Dec 25, 2024

 

Dec 25, 2024

Merry Christmas to the @AOTWClub crew

Stay sexy

 

Dec 25, 2024

Gonna try and get Soul Burger listens in tmrw, I only heard Crazier (unsurprisingly) and am interested to see what the rest sounds like

 

Dec 25, 2024

@AOTWClub @Justin Trudeau
Apologies for the late review but I didn't get a chance to listen to Discovery until today, that being said I'm happy I was able to find out why this classic album was so beloved.

This isn't my go-to kind of music but I have a big appreciation for it and I'm no stranger to enjoying Daft Punks music (the Tron Legacy soundtrack still goes unbelievably hard) and this album stands the test of time.

I don't really have too much to add to the musicality of the tracks, basically everything is great. Overall extremely enjoyable music for an active or background listen with a great sense of pace and smart decision making on the production front all while being deceptively simple sounding at times for how involved making this sound really would be especially at the time of release.

One More Time is a classic but I almost felt the opposite of @Justin Trudeau's take where I quite enjoy a lot of the songs in here even more so than One More Time, idk if it's a hot take or not but I think Aerodynamic is d--- near a 10/10 and easily one of the favorites on the album.

Definitely have to come back to this one more to see what songs stick with me and what grows off of me cause I can see this being one of those albums where you have different favorites depending on your mood but every answer is valid. Even though the duo and album is massively popular there's a feeling with the sound and texture in the music that feels like you went crate digging and found some underground vape wave or SNES sounding a--- gem and I love that feeling

Favorite Songs: Aerodynamic, Digital Love, Harder Better Faster Stronger, Something About Us, Veridis Quo, Short Circuit, Too Long

RATING:
8.5/10

 

Dec 23, 2024

Daft Punk - Discovery

review

I don't dance. I mean seriously, I don't have a single danceable bone in my body. My feeble attempts at trying to dance look like a crossover between a cat getting electrocuted and a s-----y rendition of the crab rave. This album doesn't change that physically, but mentally I am busting moves and grooves that are outside of this world. This is the ultimate groovy, dancy album.

Setting aside the group’s place in house music history, Daft Punk is a group that seems to leave an almost universally positive impression on listeners. I mean, some people may not particularly care for them, but I think you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who actively dislikes them. There’s something undeniably fun about their music that transcends the numbing euphoria of most dance music. Of course almost every party playlist is bound to include at least one Daft Punk track, and of course you could spin Discovery in its entirety at the function to widespread acclaim. Beyond that, however, this album is a cut above the rest.

The masterful incorporation of samples coupled with the group’s trademark robotic vocals lends Discovery a sound that can only be adequately described as “Daft Punk”.

The album gracefully flows from one house b-----r to another, never settling for too long in one lane. In the first leg, we go from the triumphant opener One More Time to the funk-infused Aerodynamic, then the soulful robo-ballad Digital Love into the borderline synth rock Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger. Daft Punk excels at crafting infectious grooves that rarely grow tedious, even removed from the live context. You can actively sit and listen to Discovery and still find enough details and layers to grab onto and lose yourself in.

The loops here rarely grow tiring. That said, there is just a slight bit of excess that makes me hesitate to call Discovery a perfect album. The main sample in High Life isn’t engaging enough to carry the track all the way through, and Short Circuit ‘s deterioration into bitcrushed oblivion isn’t all that interesting on repeat listens. The closer doesn’t really feel all that conclusive and ends things on a pretty flat note. At least they gave it an accurate title. However, the standout tracks are among the group’s finest and remain ubiquitous in the EDM sphere for d--- good reason

8/10

@AOTWClub

 

Dec 16, 2024

@Justin Trudeau @AOTWClub I'm familiar with Killswitch as a band but never dived into their music outside of a couple songs, I've pretty recently just started going head first into Metalcore and idk why I didn't listen to them earlier!

Now this album isn't perfect, it doesn't end as strong as it begins and a few songs in general don't hit the same as the rest but I'm pleasantly surprised to have really liked most of the songs here and now I have a bunch of songs to add to my playlist of this kind of music. I can see myself going back to the album as a whole more as well when I want this specific sound from the genre.

Like I said earlier the clean vocals mixed with the heavy guitars and screams give me aggressive WWE energy which is where a lot of my early music taste came from as well as Guitar Hero and Killswitch was a part of both unsurprisingly lol. The features fit really well (Howard Jones fitting is self explanatory) and I loved the riffs and drumming.

