Aristotle Experiment

I went into this album entirely blind, and although that made the experience all the more comedic, it got old fast. I would highly advise that you do the same, and so I shall refrain from spoiling the fun here. I think that this would be a lot more fitting soundtrack for the Dune movies. You would have to be built different to listen to this while working out.

Memorable Track: Thousander Chant

The only word I can think of to describe this album is “edmslop”. I know people who are a fan of this kind of over the top music, but, no diss, this kind of music isn’t for me. I sometimes can enjoy this kind of music, but it has to have a common thread or sample hook (such as in Madeon - Adventure). Every song on this album would not feel out of place in a YouTube Minecraft lets player’s intro/outro of a video.

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(I internally laughed when this song used the Ray William Johnson equals 3 record scratch as a sample.)

Despite understanding absolutely nothing that is said on this album (as I don’t know any German) this was an enjoyable listen! The only comparison that I can make is that it sounds like if Stromae was German instead of French and leaned more heavily on the electronica side of things.

Memorable Track: Babylon

This album is truly unlike anything that I have listened to for this ranking thus far. The lyrics are very lopsided, you can’t really tell what the lead singer is going to say next, which is oddly enduring about this album. This album is what the Patchy the Pirate songs should have been like in SpongeBob (it would have been a lot funnier). I also feel like this album is the perfect length, as if it went on any longer I feel like it would have gotten on my nerves. Overall, this is the kind of album your sailor grandpa would sing along with, but nothing I personally would seek out to listen to.

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This is a new album released by an artist I have never heard of: Joji. I’m personally not a fan of the mumble style lyrics and so this whole album just kinda gets on my nerves. There are some tracks that are more electronic focused that work better for me, but nothing I saw my self listening again. The autotune on the track Rose Colored was funny to me, but that’s probably not what the album intended. I would honestly recommend that anyone who likes this album to just listen to Tennyson’s album: Rot.

Memorable Track: Sojourn

This album is a chill and relaxing electronica album! There wasn’t any earworms on this album, but nothing offensive either. Perfect music for a coffee shop or a study session.

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This album is a chiptune’s delight, it sounds like something straight out of a game that doesn’t exist. If you are fan of retro music layered with pianos, or really anything made by aivi & surasshu then this album is worth a listen.

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This album sounds like the perfect fusion of Madlib’s beats and Pogo’s sampling. Honestly I wish that Madlib’s standalone albums would be this good. Some of these samples sound like something The Avalanches or Hugo Kant would use, and that’s a compliment in the best possible way. Despite every track being just a little over a minute, I feel like every song conveys the point, and never overstays it’s welcome. I was genuinely floored when I recognized that the song [05] DOPE samples one of my favorite artists, Bonobo! This album absolutely is not for everyone, but if you are even the slightest fan of Adult Swim bumper music, this album would be a slam dunk for you.

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Writer’s note: (Bryson didn’t recommend this album specifically, but the one he did recommend is 3 hours long since every song is named after an element on the Periodic Table, which I find hilarious.)

Despite the comically over the top album cover, this wasn’t a bad listen. This album sounds like diet A Tribe Called Quest, which is not a bad thing, but the lack of diversity in the lyrics makes most songs feel formulaic. This album would have been B-tier, but then it hits you with the track “Outro” which is more of a 12 minute spoken piece of Lupe Fiasco just shouting out random people, which I find funny, but started to get old fast.

Memorable Track: Daydreamin’ (feat. Jill Scott)

(I like the sample used in this song.)

Shout out to ITXDemi for recommending this album!

This is yet another rock album that was in one ear and out the other. It sounds a lot like if Green Day never graduated high school. The vocals are trying too hard, and was not really any riff that caught my attention. I honestly think that The Gentle Men pulled off this kind of rock aesthetic better than this lot. If the songs didn’t stop at the end and just kept going from one to another, I probably could not distinguish when one song ends an another begins. At least this album is on the shorter end of things, so that’s a bonus.

Memorable Track: Head In The Ceiling Fan

I was truly hoping this was going to be an S-tier album, as the UNDERTALE soundtrack is one of my favorite albums of all time, and this is just remixes?! Sign me up!!

But boy oh boy is was this album extremely hit or miss. It felt like every other track it either rocketed straight to S-tier in my heart or sank all the way to D-tier. The sonic whiplash that was listening to Once Upon a Time (Remixed by grooveman Spot) was quite the unpleasant departure from what should be a more melody driven piano tune. Also Enemy Approaching (Remixed by DJ Mitsu the Beats) felt incredibly off beat, and borderline nauseating as it feels like you can audibly hear the dials being turned for the sweep/flange.

Then on the other hand you have masterpieces like Another Medium (Remixed by grooveman Spot) and Spear of Justice (Remixed by GORO KUMAI) that perfectly capture the essence of the original songs but put a new spin on them at the same time. The album overall certainly got better as the album went on, but some tracks left a sour taste in my mouth.

Memorable Track: Another Medium (Remixed by grooveman Spot)

(I came across this album while searching Fangamer and was shocked to see that this album even existed!)

Despite never evening knowing of the game that this soundtrack is from, this is a great listening experience. It feels like an odd mix between Calum Bowen and an Animal Crossing soundtrack in the best possible way! If you are not into purely instrumental music, this would be a pass, but if your like me, it’s definitely worth a listen.

