Right, so you know how I'm not a superhuman, yeah? I'm just like you, an average joe with a passion for talking too much on the internet about music and the like - but because I'm usually yammering about things I enjoy, and music I like, I sometimes don't come around to some new projects because I either don't have the time, or the patience, or the mental capacity to sit down and commit my time to things. Call it being lazy, call it having commitment issues, call it what my doctor calls it (a potential mental illness), but I'm tired of having things consistently in the rear-view. So here's a new format, which includes a bunch of short, and hear me out here, sweet reviews of new (ish) records that may have passed me by a little when they first released, but I still wanted to chat about for a second so you know they haven't completely passed me by. Take this as a means of me absolving for my sins, and enjoy these new reviews!
Post Human - Nex Gen - Bring Me The Horizon - 2024
Post Human is a rip roaring ride of immense metalcore, set to the tune of screaming synths and blasting vocals. Bring Me clearly have no intention of slowing down, as this rollercoaster ride of a record takes you for a spin in every way imaginable. You ever heard a mix so chocked full of stems it's full to bursting before? Then you clearly have never listened to this record. What I respect about this album is that they are so willing to experiment with their sound in fresh ways. Sure, a few fall a touch flat, but that's okay when its set against things that this band do insanely well. Breakdowns, blast beats and enough electronica to give you a headache three times over. It's innovative, diverse, but yet in some sections, a little dull. I feel sometimes this record lent to much on it's grandeur and scale that it became a little predictable in it's latter stages, you almost come to expect the chaos, and if that's your thing I see why you love it, but for me, it made it feel a touch one dimensional in some areas. However, this is a decent record in my books, and scores a solid 6.5/10 for me.
Fourteen Minutes - Dominic Fike - 2024
You ever thought about artists streamlining their sound? Well, hello Dominic Fike, and this brand new project that is, believe it, only fourteen minutes long. There are some flashes of brilliance here from Fike, some great song writing, introspective and heart on his sleeve levels of cutting. There's range, between guitar, R&B beats, and some pretty intense vocoding. The vibes are pretty immaculate, with sparkly drum grooves and of course the song Misses 'is a universal bop. Sure, it's short as all hell, and in that lack of length it shoots itself in the foot a little, but that's no bog deal. It stands for itself in its own shortness, even if sometimes I feel this should last an hour, or even four minutes less. It's an interesting, fun take on a record, and for that it scores a good 6/10.
Short n' Sweet - Sabrina Carpenter - 2024
Turned on your radio recently? Chances are you've heard something from Sabrina Carpenter's brand new album Short n' Sweet. Is that a problem? No, actually. This album bleeds class, funk, and some seriously liberated subject matter that's refreshing to hear from such a big name. Her voice is stunning, smooth and emotive, and every track bleeds emotions, both good and glistening, and painful. With razor sharp production value and some killer instrumentation, with some of the funkiest basslines and grooves in modern retro inspired pop, what's not to love? Carpenter is at the top of her game, and recently, even I'll admit songs like Bed Chem and Espresso have been slowly creeping into my head now and again - it's a testament to the fact this record is brilliant, and easy to listen to, scoring a respectable 8.5/10.
Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess - Chappell Roane - 2023
Another brilliant example of good pop music comes from Chappell Roane, with last years release of Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. Similar funky pop vibes, and more flourishing and indulgent lyricism finds another sweet spot here, and where it really flourishes is in it's unashamedly queer attitude. It's flirty, sweet and anthemic, showcasing why Roane is roaring to the tops of charts. The album is full of brilliant tracks that are all brilliant singalongs, we're talking Pink Pony Club, Hot to Go, Casual. It's true feminine power and expression, and I can really appreciate it for that. She has a really distinct voice too, that's all part classic nineties pop and a little bit country, whatever the influences are, it works insanely well. Although I'd not listen to some of her tracks on repeat as much as I would say Carpenter, that by no means discredits this record and her stardom - she's very much here to stay in the cultural zeitgeist, and that scores her a great score of 7/10.
Brat - Charli XCX - 2024
Reader, did you have an especially Brat summer? I can't say I did, conscious or otherwise of it, but what I do know is that this record made a big damn splash when it came out for all the right reasons. Something a bit chaotic, a bit subversive, and also with enough solid production to enjoy over and over again. We've got The 1975's George Daniels to thank for that one - and of course Charli herself. Where this album hits big is in it's unashamed identity, it's an insane house-ajacent record with big club bangers, solid beats and chaotic energy. Where it tends to lack for me is in the lyricism, which at points feels lacklustre, and others feels a bit lazy. But when it comes to tracks like these, as long as it carries the vibe, then who gives a shit eh? Purely on vibe and substance, Brat influenced an entire season, and that's a pretty undeniable and ineffable mark on our society, so that's pretty funky, but if I'm scoring it on the music, in my opinion, it takes home a decent 5/10. Not my style, but bratty nonetheless.
Overview: God I love music. In the short space of a couple of hours, I've shot down a few different rabbit holes to enjoy new bits and bobs from across the board. These albums are all really solid, and worth all the hype they've received this year. All of them have had a massive impact on the current musical landscape, and I really enjoyed going through them all and streamlining my process a little bit, it was nice not having to listen front to back and pick it all apart, I just enjoyed them for what they were and wrote a little something. I hope you enjoyed these, and its a format I'll be revisiting now and again to listen to some other records that don't quite make the full reviews.
Highlights: Kool-Aid, Strangers, Misses, Espresso, Please Please Please, Bed Chem, Sharpest Tool, Hot to Go!, Casual, Pink Pony Club, Red Wine Supernova, Apple, 365
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