Lana Del Rey - did you know that there's a tunnel under ocean blvd

Release Date:  March 24th, 2023

When you know, you know

Review:  Lana Del Rey sounds like Lana Del Rey, right? so when the singles were release, I didn't think much of it beyond that it'll be on par with her other records. Even though the singles didn't excite me, it's still amazes me how the music can be basic, but her vocals has its own melody. 

The opening track is really good, but I credit that more to the choir than Lana's. The "Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko-Bop" part on "A&W" was a little weird, I wish the song had just ended, but it also felt like a flex that she can do whatever the hell she wants.

The turning point for me was when I heard the "Judah Smith interlude." like, what the heck is this? but those pastors know how to speak and it was really interesting. Then "Candy Necklace," I felt like I was transported into another world. "Kintsugi" is beautiful. it's so minimum, but her voice leads the way. "Paris, Texas" has this ballet quality to it that makes it delicate. it's very pretty. Then there's "Margaret" that is super sweet. I would say "Peppers" is the only weird one on this album. "Hands on your knees angelina jolie."

Summary:  for 70 plus minutes, I was entranced.

Favorite Songs: The Grants, Kintsugi, Paris, Texas, Margaret
Rating: 9/10

LE SSERAFIM - ANTIFRAGILE

Release Date:  October 17th, 2022

ouch, maybe it'll grow on me, but i really did not like this.

Review:  I love it when singers hang on to a syllable, but the "anti-ti-ti-ti-fragile" does not sound good at all. I'm sure millions of people will say I'm wrong, and to each their own. The only thing i do like is when that girl says "lovey, lovey, lovey, dovey, dovey, dovey" because it sounds so strange, it's funny. The song is a miss for me, but if I'm suppose to think about the whole picture, the concept, i guess i can understand how important of a statement this song is.

"impurities" is pretty good. it's a nice rnb style track. But "No celestial" is a very disney channel version of pop punk. They even drop the f-bomb in this song, so i feel that alone is going to make this a fan favorite. Are they cool? are they badasses?  apparently they are no fucking angel. i have mix feelings about this because i didnt grow up watching hannah montana or demi lovato. All i can think is that this is disney (not literally) trying to sell their image. And the last song is a smooth sweet pop song.

Summary: Yeah, i'm being harsh, their debut was so good, and "Blue Flame" was something. I just didn't like this. credit to Yunjin for helping with songwriting on 3-4, and same for Sakura on the last track. Great intro FYI.

Favorite Song: Impurities
Rating: 4/10

Los Bitchos - Let the Festivites Begin!

Release Date: February 4th, 2022

I was scrolling down on metacritic, saw that they were an all female band, so i gave them a listen.

Review: I firstly want to apologize because this band is good, they definitely sound fun with a Spanish flair. I liked "Pista (Fresh Start)," and "Las Panteras" on first listen. I never thought the album got bad, but there was a point where i got to thinking, "i guess this is it." There's no words either to occupy my mind, and only time will tell if thats a problem or not. But if their goal was to create old school Cumbia music, they succeeded. But is it good or bad cumbia music?  i can't tell, i just know, i no longer wanted more.

Summary: Hey, it's cumbia music.

Favorite Songs: Pista (Fresh Start), Las Panteras
Rating: 5/10

The Linda Lindas - Growing Up

 Release Date: April 8th, 2022

I too, was enhammered by their viral performance at the library.

Review: 10 songs, 25 minutes, they really remind me of the more accessible side of Sleater Kinney. makes me wonder if them channeling their inner Carrie Brownstein was intentional. Since they are all minors, I'm surprised that their lyrics didn't annoying me because they manage to be age appropriate without sounding like they are inexperience. Like, think of any other teen pop star that sings about love. These girls sing about growing up, a cat, and telling it like it is about a racist, sexist boy. There's no pretentiousness here, they just observe what their life is like.

Summary: Solid 25 minutes of riot grrrl.

Favorite Songs: Growing Up, Talking to Myself
Rating: 8/10

LE SSERAFIM - Fearless

Release Date: May 2nd, 2022

These girls had a lot of pressure, 2 former iz*one members, another high ranking contestant from produce 48, and they are on the same label as BTS.

