Views Review

"Views" is the recently released full length studio album from Toronto rapper Drake.  "Views" is an inconsistant 20 track album that often feels directionless with gems few and far between.  The album isn't a complete miss as some tracks are solid (Hotline Bling was thrown on so I wouldn't really count it) but the overall feel of the record is disjointed and dragged down with filler songs.

The mood of the album is ever so Drake.  Moody, meloncholic, and filled with Drake airing out his dirty laundry.  "Keep The Family Close" does however kick the album off with an epic, james bond like intro that instantly grabs your attention.  "Feel No Ways" is also a track that caught my interest with its 80's pop style and droning drum beats.  Unfortunatley the album gets lost in translation for the most part after that.  Songs such as "Still Here", "Faithful, and "Redemption" just to name a few are forgettable tracks that muck up the lengthy dud that is "Views".

Artistically the album does fall short in many aspects and the struggle bars on "Pop Style" and "Child's Play" don't help Drake's case either.  Drake should focus on making music similar to "If You're Reading This Its Too Late".  An mixtape that is a bit more concise and filled to the brim with anguish and was able to shed light on a darker side of Drake.  This album seems like the equivelent of going to the prom with your third option; Kendrick and Kanye both surpassed him to the dance.

Rating: 7.0/10

More Than The Fairy Track Review

"More Than The Fairy" is the latest single released from Death Grips only a few weeks after the release of their fifth studio album "Bottomless Pit".  The track features Primus' very own Les Claypool on bass if Death Grips wasn't eccentric enough for you.  The track starts out with Claypool's iconic bass sound taken to another level.  The production value is classic Death Grips and brings forth the wet dream that is Les Claypool's bass style processed industrially.

MC Ride's voice is a great compliment to the staticky, clicky production and the group sticks to their guns with their very industrial/trip-hop mashup of musical styles.  Claypool's bass could've been highlighted a bit more in my opinion but just being able to hear a new twist on the bass legend's sound is refreshing and well worth the listen.  Overall, "More Than The Fairy" doesn't dissapoint and is well worth a listen if you are a fan of Death Grips or Primus.  I only hope for a collaborative album in the future.

Rating: 8.4/10

Zipper Down Review

"Zipper Down" is the fourth studio album from Eagles Of Death Metal.  The garage rock duo sticks to their previous formula by creating music that isn't overly complicated, yet has the ability to make you groove.  Hughes and Homme go back and forth as the Queens Of The Stoneage desert rock influences mix together with a swingin' somewhat 50's dance hall vibe (at least on some of the more up beat tracks).  

The muddied up sound that is so unique to any Homme project is ever so prevalent on "Zipper Down".  Eagles Of Death Metal is technically Homme and Hughes but it has always been the Hughes show due to the success of QOTSA.  Regardless, this album is straight up rock n' roll.  Songs like "Complexity" and "Got A Woman" are meant to get you off your ass and shake it around in the same way a Meatloaf album would, but what makes them unique to that is the sound and production value that the duo concoct in studio.

The album is a culmination of the band's major influences it seems.  There are remnants of The Clash on "The Deuce", as previously mentioned Meatloaf, and just about every early 80's rock band from Joan Jett to the B52's.  Blues and originality don't necessarily belong in the same sentence but Eagles Of Death Metal's sound is very unique in its right that they are one of the exceptions.  The album does some aspects fantastically, but in other ways, the album gets a bit monotonous as the swingin' and jumpin' only can hold your attention for so long.

Final Summary:

As this being my first Eagles Of Death Metal album to listen to, I was happy to discover it.  I have always been a huge QOTSA fan and having that signature Homme sound on any album is a treat to me.  The upbeat songs mixed with structurally rigid production creates a unique sound that is very identifiable as far as influences are concerned.  I could've used more diversity in the tracks, the upbeat rockin' needed a little more balance for me but the album was good enough to give their earlier material a shot.

