Friday, December 29, 2017

Year End 2017: Top 10 Albums I Discovered/ Rediscovered This Year

















It's been quite a while since I last posted, but I knew I had to get some year end lists out. A lot has happened this year, both on a global stage and in my personal life (which is why I didn't post almost at all this year). I'll have a top 10 albums of this year list coming, as well as a top 5 disappointing albums of the year list. This list is dedicated to albums which I either first discovered this year, or albums that I rediscovered in my collection and were in heavy rotation throughout 2017. These are alphabetical, so no hierarchy here. Let's get right to it.


Image result for angelo badalamenti twin peaks


Angelo Badalamenti- Twin Peaks Soundtrack
In preparation for the revival of Twin Peaks (if I did a top 5 disappointing TV shows) and for comparison with last year's Xiu Xiu project, I found myself listening to this a lot this year. The arrangements are sparse, but Badalamenti borrows from a lot of different genres to create a very surreal and creepy atmosphere for the show.



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The Black Dahlia Murder- Unhallowed
In my ever continuing quest to delve into more genres of metal, I set my sights on death metal and metalcore this year. While I'm still not too much of a fan of the more brutal death metal, I found myself returning to melodic death metal like the Black Dahlia Murder. Maybe its because the mix is a little less chaotic, or the vocals are a little more varied, not relying on the death growls as much as others, but I found myself really enjoying this.




Image result for converge jane doeConverge- Jane Doe
One of the most celebrated metalcore records out there, and it's not hard to see why. The playing is pretty crazy, the drumming is ridiculous and the band seems to go down any avenue at the drop of a hat and yet drop right back into sync. Anybody who says punks can't play need to listen to this. In preparation for Converge's new album (stay tuned for this year's top 10), I was listening to a lot of their old stuff. This, along with You Fail Me, seemed to be the ones I returned to most.



Image result for going where the lonely goMerle Haggard- Going Where the Lonely Go
I also tried to get into a bit of country this year, but didn't get too much further than Merle Haggard, and I really didn't need to. I looked this up since Myke C Town really recommended it on his Youtube channel (you should really check him out), and was blown away. If you ever wanted to wallow in self pity (did plenty of that this year), this is the perfect soundtrack. I wish a lot more country were like this, and a lot less like what I hear on the radio when I'm trying to find a better station.



Image result for mayhem de mysteriis dom sathanas
Mayhem- De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas
As I was getting into black metal, I originally didn't think too much of this record. I respected its place in black metal history, but kind of the same way I respect older rap albums; they seem a little dated or unoriginal now, even though they did the sound first. However, this all changed this year when I bought a copy on vinyl. I don't know if it had to do with the vinyl mastering, but when everything had more space in the mix, and I could better hear what was going on with the drums, it clicked for me. This record has some of the most relentless, insane drumming I've ever heard, and the riffs are killer.

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Ramones- Ramones
I revisited a lot of Ramones records this year, but got particularly obsessed with 'Chainsaw' off this album. The wordless little intro to the song is catchy as hell. Also, for some reason the lyrics to 'Today Your Love, Tomorrow the World' never penetrated my mind until this year. For people who say Ramones are only pop, I'm not sure how many pop acts put themselves in the place of Nazis.





Image result for meet the residents album coverThe Residents- Meet The Residents
Until this year, I found the sheer volume of the Residents output to be intimidating and impenetrable. A few months ago, I finally took the plunge. Starting where it all began, I basked in the wonderful weirdness of the Residents. I picked their first full length for this list, though I probably could have picked any number of projects. They are like the missing link between Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart; just as weird and humorous, but somewhere in the middle in terms of approach.



Image result for stalaggh pure misanthropiaStalaggh- Pure Misanthropia
I'm not going to even attempt to detail the story behind this group or its process, but if you're morbidly curious, you can read the disturbing account with a little research. If you're still down, prepare for some of the most unsettling noise you'll ever hear. It might not be as abrasive as a record from a power electronics act, but the layered screams of allegedly genuine mental patients for 45 minutes can really get to you. Pure Misanthropia is actually the director's cut of another record, Projekt Misanthropia, remixed and with 10 more minutes of pure auditory hell. This is not for the faint of heart.

