Atlas delves into music [album reviews]

[LAKISYLVANIA]

New thread, because I want some index posts. I'll make a proper introduction later. Feel free to post your opinions, but don't attack someone based on his taste. The second post will contain the reviewed albums. The third post will contain a list of albums i plan to review. I like to listen to dream pop, synth pop, psychedelic music, shoegaze, grunge, new wave/post-punk and to a wide variety of electronic music. I like music with a dreamy and hypnotic vibe. Feel free to suggest what I should review / listen.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

Index:

Cocteau Twins - Garlands (1982) - 10/10
Grimes - Halfaxa (2010) - 10/10
Arca - KiCk i (2020) - 6/10

[LAKISYLVANIA]

To listen or review (for Laki) :

Albums I already know well:
My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
Slowdive - Souvlaki (1993)
IC3PEAK - Сладкая жизнь
Cocteau Twins - Treasure (1984)
Cocteau Twins - Heaven or Las Vegas (1990)
The Cure - Disintegration
Kelly Lee Owens - Kelly Lee Owens
Kelly Lee Owens - Inner Song
Yeule - Serotonin II
La Femme - Psycho Tropical Berlin
Wild Nothing - Gemini
The War on Drugs - A Deeper Understanding
Interpol - Turn On the Bright Lights
FKA twigs - Magdalene (2019)

Albums I want to try or don't know well:
Rites of Spring - Rites of Spring
Indian Summer - Science 1994
Embrace - Embrace
Black Sabbath - Paranoid (1970)
Melody's Echo Chamber - Melody's Echo Chamber
Pale Saints - The Comforts of Madness (1990)
Ride - Nowhere (1990)
Broadcast - Tender Buttons
Alcest - Souvenirs d'un Autre Monde (2007)
Alcest - Écailles de Lune (2010)
Julee Cruise - Floating into the Night (1989)
Lily Chou-Chou - Kokyu (2001)
Mazzy Star - So Tonight That I Might See
Melody's Echo Chamber - Bon voyage
Grouper - Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill
Grouper - A I A: Alien Observer
Grouper - Ruins
The Smiths - The Smiths
The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead
Lovesliescrushing - Bloweyelashwish
Muse - Origin of Symmetry
The Cure - Pornography
Bauhaus - In the Flat Field
A Sunny Day in Glasgow - Ashes Grammar
A Sunny Day in Glasgow - Sea When Absent
Boogarins - Manual, ou guia livre de dissolução dos sonhos
Deftones - Ohms
Deftones - Diamond Eyes
The Strokes - Is This It
Chapterhouse - Whirlpool
I Break Horses - Hearts
The Radio Dept. - Lesser Matters
iamamiwhoami - Kin
iamamiwhoami - Blue
Lana Del Rey - Norman ing Rockwell!
Tamaryn - The Waves
Chromatics - Night Drive
Chromatics - Kill for Love
Chromatics - Closer to Grey
Julia Holter - Have You in My Wilderness
U.S. Girls - Half Free
U.S. Girls - In a Poem Unlimited
Asobi Seksu - Citrus
Chelsea Wolfe - Ἀποκάλυψις
Chelsea Wolfe - Pain Is Beauty
Chelsea Wolfe - Abyss
Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works 85-92
Still Corners - Creatures of an Hour
Still Corners - Strange Pleasures
Echo & The Bunnymen - Ocean Rain
The Knife - Silent Shout
Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours
M83 - Before the Dawn Heals Us
M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming
Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles
Lush - Split
Lush - Gala
Goldfrapp - Supernature
Neon Indian - Psychic Chasms
MGMT - Little Dark Age
Carly Rae Jepsen - E·MO·TION
Paradis - Recto verso
George Clanton - Slide
Lorde - Melodrama
Future Islands - In Evening Air
Jenny Hval - The Practice of Love
Yo La Tengo - Painful
Sky Ferreira - Night Time, My Time
Weyes Blood - Titanic Rising
Low - I Could Live in Hope  
The Sundays - Reading, Writing and Arithmetic
David Bowie - Low
David Bowie - The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars
Pat Moon - Don't Hide From the Light
Be Forest - Earthbeat
Ferri - A Broken Carousel
Keep Shelly in Athens - Now I'm Ready
PASTEL GHOST - Ethereality
Siouxsie and The Banshees - Juju
Kate Bush - Hounds of Love
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Fever to Tell
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Show Your Bones
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!
Candy Claws - Ceres & Calypso in the Deep Time
Pond - The Weather
Bob Marley & The Wailers - Exodus (1977)
Bob Marley & The Wailers - Survival (1979)
LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening
Gorillaz - Demon Days
Gorillaz - Plastic Beach
Have a Nice Life - Deathconsciousness (2008)
Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? (2007)
Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours (2008)
New Order - Technique
Kitty - Miami Garden Club
Kitty - Rose Gold
Kitty - Charm and Mirror

