Jun 12, 2024

Lorde- Melodrama
7/10
Favorite songs: the louvre,sober,homemade dynamite,
Least favorite songs: if i had to pick it’s Sober pt. 2
Loving Jack Antonoff’s production on this,its hella lush and dynamic, blends synth-pop with elements of indie and art pop real well.

There’s something to be said about the soundscape on this thing; feels both intimate and expansive (if that makes sense lol).

Funny thing is, the color of her voice is what I care for the least on this thing: not that it’s bad! She just kinda sounds like she’s voicing an anime character at times. I see the appeal tho I just kinda get oversaturated by her inflections at times.

Other than that, the album is really well written, cohesive and unique. Feels like she’s tapped into a special esthetic on here. I would be lying if I said I didn’t want something more experimental from her next though (if her recent albums are that’s nice but this is the first of her works I’ve checked out so cut me some slack). Would love to hear her on something dark and ambiental/droney.

Great suggestion! Thanks for putting me on.

 

Jun 11, 2024

@AOTWClub
Lorde- Melodrama Review

Favorite songs: Green Light, Homemade Dynamite, Sober, writer in the dark

Least Favorite songs: I got nothing I liked them all

Review:

Before listening to this id completely ignored "Lorde" to be honest I dont listen to much pop music besides Taylor Swift and its because my girlfriend likes her its not because I'm a long time fan or anything.

The production on this is great and feels familiar to me, noticed Jack Antonoff collaborated with Lorde on this album, also does Taylor Swift.

Lordes voice is great, I would love to hear her on a rap feature, dunno if she's ever done one before? She'd sound great with someone like Eminem or Jay-Z.

Anyways I'd put this album on the same level as any solid Taylor Swift album, maybe even a bit better. I like Lordes voice a bit better and find her songs a bit more interesting.

There wasn't one song I wanted to skip at any point in my 3 listens through, really enjoyed this album. Wouldn't really add these songs to my playlist because they're not really my thing but I will definitely return to this album at some point and check out some of her other stuff.

7.5/10

 

Jun 10, 2024

Tallied the score

JPEGMAFIA- All My Heroes Are Cornballs

Score: 5.7

@AOTWClub @Evad

Interesting album pick, enjoyed checking it out even though it wasn't my favorite

 

Jun 6, 2024

I was gonna list my favorite songs from the album but I honestly like all of them equally right now. If I had to pick the best track though it would probably be the title track or Grimy Waifu. Speaking of titles, I love the titles of the songs of this album.

This album is filled with personality from the song titles to the rap delivery to the lyrics to the spoken skits to the beats to the frequent instrumental switch ups. It really is some ADHD a--- music. I like how JPEGMAFIA can go from loud and intense to chill and vibey on the same song or even combine all of those elements at times.

I do like the production on this album, but I much prefer his production on his tape with Danny Brown. It is interesting to see how he has progressed though. I think you guys said this is one of his more accessible albums so maybe I’d enjoy his other albums more. I like this album, I just don’t LOVE it. I enjoy what’s here, but I don’t feel myself getting attached to any of the songs like I did on his tape with Danny Brown. Maybe listening to the newer music first f----- with my perception too much.

It’s still a good album though and maybe I will enjoy it more months from now. I think maybe it’s just not ADHD enough for me when compared to the newer stuff I’ve heard. One thing about JPEGMAFIA though is he has personality and that’s something a lot of rappers these days are lacking so I really commend him for that.

OVERALL RATING: 7/10
@AOTWClub

 

Jun 4, 2024

If I didn't already have my next pick locked in I could break your brain, showing you Zoomer music is like giving a Victorian child a Baja Blast

 

Jun 4, 2024

@Evad right now

 

May 27, 2024

For some reason it's not letting me tag @AOTWClub so @Justin Trudeau @hargydon

I had Helicopter saved from a while back but I didn't remember the sound very much so this was basically a brand new listen for me.

I have a bit of a bias against British rap just because the accent never clicked with me completely in this genre and I think it's just due to a lack of exposure cause people like Little Simz are dope. With that being said it was pretty easy for me to get into this.

On first listen I was still getting used to some delivery stuff and the more sexual songs like Play Play and Cucumber did not click with me in the slightest. Happy I decided to listen one more time cause while Cucumber is still one of my least liked on the tracklist they both ended up growing on me.

