Hello, everyone. While I work on finishing up my 2022 year-end lists (way later than I planned to), I want to quickly talk about some 2023 albums that I haven’t reviewed yet (and also an album from 2021). Keep in mind that, like with all of my reviews, this is all just based on my personal taste in music, it’s not some sort of ‘objective criticism’ or anything like that. Alright, let’s get started:

dreamglow by Asian Glow & sonhos tomam conta:

We’re starting this post with an album I was very excited about, as I ended up really loving Asian Glow’s 2022 album, Stalled Flutes, means. So, as someone who was super excited to hear this album, how do I feel about it?

Well, I’ll admit that this sort of dreamy, shoegaze sound isn’t usually a sound I love, which might be a big part of the reason why I’m not really loving this album.

Don’t get me wrong, I do still like this album, but especially compared to Stalled Flutes, means, it just really feels like it’s missing something.

I mean, it’s mostly pleasant to listen to. I like the production for the most part, and there are some good melodies. But I just wish there was more variety in the sound.

Overall … I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to give this a 6.5/10, which isn’t a particularly negative score—actually, it’s a positive score—but compared to a lot of the opinions I’ve seen, I’m probably rating this lower. I’m sure I’ll hear lots of 2023 albums that I like more than this one, whether or not that’s the ‘cool’ opinion to have. But, again, I still think this is pretty good.

Final Thoughts
Rating: 6.5/10
Favourite Tracks: “amber mural”, “perfect discarnate”, “whispering desolate graves”
Least Favourite Tracks: “synesthesic chromatism”

THROWBACK REVIEW – You Signed Up For This by Maisie Peters (2021):

This is the debut studio album by Maisie Peters, who just announced her second studio album will be released this year! But for now I want to talk about her 2021 debut.

And unfortunately, if I’m being honest, I’m not a big fan of this album. Now, I don’t dislike it, that’s for sure. But I don’t see it really having replay value for me outside of a few songs.

One of the things that really holds this album back for me is the production and instrumentation. For example, that annoying clicking beat in the first part of “Villain” (a song which later has an overpowered snare that kind of annoys me), how the pianos and guitar just sound awkward together on “Hollow” (especially with that percussion that sounds really underpowered), and just how awful I think “Boy” sounds, with the annoying percussion and annoying mixing. Also, if you’re wondering, yes, “Boy” is my least favourite song on the album.

Now, that being said, there are some exceptions to that. I like the rhythm of the percussion in “I’m Trying (Not Friends)”, and I like how the percussion and synths complement each other in the chorus of “Psycho”, creating a really strong groove!

But a lot of the melodies here don’t really work for me, either, and just feel kind of boring, on songs like “Volcano”, “Boy”, and “I’m Trying (Not Friends)”.

Lyrically, there are some songs here where I like the idea, but it just doesn’t do much to interest me (and there are some lines which, despite not being meant literally, are questionable). But there are also some lyrics I really like here. For example, in “John Hughes Movie”, where she accepts that the person she’s romantically interested in doesn’t feel the same way about her … she’s heartbroken about it—that’s natural—but she shows maturity by accepting this reality instead of trying to convince this person that the two of them should be together. She sings, ‘‘Cause if you don’t want me, then you’re not the one.’ That’s arguably my favourite lyric on the album!

As a whole album, it’s one that I think shows potential but doesn’t really have replay value for me. I’m giving it a 5.5/10 … this didn’t really click for me, but I’m curious to hear more from her. Interesting album.

Final Thoughts
Rating: 5.5/10
Favourite Tracks: “You Signed Up For This”, “John Hughes Movie”, “Psycho”, “Tough Act”
Least Favourite Tracks: “Boy”, “Hollow”, “Villain”, “Volcano”

Five Easy Hot Dogs by Mac DeMarco:

I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this Mac DeMarco album, especially because it’s the first Mac DeMarco album I’ve ever listened to … and unfortunately it’s not really clicking for me … at all.

This is an instrumental album, and it’s mostly mellow. And I’ve been getting into instrumental music more recently. But it kind of sounds to me like I’m listening to the same song over and over again.

I’m not saying there isn’t any variety here, but I just get bored after a while, and it’s not like I find the songs themselves very interesting, either. It’s mostly well mixed and well produced in my opinion, but I just find the compositions really boring, and as a full album, it just feels like a slog to get through.

None of these songs stand out as particularly unlistenable to me, it’s just that I find so little here to like. I mean, at least I like “Chicago 2”.

I guess as background music it might work for me, I don’t know. Honestly, I’m going to give this album a 3/10.

