Nicholas Cicale

Random Access Memories – Daft Punk ★★★★

Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2013 Random Access Memories Daft Punk ★★★★ 86 Electronic Dance-Pop Disco I remember listening to Random Access Memories the night it came out in 2013 and being blown away. One of the most acclaimed electronic groups of all time — in putting out one of the most anticipated electronicContinue reading “Random Access Memories – Daft Punk ★★★★”

Settle – Disclosure ★★★★½

Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2013 Settle Disclosure ★★★★½ 92 Electronic House Synthpop It’s fitting that Disclosure’s debut album came out less than three weeks after Daft Punk’s final album. Disclosure’s Settle is, I think, as close to perfect as a house record can get, while Daft Punk, one of the genre’s titans, putContinue reading “Settle – Disclosure ★★★★½”

…Like Clockwork – Queens of the Stone Age ★★★★★

Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2013 …Like Clockwork Queens of the Stone Age ★★★★★ 97 Rock Alternative Rock When it’s all said and done, I know Songs for the Deaf will go down as Queens of the Stone Age’s crowning achievement, a breakout album filled with edgy riffs, sometimes operatic vocals, and raw, hardContinue reading “…Like Clockwork – Queens of the Stone Age ★★★★★”

UTOPIA – Travis Scott ★★½

Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2023 UTOPIA Travis Scott ★★½ 50 Hip-Hop A really appealing aspect of listening to Travis Scott albums for the first time is that he doesn’t note who his guest features are on the tracks when you listen on streaming. It makes the experience a journey, because you don’t knowContinue reading “UTOPIA – Travis Scott ★★½”

The Suburbs – Arcade Fire ★★★★★

Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2010 The Suburbs Arcade Fire ★★★★★ 98 Rock Alternative Rock Indie Rock Arcade Fire’s first three albums would win head to head against almost any other group’s opening run of records, and The Suburbs in my mind is the best of the bunch. Fusing together the childlike wonder andContinue reading “The Suburbs – Arcade Fire ★★★★★”

First Two Pages of Frankenstein – The National ★★

Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2023 First Two Pages of Frankenstein The National ★★ 45 Rock Indie Rock Chamber Pop In a predictable but disappointingly safe move, The National opted to conform to the trends of modern indie music by creating a more stripped down, soft and slow style on First Two Pages ofContinue reading “First Two Pages of Frankenstein – The National ★★”

Madvillainy – Madvillain ★★★★

Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2004 Madvillainy Madvillain ★★★★ 82 Hip-Hop Alternative Hip-Hop Madvillainy is an almost one-of-a-kind listening experience. It’s highly intriguing and enriching, but so many fragments and ideas are thrown at you that it sometimes leaves you feeling like there actually wasn’t that much fully formed substance to grab onto. TheContinue reading “Madvillainy – Madvillain ★★★★”

I Don’t Live Here Anymore – The War on Drugs ★★★½

Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2021 I Don’t Live Here Anymore The War on Drugs ★★★½ 77 Rock Heartland Rock On their 2014 release, The War on Drugs established their 80s-influenced classic rock sound, with laidback echoing guitars, Tom Petty styled vocals and triumphant synths. In 2017, the band enhanced their sound, adding moreContinue reading “I Don’t Live Here Anymore – The War on Drugs ★★★½”

Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace – Foo Fighters – ★★★★

Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2007 Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace Foo Fighters ★★★★ 89 Rock Alternative Rock Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace, the sixth studio album by the Foo Fighters, is far and away the American rock band’s finest and most artistically diverse record. The quality and energy of the singles here —Continue reading “Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace – Foo Fighters – ★★★★”

NO THANK YOU – Little Simz ★★★★

Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2022 NO THANK YOU Little Simz ★★★★ 84 Hip-Hop An album that was likely missed and that might be forgotten because it was released in late December, 2022, NO THANK YOU by British emcee Little Simz once again shows that she’s one of the best and smartest out there.Continue reading “NO THANK YOU – Little Simz ★★★★”