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The Unicorns- Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone?
This was an album I ripped from the libraries of my college radio station back in the day. When I saw that the album was getting another vinyl reissue, I jumped on the opportunity to revisit this record again. This is some great lo-fi indie rock with some sugary, catchy tracks with some morbid subject matter. It reminds me a little of early of Montreal, but with a little more conventional song structures.



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Frank Zappa- Absolutely Free
Yes, I know this technically a Mothers of Invention album, but its all Zappa to me. Sitting in between Freak Out! and Lumpy Gravy in the Zappa oeuvre, I guess I can see who this record might get overlooked, but it is incredibly underrated. It continues the doo-wop parody and experimental nature that Freak Out! outlined, but starts to develop Zappa as a storyteller, with the mini opera 'Brown Shoes Don't Make It'. It also begins the Zappa tradition of references to his previous work, like the "Caravan with a drum sola" line, among others. If you're a fan of the other Mothers material, but this has slipped by you, you should fix that immediately.


So that's a bit of what I've been listening to this year. What albums did you discover or rediscover this year? Now off to finish my year end lists, and hopefully be a little more present on this blog.


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Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Album Spotlight: Harouki Zombi- Objet Petit A


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Ever think music was just too normal? Have I got the group for you. Harouki Zombi is the duo consisting of Orenda Fink of Azure Ray and Nina Grøttland (formerly Barnes, as in ex-wife of the of Montreal frontman Kevin Barnes), and they consist of a very intriguing mix of performance art, electronic dance pop, and just plain insanity. I feel like this short EP was totally overlooked when it first came out in 2012, but I feel like in the current age where FKA Twigs is popular, I feel like they might have just been a little ahead of the curve.

Image result for harouki zombiThat is not to say this group and FKA Twigs are doing the same thing; far from it. I feel like a lot of the beats that Twigs would use, especially on LP 1, feel reminiscent of some of the programming on this (with the exception of the Kevin Barnes produced 'Vacated Hunters', which is all of Montreal). The title track feels like if you put really weird trip hop and Madonna's 'Justify Your Love' in a blender, and then pumped it through a French language filter. The EP quickly leads you from that to a jungle drum infused track, followed by a kaleidoscopic dance track with ridiculous spoken word that sounds like a down tempo version of False Priest's 'Our Riotous Defects'. The last track, 'The Swamp Theme', sounds like an incredibly weird house track with down pitched vocals repeating the band's name and some goofy synths.

The EP also includes some remixes of the title track, but I really only think that the Deniallabs remix really does something interesting with the track and really beefs up the backing beat. Unfortunately, this is all the group has released up to this point, but I am really curious as to what they would do on a full length (their Facebook profile was last active a few years ago, so I'm probably not going to see, but who knows). The EP is still available from Polyvinyl as a double 7" on purple vinyl, so I feel like if you're curious, you should definitely pick this up.


I'm thinking of reviewing Lupe Fiasco's Drogas Light soon, and look forward to more of these album spotlights, where I'll be sharing some lesser known gems from the past that I feel could use some more attention.


"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."

Friday, February 10, 2017

Mini Reviews: January 2017

I'm back, and I thought I might share some brief thoughts on some of the albums I've been sitting with that came out last month. Thought some of these were worth checking out. Don't think I'll be doing a lot of current reviews, but just thought I'd say my piece.




Image result for william basinski a shadow in timeWilliam Basinski: A Shadow in Time
Listeners familiar with Basinski will know what to expect: a grainy tape sample or piano figure looping for the duration, with very subtle changes over time producing an unmistakable feeling of ennui. However, I feel like some of the intricacies are a little more noticeable here, and are a lot easier to pick up in the first few listens. I feel like there was a missed opportunity on the tribute to David Bowie, as I thought it would have been cool to hear some interpolations or samples of his work for the loops. So far I haven't heard any, but I find some buried in there, that would definitely raise my enjoyment of this record. Still good, but not the strongest by Basinski in recent memory.