will add more later (or if people request something).

*If i like an artist, i might listen to more of them

[LAKISYLVANIA]

Grimes - Halfaxa (2010)



Country: Canada
Genre: Ethereal Wave
Subgenre: Synthpop, Art Pop, Witch House, Ambient Pop
Descriptors: ethereal, surreal, atmospheric, female vocals, fantasy, dark, lonely, nocturnal, spiritual, abstract, hypnotic, lush, mysterious, cryptic, avant-garde, medieval, rhythmic, quirky, ominous, psychedelic, lo-fi, repetitive, longing, love, sad
Favorite song: Dream Fortress

10/10

I know this album isn't as well perceived as Visions and Art Angels, but to me, it's still her best. Halfaxa sounds like a trip to a different world. It catches you, and it never let go of you. I've heard a lot of good, even exceptional good music albums in my life, and i still have a lot to discover, but i've never heard something that's similar or comes close to this experience (unfortunately). It's something really unique, that hasn't been done before and not been redone yet. I think the combination ethereal wave + electronic is even unprecenteded.

I feel like everytime i listen it again, i'm sung into high spirits. This album could approximate closest to what heaven may actually sound like, or that's how it feels to me personally. And even though while the whole album might sound ethereal (which is what you might associate with 'heaven'), it secretly might be Grimes' darkest album so far. Compare it with Art Angels, where she sounds a lot more happier while in World ♡ Princess, she sings about the passing of a good friend of her's as an example. The ethereal sound of the album, compared to the dark undertone might be a contradiction, but Grimes can give balance and shape to this album, and it's also contradictive in that Grimes uses samples of medieval phenomens, and combines it with electronic music. Grimes has called Halfaxa her medieval album, and in some way, it's electronic choral music, which explains the weird electronic + ethereal wave combination, but it gives rise to one of the most unique, underrated and unknown masterpieces of the 21st century. Not Art Angels, but Halfaxa is Grimes' creative peak. Art Angels however is the album where Grimes evolves towards a more mainstream and poppy sound while the atmosphere changes from a depressive and isolated nature to a more happy and quirkly nature.

And of course, just like basically any other album of Grimes so far, every song is very qualitative. It's hard for me to pick a favourite out of this selection. Dream Fortress is very iconic, and has created some kind of cult following on the internet. But i really like My Sister Says The Saddest Things as well. Weregild is also very good and I also think World ♡ Princess is exceptionally good, while songs like River, Favriel, Devon and Swan Song are very good as well. This is an album i've started listening four ago, and i'm still regularly listening it. It never gets old for me. Every time i listen it again, it feels like it's the first time again while i quickly get tired of other stuff. That's the main secret of this album, and i'm not sure how it's been done, but it might be because of the hypnotic and dreamy vibe. I often listen to this album when i'm stressed or feel terrified, and this album will reduce my anxiety.

Overall, this is an exceptional music album from an exceptional music artist from who her working style differs quite a lot to similar artists. She creates her own artwork, does her own production and even calls herself more a producer than an actual singer. It's hard to catagorize her or label her a music. She kinda does her own thing. IMO one of the best artists of the 2010's decade.

[Santander]

We need reviews of Minor Threat or Rites of Spring, not boring albums from the 60s.

Seriously Laki, review these some time:

Also Indian Summer - Science 1994.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

We need reviews of Minor Threat or Rites of Spring, not boring albums from the 60s.

Seriously Laki, review these some time:

Also Indian Summer - Science 1994.

will put them on the list, but might not be for very soon. Give me some time.

