Disclaimer: This is my opinion as a general music enjoyer and a sound engineer. This review does not take into account the history of the artists, and all criticisms are lighthearted.
I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU – JPEGMAFIA – August 1, 2024
7.5/10
Genre: Hip Hop/Rap
I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU is the fifth studio album by JPEGMAFIA, featuring 14 tracks. Historically, JPEG has exceptional mixing between vocals, instruments, and samples. Prominent examples of this include the songs “New Black History,” and “either on or off the drugs.” He is able to straddle the line of complexity and overcomplication, while only occasionally stepping into the latter. A highlight of the album is “Don’t Put Anything on the Bible,” featuring Buzzy Lee, which offers a perfect contrast between her angelic vocals with a more sultry beat and his rapping with lighter instrumentals. Overall, JPEGMAFIA is able to create a wide range of sounds while still keeping his style evident in his art.
No Name – Jack White – August 2, 2024
9/10
Genre: Rock
No Name is a classic Jack White project, with creative rhythm sections, raw vocals, and near perfect mixing. All components flow flawlessly together down to the smallest details, and his instrumental tones are a significant, yet often underutilized, feature. White brings it back to the 90s with the fuzzy quality of analog sound, yet adds a modern style that appeals to music today. This album is stunning on a technical and creative level; however, while the songs individually are all excellent, the album as a whole lacks replayability due to its lack of consistent storytelling. Despite this, No Name is still an incredible album.
Trouble In Paradise – Chlöe – August 9, 2024
6/10
Genre: Pop/R&B
Trouble In Paradise is a pop album that strongly features R&B elements and a 2010s nostalgic feel. This quality is likely the album’s biggest strength and greatest flaw. The songs are reminiscent of pop music that flourished from 2016 to 2019. Anyone who likes Camilla Cabello, Ariana Grande, older Beyoncé, or any other rhythmic pop artists would enjoy this album. However, Chlöe occasionally leans too far into this to the point where, vocally, she sounds too much like some of these artists, particularly Beyoncé or Ariana. This takes the album down a notch, as artists mimicking others without their own creative flourish exhibit a plainess and inability to develop their own style. Although this quality is disappointing, her singing talent is still evident, particularly on “Might As Well” or “Want Me.”
This Is How Tomorrow Moves – beabadoobee – August 9, 2024
8/10
Genre: Indie Pop
This Is How Tomorrow Moves by indie pop artist beabadoobee is an excellent example of how to make standout indie music while still appealing to the masses. She harnesses simple instrumentals, but maintains enough subtle uniqueness that separates her from the monotony of most indie music today. On top of this, she is not afraid to dip into other subgenres, such as bossa nova in “A Cruel Affair,” and folky in “Everything I Want.” Occasionally, her songs are slightly similar, but she is typically able to bring enough differentiation for it to be a minor observation, particularly if the songs are shuffled.
Funeral Soundtrack #4 – Destroy Boys – August 9, 2024
6.5/10
Genre: Rock
Destroy Boys return to their 90s inspired rock style with their new album, Funeral Soundtrack #4. Unfortunately, it was a near carbon copy of their last few records. With the exception of “Should’ve Been Me” and “Beg For Torture,” which both carry a heavier mix, every song sounds very similar. Even beyond this, it sounds almost exactly the same as their last album. This lack of creative growth put a damper on the listening experience and ended up leaving an underwhelming impression. The highlight of the album by far was the song “You Hear Yes,” as they perfectly incorporate their feature artist, Mannequin P***y, and employ a strong instrumental that builds to a great bridge.
Flight b741 – King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – August 9, 2024
7/10
Genre: 70s Blues Rock
Flight b741 is the 26th studio album by Australian band King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, and once again, they are sprinting outside the box with completely unique tunes. This album has strong 70s influence, bluesy country elements, and power rock riffs. Songs such as “Sad Pilot,” “Antarctica,” and “Daily Blues” even harness a gospel chorus that is woven throughout the tracks. Due to their specific music style, Flight b741 is a hard listen if you are not inclined towards the sound, however, King Gizzard has clear talent that shines through and turns their music not just into an album, but an experience.
Gelatinous Man – The Oozes – August 23, 2024
9/10
Genre: Punk
The Oozes have brought forth their debut album, Gelatinous Man, and it’s a strong start. They begin with a very underappreciated intro song, “Intro.” The entire album fits into clear 90s riot grrrl and punk vibes with The Oozes’ own little modern twist. For example, they utilize a synth or add small sound effects to stand out from the noise. Notably, they include the trumpetting of elephants in “Cuppa T” and a ready-set-go beep in “Ready.” Both aforementioned songs feature amazing basslines and the trans rage lyrics take their music back to the essence of punk, and bring back hope for the modern rock scene. Their raw sound can lean on the homogenous side, but they show great promise as a band for the future with their powerful debut.
Whether or not we agree on these rankings, this listening session has made clear the wide range of talent across genres that is showcased in music today.
