Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2010 My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Kanye West ★★★★★ 98 Hip-Hop My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is one of those albums that, when you throw it on, it’s impossible not to sing along to the entire way through. From the Nicki Minaj introductory monologue and Kanye’s masterful opening verse, toContinue reading “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy – Kanye West ★★★★★”
Author Archives: Nicholas Cicale
Untrue – Burial ★★★★
Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2007 Untrue Burial ★★★★ 80 Electronic Ambient Dubstep Untrue is one of the most consistent albums in terms of song quality, sound, speed and vibe I’ve ever listened to. It’s subtly brilliant and one of a kind, which makes it so easy to overlook. Without true lyrical lines orContinue reading “Untrue – Burial ★★★★”
Donda 2 – Kanye West ★★
Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2022 Donda 2 Kanye West ★★ 47 Hip-Hop Who knows if what was released on February 22, 2022, was the final product that fans will listen to when Kanye West eventually decides to release Donda 2 on steaming. But, at least for now, it seems like Kanye may haveContinue reading “Donda 2 – Kanye West ★★”
Dawn AM – The Weeknd ★★
Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2022 Dawn AM The Weeknd ★★ 49 Pop Pop Hip-Hop Synthpop If there were still any holdouts hoping that The Weeknd would start inching back towards his darker, more hip-hop roots, Dawn AM should squash any of those lingering thoughts. If 2020’s After Hours was The Weeknd finally admittingContinue reading “Dawn AM – The Weeknd ★★”
Bright Green Field – Squid
Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2021 Bright Green Field Squid ★★★½ 79 Rock Alternative Rock Post Punk There’s a lot to like about Bright Green Field, the first album by British band Squid. Musically, it’s post punk with a lot of captivating odd, dancy syncopation and forward energy. The production is more diverse thanContinue reading “Bright Green Field – Squid”
Modern Fiction – Ducks Ltd. ★★★½
Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2021 Modern Fiction Ducks Ltd. ★★★½ 78 Rock Alternative Rock Jangle Pop There are a lot of critically acclaimed bands that sound like the album Ducks Ltd. put out in 2021, which has the jangle pop charm of Real Estate with the energy of Cloud Nothings or Rolling BlackoutsContinue reading “Modern Fiction – Ducks Ltd. ★★★½”
RTJ4 – Run the Jewels ★★★★
Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2020 RTJ4 Run The Jewels ★★★★ 80 Hip-Hop I know there have been extremely relevant and timely album releases in the past, but RTJ4 being released at the peak of the Black Lives Matter movement after another example of police brutality during the Covid-19 pandemic, and all of theContinue reading “RTJ4 – Run the Jewels ★★★★”
The Microphones in 2020 – The Microphones ★★★½
Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2020 The Microphones in 2020 The Microphones ★★★½ 79 Rock Singer-Songwriter Indie Folk I know that Phil Elverum has a following of die hard fans who feel connected to all of his projects, from The Microphones to Mount Eerie, but I’m not as in love with The Glow Pt.Continue reading “The Microphones in 2020 – The Microphones ★★★½”
Father of all… – Green Day ★
Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2020 Father of all… Green Day ★ 20 Rock Pop Punk Father of all… is a complete abandonment of anything Green Day may have represented or stood for in the 1990s and 2000. American Idiot may have been punk with a squeaky clean finish for commercial radio, as theContinue reading “Father of all… – Green Day ★”
thank u, next – Ariana Grande
Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2019 thank u, next Ariana Grande ★★★½ 74 Pop R&B After a five-year run with numerous Billboard Hot 100 hits and three solid albums, Ariana Grande’s 2019 record thank u, next is probably her best and easiest to listen through from start to finish. “imagine” and “needy” are goodContinue reading “thank u, next – Ariana Grande”
Fresh Out The Deli 