album reviews
Reviews of albums old and new from iconic artists and up and coming musicians alike.
Give Up Revisited
Given the popularity and critical acclaim of the indie-electronic group The Postal Service, it might come as a surprise that they only released one studio album, Give Up. In the intervening eighteen years, they have given us a tenth anniversary edition and, now, a live album, originally recorded in 2013 and released in December 2020. But The Postal Service doesn’t even need a follow-up. The original album is regarded as something of a classic for both its unique soundscape and Gibbard’s distinctive songwriting. And more importantly, it has packed a mighty punch in indie music history, demonstrating for the first time that indie lyrical sensibilities can pair well with electronic production and paving the way for a range of successful crossovers since.
By Anna Hamilton5 years ago in Beat
"If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power": A Perspective On Historical Motherhood. Top Story - August 2021.
Warnings: Contains spoilers for both the "If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power" album and film. References to miscarriage, pregnancy, rape, domestic abuse, and related topics.
By Alisan Keesee5 years ago in Beat
Olivia Rodrigo's "Sour" Takes Our Grown Asses Back to Teen Angst
Unless you're living under a rock, over the last few months you've heard Olivia Rodrigo tunes as you're buying groceries, as you stroll through a department store, as you pass a car blasting her music so loud you feel compelled to sing along. And who knows, maybe by now you know all the lyrics to her hit songs, "Good 4 U" which reached to number 1 on the US Billboard 100 Chart and "Drivers License" which as of August 11 2021 reached 1 billion streams on Spotify. Her new single "Brutal" from her number 1 album "Sour" recently topped the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart and landed to number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. Although it it is unlikely the track will receive the same accolades as "Drivers License" it is the first and one of the most brutally honest tracks on the 11 track album.
By Ali McPherson5 years ago in Beat
Lost Albums: Leftism by Leftfield
Every now and again an album comes along that totally changes the game. Something so different it doesn’t neatly fit into any know genre of that time, fresh, sonically different and without any peers. Leftism by Leftfield did exactly that when it was first released and paved the way almost entirely for its own genre of music, which ironically became known as…well…leftfield.
By Gary Packer5 years ago in Beat
Listening Booth: Billie Eilish explores the depths of beige on Happier Than Ever
BEST NEW MUSIC Happier Than Ever by Billie Eilish, released via Darkroom/Interscope Records on July 30, 2021 ‘Happier Than Ever’ fully establishes Billie Eilish as one of her generation’s most significant alternative pop artists.Score: 9.7/10
By Lili Lovemoon5 years ago in Beat
Three is the Magic Number
The third Sugababes album was imaginatively called Three. When you look at the greater scale of things, 3 is the lucky number for the Sugababes because they‘re a trio. They had three successful line-ups (4th line-up is still to this day disputed). Their third album called Three was made at the height of their success. When the original line-up got back together, their tour under called the Sacred Three. This album even debuted at #3 on the UK album chart.
By Chloe Gilholy5 years ago in Beat
My Favourite Album - Future Games By Spirit
I’ve had an idea to maybe review and say why I like certain albums and then to share my observations and this is going to start with my all time favourite album “Future Games” by Spirit. I own it on vinyl and CD and have it on my phone for when I am walking out. 44 years on it still really moves me, with it’s psychedelic non stop programming (there are no breaks between songs, and while that has been done before - Think Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon and a lot before that) it is a truly special album. By the time of its release Spirit was being driven by the ethereal voiced guitarist Randy California with help from his drummer father in law Ed Cassidy (alter ego mad raconteur Jack Bond on Spirit albums).
By Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred 5 years ago in Beat
'Never Die Young'
James Taylor's 12th studio album, and last album of the 1980s, Never Die Young was produced by James' longtime keyboard player Don Grolnick. It was recorded at "the Power Station " in New York and featured the debut of Bobby Mann on guitar and Carlos Vega on drums and percussion, two musicians who would become integral members of James's touring band over the next decade.
By Sean Callaghan5 years ago in Beat
Take Care - Album Review
If you don’t consider Nothing Was The Same as Drake’s best album, it it highly likely that you consider Take Care his best. This is a valid opinion as this album put Drake in a different stratosphere in the hip-hop/r&b world. Take Care is legendary in almost every aspect — from the cover art, to the features and production, and the amount of all time great songs it has. It is a classic in every way. This album is largely emotional and showcases the versatility of the artist by seamlessly flowing between singing and rapping — his trademark symbol of greatness.
By Josh Herring5 years ago in Beat
A Track by Track Look at Lover by Taylor Swift
This review was originally written in 2018 when the album was released (my first-ever listen to the complete thing). I'm not changing much about it, and I won't apologize for my music-loving self coming out and giving her love for this album. I love Taylor Swift's music and it will be a constant on this blog. This is essentially a review and a message to Taylor regarding how much I enjoyed the album.
By Coffee Can Confessional5 years ago in Beat
Billie Eilish — Happier Than Ever
I’m going to be honest from the very beginning, when I listened to this album for the first time, I did not like it. I was actually quite disappointed. Then I heard it a second time, then a third time. Fortunately, this album has quickly grown as me. I’ve seen it rated as low as a 6 on The Line Of Best Fit and as high as a perfect 10 on some music review pages on Instagram. I was conflicted at first because it wasn’t the high flying vocal performance you might expect with the title Happier Than Ever. However, I’ve come to understand and appreciate the genre-bending performance Eilish has provided.
By Josh Herring5 years ago in Beat