[Wikipedia delenda est]

I suggest The Smiths' self-titled debut album from 1984: https://youtu.be/1fitMGZhulM

[LAKISYLVANIA]

I suggest The Smiths' self-titled debut album from 1984: https://youtu.be/1fitMGZhulM

thanks, only have listened to the queen is dead before (like twice or three times and i liked it). Will put both albums in the list

[LAKISYLVANIA]

Someone good recommendations for '70 artists if these are my top 5 artists in 60's

1. The Velvet Underground
2. The Doors
3. Pink Floyd
4. Jimi Hendrix
5. Frank Zappa

and if i tend to like post-punk, gothic rock like The Cure & Cocteau Twins in the 80's. I also like Kate Bush a lot! What would fill the gap?

David Bowie seems good, have listened to some of his songs earlier in my life. Pink Floyd is good too but I like their 60's stuff more.

The 70's are a big cultural gap for me. By far the decade i listened least too.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

also, discovered this LOL.

genres are spoken word and poetry.

[diptheriadan]

https://i.imgur.com/noQJqbb.jpg

Way back when I first started getting into New Wave/Post-Punk in early 2018, I used this as a guide. Sorry for it being a bit grainy. There used to be a high-res version, but it appears that doesn't work anymore.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

https://i.imgur.com/noQJqbb.jpg

Way back when I first started getting into New Wave/Post-Punk in early 2018, I used this as a guide. Sorry for it being a bit grainy. There used to be a high-res version, but it appears that doesn't work anymore.

wow, nice graph/chart. Other graphs/charts for similar genres/era's

[diptheriadan]

https://i.imgur.com/noQJqbb.jpg

Way back when I first started getting into New Wave/Post-Punk in early 2018, I used this as a guide. Sorry for it being a bit grainy. There used to be a high-res version, but it appears that doesn't work anymore.

wow, nice graph/chart. Other graphs/charts for similar genres/era's

None that I've found. I'd kill for a similar graph in regards to getting into Jazz.

I also use this sometimes to find new music. I usually have it on a New Wave station in Dublin, but scroll around for a bit and you'll find something interesting. There's a Basque station in San Sebastian (I think) that plays some really gnarly goth rock.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

https://i.imgur.com/noQJqbb.jpg

Way back when I first started getting into New Wave/Post-Punk in early 2018, I used this as a guide. Sorry for it being a bit grainy. There used to be a high-res version, but it appears that doesn't work anymore.

wow, nice graph/chart. Other graphs/charts for similar genres/era's

None that I've found. I'd kill for a similar graph in regards to getting into Jazz.

I also use this sometimes to find new music. I usually have it on a New Wave station in Dublin, but scroll around for a bit and you'll find something interesting. There's a Basque station in San Sebastian (I think) that plays some really gnarly goth rock.

https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/4chanmusic/images/d/d3/Jazzwt.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/1000?cb=20130102220223

https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/4chanmusic/images/c/cf/Bluenote.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/1000?cb=20200419192028

https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/4chanmusic/images/5/54/Crisscross.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/1000?cb=20200419193727

I love google

[LAKISYLVANIA]

More charts by countries / artists / genres / eras

https://4chanmusic.fandom.com/wiki/Essential_Charts

https://4chanmusic.fandom.com/wiki/Flowcharts

[LAKISYLVANIA]

Arca - KiCk i (2020)



Country: Venezuela
Genre: Deconstructed Club
Subgenre: Latin Electronic, UK Bass, Art Pop, Neoperreo, Experimental Hip Hop, Glitch Pop
Descriptors: LGBT, female vocals, androgynous vocals, futuristic, mechanical, love, abstract, dense, complex, surreal, rhythmic, eclectic, energetic, triumphant, nocturnal, quirky, atmospheric, bittersweet, sexual
Favorite song: No Queda Nada

6/10

This is a very experimental album and while it has good ideas, it just lacks coherence in general. It feels too robotic and even within songs there are parts I don't like. I'm not really a fan of all the hip hop and the vocals but it also sounds like the glitch sort of feels out of place. Songs that could be good sometimes are ruined because there's too much going on. It is very experimental, make no mistake and while sometimes that turns out to be great or fine, here it simply doesn't work. Time, Afterwards, Watch, No Queda Nada and KLK are among the better songs, the rest simply isn't, sometimes even to the level that they are annoying. I've heard other people say that her previous albums are different and better, because she apparently joined the glitch / glitch pop bandwagon which seems to become a hype for the early 2020's. It also means songs will be very robotic even in the mainstream pop industry since this seem to be the trend. I have no huge aversion against glitch, but it will require a very skilled artist to create something great with it. Her last song No Queda Nada perhaps is a good song that demonstrates how to incorporate glitch elements in pop songs while her vocals are less annoying here, making it easily the best song on this album.

