Ratboys - The Window

Release Date:  August 25th, 2023

I discovered this band in 2018 when their name was grouped with other female fronted indie rock bands, and I really liked their 2020's Printer's Devil.

Review:  This album took me many tries to get into. It's noisy like a rock album should be, but her voice feels more suited for that indie pop or indie twee. Still, I tried. It's not catchy like The Beths, but since i played it so many times, I think the approach that got me to enjoy it is to let go of my expectations, and to not pay attention until it grabs your attention.

I think "Crossed That Line" was the first attention grabber. It's really fast like punk rock. "It's Alive" has a safe sound to it, but i found it pleasing to the ears. The title track, "The Window" probably will make people stop and listen. It's about her grandpa not being able to there for his wife in the nursing home due to COVID protocols. so he had to look through the window. "Black Earth, WI" is 8 minutes long and there are parts where its a jam session so that was interesting. I like how bouncy "I want you (fall 2010) is. And the last track, "Bad Reaction" strips it all back. It's simply, but the melody works for me.

Summary:  So I struggled with this album because I expected something more pop, but it's more rock and alt-country, but not fully there. I also don't think it's special or doing anything different from what bands did 5-10 years ago. Still, female vocals are my weakness and I know I'll give this more plays than others.

Favorite Songs: Crossed That Line, The Window, I Want You (Fall 2010)
Rating: 8/10

Rachika Nayar - Heaven Come Crashing

Release Date:  August 26th, 2022

there's a cool video of her performing the song "Memory as Miniatures" in a bedroom and it reminded me so much of what I loved about Explosions in the Sky, those twinkle electric guitar sounds.

Review: This album doesn't have much of those guitars, at least not as the focal point, but it does have a lot of ambient sounds that I found lovely. It probably helps that I no longer seek out instrumental music anymore, so hearing this felt like a throwback to 2007. It's interesting because a few days ago, i was listening to an album that was drone based and I found it so unengaging. I guess the best way to put it is, this album feels alive.

From the opening track, there's hints of the postal service because of the electronic beep boops. On "Tetramorph" i like that there's this overbearing helicopter noise while there's music playing only for it to end with some intense guitar playing. "Death & Limerence" sounds like something Hammock or The American Dollar would do. "Nausea" sounds a bit darker from the beginning, then the second half is pumped full of keyboard lasers and piano keys. It feels like it would climax, but it doesn't. "Gayatri" continues that sound where it has that heavenly echo and you can hear the guitars make a pattern. It sounds epic, it soars through the ears.

"Heaven Come Crashing" has a feature vocalist, Maria BC. She doesn't sing, but uses her vocals as an instrument. A lot of the album has that heavenly choir feel, but it uses a musical instrument, so her voice fits well. Then the song took a turn to become a trance song. "Sleepless" is a bit simple, but it's easy to understand the progression it's doing. "The Price of Serenity" follows the pattern of the previous songs, but there's more piano to trace the melodies and this also explodes into a trance song at the end. And finally, "Our Wretched Fate" reminds me of m83 with how it gets so loud at the end.

Summary:  I'm impressed. It's the kind of post-rock that has a choir without having a choir.  This album soars and it's epic.I love that there's elements of other genres like early 00s trance that she some how makes it work. of course, at the core, all of the ambient sounds are beautiful and whenever you hear a guitar finger picking, it feels like a blessing.

Favorite Songs: Nausea, Gatatri, The Price of Serenity
Rating: 9/10

Ravyn Lenae - HYPNOS

Release Date:  May 20, 2022

Found this album because it got BNM from pitchfork.

Review:  I'm trying here. This type of rnb is hard for me to listen to on long doses. I honestly liked listening to it, but maybe I was influenced by that BNM tag that I told myself that this was good. I don't have much problem with the music, it's lush and light, as one would expect. And her voice is nice, but she sounds like she's always in whispering mode.

Summary:  It starts off good, and it keeps that pace. but I felt like I had enough at the 30 minute mark.

Favorite Songs: M.I.A., Deep in the World, Lullabye
Rating: 7/10

Rosalía - MOTOMAMI

Release Date:  March 18th, 2022

Review: If this was kpop, would I think it would be shit? i dont know. I was expecting this to be similar to reggaeton, but it's interesting, the instrumentals don't sound generic. And at times, it sounds like she is staring in an old movie that has show tunes. I've only listened to this album once, but it flew by really quick.

Summary: lots of genres, worth checking out.