Final Thoughts
Rating: 3/10
Favourite Tracks: “Chicago 2”
Least Favourite Tracks: “Gualala”, “Gualala 2”, “Portland”, “Portland 2”, “Victoria”, “Vancouver”, “Vancouver 2”, “Vancouver 3”

My 21st Century Blues by RAYE:

After her departure from Polydor Records in 2021, RAYE is now an independent artist, and she’s released her debut album, My 21st Century Blues. And it’s great to see her more in control of her music and having success as an independent artist … and also, the album is really good!

Now, this isn’t an easy listen at all, mostly because of the lyrics about sexual assault, addiction, and so much more. Clearly RAYE has been through hell, and it’s great that she found the courage to open up about so much on this album!

That being said, there are some production and instrumentation choices here that I’m not a big fan of, such as that annoying sound in the background of “Environmental Anxiety”, and I don’t find the album super consistent.

But RAYE is a great singer, there’s lots of great vocal melodies, and I like most of the production here.

Again, lyrically, it’s not an easy listen at all, but I think it’s worth hearing! 7.5/10 for me!

Final Thoughts
Rating: 7.5/10
Favourite Tracks: “Hard Out Here.”, “Black Mascara.”, “Escapism.”, “The Thrill Is Gone.”, “Ice Cream Man.”, “Flip A Switch.”, “Body Dysmorphia.”, “Worth It.”
Least Favourite Tracks: “Mary Jane.”, “Five Star Hotels.”

!Drumless! by Unknown Damage:

Like I said earlier, I’ve been getting into instrumental music a bit more recently, and this is also a mostly instrumental album. Also, this is off-topic, but I want to mention it anyway, this is the first album of 2023 that I listened to.

Anyway, do I like the album?

Well … it’s an album that doesn’t really give me a lot to say. So, I’m not going to say much. The album doesn’t really do much for me. It has its moments that work for me, but also its moments that just sound like noise to me. And again, it’s not for me, it doesn’t mean I think it’s ‘objectively bad’.

Even just based on my own personal taste, I don’t think it’s bad. I’ll give this album a 4.5/10. It’s a mostly instrumental album with lots of glitchy sounds and some cool ideas, but again, as a full album experience, it just feels a little too all-over-the-place without the songs connecting together much, at least to me.

Final Thoughts
Rating: 4.5/10
Favourite Tracks: “!Guard Dog!”, “Align With the Stars (Radio Edit)”, “God’s Farther”
Least Favourite Tracks: “Fly Like a Boat”, “!+Materia Shower-!”, “How?”, “! Aquadrive !”, “Paradise Defence!”

Medium Gnarly by Swiss Army Wife:

So, this is the debut studio album by Swiss Army Wife, a band I had never heard of until this year, and … well, it’s not really clicking for me. Just being honest.

I mean, it’s mostly well produced, but aside from that, there’s not much here that makes me want to return to it. It kind of feels like I’m listening to the same song over and over again. I’m not saying there isn’t variety here, I’m just I personally don’t find much variety here.

And that’s not to say the production consistently stands out to me in a positive way—“Flcl” sounds really messy, which I guess kind of fits with the lyrics, but the snare feels underpowered here, and it just doesn’t sound good to me.

I mean, the guitars mostly sound good on this album. I’ll say that much. But overall, it’s not really clicking for me. 5/10.

Final Thoughts
Rating: 5/10
Favourite Tracks: “This # Is No Longer in Service”, “New Best Friend”
Least Favourite Tracks: “Flcl”

M by park zero:

So, I was curious to hear this new park zero album considering I’d seen a decent amount of critical acclaim … but unfortunately, it’s not for me at all.

This is one of those glitchy, avant-garde albums with a bunch of repetition and … well, that kind of thing can work for me, but I’ll admit this style of music usually isn’t really my thing.

There’s lots of distortion used throughout this album, some of which I like, and some of which I find annoying.

Overall, I’m left wishing there was a bit more variety here in the sound. Maybe there’s already a ton of variety that I’m just not noticing, but for me it just gets really boring the further I get into the album.

I’m not saying this is the case for everyone, and I’m not saying I’m totally unbiased myself, but let’s just admit that if this was an Imagine Dragons album and it sounded exactly the same, a lot of the people who are praising it right now would say, ‘It’s just trying so hard to be edgy and experimental, and it really fails at it. It’s totally overblown and overproduced and sounds like shit.’

For me, this is a 4/10. I just don’t find it very interesting.

Final Thoughts
Rating: 4/10
Favourite Tracks: ???
Least Favourite Tracks: “Strangelove”, “Long Dark Tea-time of the Soul”

棲​居​在​溪​源​之​上 Seeking the Sources of Streams by Cicada:

This is another instrumental album. It’s a little over forty minutes long, and I think it’s pretty good.

It’s quite mellow, and it doesn’t give me a ton to say, but it’s just a really nice, calming listen. Also, I think it works better as a whole than it does as a collection of songs.

