingrained in our consciousness that the ads don't even really relate to what they're supposed to sell anymore, we all just know.

This year the ad broke containment, and non-Australians are having their brains melted by this bizarre tradition, so international followers, lets see if you can work out what this is trying to sell before the last few seconds.