#really solid track it’s a weird banger

[goldensunset]

colress battle theme so good it’s got me putting my headphones back on even though i’m home alone

[narcissistcookbook]

Hi! I’m a pretty new fan who has listened to very little of your music (only Courtney and Sugar in my coffee), but I absolutely adore what I’ve heard. Do you have any recommendations as to where I should start for listening to more of your music?

The album This Is How We Get Better is a good starting point. It's accessible without pandering or compromising, it has some weird shit on there and some of my biggest bangers. Good Morning Sunshine, Practically Imperfect and The Simplest Words are going to be in my live sets basically forever probably

MOTH is a weird album, maybe too weird as a jumping on point. The first seven tracks are a solid short album and I think they're all great songs, and then the album rewinds and the second half of the album is a commentary on the first half. (track 9 is a commentary on track 1, etc). I'm very proud of it.

HYMN is an acquired taste. It can't be put on shuffle, it needs to be played in order. The people who love HYMN really love it.

Then I have the longer singles, Absolute State of the Union, Cognitive Dissonance Blues and Gendering Teddy. They're not as accessible but they're an important part of my sound.

Long story short, everything is great and I've never written a bad song 💪

[colorisbyshe]

June Monthly Music: Half Way Through Edition

Music released before June 13th because WOW this month is stacked and this post is already this big this early!

Kaytranada came out with a new album--"Wasted Words (ft Thundercat)" has hilarious lyrics, "Weird (ft Durand Bernarr)" scratches an itch if you miss Azealia's vocalizations but can't listen to her for obv reasons, "Snap My Fingers (ft Pinkpantheress)" is bouncy and sweet, and "Still (ft Charlotte Day Wilson)" is a pleasant ache of a song. Not a groundbreaking album but reliable and solid.

"Drip Sweat" is my fave off that album, which is why it gets its own line. Very hypnotic, like being tugged into a dark corner at the club for some privacy.

After years away, Foster the People are back with a whole entire new sound. "Lost in Space" is... confusing at first but it kinda makes me think of Katamari Damacy... so I like it. I do not know if it's good, I am prejudiced. (Supermodel was one of my fave albums of all time.)

If you enjoy music from The Sims, yes, the game, give "Open World" by Toconoma a shot. A bit funkier, less perfect for constant looping but it's a purely instrumental song capable of invoking the same joy as booting up the game and hearing creation mode.

NGL, the singles were bangers, but I kinda feel... underwhelmed by the Charli XCX album (didn't think it was bad, just overhyped) but of the new tracks I really dug "Sympathy is a Knife," "Talk Talk," and "365." Bonus tracks are fun tho, "Springbreakers" is my fave.

Raveena's collab wiith JPEGMAFIA, "Junebug," is a sprawling river of champagne through a land of glistening sands and bubbling clouds.

"New Way Out" by Poppy is for those of you who want a song that feels like a re-imagining of Evanescence's "Going Under" by BMTH.

"Balloon in Love" by Sunmi is... cute. I love Sunmi but it's just fine. Worth a try.

"I Am the King" Fat Dog. This track FEELS like an interlude but in a way that makes you feel transient as well. Time is escaping, this song is escaping, you are escaping.

Peggy Gou released her first album and while none of it is as classic as her earlier track, "Starry Night," I do think if you like groovy dance music, "1+1=1," "All that (ft Villano Antillano), and "I Believe in Love Again" are worth checking out!

BREE RUNWAY IS BACK! "JUST LIKE THAT" IS WAY TOO SHORT BUT IF YOU LIKE MISSY ELLIOT, CHECK OUT THIS ELECTRIFYING TRACK.

"She a Wolf" Wayv. Fuck SM but this track does kinda go off. This is a song that would be fun as hell in an arena setting.

Glass Animal's "A Tear in Space" is a massive improvement over the lead single for their upcoming album. Still a step below their older stuff but if you were scared off from the last single, maybe give the a second chance.

"MPH" Doechii. High energy and it is, in fact, givin 'em cunt.

Music I vibed with this month regardless of release date:

"Good Club" Prince Club. Deep house track.

"The Feeding" Real Farmer. Punk, indie rock.

"The Bitch" Basic Element. I laugh-cry at the lyrics every time.

"Moonraker" Enth. Anime-ass song. Fun Jrock that you can imagine an anime character running through grass to.

"Opheliac" Emilie Autumn. Not for everyone but it was for me in middle school <3

"Jaded" Spiritbox. If you liked the Poppy track, come here.

"Make Love" Daft Punk. Transcendent.

NOW ITS YOUR TURN CAN SOMEONE RECOMMEND ME NON-ENGLISH MUSIC, PREFERABLY NOT KPOP (I LISTEN TO ENOUGH DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME)

Any genre works besides like... ballads... or screamo without a balancing melodic voice in the mix. Please. Anons, replies, whatever welcome

[bangers2]

Weekly Music Roundup 5/7/24 :D

Hey! I hope y'all had a great week. I've been super busy as of late since I'm packing and preparing for a long trip, but I still managed to squeeze some listening into my miserable daily Walmart visits. I didn't keep with the daily schedule, but I have many albums to get through on the 12-hour drive that I will probably be on when this is posted. Good times!

This week, I listened to:

underscores - Wallsocket (Director's cut)

Everyone Asked About You - Everyone Asked About You - EP

Tinashe - 333

English Teacher - This Could Be Texas

Syzy - The weight of the world

underscores - Wallsocket (Director's cut) (2024)

I started my Friday out by listening to the new Wallsocket deluxe “Director’s cut” tracks. Holy shit holy shit holy shit holy shit. These new tracks, albeit mostly familiar to me ("My guy (Corporate shuffle)" and "Northwest zombie girl" can both be found on Wallsocket ARG websites, and April teased "Stupid (Can't run from the urge)" on Tiktok), are absolutely breathtaking. "My guy (Corporate Shuffle)" is a wonderful throwback pop song that has a simple shuffling beat, but by the end of the song it goes absolutely insane. "Northwest zombie girl" is super fun as well, but not my favourite upon first listen. I think i need a little more time with "CCTV" to really get it - these are my initial thoughts and not full reviews, and I still need to deep dive into this one's lyrics. However, the standout has GOT to be "Stupid (Can't run from the urge)." "Stupid" is a cute glitch-pop track with the punchiest percussion I've ever heard in a song. This might sound kind of weird, but each time I hear the kick I feel a kick in my chest. It's epic. The melodies are incredibly earwormy and I haven't been able to get the song out of my head. Overall, this new "Director's cut" builds upon an already incredible record (SERIOUSLY. Listen to Wallsocket if you haven't already. It's insane) with even more well-produced, well-written, well-sung, bangers. I wish anyone listening to Wallsocket for the first time "Good Luck!"

Everyone Asked About You - Everyone Asked About You - EP (1997)

We love a 4-track EP moment. I saw one of my AOTY mutuals give this a 100 so I listened to it because I had a free moment, and 4-track EPs are, like, my favourite thing ever. This is a cute set of twee / emo love songs with sugary melodies and adorable lyrics. It’s wholesome and loving and absolutely gorgeous throughout!

