Reviews by stade

Don't expect any conscious rap here -- the focus is all on vibes, production, and the rapid-fire flow of UK Grime. Said style is easy to dunk on as a first-time listener, but very fun if you can get used to it.

More importantly, Skepta pulled off something rare here: a full-on genre innovation, putting Grime on the global map, and defining a style for the UK in the greater rap landscape. It's a shift I didn't even notice consciously at the time, but looking at it now, it's clear Konnichiwa was the turning point. You don't often get to see genres evolve in real time like this.

As for the album itself -- there's only one true stinker in the tracklist, and it's Ladies Hit Squad. It goes for a Hotline Bling-style hook that was all the rage in 2016, but has aged terribly. It's followed by one of many phone call skits that really should've been separated into their own track. But what I find ABSOLUTELY CRIMINAL is what comes after: the most beautiful beat on the whole album, completely buried after the skit....... and it lasts all of 30 seconds. What was Skepta thinking??!

Standouts: Corn on the Curb • Numbers • Man • Shutdown • That's Not Me

God, what an album. Obviously the megahits here are incredible, but the deep cuts are what really surprised me -- the album does not drop in quality for a single second, and every track is strong in its own way.

My personal standout is Planet Caravan, a meditative bass and bongo groove and perfectly placed breather in-between the face-melting Paranoid and Iron Man.

I THINK I still prefer the rawer, darker atmosphere of their debut album -- but who are we kidding, this is a 5 star all the way.

Standouts: War Pigs / Luke's Wall • Paranoid • Planet Caravan • Iron Man • Hand of Doom • Rat Salad • Jack the Stripper / Fairies Wear Boots

The way she erratically switches between singing and screaming is really grating, though I'm sure it's awesome for the fans. Mind you I do like the attitude and respect the themes that she's singing about -- even the repeated 'milk' bar works in context -- but I think I'm just really not a fan of grunge.

A lot of the album has "we have Nirvana at home" energy, but to their credit they do a pretty good job at it! The drummer especially is locked tf in.

Standouts: Zurich Is Stained • Our Singer

ahhh as much as I enjoy the Wu-Tang concept and personas, 36 Chambers wasn't the all-time classic I was expecting. The Low End Theory dropped two years earlier, and to this day feels like a way more cohesive and timeless NY album.

My enjoyment here comes mainly from RZA's production, plus the charmingly lofi recording quality typical of early 90s east coast rap albums. That raw sound, plus the group's energy, make for ideal workout music -- so I guess it DOES have a place in my rotation. In the broad hiphop landscape though, it's far from my fav pick.

Standout: CREAM

I thought, “No way I'm listening to two hours of DnB, I’ll stop when the remixes and bonus tracks start.” Well, goddamn. When the album “ended”, I was still craving for more.

This genre has a hypnotic quality that has you fully locking in to whatever you’re doing while listening, so it's straight up perfect background music -- but Timeless goes well beyond that, because it's also properly structured as an album. Tracks flow well, stay pretty varied, and offer cinematic moments like on "Sea of Tears", where we're transported to the oceanside for a little breather in-between drum and bass barrages. It just does an excellent job at keeping the sound fresh and bangin the whole way through.

If you're looking for a tight and focused album experience, stop at Jah the Seventh Seal and it's peak. If you're hungry for *more* restless drums and funky bass by then, Goldie's got you! Keep listening for 2x the runtime of exactly that.

It's got bangers. It's got atmosphere. It's got structure. If it accomplishes everything a DnB album strives to do... how can it *not* be a 5-star?

Standouts: Timeless • Sea Of Tears

Absolutely brilliant set of funky and hypnotic beats, full of texture, and consistently engaging, even in the longer tracks. The basslines are phenomenal. This could be a 5 on production alone! What holds it back slightly is that it doesn’t reach for much beyond being a great collection of beats, though it's absolutely entering my regular rotation. Just great music to vibe out to, and does great justice to the title.

Standouts: Nights Introlude • Pipes Honour • Rise • Rise (Reprise)

This was a challenging listen as someone who usually prioritizes vibes/instrumentals over lyrics. Fiona demands full attention here, and while I usually find it distracting to read lyrics while listening, here it felt essential (and rewarding!). Her delivery is so erratic at times that if you can’t follow by ear, you’ll miss the core of what makes this album work: the storytelling. And that storytelling is great! The production complements her voice beautifully, with little musical details that feel like responses to what she's saying.

