TooFewColours's recent activity
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Comment on What email client do you use? in ~tech
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Comment on Album of the Week #26: Gang Starr - Moment of Truth in ~music
TooFewColours Link ParentThey were both pioneering jazz rap in NYC alongside one another, but my understanding is they came from pretty different places which gives their output very different vibes. Gang Starr has a fair...I always feel like Guru is, in a way, close to the Native Tongue groups
They were both pioneering jazz rap in NYC alongside one another, but my understanding is they came from pretty different places which gives their output very different vibes. Gang Starr has a fair amount of Gangsta and Hardcore in its DNA, where Native Tongues is more playful, with more callbacks to the 60s/70s.
Guru is pretty humourless, and Preemo's beats are usually razor sharp - total opposite of De La Soul or Tribe. I don't know if it's a 'rough edge' that's missing, but Gang Starr can be a little clinical in comparison. Arguably Gang Starr might be seen as having the edgier sound, with Native Tongues often dealing with being accused of being 'soft' at the time.
Curious what your thoughts (if any) on The Pharcyde are? They've definitely got that playful sound as well as edge.
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Comment on Movie of the Week #22 - Saving Private Ryan in ~movies
TooFewColours Link ParentDon't worry I'm totally read-up on the production of Band of Brothers and how it launched from SPR, but yes I'm probably in the minority experiencing them backward, and I'm certain that changed...Don't worry I'm totally read-up on the production of Band of Brothers and how it launched from SPR, but yes I'm probably in the minority experiencing them backward, and I'm certain that changed how I viewed them. What I don't really know is the general consensus comparing the two. Both seem beloved by their fans, and there seems to be a big overlap.
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Comment on Movie of the Week #22 - Saving Private Ryan in ~movies
TooFewColours (edited )LinkI'd seen 'Band of Brothers' twice through before I watched Saving Private Ryan, which I put on to try and scratch that itch after it finished the second time. I was really disappointment with it,...I'd seen 'Band of Brothers' twice through before I watched Saving Private Ryan, which I put on to try and scratch that itch after it finished the second time. I was really disappointment with it, and while it captures a lot of the horrors of war in an honest (if a little bit hollywood) way, 'Band of Brothers' uses its longer run-time to really show how the lives of each of the men is affected by the war, making the death of each one tug a little harder at your heartstrings. At the end of BoB something felt so unfair about which characters lived and which had died. I don't know if there was a character in SPR I found myself caring about more than any single man in Easy Company. I'd be curious if anyone here enjoyed SPR more than BoB - I get that BoB can be a little worthy at times.
I also couldn't shake the feeling that the final set-piece really felt like, well, a set. It's a long part of the film too, and I feel like we barely see more than a hundred yards across - like it felt weirdly as though it had been dropped right in the centre of somewhere, and had almost Tim Burton-esque proportions. Maybe some of the shots they couldn't turn the camera as much as they'd like without revealing the catering van.
I saw Thin Red Line last year, and it sits somewhere in the middle. I embrace every criticism against it, but I think it made some unusual choices that didn't quite work, and I'm glad it took those risks. But man, by the time I got to Thin Red Line I was completely de-sensitized to the scene where a soldier is bleeding out and another soldier tells them he'll send a letter to his Mom, while the dying soldier starts saying they feel the opposite temperature that they would normally be feeling in the current environment. I guess they couldn't get enough of that in the late 90s.
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Comment on Album of the Week #26: Gang Starr - Moment of Truth in ~music
TooFewColours (edited )LinkThis was a hip hop album I put off listening to for a long time because of its long tracklist and monstrous album art (which, to be fair, does has a kind of cheesy old-school hip hop appeal). It...This was a hip hop album I put off listening to for a long time because of its long tracklist and monstrous album art (which, to be fair, does has a kind of cheesy old-school hip hop appeal). It immediately cemented itself as one of my favourite albums, and was kicking myself I hadn't heard it sooner.
I've cooled on it a little since, but I still think it's a centre-piece of the genre, and a pretty good entry point. I think it sits in this weird middle ground just before the turn of the century, where it doesn't quite feel like an old-school record (like Illmatic, The Infamous, Low End Theory) but it's also is just hitting that wave of more crisp, soulful and instrumental production, along with more free-flowing verses, that was eventually heard on albums like 'The Blueprint', 'Black on Both Sides' or 'Like Water For Chocolate'. Truth be told, I'm usually in the mood for one or the other.