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Listening to this was painfully British, and the lead singer so desperately wants to imitate the lead singer from the IDLES, but what comes out of his mouth isn’t nearly as intelligent or clever as the IDLES. I was also able to mentally predict whatever the lead signer on this album was about to say (albeit, when he is repeating himself), and as a result I did not enjoy it all that much. The ever present reverb also drowns out any lyrics which get’s pretty grating the longer you listen. Not an offensive, but not an album I would plan on listening to again anytime soon.

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This album was a nice departure from the typical electronic album I would listen to, as this was more Jazz-like and slow paced. It feels like something your southern grandparents would listen to when driving (in the best possible way). When singing, Jeb sounds a lot like those fake Peter Griffin impression memes, which makes me chuckle when I think about it, although definitely coincidental. Overall, a good listen, but nothing to drop everything your doing and listen to immediately.

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This is an electronic album from Phantogram, and only analogy that I can think of is it sounds like if Four Tet produced an LCD Soundsystem album. I personally believe that this album would have been better as a collection of instrumentals, as the lyrics didn’t really hook me at any point. As a result I did not feel like the album had any memorable moments or any songs I see myself listening to again. Not offensive, but not an ear worm either.

Memorable Track: Turn it Off

This album was a groovy departure back to the 70s, and every track feels like it could be used as an opening to some cliche movie. When listening to most of these tracks, I thought, “Wow this would be a lot better if it was just an instrumental”, and wouldn’t you know it, Giorgio Moroder was the producer on the album, so kudos to me I suppose. This album is rife with sampling potential, there are so many different drum breaks and vocal parts that I think someone like Eliphino could make something truly great from it. Otherwise I feel like the album starts strong, but really starts to overstay it’s welcome by the time you reach There Will Always Be A You. For me personally, this album was entirely in one ear and out the other.

Memorable Track: Our Love

This is a cohesive and short EP by the iconic french electronic duo Daft Punk Justice. Out of Justice’s whole discography, only Cross has clicked with me the most, but this was an alright listen. It lacks the iconic sampling that Justice is known for, and leans more heavily on the rock end of things. As a result, I think this lands firmly in B-tier for me.

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Even though I have only played Risk of Rain 2 for a collective 20 minutes, Chris Christodoulou knocked it out of the park with this soundtrack. It is the perfect blend of ambient music and electronic that is really my kind of jam, but it is not for everyone. I especially like how A Glacier Eventually Farts (And Don’t You Listen to the Song of Life) has some spoken piece samples that fit really well. My only real complaints (and thus holding it back from S-tier) are that if the tracks were more condenced I think would be a lot more engaging of a listen. Also some tracks were kinda grating and caused tonal whiplash, such as Antarctic Oscillation and You’re Gonna Need a Bigger Ukulele.

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A great dance/club EP recently released by one artist that I frequently come back to, Lehto. Although I do not think there is any earworms on this album, I would say that it is entirely enjoyable, and very DJ-able.

Memorable Track: Hold It (I am a sucker for anything that sounds like a Rhodes piano)

This was quite the booming, metal album quite the departure from everything I have listened to so far for this ranking. Although it had groovy moments, this album was mostly in one ear and out the other, as there were not any major riffs or hooks that I could hear myself listening to over and over again. It definitely has it’s own ascetic going, and would be incredibly fitting for a soundtrack, but I doubt I will be coming back to this album anytime soon.

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Listening to this album was an exercise in restraint. Every fiber of my being wanted to obliterate the skip button just to get it over with. I cannot think of a more fitting word than “wack” for describing most of the beats on this album; I just could not get into any kind of groove with this one. I genuinely think Yuno Miles is a better lyricist than whatever drivel is spat out on this album (and at least Yuno Miles makes me laugh ironically). If I had to give some more constructive criticism, the mixing is egregiously bad. For example, the track Hell Is Around The Corner initially caught my interest for it’s use of a Portishead sample, but lead lyrics is so unbalanced between the left and right channels that I felt like I had something clogging my left ear. I truly hope I never have to listen to this again.

Memorable Track: Suffocated Love (would be decent without any lyrics)

Discovered by: The Wonky Angle

This album feels like it could easily be a video game soundtrack in the best way possible. It is painfully electronic and techno-like, which I really like. However, I feel like some tracks were a bit too repetitive for my liking (which is holding it back from being S-tier), most notably REM Research Center. I also like how the title of the album is a tongue and cheek reference to A Midsummer Night’s Dream (I certainly enjoyed this album infinitely more than that obsolete book).

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Discovered by: The Wonky Angle

This is a pretty decent electronica album! It reminds me a lot of early Four Tet and Metamatics. I feel like a majority of the tracks could have been more condensed from the 8+ minute runtime, but before I knew it, the track was already over.

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Discovered by: The Wonky Angle

It’s a song that’s exactly what’s on the tin. I’ve liked Nostalgia 77’s work before, and this is certainly a more of a lullaby than it is like his typical Jazz songs. A good listen if you have the time!

Recommended by: Me :)

Certainly a more ambient and trance techno like album. The beginning of the album really had me disinterested, but the track “Arc” turned everything around for me, and it grew on me as it progressed. “Arc” is one of those tracks that sounds like a futuristic Halo-esk lobby music. But the last track “Lost in Passion” absolutely fell flat for me.

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Discovered by: The Wonky Angle

Artist: Douglas Holmquist

A smooth and ambient soundtrack that serves as quite the juxtaposition of the chaotic gameplay of Teardown. I can certainly see it as good music while driving, maybe not so much while studying. It certainly doesn’t have great replay value, but can be relaxing.

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