Dodo's Album Reviews

  Hello everyone, welcome back to my blog. Today, I will be reviewing Skee Mask's sophomore release, Compro. This was the album that really put this man on the map. And it's not hard to see why. We open with Cerroverb. An ambient piece full of SFX, field recordings, bassy, yet lush synth pad washes, glitchy melodies here and there. An amazing opener to the album. Next we have Session Add with rumbling basses, mechanical SFX, melodic beeps and lush synth pads. Next we have the grooviest song on here, Rev8617 has delayed drum work, glitchy steel-like plucks, more lush synth pads. Around the middle, Skee Mask brings in a fatter bass and quiets down the main melody. And afterwards we return to the beginning of the track. 50 Euro To Break Boost is more beat oriented, but still contains your standard Skee Mask style pads. Via Sub Mids continues on the breakbeat style of the previous track, only here we find not that many memorable melodies. It's a good track, but it doesn't h...

WE'RE FINALLY TALKING ABOUT IT!!! Welcome back to my blog, and today we are reviewing The Money Store. If you're reading this post, then already know what this album is. We start with the incredibly catchy Get Got. The repeating synth notes, the explosive drums, the deep voice of Ride spitting cryptic bars. It's amazing. Now time for my favourite Death Grips song, depending on the day of the week. The Fever is much more aggressive compared to the opener. The swirling drone-like synths in the verse create such an atmosphere, then the dripping plucks in the pre-chorus, then those melodies on the chorus. And of course Ride's performance on here is absolutely amazing. Then we have Lost Boys, one of the quieter songs on here, but that does not mean it's bad. The electric buzzing that plagues this track, gives it a unique vibe. Then we have the mechanical voices that keep repeating the song's name. And as always, Ride is killing it. Blackjack is one of the most menaci...

Hello everyone, welcome back to my blog. Today, I will be reviewing Radiohead's sophomore release, The Bends. After the disappointment that was their debut, we find considerable evolution in this album. Much more memorable hooks and better moments. However, that can't be said about the opener Planet Telex, with some very annoying vocals, a bland sounding rock instrumental and little to no progression, leading to the four minute length of this track being rather forced. Same with the title track, with a very forgettable instrumental and barely audible vocals. But after those two, we get into the good stuff with High And Dry. The easy going instrumental, the soft vocals, they all culminate to create a nice, yet mellow song. But the saddest song on here has to be Fake Plastic Trees. A similiar instrumental to the previous track, but the vocal performance really sets it apart. We also find a more energetic section in the middle, later returning to the melancholy of the rest of the ...

  Hello everyone, welcome back to my blog. Today, I will be reviewing the debut studio album from Skee Mask, Shred. First of all, Skee Mask is a German ambient techno producer that appeared on the underground scene with this album. Let's see what is has to show... We open on Everest, a mostly ambient song with quiet SFX and synth washes cascading through the soundscape. Not a bad start. Hal Conv. has a subtle beat, with multiple melodic elements, such as synth pads and brief leads. Another pretty nice song. Autotuned is a highlight thanks to it's metallic sounding percussion and deep synth pad washes, also being a mostly beat driven song. Shred 08 is another beat oriented song, with much louder beats and less prominent synth pads. Backcountry has some really nice sounding synth pads. Another highlight of the album. Melczop 2 is a rather repetitive song, with not much to it. Zenker Haze Tank sounds a bit too light hearted for me. The beat is rather annoying too. Reshape is prett...

Hello everyone, welcome back to my blog. Today, we are reviewing the debut mixtape of experimental hip hop group, Death Grips, Exmilitary. First of all, Exmilitary is a Sacramento-based experimental hip hop trio, featuring MC Ride on vocals and lyrics, Zach Hill on drums and Andy Morin on synths and production. They popped onto the underground scene with this very mixtape. So let's hear what it has to offer... We open on Beware, as an interview of Charles Manson plays over a groovy bassline. THEN SUDDENLY... You are bombarded with loud synths and fuzzy guitars, as a man screams at you. MC Ride spits bars like no other man... because he screams them, and not like an emo trap metal Soundcloud song. He gives his all to scare you. The mixing is not good either, thus creating a sound distinct to this group. Next we have one of the most popular songs from Death Grips, Guillotine. With little to no melodies, just a quiet bass and 808 drums. It has Ride's vocals in the forefront, screa...

  Yup, we're reviewing Radiohead. Hello everyone, welcome back to my blog. Today, I will be discussing Radiohead's debut album, Pablo Honey. First of all, who is this band? Well, if you're reading this than you already know who they are. I don't have tell you who this band is, let's get into the review. We start with You, which sounds like a generic 90s grunge song. I'm going to just say it, this song is boring and overdramatic. Next we have the band's most famous song, Creep. Now, most Radiohead fans will absolutely hate this song, and so does the band. But, I must acknowledge that this song is pretty good. How Do You?   sounds really generic. Stop Whispering is boring. Thinking About You is actually pretty nice, given the use of weirder guitar plucks and calmer feel. Anyone Can Play Guitar returns to the generic sound. Ripchord sounds the same. So does Vegetable. And Prove Yourself. And I Can't. I'm not trying to be lazy here, the songs are just so...

