Music review
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Yumi Arai – “Cobalt Hour” review
Final verdict: 8/10 ★★★★☆ The stars have aligned once again; I am feeling capricious, hence I skipped my prose class today (being an English major is not for the weak), and what better way to spend my self-declared day off than to listen to Yuming, my most beloved of all? No, seriously. As time goes… Read more
1970s, 70s music, album review, blog, city pop, hell yeah, indie, japan, japanese music, jpop, music, Music review, pop, pop music, review, reviews, rock, rock music, writing -
Silia – “The Forbidden Resort Chronicles” review
Final verdict: ??? Is this the single worst idea I’ve ever had? Yes. Am I still doing it? Also, yes. That’s right, ladies and gentlemen, and everybody else. I’m reviewing my own album here. Obviously I won’t give it a rating (for I cannot objectively rate it – I consider it to be my child,… Read more
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Ruth Ruth – “Laughing Gallery” review
Final verdict: 8/10 ★★★★☆ It must’ve been July 2023 when I found this CD in the bargain bin of a hole-in-the-wall second-hand record store (that has since been closed down, RIP). This very amusing cover art caught my eye, and so I took the album home (having paid for it, obviously – I am by… Read more
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Marina – “The Family Jewels” review
Final verdict: 9/10 ★★★★⋆˙⟡ Marina has long been one of my favorite artists – through the holy trinity that is her first few albums (the “The Family Jewels” – “Electra Heart” – “Froot” run) she has proven herself to be a greatly creative songwriter, a force to be reckoned with. Those sentiments aren’t quite in… Read more
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Lady Gaga – “Mayhem” review
Final verdict: 8/10 ★★★★☆ Say what you will about Lady Gaga – but one thing you absolutely cannot deny is that she’s an unlikely talent. A beast of a vocalist, a more-than-merely-competent pianist, and a reasonably trustworthy songwriter, complete with mind-blowing stage pyrotechnics. She’s what a popstar ought to be, the complete package. But well, let’s not… Read more
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Yumi Arai – “Misslim” review
Final verdict: 9/10 ★★★★⋆˙⟡ The sentiments expressed on my review of Yumi Arai’s (or Matsutoya’s, or, as I will again refer to her, Yuming’s) debut LP “ひこうき雲” ring true with her follow-up record, too. And the record in question is none other than 1974’s “Misslim” – an album that has rightfully acquired its place in… Read more
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They Might Be Giants – “John Henry” review
Final verdict: 8/10 ★★★★☆ At first I was afraid, I was petrified. Although by the time I got to this album, I’d been only barely familiar with the majestic world of They Might Be Giants, I felt well acquainted with the concept of John, John, and a drum machine, as well as the rinky-dink sound… Read more
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Dua Lipa – “Radical Optimism” review
Final verdict: 5/10 ★★⋆˙⟡☆☆ Okay, so, recently, a good buddy of mine coerced me into listening to this album. Well, “coerced” is a bit of a strong word, he didn’t technically do that, however he did repeatedly pressure me to listen to it and review it, because he was curious about what I’d think of it. Eventually I caved,… Read more
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Jun Togawa – “好き好き大好き” review
Final verdict: 10/10 ★★★★★ A few months ago I had a manic episode. Rough times, man, I don’t even want to think about it. But to review this album, I kind of have to. So, “好き好き大好き”. This album was all I would ever listen to during my manic spell. Anything that wasn’t a song off… Read more
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Alacie Tullaugaq & Lucy Amarualik – “Katutjatut” review
Final verdict: 7/10 ★★★⋆˙⟡☆ One thing going over most of these fellow reviewers’ heads is the following; you need to go into listening to a project like this with an open mind, otherwise you’re just not going to Get It™. Most of us are familiar with music that was crafted following strictly European standards, and would be… Read more