Image result for code orange foreverCode Orange: Forever
In my ongoing adventure into the harsher side of music, I've been dipping my toes into the metalcore or metalcore adjacent sound of Code Orange, a band from my current base in Pittsburgh. Coming into this sound from Nails and hardcore, I found this interesting and super heavy, although they do play with some melodic elements, which I was not expecting. If metalcore offers more material like this, my search into this sound will be very fruitful. I think I might learn to appreciate and recognize the intricacies of these genres eventually, even with the vocals making them very inaccessible to me initially.



Image result for flaming lips oczy mlodyThe Flaming Lips: Oczy Mlody
I found this offering by the Flaming Lips to be a little disappointing. The album seemed a little uninspired, with not a whole lot going on lyrically or from a song writing perspective. The synth sounds and electronic drum samples sounded a little basic too; almost preset, which coming from a band that generally using effects ingeniously is a little disappointing. I also noticed some problems in the mix. On 'How??', the vocal levels are all over the place, and seem to disappear to nothing when some of the instrumentation swells. I think they focused too much on a thick and hazy atmosphere, and not on the songs and particulars. Can't blame this one entirely on Miley Cyrus, guys.


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of Montreal: Rune Husk EP
Following up their electronic dance music informed album from last year, Innocence Reaches, of Montreal decided to go a little more experimental on this EP. This definitely doesn't feel like left overs from the last album (though 'Widowsucking' is a rework of the b-side of the same name from the band's contribution to last year's Polyvinyl 4-Track Singles series), but it does feel a bit like album filler; not bad, but really lacking an immediacy or stand out track that will keep me coming back. These tracks would probably fit well in a full album, but on their own, they keep me wanting. This reminds me a bit of thecontrollersphere (not my favorite project either), which was the EP Kevin Barnes and co. dropped between the poppy False Priest and the radically experimental Paralytic Stalks, so hopefully this is like that situation, and a harbinger for some new and really weird direction for the band.


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Fred Thomas: Changer
Following up All Are Saved, one of my favorite albums of 2015, Fred Thomas continues his extremely personal and revealing solo work with a another extremely relate-able set of songs. I'm probably about a decade younger than Thomas, but his songs about getting older and still not knowing your place are definitely relate-able to me. His stories are a lot like Mark Kozelek's recent work to me, in that they're so specific, but you can really get a lot out of them on a personal level (and they're both also about one step above spoken words in most spots). I feel like anyone in their mid to late twenties should check this out, because I got a lot out of it. Fred Thomas' music reminds me if The Graduate came in album form.


So those are some of my opinions on some recent records. Are there any records that you've been listening to that you've been really hyped about? Currently, I'm digging into the Wiegedood record, and anticipating the new Lupe (which just dropped, but haven't listened yet), and the new Xiu Xiu when that drops. Not sure if I'm going to share opinions on those, but if I get some free time, why not?



"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."

Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Year End 2016: Top 10 Favorite Albums of the Year

So, as promised, here are my 10 favorite albums of last year. These are just my personal picks, but feel free to start a discussion or share your favorite albums in the comments. I definitely missed some albums this year, and we can share some great music.


22, A Million cover.jpg10. Bon Iver- 22, A Million
Hype and weird track names notwithstanding, this is actually a really good album. This is quite different from the last Bon Iver project, as its a little more experimental and electronic, but I still prefer the kind of subtle auto-tune ballads that only Justin Vernon can convincingly pull off. This album made the list just by the track '(715) Creeks' alone. It really reminds me of the Blood Bank EP, which remains my favorite Bon Iver record.






Chance 3.jpg
9. Chance the Rapper- Coloring Book
This record was not what I was expecting, but I still really enjoyed it. Chance decided not to use the quirky and schizophrenic flows that defined Acid Rap, and instead look inward for a more introspective, spiritual and emotional listen. With its gospel aesthetic, I feel like this is what Kanye wished The Life of Pablo was, but he had to half ass it and rush it out before this mixtape dropped. It speaks to this project a lot where I can still enjoy it with some of my least favorite rappers like Future, Young Thug and 2Chainz appearing. The sky is the limit for Chance now, and with staying independent, the voice here is his alone.