Hello everyone, welcome back to my blog. Today, I will be reviewing Phoebe Bridger's sophomore release, Punisher. After producing and featuring on other artists works and creating an all-girls rock band, she finally released here second album in 2020. I enjoyed her debut a lot, so let's see how this holds up compared to her first record. DVD Menu is a short, but echoey song that features violins, filtered guitar plucks and other strings. A surprisingly moody opener. Then we have Garden Song with normal vocals, but heavily filtered guitar strumming. That is until we reach chorus, as the guitar sounds much clearer, and a guest vocalist brings in bass to the vocals. Kyoto is much more rock influenced song, with a very catchy horn tune. The title track is a very moody song with strings and more filtered guitar strums. Halloween may be another quiet song, but it has a bit more of a groove compared to the other softer songs. Chinese Satellite is a more rock influenced song, but it...

  Hello everyone, welcome back to my blog. Today, we are reviewing Queen's final album, Made In Heaven. This is a "posthumous" album of sorts, because it was released 4 years after Freddie's death, thus the band's death as well. But somehow, the group managed to make an entire album out of recordings Freddie made while he was still alive. Let's see how that turned out... We open on It's A Beautiful Day, a short piano driven song. Not that special, but was a decent opener. Next we have the title track, which is actually a remake of a song off of Freddie's solo album. And I must say, this version is miles better than the original version. It sounds so much better with a guitar. Let Me Live was a mediocre song. Roger Taylor sings on here as well, but it really just pulls the song down. It also drags on for way too long. Mother Love is a bit more of a mellower song, with vocals from Brian May. The guitar on here sounds incredibly nice, and it creates a gor...

Hello everyone, welcome back to my blog. Today, I will be reviewing Pink Floyd's final album, The Endless River. This record was released 20 years after The Division Bell, which was considered the band's final release, but no. This album was comprised of scraps and instrumentals from The Division Bell sessions, also featuring only one song with vocals. Let's see how this record sounds then... We open on Things Left Unsaid, a pretty nice ambient opener. I'm starting to see a pattern here, that with every album during this David Gilmour-led era, we open on an ambient song. Anyway, this is pretty nice. It's What We Do sounds like a cheap knock-off of Welcome To The Machine. Ebb And Flow is a short section with not that much to it. Sum is a pretty nice rock song. And Skins, Unsung and Anisina sounds pretty much the same. The Lost Art Of Conversation has some pretty nice strings and pianos. On Noodle Street is actually pretty jazzy. Definetly a highlight of the record. N...

  Hello everyone, welcome back to my blog. Today, I will be reviewing the first album from Phoebe Bridgers, Stranger In The Alps. First of all, who is Phoebe Bridgers? If you've been around the indie scene for the past 4 years, then you've definetly at least heard her name. She is a singer-songwriter from 'Murica, best known for he gentle voice and diverse lyrical topic. This was her first studio album, but she released an EP in 2015. Anyway, let's get on to the review. We start with Smoke Signals, and right off the bat, we find gentle guitar strumming welcoming us into this album. Now, usually, my main focus would be the instrumentation, but here I cannot get lost in Phoebe's soft vocals. We also find a violin that works incredibly well with the echoey guitar plucks. One of the most beautiful openers to an album I have ever heard so far. Moving on, we pick up the pace with Motion Sickness, with a much groovier feel compared to the mellow opener. Here we find Phoebe...

Hello everyone, welcome back to my blog. Today, I will be reviewing Queen's second to last album, Innuendo. This would also be the last album the band released whilst the legend himself, Freddie Mercury, was still alive. The album was released in February 1991, and only 9 months later, Freddie would die of AIDS-derived pneumonia. But let's try not to sadden ourselves here, you've come hear to read my review of the album, so let's jump straight in. As powerful drums and loud organ chords greet us, we open on the title track. Freddie describes the world, as a powerful instrumental booms behind him. This first section of the song is probably the band's most anthemic song. But it quiets down, as echoey vocals gentle sing over soft guitar plucks. Then suddenly, a flamenco melody performed by guitarist of legendary prog rock band, Yes, Mr. Steve Howe plays. The transition is so sudden, yet it works incredibly well. Then, just like in Bohemiam Rhapsody, an operatic section...

  Hello everyone, welcome back to my blog. Today, I will be reviewing the penultimate album from Pink Floyd, The Division Bell. This would be the band's last album in 20 years, and last with founding member, Richard Wright. Let's see what this album has to offer. We open the album similiar to it's predecessor, A Momentary Lapse Of Reason , with Cluster One, a very nice, atmospheric opener. We find airy synth chords and reverberated guitar plucks. Next we have What Do You Want From Me. A very dramatic song that sounds like some of the deeper cuts from A Momentary Lapse Of Reason. Loud, echoey, and overall, not Pink Floyd. Coming up, we find Poles Apart, a song that is way too long, and we don't even find anything interesting. Marooned brings us something reminiscent of Us And Them from The Dark Side Of The Moon . Definetly one of their best songs from this era. A Great Day For Freedom is a rather boring song. Not that much to say, I can't find anything special about ...