Rating: 7.7/10

...Like Clockwork Review

"...Like Clockwork" is the sixth studio album from rock band Queens Of The Stone Age.  Their previous album Era Vulgaris heralded mixed reviews from critics but it marked a six year gap in between albums for the band.  Josh Homme had been a very busy person during that 6 year album gap.  Whether it be producing albums for the Arctic Monkeys, forming supergroups with Dave Grohl and John Paul Jones, or surviving a near-death experience, Homme kept himself plenty busy.  "...Like Clockwork" feels like a rebirth of sorts after the band embarked on an extensive tour reissuing their self-titled debut record.  The album is dark, dreary, and filled with special surprises that really encapsulate a time where Josh Homme truly felt like death was after him and this is the final product.
 
Queens esentially reinvirogated the spirit that band had back in the Rated R days.  The album has a fresh and saturated sound that helped carry the band to success in the first place.  "Keep Your Eyes Peeled" is a good intro that slowly builds and creates the gloomy atmosphere that the album has.  "I Sat By The Ocean" is one of my favorites of this album due to the fact that it's a straight-up rock song.  It doesn't try to pull any punches and gives you a song you can enjoy wholly.  The single released off from the album "My God Is The Sun" is actually one of my least favorite songs.  It feels borderline commercial and didn't give me anything to be excited about.

"Kalopsia" and "The Vampyre Of Time And Memory" on the other hand provide two of the more unique renditions off of "...Like Clockwork".  "Kalopsia" is produced by NIN frontman Trent Reznor and you could deduce that from the very beginning of the track.  The slow, spacey beginning of the song slowly builds up with keys and atmosphere and then crescendos with heavy guitars and growling vocals.  "The Vampyre Of Time And Memory" is a piano ballad that has the sharpness of a John Lennon solo career track mixed in with the fuzziness that characterizes the QOTSA sound.  Not to mention, Elton John makes an appearance on "Fairweather Friends" to give the album even more star power (Alex Turner also makes a guest appearance on "If I Had A Tail".

Final Summary:

"...Like Clockwork" is an album with atmosphere and every good album needs that to be listenable.  QOTSA does a great job of setting the mood early and carrying that moment all the way to the end of the album.  With great tracks, great guest appearances, and distinct character, Queens Of The Stone Age delivers a revitalized effort with this one and doesn't pull any punches during the process.  The album perfectly blends the band's soft and rough sides to create a true rock album in every sense of the definition.

Rating: 8.7/10

A Moon Shaped Pool Review

"A Moon Shaped Pool" is the ninth studio album from British artist Radiohead.  With their previous album "The King Of Limbs" garnering mixed reviews, Radiohead had the pressure on to deliver something to the caliber of "In Rainbows" to show fans that the band's best days weren't behind them, and they certainly delivered.  "A Moon Shaped Pool" is a very depressing, introspective record that highlight's Yorke's howling cries and the band's orchestral, ambient production value.  

The albums starts out with the single "Burn The Witch" (which I did a track review for  http://the808smusicreview.blogspot.com/2016/05/burn-witch-track-review.html).  The song sets the tone for the record as the anxiety builds steadily making for an overwhelming song to kick the record off.  "Decks Dark" and "Desert Island Disk" are two solid tracks that keep the momentum of the album moving smoothly as "Decks Dark" is an airy treat that accompanies Yorke's vocals with piano keys and plenty of amibence and "Desert Island Disk" is driven by a Spanish guitar riff that keeps you glued in.

The second half of the album is filled with somber, down right depressing tracks such as "Glass Eyes" and "True Love Waits".  Radiohead really dives deep into some interpersonal aspects of being alone, what you think of when you feel lost in a big world, and everything in between.  "The Numbers" is definitely one of the more ambitious tracks on the album.  It sounds like something The Beatles would've released orchestrally off of Sgt Peppers but it mixes well with Yorke's vocals and the bass line and guitar riff are rock solid.  The album feels like a mix of "Kid A" and "In Rainbows" as the band really blends together what made them successful in the past.  The alien-like, overly strange lyrics represent the time period in which the band switched over to a more electronically driven sound, and the overly ambient, sequential riffs featured on "In Rainbows" make a comeback for a similar rendition on "A Moon Shaped Pool".

Final Summary:

"A Moon Shaped Pool" was exactly the type of album I wanted to hear from Radiohead.  The band has released so much groundbreaking material over their 20+ year music career but I feel they took snippets of the best elements from each of their albums to concoct and perfect their sound on this record.  The album is downright depressing at some points but in true Radiohead fashion, they make you forget because the music is so goddamn good.  The band by far topped their previous release and gave the die hard Radiohead fans exactly what they wanted.