Tinashe - 333 (2021)

I can't recall a time I've ever been this excited about an artist as I have since I heard my first Tinashe song. Her artistry is unmatched and I seriously admire her refusal to adhere to basic cookie-cutter r&b, instead embracing a really unique and eclectic style. She’s been so consistently making some of the most innovative music in the industry, so it’s no surprise that 333 is as excellent as it is. This is a really solid addition to her discography, and while I think BB/ANG3L is a stronger record, 333 still shines. There's so many moments on this album that set it apart from other albums from similar artists. She explores so many different sounds and vibes on here - everything from breakbeats on "Shy Guy" to dance-pop on "The Chase." I'm so happy Nashe is getting more recognition these days; she really deserves all her flowers!!

English Teacher - This Could Be Texas (2024)

I first discovered English Teacher in August or September of last year, when their song "The World's Biggest Paving Slab" appeared on my Youtube recommended. I had that song on LOOP for months after that - it was just so damn good. I didn't really keep up with ET as a band in the months between "Paving Slab" and This Could Be Texas, their debut record. I saw it on AOTY when it first came out and was strangely, really scared to give it a listen. So I put it off way more than I should've. I guess a part of me was afraid that this album wouldn't live up to my expectations only hearing "Paving Slab.' But god damn did they deliver. Suffice to say this very much DOES live up to my expectations. There are so many diverse sounds and themes being explored here, all while going incredibly hard. The vocals are excellent, and the melodies are all so memorable. It's an ambitious album and it's clear that they've mastered their craft already, one album in. Ughhh it's so good. There's more exciting moments like the aforementioned "The World's Biggest Paving Slab" and "R&B," slower and gentler cuts like "Sideboob" (my FAV!!), and really fun synthy cuts like "Not Everybody Gets to Go to Space," which while being my least favourite, still sticks out to me! If that's the lowest point on your album, you have a damn good album. I'm so glad I mustered up the courage to finally listen to this, and I will eagerly await what other lessons my English Teachers will teach on their next record.

Syzy - The weight of the world (2024)

I want to start this blurb out by saying that riddim is NOT my forté. I am totally unfamiliar with the conventions of the genre and how this holds up compared to Syzy's contemporaries. That being said, this shit is heavy as fuck. I went into TWOTW totally blind, with no prior knowledge of what kind of music Syzy makes. All I knew was that there was a kmoe feature.

Each track is so intricately put together, with really delicate nuances and details hidden beneath the layers. This is an album that demands every ounce of your attention. I tried listening to this while reading a book (usually goes well, even with really loud shit) and I could not focus on the book at all. There is no way to tune this out. That being said, you won't want to tune this out. You will sit down and listen to TWOTW and you WILL enjoy it. There's something to like about this record for everyone - not just those who normally jive with this type of music. The melodies are incredible and the buildups and drops are immaculate. The production is so detailed, with flourishes here and there that keep you engaged. Not to mention the kmoe feature is phenomenal.

"HEART123" features a gorgeous, euphoric melody, and great vocals from Kale. The first drop took my breath away (as many moments on this project did...I need an inhaler), and the energy was infectious. Same goes for "Take my energy!", an obvious standout and definitely one of the best tracks I've heard this year. What the fuck? I'm headbanging so damn hard. The outro is one of the gentler passages on the record, giving you some breathing room before you're thrown back into the fun with "Caught up (in circles)" - a track that sounds like exactly that: spinning rapidly in a circle. That's my favourite 3-track run on the record, but I could go on and on about the track continuity like this. TWOTW manages to find a wonderful balance between soft, ambient sections and visceral yet euphoric drops. There's buildup and release. Inhales and exhales. Ups and downs.

This is starting to exceed my usual "short review" length and I'd really rather not make this a wall of text. I'll probably write a longer review for this record because HOLY SHIT??!?!??!!? But all in all, I think The weight of the world sees Syzy making some of the best electronic music out there. It's explosive and euphoric, with passages that both take your breath away and breathe life back into you. It's an insane effort and I'm definitely going to delve into more of their discography in the future. Wow, I love dubstep.

Okay! And that concludes my weekly first listens. I may or may not post next week - I'm going to be really busy and might not have time to write these. Nonetheless I'll try my best. See you soon and I hope you all have a great week :]

[aaronafgash]

10 NEW SONGS - 4/14/24

It’s become clear that when you’re not completely ignoring your whole ass job, writing a whole ass article becomes much more difficult - who knew! Still aiming to get these out every week, just might not be a Friday / same day situation. Alas.

1. Hold Up - Sasha Keable

Sasha Keable has quietly dropped some gems in the past 4 to 5 years (I was shocked to discover that she’s the featured artist on Disclosure’s “Voices”, a song I've adored for years), but this single might be her best release to date. She confidently sings here over jazzy, electronic keyboard chords, giving us some modern … dare I say … Amy Winehouse vibes? At the very least, she sounds more like Amy than whatever the fuck is happening with this Back to Black movie.

2. Illusion - Dua Lipa

This sounds like early Dua, and I mean that in the best way possible. She’s been getting a weird amount of hate in the pop world - I think it’s hard to follow an album as incredible as Future Nostalgia, but none of these songs are bad at all. Leave her be!

3. The Kill - Maggie Rogers

A clear highlight from a really strong album in Don’t Forget Me, I fuckin’ love this. Her harmonies here are top notch, and the upbeat country / folk vibe she has going works so well with her voice and songwriting. This song is so good that I actually looked up tickets to her Milwaukee show in the middle of typing out this blurb.

4. Espresso - Sabrina Carpenter

Just a fun little girly-bop bop with bonus track vibes - I think she put this out for Coachella promo? Regardless, happy to add this to the library. 

5. Nasty - Tinashe

Tinashe has quietly released some bangers since she blew up back in the day with 2 On - add this one to the list. I would go feral if I heard this drunk in a bar. I will go feral when I pay way too much to hear it at a bar via TouchTunes.

6. Player Two - Jordan Ward

Jordan Ward doesn’t miss and this is catchy as hell. Looks like it’s going to be featured in a movie I’ve never heard of based on the title - interesting. It kind of sounds like a cross between disco, yacht rock, and R&B.

7. Ash Roth! - Asher Roth

I was a MASSIVE Asher Roth fan back in the day, so I was thrilled to see that he dropped a new album this weekend. This was a clear highlight for me, as Asher introspectively reflects on himself and his career over a laid back beat, reminiscent of his Pabst & Jazz era. Dude can really rap and I’ve always said that. I’m also realizing now that he’s released multiple albums since 2020 that I never listened to, so that’s a rabbit hole I will absolutely be going down in the near future. At one point, a video existed on the internet of Asher Roth singing "Just Friends" by Musiq Soulchild live on stage, and while I can no longer locate this video, seeing that told me everything I needed to know about Asher Roth. I'll bet you had no idea I had this much to say about Asher Roth. I can't even explain it, I surprise myself too.

8. TWUG (That’s What U Get) - Jean Deaux

A great R&B beat and a solid vocal performance from Jean Deaux. I always find myself wanting more from her projects when I listen through, but she’s released great individual songs over the years. 

