album reviews
Reviews of albums old and new from iconic artists and up and coming musicians alike.
Taylor Swift does it again and I ain’t even mad
Let’s set the scene shall we; it’s about 11:30pm on a Thursday night. I’ve just come home from seeing a theatre performance and am mid-way through writing my review of it when my partner calls me. Now, I knew that my partner had a 6am shift the next day so I knew that he’d only call me if he had something extraordinary to tell me or if something had happened to him. Thankfully, it wasn’t the latter. He was calling me to tell me to check my socials as Taylor Swift had just announced a surprise 9th studio album Evermore, a skated album to Folklore, which is one of my favourite albums ever recorded. So naturally, I went into a state of shock and only had total of about three hours of sleep before I had to go and teach children the next morning.
Virag DombayPublished 3 years ago in BeatCharli XCX, QuaranQueen
I've been a die-hard Charli XCX fan since True Romance was the only album in her catalog. From her punky aesthetic to her artsy electronic production, what was not to love?
Bunker Rock Reviews: Smashing Pumpkins CYR
Release Date: November 27th 2020 Today Obsidian Eagle will do a very special review of the newest album by Smashing Pumpkins. I say special because unlike 'professional' reviewers, this amateur is a longtime fan of the band. From the moment the music video for Rocket debuted on MTV back in 1993, Yours Truly has been a loyal 'pumpkin head' who has seen the band perform live many times. OE has stuck with SP through thick and thin and can clearly recall its side projects such as Zwan and the Jimmy Chamberlin Complex. That being said, it doesn't mean I'm going to pull any punches here either. Anyhow, let's begin breaking it down...
Obsidian EaglePublished 3 years ago in BeatRed Summer
Red summer is an aggressive snap shot of the summer of 2020, let’s unpack it. Historically the “red summer” was one of the deadliest race riots recorded. Black soldiers thought because they fought for the idea of Americanism that they will be greeted with a loving arms upon their return, sadly that was not the case.
Richie MoonPublished 3 years ago in BeatBeabadoobee Fake It Flowers Review
Don’t underestimate the underdog Beatrice laus may seem like your run-of -the mill rising alternative rock singer in late 2020. She might appear to blend in with other indie rock artist from the last 2 years on the scene that you‘re heard mentioned once or twice on Apple 1 Music or Spotify, but make no mistake about it: This Philippines Born, London-raised singer has the potential to be one of the biggest most influential Popstars of the decade and could clearly even shatter a major glass ceilings as a female artist in the music world and Pop music in general. With the rise of K-pop being a stable diet in western music billboards and Nelson Sound top 40 playlist digitally and on the radio, It’s hard to imagine Beabadoobee as someone who will be under the radar, especially with the surge of alt rock from the 2000’s emerging anthems for millennials who already live in a post Covid-19 era.
Kyle SmithPublished 3 years ago in BeatKai - ‘KAI’ EP Review
There’s nothing new about EXO’s Kai stealing the headlines. For years now the artist has been a hugely captivating presence within K-Pop, with his idiosyncratic, enthralling style of dance, and dedication to enrapturing live performances standing out as particularly striking. Compilations and videos involving 26-year-old often amass views in the millions, and are lined with comment sections heaping praise onto the singer.
Nathan SartainPublished 3 years ago in Beat- Top Story - November 2020
Miley Does it Again
Let me caveat this whole story by noting that it might come from a place of bias. I'm a huge Miley fan, starting from her "crazy" phase as some call it, which started during my last year of high school. Maybe I wanted to live vicariously through her because of how bored I was. I was drawn to the essence of freedom she exuded. The more I listened to her music and followed her work I realized how little she gave a fuck what people thought of her but how big she gave a fuck about other people, animals and the world at large.
BTS BE: Album Review
Quarantine albums have been the theme this year, and with good reason. Staying inside and away from others has presented its own challenges, and there are still great artists out there making music to reach their fans. BTS has been missed during this time, and with "Dynamite" being such a mega hit this past summer, the anticipation for this November release has been high. Well, BE is here, and thank goodness for that. With 7 new songs, BTS has come out again with some great music when we need them most.
AC/DC's PWR/UP Album Review
Powering Up Again AC/DC is a band that will soon embody the Ship of Theseus (or grandfather’s axe, if you prefer). I have my own theories on what the future of the band might hold as time is clearly winding down for them. Of course, I'm not positing that the end is near to try and be cynical, but Brian Johnson is the oldest person in the world doing what he does, unless you qualify Yoko Ono as a heavy metal rock star. Unless you believe Johnson, who has nearly been forced into retirement, at least once by medical issues, is immortal than modern medicine all but guarantees that the countdown is on. With that said it’s easy to swap realism for ageism, and simply write them off - I don't think that’s necessarily fair to do but it isn’t something that can be neglected as we get ready to delve into this album, afterall it was Kenny Rogers who said:
Sabrina JohnsonPublished 3 years ago in BeatGAGA DISCOGRAPHY REVIEW
Can we please just talk about Lady Gaga for a moment, and then her music video for 911? Amanda Kauffman, a woman with whom I attended beauty school, told me about Gaga in 2009. "She's weird, but I like her." I bought The Fame that same day. It played in my Mercury Cougar, with a 6 slot CD magazine in the trunk, for at least three straight years. At one point in time, at least 3 of those slots were designated to Gaga like parking spots.
Jilly McWhorterPublished 3 years ago in BeatIn Defence of "Self Portrait"
“What is this shit?” Greil Marcus would later take back his comments on Bob Dylan’s album “Self Portrait” in the future, acknowledging its important in the realm of Bob Dylan’s narrative because we all know, it is not a linear narrative at all. Bob Dylan has never been known to do the same thing over and over again. For example: when we look at the gospel era, it is followed by albums such as “Infidels” and “Empire Burlesque” which are nothing like the gospel era albums at all. After the acoustic folk albums, we get electric folk rock, again a progression but not in any way the same thing. After “Love And Theft” we seem to get some jazz covers for some time before Dylan returns to folk in “Tempest” over ten years’ later. So, we can understand why Bob Dylan would make “Self Portrait” if we are already familiar with the Bob Dylan discography. But, if the way in which you are introduced to Bob Dylan is through “Self Portrait” then where actually are you and how did you get there? No, seriously.
Annie KapurPublished 3 years ago in BeatNovelist - 'Quantum Leap': Cavernous space grime from South London's answer to Scott Bakula
Much like its cinematic namesake, Quantum Leap transports you into another dimension. Its whirring synth melodies and leadenly drum patterns plunge listeners into a vast interstellar expanse in which the only reliable form of spatial navigation is a juicy sub bassline peaking through a complex percussive soundscape. All but devoid of vocal interjection and named after a cult 80s sci-fi time travel series shaped around the concept of leaping between historical moments in order to right wrongs, this EP represents a definite stylistic shift for the Brockley MC and producer.
Fred Garratt-StanleyPublished 3 years ago in Beat