NEW ALBUMS (released within last month/30 days) Worth a Listen

Lets get this thread back to life -

Yves Tumor has a new album out, Heaven to A Tortured Mind.

I think he's interesting, but maybe could do with writing slightly better songs. I don't know what to think of this album so far, it might need a few more listens.

I think this tune is fairly solid -

It's a pretty good record. I've spent the last couple of days listening to it, but it is also being wildly overrated.

Some songs are great, some are just downright annoying.

Ah, Fiona Apple is pretty good. This album is overrated, but it's by no means bad. Maybe it'll be a grower. I haven't given up on it yet.

Generally, she's damn good. I still listen to When The Pawn... from time to time. Great melodies and arrangements. And her last album before this one was especially strong. She does raw and emotional very well and can be equally good at soft and delicate. The big problem for me with her is that all her songs are about relationships and usually addressed to potential future lovers or bad break-ups. It can occasionally wear thin. Angel Olsen is a bit like this also.

I think the pitchfork 10/10 is ridiculous. That's the first one they've given in literally years. Pitchfork is highly suspect. They still have some good writers, but, in general, what they say these days has to be taken with a pinch of salt. They've strayed pretty far from what they once were. To an extent it isn't entirely their own fault - their original bread and butter of indie and alternative isn't really what's popular these days. But, having said that, they often give very high marks to completely mediocre and even downright bad mainstream hip-hop and r and b. Cardi B, best new album? Give me a fcking break. And so many of their reviews only mention the actual music that's supposedly being reviewed tangentially. It might get a paragraph, but there'll be four or five of superfluous shyte.

They used to be taste makers, but now they follow the same trends as everyone else.

I still glance at it, mainly from habit. It's a pity. It gets a lot of bad press, but it was legitimately a good site and resource back in the day. I took a chance on numerous bands or acts through the years because I read about them there first.

It would be interesting to know how others find new stuff. Personally, I look at the likes of metacritic, album of the year and I mooch about on Rate Your Music. Rate Your Music can be a goldmine, but the reception of currently released stuff can be far from objective.

A lot of people hate on the dude now, but I still give a watch or two to Anthony Fantano. I remember when he used to introduce videos by shouting out the name of the act and album beside a tree in his garden. It's crazy to see how big he's become over the years. I don't agree about 60% of the time, but I still rate him as being honest. He still reviews things based on they sound to his ears.

The new Sparks album has it's moments.



These guys have been making music for 53 years. Jesus Christ.