Review: anyways, only 5 tracks here,  it opens with a runway fashion show type of song, which is always fun for an intro. Then the title track starts with bam ba-ba-ba-bam, and i thought it would be another repeating syllables song, but they never switch the tempo, which I respect. It always stays lowkey. I think its one of the best songs of the year. "Blue Flame" is pretty cool. I'm not too sure of "The Great Mermaid." It ends with "Sour Grapes" which I thought was fine.

Summary: They sounds like their own thing which is rare because there are so many girl groups out there. 5 tracks isn't enough to really assess them, but based on the title track, I'm really excited to see where they go next.

Favorite Songs : Fearless, Blue Flame
Rating: 8/10

Little Simz - Sometimes I Might Be Introvert

Release Date: September 3rd, 2021
Genre: British rap

Review: n/a

Tracklist/Scorecard:
1. Introvert 10/10
2. Woman 9/10
3. Two Worlds Apart 9/10
4. I Love You, I Hate You 8/10
5. Little Q, Pt. 1 - Interlude n/a
6. Little Q, Pt. 2 8/10
7. Gems - Interlude n/a
8. Speed 8/10
9. Standing Ovation 8/10
10. I See You 7/10
11. The Rapper That Came to Tea - Interlude n/a
12. Rollin Stone 6/10
13. Protect My Energy 6/10
14. Never Make Promises - Interlude n/a
15. Point and Kill 7/10
16. Fear No Man 7/10
17. The Garden - Interlude
18. How Did You Get Here 8/10
19. Miss Understood 8/10

Summary: Can't believe this is her 4th album and I never heard of her till now. Her 3rd album has a 91 on metacritic so I must have skipped it. Anyways, the opening track here is a banger. I love her flow and delivery, and the music reminds me of 2000's Kanye because it isn't just some generic beat, it has some sorta of catchy generic beat. And a lot of the tracks feel grand or epic. The interlude don't bother me, sometimes it feels good, but sometimes it feels like its padding the album too long. It can feel samey, but i like that it's the same colors all the way. As a whole, it's a great listen.

Key Tracks: Introvert, Woman, Two Worlds Apart
Rating: 8/10

Lil Nas X - Montero

Release Date: September 17th, 2021
Genre: pop rap

I know, it's the "Old Town Road" guy. But he's not a one hit wonder.

Review: n/a

Tracklist/Scorecard:
1. Montero (Call Me By Your Name) 9/10
2. Dead Right Now 8/10
3. Industry Baby 6/10
4. Thats What I Want 10/10
5. The Art of Realization n/a
6. Scoop 7/10
7. One of Me 7/10
8. Lost in the Citadel 7/10
9. Dolla Sign Slime 5/10
10. Tales of Dominica 9/10
11. Sun Goes Down 9/10
12. Void 9/10
13. Dont Want It 8/10
14. Life After Salem 6/10
15. Am I Dreaming 6/10

Summary: Nothing sounds like "Old Town Road," but it was also too short to really gasp if it was a good song or just a meme, imo. Well, I did not care about his follow ups, but I heard "Montero" on the radio and thought it was good, but "Thats What I Want" had an awesome energy to it. For much of this album, maybe it's because of his deep voice, but everything feels lil nas x. I do prefer the rock and pop stuff more than the rap stuff. And oddly, every song that has a feature, I dislike the music, but it's very digestible overall.

Key Tracks: Montero, Thats What I Want, Sun Goes Down
Rating: 8/10

Lorde - Solar Power

Release Date: August 20th, 2021
Genre: Pop, Folk

I gotta figure out how to know what the bpm is for a song because this album is very calm and stripped back. Based on the singles, I knew not to expect the electropop sounds of Melodrama, and since I wasn't familiar with George Michael, I had no idea it was unintentionally copied.

Review: n/a

Tracklist/Scorecard:
1. The Path 7/10
2. Solar Power 8/10
3. California 8/10
4. Stoned at the Nail Salon 9/10
5. Fallen Fruit 8/10
6. Secrets from a Girl (Who's Seen it All) 9/10
7. The Man with the Axe 6/10
8. Dominoes 8/10
9. Big Star 9/10
10. Leader of a New Regime 6/10
11. Mood Ring 7/10
12. Oceanic Feeling 6/10

Summary: First listen, yeah, it was pretty boring, but I didn't think it was bad, I thought it sounded empty like her debut album sounded, which I wasn't a huge fan of. There is a uniqueness about Lorde since she sorta pioneered whatever genre she did with "Royals," that I sorta trust her with this album and not expect anything, because it'll probably make sense years from now. The singles do sound "fuller," and I like the charm of "Dominoes." But overall, it's just tame and there aren't lyrics for me to grab hold to.