[Samof94]

Grimes - Halfaxa (2010)



Country: Canada
Genre: Ethereal Wave
Subgenre: Synthpop, Art Pop, Witch House, Ambient Pop
Descriptors: ethereal, surreal, atmospheric, female vocals, fantasy, dark, lonely, nocturnal, spiritual, abstract, hypnotic, lush, mysterious, cryptic, avant-garde, medieval, rhythmic, quirky, ominous, psychedelic, lo-fi, repetitive, longing, love, sad
Favorite song: Dream Fortress

10/10

I know this album isn't as well perceived as Visions and Art Angels, but to me, it's still her best. Halfaxa sounds like a trip to a different world. It catches you, and it never let go of you. I've heard a lot of good, even exceptional good music albums in my life, and i still have a lot to discover, but i've never heard something that's similar or comes close to this experience (unfortunately). It's something really unique, that hasn't been done before and not been redone yet. I think the combination ethereal wave + electronic is even unprecenteded.

I feel like everytime i listen it again, i'm sung into high spirits. This album could approximate closest to what heaven may actually sound like, or that's how it feels to me personally. And even though while the whole album might sound ethereal (which is what you might associate with 'heaven'), it secretly might be Grimes' darkest album so far. Compare it with Art Angels, where she sounds a lot more happier while in World ♡ Princess, she sings about the passing of a good friend of her's as an example. The ethereal sound of the album, compared to the dark undertone might be a contradiction, but Grimes can give balance and shape to this album, and it's also contradictive in that Grimes uses samples of medieval phenomens, and combines it with electronic music. Grimes has called Halfaxa her medieval album, and in some way, it's electronic choral music, which explains the weird electronic + ethereal wave combination, but it gives rise to one of the most unique, underrated and unknown masterpieces of the 21st century. Not Art Angels, but Halfaxa is Grimes' creative peak. Art Angels however is the album where Grimes evolves towards a more mainstream and poppy sound while the atmosphere changes from a depressive and isolated nature to a more happy and quirkly nature.

And of course, just like basically any other album of Grimes so far, every song is very qualitative. It's hard for me to pick a favourite out of this selection. Dream Fortress is very iconic, and has created some kind of cult following on the internet. But i really like My Sister Says The Saddest Things as well. Weregild is also very good and I also think World ♡ Princess is exceptionally good, while songs like River, Favriel, Devon and Swan Song are very good as well. This is an album i've started listening four ago, and i'm still regularly listening it. It never gets old for me. Every time i listen it again, it feels like it's the first time again while i quickly get tired of other stuff. That's the main secret of this album, and i'm not sure how it's been done, but it might be because of the hypnotic and dreamy vibe. I often listen to this album when i'm stressed or feel terrified, and this album will reduce my anxiety.

Overall, this is an exceptional music album from an exceptional music artist from who her working style differs quite a lot to similar artists. She creates her own artwork, does her own production and even calls herself more a producer than an actual singer. It's hard to catagorize her or label her a music. She kinda does her own thing. IMO one of the best artists of the 2010's decade.

I love that album!!! 
I also have a soft spot for Canadians in general as a Tegan and Sara fan.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

Cocteau Twins - Garlands (1982)



Country: United Kingdom
Genre: Post-Punk, Gothic Rock, Ethereal Wave
Subgenre: -
Descriptors: dark, ominous, atmospheric, nocturnal, female vocals, cold, surreal, mysterious, ethereal, sombre, melancholic, lonely, dense, hypnotic, abstract, forest, lethargic
Favorite song: Wax and Wane

10/10

This is also an album i've listened a lot too. It's some kind of gothic rock which is both very dreamy, ethereal and very ominous, and every single track is so freaking good. That voice of Elizabeth Fraser, combined with the very prominent bassline create something so unique and beautiful, but also dark. In their later albums they would evolve in an even more dreamier sound. I both like their earlier and  their later works, and they're easily one of my all-time favourite bands, who had a lot of influence on dream pop and shoegaze in general but their background is more established in the gothic scene of the early 80's. This is a masterpiece, and it's not even their best or even second best album, which is crazy.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

if BRTD is more into emo, i'm much more into goth

[John Dule]

if BRTD is more into emo, i'm much more into goth

"No, don't you see? We're the emos, and they're the goths!"

