Kwon Eun Bi - Lethality

Release Date: October 12th, 2022

the iz*one leader's 3rd mini album

Review: I listen to her 2nd mini a few days ago because i noticed her 3rd was coming out. I didnt care much, but this ep seemed to be more interesting. Of course, great intro, and the title track keeps it going. I like the strings. Although, i felt the song could be stuck in the mid 2010s, but since its kpop, its fine. "Croquis" is bouncy. "Simulation" could be a sister song to Glitch. soft spoken voice. but the music, it reminds of Annie from the mid 00s, but less glitchy. "Flash" has a nice laid back vibe. And "hi" was unexpected, but it could have been a title track for Yena, its very upbeat and cute.

Summary:  I felt bad not liking her 2nd ep, but thankfully this album is better.

Favorite Songs: Underwater, Hi
Rating: 7/10

Kwon Eun Bi - Color

Release Date:  April 4th, 2022

the former leader of Iz*one.

Review: I don't miss them anymore. Ive and le sserafim have been thriving. Yena has been killing it with her solo work. And Eunbi actually released her 3rd mini album days ago. but first, this album came out in April. I notice whenever a kpop group has an interlude as the 1st track, it's always going to be good because it leads you on. Get Hype! "Glitch" is very glitchy. it stands out. I like "Magnetic" for its violin. then the last three are more of that streamline rnb ballads.

Summary:  Yeah, I'm happy for her, she's old compared to the other acts in kpop, so it's nice that the company hasn't toss her aside. As pleasing as her songs are, I think the album is very okay.

Favorite Song: Colors
Rating: 5/10

Kwon Eun-bi - Open

Release Date: August 24th, 2021
Genre: kpop

The leader of Iz*One

Review: I was unsure of the title track because it felt like it had the gimmick of some cabaret crap, but it's an easy song. I liked the beginning of "Amigo" and it has a nice build up, and I can hear it being an Iz*One song. "Blue Eyes" is soft and I like how the music kinda evaporates during the chorus, like the energy just gets zapped out and your ears feel like you're in high attitude. "Rain" sounds good, like an ost song. And "Eternity" is pretty.

Tracklist/Scorecard:
1. Open n/a
2. Door 7/10
3. Amigo 7/10
4. Blue Eyes 9/10
5. Rain 8/10
6. Eternity 9/10

Summary: It's fine. I saw a clip of her answering a question and Eunbi kept it real saying she was too old to debut in another group, but all the members of Izone still support each other. and so, solo kpop artist don't do it for me. The songs here are fine, and that's enough for me. It's hard to get excited.

Key Tracks: Blue Eyes, Eternity
Rating: 8/10

Explosions in the Sky - Take Care, Take Care, Take Care

Release Date: 4/26/11
Genre: Post-Rock

Review: If I ever made you a mix-CD between '05-'08, I probably used Explosions in the Sky's music as my secret weapons.  Yeah, these guys are climatic.  Lots of bands come and go within the genre of instrumental rock and the comparisons are noticeable.  On their 6th album, the band delivers on what they are known for.  I almost feel guilty criticizing them because it still sounds like an EitS album.  Considering that I'm very familiar with their catalog and once considered them to be untouchable, Take Care x3 doesn't provide an addition to their music.  What I loved about them was how they can transcribe emotions without words, but this album left me feeling uninspired.  Or maybe I've changed.

Favorite Songs: Last Known Surroundings, Postcard From 1952
Rating: 5.6/10

E.S. Posthumus - Makara

Release Date: 02/02/10
Genre: Orchestral

I didn't know this album was coming out. I love being surprised. If you never heard of this band, trust me, you have.

Review: The quickest review I can say is, if you are just a bit interested in movie soundtracks at all, give this a listen. Was it their intention to make music for movie trailers, I don't know. But it's almost inseparable at this point. The good news is, this album is very consistent and a lot more like their first album, epic choir music. It's easy to create your own story in your head. But is it revolutionary? Who needs it to be. This is the music I wanted to hear and they delivered. Very manly music. Great pacing as well. I suppose the dangers are, every song has so much texture and similar themes that aside from the gentler songs, I couldn't named the song by ear alone. So it does bleed together.

Tracklist/Scorecard:

1. Kalki 7/10
2. Varuna 7/10
3. Unstoppable 10/10
4. Durga 8/10
5. Manju 8/10
6. Kuvera 9/10
7. Ushas 8/10
8. Lavanya 8/10
9. Vishnu 10/10
10. Indra 8/10
11. Arise 10/10
12. Saint Matthew Passion 6/10
13. Krosah 9/10
14. Anumati 6/10
15. Moonlight Sonata 4/10

Summary: It's like Cartographer never happened and this album is the true successor to their mighty debut. This is your adrenalin junkie's album.

