Amoeba Music

Clairo has gone through many sounds and shifts in her career but this is seems to be a area she is comfortable in. Although she has many pop sensibilities the smooth jazz bops and soulful rhythms on this one put this project a cut above the rest especially the title track Juna. Read more

The wait for this new NxWorries album has been a long one. Ever since their first project Yes lawd! the electrifying duo left us hanging for almost a decade. However, this most recent release surprised all of us with a much more introspective but just as nasty if not more so Anderson Paak. Ruminating on subjects like divorce, infidelity and making bare the crisis of a late 30 something year old man. Read more

Keeping with the spirit of duos these two are back for more bangers and one of the most consequential rap disses to ever be dropped. Besides the speaker rumbling beats featured on here future delivers his classic leaned out shades on in the club bars with a touch of his usual silliness. Read more

Erika has always brought a 90's vibe that was very reminiscent of rnb classics like Aaliyah, Brandy, Alicia keys and many others. On this latest she shifts for a more modern sound but still drenched in 90s melodies with modern 808 and drum patterns. Read more

One of my favorite releases of 2024. Read more

Excellent album. There is a balance of scorched earth black metal and dissonance death metal. Add a pinch of war metal from the days of yore. Bombarding, relentless, repeated listens unlock hidden depths of audial bliss. No mere side project, this is the real deal folks. Read more

Sounds, more sounds, shapes because of sound, listen-avant-garde, listen - metal, what is this, overdriven fever dreams and preoccupation, hallucinogenic, listen - outsider, dissociative, art, yes, please. Read more

Heavy as heavy can be. I have not been let down by this band. Read more

Every once in a while, some stalwart label like Relapse Records promotes something that totally catches me off guard and introduces some amazing musician to these old ears. The Bug was such an artist. Machines 1 to 5 are a collection of self released e.p.’s made by producer Kevin Richard Martin. As fuzzed out, dystopian and bleak as these sound, this music was also very inspiring for me. I will definitely keep my eyes and ears open for more BUG, you should too. Read more

Sometimes I just need a well produced straight forward metal album. 1349 has delivered this request with their offering of the alchemical blackened sonic warfare of The Wolf & The King. Two horns up! Read more

It’s too bad that this is only an e.p. This rips and roars, it is super focused and full of vigor. Mammoth Grinder absolutely delivers the goods with Undying Spectral Resonance. Read more

Live albums are kind of a weird cheat for a lot of bands to fulfill contracts or make a quick buck. In the case of Electric Wizard I think this is a pure passion project. From interviews I have read it sounds like they were touring, and wanted to keep going but Covid hit and that was that. I feel the whole world just coped, maybe even in weird ways we don’t want to remember. Electric Wizard coped by setting up a 16 track tape and recorded live on Walprurgisnacht anno 2020. This is a great document, raw and heavy showcasing what makes Electric Wizard such a great doom metal band. Now, all I’m asking for, is to come tour this side of the pond. Read more

October 2024 was a great month for metal. Blood Incantation, 1349, Doedsmaghird, Oranssi Pazuzu,, and Schammasch’s offering “The Maldoror Chants: Old Ocean”. You can read all about the inspiration Schammasch took from the poem “Les Chants de Maldoror” from online reviews. What I hear is a fully realized spell woven with complexity, depth and character. This is a very strong vision and it shines very bright. Another one of my favorites. Read more

Symphonic Black metal is ether good or it sucks. This is good. Read more

If you thought The Dillinger Escape Plan or Converged sucked you probably won’t like this. I thought it was great. Read more

The art of writing about what one feels when listening to a particular album is problematic. Music is to be listened to. Often when lyrics are just read or looked at, they often fall flat or don’t hold up, but when sung at just the right moment, ahh pure bliss. Which brings me to my point about giving a review. Sometimes I will hear something and go arrgggh what is this awfulness, why did they, how could they make such a horrendous album. Other times there is an instant connection. Sometime some things I like at that moment in time but they just don’t stick with me in the long run. Other albums are a building block in my musical journey. I remember first hearing Mogwai around the same time I heard Godspeed You Black Emperor. Both bands definitely left a lasting mark on me and opened up new possibilities. While I have dived in and out of the world of Mogwai, I was glad to see a new album from them. Does this rock, does it give me some kind of emotional response and bring me some joy, yeah it does. A great way to start off the new year. Read more

A wonderful solo release. I find my self head bobbing and getting lost in the post this or that music, and that great voice that recalls a bit of Scott Walker or Peter Murphy without sounding like ether. A wonderful album from a bloke that is 71! Read more

So Lonely in Heaven is fragile and beautiful. It is harsh and ugly when it needs to be. As usual it is avant-garde with a lot of different musical descriptions scattered about, textures, tones, atmosphere and kraut rock like synths. I have a feeling that this is going to be on my best of 2025 list. Read more

Hard to believe that Jack Dejohnette keep this hidden away for six decades. A live recording from 1966 that showcases all the musicians in the midst of stretching out, of change and finding common passions. This is on fire, showcasing each musician’s quality and strength. It is also captures the adventurous spirit of the jazz artists while creating, having fun and transcending limits. Read more

Yeah! An excellent hard bop album with an all star line up. Snarling tones and a fiery session just makes this a magical album. Another quality reissue and a worth addition to your library. Read more