9. magic - strongboi

Knew literally nothing about them before writing this but have since discovered that strongboi = Alice Phoebe Lou + a producer / collaborator? Alice Phoebe Lou fucking rocks, as does this song! Slayyy, niche indie queen. This sounds like a breezy summer day and I'm loving every second of it.

10. How? - Dhruv

Another artist I know very little about, but my god, Dhruv has a beautiful voice. I could listen to this man sing all day.

[gavinners-soundbox]

Do you have a favourite case from the series in terms of best music?

Thank you for posting all the dgs soundtracks, I'm enjoying listening to them for the first time in a while :)

Hello! 🎸

Been thinking this one over ever since I got the ask. That's a tough question!!

I've really been divided between TGAA2-5 or oddly enough AA5-5? (TGAA SPOILERS) TGAA's wins overall because of the remixes they have done to previously existing songs (thinking more specifically the lobby/courtroom ones funnily enough). I love when games do the whole "It's for all the marbles, now". It has enough changes to the core music that doesn't over power it or change it into an entirely different track, but it still gives the songs an "oomph" factor they absolutely needed.

Yujin's reminiscence song was gorgeous (those violins paired with the xylophone are BEAUTIFUL, was always happy whenever they used that track for background reminiscing, glad they brought it back for the last case) + Words of Parting and Our Separate Paths making me feel like I'm in a Ghibli movie, The Game is Afoot is a great theme, perhaps one of the best songs of the whole TGAA (And I mean, come on, who can beat tap dancing) + Drums. Drums. Graah. Don't even remember if this one plays during case 5 or not. Just drums. Great Objection, great Prosecutor theme, Van Zieks involved in the case which means bangers, just a really, REALLY solid line up of songs in one package.

As for my runner up pick... The Dual Destinies mention is weird, I know. Putting what I feel about the story itself aside, since that's not what the question is about, I think that its OST has some of the weakest and strongest tracks of the whole main AA line. The highs are very high, but boy are the lows very low. However! I feel like we get to hear a lot of heavy hitters in their final case, or at least their positioning in the case is good, it elevates the scene that they're playing on.

All of the songs that I really really like end up being the ones that build up their final 30 seconds in a grandiose manner- Within the time frame where The Dark Age of Law is played, it's great at setting the mood, where in, example, case 3, it ends up feeling short sighted, overblown. PHANTOM is GREAT for what it's setting up to do, genuinely such a good example of telling a character's story through a track (I so wish they kept that electric guitar going for longer, it was so nice to hear a rare instrument in between the ost). It's not even that incredible of a song by itself, I would NOT listen to it on it's own for fun often- It's just that it does what it's there to do VERY well.

Case also has an Amazing pursuit variation, a treat to hear all of the objection themes of the characters (Genuinely think Athena has one of the best themes in the entire series, pronto) I think the mood matrix is awesome, and shout out Core 2013 even though you aren't part of 5-5. I'm a fan.

Shout out to 4-3, 5-2, AAI2-4 as well

[gr8a]

No, no, no! It may never have become a worldwide sensation, but it did exist! and it's actually good! Just underrated/not well-known (like Goncharov itself). So many people think it never got made/never debuted but actually IT DID but they just majorly retooled it. And they had to: mafia stuff was really big in the 70's, but by the 80's when ABBA* wrote the show, mafia stories weren't cool anymore: everyone was all obsessed with the Cold War. So they used that more contemporary political framework, more relevant to the time, as the backdrop. They also toned down the violence because that was never really ABBA's style, so they converted the gunfights to more intellectual "fights": matches of the game of chess. In fact the musical is called Chess (1984 concept album, 1986 West End opening, 1988 on Broadway). After the criticism of Goncharov's weird title, they decided to keep it simple. So the extremely basic plot summary is approximately this: the grand champions of America and the Soviet Union play out their respective nation's conflict at the World Chess Championship in Italy, and all the chaos and romance and drama that follow.

*(technically only the two B's, Benny and Bjorn (and Tim Rice, of Evita, The Lion King, Road to El Dorado, Aladdin, etc! So much talent in this underappreciated musical))

Don't worry, despite the surface level changes, we still get so much of the important stuff (including the love triangle(s)/quadrangle!). And even though it's "about" a board game, it's surprisingly deep and complex - also maybe surprising if you were expecting it to be bright and poppy like much of ABBA and Mamma Mia. They also combined some characters here and split up others there, changed their names (mostly so you wouldn't expect them to be identical to the Goncharov movie characters) until we are left with: the happily married (at the beginning...) Anatoly, the Soviet Chess Champ, and his wife Svetlana (also Russian), and Freddy, the American Champ and his lover, Florence (Bulgarian). Okay bear with me, I know it sounds really different, but you can really see so many of the character traits and plot points still remain:

complicated national identity feelings (can you ever really leave your home country? Can you be proud of being from somewhere like the Soviet Union, even if while knowing you have to get out?), violent nationalists that fail to see how similarly their behavior is to their "enemy" (or don't care as long as they win),

big reveal of the truth about someone's father (leaving it vague so I don't spoil it! 🤐),

clock/time motifs (the game of chess uses clocks to keep track of the players' time: they each have a total amount they can use on all of their turns put together, which means that they can lose the game by running out of time even if they were winning! I mean, come on? 🕰️ The symbolism!! ⏰ The drama!!!),

manipulation, betrayal, scheming, exploiting weaknesses, but also questioning whether it's worth hurting and using others to come out on top, honor among bastards,

rivals to nemeses to begrudging respect to frenemies to ??

realization of mutual attraction in a beautiful snowy place

complex haracters who we can't decide if we love or hate or sympathize with

I could go on

Not to mention, so many of the songs are major bangers, once you get over the weird subject matter; I mean, how could they not be with ABBA and Tim Rice involved? Many of the songs actually slapped: enough to break out as hit singles, topping legit pop charts, like One Night in Bangkok and I Know Him So Well (hit #1 in the UK, for 4 weeks! beautiful duet between the two female leads! Sure they're singing about one of the male leads but tell me how often we get F/F duets, beautiful and emotional harmonies? All I can think of is Wicked and clearly Elphaba and Glinda are a rock solid, basically canon ship, so....👀 Anyway it's about how both women think they know the male character and that each of them believes they won't end up with him, for entirely opposite reasons, and that these two women actually may not understand the man that well, and the two of them have a lot in common despite these seeming contractions), but so many people don't know the songs were originally from a musical and haven't even heard of Chess the Musical at all, they just think they were regular pop songs 😭

Anyway, the show didn't run very long and never really made it big, tragically, but it does exist! We don't have to just imagine that world (though of course it was never a worldwide sensation) and you can listen to it, and it's worth it! The music, the story, all deserve to be heard if you liked Goncharov. No, the climax isn't a bloody shootout, but they manage to rival Scorsese and craft an incredible, tense moment of emotional depth and drama in the climactic song, with swelling, nearly frighteningly powerful music, for a moment that I can honestly call... epic. Which sounds like a total joke when I say that the song is about the last few moves in a game of chess. But I'm 100% serious. My favorite version to listen to is Chess In Concert, starring Josh Groban (!) as Anatoly, Adam Pascal (of RENT fame) as Freddie, Idina Menzel (also RENT, and of course Wicked and Frozen) as Florence, and Kerry Ellis (also Wicked and so much else!) as Svetlana. It's still a weird show that dances between different tones, but it's a treat If you can get past the choral songs about the history of chess and cute Italian cities (which are the first two songs of course), a rock-badass-hype song about the Arbiter (like a referee for chess), a track in which a hymn to the spirit of chess transitions into a song in which literal cheerleaders dance and cheer for the merchandizing potential of the game. Anyway, there are some really incredible performances, I promise. You can find it on youtube (owo what's this) er I mean there's a DVD you can buy.

