It’s the final post of the blog, and what could be a better way to cap things off than reviewing one final album? Here’s a review of Manners by Passion Pit!

Make Light: The album begins with a nice guitar riff before transitioning into a more synth-based sound that becomes the main base for songs on the record. The lyrics delve into mental illness and how it impacts relationships.

Little Secrets: The instrumental of this song is once again synthesized with a solid drum beat. The lyrics have multiple interpretations, with some lines that hint at the song potentially being about the struggles of mental illness, coming out, or drugs.

Moth’s Wings: A less radiant-sounding song about a person with a turbulent personality and the impact of their death. While it is the weakest song on the record, it still isn’t bad by any means.

The Reeling: This song continues with a synthesized sound, and a saxophone is also worked in! The lyrics allude to themes of paranoia and uneasiness.

Eyes as Candles: A song that is once again about mental illness, as well as religion. The music itself goes at a slower tempo than some of the other songs, but retains its synth-pop sound.

Swimming in the Flood: An orchestral-sounding piece, with water metaphors being used to represent a broken relationship. This is the saddest sounding song on the album, making it one of the only songs to match the tone of the lyrics.

Folds in Your Hands: Once again, the main theme of this song is how mental illness impacts relationships. The instrumental features synths, and its buildup to the chorus is a true highlight.

To Kingdom Come: Another track using a basis of synth production, with the saxophone riff making a grand return. The lyrics are at their most nonsensical, but seem to have the general theme of attempting to reach God for help with deep struggles.

Sleepyhead: The intro of this song is one of the most unique openings I’ve ever heard, with a dreamy synth line and a pitched and distorted vocal sample. The descriptive lyrics add to the song, making it splendid to listen to.

Let Your Love Grow Tall: Possibly the song with the most optimistic title and another euphoric instrumental, with continued sad underlying themes about questioning the facets of love.

Seaweed Song: The water metaphors continue here, as well as an instrumental that mostly sounds upbeat with the exception of the third verse.

I cannot sing enough praise for this album! The bright, synthesized instrumentals contrast with the darker, more thematic elements well and make the songs all the more intriguing. This album earns a 10/10, as well as the honor of being my absolute favorite album of all time!

Hello, and welcome to yet another album review! On this post, we’ll be tackling Bankrupt! by Phoenix.

Entertainment: A bright sounding opening to the album, using a synth-based instrumental. The lyrics reflect on a former relationship, which becomes a common theme that persists throughout the album.

The Real Thing: A song about an ended relationship, and a yearning to once again feel a similar sensation. The instrumental uses more guitars than the previous track that give the song a harder edge.

S.O.S. in Bel Air: Continuing from the previous song’s theme of relationships, this song is about attempting to resist love stemming from the presence of a woman until eventually giving in. The distinct guitar riffs accompanied by synths makes this song one of the best.

Trying to be Cool: With a slower instrumental and the usage of many synths, this song probably has the nicest atmosphere of all the songs on the record. The theme of the song’s lyrics is made obvious by the title.

Bankrupt!: The first two-thirds of this song are completely instrumental, starting out quietly with layers of synth and piano until gradually building up to the final part of the song. The lyrics don’t begin until the last third of the song and detail the pursuits of the wealthy until it fades out along with the music when the song finishes.

Drakkar Noir: This song’s instrumental bears minor similarities to Trying to be Cool, but stands out by using a different instrumental structure. The lyrical content is another song about wealth, specifically a façade one sets up to appear prosperous while actually possessing no wealth at all.

Chloroform: As Drakkar Noir’s instrumental slows down at the end, it leads directly into the beginning of this song, which transitions into a much slower, almost compressed sounding synth-based tune. The lyrics describe cruel love, and while I normally object to these themes, the smooth instrumental salvages it.

Don’t: Once again, this song tackles a relationship plagued with issues that has become too serious to handle. The instrumental is the song’s strongest asset, as the quick-paced synths and guitars make the song a thrill to listen to.

Bourgeois: The beginning of this song actually contains microphone static from its studio recording. After the song begins, it takes another look into the lifestyles of the rich and famous, lambasting on the minute problems they face.

Oblique City: The final song that experiences many key changes that truly make the song one-of-a-kind, while retaining the familiar synths and guitars. The subject matter delves into consumerism and capitalism, with lyrics questioning these topics.

While many of the songs do sound similar, the great instrumentation prevents it from becoming monotonous. Overall, this album gets an 8/10 rating!

Welcome to yet another review! Today, we’ll be taking a closer look at Ceremonials by Florence and the Machine!

