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 2022: Music In Review 
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The Kramer
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Post Re: 2022: Music In Review
22. Hygiene by Drug Church* - B

-This post-punk act from New York has a great band name and backed it up with a solid album. It's only 26 minutes long and was a very easy listen. I guess they had three albums before this so will have to check those out too.


Sun Mar 20, 2022 12:00 pm
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The Kramer
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Post Re: 2022: Music In Review
23. In Dimes We Trust by Mike Dimes* - A-

This is the exact type of hip-hop I want to see more of. A very 90s style of rapping combined with modern production, where the beats are going all over the place this way and that. Lyrically, this is all stuff you've heard before, but god damn please keep writing more songs Mr. Dimes. It is hype from start to finish. Another one that might get bumped up to a full A if it holds up on repeat listens.


Wed Mar 23, 2022 1:03 pm
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The Kramer
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Post Re: 2022: Music In Review
24. SZNS: Spring by Weezer - B

The first of four (!) seasonal-themed albums by Weezer to be released in 2022 turned out rather well I thought. A Little Bit of Love is one of their best tracks in years. If you love Island In The Sun style of Weezer then this is the record for you.


Mon Mar 28, 2022 12:20 pm
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The Kramer
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Post Re: 2022: Music In Review
25. Rise & Fall of Slaughterhouse by Kxng Crooked and Joell Ortiz - B

-A solid hip-hop album as these two recap the earlier days in their career as part of the Slaughterhouse rap group (also featuring the likes of Royce Da 5'9, Joe Budden and occasionally even Slim Shady himself.) I don't really remember them at all, so not only was this a good album on its own, but it gives me two other albums to look forward to. Fukglasshouse was my favorite track.


Wed Mar 30, 2022 1:28 pm
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The Kramer
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Post Re: 2022: Music In Review
Did a triple header yesterday (though not all in a row, one in the afternoon and two after midnight.) All were decent, but none deserve their own post, so let's get it all done now.

26. Pyramiden by Syk* - B-

-This was described as Italian Avant-garde metal. I dunno about all that, but it was a cool sound, especially the first song, the nine minute title-track Pyramiden, is a very strong song. Plus, they have a girl singer (all lyrics are in English ... I think) and her screams are ferocious.

27. Unlimited Love by Red Hot Chili Peppers - B

-The triumphant return of original guitarist John Frusciante gives some incredible riffs and solos as you would expect. Overall though, this felt like a Stadium Arcadium that didn't have any big hits like Dani, Snow or Baby. All the songs are good, but the album is just so damn long. I would really rather artists just split it up into two forty minute albums, but that is certainly an issue that goes beyond the Chilis.

28. Pep by Lights - B-

-Coming off, in my opinion, her best album to date Skin & Earth (#3 album of 2017), the newfound confidence of this Candian dance-pop singer shines through every song. It's a warm-weater sound & style that fits someone who is just realizing that they are hot. Unfortunately that confidence comes with some cringey lyrics in the middle of the album that were not common before. The bread of the album, first two songs Besides Myself/In My Head, and Voices Carry near the end are really good though, so maybe the others will improve with time and this album will go up a grade or two before all is said and done.


Fri Apr 01, 2022 1:20 pm
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The Kramer
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Post Re: 2022: Music In Review
29. Humble Quest by Maren Morris - B

A nice little rebound for the country-pop star after the sophomore slump known as Girl. While still not hitting the highs of the song about a car and the song about a church (that she wrote driving circles around this town) I'm OK with this direction if it is to be her career from here on out.


Tue Apr 05, 2022 3:42 pm
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Post Re: 2022: Music In Review
30. Melt My Eyez See Your Future by Denzel Curry - A

-Listened twice to confirm the A. There have been alot of rappers recently who have switched their style up from more upbeat/hype to chill-hop, more influenced by Kendrick's 'Pimp a Butterfly' album than anything else. Most have not worked out as well (my next reviewed album will address this). Yet Denzel somehow managed to keep his oomph even among these more relaxed beats. In fact he elevated himself, adding insightful lyrics to go with his usual badass one-liners. Every song is great, the album doesn't overstay its welcome (46 minutes is actually pretty short for hip-hop) and the parade of pre-release glowing reviews did not oversell it at all. Denzel may not be a hype-rapper anymore, but he is a rapper who lives up to the hype.


Fri Apr 08, 2022 12:23 pm
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The Kramer
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Post Re: 2022: Music In Review
31. Romana Park Broke My Heart by Vince Staples - C+

And here is the inverse. Romona Park has some really strong songs like Lemonade, Slide and Magic .. so I can't just give it a straight up bad grade. I'm just so bored with this laid back style for Vince Staples. It's only been three and a half years since the release of FM! (top ten album of a very strong 2018 while Big Fish Theory was top 5 in 2017), but Vince is already in need of his own 'Love Sux era.' I guess I'll just try to be happy with songs I do like. I do like these more than 'Taking Trips' (my favorite song from his self-titled reboot album last year) despite the overall grade being lower.