But still, this is 20 tracks long and almost feels like it could be a greatest-hits compilation. This might not contain all of Preemo's best work, but it's a brilliant insight into his style. Pretty much every beat here is infectious and melodic, with still a whole lot of punch that keeps it strictly boom bap. To this day I've not heard anything quite like the sample mixing on Robbin Hood Theory.
And Guru? I love Guru, and I think the best compliment I can give is that he's consistent. The title-track here is still one of my favourite songs, and one that got me through a lot of tough times. I find Guru's words from this song repeat through my head often, namely
Actions have reactions, don't be quick to judge
You may not know the hardships people don't speak ofAnd sometimes
I've been through a whole lot of other shit before
So I oughta be able to withstand some more
But I'm sweatin' though, my eyes are turnin' red and yo
I'm ready to lose my mind, but instead I use my mindAlong with the sweeping strings - it's an unusually vulnerable song for the time which helps it stand apart as the strongest here.
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Album of the Week #26: Gang Starr - Moment of Truth
This is Album of the Week #26 ~ This week's album is Gang Starr - Moment of Truth Year of Release: 1998 Genre(s): East Coast Hip Hop, Boom Bap Country: United States Length: 78 minutes RYM |...
This is Album of the Week #26 ~ This week's album is Gang Starr - Moment of Truth
Year of Release: 1998
Genre(s): East Coast Hip Hop, Boom Bap
Country: United States
Length: 78 minutes
RYM | Listen!Excerpt from Albumism:
Instead, the crew thrived, slightly updating its sound, but remaining true to its roots. While the music was more melodic and a bit cleaner, the soul of the group remained intact. If anything, as Guru says to open the album, both the rhyme style and the style of beats are “elevated.” Behind the boards, Primo runs a clinic in hip-hop production, showcasing his superior sample chopping skills. Guru turned in the best lyrical performance of his career, and honestly one of the best lyrical performances of the past quarter-century. He even produced a pair of tracks on the album, the first time he had received the sole production credit on a Gang Starr album.
Discussion points:
Have you heard this artist/album before? Is this your first time hearing?
Do you enjoy this genre? Is this an album you would have chosen?
Does this album remind you of something you've heard before?
What were the album's strengths or weaknesses?
Was there a standout track for you?
How did you hear the album? Where were you? What was your setup?--
Album of the week is currently chosen randomly (via random.org) from the top 5000 albums from a custom all-time RYM chart, with a 4/5 popularity weighting. The chart is recalculated weekly.
Missed last week? It can be found here.
Any feedback on the format is welcome ~~
15 votes -
Comment on New Music Fridays: Adrianne Lenker, Julia Holter, Waxahatchee and more in ~music
TooFewColours Link ParentYeah I'm very on the fence about Cheerleader, although it has grown on me. I dismissed 'Look At The Sky' when I first heard it too, but it's now my most played song since of the last five years....Yeah I'm very on the fence about Cheerleader, although it has grown on me. I dismissed 'Look At The Sky' when I first heard it too, but it's now my most played song since of the last five years. But 'Nurture' was dripping with sincerity, and relatable sincerity at that. Cheerleader is pretty much all camp - I guess its about the fan-artist dynamic, but that isn't exactly a universal theme. I can totally get why he wouldn't/couldn't make another 'Nurture'. Guess we'll see where he takes it.
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Comment on New Music Fridays: Adrianne Lenker, Julia Holter, Waxahatchee and more in ~music
TooFewColours LinkAn exciting week this week, 2024 is starting to really kick off. Here's what caught my eye ~ A big week for indie, with three indie heavyweights to listen to Adrianne Lenker of Big Thief has...An exciting week this week, 2024 is starting to really kick off. Here's what caught my eye ~
A big week for indie, with three indie heavyweights to listen to
Adrianne Lenker of Big Thief has released a solo album 'Bright Future'. This is probably the 'must-hear' of the week. A much more stripped back sound than Big Thief as we've come to expect, but Lenker really leans into Americana with this one, and I think that really opens up her songwriting. Absolutely gorgeous. Will be unpacking this over the year.