i just don’t know why we aren’t all talking about the fact that there was a goncharov musical WRITTEN BY ABBA(!!!) planned that never made it past previews. imagine the world in which mamma mia had flopped and goncharov had been a worldwide sensation with a remake starring amanda seyfried as katya

[dancing-to-architecture]

16 of 1001

Today's album: The Cars - The Cars (1978)

An absolute classic album. Can't wait to get into this one, even though i already know most of it by heart.

Good Times Roll-

I think every band in America is legally obligated to cover this one at least once, and for good reason, it's pretty simple, but it fuckin rocks.

My Best Friend's Girl-

Umm, I was told there would be nuclear boots. I love this song, but that line always threw me.

Just What I Needed-

The song you have to cover if your band has a really solid keyboardist and/or your guitarist kinda wants to show off. That synth slaps, though.

One of the best "i don't know if I'm in love, but i know like when you're around" songs i can think of.

I'm in Touch with Your World-

Experimental, weird as hell, but i dig it. Ratchets as percussion? I love the phrase: "I'm a psilocybin pony." Yeah, i can see why this one didn't make it to the radio.

Don't Cha Stop-

AGGRESSIVELY horny. Also pretty aggressively catchy.

You're All I've Got Tonight-

I fucking love the phasing drums in the intro and they are just amazing throughout, as is the keyboard. So good. This song rules.

You can say I'm wrong, i don't care.

Bye Bye Love-

Another absolute banger. With some of the bands on this list so far, I've wondered why they're here. Not the case with The Cars. A perfect breakup song.

Moving in Stereo-

It's not just me, okay? I *know* we're ALL thinking of Phoebe Cates's breasts upon hearing the intro.

If any song was most likely to be "the background song to the exact moment of puberty kicking you right in the chest", it's this one.

Gotta say, while the lyrics aren't exactly very sexy, the rest of the song didn't get the memo. This instrumentation fucks HARD.

All Mixed Up-

Kind of a weird closer to the album. Not a bad song, but one that's hard to get a read on. Love that sax outro, though. I miss hearing saxophone.

While i've heard 75-80% of this album dozens of times, i don't know that i have ever sat down and listened to it cover to cover. Not even sure what to say, other than it's damn near perfect. There's a reason everybody covers Cars tunes, they kick ass.

Favorite Track: You're All I've Got Tonight stands just a bit taller than the other giants on this album imo. Hard call, but i decided on this structure so i had to choose one.

Least Favorite Track: I'm in Touch with Your World is the weakest link for me, but an eighty foot-tall tree still looks tiny next to a stand of sequoias.

[gerogerigaogaigar]

Billie Eilish - When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?

From trap beats to soft acoustic guitar to low bass thumps what holds it all together is Eilish's ever wavering voice. This isn't my first listen, but I did notice something new this time. Any song that exudes confidence is coupled with auto tune and as the album goes on the songs get more sincere and the auto tune vocals go away. It's dramatic and vulnerable and sincere at the same time. An album that feels like it is struggling to stay above the water.

Todd Rundgren - Something / Anything?

I appreciate that Todd Rundgren seems to be having a good time making this record. I think if it were cut down to a solid 45 minutes it would be an amazing record. As it stands Something / Anything? definitely drags on. There are just a lot of banal ballads and not enough weird goofy shit. The track where Rundgren demonstrates various recording defects is weirdly one of the best on here. Interrupting the album to be like "here's what a poorly produced record sounds like" is really funny. I wish he goofed around more on this.

D'Angelo and the Vanguard - Black Messiah

When this album came out I just let it pass me by. D'Angelo is incredibly influencial, but I've just never found his music that engaging. And then a friend was like "no you should check it out it's really good" so I listened to it and it was really good! The tone is so warm and so intimate. It's produced like a late 60s funk record with lyrics to match. Putting aside his playboy persona D'Angelo opts for very socially conscious lyrics about social unrest, the romanticization of suffering, the BLM movement, etc. It's a really beautiful album, it never loses it's groove, and it never gets boring.

Diana Ross - Diana

My knowledge of post Supremes Diana Ross is basically just as the sample from リサフランク420 / 現代のコンピュー. That song isn't on this album but my point is that I had no meaningful frame of reference for this and I kinda didn't expect much. Turns out that it was full of sick disco bangers! Yeah it's basically a CHIC album with Diana Ross on vocals and that's not a bad thing. It just seems natural that she would sing disco given her influence on the genre.

Taylor Swift - 1989

I don't really get Taylor Swift. This album is fine. It's not great, but it's fine. So why are people so worked up over her paint by numbers breakup songs? Its cause they wanna fuck her right? This is literally just a worse version of Emotion by Carly Rae Jepsen. I know this album came out first don't fucking get at me. Just listen to Emotion it's infinitely better.

[guster-animations]

TADAAAAA! it's done

here's a link. i think it works and that it doesn't let you edit it.

don't ask where hiveswap and beyond canon are. i couldn't do the whole thing in time and it would be silly to not upload what i have on 4/13

man i sure hope tumblr didn't completely wreck the resolution on this

here's my commentary that i made while listening:

!! DISCLAIMER !!

some of this will be a bit critical of the music created by homestuck fans. i'm not going after them as a person, i'm just saying what i don't like about their music that's probably 10 years old. i don't mean any bad faith towards the musicians who put their time and effort into creating the songs i've ranked.

vols. 1-4: obviously uuhhhh not the greatest start. mostly just bc it was 2009 and electronic music was Very limited. i ended up placing a bunch of these songs in higher tiers than i should've bc of that. nothing in these albums are very Good except for doctor and sburban jungle but it wasn't a bad listening experience

midnight crew drawing dead: did you know that kevin regamey made a song for this album? yep. the sound director of tunic. this album is pretty primitive. it's a bunch of electronic jazz imitations and they all blur together. very forgettable

vol. 5: this one is really weird. on the one hand it has some of my favorite homestuck music in general. on the other hand a Lot of the tracks suck. it shows how open and fan-friendly homestuck was back in the day. everyone got on the album, even if their song was just a sped-up version of endless climb

alternia: it's just toby fox. what do you want me to say. i enjoyed the video game inspired ones far better than i did as a 12 year old (i didn't play any video games besides minecraft/coolmath until a few years ago)

squiddles!: man this was a weird concept. no huge bangers in here imo, but some tracks are alright. definitely should be getting more attention. although some tracks did not fit their title at all like you had ONE job and that job was to provide a track that sounds like a squiddle afternoon

the felt: same thing as midnight crew where a lot of the tracks are very similar, but it's a lot better because reversed sound effects are a Much Better theme than crappy electronic jazz. also some really great tracks in here

vol. 6: this is the one with all the meme tracks. best songs are frost and obviously megalovania. on a separate note i was prepared to put courser All the way at the top with its fantastic opening and then it got into the actual song and i was thoroughly disappointed

strife!: tensei's specialty (in homestuck) is metal remixes of songs so he made a whole album of them! it's alright. i liked atomic bonsai. all the tracks are pretty unpolished. again, it was 2010, who am i supposed to blame.