[Samof94]

So Jealous-Tegan and Sara (2004)


Country: Canada
Genre: Indie rock
Subgenre: Indie pop
Descriptors: female vocals, LGBTQ, melodramatic, upbeat, guitar-focused, quirky
9/10
Favorite song: I Know I Know I Know(T)
This album defined my taste in music quite heavily. It isn’t their best album(The Con and Sainthood to a lesser extent have this beat to name other albums from their aughts prime), but it did define this band’s trajectory, which was unusual at the time for a female musician. The fact they weren’t like Etheridge of the Indigo Girls was quite novel too, to name other lesbian musicians who came before them.

The album itself seems to start out with a lot strong, fast paced songs and then, when it hits Where Does The Good Go(T),the pace slows down considerably. It speeds up again after crossing Walking With a Ghost(S)(one of the most important songs in their catalog, alongside the 2010’s pop hit Closer and The previously mentioned song).

Quite predictably for a Tegan and Sara album, it ends with a sad song. The melancholy song I Can’t Take It(S) ends the album. It was about the end of a relationship Sara had with a woman she had been with for four years.

The only problems I can see is that it was still a bit underdeveloped writing wise compared to later albums and a few songs come off as quite weak. Still quite a solid album in my opiniom

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

if BRTD is more into emo, i'm much more into goth

"No, don't you see? We're the emos, and they're the goths!"

[LAKISYLVANIA]

*album review*

I didn't think other people would be interested in writing album reviews, but fine. Should I rename the title of the thread? How should I rename it? Other people: you're welcome to post your reviews too, i'll enter them in the catalogue sorted by user.

F.Y.I. i use RYM as source for genres and descriptors, like: https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/tegan-and-sara/so-jealous/ for your album.

I've listened to a lot of albums. However, i feel not comfortable writing a review for them yet because I didn't listen to them enough (and if I do it's a bad sign, because it indicates i won't give them more spins and that I believe there isn't much to discover for me personally)

[Samof94]

*album review*

I didn't think other people would be interested in writing album reviews, but fine. Should I rename the title of the thread? How should I rename it? Other people: you're welcome to post your reviews too, i'll enter them in the catalogue sorted by user.

F.Y.I. i use RYM as source for genres and descriptors, like: https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/tegan-and-sara/so-jealous/ for your album.

I've listened to a lot of albums. However, i feel not comfortable writing a review for them yet because I didn't listen to them enough (and if I do it's a bad sign, because it indicates i won't give them more spins and that I believe there isn't much to discover for me personally)

Let other people do so. Whether they like Led Zeppelin, Tupac, or Blackpink, they should be able to review it.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles (II) (2010)



Country: Canada
Genre: Synthpop
Subgenre: Synth Punk, Witch House, Electroclash, Glitch
Descriptors: dark, cold, noisy, female vocals, atmospheric, melancholic, cryptic, mysterious, chaotic, ethereal, hypnotic, rhythmic, melodic, dense, nocturnal, anxious, drugs, energetic, manic
Favorite song: Vietnam

10/10

This is perhaps an album not everyone would like to listen to, but it's been an important release with regards to some niches, specifically the witch house scene since Crystal Castles incorporated some elements of it, and made it more mainstream. The album has quite an agressive and dark vibe, and is perhaps music you'd like to listen to when you're more on the angry side. The main strength is that this album has so many great songs, including one collab with Robert Smith of The Cure. Alice Glass is a tremendous vocalist, and the synths are very prominent, perhaps too bombastic for some, but I like it. It's really a "in your face" album and in that regard quite straightforward. Still, it's incredible how so many songs have managed to be catchy and original. Overall a very well-made and solid album. One of my favourites.