Only if For a Night: This album begins with a vivid dream about seeing a lost loved one again. The piano and drums help create a lasting impact that makes this opener a worthy listen.

Shake it Out: This song is about shaking off all your problems and leaving them in the past. The lyrics also dabble in themes of spirituality. It is strengthened by a choral-inspired sound and powerful vocals, as well as a strong instrumental.

What the Water Gave Me: A sad tale about someone jumping into water and drowning themselves. The song has a nice buildup, with blends of piano and guitars that conclude with a striking payoff that makes it an exceptional track.

Never Let Me Go: Another song that involves drowning as a theme. Despite the morbid subject matter, the song itself sounds gorgeous. Its tempo is slow, and it uses a multitude of instruments to create a somber sound that leaves a lasting impact on the listener.

Breaking Down: A desolate look into how depressive thoughts can consume someone until they break down. Ironically, the song’s instrumental does not sound as melancholic as other songs despite its serious subject matter. 

Lover to Lover: A soul-influenced song about accepting fate, no matter how bleak it may be. The track displays a stark contrast between its lyrics and instrumental, as while the lyrics speak of a descent to the underworld, the music sounds relatively upbeat.

No Light, No Light: A gripping song about the end of a relationship and its impact on Florence. The instrumental is intense, with the same hard-hitting drum rhythms from previous songs, and even the use of a harp.

Seven Devils: The most unsettling song on the album. Its nightmarish nature is invoked by a chilling piano riff that persists throughout the entirety of the song, echoed vocals, and lyrics about devils haunting someone.

Heartlines: A track with darker lyrical content, but layered among this darker imagery is a message encouraging the listener to persevere no matter what hardships they face. The powerful instrumental makes the song even more empowering to hear.

Spectrum: The pattern of uplifting themes is continued with a song that compares a positive relationship to an iridescent spectrum of colors. The instrumental is once again a highlight, with an elegant use of harp.

All This and Heaven Too: A beautiful sounding song about how emotions have a language of their own. The way the song’s key changes as it progresses from a verse to the chorus is what makes it grand.

Leave My Body: Capping off the album is an emotional song about needing to leave your body in order to escape the turmoil of a past relationship. Florence’s soaring vocals end the album on a high note.

This beautiful album earns a score of 9/10!

Welcome back to the blog! Today’s review is of the album Felt by The Chain Gang of 1974.

Slow: The album begins with a song about trying to move past a horrible breakup, but is moving slow due to reminiscing on the past. In a genius display of showing his anger, the first verse is repeated after the first chorus in a louder and more expressive manner. This minor detail adds to what is already a great song!

Wallflowers: A love song detailing dreams of a blossoming romance. The production of the song exemplifies its dreamlike sound, while pairing it with guitars that surprisingly work well in the song without becoming too distracting.

I Still Wonder: A song about a relationship that fizzles and causes the two to break apart, which leads to the curiosity about what it may have become if they remained together.

Forget: A duet featuring guest vocalist Alisa Xayalith of The Naked and Famous. She and Chain Gang’s lead singer Kamtin Mohager have amazing chemistry on the song which helps create a highly genuine sounding love connection.

Looking for Love: The story of this song is about a man who tries to ask his love interest out, until he then gets rejected by her. This scenario is relatable, and its emotional core is sure to resonate with many people.

It Needs You: A song to an ex-lover, asking many questions about how she feels now that the two have broken up. The instrumental is slow, but memorable by using a multitude of instruments that blend in a way that make the song pleasant to listen to.

Bliss: A song about reflecting on a previous relationship and waiting for a similar sensation of bliss. The song’s instrumentation is another strength, with extraordinary guitar riffs that help the song truly stand out.

Human: This fast-paced song contains underlying deep and thought-provoking lyrics about life flashing before one’s eyes during a car accident. Not only is this song my favorite on the album, but it is also one of my favorite songs of all time.

Temptation: A song about a couple who can’t fight the temptation of their love and desire. Despite the admittedly cliché subject matter, the production composed of drum beats, guitar, and even a synth line saves the song from being completely hampered. The smooth transition from the previous song is also a plus.

The whole album is heavily influenced by 80’s New Wave, so it is a definite must-listen for anyone who enjoys the genre. For its amazing songs, the album receives a perfect score of 10/10!

Hello once again! Today’s review will be of an album that’s near and dear to my heart, Beauregard by Pepper Rabbit! While I’ve never paid attention to much folk, I have listened to this album in its entirety.