Favorite Songs:  Saoko, Bulerias, Bizcochito

Rating: 8/10

Red Velvet - The ReVe Festival 2022 – Feel My Rhythm

Release Date: March 21th, 2022

hello. Interesting that they recycled the festival name.

Review: alright, the title track is fine. I wish it were more bubble gum pop, like the chorus is not catchy at all, but maybe there are too old for that. Red Velvet have such a classy vibe to them and it sounds very clean. I really like "Rainbow Halo," simply because it has a video game quality to it and its pretty catchy. "beg for me" sounds hot. I want to praise BAMBOLEO, but city pop music always sounds the same to me. I like the refreshing feel the instrumentals give me. the fifth track works for me. It's not something i rush to to, but when i let the album play out, i don't mind it much. it's very much in line with their velvet side. Finally, In My Dream is a ballad and it could play as a close cousin to psycho based on the sound texture.

Summary: Yeah, Red Velvet didn't disappoint.

Favorite Songs: Rainbow Halo, Beg for Me, In My Dreams
Rating: 8/10

Red Velvet - Queendom

Release Date: August 18th, 2021
Genre: kpop

Red Velvet is awesome, and I credit their 2019's ReVe Festival into helping me get into kpop, but some of their songs are borderline, "typical" kpop. Both Twice and Iz*One had reality shows to show how they debut, but I rarely watch Red Velvet's extra content, so it does make me wonder if that's a reason I don't "stan" them as much.

Review: So the title track, I was expecting a statement, but it's very low-key. It took maybe a few weeks for it to warm up on me, but I still think it's too quiet. Then with "Pose," this song confused me at first because it sounded like shit, but no no, that "pose" section is kind of awesome. I loved "Knock On Wood" on first listen just because the melodies were so pretty during the chorus. "Better Be" sounds like a Red Velvet song if that makes sense. I loved "Pushin' N Pullin'" on first listen too, easy to get into. And finally, "Hello, Sunset" has such an interesting instrumental to start it, the song has a nice lullaby cradle to it.

Tracklist/Scorecard:
1. Queendom 7/10
2. Pose 10/10
3. Knock On Wood 10/10
4. Better Be 8/10
5. Pushin' N Pullin' 9/10
6. Hello, Sunset 8/10

Summary: This album is tricky because it honestly sounds good, but I don't know why I don't care about the songs. I like it when groups do what they do best. I guess in my mind, "Psycho" is one of their best title tracks, and Queendom wasn't it. The b-sides are good, but I still go back to "The Perfect Red Velvet," not sure how often I'll revisit this ep.

Key Tracks: Pose, Knock on Wood, Pushin' N Pullin'
Rating: 8/10

Ritt Momney - Put Your Records On

No disrespect, go do your thing, congrats to CBR on getting them royalties, but this song sucks. I still hear it being played on Alice 97.3 here in the bay area, and I'll flip through the dial and another station is playing it. I don't know if it's just a local thing, but I just don't get it. I'd like to think I have a high tolerant for music, but his version isn't catchy, it's just very shitty. The vocals are all distorted. The music is unappealing. Yet, I'll read the comment section on YouTube and apparently, this is a vibe. Again, no disrespect, I'm actually curious for his upcoming projects, but this cover is on my disliked list.

Rating: 1/10

The Rural Alberta Advantage - Departing

Release Date: 3/1/11
Genre: Indie Rock/Folk

Review: Well they got their feet on the ground, but it lacks the memorable melodies I found Hometowns to be so engaging.

Favorite Songs: Two Lovers, North Star, Barnes' Yard
Rating: 7.0/10

Radiohead - The King of Limbs

Release Date: 2/18/11 (digital)
Genre: Alternative Rock

Review: I'm such a phony!  I didn't start listening to Radiohead religiously until early 2009.  KoL is the first new album of theirs where I was comfortable with their sound and yeah, it's not as captivating as their past work, but something about it makes me want to return.  It's interesting stuff, but has a layer of boredom.

Favorite Songs: Bloom, Feral, Lotus Flower
Rating: 7.2/10

Rebecca Black - Friday

Thanks Rebecca for setting the standards! despite the low score, I'll probably remember this song more than a 5/10 type of song. Plus I'm really curious if she can top/redeem herself.

Rating: 1/10

Right Away, Great Captain! - The Eventually Home

Release Date: 11/11/08
Genre: Folk

Solo stuff from Manchester Orchestra.