Julia Holter is also on six, releasing 'Something in the Room She Moves'. Tragically I could never get into Julia Holter, but admire her work. This one wasn't an exception - but it seems to be recieving very position first impressions from fans. Recommend for anyone who would enjoy very effortless thinky ambient pop.
Waxahatchee's sixth studio album 'Tigers Blood' also released today. I really enjoyed this one! I've been obsessed with the single 'Right Back To It', but wasn't so captured by the other single choices, but the good news is almost every other song here rises above them. This is a really mature effort from Crutchfield, she's really honed in her sound, rather than reinventing the wheel. A very thoughtful record, Waxahatchee fans should love it.
I was gushing about the singles from Matt Champion a couple weeks back, who's released his first studio album since the breakup of Brockhampton, 'Mika's Laundry'. It's a brisk album, with a lot of the songs feeling like interludes to the singles themselves, but there's some really cool production and playing throughout (thanks to Dijon). Hopefully Matt can really develop something interesting in his next one. If nothing else I really recommend folks listen to 'Slug', one of the best singles of the year so far, imo.
Porter Robinson revealed his lead single for his follow up to 'Nurture' called 'Cheerleader'. A step away from EDM, this is much more electropop. He's leaning into a kind of deliberately cringe aesthetic. The lead synth is insane. It's a pretty cool track, check it out.
Also, I probably won't be spinning it, but Elbow have a new album out today 'Audio Vertigo', so check that out if you're into them.
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New Music Fridays: Adrianne Lenker, Julia Holter, Waxahatchee and more
This is a thread to discuss 2024 releases that have recently arrived on our doorstep, or been announced for the future. Feel free to share albums, singles, EPs or reissues that have caught your...
This is a thread to discuss 2024 releases that have recently arrived on our doorstep, or been announced for the future. Feel free to share albums, singles, EPs or reissues that have caught your eye and interest, or share your thoughts about any new music that you've had the chance to listen to this week.
Discussion Points
Is there anything you've been looking forward to listening to?
Any releases that have surprised you?
Have you listened to any new music recently? What are your thoughts?
What have you enjoyed from these artists in the past? How does their latest work compare?Links:
Pitchfork - Out This Week
AllMusic - All New Releases
Stereogum - New Music~~ Feedback on the format welcome
7 votes -
Comment on Album of the Week #25: D'Angelo - Voodoo in ~music
TooFewColours Link Parent'Adore' definitely stands out - I was thinking while hearing it earlier today that it might be the inspiration for the guitar sound for The Charade. I think this is two-sides of the same coin to...'Adore' definitely stands out - I was thinking while hearing it earlier today that it might be the inspiration for the guitar sound for The Charade.
D'Angelo sounds like he is in a tin box, wrapped in a blanket and not quite singing into the microphone. There is absolutely no space, no echo, no reverb, and no life present.
I think this is two-sides of the same coin to the Pitchfork description of the album sounding like its heard 'through a city wall'. For me there's something very intimate about D'Angelo's recording. It's not easy producing something and every part feel so 'close', but they pull it off here. I like the Roberta Flack recording, it has a very classic 70s soul sound, but I really think the Voodoo sound stands on its own.
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Comment on Other artists like Freya Catherine, Jillian Aversa, Erutan? in ~music
TooFewColours LinkThey don't have the video game context, but some Chamber Folk records I've enjoyed in the past Woodfall by Musk Ox - This is instrumental, and has a sombre tone to it with some subtle nods to...They don't have the video game context, but some Chamber Folk records I've enjoyed in the past
Woodfall by Musk Ox - This is instrumental, and has a sombre tone to it with some subtle nods to metal (no metal instrumentation)
Sun & Moon by Timbre - One of my favourite albums from 2015, some gorgeous compositions and female vocals. It was a big project and hasn't been followed up since. There's some long choral passages particularly in the second half which might not be what you're after, but even excluding those there's a lot to chew on here.