J Hus has a great singing voice and I liked a majority of the production, the verses are cool and some are definitely quite well written but some flows were a bit one note occasionally, not enough to ruin anything tho. All the features KILLED it (especially iceé tgm and Koffee).

Favorite songs:
Big Conspiracy
Helicopter
Repeat
Reckless (didn't like the beat at first but I enjoyed it a lot on second listen)
Deeper Than Rap (best verses by far)

Score: 7.5.

Going to keep listening until next week to see if it clicks with me even more on subsequent listens and will edit accordingly!

 

May 26, 2024

I like Ordinary Joel when he's not lurking and liking every comment known to man

 

May 26, 2024

hargydon’s Review of Cilvia Demo

I was already a fan of this project by Mr. Rashad before going into this, probably the most out of his discography, as @jankland been pushing this album like he’s paid commission on it.

It’s raw, it’s grimy. A good mesh of old school hip-hop roots mixed with soul & modern Southern elements, new style deliveries, choruses & themes. My only gripe about the production is that it wasn’t mixed by MixedByAli.

TDE really was an unstoppable force back in the day. Kendrick, Q, Ab-Soul, SZA, Jay Rock & Isaiah.

Standouts:

Cilvia Demo
Ronnie Drake (favourite song)
Soliloquy (2nd favourite song)
Heavenly Father
Banana
Shot You Down

I’m still confused as to why SZA isn’t credited on Heavenly Father & Banana lol

Some lyrics have aged very well like:

I know you feel the rush f---ing with a n----- b------s rarely ever get to touch

Never skirt chase

Jokes aside, the lyrical content throughout is very dark & depressive. Even when it isn’t explicitly touched on, it still spells out that way as he delves into degeneracy just to enjoy himself — it’s a great reflection of the mind state he’s trying to paint on here. The music is also a great tonal companion for the subject matter explored, low energy straight-talking veering on monotone at times. Although it matches the concept, that can make a full listening experience quite fatiguing at times. Shot You Down being the exception lol.

Lyric of the album:

Came a long way from a boat and an auction
Now, we got names and a vote, then a coffin

Rating: 7/10

@AOTWClub

 

May 25, 2024

Cilvia Demo - Isaiah Rashad REVIEW

Score: 8.5

Tracklist Ranking:

1. Tranquility
2. R.I.P. Kevin Miller
3. Soliloquy
4. Menthol (ft. Jean Deaux)
5. Brad Jordan (ft. Michael Da Vinci)
6. Cilvia Demo
7. Shot You Down (ft. Jay Rock, ScHoolboy Q)
8. Ronnie Drake (ft. SZA)
9. West Savannah (ft. SZA)
10. Heavenly Father
11. Webbie Flow (U Like)
12. Banana
13. Hereditary
14. Modest

First Listen Review:
Like Omar Little (won’t let me tag you for some reason), Isaiah Rashad has always been an artist where I always say “yeah I need to check him out”, but I never did so until now. I’ve heard a couple songs, both I believe are from his latest release The House Is Burning, and I liked them, so I’m not sure why it took me this long to tap in. I’m glad I started here with Cilvia Demo because it is FANTASTIC. I was prepared for something good but I got more than I expected PLUS some. Strong lyricism, amazing beat selection, guest appearances that enhance the feelings of the songs, and a nice, easy listen clocking in at just under 50 minutes. This album is 10 years old, but it sounds like it could’ve just came out 10 days ago. Beautifully aged. While some songs were definitely stronger than others, I still enjoyed every song and threw a like on each of them. No skips whatsoever, but tracks like R.I.P. Kevin Miller are much stronger than tracks like Webbie Flow (U Like). This is all off first listen though, so anything can change, as I feel like I’ll listen to this album front to back many more times. Also, I’m glad to learn that Zay comes from Chattanooga, Tennessee, just a few hours out from where I am from! Thanks for the pick @jankland!

@Justin Trudeau @AOTWClub

 

May 25, 2024

I’m down

 

May 22, 2024

d---, Cilvia Demo by Isaiah Rashad is a great album. There’s really no skips for me. Isaiah does a great job of balancing multisyllabic rhyming, singing, and storytelling along with these chill, atmospheric beats. I could even see myself making music like this.