Bottomless Pit.png8. Death Grips- Bottomless Pit
This is the most straight forward Death Grips have been since The Money Store, and is probably the most metal hip-hop or hip-hop adjacent album ever. The drums on 'Giving Bad People Good Ideas' sounds like its sampled straight from a black metal record. Death Grips lost me a little bit with the obtuse nature of the first disc of The Powers That B, but I really appreciate them at their most stripped back, straight to the point and aggressive. I also appreciate that they can poke fun at themselves and their rabid fan base on tracks like 'Trash' and 'Eh', while still providing content that lives up to the hype surrounding them.



Blonde - Frank Ocean.jpeg7. Frank Ocean- Blonde
The wait was well worth it. Frank Ocean went a lot more experimental on this project than on Channel Orange, and it yielded a project with a lot of depth and tons of replay value. At first, I was super turned off by the Endless project he dropped right before this. I was just baffled, as it seemed like just an extension of the interludes from Channel Orange, and was about to dismiss Frank. Luckily I didn't. I won't have any trouble waiting another 4 years if this is what Frank can conjure in that time. You don't rush an artist at work, and this is proof of that.




RunTheJewels3.jpg6. El-P & Killer Mike- Run the Jewels 3
I'm glad I waited until into 2017 to do this post, because I would not have had this record on my list, as it came out so late (sorry Lush, you got bumped off for this). El-P and Killer Mike deliver another amazingly dense and crazy hip hop album. I feel like this one is a little more grandiose and serious in tone than Run the Jewels 2, but just as aggressive and with just as much wordplay and attitude. I'm glad I had more time to sit with this, and I'm sure you'll be seeing this on year ends for this year, since critics will feel bad for posting their lists so early and passing over this.




A black-and-white photo of Cohen in a suit with a large black border around it5. Leonard Cohen- You Want it Darker
In what is unfortunately to be Mr. Cohen's last studio album, he paints a heartbreaking portrait of death, and a joyous celebration of life. This is sadly adding to the growing number of albums released right before an artist's death, and will forever be associated with that event. We lost a large number of great artists in 2016, and Leonard Cohen was arguably one of the best songwriters among them, if not of all time, and his poetic sensibility will be greatly missed.





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4. Childish Gambino- Awaken, My Love!
Donald Glover really went on a tangent on this record, which is a complete departure from the hip-hop he is known for. I didn't listen to any of the teasers for this album, because I wanted to listen to it all together, so I was not expecting this at all. This is more of a funk and R&B record, and he pulls it off wonderfully. Now looking back, the cover is a huge homage to Maggot Brain, or at least I'm going to take it that way. Hats off to his band here, as they are killing it on every track, from the Bootsy Collins bass popping on 'Redbone' to the instrumental on 'Boogie Man', which almost sounds like something Zappa would have recorded around Roxy & Elsewhere. Donald really can go anywhere musically after this album, and was really able to showcase his vocal chops in a way never before seen.


Nails - You Will Never Be One of Us.jpg3. Nails- You Will Never Be One of Us
As someone who is really just starting to get into heavy music, this is easily the most punishing album I've ever heard. I eased my way in with atmospheric black metal, but Nails is pretty much as brutal as one could possibly get without the music just being a literal punch to the teeth. At 21 minutes, this is their longest album, and you wouldn't want any more. The band keeps it lean, runs through 10 tracks of pure chaos, aggression and anger, and then disappears. It's interesting that Jeff Whitehead of Leviathan did the art for this, as his last record, Scar Sighted, did for me last year what Nails is this year, which is broadening my musical horizons and getting me more into the more extreme parts of music.