alterniabound: very solid all around. not much to say lmao medium: wow this album is Very Good! half of the songs made it into my "favorites" tier so i think that speaks for itself. idk how clark powell did it but the ambience created by these tracks is really beautiful.

mobius trip and hadron kaleido: i'm gonna be real and say it. i don't like this one. it makes more sense when you consider what inspired the album--early 2010s pop SUCKS. plus michael bowman's singing voice is not great in this context

vol. 7: the edgy one! some cool ideas here, but most of them just really weren't great. or maybe i've just heard them too many times. black rose green sun would probably be higher up if i didn't listen to it so much as a 13 year old

sburb: i never listened to this album before and I Really Wish I Had. really creative and beautiful piano solos. go give it a listen the wanderers: another really underrated one! it gives so much life to the exiles

prospit and derse: i had the hsmusicwiki artist commentary pages pulled up while i listened to this and i'm not sure if solatrus's comments made me rank these tracks lower. they lack polish and he seems to agree, but maybe if these were new to me the songs would've been ranked higher. the concept is awesome though and it was handled pretty well

vol. 8: it might be the overlistening thing (Again), but this album has really not aged well for me. the songs honestly all seem rushed….. nothing is great

song of skaia: another album that sadly evaded my tween self due to bandcamp crap. it's awesome. very poetic that the original composer of skies of skaia would create a mini-album that brings the song to life in its full majesty at the end of the webcomic's first half

coloUrs and mayhem: man. this one. how is it this good? it's banger after banger after banger and it doesn't stop and i love it. they should've given homestuck to the fans when they had the chance vol. 9: an overall REALLY solid album wow

symphony impossible to play: i don't talk about it enough but i love overture canon edit and it's been my dream for years to arrange it for concert band--or really any of the four amazing instrumental tracks in the album. not that i would EVER have the guts to give it to my band directors (part self consciousness about my ability to write music and part bc it's from freaking homestuck) but it's good to have a sense of accomplishment y'know?

one year older: this guy made a whole album of chill piano tracks. actually it only has 3 of those. the other songs are outstanding as well. without a doubt my favorite homestuck album

genesis frog: ??????? how is this?? this good? it's such a wonderful classical-sounding (dw not actual classical bc that is Boring as Hell) piece that encapsulates the wonder of homestuck's environments. i am in awe

cherubim: prospit&derse walked so this album could run. that being said, the similar tracks being next to each other kinda dampens the excitement on the bangers for me. also the day before i listened to this album my right earbud stopped working and it ruined carne vale and probably some other tracks that i didn't realize had stereo audio

collide: you know how much i love oppa toby style. well you probably don't because i don't talk about homestuck music that much. well this flash is the combination of 4 homestuck musicians using their signature styles beautifully and better than ever before in the homestuck canon. also james roach is there :D

vol. 10: and the final one that i feel like doing before posting this the first time! i'll do hiveswap/pq/^2 later it's just an obvious thing to post this on 4/13 instead of the whole thing 1 week later. there's a sense of closure behind this music. it shows how much they'd grown since homestuck started and how much it impacted them as a person. and it makes the album a whole lot better because of that

hiveswap act 1 ost: this is a soundtrack with its own defined sounds and they're wonderful but the tracks are too short to stand out. rustblood fell under the curse of of me losing all my enjoyment of it because i listened to it too much. sorry :(

hiveswap friendsim: i thoroughly enjoyed the commentary provided on the hsmusic wiki. and the music duh. probably a bit rushed? how often did those updates come out? like every 1 or 2 weeks?

pesterquest: this wasn't on the tier list and i am SO SAD about it because i really like the pesterquest soundtrack

beyond canon: this album has recieved a lot of my listening time in the past, but it doesn't bring me any joy when i know what little the dedication of the artists amounted to. their commentaries show how excited they were to be on the first homestuck^2 album. they didn't know how quickly the whole thing would collapse under their feet. on the other hand all the songs slap! idk why but this is the only album i had listened to a ton that has Grown on me since then. maybe because a lot of the songs are more abstract and genre-specific than the rest of the homestuck discography, and i can recognize and appreciate that now that i'm older. shrugs well i really like the music

hiveswap act 2 ost: good. glad i can comprehend what an ace attorney is now

thanks for reading :)

[sanstropfremir]

Who are some 4th gen groups that you've been listening to/watching?

my tastes flip all over the place constantly, so what i'm listening to on a daily basis is extremely variable, but there are definitely groups that i've been keeping my eye on and have made their way into my general rotation!

purple kiss - another absolutely flawless discography. like actually. they have two eps and they are both perfect. also they're great performers please watch zombie if you have not already.

billlie - excellent performers, excellent discography. they're still so new (they debuted in november!!) but again, lots of promise. i recced gingamingayo already and there's a couple more bsides on the playlist.

oneus (and onewe) - when will they blow up and get the recognition they deserve? both of their discographies are flawless, and oneus has amazing choreo (black mirror!!!!) to boot. other recs: valkyrie (their debut?!?), luna, rewind (the choreo has moves from all their other choreos in it), regulus, veronica, tbh just watch this 30min live set.

onf - obvs they're on hiatus rn which is honestly tragic but i really like their discography and 2021 brought us some of their best bangers (goosebumps), but also sukhumvit swimming is a personal fave.

onlyoneof - i've talked about them before, i'm a big fan of their discography. i love what they did with the choreo for suit dance, thank god someone is finally using costumes with intention.

a.c.e - also on hiatus, much to my eternal dismay and the tragedy of the whole industry because who is holding up the vocals now that donghun AND jun are gone??? it feels weird to call them fourth gen and i don't usually group them in the fourth gen category but i'm not gonna pass up a chance to promo my boys. changer, down, undercover, savage, goblin, take me higher.

ateez - that was probably obvious, given the state of my blog. i don't listen to the hugest spread of their discography but they are one of the top performance groups for a reason (my two fave songs are on the playlist below)

blitzers - my fave bg debut from 2021!! i love these boys i think they have so much promise and they do not seem to take themselves all that seriously which i love. will make a mistake made my best choreo of 2021 list!

cix - just a good solid bg. they're pretty good performers, they have a good creative team, and they make bangers. jungle is unfairly good.

some interesting things from rookies from the last few weeks:

this absolutely fucking BANANAS pink fantasy choreography; even though the mv came out in nov they're promoting now for some reason.

this new bg trendz has some really fun choreo; one for trauma (fantastic opening sequence) and one for their title track villain (excellent prop work? i'm so impressed with their choreographer). i think this is their debut(?) so i'm gonna be keeping an eye out for them in the future.

and here's a playlist of some of my fave fourth gen tracks, which is covers groups and also soloists! it's not totally comprehensive of all my faves because i cut a lot for flow, but it's a pretty good indication.