Clarinet Song: As the title states, there is quite a bit of clarinet in this song! The song’s subject matter is about someone suppressing pain and going their own way.

Harvest Moon: My personal favorite song. The instrumental sounds the most upbeat of the album. This can be seen as a contradiction because the lyrics describe finding there is nothing there at all. The variety of instruments used is also a highlight.

In the Spirit of Beauregard: The title track about a dog who drowns after swimming in a river. The melancholic instrumental perfectly sets the mood, and especially provokes sorrowful emotions from the listener.

Red Wine: A song about someone who drastically transitions to a higher class of living and subsequently becomes a hollow shell of their former self.

Snowalker: A song with contrasting instrumentals. While the music sounds relatively lighthearted, the lyrics detail serious topics such as how people lose sleep as they grow older due to hardships.

Older Brother: Another song about death, this time the death of a relative. Once again, the lyrics are poignant yet moving, and while the instrumental sounds more upbeat than “In the Spirit of Beauregard,” still provokes an emotional reaction.

None Shall Sleep: Opening with a piano riff that indeed captures a sleepy atmosphere, the song details a retrospective look at someone who believes they wasted their life.  Some lyrics of the song indeed sound morbid as the instrumental begins to pick up.

Song for a Pump Organ: Another dour sounding song about wanting to change someone’s mind due to their feelings about friends and family.

Babette: A song using a multitude of unique instruments, and an accordion is even worked in! The lyrics themselves are about the fantasies and dreams people have of leaving for a new place.

Send in the Horns: A slightly downbeat sounding song, about a person who will not wait for someone’s approval or try to impress their family and decides to leave for these reasons.

While normal editions of the album end here, there are two bonus tracks if you choose to stream the album:

Three: The shortest song, and while it only has a two-minute run-time, it is a quick-paced song that sounds the most energetic.

Reprise: Beautiful instrumental outro to the album. The song is indeed a reprise of the banjo from “Red Wine,” and manages to sound glummer than the predecessor.

The album earns the first 10/10 awarded on this blog!

Welcome to another review! This time, we’ll look at Mr. Scruff’s album Ninja Tuna.

Test the Sound: The intro of the album begins with a rap, which I am not too fond of as a genre. Despite my usual disdain for rap, I found this song serviceable because of the catchy beat and the short run-time.

Music Takes Me Up: A song about how music improves the quality of life. The lyrics of the song are what resonate with me the most, as music is indeed uplifting to me. The song also has a charming piano loop.

Donkey Ride: An instrumental that begins with a nice piano and a vocal sample that was annoying when I initially heard it, but grew on me after a few more listens. After the song adds more instruments and a nice drum beat, it improves.

Hairy Bumpercress: Opening with a nice piano and a minimalist beat, this song gradually builds up with stronger drums and clapping. It also wins the prize for the most unique song title in history.

Whiplash: A song containing low synths and trumpets that jump out of a quick drum beat, creating a real feeling of whiplash. The song then drastically slows down, which does drag on a bit, but the song remains decent.

Nice Up the Function: The song I enjoy the least. As previously mentioned, I’m not a fan of rap songs and the beat isn’t enough to salvage this track.

Bang the Floor: This instrumental song improves on the last track. While the beat is a bit vanilla, it benefits from the lack of rapping and a shorter runtime.

Get on Down: Another great song on the record to dance to, despite its slow tempo. The synths and guitar riffs, along with the vocals, give the song a funky edge that makes it perfect for the dance-floor.

Hold On: A song that fuses jazz elements with electronic elements to create a nice blend. The vocals on the song are also pleasant, with lyrics about holding onto love.

Give Up to Get: A song that tells the listener to give up what they don’t want to get what they do. Benefiting the song is a nice dynamic instrumentation accompanied by complementary samples.

Kalimba: The definitive song of the album. A variety of instruments are used in the song and some portions of the tune sound borderline symphonic, resulting in an unforgettable listening experience.

This Way: Surprisingly, this song sounds vaguely similar to the previous track, but the song is still unique enough to stand out as it uses fewer instruments and has vocals.

Stockport Carnival: The final track that utilizes more jazz instruments such as trumpets and saxophones, and has an overall upbeat, festive sound that puts you right in the setting.

The greatest strength of Ninja Tuna is its variety, as it does a splendid job blending many different genres together. This album receives an 8/10!

Welcome back! Today, we’ll dive into an electropop album entitled Ice on the Dune, by Empire of the Sun.

