Reviews by ultraclear

Really oddball sound that’s impressive for having been released 2004 and flown under the radar this long. Arty indie that threatened to get on my nerves at the start, but then ended up working it’s magic on me as it went on. Dunno exactly what clicked, but it won me over

what do you mean they made pleasant mellow emo

Was a little worried at first that this was just going to be NiN jr, but as it settled into the second half it turned into a weird case of aggro screamy music that's also trying to party. Not the worst of its kind

Rare indie folk album that actually felt like it had the goods

Another oasis-alike, except sometimes featuring the most obnoxious vocal effects

Doesn't remind me even a little bit of explosions, but I had a pleasant time with it nonetheless

Absolutely criminal that the main list went with the debut over this one, which, while lacking Clint Eastwood, is operating at an entire other level. A big nostalgia album that if anything has become even better with age. The opening stretch through Feel Good Inc is just nonstop hooks, hits, and earworms, and then after taking a nap for two songs it hits an incredible stride that's maintained through the end. Even with the mid-album slump it's a masterwork of track sequencing, making it one of the Rare CD albums that actually earns its length. The title track at the end wraps up and I feel like I've been on the adventure of a lifetime.

I dunno what it is about this particular era of rap, but I'm writing this up a day after listening, and I can't remember anything about this one. Same thing happened to me with most of the Wu Tang albums on the main list

pleasant, if a little tepid weather channel funk

Not at all what I expected and definitely not bad, but maybe also not as good as it could have been. Glad they ate good off the one song, but that one plus most of what’s on here kinda sits at Diet Graceland level, and then they have occasional forays into “B-sides from Talking Heads’ ‘Naked’.” I actually think I could have really gotten into this if I found it when I was younger.

Insanely hot. Haunted house music that somehow resolves back into jazzy metal and not only makes it work, but keeps the pressure on for the full hour.

Good album cover too

Another “so 3-stars it’s actually 2 stars” kind of thing. just unbelievably meat and potatoes 70s rock

I saw the 2023, I read through some of the reviews, I prepared myself to have to eat my vegetables a little bit in the name of educating myself on recent country music that’s not secretly crappy pop music.

I liked this way more than I expected! caught myself tapping my foot a couple time while listening

Leans a little too far into shtick territory for my taste, but was fine enough

A little bit of these guys goes a long way, and this was a lot of these guys. I did think it was pretty interesting that this was all original material (well, "original" as long as we're not counting things like Dani California blatantly ripping off Tom Petty), but had the vibe of a best-of compilation. Wore me down slower than their other albums because of how much they were drifting around.

Fine enough chugga wuggas from the 80s

Never heard them before, but this is some extremely solid indie, from toward the late stages of this kind of alt rock sound. Very close to being something that I'd throw into my normal rotation, this is a perfect example of a 4.5 album that I'd round down instead of up.

Replacement-level ambient

So aggressively 3 stars that I'm giving it 2 stars

Dreamlike but not dreamy; itchy. I think it's not my favorite Glitch thing I've heard, but I had an ok time here.