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Comment on Album of the Week #25: D'Angelo - Voodoo in ~music
TooFewColours Link ParentThanks for the Chicken Grease correction! I actually listened to Sign O The Times earlier today and noticed him shouting it for the first time. Adore that recording of It’s Gonna Be A Beautiful Night.Thanks for the Chicken Grease correction! I actually listened to Sign O The Times earlier today and noticed him shouting it for the first time. Adore that recording of It’s Gonna Be A Beautiful Night.
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Comment on Let's talk about Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in ~music
TooFewColours LinkI've watched every Eurovision in my living memory, as my parents would take me to Eurovision parties as a baby and child, and I carried that tradition over after leaving home. I've always held the...I've watched every Eurovision in my living memory, as my parents would take me to Eurovision parties as a baby and child, and I carried that tradition over after leaving home.
I've always held the position not to listen to the songs beforehand, not really for any worthy reason, just simply because that's how I've always experienced it. Modern music streaming plays an increasingly bigger part of the contest with each year, and so you don't even need to watch the heats to get the full picture.
I enjoy the excitement not knowing what you're about to get, but I'm wondering if I'm slipping away from how the contest is meant to be enjoyed? I know there's no 'right' way to enjoy anything, but I could still be handicapping myself.
I tend to go to YouTube the next day and watch the music videos after the fact, and more-often-than-not the performance on the night gives a wildly different impression of the song. Staging, choreography, vocal performance - they're all things that don't translate into a more crisply prepared music video. I'm almost certain my opinion of each song would be influenced if I'd heard the studio recording first, and some songs don't really 'click' until you've heard it a few times.
Seems like half the fun is being surprised on the night, for me at least. Graham Norton says 'get ready for the dancing moose on this one' (or something) and it's all new to you. I guess there's the fun rooting for your favourite, or feeling the nerves of the night, and no one performance will be the same as another. Getting through 26 songs sober can be herculean enough, I honestly can't imagine doing it having already heard everything before.
Sorry to do a 'hmm well actually' post that's not in the spirit of the thread - Genuinely curious what folks think!Maybe I could give it a try this year and see how it goes.
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Comment on Album of the Week #25: D'Angelo - Voodoo in ~music
TooFewColours (edited )Link ParentThis is a really interesting perspective, especially since I got into Prince through D'Angelo, and a couple decades late at that. I wasn't aware they had 'beef', I admittedly know very little...This is a really interesting perspective, especially since I got into Prince through D'Angelo, and a couple decades late at that. I wasn't aware they had 'beef', I admittedly know very little about D as a person, likely as he completely dropped from the public eye as I was growing up. I'm struggling to find the exact quote D said about Prince - fan forums seem to point to the Voodoo liner notes, but there's nothing about D'Angelo saying he'd put Prince back on track that I can find. The more I'm digging on it the more it comes across just how much D admired Prince. Apparently they jammed in private once, but there's different reports on how cordial that went.
Turns out 'Chicken Grease' is named after what Prince called his guitar.I'm thinking maybe you have the Prince influence the wrong way around - the background details and the timbre are very much what make Voodoo Voodoo. Almost every song here could be a Prince cover song to my ears, I can practically hear Prince singing the lead vocals - albeit with a looser rhythm. It's those ad libs and shifts in its rhythms that gives it that D'Angelo spin, but tighten up the sound and put a funk synth over the top and you've found the magic. Tell me 'Feel Like Makin' Love' doesn't sound right out of 'Sign O The Times'.
Then again, if my grandmother had wheels...
It's a shame they otherwise never had much to do with each other in Prince's lifetime. I found this cover of 'Pop Life' from a gig in 2013 which I think illustrates it pretty well. Dropping the speed down to 0.75x is a little too slow, but I think makes it sound to something very akin to a track you'd find on 'Brown Sugar'.
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Comment on Album of the Week #25: D'Angelo - Voodoo in ~music
TooFewColours Link ParentWonderful thoughts! Glad to have someone here who shares my love of Voodoo ~ 3 AM sounds like an ideal time of day to be spinning it. I will say I've always had a harder time getting into Brown...Wonderful thoughts! Glad to have someone here who shares my love of Voodoo ~ 3 AM sounds like an ideal time of day to be spinning it.