I loved a lot of the choruses here and it reminded me of some of my favorite bands I listen to so safe to say I'm pretty happy with this one.

Also the album cover looks like art that would be on a Brisk bottle which bumps it up at least 5 points.

Favorite Songs: Unleashed, Us Against The World, I Am Broken Too, As Sure As The Sun Will Rise, Know Your Enemy

RATING:
7.5/10
Much closer to an 8 than a 7, can see it growing with more listens.

 

Dec 16, 2024

Killswitch Engage - Atonement

review

Atonement is an album that feels meticulously crafted: it blends heaviness with anthemic melodies. As someone being exposed to Killswitch Engage’s music for the first time, this record was an intense introduction that definitely put the band’s technical skill and range on display. However, despite its good execution, the album doesn’t always hit with the impact it seems to aim for.

From the start, Unleashed makes a strong first impression. Its opening builds with a sinister atmosphere, before exploding into tight riffs and vocals. The balance between aggression and melody here feels like the band’s defining characteristic—vicious screams are matched with grand choruses that really stuck with me. This pattern repeats throughout the album, and while it’s very effective, it can feel predictable as the songs pile up.

That said, Atonement shines brightest when it steps out of its comfort zone. I Am Broken Too is a very raw standout: the song is stripped of the pace that dominates much of the album, it is a more vulnerable offering from the band, both musically and lyrically. Similarly I felt like the track As Sure as the Sun Will Rise adds a needed touch of variety with its brighter sound which broke up the album’s darker undertone.

I don’t want to come off as snobbish but, in my opinion, the album’s consistency is also its weakness. While every track is solid in isolation, they start to blur together over the course of the runtime. The songwriting doesn’t always hit the mark and can tend to make Atonement feel slightly one-dimensional by the end. It’s a powerful listen, but also one that did not linger as much as it could’ve.

Overall, this album is a well-executed showcase of modern metalcore, if I was a bigger fan of the genre I could definitely see myself enjoying it more than I do now, because, as twisted, jaw-clutching, and monitor-breaking the energy here is, it bridges the gap between melodicism and screamo very well.

Nice pick @Wreckless , happy to be put onto music I’d otherwise probably never find on my own.

6.5/10

@AOTWClub

 

Dec 15, 2024

@AOTWClub

@Yeez has picked

Daft Punk- Discovery



Ripperroo: 9/10
Wreckless: 8.5/10
Justin Trudeau: 4.5/10
Michael Myers: 7/10
Jankland: 8.5/10
DiggleDogg69: 9/10

46.5/60= 7.8/10
Ill tally up Killswitch Engage- Atonement on Wednesday night so get your reviews in!

 

Dec 15, 2024

I’ve already marked “Something About Us” as a Favorite on Apple Music quite a while ago but I’ve never listened to a full Daft Punk album. I’ve heard their big hits like legend of the penis ft. Pharrell and a few other songs but other then that I’m fresh

 

Dec 14, 2024

Whole Lotta Red, the best Christmas album

 

Dec 13, 2024

@AOTWClub

Killswitch Engage- Atonement Review


So I don't really typically like this kinda music, I don't like this album, I don't hate this album. I listened twice and definitely wouldn't go back to it or anything. I find this sorta music hard to even review lol cause it's not really my thing.

I feel like the album had some good riffs on it and some good solos too, also had some catchy choruses.

I really liked unleashed, and the signal fire and I am broken too was also good.

I'm gonna give this album a 5/10

 

Dec 11, 2024

Killswitch Engage - Atonement

Favorite tracks: The Signal Fire, I Am Broken Too, I Can’t Be the Only One

RIPPER ROO RATING: 7/10

Upon first hearing this I wondered where I heard them before, but then I realized CM Punk from WWE used their song “This Fire Burns” as his theme song in 2006. It makes sense as this is music that makes me wanna get violent. This is totally music that would be playing as I get in an intense and brutal fist fight with my uncle. This is the type of music that makes me wanna bite down so hard I break all of my teeth. This is the type of music that makes me wanna snap my phone in half and punch a hole in my TV.