Lux: This song is the perfect example of how to create an ear-catching introduction to an album. It’s completely instrumental, and presents an orchestral display of grandiose suspense.

DNA: A song that displays vivid descriptions about the innocence of falling in love through its lyrics, and features a nice blend of guitar and synths that becomes commonplace throughout the entire album.

Alive: A feel-good song about how this relationship makes the man feel alive with every moment they spend together.

Concert Pitch: Another love song with simpler lyrics, but an innocent charm that ultimately makes the song endearing to listen to.

Ice on the Dune: The title track of the album, about the man running away with the love of his life. These lyrics give a strong sense of adventure and make the track thrilling to hear.

Awakening: This song is slower than the previous four songs, but still retains their similar instrumentation. The lyrics are about the couple discovering sides of each other they never knew as they experience the titular awakening.

I’ll Be Around: While songs 2-5 have a very similar sound, this song strongly differs from the aforementioned tracks due to its much slower sound and relaxing atmosphere. By far the most memorable part of the song is the beginning guitar riff that makes it my personal favorite.

Old Flavours: The atmosphere sharply transitions from a mellow track to a fast-paced dance song. The song only has one verse that starts halfway through the song and repeats itself. While it is slightly drowned out by the rhythm, it seems to be about a spectacular experience.

Celebrate: Returning to the album’s familiar sound, the song’s lyrics detail the celebration of love. While the lyrics aren’t as grand and a bit distorted during the verses, the beat is catchy enough to make the song worthwhile.

Surround Sound: Some lyrics are a bit hard to decipher due to the distorted vocals, but they discuss how this couple’s love will transcend the ocean, the sun, and even other dimensions. These lyrics of epic proportions show how intertwined they are.

Disarm: A song that expands upon the more formulaic sound of the album with anti-war lyrics about disarming the armies to end the fighting.

Keep a Watch: The final track is different from every other song, a David Bowie-inspired song about how the man will always watch over his significant other. While I don’t return to it often, I still enjoy it.

One potential con is the fact that many songs have an extremely similar sound. I have a soft spot for this specific sound myself, but it may irritate other listeners. The lyrical content of the songs is arguably the greatest strength, as the lyrics perfectly capture the whimsical feelings of falling in love. Personally, I rate the album a 9/10!

Hello, and welcome to the first post of the blog! I’ll be breaking great albums down track-by-track while adding other comments about them that I feel like bringing up. A final rating will be posted at the end on a scale of 1-10. Without further ado, the first album to be discussed is Swim, an electronic album by Caribou.

Odessa: The album’s opener that begins the album strongly. Layering the interesting multifaceted instrumental with lyrics about a crumbling relationship, a recurring theme for the album, the song makes a strong first impression.

Sun: The only lyrics of this song are repetitions of “sun” with vocal effects and distortions, but what the song lacks in lyrical substance is made up for by the production of the song. It can be repetitive to some, but is a personal favorite of mine.

Kaili: This is the weakest track, as it feels like an entire song full of buildup without a substantial payoff. There are also quite a few sounds near the end that I find particularly grating. The lyrics themselves about a failing relationship are decent, but nothing to write home about.

Found Out: This song vastly improves over the previous song, as it has a more structured instrumental and lyrics that, while straightforward, continue the theme of dysfunctional relationships.

Bowls: The first instrumental song of the album, and the best track in my personal opinion. It has a very exquisite oriental sound that makes its 6-minute run time pass extremely quickly.

Leave House: This song opens with a nice flute and an upbeat sound. But underneath the beginning is a sinister underlying bass synth line and contrasting lyrics that further detail a deteriorating relationship.

Hannibal: This track is interesting in the way it is structured, as it starts out with an instrumental composed of a variety of instruments, but adds vocals much later in the song. While this is a unique format, the instrumental drags on just a bit, but not enough to make the song bad.

Lalibela: Another instrumental that, while short, has a nice atmosphere that definitely makes it worth a listen. The hums that follow a minute of the synth and drum beat make the song especially pleasant to hear.

Jamelia: The final song with a great buildup, and while the payoff isn’t as grand as other tracks, it works better than “Kaili” as the tune is dynamic rather mostly static. Aside from a few grating violin noises, the song is a decent closer.

Another thing of note is that while the album sounds amazing no matter how you listen, it sounds the absolute best with headphones. On certain tracks such as “Found Out” and “Hannibal”, the sound rotates between earphones, much like the actual sensation of swimming. This adds an extra touch to the album that makes it all the more satisfying to listen to.

Overall, Swim gets a solid 9/10, a definite recommendation!

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton