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Radiohead - A Moon Shaped Pool (2016)

Sometimes when I completely dismiss a band, I miss out on something that could potentially be a change in my opinion of the band as a whole. I woke up this morning and for whatever reason, I felt an urge to listen to A Moon Shaped Pool, and i'm glad I did.

People at this forum already know that i'll do whatever I can to insult Radiohead, and although I enjoy doing that, at some point it does get old. I even dismissed this album before I heard it because I was trying to be funny, but in all seriousness, I really should have given this album a fair listen when it was released, because I actually enjoy it quite a bit. The thing that seems to stick out in this album as opposed to their other albums is that it seems like Thom Yorke has finally found a way to use his voice in a way that is actually listenable, in the sort of U2-esque/Pineapple Thief-esque sort of way. It works. There's also a bit of Killers influence throughout the album, and I think there's more of that than anything else. It's a very catchy album, and I can't really say that about a lot of the albums they've put out over the years.

I don't know what this means for me in terms of how I think of Radiohead, but if this album is any look into what their future looks like, well I hope they continue to go with it, because this is the kind of sound I like to hear with a band like this. Thom Yorke sounds great throughout the entire album, and I can see myself listening to this album over and over again and enjoying the heck out of it. It really is good, and coming from someone that completely dismissed the band, that's saying a lot.

Standout tracks:



Definitely a rewarding experience listening to this album.

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Katatonia - Dead End Kings (2012)

Ever since I listened to The Fall of Hearts earlier this week, i've been on a Katatonia listening binge. I've listened to all their albums before, a few times even, but it seems like every single time I listen to them, it feels new every time. They create a sound that I have come to really love over time. Bands like Porcupine Tree, Opeth, and Tool have all done that as well. It's a sound that is super easy to listen to, but it has it's own complexities within, and with Dead End Kings, you can hear how mature the band has gotten to the point that this album was released.

Every single track on this album is fantastic, and it has the added benefit of allowing each track to flow right into the next, making you hear how each track compliments each other. It flows really well, and makes for a very nice listening experience, which Katatonia has managed to do with each album they release, at least with my experience.

Dead End Kings also has the added benefit of being the first Katatonia album I ever heard. I believe it was recommended at this site by another member, and I loved the artwork right away, so I felt like I needed to hear it, and thank god I did, because it opened the doors to a band that I wouldn't have listened to otherwise.

Standout track:



I didn't realize it until right now but this song reminds me of a song by Riverside titled "After". I think it's just the intro in Katatonia's song that made me think of it.

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Gojira - Magma (2016)

Full disclosure: I have never listened to Gojira until I listened to their new album, so my opinions on this album are from a first ever listen of the album and of the band altogether.

I've seen the name Gojira being thrown around at this forum and on various other sites and people always praise them for their sound, and my god I can see why. Like I mentioned in my disclosure, I've never listened to Gojira before. I've been on a strange kick of bands that sound like Tool or Katatonia or Riverside and the like. The doom/alternative/heavy rock sound, and Gojira fits the bill as well. This album, Magma, is really good. Every track is fantastic and fits the bill for what sound i'm looking for when I listen to bands like this. I don't know where I would rate it in terms of albums that have come out this year, because let's be honest, the new Katatonia album may be my album of the year, I've listened to it plenty of times anyway. But this album could potentially be in my top 10. I really like the vocals as they have that gritty feel to them that really compliments the rest of the band really well. I don't really know what I was expecting when I started listening to this album, but I know now that I should have been listening to this band long before this album came out. Luckily, their discography doesn't seem to be too large, seeing as this is only their sixth album they've released, so I do have some homework to do in terms of listening to the rest of the discography. I can only hope that their earlier work isn't underwhelming because so far, I'm enjoying what i'm hearing.

Standout track:

Ol’ Qwerty Bastard

Magma is my least favourite of their releases, but I still enjoy it a ton. Their other albums are a lot more groove/death metal based than Magma is, but they're also a lot more impactful and creative imo.

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Music Blog / RYM / Last.fm / Qwertyy's Journal of Music Reviews and Other Assorted Ramblings

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Blink 182 - California (2016)

Is it really 2016? Blink 182 released a new album this month, and Pokemon is popular again amongst millions of people. It feels like the 90's again, and you know what? I'm enjoying the **** out of it. History may be repeating itself, and it's repeating the best part of what made the 90's great. But let's get into the album.

So, it's Blink 182, there's really not much to expect in terms of what you think the album will sound like. But at the same time, it's weird to say "Blink 182 new album". I'm not really used to it yet, but it feels great to say. But the album is good. I've enjoyed my first listen with it, and i'm sure i'll enjoy each album afterwards. It's definitely got the classic Blink-182 sound that you've probably come to enjoy, or hate, whichever. It's a nice sound to hear again though. It's been a while. Not a whole lot more I can really say about it other than the fact that I love that they've come out with it, because it's good.

Standout track:



Two thumbs up from this guy.