Last edited by Flava'd vs The World on Tue Apr 12, 2022 1:50 am, edited 1 time in total.



Fri Apr 08, 2022 12:40 pm
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Post Re: 2022: Music In Review
32. Non-Perishable by tobi lou* - C+

A perfectly fine though somewhat forgettable pop-rap album. Babycakes is pretty good song. Unlike the last two, I cannot compare his chill-rap to his hype-rap because this is the first I'm hearing of him, and quite frankly I doubt that he even has any hype hype songs out there.


Sat Apr 09, 2022 12:43 pm
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Post Re: 2022: Music In Review
33. Fear Of The Dawn by Jack White - B+

Jack gets a little goofy on his new album and it takes a little time to adjust to it. The only single I heard going in was Hi-De-Ho, and out of the context of the album that is the most wtf song he has ever made. And while I still don't care for that song, it puts the others into context. We can get past the goofiness and just enjoy the usual greatness of Jack's guitar riffs and solos. It feels like this could have been a new side project for him, maybe then it would not have been so jarring. As is though, Jack has created yet another unique album that could be made by him, no matter the name he or his bands are currently going under.


Tue Apr 12, 2022 3:10 pm
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Post Re: 2022: Music In Review
34. Familia by Camila Cabello - C

-I feel bad for the lower grade, I really wanted to like this and Camila is still a great singer. The songs here aren't even that wrong, it's just a latinx flavor of bubblegum. She doesn't seem to have any interest in tapping back into that vulnurability we heard with songs like Never Be The Same or Consequences from the first album. I guess she's happy trying to just replicate Shakira's career, so good for her, just not good for me.


Wed Apr 13, 2022 1:32 pm
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Post Re: 2022: Music In Review
35. Everything Is Fine (I'm Only On Fire) by Anna Shoemaker* - B+

-As indicated by the album title, this alt-pop singer has quite the dark sense of humor. She confirms that on the very first song by promising to 'laugh until I die.' What is more gallows than that? The good news: I love a dark sense of humor! Mostly in movies, but this type of sensibility also leads to the type of up-beat rhythms / depressing lyrics contradictory songs that I also love. Anna may not be the best version of herself quite yet, but this is a very noteworthy debut album that will have me tracking her for the rest of her career.


Thu Apr 14, 2022 1:28 pm
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Post Re: 2022: Music In Review
36. Superghetto by Buddy* - B+

I enjoyed the song Wait Too Long, but was expecting this to be a typical pop-rap album to throw into the giant pile of pop-rap albums in 2022. Wrong! Superghetto actually has a really nice range of sounds. Current pop-rap? Sure. 90s smooth r&b? That too. Minimalistic socially conscious rap? Feed me more. Some weird ass Weeknd/Prince disco beats? Everyone is welcome! And Buddy sounds really good on all of them. So this ended up being a very nice surprise and I'll have to check out his previous work now too.


Thu Apr 21, 2022 1:55 pm
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Post Re: 2022: Music In Review
37. The Unraveling of PUPtheband by PUP - B

Canadian punkers Pup (short for Pathetic Use of Potential) have a humorous and self-degrading style of writing. Some of their previous work include Morbid Stuff and This Place Sucks Asss. So this is kind of a concept album, kind of just the regular business for them. My favorite song is the last one, PUPTHEBAND INC. Is Filing For Bankruptcy.


Sat Apr 23, 2022 1:17 pm
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Post Re: 2022: Music In Review
38. Further Joy by The Regrettes - B

-The Regrettes definitely lean into the pop side of their pop-rock sound on this new album, coming off more like Misterwives than what I remember. However, the quality is basically the same so I can't complain. A lot of fun songs like Monday in the first half before it kind of trails off in the second half.


Tue Apr 26, 2022 4:16 pm
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Post Re: 2022: Music In Review
39. It's Almost Dry by Pusha T - B+

The former Clipse rapper returns with his first album since the Kanye West produced Daytona in 2018. Kanye is back here, featuring on a few songs and producing a few more. And quite frankly those songs are better than just about everything from the Donda. The true standouts however are from another very famous producer - Pharrell Williams. He does the first two songs, Brambleton and Let The Smoke Shine the Coupes whih just so happen to be the two best songs. I don't think Pusha is on the Mount Rushmore, as he clearly desires to be, but keep releasing records like this and maybe we will have to sculpt another head.

2022 has been a great year for hip-hop so far. My list last year only had three albums with a B+ or higher, two of them by Nas. We are already at 4 this year and its still April!