I love all the songs, but that 3 song stretch from R.I.P. Kevin Miller to West Savannah is by far the best part of the album to me. Heavenly Father and Brad Jordan are also standouts. Overall West Savannah is the best song on the album though, I can see myself going on many car rides with the windows down to that song.

Despite the smoothness of this album, Isaiah touches on some topics that I appreciate and some of which I relate to. The line on West Savannah “at least we fell in love with something greater than debating suicide” is a line I definitely needed to hear right now. It perfectly fits my situation.

Not only does Isaiah touch on relationships and depression/suicide, but he also speaks on how that comes from the experience of being a black man. There are many great lyrics about the black struggle on this album, particularly with police, daddy issues, etc. That whole second verse of Ronnie Drake is amazing and really sums it up especially with the first line “hope they don’t k--- you cause you black today”.

I pretty much have no issues with this album. I guess my only nitpicks are that I’m not the biggest fan of the beat on Webbie Flow although that’s still a good song. Shot You Down had a dope beat and dope verses from everyone but at the same time I felt it kinda dragged and went on too long.

SCORE: 9/10

 

May 21, 2024

Isaiah Rashad - Cilvia Demo

Standouts: R.I.P Kevin Miller, Ronnie Drake, West Savannah, Heavenly Father, Banana, Shot You Down

Skips: Brad Jordan

Best Features: SZA, Schoolboy Q, Jay Rock

Score: 8/10

Final Thoughts: I always knew OF Isaiah Rashad but he was one of those artists that lived permanently in my backlog, thanks to this whole thing I had an excuse (if I ever needed one) to listen to one of his projects in full and I gotta say I was pleasantly surprised, not that I expected it to be s--- but I didn't expect it to be THIS good.
Throughout the album he reminded me a lot of Kendrick in a way, something about his delivery idk, anyway I'm gonna have to check out more of his catalog now, so thanks @jankland for introducing me to this album

 

May 20, 2024

@Justin Trudeau

 

May 19, 2024

OH GOD OH f--- I'M SCRAMBLING

 

May 9, 2025 at 2:54 PM

@Michael Myers - Section 70-80-90 REVIEW

Score: 9.4 (15/16)

Another great tape with notable classics and a fun lineup. I'm starting to sound redundant with these reviews, but it's hard to not say this every time this round considering the theme! This tape had more of an emphasis on classic rock and country, with a dabble of hip hop, and the hip hop songs that were chosen were dope! Express Yourself and Hip Hop Hooray are obviously classics, but I had never heard D'evils before. I'll be honest, I haven't heard most of Jay's albums before (coming soon to my discog deep dive ), so it was nice to hear another cut off of Reasonable Doubt. It was also nice hearing a song from the Stones that I had never heard before. Overall, great tape from Mikey!

@AOTWClub

Mixtape Madness Round 2 Rankings:
1. Ripper Raw - 10.0
2. Born to Boomer - 10.0
3. A Night At The Section Eighty - 10.0
4. Rite of Exorcism: A Possession Story - 9.4
5. Section 70-80-90 - 9.4
6. When The Blood Burns... - 8.8

 

May 7, 2025 at 12:10 AM

The last round had me listening to a Rakim album and skimming through a few others from artists featured on the mixtape. Ended up finding some more great tracks.

Will submit a review for the jank album shortly.

 

May 6, 2025 at 2:16 PM

@jankland - A Night At The Section Eighty QUICK REVIEW

Score: 10.0 (16/16)

Man the mixtapes this time around are so good, consistent 10s. Who told Janky to start this tape with 5 absolute classics? The goal of having this feel like you were listening to music in a nightclub in the 80's was achieved masterfully and that's the vibes I got for it. Safe to say I enjoyed every song here and this is a mixtape I could see myself returning to over and over. Great s--- Janky!

@AOTWClub

Mixtape Madness Round 2 Rankings:
1. Ripper Raw - 10.0
2. Born to Boomer - 10.0
3. A Night At The Section Eighty - 10.0
4. Rite of Exorcism: A Possession Story - 9.4
5. When The Blood Burns... - 8.8