Boxcutter - Oneiric

Fuck man, I love dubstep. Kind of an outlandish statement since I only really listen to Boxcutter and Burial.

Anyways, Boxcutter puts out some great shit here on Oneiric. In comparison to Burial's material, Oneiric has more intense music, characterized by the uses of synth. Also, Boxcutter takes a more IDM and drill 'n' bass approach to dubstep, resulting in some interesting experimentation.

While I still need more listens through this album, I must say that "Skuff'd" and "Brood" are incredibly heavy, and the synth melodies/loops are friggin' catchy.


Check out the aforementioned songs, as well as "Sunshine V.I.P." and "Silver Birch Solstice".

Ghostface Killah - Supreme Clientele

Meh. It's sorta long, and after being exposed to GZA and Inspectah Deck (lyrical masters), this album just really isn't that great. Especially the lyrics.

The beats are good though.

Ulrich Schnauss - Far Away Trains Passing By

Fantastic electronic chillout stuff. The synth/melody work is really effective (aka chillll). The beats are sick -- in the style of trip-hop/hip-hop.

Just sit back and relax to this music.


Look out for: ... well... every track is awesome.

The Cinematic Orchestra - Les ailes pourpres (Crimson Wing) OST

note: I am a TCO fanboy.

I haven't seen the film, but I could imagine that The Cinematic Orchestra's music is completely fitting to it. With feelings and emotions ranging from tranquil to dramatic, this is some of TCO's best work. Dare I say it (even if it makes me look really stupid), but the orchestral arrangements here are really cinematic (lololololololol). "Dance" is a really cool track, set in a 5/4 time signature, making it Mission Impossible-esque. The OST closes off with a nice vocal track.


Check out (if you can):
- Transformation
- Dance
- Exodus
- Hatching

Common - Electric Circus

... I didn't like this. Execpt "Come Close". I can't help but think that Common really set a high standard for himself with Resurrection and Like Water For Chocolate.

Fela Kuti - Expensive Shit/He Miss Road

Incredible afrobeat music. It just makes you wanna dance.

The first couple of seconds (the fucking sweetest funky guitar riff) got me hooked, and the rest of it was really consistent and jazzy and I couldn't stop listening. Given the length of the songs (11 minutes on average) and all the wonderful saxophone parts, the melodies stick with you for a long time.

Speaking of "shit", I had trouble taking one because at the time all I could think of was the music from this album. Really.

Kashiwa Daisuke - Program Music I

Wow, this was one hell of a musical experience. Two lengthy songs à la electronic/glitch/modern classical/post-rock. Damn. Violins, violas, drums, and piano throughout, chopped up by glitchy clicks and cuts. The drum programming is pretty cool here; some drum parts on the songs are borderline drill 'n' bass.

Despite the length, the album flows very nicely.

Epic, beautiful stuff.

Air - The Virgin Suicides

I really like the style (chill pop) and the production, but only a couple of songs here grab my attention (Highschool Lover, Playground Love, Suicide Underground).

The Pharcyde - Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde

I love these guys. This album is pure entertainment, much of it through comedy. Take "Oh Shit" (lol) for example. The Pharcyde have serious balls to recount the(ir?) most embarrassing stories. True or not, they are fucking hilarious. "Ya Mama" is also a hot track, in which all four members diss each other's moms. Honestly, how much more entertaining can that be? I was laughing through the whole song. On the contrary, "On the DL" is about some of the deepest feelings and stories that generally wouldn't want to be shared with others (hence, keep it On the DL).

The beats are great -- they're brushed with numerous jazz samples that give it the old-school vibe. Oh yeah, the skits are funny and are quite fitting.

All in all, I love this.


Listen to: Ya Mama, Oh Shit, On the DL

Mobb Deep - The Infamous

Hip-hop at its rawest. Havoc and Prodigy really tear it up here, descriptively narrating about life in the hood. The beats are terrific -- cold and dark. The only thing that brings this album down a bit are the useless preludes, which come in a lengthy form. They don't really affect the album all that much though.

If you're a fan of the east coast hip-hop sound, check this shit.


Listen to:
- Shook Ones pt. II
- Survival of the Fittest
- Cradle to the Grave

Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...

Raekwon the chef. Cookin' that meth all the time. And coke. Can't be too good for him.