Key Tracks: Unstoppable, Vishnu, Arise
Rating: 8.0/10

E.S. Posthumus - Cartographer

Release Date: 01/14/08
Genre: Epic, Cinematic Orchestral

I hardly see any talk of this album. I know it's not as good, but Unearthed was too solid. I honestly haven't given the album a listen since maybe March, but I've been meaning to add this album to my blog. So with fresh ears, how much do I like it?

Review: So the first disk has Luna Sans doing vocals. What kind of vocals? New Age Enya type. It's actually really cool. Her voice really fits the vibrations of the music. Don't know what language she is speaking, but it sounds mythical. Just like the music. Very earthly. It's like music for Narnia.

It's around track 4 where i felt the vocals were getting in the way. She needs to stop being the focus. "Marunae" and "Mosane" are clear examples. Compared to the remix version, it blows it out of the water. Anyways, disk one is basically more mellow and I felt less dynamic. It's also 64 minutes long and her vocals hardly make a change so it got me so tired. I would rate disk one a 6/10.

But onward to disk two. I honestly wasn't hoping for much, but there were two bonus tracks and those two tracks are amazing. And the cool thing is, they not only took out her vocals, but they replaced them with either instrumental solos or choir melodies, or both. And then they rearranged the track order. It doesn't reach the level of their first album, but it's still amazing music. Although, yes, it's more mellow.

"Nasivern Pi" is insane. What is that, a flute? Awesome sub for the vocals. I always say about instrumental music that I need a focus so my mind can visualize it. So this song is great for that reason.

The biggest setback with disk two are the mellowness. Also, the length is a killer. Too much choir and violins and all that good stuff is too much. So yes, it gets dull. While reviewing this, I skiped around a bit and all of the songs are really cool, it's just hard to sit through it all. Most of them make excellent background music. I'll probably give the second disk a solid 7/10

Summary: Too much of the same. Would be okay if shorter or more diverse.

Key Tracks: Nolitus, Ashielf Pi, Oraanu Pi
Rating: 6/10

Thursday/Envy - Split

Release Date: 11/04/08
Genre: Post-Rock, Screamo

Well this album went way past my expectations. I was only looking forward to the Envy tracks, but Thursday really delivered.

Review: So it's only a bummer that this album didn't get the feel of a full complete work. Thursday's side is really good. Vocally and musically awesome. "In Silence" is a sick instrumental track.

Envy screams, but for me, their songs feel more passionate than other bands. And it helps that they have a backdrop of post-rocking elements.

Both sides get an 8.

Summary: Totally awesome.

Key Tracks: As He Climbed The Dark Mountain, In Silence, Pure Birth and Loneliness
Rating: 8/10

Ef - I Am Responsible

Release Date: 03/18/08
Genre: Post-Rock

"Give Me Beauty... Or Give Me Death!" was so damn masterful.

Review: Great intro track. "Två" is great too. It's exactly where their debut left off. Hard to really explain because it's instrumental. The soundscape is wonderful. Then it's all downhill from there. "Bear" just lasts way too long without a payoff and the middle section of the vocals trying to be meaningful ultimaly failed big time. "Thrills" goes nowhere. "Appendix" falls asleep. Finally, "A Tailpiece" just makes you feel like you wasted your time. Compared to their debut, it's really bad. As a standalone album, it's decent, but too often on the generic side of the post-rock. I'm hoping that they'll improve towards the right direction.

Summary: Boring for the most part.

Key Tracks: Soon, Två
Rating: 4/10

Elliot Minor - Elliot Minor

Release Date: 04/14/08
Genre: Classic trained Pop Punk

Interesting band

Review: I really liked the first track, vocals not so much, but the instruments are very interesting that I let them slide. The album has its good moments, but for the most parts, it just comes and goes.

Summary: Very interesting sound, but vocals sometimes don't feel good.

Key Tracks: Time After Time, Lucky Star
Rating: 5/10

Envelopes - Here Comes The Wind

Release Date: 02/18/08
Genre: Indie Pop

"If there's a party can i come?"

Review: So "party" is pretty much the only song I like. Everything else is just standard indie pop which hurts me to admit because "Party" is one of the best songs of the year...so far. I really wanted to like it, but the music doesn't hold my attention. Maybe Los Campesinos! is to blame because I discovered them not so long after and it caused Envelopes to feel that it was lacking more fun. I do enjoy some songs, but it doesn't outweighs the songs that I don't like.

Summary: Gets a bit tiring, but it's still alright if I had no option of changing the album. A lot of the tunes are forgettable.

Key Tracks: Party, Freejazz, What's The Deal
Rating: 4/10