I won’t revisit this album often, but it did make me reflect on the value of lyricism in a way few albums do, and I have to appreciate that.

Standouts: Ladies • Cosmonauts

Everything sounds solid, with standout trumpet moments and killer bass throughout -- but other than that, it somehow kept slipping into background music for me. Maybe it just needs a relisten, but for now it lands as “pretty good” and not much more.

Also, Bono weirdly sounds like Robert Smith from The Cure. I can't explain it.

Standouts: Like a Song... • Two Hearts Beat As One • Red Light

Man, the music isn't bad but who is this rage directed at? "Society"?
These edgelord lyrics are just so painfully corny, and give off the same vibes as the terrible Joker memes you might see on Facebook -- "don't mess with me I'm so sick and twisted" type shit.
Slipknot's masks only double down on the 'why so serious' energy.

This might have resonated in 1999, but hearing it fresh today...... 😭

I have nothing nice to say about this album. Here goes a low-effort joke instead:

The Horse of Shock and Astonishment when Pagan Poetry comes on : 😳🐴

Absolute curveball of an album. You go in expecting some 'Roxannes' and 'Message In A Bottle's, but instead they keep hitting you with experimental cuts that don't always succeed in being super interesting. Sting randomly unhinges on 'Mother' which sounds straight out of Disc 2 of The Wall, except that without any narrative buildup, it's just kinda jumpscares you for no reason.
When 'Every Breath You Take' finally shows up it's a breath of fresh air, finally a familiar sound out of these guys.
idk, this was honestly a fairly enjoyable listen, but I AM disappointed that their deep cuts really don't hold up to the strength of their greatest hits.

Standouts: O My God • Every Breath You Take • Wrapped Around Your Finger

Kraftwerk walked so Depeche Mode could fly. Much respect to the German dudes for their experimentation, but it's successors like THIS album that really make their electronic sound shine. DISGUSTING synth instrumentation with Gahan's iconic voice -- this is the blueprint for the 80s-90s synthwave aesthetic that's still inspiring artists today.

Standouts: Personal Jesus • Halo • Enjoy The Silence • Policy Of Truth (!!)

How is this a DEBUT from *1970*? It holds up so incredibly well! There's less songwriting variety than later albums, and yet I could listen to this one over and over again. Constant transitions between parts and variations in the grooves keep the music fresh and moving. Also, you know, fat fucking riffs.
RIP Ozzy.

Standouts: Black Sabbath • Bassically • N.I.B. • Wicked World • A Bit Of Finger

There's 0 chance I listen to this again, but to their credit I could see this going crazee hard in '72.

Standouts: I Won't Let It 'Appen Agen • Gudbuy Gudbuy • I Don't Mind

Country is such an easy genre to trash, and yet I can't imagine anyone actually *hating* this album. Johnny Cash is charismatic as hell, has the least twangy voice in the game, and is giving a heartfelt performance to an audience that is having the time of their lives. That energy is absolutely contagious. This won't really go into my rotation, but I had a good time and I'm sure even a Country hater could appreciate the live atmosphere here.

Standout: 25 Minutes To Go

So the Gorillaz comparisons aren't entirely wrong, and I was excited whenever some trip hop elements popped up here and there.... But it's mostly pretty bad in execution. Lots of blandness and repetitiveness.

Standouts: Human Being • Gone • Alleged

This did nothing for me other than a couple of nice harmonica and twangy guitar solos. I've heard better folk albums on this challenge, and I'm usually a certified folk hater. Not offensive or anything though.

I vibed. This is peak "live band at the bar" music, maybe even a notch above that. Love Chrissie Hynde's vocals and attitude. No real standouts to speak of, but everything's pretty good.

It started off weak with the first two tracks, but everything that follows is absolute GAS. The instrumental side is so fire that I don't even mind some grating vocal performances (due apologies to the late Ian Curtis).

Standouts: Passover • Colony • A Means to an End • Heart and Soul • Decades