Reviews by k-dot-r

Dance music rarely works over the length of a full album, even one as short as this. A few cool moments, and great production, but lacking in spark

An album probably 10 years late or 15 years early, from a point where most country was shiny floors, rhinestones, and Nashville polished. This is not that, closer to outlaw country or more recent artists, but a good suggestion because of that. Not a band I knew, but I was glad to change that.

Hints of Midwest emo, plenty of gorgeous piano, very Phantom Planet / tv theme sounding. Odd lyrics, good music, a good suggestion

Even as someone who listens to a lot of extreme metal, this is a lot. Very long, very heavy, very loud (if you're doing it right), incomprehensible vocals (even by Scandi standards), but the world is a better place because someone is pushing the edges this far!

Very long, especially with a weird half hour commentary track at the end (which i didn't listen to fully, since it wasn't actually on the album). As is often the case with the Chilis, the good songs are great, but there's a lot of filler.

I still don't speak Portuguese, although the more good albums I hear in the language, the more likely I am to (try to) learn!

A cracking album, with plenty of variety in the songs, almost like a Brazilian version of the Clash 'London Calling' album - Brasilia Calling, maybe?

A great suggestion, and another band to explore if/when I get caught up on the nominations.

Pleasant enough, but not overly memorable once it passed. Sounds like a support act for a band I would probably really like, if that makes sense. A solid 3

Simultaneously boring and annoying. Sounds unfinished, like they made an album but somehow forgot to put any songs on it. One of the swear words used might be the first time the singer had ever sworn, and the other was probably the second. They seem to think they're Kid A era Radiohead, forgetting that glitchy beats and doctored vocals are not enough on their own, without actual listenable music to riff off.

Finally, I never need to hear another English numpty mispronounce "Glasgow" - if you can't say it properly, don't say it at all!

Not an album! Also, it's really bad.

I loved this - to the point I found it really difficult to turn it off and get my next album! I am really looking forward to exploring the rest of her work in the next wee while.

I hear hints of an an influence of/on Tori Amos, Björk, Christina Perri (one note in particular), Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift, Lorde, Kate Bush (of course), Lisa Loeb, her classical background, and (distantly) a wee soupçon of System of a Down in the way she uses eastern European themes and motifs. She is however absolutely still one of a kind.

I sort of wish I had listened to her sooner, but I also know that I wasn't really ready until recently.

An instant 5 🌟 for me!

Roxette meets Wilson Phillips, with a bit of Bangles energy and some very 80s lyrics. I liked it a lot, and had never heard of the band before, but feel it didn't have quite enough magic for full marks. A great suggestion though, and one I am happy to have heard

All the songs sound the same, with no light and shade - just an angry boy shouting at you for half an hour or so.

Chaos, not usually in a good way

A lovely change of pace from the heavy or weird or non-anglophone (or all of the above) albums nominated so far. Wondeful vocals, individually and as a group, and brilliant songs. Production is a bit overbearing, but otherwise flawless!

Sounds very like The Misfits, obviously! A cracker, and well worth a listen, but possibly not innovative enough for a place on the actual list.

Too poppy for me, I would prefer a bit more of an edge. As punk for children, it has a place, it just won't be in my list (if I ever get round to writing it)

Fun, but nothing particularly original.

What a voice!

Decent but dull, and a long way short of "essential", but much better than the worst of the dross. Sounds like 2 stars to me, but pretty close to a third. 2.49999 if you like

Batshit crazy, in the best possible way. Doesn't really sound French, mostly because the lyrics are in a mad eastern European sounding con-lang. Operatic at points, but rocks plenty as well