I will say I've always had a harder time getting into Brown Sugar. It's arguably his most soulful record, but a little more structured and sharp on the production end. Although, after discovering 'Live At The Jazz Cafe, London', that's my favourite way to hear its songs. Being released between Brown Sugar and Voodoo, it's a really interesting middle ground between the two. That, and its live setting opens up more room for those improvised moments. And damn, that 10 minute rendition of Brown Sugar could just go on forever.
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Comment on Album of the Week #25: D'Angelo - Voodoo in ~music
TooFewColours (edited )LinkI've generally abandoned any effort to declare one album my all-time favourite, but there are often times when this is it. I remember hearing it for the first time and completely dismissing it -...I've generally abandoned any effort to declare one album my all-time favourite, but there are often times when this is it.
I remember hearing it for the first time and completely dismissing it - directionless, tuneless, overlong. I heard it the second time a year later, and have never experienced more of a 'click' - I've found myself intoxicated by it ever since. No artist, even D'Angelo himself, has come close to replicating its sound, and lord knows I've spent the last decade trying to find more of it.
In my mind it sits right next to 'Astral Weeks' - these two albums that aren't afraid to improvise, that sound like musicians in a room all understanding one another completely. 'Groove' is a hard thing to quantify, and this album makes its groove tick along with the intricacies of a pocket watch.
I love that description from the Pitchfork write up - like hearing something through a city wall. This record is so understated, comfortable, and even optimistic, all underneath a thick shroud of 'cool'.
There's so much Prince influence on this, you can hear his presence on every song. Despite how loose each composition is here, there's a pop song in the DNA of each track, which makes them to easy to come back to, really in any order.
Although, those last two tracks work together to make one hell of a pay-off. The closer, 'Africa' has always been my favourite. Only D'Angelo could make a lullaby sound as sexy as it does. It has this tender, twinkling Rhode keyboard that just dances around your ears.
'Black Messiah' in 2015 was one hell of an accomplishment, after 15 years away from the public eye. I've spent a long time going back on forth on these two records, but even 'Black Messiah', a record oozing with soul, sounds a little stiff compared to 'Voodoo'. It's the king of soul, the crowning jewel, the king of cool.
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Album of the Week #25: D'Angelo - Voodoo
This is Album of the Week #25 ~ This week's album is D'Angelo - Voodoo Year of Release: 2000 Genre(s): Neo-Soul Country: United States Length: 79 minutes RYM | Listen! Excerpt from Pitchfork:...
This is Album of the Week #25 ~ This week's album is D'Angelo - Voodoo
Year of Release: 2000
Genre(s): Neo-Soul
Country: United States
Length: 79 minutes
RYM | Listen!Excerpt from Pitchfork:
Details also give Voodoo its timelessness. The album's gentle avoidance of common song structures adds spontaneity; even after hundreds of listens, it's still possible to be surprised. The barely-heard words spoken in intros and outros give things continuity and a voyeuristic quality, like you're hearing it all through a city wall; listen again for the the sweetly awkward conversation with an ex that starts "One Mo' Gin" or the way "Greatdayndamornin'" is introduced with D'Angelo praising ?uestlove to journalist dream hampton: "I was like, 'You gonna be my drummer one of these days,'" gushes D.
Discussion points:
Have you heard this artist/album before? Is this your first time hearing?
Do you enjoy this genre? Is this an album you would have chosen?
Does this album remind you of something you've heard before?
What were the album's strengths or weaknesses?
Was there a standout track for you?
How did you hear the album? Where were you? What was your setup?--
Album of the week is currently chosen randomly (via random.org) from the top 5000 albums from a custom all-time RYM chart, with a 4/5 popularity weighting. The chart is recalculated weekly.
Missed last week? It can be found here.
Any feedback on the format is welcome ~~
11 votes -
Comment on New Music Fridays: Kacey Musgraves, Four Tet, Tierra Whack and more in ~music
TooFewColours LinkA few releases to check out this week. Here's what caught my eye ~ Kacey Musgraves has released her sixth studio album 'Deeper Well'. Responses seem a little mixed-to-positive so far. I heard it...A few releases to check out this week. Here's what caught my eye ~
Kacey Musgraves has released her sixth studio album 'Deeper Well'. Responses seem a little mixed-to-positive so far. I heard it earlier today - while it's smoothed away the akwardness of 'Star-Crossed', it's smooth now to the point of being almost uninteresting. But it's pleasant. There's no surprises, so if you liked the singles, it very consistently carries that sound. Kacey was so sparky, I'm not sure where that Kacey has gone since 2020. Hope someone here gets more mileage.