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Metallica - Death Magnetic (2008)

It's been a very long time since i've given Metallica a listen. On top of that, it's been a few years since I gave this album a listen. It was very back and forth with me in terms of whether or not I liked it. Upon it's release, I was all over it, but then it kind of died down, and eventually I completely forgot about it. I decided to give it a listen again recently and I have to say, I actually enjoy it quite a bit. Obviously, it's nowhere near what you'd expect from a classic Metallica album such as Ride The Lighting, or Metallica, but it's certainly got a couple of really good tracks that make the album worthwile.

I'm taking a leap of faith by talking about this album on this forum because I know the hate surrounding this album at this forum is up to par with how much hate Nickelback gets in general, forum or not, but i'm allowing myself to give my own personal opinion on an album that I quite like, and people's opinions on it won't change my mind. Hell, there may even be some closet Death Magnetic fans around here, but who knows.

I remember hearing a couple of tracks from this album at the concert I went to a few years back and they really knew how to play them, and play them well. Sort of made me love the album even more because it wasn't just the sound on the album that made them great, they can perform it well.

If I were to rate this album anywhere, I'd probably put it as my 3rd or 4th favorite Metallica album because even though a lot of their earlier albums are great, I don't find a few of them really that listenable. I'm more into the catchy-poppy Metallica more than a lot of people, and this album definitely has that going for it. Some traditionally memorable riffs going on in this album as well, especially the end of The Day That Never Comes which to this day remains to be my favorite track on the album. Of course, that's a close one especially with how good The Unforgiven III is. Hell, even the opening track is great. Like I said, I like quite a few of the tracks on this album. Not all of them, but most are good.

Standout track:

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Kanto Symphony - Music from Pokemon Red and Blue

Ohmygod/10


Hoenn Summer

Oh.My.God/10

These are exactly what you think they are. Pokemon music played by an orchestra. And it's amazing. You'll **** your pants with excitement.

The Batlord

I think nerd pride and nerd shame are the same thing, and I feel them both.

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We are in the second half of the year, which means it's time to start going through this years albums and deciding which ones deserve to get praised, and which ones deserve to get thrown out. There's been a lot of great music this year, some even took me by surprise, and at the same time, there's also been a fair share of duds. I have a good idea of which album will take my album of year, and I'm basing that solely on the fact of how much I have listened to the album, and that's not to say any other album of the year doesn't deserve to take the spot. It's just that I like to be surprised by an album, and to find such an album that I've enjoyed as much as I have is good enough for me to consider it my album of the year, even though we're in this time of the year.

And yes, I know that there are a few other albums that I'm anticipating this year, but the chances of those taking the place of the album of the year is highly unlikely. I'm not going to say which album that is just yet, but instead, i'm going to do a countdown of which albums I've really enjoyed. I suppose you can consider this a top 10 or top 15 of sorts, but I'm basically just going to review (or attempt to) the albums that I've found some sort of enjoyment out of this year. Obviously, this isn't set in stone as the year hasn't ended yet, but that's why it's nice to have the freedom of reviewing whatever albums I want.

Anyway, we'll get started as soon as possible.

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Steven Wilson - 4 1/2
Release date: January 22nd, 2016

I've not listened to a Steven Wilson solo album in quite some time, and it was convenient that he had released one this year, because I was curious to see what he had plans for in terms of what the future looks like to him. I read that this album is actually a mini album that is supposed to keep listeners happy while he works on his next solo album that would come next in line after Hand. Cannot. Erase. Even if this album is a compilation of work that has been previously done, it's still nice to listen to a Steven Wilson album that was released this year, because lord only knows when we'll get another Porcupine Tree album, or if we'll ever get one again. Hell, if I were in his shoes, I wouldn't want to disappoint my listeners with a mediocre attempt at another Porcupine Tree album, because of how good Deadwing and Fear of a Blank Planet are, but I digress.

It just seems that no matter what Steven Wilson does, he does it perfectly. He's up there in being one of my favorite prog artists right next to Devin Townsend. Honestly, it's hard to say that one of them is better than the other, because they are each masters of their craft regardless of which way they decide to take their music, and 4 1/2 is a damn fine example of it. Granted, the album doesn't give the man as much credit as it would if it were a full on new release, but it can easily be used as an idea of what you can expect to hear when you listen to a solo album of his. Not to say they all sound the same, but if you find this mini album to be to your liking, and you think he sounds amazing in it, well...definitely look into giving his full releases a listen, because I guarantee you will love them as much if not more than this one.

I'm not very good with reviewing EP releases because it's always hard to talk about the same songs that will probably be released again at a later time, but I admit that it is nice to hear a new version of Don't Hate Me, which you probably remember from his Porcupine Tree days. It's such a Devin Townsend thing to do as well, because Devin Townsend even re-released a track on two separate album, and each sounded completely different. So I guess me relating Steven Wilson and Devin Townsend isn't the worst thing I could do, in fact, both should take it as a compliment.

Anyway, definitely do give the album a listen. Even if it's just 6 tracks. They are 6 tracks that will leave you wanting more, which is convenient, because he has other work under his sleeve before this album was released, and again, they are all good.