Fri Apr 29, 2022 2:46 pm
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Post Re: 2022: Music In Review
40. Lose Your Delusion by A Wilhelm Scream* - B+

Most punk albums have a habit of starting hot, then fading as it goes along due to the songs getting very samey. I love the genre but there's no denying the truth. So when A Wilhelm Scream's new album, their first in nine years (though I don't think I ever heard of them back in the 00s), begins with some hot tracks I was expecting this to be par for the course. However, in a twist, Lose Your Delusion actually builds up steam as it goes along. The lyrics remain sharp, but the sound gets heavier as we hit the later tracks, flirting with hardcore and even throwing in some guitar solos to freshen things up. I'd say it peaks on tracks 8 (Apocalypse Porn) and 10 (the title-track Lose Your Delusion.)


Last edited by Flava'd vs The World on Wed May 04, 2022 2:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.



Sun May 01, 2022 4:26 pm
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Post Re: 2022: Music In Review
41. Zeit by Rammstein - B-

-Der German rockers are back, and they definitely made a Rammstein album. It is fine, but doesn't pop quite the same way their 2019 self-titled album, the first after a ten year hiatus, did. Still, it's great to get any new music from these guys and I hope they do a big US tour again soon.


Wed May 04, 2022 2:00 pm
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Post Re: 2022: Music In Review
42. WE by Arcade Fire - B+

After a few years away, in which time their previous album Everything Now has taken a lot of strays (quite unfairly in my opinion), Arcade Fire return with one of their most ambitious projects to date. The resuts vary though. Age of Anxiety kicks us off well, something to be instantly thrown into the pool of greatness. Then we hit End of Empires, which sounds like it was written by a moody 14 year old who just realized that the world is actually kinda shitty and then mixed to fit the Arctic Monkeys on the moon album. A real drag that takes up about a quarter of the album's length. But then we get back to great with The Lightning II and Lookout Kid. So while it is probably the weakest album of theirs so far, their worst is better than alot of people's best. And even though their grand ambitions went awry in the middle, the effort is worthwhile since there's so very few people that can match Arcade Fire's heights when they get it right.


Sun May 08, 2022 4:19 pm
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Post Re: 2022: Music In Review
It's an amazing album, but it hurts a little that they literally made songs called Age of Anxiety and Infinite Content.

1. Neon Bible
2. The Suburbs
3. Funeral
4/5. Everything Now/We (not sure which is better but probably won't like WE more than the top 3)
6. Reflektor

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Shack’s top 50 tv shows - viewtopic.php?f=8&t=90227


Mon May 09, 2022 10:16 am
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Post Re: 2022: Music In Review
43. Psychic Jailbreak by Cancer Bats - B+

Cancer Bats been around since the mid 2000s, but I just heard of them this year and damn it's been a cool ride through their discography. They're very heavy, but their tempo is more akin to punk and hardcore. This new album shows a band that is very confident with their sound. And why shouldn't they be?


Wed May 11, 2022 12:59 pm
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Post Re: 2022: Music In Review
Shack wrote:
It's an amazing album, but it hurts a little that they literally made songs called Age of Anxiety and Infinite Content.

1. Neon Bible
2. The Suburbs
3. Funeral
4/5. Everything Now/We (not sure which is better but probably won't like WE more than the top 3)
6. Reflektor
After going through their discography in the last week I'd rank em

1. Funeral - 10/10 - like a top 25 all time great album
2. Neon Bible - 10/10 - also damn near perfect but not as damn near perfect as Funeral
3. The Suburbs - 9/10
4. Reflektor - 9/10 - almost ranked this third, probably more consistent than Suburbs and it helps that this tour was the only time I saw them live, but We Used To Wait pushes Suburbs over
5/6. Everything Now / WE - 8/10 - We is growing on me though and will probably leap over EN eventually.


Wed May 11, 2022 1:02 pm
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Post Re: 2022: Music In Review
44. The Underground Sound by Joey Valance and Brae* - C

-These white rappers (tiny font people on riotfest card) really love the Beastie Boys and they don't care who knows it. While the sound gets tiresome quickly (the album is only 18 minutes), I suppose ripping off the best hip-hop group ever isn't the worst way to go about it. The title track is catchy enough to make up for the rest.


Fri May 13, 2022 12:58 pm
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Post Re: 2022: Music In Review
45. Dropout Boogie by The Black Keys - B

After detouring with a blues cover album last year, The Black Keys are finally back with some new tunes. And it sounds ... exactly like you'd expect. You can hear the blues influence, making it sound like their older stuff, but the Dangermousey arena rock is definitely still there too. I don't think the Mouse did any songs on this album, but under his tutorage Dan Auerbach has become quite the capable producer himself. My favorite song is For The Love of Money.




Also, I have listened to Kendrick but still deciding on a grade. Black Keys was alot easier to review. :P


Sat May 14, 2022 3:31 pm
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Post Re: 2022: Music In Review
46. Ribbon Around The Bomb by Blossoms* - B

A nice little pop-rock album. These guys are Brits, but they have a whole song dedicated to how great New York is so we'll grant them the title of honorary Americans. The title track was my favorite. It fizzles a little bit at the end, but I'd recommend the first few songs for anyone who enjoys artists like Bleachers.


Wed May 18, 2022 1:50 pm
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