[weuschoiceheart]

Honestly…I’m a bit disappointed.

Maybe it’s because my expectations were too high after Drunk-Dazed? I don’t know, but Tamed-Dashed doesn’t hit as hard. I really love the falsettos and vocals in the chorus, but other than that, nothing really stand out. It’s a song I’ll probably listen to as a pick-me-up or I’ll put into my cheerful and happy playlist, maybe it’ll grow on me after I listen to it more. Overall, it sounds subpar compared to their other title tracks, more like a generic pop b-side rather than a title track. I wished the instrumental was stronger in the chorus, the pre-chorus was pretty solid (especially the ”nana nana” part, the buildup was really good), the verses…weren’t much, and there’s this weird vocal effect that I’m not fond of. For fucks sake, Belift mixers and engineers, please stop putting audio effects over their beautiful vocals. Drunk-Dazed was so so so good, and could’ve been a huge banger on my list, but the mixing there ruined my first few listens before I started getting accustomed to it. Stop it with the auto tune. Our boys sound just fine without it.

Also, I wished the finale was more grand and full, rather than just repeating the same old chorus structure (like the outro for d-d, I can ramble on and on abt how perfect it is). Since I love the constant riff they had going throughout the hook, I would’ve added that to connect the bridge and final chorus together, and then added more ad-libs in the background of the final chorus. The ending caught me off-guard, maybe put in a more casual fade-out, with the same descending notes as the bridge? I don’t know, but I feel like adding more instrumentals and vocals might make it stronger.

Still haven’t listened to the b-sides yet, I’m really excited for Upper Side Dreamin :) Maybe I’ll do an analysis on each of them too

[colorisbyshe]

👀 so did you isten to any good and new music in april

i was gonna hold off and wait until jessie ware's album released tonight to make this post but i THINK im gonna want to do a mini live-blog of that album and this post is already massive enough as is sooo

April Faves!

Newly Released:

"High Life" by Bloc Party. Fun vibes. Very relaxed and I think is quite great for the warmer weather and driving with the windows down. Great riffs in this song.

"Dead Wood" by Enter Shikari. Enter Shikari is a weird band for me because I was SUUUPER into their original demos that you could download off like... mypace? And then I forgot they existed. Until this album? So that's CRAZY that they're still here it's been 15 years since I cared about them. Anyways, this song is like... kinda theatrical and WEIRD but not in a theatrical way. It has a bunch of string instruments and a sense of foreboding, I like it. One of the more "for beginners" track on a fairly experimental album. Need to listen to the album more cause I'm unsure if this is my favorite. "Bloodshot" is a great combo of more high speed electronic influences crashing their more hardcore influences. Dubstep energy without the dubstep.

"Be the One" by Bree Runway and Khalid. Radio friendly song of the summer. Vocal chemistry off the charts. Just sweet and soothing.

"GLBTM (Studio Outtakes)" by Daft Punk. Made me cry. I miss Daft Punk so fucking much. Beautiful instrumental.

"冷たい風 (30 Universe Ver)" by Penicillin. Jrock, if you couldn't tell by the Japanese title. It's okay if you don't like listening to non-English music but plEASE listen to the guitar shredding at ~2:27.

"Angel" by Shygirl and Fatima Al Qadiri. ETHEREAL AND HAUNTING.

"Coup" by Frost Children. Earlier, I made a post about how my music taste is getting worse... this album and this song inspired that post. The Medic Droid meets 100 Gecs. Just stupid electronic music it's EMBARRASSING. "Angel's Thoughts" is also an electro banger.

Choosing a song off the new Buck-Tick album is hard. It's all a banger to me but I suppose I really love Namonaki Watashi and the contrast between the way the instrumental feeling like it's sparkling and the strong emphasis of his vocals. Scarecrow is also great, just has a nice intensity throughout the whole thing.

"Midnight Dreams" by Ellie Goulding. Putting out a disco-inspired dance album in the same month as Jessie Ware was BRAVE but I think this album is pretty refreshing. It's just extremely proficient at being... a dance album Ellie Goulding would make, y'unno?

"I'll Remember for Me, I'll Remember for You" by Yaeji. An odd choice from this album, since it's more an interlude than a full song. But I just love that it's this moment of calm on an experimental, erratic and yet there's a creeping sense of... wariness over it all.

"D N D" by Apink. The only Kpop on the list so far?? Grown women showing off vocals while feeling like cotton candy.

"Vinglevingle" by Heize. More kpop except it has more a 2010s eurodance vibe but like... matured.

Came out 3/30 but that is April to me. "Zodiac Killa" by Jean Deaux. This is the type of song to play during a montage of a woman driving across the country, running over men, stopping to ransack jewelry stores, before reuniting with her lover, another woman on horseback.

Honorary Mentions:

"Say it to Me" by Otto Knows. It's a dance track. You know how it is.

"She Don't Mind" by Karencici. I could see Tinashe doing this song except it's largely in mandarin, so like... if Tinashe could sing in mandarin. Talking about Tinashe, it's not her best track, but "Who's Taking You Home" with Kyle is solid enough and also from this month.

"Isumad (Lakim Remix)" by Cookiee Kawaii. I liked this entire album but I choose this one just for having a run time over 3 minutes, a rarity for her! Funky remix. Another take on a nostalgia sound but modernized perfectly.

De De Mouse put out multiple releases, they're good. Check out De De Mouse in generic if you want like... annime OPs/EDs ramped up by funk and other more experimental influences.

Technically came out 3/31 but WHATEVER. "Vampire" by Kvi Baba, the Trigun Stampede OP guy.

Not Released in April:

"Writhe" by Daine. 100 gecs but more emo.

"Over You" by Daddy DJ. Sorry... Daddy DJ really is just like... comfort music at this point. Peak 2000s dance music.

"Mercurial" by Silica Gel, a korean rock band. Love the vocal effect for this song. Just love the resonating nature.

"Wings of Time" by Tame Impala, the song they did for Dungeons and Dragons. Throwback roooooock sound. Blare it with the windows down while driving past a beach at sunset. Trust me it's a vibe.

Revisited a looot of Utada this month. "Michi" remains a bop that stuck with me this month. Just good, mature jpop. Not alone not alone not alone!

Rest in Peace Ryuichi Sakamato. There's many songs to really attribute to such an influential figure but sometimes all you need is a straightforward song like Rain.

"Broken Mirror" by Boom Boom Satelittes is some Jrock tha tFUCKS

[lyteupthelyfe]

ok.

time for like.

a halfway/two thirds no-spoiler review of The Forsaken Maiden? for some reason? because i want to? everything here is based on my impressions thus far—i have not completed the game yet

In short, it’s a fantastic game so far.