Four Tet has released his twelth studio album 'Three'. This one's nice. There's definitely some 'Rounds' in it, some ambient moments, some very 90s inspired moments. Check it out.
A full length release from Tierra Whack! 'World Wide Whack'. Tierra made a splash in 2018 with the release of 'Whack World' - a 15 minute where each song is 1 minute. It's weird, twee poppy hip hop that made for a really fun listen that year. She seemed to struggle to ride that wave of success. Six(!) years later, there's some fun hooks here, but Tierra seems to have a hard time fleshing them out
A couple days ago Adrianne Lenker from Big Thief released a fundraiser EP of covers for the Palestine Children's Relief Fund.
Chuck Strangers released his second LP 'A Forsaken Lover's Plea'. Really enjoying this one, some ice-old, non-complicated hip hop from the east coat.
A little of attention surrounding this new release from Bladee and Yung Lean, 'Psykos'. These two helped spearhead the underground Cloud Rap scene, but this is a take on a Post-Punk sound - feels inspired by Joy Division or The Cure.
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New Music Fridays: Kacey Musgraves, Four Tet, Tierra Whack and more
This is a thread to discuss 2024 releases that have recently arrived on our doorstep, or been announced for the future. Feel free to share albums, singles, EPs or reissues that have caught your...
This is a thread to discuss 2024 releases that have recently arrived on our doorstep, or been announced for the future. Feel free to share albums, singles, EPs or reissues that have caught your eye and interest, or share your thoughts about any new music that you've had the chance to listen to this week.
Discussion Points
Is there anything you've been looking forward to listening to?
Any releases that have surprised you?
Have you listened to any new music recently? What are your thoughts?
What have you enjoyed from these artists in the past? How does their latest work compare?Links:
Pitchfork - Out This Week
AllMusic - All New Releases
Stereogum - New Music~~ Feedback on the format welcome
7 votes -
Album of the Week #24: Rush - A Farewell to Kings
This is Album of the Week #24 ~ This week's album is Rush - A Farewell to Kings Year of Release: 1977 Genre(s): Progressive Rock Country: United States Length: 37 minutes RYM | Listen! Excerpt...
This is Album of the Week #24 ~ This week's album is Rush - A Farewell to Kings
Year of Release: 1977
Genre(s): Progressive Rock
Country: United States
Length: 37 minutes
RYM | Listen!Excerpt from PopMatters:
A Farewell to Kings is an important album in the trajectory of Rush’s career. Having just released the ambitious 2112 a year earlier, the trio didn’t settle with their power guitar-bass-drum hard rock formula, but decided to get even more experimental. Peart started playing with new types of percussion: tubular bells, orchestral bells, temple blocks, etc. At the same time, Lee delved into the Mini Moog and the signature bass pedal synthesizer, while Alex Lifeson experimented with different guitars and effects, most notably the wide, encompassing chorus effects that would fill out Rush’s sound for many albums to come. In many ways, the sound and instrumental experimentation on Kings set the tone and expectations for everything that would come after it.
Discussion points:
Have you heard this artist/album before? Is this your first time hearing?
Do you enjoy this genre? Is this an album you would have chosen?
Does this album remind you of something you've heard before?
What were the album's strengths or weaknesses?
Was there a standout track for you?
How did you hear the album? Where were you? What was your setup?--
Album of the week is currently chosen randomly (via random.org) from the top 5000 albums from a custom all-time RYM chart, with a 4/5 popularity weighting. The chart is recalculated weekly.
Missed last week? It can be found here.
Any feedback on the format is welcome ~~
10 votes
I used it back in 2018 for a bit, didn't know it was still being updated. I went back to Thunderbird because it feels more lightweight and mature, in recent updates it looks pretty good too.
I'm not a never-electron kind of person, but I steer away for any apps where writing/text-editing is a main use-case - electron apps can have a weird fuzziness to them.