100 gecs - 10,000 gecs

Release Date:  March 17, 2023

Review:  The internet is weird. Back in the mid 00s, i would see post about the "worst" band ever and it was a link to brokencyde. I'm not saying 100 gecs is similar, but if you want to talk about really original sounding bands, brokencyde didn't sound like any conventional band on the radio. So with 100 gecs, they sound like shit, but they also sound catchy. and there's an unexpectedness to them. I like their more poppy stuff. The experimental stuff doesn't feel like it'll age well, but who knows.

Summary:  It's original, i give them that.

Favorite Songs: Hollywood Baby, Frog on the Floor, I got My Tooth Removed
Rating: 6/10

The 1975 - Being Funny in a Foreign Language

Release Date:  October 14th, 2022

Of course I've heard "somebody else" and i did listen to their 3rd album, "It's Not Living (If It's Not with You)" is chef's kiss, but I'm still not familiar with them.

Review:  This album is thankfully a brisk 43 minutes. The opener was really good, it reminded me a bit of LCD Soundsystem's "all my friends" with the repeating piano notes. It just sounded like it was building towards something and progressively got louder and as an opener, I think it gave me a boner, but I can't really tell. That's a reference if you listened to the song. "Happiness" sounds good like it reminded me of what I heard on their 3rd album, very 80s smooth saxophone fun. Then "Looking for Somebody (to love) sounds like a carbon copy of whatever one hit wonder song from the 80s that i can't put a name to. It just sounds like a song you'll find in an 80s movie. Very inoffensive.

"Part of the Band" has more string instrumentals, but I'm beginning to feel tried of the way he sings. "Oh Caroline" starts with piano and it sounds really simple, but I like how simple the lyrics are. It just sounds good whenever they say that word, "caroline." It just gets bigger and bigger. "I'm In Love With You" feels like it's mimicking a hit song, and it sounds like it could have, but I don't think it's quite as sugary. Again, it fits in an 80s movie. "All I Need To Hear" slows things down.

"Wintering" sounds like it's suppose to be a hit song. "Human Too" slows things down. "About You" has backing vocals from Michelle Zauner. i don't know how i feel about it, it felt long and shoegazy. And the last song, "When We Are Together" sounds like a traditional acoustic pop rock song. I like how clear the vocals are here. Maybe a country vibe.

Summary:  This is tough, if you told me this band was terrible, I would understand, they sound so lovey dovey, but these guys keep getting good reviews from critics, but they don't feel like indie darlings. If their sound is to callback on 80s pop, they nailed it. I can recognize that these songs are not bad, but it's also very inoffensive. As a personal choice, I just don't want to listen to them.

Favorite Songs: The 1975, Oh Caroline, When We Are Together
Rating: 7/10

1997 - On the Run

Release Date: 05/27/08
Genre: Pop Punk

New album already? I knew from researching them last year that their lead female, Kerri Mack left and that bugged me because she was my favorite part. There's something about the majority of pop-punk bands with male vocalist that throw me off. They just sounds gay. So yeah.

Review: So let's get it out of the way. The new female vocalist isn't what I had in mind. I don't know if it's her, or maybe the music here just isn't that interesting anymore. She just feels out of place. I can sense that the band isn't going for the catchy tunes anymore. There's more of a 'standard' sound to them now. I feel bad for saying this because I'm not too familiar with these bands, but the album reminds me of The Starting Line or The Early November.

Summary: Maybe it's not my type, or maybe there's just nothing catchy this time around. O well. I Tried. Album really bored me. I'll still give their next album a listen.

Key Tracks: 4 A.M. Conversation, Winds Of Change
Rating: 3/10

3 Doors Down - 3 Doors Down

Release Date: 05/20/08
Genre: Rock

We all remember this band. Sorry guys, but the post-grunge/90s alt-rock is an extinct genre. Still, I wanted to be open-minded.

Review: First song, "Trains" sucks. "Citizen/Soldier" is alright. The chorus is catchy enough. First notes of "It's Not my Time" reminds me of Seether, but it's not that bad of a song. It appears friendly enough. The chorus is fine.

"Let Me Be Myself" actually sounds alright. But why does the chorus have to go towards the heavy side? Totally turn the song into generic village.

*will finish later*

Summary: It's not entirely boring. Sometimes the first few seconds of a song shows some promise, but why does it all end up being the same fucking song. He sings the chorus to every song the exact same. It doesn't matter what he's singing because it's impossible to differentiate the chorus. Instruments aren't all that interesting either.

Key Tracks: Let Me Be Myself, Runaway
Rating: 5/10

1990s - Cookies

Release Date: 05/14/07
Genre: Indie Rock

I like cookies. This album is not a cookie.

Review: I don't need to pay attention to this band. From the opening, "You Made Me Like It," there's that typical sound in European garage rock bands. I don't really have an attachment to it, but it's not dry. For the most part, the album is joyous and anti-shy matters.

What does that even mean? It's music that won't piss anyone off as long as they don't try to focus on it. The album runs at 35 minutes. The ones that actually have a decent amount of time (3:00+) are more developed and feel complete. The best song, "Risque Pictures" is barely 3 minutes long and I'm trying to explain why, but I don't have a good reason other than I like it. The melody of it is more friendly I suppose and it's not as energetic so it's easier to follow.

There's two slow-paced songs, "Arcade Precinct" and "Weed" that are very okay. But the album works as a whole and maintains the same throughout. The vocals aren't specials. I was never a fan of his type of singing style so maybe it's just me.

Summary: I really liked the first two songs, and then I got bored. I am casually listening, but I don't think that's the problem. I just think it's an album on an angle that stays at the same angle.

Key Tracks: You Made Me Like It, Risque Pictures
Rating: 3/10

1997 - ...A Better View Of The Rising Moon

Release Date: 04/17/07
Genre: Pop Punk

There's something fresh about a band with both male and female vocals. The voices give the band its identity. So it's cool to see 1997 having both equally shared that duty. Alone, their voices aren't strong enough, but together, it has good dynamics. It's a pop album. It's a fun album.

Review: I usually like music that makes me feel something. Sometimes when I'm in the shower and I'll have a tune in my head, I'll make up words and somehow, they flow really well and I always wish I had a tape recorder to record my song. 1997 is the type of music that feels like they are just making music so effortless and for the sole reason of expressing themselves just for fun and nothing else.

The first 4 tracks kick a lot of ass as it's fairly happy pop-punk and it starts to fade in the distance. It never loses its edge in the upbeat side of things. I just get the feeling that their magic in the first half of the album was used all up. It's still a good second half. The first half has more standalone songs.

Summary: Very refreshing sound. Listen to the 1st half and you'll be impressed. 2nd half is only good if you listen to the first half. "You had my heart, what more could you want."

Key Tracks: Water's Edge, Garden of Eden, Hey Darlin'
Rating: 6/10