Key Tracks: Stoned at the Nail Salon, Secrets from a Girl, Big Star
Rating: 7/10

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga - Love for Sale

Release Date: September 30th, 2021
Genre: Jazz

I'll keep this short. I have no idea what is good jazz and bad jazz. Most of the "good" jazz I can identify are simply because I watched a movie or cartoon as a kid and they had that particular song in the background. Anyways, I like it when Lady Gaga is being extra, and Tony Bennett is a name you think about with the likes of Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra, but do I give a fuck? I'm pretty sure I gave "Cheek to Cheek" a listen, but it's just an album.

Review: Anyways, these are all covers of Cole Porter so I knew it was going to sound "old." The first track, "It's De-Lovely" is cool. Then I got bored, then I sorta got into it again with "I've Got You Under My Skin." I feel like I should know "I Get a Kick Out of You," but I don't. I was surprise that there were so many solo tracks here, two each. Gaga's voice doesn't impress me, but if this was acting, she does an amazing job of mimicking that 50s swing sound. And I don't have much to say about Bennett other than that it's crazy to me that he is 95 years of age.

Summary: It sounds like Lady Gaga singing late night dinner, jukebox music. Very inoffensive, except for "Let's Do It," it sounds a bit freaky if you have a dirty mind. I know I'm not going to listen to this again, but I won't say it's bad, because it's sounds exactly what it's suppose to sound like.

Key Tracks: I've Got You Under My Skin
Rating: 5/10

LNZNDRF - II

Release Date: January 29, 2021
Genre: Alternative Rock, Electronica

I gave this album a spin because of the Devendorf brothers and that's all I really needed to know. I tried listening to Beirut in the past, but they never grabbed my attention. I mostly listen to this while playing Hitman 3.

Review: So the first song has a long intro before finally getting into this shoegaze flow, no vocals, and as background noise, I had no problem with it. "Brace Yourself" adds vocals and I honestly don't feel anything. I guess it does have those indie rock vocals, or the post-punk type where the energy just sounds dry. But I still viewed the songs as a few friends just messing around for fun. "You Still Rip" is more upbeat and accessible. I think "Cascade" is boring, but it's probably necessary to have a slower, haunting song to contrast.

My first favorite song was "Chicxulub" because it does sound psychedelic and there's no vocals, but one of the instrument takes lead and in my mind, I can sorta feel this swirl and I think it's trippy. "Ringwoodite" has vocals and I apologized for not knowing who is singing, but I like that the vocals are more faint and to me, they sound more like chanting rather than words. "Gaskiers" had this back and forth cradle feel to me. Vocals are robotic, reminds me of something daft punk or gorillaz would do. Then finally, "Stowaway" sounds more like the start of the album where it feels like a jam session that grows more chaotic.

Tracklist/Scorecard:
1. The Xeric Steppe 7/10
2. Brace Yourself 6/10
3. You Still Rip 7/10
4. Cascade 5/10
5. Chicxulub 8/10
6. Ringwoodite 8/10
7. Gaskiers 9/10
8. Stowaway 7/10

Summary: Gave this a listen because it had members of The National in it, pretty sure those drums are from Byran. Vocals are okay. As background noise, it's fine, it's interesting to hear the songs repeat itself and expand, but I don't think I'll be revisiting this album once the years goes on.

Key Track: Chicxulub, Gaskiers
Rating: 7/10

Lana Del Rey - Off to The Races

From Album: Born to Die

damn, what a badass song. is that really her or is she playing a character? who knows, but this song really captivated me on first listen.

rating: 9/10

Lady Gaga - Born This Way

Release Date: 5/23/11
Genre: Pop

Are people serious when they say Lady Gaga won't be relevant within 5 years? I know she's not as original as she claims to be, but those who say she's not talented are just kidding themselves. I didn't turn my leaf for her until this video and it made me laugh, but I had no idea what song she was performing or why she was on the piano, so i went off to watch the original, which lead to her interviews, which lead to the question, "Is Lady Gaga serious?"