Rating: 9.0/10

Check out my previous Radiohead reviews as well!

http://the808smusicreview.blogspot.com/2016/03/in-rainbows-review.html

http://the808smusicreview.blogspot.com/2016/02/kid-review.html

http://the808smusicreview.blogspot.com/2016/03/ok-computer-review.html

The Money Store Review

"The Money Store" is the debut studio album from Sacramento based experimental hip-hop group Death Grips.  The album smacks you across the face with the blood-curdling shouts of MC Ride in conjunction with very industrial sounding, experimental hip-hop beats played throughout.  The album is staticky, drenched in anger, and takes elements of hardcore music to concoct a overwhelmingly unique blend of genres and sounds.  

"Get Got" is the song that kicks off this record and you can tell right from the get-go that this isn't your average hip-hop album.  The group takes industrial hip-hop to the next level and really speaks to a large audience as Death Grips could grab the attention of Nine Inch Nails or Tool fans but they also appeal to hip-hop fans as a whole.  "I've Seen Footage" sounds like something Public Enemy would've came out with back in the day mixed in with some Run DMC-esque bass and hi-hat.  On the other end of the spectrum, songs like "Hustle Bones" and "Double Helix" are much more industrial sounding as MC Ride puts his special stamp on each and every track.

But no matter the main genre because clearly there isn't, the hysteria surrounding this album is palpable.  The fast paced, sped up, aggressive approach from Death Grips gives you an anxiety attack yet in some way, its ok that it does.  The album tackles subjects that aren't typical in your normal pop culture and I believe that's the main appeal of Death Grips.  They tackle subjects such as excess, drugs, and sex but they tell it from a really low, grimy perspective.  This album should excite you, its the shot of adrenaline you've been missing.

Final Summary:

"The Money Store" is Death Grips announcement that they have arrived on the scene with a roaring, aggressive approach.  The songs essentially blend together as the album would be best described as controlled chaos.  Your ear canals will be invaded by all of these different sounds and messages that you certainly aren't used to but it's fresh and its not about to conform to any type of standard set.  "The Money Store" takes no prisoners and it's leaves whoever didn't hop on the train dead on the tracks.

Rating: 8.6/10

Channel Orange Review

"Channel Orange" is the debut studio album from hip-hop/R&B artist Frank Ocean.  The album has an eclectic cast of musical influences that stem from many genres such as hip-hop, soul, electro-funk, pop, jazz, and even psychedelia.  The album has a sense of maturity even though it is Frank Ocean's debut (who was 24 at the time of recording).  The themes of Channel Orange range from promiscuous women, lifestyles, money, and ultimately finding out your true identity.

The song "Thinkin Bout You" became the most well-known track off of "Channel Orange".  Its a bit of a slow jam but the vocals catch your attention right from the start and you could listen to Frank emote all day.  You can't help but picture a Romeo & Juliette scenario while listening to this.  The heartbreak is felt throughout this album and it really shows on songs such as "Bad Religion" and "Forrest Gump".  It was revealed that Frank Ocean's first love was a man and I felt Ocean used this album brilliantly as an outlet for anything he may have hid in the past.

Then there's the nearly 10 minute track "Pyramids" which keeps your attention held throughout.  I'd really recommend this album on vinyl, not only is the orange double vinyl pressing beautiful, but "Pyramids" is an entirely different experience on vinyl.  You can hear every crackle dusted in between and on a ten minute song it becomes an epic listening experience.  Not only does the album sizzle on vinyl, but you can hear influences of great artists like Prince, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and the list goes on and on.

Final Summary:

"Channel Orange" shines as bright as a debut can for artist.  The influences are present but Frank Ocean is so unique in his delivery and subject matter that he has the power to influence.  The Weeknd and Drake wouldn't be the same artists if it hadn't been for Frank Ocean.  The album started a trend of hip-hop/R&B artists who encompass today's music scene and have all been patient for Frank's follow up.  Overall, Ocean is our anti-hero through an album that is well balanced in every way and dressed by sorrow, heartbreak, and finding out the inner workings of your own being.

Rating: 9.2/10