Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2000 We Have The Facts and We’re Voting Yes! Death Cab For Cutie ★★★½ 73 Rock Alternative Rock Indie Rock “Title Track” is a really appropriate opening for Death Cab for Cutie’s second record. It starts with the same raw, kind of muddy sounds and sad, lonely feeling foundContinue reading “We Have The Facts and We’re Voting Yes – Death Cab for Cutie ★★★½”
Author Archives: Nicholas Cicale
Something About Airplanes – Death Cab For Cutie ★★½
Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 1998 Something About Aitplanes Death Cab For Cutie ★★½ 50 Rock Indie Rock Death Cab for Cutie’s 1998 debut is far from the more accessible, sometimes cutesy and often relatable indie-pop music the band will become known for in the mid to late 2000s. It’s a gritty, raw, grayContinue reading “Something About Airplanes – Death Cab For Cutie ★★½”
Honestly, Nevermind – Drake ★
Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2022 Honestly, Nevermind Drake ★ 24 Pop Pop Hip-Hop What would happen if you took “Passionfruit,” removed the fun character of it and threw it on top of a watered down tropical house beat? What would “One Dance” be like if you removed the memorable upbeat vocals and gaveContinue reading “Honestly, Nevermind – Drake ★”
Drunk Tank Pink – SHAME ★★★★
Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2021 Drunk Tank Pink SHAME ★★★★ 87 Rock Alternative Rock Post Punk Shame’s 2018 debut Songs of Praise was my second favorite punk album of the 2010s, behind Idles’ Joy as an Act of Resistance. Praise was fun, high-energy alternative rock that was easy to listen to and straightforwardContinue reading “Drunk Tank Pink – SHAME ★★★★”
Endtroducing….. – DJ Shadow ★★★★½
Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 1996 Endtroducing….. DJ Shadow ★★★★½ 91 Electronic Alternative Hip-Hop Trip-Hop DJ Shadow’s Endtroducing….. is a pioneering album that set the standard for sample-driven instrumentals in electronic and hip-hop music, and solidified the sound that would come out of most trip-hop artists for the rest of the decade. Sample-heavy musicContinue reading “Endtroducing….. – DJ Shadow ★★★★½”
Harry’s Room – Harry Styles ★★★
Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2022 Harry’s Room Harry Styles ★★★ 62 Pop Pop Rock Harry Styles has gotten really good at making pop records that still feel like indie music, even though there isn’t anything indie about a former member of a boyband who puts out a few smash Top-40 hits every twoContinue reading “Harry’s Room – Harry Styles ★★★”
Be – Common ★★★★½
Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2005 Be Common ★★★★½ 90 Hip-Hop The concept of a comeback record wasn’t really a thing in hip-hop back in 2005. One reason, and a big one, is that the genre was still relatively new at the time. With only 20 years or so of history — and closerContinue reading “Be – Common ★★★★½”
Finding Forever – Common ★★★½
Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2007 Finding Forever Common ★★★½ 72 Hip-Hop Finding Forever is the victim of being in the shadow of the classic Common album that came out just a few years prior. The album is a clear step down from Be, both for Common as an emcee and for Kanye WestContinue reading “Finding Forever – Common ★★★½”
Universal Mind Control – Common ★½
Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2008 Universal Mind Control Common ★½ 39 Hip-Hop There was a lot to be excited about in late 2008, when Common was about to release new music. Common was coming off of his two most successful albums, and was about to make the third of his deal with GOODContinue reading “Universal Mind Control – Common ★½”
To Pimp A Butterfly – Kendrick Lamar ★★★★★
Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2015 To Pimp A Butterfly Kendrick Lamar ★★★★★ 96 Hip-Hop West Coast Hip-Hop Jazz Rap I remember the night To Pimp A Butterfly came out. The album’s two lead singles helped build up hype in Kendrick Lamar’s fanbase — which had slowly but steadily grew in size since 2012’sContinue reading “To Pimp A Butterfly – Kendrick Lamar ★★★★★”
Fresh Out The Deli 