When I started listening to music, it was because of pop, but I drifted away from it because many top 40 songs were tame and afraid to experiment. Gaga isn't the greatest anything, but what I admire about her is her ruthless attitude for achieving greatness. She didn't get lucky. She worked her ass off in small clubs. Interviewers sometimes ask, "when did you know you had made it?" and she'll answer, "i haven't yet." It sounds crazy, but i guess it's because she still has something to prove to her doubters.

It sucks, but I understand Gaga isn't for everyone, but for me, she unlocked the barriers i had that I didn't know I had up. For any other pop darling, the standards are fairly low, just be catchy. With Gaga, she was someone I could not separate the music with the artist.  The more videos I've watched of her on youtube, the more fascinating she became.  Her persona, her visuals, her dance routines just added up. Everything she did was part of her "art."  When "Bad Romance" came out, It felt like the biggest "gotcha" moment in music.  No longer was she a guilty pleasure.  She was someone I could be proud of.

Review: "Born This Way" was incredibly hyped, not just from the fans, but Gaga and her production team.  I'm sure everyone has heard the quote that she called it the "greatest album of the decade."  It made me happy to know that was what she was working towards, but she should never do that again!  That was a mistake.  When i do listen to Lady Gaga, i mostly listen to The Fame Monster.  Rarely do i listen to stuff from The Fame unless it's the acoustic versions floating around youtube.  Hate on me if you will, but The Fame was pretty disposable.  The Fame Monster, with its shorter time span, was more condensed and lyrically, the theme was much darker.

My expectations were hoping it'll lean towards the EPs' sound.  A new track seemed to come out in the weeks leading to the album release.  Once it leaked in full, i spent many listens to the album and i come to the conclusion that "Bad Kids" and "Highway Unicorn" are awful songs that it completely ruin the album.  I tried taking a break and proceeded to listen to them with a fresh mind.  The problem with those tracks are that they are boring and inoffensive.  "Bad Kids" honestly sounds unfinished.  I can hear the Gaga formula working with "Highway Unicorn," but that's all i saw.  Just a typical Gaga progression with no imagination.  It was just filler.  The album runs at 1:01 so taking those two songs out would still be a meaty 53 minutes.

I already took the liberties to remove those two songs from my ipod so i could go straight to "Heavy Metal Lover." That song is fairly damp with bass and I didn't get it at first.  Since my first listen was from the leak, i thought it was an unfinished version, but the subtlety worked when Gaga hits that "I could be your girl-girl-girl-girl-girl-girl/But would you love me if I ruled the world-world-world."  That just made me go crazy.

"Electric Chapel" reminds me of some epic video game boss battle.  All i can say is that i like the beat.  "Yoü And I" has been in her live shows for her awhile and I get it, but something about the studio version makes it feel out of place.  Lastly, the album ends with "The Edge of Glory."  She sings the hell out of this track, but man, the sax is so ridiculous.  I felt it dragged too much towards the end.

Now, The Fame Monster was only 8 tracks long, and honestly, if Born This Way only consisted of the first 8 tracks, i would have no problem with giving it high praise.  It's not perfect, but as a unit, the first 8 tracks were all interesting and resulted with .  Starting with opener, "Marry The Night," is a slow turner with some new wave influence.

"Born This Way" was the lead single and I think the Madonna comparisons were too hard because I don't think they sound a like at all.  I get the undertone message of acceptance was there, but not the melody or beats.  Overall, I liked the song, but i hated the "don't be a drag, just be a queen" line.

I thought "Government Hooker" was a shit song for a while, but it started to warm up to be.  the line, "put your hands on me, John F Kennedy" is soooooooo lame. But i still enjoyed the song because it's bad, awkward, weird, and really, just sleazy sounding.

"Judas" is a blueprint sounding song that reminded me of Bad Romance.  But within the flow of the album, it doesn't bother me as much.  I actually enjoy singing along to it because i'm anticipating the hooks in my head so it gets me excited.  Creativity, it's not that good.  "Americano" is that macho sounding song with rich Latin American flavor.  This is the shit i loved about her.  cheesy pop music that's overly over the top.  It's feels like the song is overflowing with ideas and she sings in Spanish too.  It's dancey, it's silly, it's hilariously good.

Now for "Hair," it has the sax from "Edge of Glory," but somehow, i dont find it cheesy at all. "Hair" is a 80's throwback and the build up is fairly standard, but this song just works for me.  I know, the lyrics are a bit youthful, "I just want to be free, I just want to be me And I want lots of friends who invite me to their parties," and the message is another "be yourself" statement, the music here is so pulsing that I actually feel cleansed.  This song really blew me away.