There is obviously super hard vocalization and instrumentation on this album. It’s just so obvious at this point why people choose this type of music as workout music. I wanna run through 12 brick walls. I think the biggest problem with this album though is that after a while the songs can kind of bleed into each other and feel like the same song. A bit more variety would’ve been nice. I likely won’t listen to this a whole lot but it’s a good album for what it sets out to do. @AOTWClub

 

Dec 9, 2024

I’mma be tweaking til’ january. Can’t wait for my next pick

 

Dec 9, 2024

Hot Mulligan - Why Would I Watch

review

This week’s pick sees @AOTWClub blessed by mr. Jerkland himself as he picks what is truly one of the most fun albums I’ve listened to in quite a while. Calling this project fun might go against its lyrical content and core notions of the genre it belongs to, but hey, this thing had me nodding my head along to mr. Tades’ self loathing and misery.

This album runs a short yet sweet 37 minutes, it does not overstay its welcome whatsoever and even leaves you wanting more (note to self to check out the rest of the band’s discog). What grabbed me the most at first about Why Would I Watch is how colorful and punchy the instrumentals are. The music on this album is played really well and provides a great, vibrant background for Nathan Tades to do his thing. I’ll admit, my first listen to this album had me trying to adjust to Tades’ vocal signature and that ‘growl’ in his voice. I didn’t mind it but felt as if it isn’t necessary; I liked the portions where this is reduced to a minimum more. On my second and third listen, my opinion on the matter changed and his voice+scream pattern clicked for me, for the most part (a part of me needs an album full of tracks like Betty).

The length and pacing of this project lead me to reject naming favorite and least favorite tracks here. As I sat with my headphones on, the project started to melt together and I took it in as this really nice amalgamation of emo and pop punk. The ‘’issue’’ I had with the album’s vocal performances went away and, as I said, clicked for me once I subconciously reminded myself that, in emo music atleast, it is not about how perfect the vocalist can hit the notes, it’s all about them feels man… the energy it has bruhbruh. I should also mention how fun the melodies here are. After my second listen I was nodding my head and singing along to it.

I don’t really have any real gripes with this album to be honest. It was pretty great and a sick entry into the band’s output ( have not heard of them until mr junkland’s recommendation). I feel like these guys have a lot of potential and a lot of room to grow even further beyond this. Which reminds me, it could be my lingering autism but this album had its moments where tiny elements of shoegaze were subtly sprinkled on. I wish this was embraced even more and hope that it foreshadows the direction that Hot Mulligan will take following this release.

8/10

@jankland @Justin Trudeau

 

Dec 9, 2024

Why Would I Watch? - Hot Mulligan REVIEW

Score: 7.0

Review:
Honestly, I wish I liked it more. I enjoyed the project, don't get me wrong, but I wish I enjoyed it more because I feel like I should have lol. Great vibe all around from the entire project, I was just iffy on the vocals at some points. Instrumentation was dope, energy was there, songwriting on some songs were incredible (Betty), def some track titles that are unique and stand out. Maybe I have to give it some more listens or check out more from their discog. Thanks for the pick @jankland !

@AOTWClub @Justin Trudeau

My Rankings:

1. GNX - 9.0
2. Low - 9.0
3. Sling - 9.0
4. Cilvia Demo - 8.5
5. House Of Balloons - 8.5
6. Melodrama - 8.5
7. Orpheus vs. the Sirens - 8.5
8. Rare Chandeliers - 8.5
9. Seventh Son of a Seventh Son - 8.5
10. The Death Of Slim Shady - 8.5
11. Laugh Now, Cry Later - 8.0
12. Miles - 8.0
13. When the Smoke Clears: Sixty 6, Sixty 1 - 8.0
14. All My Heroes Are Cornballs - 7.5
15. Americana - 7.5
16. Indestructible - 7.5
17. Mannibalector - 7.5
18. Big Conspiracy - 7.0
19. Why Would I Watch? - 7.0
20. Kings Of Crunk - 6.5
21. MID AIR - 6.5
22. POST HUMAN: SURVIVAL HORROR - 6.5
23. Theater Of The Mind - 6.5
24. EAT ME, DRINK ME - 6.0
25. LIFTED or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground - 5.5
26. When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That s--- Gold - 5.0

DiggleDogg's Rating Average: 7.58

 

Dec 8, 2024

@AOTWClub

@Wreckless has picked

Killswitch Engage- Atonement



Ripperroo: 7/10
Justin Trudeau: 5/10
Michael Myers: 6/10
Yeez: 6/10
Diggledogg: 6.5/10
Stepdad: 6.5/10
Jankland: 7.5
44.5/70= 6.3
Ill Tally up the Hot Mulligan album on Wednesday night so get your reviews in before then!