The Glowing Man (Front Cover).jpg2. Swans- The Glowing Man
Following up one of 2014's best albums, To Be Kind, Michael Gira and company had their work cut out for them, but Swans delivered in a big way. The Glowing Man is less immediate and aggressive than its predecessor, but builds on its formula of monstrous tracks with epic lengths and gargantuan builds in instrumentation. There's a lot of subtlety in these walls of sound, and grabs and entrances the listener. Also, 'When Will I Return?' is probably my favorite song of the year, and yet also one of the hardest to listen to when you find out what its about. An extremely powerful listen and a fitting end to this iteration of the band.



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1. Danny Brown- Atrocity Exhibition
Danny Brown continues to be a rapper that sounds like no other. With his two distinct voices, sometimes he doesn't even sound like himself. This record has unpredictable flows, unorthodox beats and a mood that sounds like a drug binge that makes Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas look like a day at the zoo. This music really brings you into Danny's mind, or at least the persona he puts on (I really doubt he could flow over some of these instrumentals with this much skill without being sober at least part of the time). Sometimes you hear the beat and wonder, 'how is he going to rhyme over this?' And then he does. I really wish there was more hip-hop that was this experimental and pushing the artist to their very extreme.


So those are my picks. Feel free to share your list, and check back in for more reviews and record related musings.



"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."

Sunday, January 22, 2017

Year End 2016: Top 10 Albums I Discovered/ Rediscovered This Year

Before I share my list for my favorite albums of 2016 (I promise, its coming), I wanted to again share of list of albums (alphabetically) that I either discovered this year, or I really got back into this year, because why should only recent albums get all the love?



Image result for centipede septober energyCentipede- Septober Energy
I was interested in this record due to its King Crimson and Soft Machine connections (Robert Fripp and Robert Wyatt provide production and drums, respectively), but I was not ready for the magnitude of this record. This is an extremely off the wall and overblown jazz fusion piece spanning 2 LPs, which I of course had to purchase on vinyl after one listen. Worth it. Critics weren't fans when it was originally released, but if you like Miles Davis' fusion stuff or On the Corner (it does get funky in spots) and thought the band could've used like 30 extra members to give it a fuller sound, I'd give this one a listen.


Image result for current 93 swastikas for noddy crooked crosses
Current 93- Swastikas for Noddy/ Crooked Crosses for the Nodding God
Current 93 is a band I discovered through Myke C-Town's Youtube channel, and I'm so thankful for that. There are so many periods and facets to the group's sound, and they're really a band you can't pin down stylistically, which are always the best kinds. This record is a compilation of two records, which are reworkings of the same material. It's really interesting to see the directions David Tibet and co.take on each record and see how songs evolved. This is some really dark, beautiful and sometimes scary neofolk, and shows a more acoustic side of Current 93.


Image result for gin blossoms new miserable experienceGin Blossoms- New Miserable Experience
I heard 'Found Out About You' on the radio a while back, and realized I had heard a lot of the Gin Blossoms singles, but had never sat down and listened to a full album, and what I heard what surprisingly diverse. A lot of their radio style had a vaguely jangly, indie rock sound to it, but there are touches of Latin sounds and alt-country on some of the deep cuts. I heard the final track 'Cheatin', and had to make sure my player didn't skip to something else. I wasn't expecting to hear something this good, and now I feel bad Gin Blossoms didn't have as much staying power as I think they deserved.



Image result for ink spots anthologyThe Ink Spots- Anthology
If you ever played Fallout 3, I'm sure you listened to a bit of the Ink Spots on the oldies radio station. This music is just so classic, and this compilation collects a lot of their tracks. As these songs are from the 30's and 40's, there is a fair amount of surface noise from the presumably vinyl sources, but that gives it an even more dusty and classic quality. I also really enjoy the spoken word bits on the bridge of a lot of these tracks that repeat the opening verse. If you're a fan of old vocal groups and haven't heard of the Ink Spots, they're definitely worth your time.