"Scheiße" was a surprise to like because there was a remix out it out and when i started hearing the beginning german parts, I was thinking it'll be chunky, but after that, Gaga sounds really powerful and i guess this is an anthem for the females.  the chorus sounds very familiar to her other songs, but the music's background music is very addicted.  Very spaceship zip and zaps.

And finally, "Bloody Mary" is so slow, yet sensual.  It's a slow one, but has this interesting bass with creepy undertones.  The way she sings the chorus is so pretty.  It's like she's painting her canvas with her voice.

Summary: She's the best thing to happen to pop music.  This album was made for her fans, so it has a more song by song approach than a whole album.  Only two songs I would consider filler, the rest are stuff Gaga fans would be satisfied by.  Now if only she would release an acoustic album because she can definitely sing her ass off.

Favorite Songs: Born This Way, Hair, Heavy Metal Lover
Rating: 8.4/10

Lady Gaga - Hair

From Album: Born This Way

these promo singles are like trial and error. This song is another upbeat power pop ballad/celebration, but this one just works fully.
Rating: 9/10

Lady Gaga - The Edge of Glory

From Album: Born This Way

Not mind blowing, but it's a soaring pop ballad. her voice is amazing. Reminds me a bit of Kelly Clarkson. but the song should have ended sooner. I felt it dragged.

Rating: 7/10

Lady Gaga - Judas

From Album: Born This Way

Lots of signature Gaga elements, but at 4 minutes, i don't feel it was enough. I hate the way her voice sounds during the verses. The hook for the chorus feels strong, but not something i would sing along to. This song actually lowered my expectations for the album now.

Rating: 5/10

Lykke Li - Wounded Rhymes

Release Date: 2/25/11
Genre: Indie pop

"these scars of mine make wounded rhymes tonight"

Review: She's from Sweden. Her voice is child-like.  Imaginative.  Maybe hipsterish.  There's something adorable about her like she sees the world in a different light.  On this album, her tone is more dark.  Someone hurt her and she sounds more in control of her music.  She even declares herself as a prostitute in one song. Whatever happened, I believe in her.

Favorite Songs: Love Out of Lust, Unrequited Love, Sadness Is A Blessing
Rating: 8.4/10

Lupe Fiasco - Lasers

Release Date: 3/8/11
Genre: Hip Hop

Review: Yikes.  I like Lupe and wanted Lasers to be a his crown achievement in hip hop, but some/a lot of these songs make me embarrassed.  Aside from the Modest Mouse sample, The Show Goes On, I'm not really digging his chorus or guest artist that failed to heighten the song.  And worst of all, I don't feel like Lupe gave his all during his verses.

Favorite Songs: Till I Get There, I Don't Wanna Care Right Now, Never Forget You
Rating: 4.8/10

Lady Gaga - Born This Way

From Album: Born This Way

the spoken words part..you know, the mandonna-ish vogue homage..please stop. but her singing is amazing here. and the song just seems so over-the-top and mighty gay.

Rating: 8/10

Long Story Short - What A Scene

Release Date: 12/21/10 (digitally)
Genre:  Alternative Rock

there will be a sunrise

Usually unsigned bands make an EP first or play live shows, but these guys have enough in them to make a full proper release.  It's not perfect, and although I prefer some tracks over another, I can't fault them for it. It's a very respectable debut album in that regards, but the band does stick with familiar formulas and niche genre cliche.  Still, I keep coming back to this album because the album feels true, down to earth and the lyrics aren't blown out of proportion. They aren't trying to impress anyone.  They feel real.  I know I could say that about any album and ultimately, the gray area between imitation and making references is up to the listener, all I can really say is that Long Story Short makes me believe.

Favorite Songs:  Summer Nights, What Mattered Most, Forever
Rating: 8.0/10

Lifehouse - Smoke & Mirrors

Release Date: 03/02/10
Genre: Rock

Wow. It's been so long since I've review something. Sorry. Music discovery isn't really my hobby anymore. During my off time (in the world of blogging) my taste and style has changed, but I still give credit to two artist that gave me my start. Although I'm still awaiting for Michelle Branch to prove me wrong/right, Lifehouse has released music that has polarized my inner love for them. Needless to say, I went into Smoke & Mirrors with very little expectations.