WRITING - 8/10; At first, I found it slightly jarring or hammy, but once you get into the game and get the like…style that they’re going for, the whole experience is enhanced

STORY - 8.5/10; once you get past the prologue and a fair way into chapter one, the plot gets interesting and really just decides to strangle your heartstrings—although it gets knocked down a bit because i found chapter 2 a) short and b) weird, but both halves of chapter 3 are just as long and just as emotionally investing as chapter 2. At this point in time, it seems that there are either going to be a prologue and six chapters total, or a prologue, five chapters, and an epilogue. HOWEVER it also gets bumped up for story because imo the various in-game menus, as well as a couple quirks with the VO, really help to build up suspense—a suspense i hope is well-paid off, in the end.

CHARACTERS: 9/10; again, something that takes some getting used to, but for where i am in the game (about, perhaps, under a quarter maybe? into chapter four) the characters have so far been fairly compelling—Barren, Laty and arguably Lac mainly, probably by virtue of being the characters we spend the most time with—although Chapter 1 and Chapter 3 (O)’s characters and events also deserve a shout out here.

COMBAT: 10/10 Refreshingly updated from The Isle Dragon Roars, you can now have up to four characters in your party—and although I was at first sceptical of how you cannot change the weapons/armour for the maidens, their attendants, or Lac, and how no maiden or attendant can ever gain exp, Barren and Laty’s (the only two permanent characters) levels and skills allow for flexible combat styles and synergy with the forced revolving-door party members—who also come packing with solid skills for each area of the story, even if sometimes they can become wanting for strength and defence from time to time. The new array of skills, including new party-side skills that can inflict seal and curse, which were enemy-only in The Isle Dragon Roars, brings new depth and aspects to combat, and the addition of new “duo skills” that each maiden-attendant pair have help in keeping the crystal-mana mechanic interesting. The expanded roster of enemies also keeps things fresh, while if you’ve played the Isle Dragon Roars, you’ll see a familiar face here and there.

MUSIC: 10/10; the soundtrack is fantastic—even if it is only a couple tracks (i think perhaps under 10-20 songs?), each one is a banger and suits the mood perfectly—the main menu theme deserves special mention. It feels less “generic” than The Isle Dragon Roars—and perhaps rightfully so; if we can conceive of TIDR as a group of friends playing DnD in a standard fantasy campaign, this is more of an interactive story/visual novel/rpg so far, where i’m not even sure i can trust the narrator

EXPLORATION: No number, just observations. Just like the first game, exploration is still card-by-card, however with The Forsaken Maiden having many more dungeons—and rather large dungeons, at that—than the first game, the jump mechanic (moving the right stick) WILL be your best friend in backtracking or general exploration if you go for full map exploration, like i do.

Overall, The Forsaken Maiden is shaping up to be a game that could outshine The Isle Dragon Roars, in both quality of gameplay and the length of the game—and do you need to have played the first game? no—although having played the first game can lead to some very interesting what on EARTH does this even mean??? moments while playing (and yes, the two games seem to be curiously connected in some capacity). This game seems to be both longer and darker than The Isle Dragon Roars, and if it keeps to where its plot seems to be going, then honestly it could be one of my games of the year (though tbf the only other games i’m playing this year are Arceus, Triangle Strategy, Three Hopes, Pokémon Scarlet and maybe Xenoblade 3–as well as BotW 2 and Silksong, if they do end up coming out this year)—and if The Forsaken Maiden ends well, then I would safely say that I cannot wait until the third instalment to the Voice of Cards series.

[beevean]

Thoughts on the OG Castlevania 1?

Ehhhhh.

First, the positives. C1 does not suffer from any form of Early Installment Weirdness, and in theory, a beginner could start from this game and get the "real" Classicvania experience. This is not a given, as games like Metroid 1, Megaman 1 and Sonic 1 have oddities that make them stand out from future games that refined their respective formulas. This to me suggests that the devs were confident that the style of the game didn't need improvements, which is true in a way, although of course future games all have something to set them apart, from split paths to multiple character to a multidirectional whip.

From a technical standpoint, the game is excellent. This game is as old as Metroid 1, Megaman 1 and Legend of Zelda 1, but in my opinion it makes a better use of colors (funny, considering this game is meant to look like a horror movie) and it just detailed enough to be appealing. Comparisons:

I just really like this shot, okay? From the gate to the plants on the walls to the creepy castle complete with birds to the moon and that beautifully pixellated cloud.

As for the music, even though the legendary Michiru Yamane wasn't involved yet, the OST is entirely made of bangers, in that iconic "'80s game" style but already a gothic vibe. Vampire Killer is literally in every game in the series, but special shoutout to Wicked Child, Heart of Fire, Out of Time (probably my favorite track), and the two Dracula themes.

Also, it's the perfect length, not too long and not too short.

That being said, I did not have fun with this one.

I can't really explain why. Maybe it's the simplicity of the game - there's not really much to it, it's a classic platformer at the end of the day. Maybe it's the difficulty, that slightly crosses the line from "challenging" to "mean-spirited" - yes I know that games at the time were deliberately made hard as balls to make kids spend their money, but I grew up with 2000s games so I'm not really into that philosophy :P maybe it's the controls, which this time really felt bad, in a way future games didn't, and I'm not just talking about Super Castlevania IV - Simon is slow and his jump is horrible and requires precise timing if you want to go forward, and knowing that it was deliberate to make the platforming harder does not help, because in other games I could feel that levels were designed with the limited physics in mind, but here, again, it felt more mean-spirited. Or maybe it's the fact that this was for me the fifth Classicvania I've played in a row, and by this point the novelty has worn off - and as I said, this game really offers nothing special beyond hard platforming and enemies who just want to ruin your day.

Oh, and the bosses were there. I made all of them take a bath in holy water. The only one I had to defeat by normal means was Dracula's first phase, and he was cool, great example of how Castlevania teaches you to find the right rhythm in your moves. That's the main appeal of the series, which this game introduced with flying colors... oh how it introduced it...

I respect it for being the first title in the series, and I'm in a way impressed by how solid it was, again with no real oddities, but this is not a game I'm going to touch again.

[patricksmusicblog]

DMX Discography Overview

It's Dark and Hell is Hot(1998): DMX's distinctive growl, aggression, and arresting flow is fully formed and at its highest potency here on It's Dark and Hell Is Hot. It's Dark and Hell is Hot is, for the most part, a dark menacing and street-orientated album. Some tracks even lean toward a horror-core vibe, "X is Coming" being the bleakest and most unsettling of the bunch. Still, there are deeply emotive tracks like Let Me Fly, Look Through My Eyes, and Convo, where DMX gets introspective and lets us in on his struggles internally and morally/spiritually. There are also hits here, like the hard but catchy "Ruff Ryders Anthem" and the chill summer jam "How's It Going Down." The album's production is handled by PK and Dame Grease, with the album's calling card produced by Swizz Beatz. On a broader level, DMX was a presence in the rap game filled some of the space that had been vacant since Tupac Shakur was murdered, passionate, aggressive, and visceral only specifically representative of the east coast. He also was the answer to the shiny suit luxury rap era Puffy was dominating with in 1997. The album is pure classic and certainly a top-tier album of 1998. Rating: 9.0/10

Favorite Tracks: Rough Rydahs Anthem, How's It Going Down, Intro, Crime Story, Look Thru My Eyes, Let Me Fly

