Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2014 St. Vincent St. Vincent ★★★★ 81 Rock Alternative Rock Art Pop St. Vincent’s self-titled fourth album is the culmination of all the quirky, musical ambition she’s put on display in the past, placed neatly in a tight, 40 minute package. Start to finish, the album runs almost likeContinue reading “St. Vincent – St. Vincent”
Author Archives: Nicholas Cicale
Sylvan Esso – Sylvan Esso
Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2014 Sylvan Esso Sylvan Esso ★★★★ 82 Pop Indie Pop Indietronica The self-titled debut record electronic indie duo Sylvan Esso is a cute, feel good indie pop album that’s a product of its time in the best way possible. There’s a cool, laid back, sophisticated aura about the recordContinue reading “Sylvan Esso – Sylvan Esso”
Benji – Sun Kil Moon
Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2014 Benji Sun Kil Moon ★★★★ 86 Rock Singer-Songwriter Indie Folk On Benji, Sun Kil Moon reflects on his past with highly-personalized story telling that contemplates much of the second-hand trauma he’s witnessed his family, friends and community suffer through. He tells the stories of those who tragically diedContinue reading “Benji – Sun Kil Moon”
Room 25 – Noname ★★★★
Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2018 Room 25 Noname ★★★★ 80 Hip-Hop Alternative Hip-Hop Jazz Rap Noname has definitely developed her own sound and style; that much is clear after two records. 2018’s Room 25 hits a lot of the same vibes and notes as 2016’sTelefone. It’s jazzy, smooth, close, a bit dreamy andContinue reading “Room 25 – Noname ★★★★”
Telefone – Noname ★★★★
Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2016 Telefone Noname ★★★★ 80 Hip-Hop Alternative Hip-Hop Jazz Rap While people were out celebrating Chance the Rapper’s mixtape Coloring Book in the summer of 2016 because of his warm personality, laid back and authentic demeanor, and pleasant — sometimes grand — gospel-forward production, another Chicago rapper released herContinue reading “Telefone – Noname ★★★★”
GREY Area – Little Simz
Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2019 GREY Area Little Simz ★★★★ 82 Hip-Hop UK Hip-Hop Every track on Little Simz’ GREY Area shows how effortlessly talented the British rapper is. Her 2019 release is her third album overall, but was the first to really gain traction with U.S. hip-hop heads. She comes off asContinue reading “GREY Area – Little Simz”
Reflektor – Arcade Fire ★★★½
Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2013 Reflektor Arcade Fire ★★★½ 73 Rock Art Rock Alternative Dance Compared to the band’s first three records, Reflektor was the first time you could say Arcade Fire missed the mark. Reflektor was a clear shift in direction for the band. Produced by LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy, instead ofContinue reading “Reflektor – Arcade Fire ★★★½”
DECADE IN REVIEW: The top 200 songs of the 2010s
The 2010s are coming to an end, and to celebrate I’ve put together a playlist of my 200 favorite songs from the past 10 years. If you read my 102 best albums of the decade list, you’ll notice some familiar faces on this playlist. You’ll also find some well known artists, some one hit wonders,Continue reading “DECADE IN REVIEW: The top 200 songs of the 2010s”
Dogrel – FONTAINES D.C. ★★★★
Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2019 Dogrel FONTAINES D.C. ★★★★ 80 Rock Alternative Rock Post Punk Dogrel is authentically punk, with driving drums and guitar, fun, ra-ra energy and post-punk monotone vocals that deliver smart lyrics with repetitive, singalong refrains. But for a punk album, it’s surprisingly even tempered. Compared to their Irish 2019Continue reading “Dogrel – FONTAINES D.C. ★★★★”
Slowdive – Slowdive ★★★★
Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2017 Slowdive Slowdive ★★★★ 88 Rock Shoegaze Dream Pop You’ve gotta love it when a band makes their first album in 22 years and it ends up being their best. Like any good shoegaze album, Slowdive creates dense walls of sound on their 2018 release, where the choruses towerContinue reading “Slowdive – Slowdive ★★★★”
Fresh Out The Deli 