While it’s not super long, I feel like I’d like it a bit more if it were a little bit shorter, and I think the title track drags on a bit for me, but as it is, I think it’s a good album.

I’m going to give this album a light 7/10.

Final Thoughts
Rating: 7/10
Favourite Tracks: “On the Way to the Glacial Cirque”, “Remains of Ancient Trees”
Least Favourite Tracks: “Seeking the Sources of Streams”, “Forest Trail to the Home Away Home”

Married in Mount Airy by Nicole Dollanganger:

So, I was looking for some new albums to check out early in the year, and I saw this one getting quite a bit of critical acclaim, so I decided to check it out, and … well, when I’d given it more listens, I realized this album is way darker than I had first thought it was on first listen, as I didn’t read the lyrics the first time I listened to it.

And it turns out this is an album I respect more than I like. Because I’ve got to say, I’m not loving this album, even though I wouldn’t be surprised to see this on a lot of people’s year-end best albums lists. It reminds me a lot of Ethel Cain’s debut album from last year, Preacher’s Daughter, in both the lyrics and the sound at points, and both albums fall into the category of albums I respect way more than I like. Now I will say I like the production on this album more, and for me there are higher high points than on Preacher’s Daughter, but just like with that album, I find some of the compositions and melodies to be kind of uninteresting to me.

But with all that being said, I do mostly like this. I think the title track is absolutely incredible, and easily my favourite track on the album, with the incredible vocals and the fantastic musical build. And again, I like a lot of the lyrics on this album. I’m not sure whether or not the lyrics here are telling a true story from Nicole’s life, but either way, this album shows Nicole condemning an ex who abused her, but also showing that she still misses this relationship, despite how terribly she was treated. At least that’s how I interpret this album.

I just would have liked the album even more if I liked the compositions and melodies more … but there are still some compositions and melodies here that I like, and with the lyrics and production being really good, too, while it’s not an easy listen, it’s one I would recommend. 7/10!

Final Thoughts
Rating: 7/10
Favourite Tracks: “Married in Mount Airy”, “Runnin’ Free”, “Moonlite”, “Nymphs Finding the Head of Orpheus”
Least Favourite Tracks: “Gold Satin Dreamer”

Raven by Kelela:

I still haven’t listened to Kelela’s 2017 debut album, Take Me Apart, but I definitely didn’t want to miss her second album after seeing all the critical acclaim it got.

But just because it’s getting tons of critical acclaim doesn’t mean I personally have to love the album, which I don’t. Yeah, I mostly like the production, and Kelela is a great vocalist, but this album is over an hour long, and it feels like it drags on.

And also, some of these lyrics are very … questionable. Some of the sexual lyrics here feel pushy and creepy, even though I’m sure those lyrics weren’t meant to be taken seriously. And because this is art and not real life, I wouldn’t mind those lyrics if there seemed to be any more depth to it, or maybe even if the instrumentals sounded different. I feel like that would make it even harder to take seriously.

I mean, there are a few great tracks around the middle of the album, and there are a lot of ideas here that I like, but I’m not going to ignore the elements of this album that hold it back for me quite a bit … so, as controversial as this rating is, I’m going to give Raven a 6/10.

Final Thoughts
Rating: 6/10
Favourite Tracks: “Fooley”, “Holier”, “Raven”
Least Favourite Tracks: “Sorbet”

Let Her Burn by Rebecca Black:

Rebecca Black did not deserve the hate she got for “Friday”. There’s a difference between hating a song and bullying someone for making a song. And this is coming from someone who writes about music and often openly shares when I don’t like an album.

But now I want to talk about Rebecca Black’s debut studio album. And while some might consider it ‘uncool’ to like this album, I actually like it quite a bit!

That being said, I don’t love this album. Part of the reason why is that I don’t find it to be super consistent, with a few tracks around the middle of the album that don’t click for me.

But I mostly like the mixing on this album, with some exceptions like how loud the percussion is in the avant-garde section toward the end of “Crumbs”. But yeah, throughout most of this album, I like the mixing, and while I wish I liked the vocal melodies more at points, there are a lot of vocal melodies I really do like, and the instrumentals and vocal melodies often go together really well.

There’s also a lot I like in the lyrics here, which are often toxic, but that’s the point, and there’s a lot of self-awareness.

So, overall … I understand why people might love the album, and even though it didn’t click for me as much as I wanted it to, there’s a lot here that I do like, and I’m definitely excited to hear more music from Rebecca Black! I’m going to give this album a 7/10. Good album!

Final Thoughts
Rating: 7/10
Favourite Tracks: “Erase You”, “Destroy Me”, “Misery Loves Company”, “Sick To My Stomach”
Least Favourite Tracks: “Doe-Eyed”