Review: yup, basically a stripped down album, but the acoustics is great in reflecting his voice and sound of every instrument. The first track, "Down To Your Soul" is really catchy so it's a welcomed opener. A lot of the pack relies on being quiet, but the feeling is there. His voice is a bit nerdy, like Conor Oberst. "I Am A Vampire" is the only track I gave a thumbs down to. It's the second to last track, but it feels like it overstayed its welcome. 6 minutes. go away.

Summary: Mostly low-key, but it's a excellent listen.

Key Tracks: Down To Your Soul, Father Brian Finn, I Was A Cage
Rating: 7/10

The Rural Alberta Advantage - Hometowns

Release Date: 02/??/08
Genre: Indie Folk

The metacritic board keeps talking about them and after giving them more than 2-3 chances, they grew on me.

Review: But I've always enjoy the first track of the album, "The Ballad Of The RAA." It just has that complete package. The beginning sounds like a dial tone. And a steady beat. Reminds me a bit of The Postal Service. The vocalist reminds me of Jeff Mangum as they are both sound nasally. And I love the tings of the drums and I think there's a glockenspiel just playfully dancing and the 2 minute mark just seems to clash it together and the vocalist just shouts a bunch of words.

"Don't Haunt This Place" is a frenetic tss tss drumming and a welcome lady friend lends her pipes. There's a nice riff right before the ripping chorus of "Drain The Blood." It saves the song. "Sleep All Day" reminds me of Nada Surf. I feel that the last few songs died on me. Still, it's a straight-up indie rock album that delivers.

Summary: If the first song is a 10, the album starts a steady decline to an 8.

Key Tracks: The Ballad Of The RAA, Don't Haunt This Place, Drain the Blood
Rating: 8/10

Ra Ra Riot - The Rhumb Line

Release Date: 08/19/08
Genre: Indie Rock

Is it too late for me to join the bandwagon?

Review: Nevermind, I don't want to join. Nothing is too terrible, but nothing else is really great. "Ghost Under Rocks" is a good song and so is "Dying is Fine." "Winter '05" is cool with it's strings. A lot of it is really easy to digest, but as for songs that will wow you, I can't find any. Things begin to lose stream after track 6. At my nicest, sure man, it's alright. But do I care? hmm. Good violin thought.

Summary: Good listen, but nothing to buckle your seats for.

Key Tracks: Ghost Under Rocks, Dying is Fine
Rating: 6/10

Ray LaMontagne - Gossip in the Grain

Release Date: 10/13/08
Genre: Folk

Awesome voice

Review: patience! patience! patience! Let him talk and nothing else will matter. Thankfully the music is a great backdrop. Sometimes the album jumps around a bit so some songs lose focus. "Hey Me, Hey Mama" and "Henry Nearly Killed Me (It's a Shame)" are lame.

"Sarah" sounds so familiar. Maybe from a Garden State-like movie. The strings are so good. "Winter Bird" is very bare, but his raspy voice compels me to pay attention.

"Meg White" doesn't do much for my lyrically, but the sound is louder than his other songs. I think the stand out would be the album opener of "You Are The Best Thing." Yay for saxophone.

Summary: His gentle voice is awesome.

Key Tracks: You Are the Best Thing, Sarah, Winter Bird
Rating: 7/10

Rise Against - Appeal To Reason

Release Date: 10/07/08
Genre: Punk Rock

I keep getting this band mixed up with Against Me. I tried their earlier albums, but "Give it All" and "Swing Life Away" were all I could get into.

Review: Less hardcore. I like it. It feels more accessible. More catchy melodies. Less creative? Well I can't comment on that, but the album is good. Good vocals too. That's honestly all I have to say.

Summary: Good friendly rock anthems.

Key Tracks: Collapse (Post-Amerika), Long Forgotten Sons, The Dirt Whispered
Rating: 7/10

Ratatat - LP3

Release Date: 07/08/08
Genre: Electronic

I heard their name float around because I tend to read topics about instrumental music and I kept thinking this was a joke regrading pokemon, but when i finally did check them out, I really enjoyed them. It's electronic, but uses guitars.

Review: First 4 tracks are killer. Then it feels a little pulled back. Then after "Shempi," the album just gets dry. It's still a pleasant listening experience. I'm having a hard time finding words to review the album with. Do I like it? parts of it, Yes. I guess I get bored with it near the end. The first half of the album had enough quick details for me to follow with, but the second is a mash of simple tunes. If used for incidental music, the album would be fine.

Summary: It's alright. Not the best introduction to the band.

Key Tracks: Shiller, Falcon Jab, Shempi
Rating: 6/10