Flesh of my Flesh Blood of my Blood(1998): Flesh of My Flesh Blood of my Blood was released in late December of 1998 cemented DMX as the biggest rapper of that year and late 90s in general(Jay-Z notwithstanding). Aside from the Beastie Boys, the album had the highest first-week sales in a highly competitive year. As for the quality of this one, It's more of DMX's burst of rough and jagged rhymes. When he's not menacing(which is most of the time), he's as introspective and pain-stricken as he was on It's Dark, and Hell Is Hot. The apex of that would be "Slippin," an iconic song that is amongst the saddest tracks in hip-hop history as DMX open shares the trauma of his upbringing, being an addict and struggling to get out of it only to find its way back in it and everything that surrounds that in his past. It's really the fight in the song that makes the song his willingness not to quit and keep trying that makes the song "I got to get up, get back on my feet so I can tear sh*t up." What keeps the album from being the classic his debut was is that Swizz Beats takes the helm on most of the production here, which is hit or miss. DJ Shok, PK, and Dame Grease have a lot of the best beats here. They bring out that dark energy and tone that makes for X's best work. All in all, it's still a great project and amongst his best work. Rating: 8.0/10

Favorite Tracks: Slippin', Dogs For Life, Coming From, Black Out,

...And Then There Was X(1999): ...And Then There Was X picks up were DMX previously left out brutal, pummeling bone-crushing violence come is to be expected. "One More Road to Cross" and "The Professional"(one of the albums hardest tracks) are early highlights. Then there's the heartfelt but mature writing of "Here We Go Again," one X's best tracks, and "More 2 a Song," the ladder of which speaks to DMX's avoidance when it comes to rapping about the flashy materialistic side of things. While this is DMX's third full length album, it sounds more like a full-fledged sophomore effort to It's Dark and Hell is Hot while Flesh of my Flesh' plays more as an extension, too, or a very good b-side to its predecessor. This album contains some of DMX most well-known hits it including his biggest "Party Up"(Up in Here), a high energy track produced by Swizz Beatz that finds DMX being peak DMX, the chorus is both funny and little corny, there's a good touch of humor in DMX's bars on the track that give it charm. Another well-known X track is "What these B*tches Want" ft Sisqo, a silly and misogynistic track that has its charm and humor but is a bit lacking as far as the chorus in my opinion. "What's My Name?" however, is a banger that's one of DMX's better singles and meant to be played at a high volume out of your car. ...And Then There Was X is another strong album from DMX, and its more consistent than Flesh of my Flesh' less visceral and hungry than It's Dark. 8.5/10 

Favorite tracks: Party Up(Up in Here) Here We Go Again, What's My Name, The Professional, Angel, More 2 a Song

The Great Depression(2001): DMX's fourth straight #1 album finds him trying new things. There are the rap-rock efforts like Bloodline Efforts, and I'ma Bang which will always be hit or miss depending on the kind of music listener you are. To me, they're listenable but amongst the corniest of DMX records in his catalog. The worst is the silly/sad "She Was Da Bomb" where X writes a track about basically impregnating a woman and threatening to be a deadbeat. Yeah, the lows here are amongst the lowest of his career. Transversely, "Who We Be," a socially conscious record, is one of DMX's best tracks ever, and "We Right Here" has a great beat and is amongst the best on the album. Aside from the hits, you get the heartfelt "I'm Missing You" and the thoughtful "When I'm Nothing". There are also more R&B sounds here which I think is a nice change of pace. The Great Depression is solid; it's less aggressive and consistent than any of the three albums before it; some songs really work, and a few don't. I think it's worth listening to; there are essential DMX tracks here, but I wouldn't consider the LP quintessential as a whole. 7.5/10

Favorite Tracks: Who We Be, We Right Here, When I”m Nothing, I”m Missing You,

Grand Champ(2003): DMX's fifth straight #1 album is even more boom or bust than The Great Depression is. Where The Great Depression had weird moments and tracks that didn't quite work. Here X doesn't sound quite as passionate as he does early in his career. In an interview he did on 106 n Park around the time of the album's release, he'd spoken about not making what he should off his music, and I wonder how much that put a damper on writing and recording for this album. When it comes to what's here, the menacing brutality and growl is here, but it isn't as consistently visceral as it was early on. At 24 tracks, it's also a long, over-bloated album but even shorting it; I don't think the bulk of the music here holds up through time. "Get it On the Floor," has a terrible chorus, and most tracks between 13-23 are forgettable. As for the best of what's here "Where the Hood At" Produced by Swizz is a classic DMX track it's hard and has a great beat and hook. "Dogs Out" Which features Kanye on production. Then you have "We're Back" ft Eve and Jadakiss, another highlight and features pretty good verses from all three, but I believe Jada had the best performance. The international version of the album features the track "X Gon Give It To Ya" another very good single from X. This is an interesting listen, and depending how die-hard an X fan you are you may still enjoy this. I think there are tracks worth salvaging, but it isn't an essential listen. 6.5/10

Favorite Tracks: Dogs Out, Where The Hood At, X Gon Give it to Ya

The Year of the Dog(2006):This is the point where the bottom really fell out on DMX's music. The highs here aren't amongst the highest of X's career, and the lows are certainly amongst the lowest—tons of generic and lackluster production, mediocre choruses. A weird rap/rock crossover. DMX's tenacity isn't as urgent or visceral, and a lot of what's here (tracks 2-10) sounds, sadly, like a caricature of himself(with "It's personal" as the exception). The best tracks on the album are sneak in at the end where you find songs like "Blown Away" and "Goodbye"; those are the most soul-bearing tracks on the album. As a whole, it's a below-average album that, aside from a few moments, The down turn reflected itself culturally and sells wise it was his first album not to go #1 and only to go gold, and by the mid 00s DMX wasn’t in most conversations when comes to being amongst the best . 4.0/10

Favorite Tracks: It’s Personal, Blown Away, Goodbye, Life Be My Song

Undisputed(2012): Undisputed was a well-intentioned, admirable comeback album for DMX.  There are some solid moments here "Cold World" Speaks on what he perceives as the rap game getting weak.  "I'm back" is one of the better tracks on the album. You can hear the pain coming through on "Have You Eva."  I like "Y'all Don't Really Know" because it comes close to some of his early work. Still, it just isn't enough; there are quite a few missteps on this album, whether it'd be the awful "Sucker for Love" or "I Get Scared" X sounds weaker vocally, and the production is lacking. There's some charm to "I Don't Dance" with MGK but it's somewhat awkward and not among his strongest singles.  It's better than Year Of The Dog but still far from the level of X's heyday.  5.5/10

Favorite Tracks: I‘m Back, Have You Eva, Ya’ll Don’t Really Know

DMX is an undeniable legend and quintessential to late 90s-early 00s hip-hop. His music and voice, and passion transcends its era and is easily felt now. His apex from 98-00' is highly recommended. Past that, it's a lot more hit and miss, but both the Great Depression and Grand Champ have some gems worth grabbing. Past that, it's even spottier but given X's internal struggles it was great we were even able to get those LPs. Fortunately, DMX seemed to be doing well and had finished an album before passing away, so I'm eager to hear what he'd been working on.