Here we have Only Built 4 Cuban Linx..., one of those critically acclaimed Wu-Tang solo releases. Nuh uh, not in my opinion. It's overrated. Raekwon's lyrics are alright, but not as good as I expected (having listened to 36 Chambers). Honestly, the guest Wu-Tang members on this album have better verses than the Chef (Inspectah Deck, Ghostface, & GZA). The guests save this album. Really.

The beats are great. I don't see how they're "cinematic" though, as I've read in some reviews. RZA really knows what he's doing.

Oh yeah, and this album is long. Really long. Unnecessarily long. Do not want.

After listening to this album, I can safely say that Raekwon is not my favourite Wu-Tang member.


Listen to:
- Guillotine (Swordz)
- Verbal Intercourse

Portishead - Dummy

Definitive trip-hop. This is easily one of my all-time favourite albums. Some of the atmospheres created are incredibly dark and scary. Beth Gibbons' vocals are so fucking frightening. Although sometimes a little more laid back. But her voice is truly amazing, and it adds a hell lot to this masterpiece. The production is thick and quite bass-heavy. Hell yeah. The bass lines, sampling, and the general instrumentation is really catchy too. And of course, this is all placed over the seriously awesome beats. They're slow and trippy (hah).



Listen to: well... goddamn, I can't even choose. I like every track a hell lot, except It Could Be Sweet. Hm... the tracks I listen to the most are:
- Sour Times
- Strangers
- Pedestal (fuck yeah trumpet solo)
- Glory Box

Organized Konfusion - Stress: The Extinction Agenda

This is one fucking sweet hip-hop release. Pharoahe Monch and Prince Po are pretty much lyrical geniuses. Pharoahe has a sick flow too. Really jazzy beats, which (as you may know lololol) I really dig.


Check out:
- Bring It On
- The Extinction Agenda

Void of Silence - Human Antithesis

War-themed doom metal album, with Alan Averill of Primordial fame on vocals. It's got a consistent dark atmosphere (which is obviously important in doom metal) with some good guitar work.

It's solid, but not really amazing. Kinda overblown by the metal community.

Maybe a couple more listens will change my opinion?

Gospel - The Moon Is A Dead World

Stunning progressive post-hardcore/screamo.

This album is chock full of blistering emotion. The progressive touch (odd time signatures, etc.) add quite a lot to the music. Nothing wrong with the vocals; they're fine as they are.

I hate to use this word since it's overused, but it's a really thorough way to describe this CD: epic.


Listen to:
- A Golden Dawn
- Yr Electric Surge Is Sweet

Bark Psychosis - Hex

One of the earlier post-rock releases.

It has some cool atmospheres and instrumentation throughout, although I feel that sometimes some of the ideas get really repetitive. Not enough variation within each song.

Tipper - Tertiary Noise

Great electronic music.

Glitchy breaks/hip-hop beats. Simple yet awesome.

What more could you want?


Listen to:
- Deez Bass Lessen
- Swipe (Dub)
- Liquid Shoes
- Lock the Geometry

Cap'n Jazz - Analphabetapolothology

Passionate emo/indie rock/post-hardcore. If you always gave "emo" music a negative outlook, well check this album out because it will alter your thoughts.

The first CD is chock full of awesomeness. Outstanding guitar work, unique vocals (not for everyone though), solid drumming. As mentioned, very passionate.

Unfortunately the second CD isn't nearly as good as the first one. It feels like it doesn't have the same vibe as the first disc. But it's still decent.


Recommended listening:
- Little League
- Oh Messy Life
- Take On Me (a-ha cover)
- In The Clear

Jóhann Jóhannsson - Fordlândia

Great modern classical/ambient from none other than Iceland.

The epic pieces (first and last track) are the highlights of this album, and, I'd hate to say it, but every other track pales in comparison to the aforementioned tracks. "Fordlândia" (track 1) is just absolutely breathtaking.


Listen to: Fordlândia

Poppy Seed Grinder - Humanophobia

A great release from my favourite Czech band (yes, I like PSG more than Lykathea Aflame), with the most ridiculous name.

It's got pretty much everything I really look for in a brutal death metal/deathgrind album: high-speed parts, slower and crushing breakdowns, sick/groovy guitar rhythms, etc. PSG vocals are a nice addition, since they're fucking extreme. Brutal-as-fuck gutturals and grindcore-esque highs. And of course, the signature pinch harmonic PSG riffing style is prominent. It's cool but it can get overboard sometimes, haha.