Image result for lush lovelifeLush- Lovelife
For Lush fans, this is a bit of a divisive album. The group eschewed their shoegaze sound for a more Britpop direction, which was getting pretty popular around the time of the recording. It's definitely an outlier in their discography, but not necessarily in a bad way. Sure, the washes of reverb and effects are largely absent, but I feel like the song writing and lyrical content is a lot stronger, focusing on some feminist themes. This is an album that relies more on songs than an atmosphere like their other records, and I feel like if this album were by another band, it wouldn't get some of the hate it does, just because it doesn't fit into Lush's typical style.




Image result for modest mouse the lonesome crowded west
Modest Mouse- The Lonesome Crowded West
This album really inspires an adventurous spirit. I really got into this album this year, and the Pitchfork documentary on the record (you should really check it out) helped me really understand a lot of the motivations for its themes and content. There are tons of references to travel and the American landscape, which really gets me in the mood for a road trip. I've only ever been in the Eastern time zone, but the images this record paints make me really want to travel to all those small towns.




Image result for of montreal lousy with sylvianbriar
of Montreal- lousy with sylvianbriar
of Montreal are currently one of my favorite bands, as they are a group with many periods and a group that play around with many sounds. I really enjoyed this record when it first came out, as it was kind of a roots rock departure from the funk and electronic stuff they were toying with in the late 2000s, but when I returned to it, my admiration of the album grew exponentially, as it is probably one of Kevin Barnes' most consistent records to date. Even Hissing Fauna, their commercial and critical peak, had some weak moments to me, but this record, along with Cherry Peel, are probably now my favorite of Montreal albums.




Image result for panopticon kentuckyPanopticon- Kentucky
Panopticon was one of the bands that really warmed me up to black metal, with its mixture of metal with folk and almost bluegrass sounds. I found this kind of synthesis of very opposing musical styles incredibly intriguing, and on no other Panopticon record is this better executed accomplished than on Kentucky. A kind of concept album, it focuses on the human cost of coal mining, and of a union protest of poor working conditions. Austin Lunn really puts his love of his home into this work, and is a love letter to this region in Appalachia, while also pointing out the darkness that still exists in the region, and the people more than willing to destroy it for a quick buck.


Image result for tom waits small changeTom Waits- Small Change
Before the wildly experimental material Tom Waits began releasing in the 80s with records like Swordfishtrombones and Rain Dogs, he was a singer songwriter with a love of Kerouac, piano lounges, and the more than occasional drink. I really enjoy the kind of burnt out, boozy lounge lizard persona Waits adopts on these albums, and I feel like this effort, with tracks like 'The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me)' and 'Bad Liver and a Broken Heart' is one of the best examples of his work in this style. He would abandon this shortly after, as his art started to bleed into his life, and the romanticizing of the wino was no longer something he wanted to do, but I definitely still enjoy it.



Image result for frank zappa lumpy gravyFrank Zappa- Lumpy Gravy
This is Frank Zappa's first solo outing without the Mothers of Invention, and a criminally underrated piece of his work. Even in its embryonic form (the rare 1967 Captiol version), the mix of orchestral arrangements are great, but the reworking with tape recordings, strange sound bytes and weird stories make for a compelling, interesting and funny listen. Also, fans of his other works will notice many bits of future pieces buried in this album, notably elements of We're Only in it For the Money, 200 Motels, and Uncle Meat. It's kind of cool to hear these and than have these moments pop up and recognize them.




The Top 10 will be out by the end of the month. With a nice month after the end of the year, I've had a pretty good chance to sit with a lot of albums that were released late, so there will be a nice comprehensive list.

"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."

Monday, January 9, 2017

Quick Update


Image result for vinyl record


Time for a quick update. I am alive, though sometimes I don't feel it. Work has been demanding a lot of my time, and as such, I haven't posted in 3 months. Since the reviews wouldn't even be close to current, I have decided to abandon the gauntlet I was running, and instead focus on year end lists, which will be coming out this month (fingers crossed). I'll also be reducing current reviews to records that have really hit a chord with me, and instead focus my attention backwards, to underrated gems and other such items I may have looked at in an album spotlight. More later.



"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."