Sunday, December 17, 2017

QUICK SPINS



GlassjawMaterial Control

In their first release in 15 years, the Long Island vets come back with a bang. With nearly a new lineup, Glassjaw deliver a one-two punch that not only pulverizes the listener, it also pushes them into new territory. This is the type of record where longtime fans will appreciate and new fans will love.
FINAL GRADE: A


Four Tet New Energy

The brilliance of Four Tet should never be questioned and this surprise release album is certainly one that creates a musical landscape for the listeners to travel to without leaving their home.
FINAL GRADE: A


Dirty OrangeXXX EP

Dirty Orange have released brand new EP from one of London’s most uncanny and ruthless new bands. The trio brings forth more of the rawness of underground garage rock and continues to not only be one of the more exciting rock and roll bands around but also the most real.
FINAL GRADE: A


Converge The Dusk In Us

Five years since their last release, Converge return and like a jackhammer just slam the listener deeper into levels of darkness, chaos, and brutality. Even as they get older, Converge still know how to get a listeners attention.
FINAL GRADE: A-


MastodonCold Dark Place EP

The Georgia metal monster return with their second release of the year and while Cold Dark Place is an EP, it picks up where their latest record, Emperor of Sand, left off.
FINAL GRADE: A-



Robert Plant Carry Fire

The former Led Zeppelin singer does not get enough credit for his magnificent solo work and Carry Fire is a prime example of that. At his age, Plant can just retire and also stick to what works, but Carry Fire is a musical soundscape filled with experimental sounds and magic.
FINAL GRADE: A-


King Krule The Ooz

The British beatmaker and producer is back with his new album, The Ooz, and while the sounds go forth in very interesting and intricate directions, it tends to get a bit redundant. Yet, even in his repetition, he remains a fascinating figure with boundary-pushing releases.
FINAL GRADE: B+


Marilyn Manson Heaven Upside Down

The self-proclaimed “God of Fuck” returned with one of his best records in years. Heaven Upside Down came after numerous delays and may have been worth the wait. The shock rocker bares his soul and political feelings and while he has never held anything back, on Heaven Upside Down, he has fully unleashed a new beast.
FINAL GRADE: B+


Mavis StaplesIf All I Was Was Black

The iconic soul singer raises the bar on not just protest music but also doesn’t hold back on how the system has wronged her and African-Americans in this country. It is one of the most heartbreaking and raw albums of the year and her career.
FINAL GRADE: B+


StarsThere is No Love in Fluorescent Light

Stars have always been a band that celebrates life and their latest is a testament to that. In our turbulent times, it is nice to let your hair down once in a while and be thankful you are alive and this record reminds us to do just that.
FINAL GRADE: B+


U2Songs of Experience

After a series of setbacks, delays and massive tours, U2 finally released Songs of Experience. The album is one that takes multiple listens to fully digest as Bono looks for hope and pleasure in his life and finds it in his loved ones. While its predecessor, Songs of Innocence, was about U2 growing up, this record is how they stayed together and how their influences like family, America, politics, and rock and roll, kept them going for so long.
FINAL GRADE: B+



Talib Kweli Radio Silence

The iconic Brooklyn emcee returned with one his best albums. Radio Silence is a look at today while paying homage to the 90s hip-hop era where Kweli cut his teeth. For those in the new school, this is a record about how you maintain longevity.
FINAL GRADE: B


Cool KidsSpecial Edition Grandmaster Deluxe

The Chicago hip-hop duo return after nearly a decade away from the scene and while hip-hop has changed, they stay true to themselves.
FINAL GRADE: B


BjorkUtopia

Following her break-up record, Vulnicura, Bjork returns with a record about trying to find new love at her age and in a new era. Utopia is part pop record, part experimental, part celebratory but it is all pure Bjork.
FINAL GRADE: B

 

N.E.R.D. No One Ever Really Dies

The iconic alternative hip-hop group returns and as Pharrell and Chad Hugo give a series of fun and party starting beats, the record does take serious turns with guest appearances from Kendrick Lamar, Andre 3000, and Frank Ocean.
FINAL GRADE: B


Noel Gallagher’s High Flying BirdsWho Built The Moon?

On his third solo record, Gallagher tries to become more experimental than ever before and there are moments where it works and other times it sounds like someone who is doing it just for the sake of being strange. The records best moments are when Gallagher sticks to the guns that helped skyrocket his career.
FINAL GRADE: B-



SqueezeThe Knowledge

The rock vets return and while they are still going at a steadfast pace at their age they are not bringing anything new to the table and sticking with what works, which is why in 2017, a Squeeze record is more for longtime fans rather than new ones.
FINAL GRADE: B-


StereophonicsScream Above the Sounds

The Welsh band, who were once on top of the world, sound bored and dull on their latest. Scream Above the Sounds feels like a record putting out new music because they feel as if they have to and not want to.
FINAL GRADE: C


EminemRevival

The iconic rapper returns to take on the Trump administration and while his effort is valiant, it doesn’t require a full record. Revival sounds like a pop record infused with rap trying its hardest to be a protest album. While the bars and intensity is there, the cramming of too many styles makes the message sound forced.
FINAL GRADE: C-


MorrisseyLow in High School

The former Smiths singer returned with a cheeky new record but as the years have gone one, the caliber of his records has withered. Morrissey has not sounded inspired, excited, and interesting in nearly a decade and Low in High School is just more songs about self loathing and frustration. Yet, maybe after a series of headline making problems, cancelled shows, and controversies, Morrissey’s biggest problem is himself.
FINAL GRADE: D