Review: Being a superfan has compelled me to believed that everything they do will be great. I struggled with this during the Who We Are era. I kept silent. Lifehouse already changed my life. Despite having a sound that was modern, I couldn't lashed onto their songs like I've done with their prior albums.

When I heard "Halfway Gone" back in October, I made a joke to myself that they should use more auto-tune before realizing that the song had actually used the technique. It's not a strong song, but when I hear it on the radio, it's fun and makes me smile. These types of songs have its place. So for that, it's fine. Another song on the album that I already heard would be "From Where You Are," which I wasn't on board with originally. It's such a downer, but now that it has a home on Smoke & Mirrors, it's a really beautiful song. The atmosphere in it almost feels pure.

Onward to the new stuff, album openers have always been a strong attraction in Lifehouse's albums. "All In" is a very traditional song with the soft verse, loud chorus. Anyone who isn't picky will find themselves enjoying the song. It is a bit predicable, but they hit all the good spots so all is forgiving. They follow it up with "Nerve Damage" which has a very unstable tone. Contrast to the rest of the album, Nerves is a dynamic chuck of meat to chew. There's a section of the song where for 20 seconds, the gas pedals is floored. Over time, the song wears itself out and it's not the 10/10 song it first cut out to be, but the first few listens are really grand.

Still, "Nerve Damage" is something the majority might agree, but on the other end, "Here Tomorrow Gone Today" is a very very very interesting song. It's on the deep end on the Lifehouse registry and I'm sure will have fans disagreeing on. Personally, the song makes me laugh because the groove gives it a 80's new wave flow and I feel like it's a less serious song despite the aggression, like the band is having a fun time recording. But is it good? Hard to say. It's so different that it holds my attention, but for me, I won't be listening to it on repeat.

A new first for the band is a song where Jason doesn't sing lead. As much as I admire him, Jason's vocals alone don't impact me anymore. With Bryce singing on "Wrecking Ball," I immediately believed the words. I am not saying Jason is fake, but Bryce sounds like a natural performer here. Not too much or too little. He delivers the words convincingly. With some of the vocal tweets, Jason sounds awkward in some of the songs.

The most notable one after "Halfway Gone" would be "Had Enough." This song in particular really pushes the chorus to the front. Jason sounds really produced. Maybe they wanted to make bury the verses just for the chorus to stand out, I'm not sure. It doesn't ruin the song, but because I am a fan, I can hear it. Is it necessary? That's what I'm wondering. I can hear the same happening on "By Your Side," but that song has so much love in it that I'm okay with it. Would it sound better if the vocals were more clean? Who knows. "By Your Side" is a sweet song and your mom will love it.

Your mom might also like "Falling In", but I hope it doesn't get played on the radio. Tune out and it's a pretty melodic song, but the lyrics are forced rhymes. This song made me cringe on the first listen and I'm still embarrassed by it. Everytime I see your face/My heart takes off on a high speed chase. Seriously? that's rubbish. You have to have real low standards to think this song is amazing. Still, it's okay for background music.

The title track and the album closer really reflect the 90s alt-rock roots. Both are good album cuts and depending if you like the tracks surrounding them, I think it'll affect your opinion on them. Without comparing it to anything and taking those two songs on face value, I'm enjoying them for what it is. "Smoke & Mirrors" is the type of song I imagine the guys making when they are in their mid-30s. It's a long road trip song. While "In Your Skin" reflects on some of the band's past work.

Lastly, "It Is What It Is" is beautiful. If you can only listen to one song, make it that one.

Tracklist/Scorecard:
1. All In 8/10
2. Nerve Damage 7/10
3. Had Enough 7/10
4. Halfway Gone 6/10
5. It Is What It Is 9/10
6. From Where You Are 7/10
7. Smoke & Mirrors 7/10
8. Falling In 4/10
9. Wrecking Ball 9/10
10. Here Tomorrow Gone Today 5/10
11. By Your Side 7/10
12. In Your Skin 7/10

Summary: Lifehouse took their time on this one and it shows. The choruses really shine here and each song feels fully developed. In the overall picture, the change in sound isn't that far from where they stood, but in the songs where they attempted to step outside their element, They didn't reach new heights. Everything sounds pleasing enough and the melodies keep it fun. I just wished they didn't alter Jason's voice so much.

Key Tracks: All In, It Is What It Is, Wrecking Ball
Rating: 6.9/10