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Anthony Naples - Us Mix

23-year-old Anthony Naples is a New York-based producer whose tracks have previously been deemed “outsider house”. At an early age, Naples was influenced by Miami bass, but later graduated to produce more refined sounds, applying the DIY attitude he'd learned while growing up in his native Florida. The tracks on Us Mix are relatively minimalistic, each constructed from just a few layers of sound. Every track is structured in a similar way; an underlining hypnotic drum pattern over a bright and short motifs. Naples is in no rush to get to his next idea, as each new layer builds patiently overtime.

3/10

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Something More - Dogs, Pt. II

Maryland pop punk band, Something More, has finally released their highly anticipated follow-up EP, Dogs Pt. II. Since the release of their previous album, Dogs, the band has seen tremendous growth. While their old school flavor of pop punk (similar to that of punk legends All Time Low, Simple Plan, or State Champs) is nothing new, it’s a record that anyone could move around to. Lyrically, there is an emotion behind vocalist Tim Jagielski words that can only be properly expressed through a misunderstood and angsty pop punk vocalist. 

7/10

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Tyler Bates - Guardians Of The Galaxy, Vol. 2 (Original Score)

Music producer and film, television, and video game composer, Tyler Bates, is back with the Guardians Of The Galaxy, Vol. 2 (Original Score). After the wide success of the original movie release in 2014, Marvel Studios announced they would be producing a sequel, set to release in the United States in May of 2017. The American superhero film is set two to three months after the end of the first film as the supergroup struggles to keep their newly formed family together. Bates truly recaptures the themes of the film with his colorful use of orchestration, emotional dynamic expression, and heroic climaxes. While only less than 45 minutes in length, the record is able to maintain suspense and excitement throughout, only leaving the listener wanting more. 

8/10

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Falling In Reverse - Coming Home

Falling In Reverse​ jumped onto the music scene in 2008 as a pop punk-glam-metalcore amalgamation and have managed to preserve the attitude and guitar-wielding of 80’s LA rock, whilst throttling modern electronic elements and breakdowns. However, their new album, Coming Home, is a little different. Each song is beautifully emotional, tying in emo influences in the vocal phrasing and melodies. While it seems the band is maturing in their sound, they haven’t lost any of their angst in their lyrics or overall themes.

8/10

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Various Artists - La La Land (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Damien Chazelle’s American romantic musical comedy drama film has truly become a hit, but not without a musically gifted cast to back up the La La Land (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack). The film of the same name stars Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling as Angelenos longing to realize their dreams; for Mia (Stone) it’s becoming an actress and for Sebastian (Gosling) it’s opening a jazz club. The music fits Sebastian’s dream perfectly, bringing fairly traditional, upbeat jazz to musical theater. The calming instrumental interludes by Justin Hurwitz provide a warm and sweet contrast to the upbeat swing rhythms, truly depicting these excited dreamers with a song in their hearts, but who are stuck and going nowhere fast. While neither Stone nor Gosling have especially strong voices, they do provide admirable work as singers, bringing an amateur, but welcomed, take to this soundtrack.

8/10

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Aimee Mann - Mental Illness

American rock singer/songwriter Aimee Mann has released her first solo album in five years, Mental Illness. Relying mostly on acoustic guitars and keyboards, when more fullness is needed, a string quartet or a full string section arrives and perfectly brings the song to a chilling climax. The record brings a controlled environment to the uncontrollable with no interruption of the elegant continuity. Mann sings about homesickness, nostalgia, and other topics that truly portrays her vocal expression. While Mann admits that this album was written with some personal distance, it would appear that Mental Illness genuinely lays its hurt and sadness out in an honest and relatable fashion. 

7.5/10

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Body Count - Bloodlust

Body Count is back with another heavy and aggressive album, Bloodlust. The band is known for producing music with a social message and this record is no exception. The album covers a wide array of topics, including but not limited to, issues about race, class, police violence, the role of press and politicians in spinning an agenda, and the betrayal of falling victim to someone you trusted. The scorching guitar work, chugging rocker drive, and Ice-T’s controversial lyrics all contribute to bringing a hip-hop to thrash metal. 

6/10

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Various Artists - 13 Reasons Why (A Netflix Original Series Soundtrack)

Various hit artists have come together to produce 13 Reasons Why (A Netflix Original Series Soundtrack). This Netflix original series is based on the popular book by Jay Asher of the same name and tells the story of the life and death of Hannah Baker (Katherine Langford), through a series of cassette tapes being listened to by Clay Jensen (Dylan Minnette). The record contains a mix of indie hits, pop covers, and vintage classics, many handpicked by Minnette himself. The most recognizable track comes from the night Jensen and Baker danced for the first and last time at their school dance. Lord Huron’s “The Night We Met” emphasizes the dark drama by creating a hauntingly memorable hook right from the beginning. Several other tracks on this soundtrack have developed the same effect, however the classic songs and upbeat tunes weaved in between bring you to a different place. While this can feel distracting, it allows the listener to step away from modern society and go back to the age of cassette tapes, as you listen alongside with Jensen to discover the mysterious reasons behind Baker’s death. 

6.5/10

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Betty Who - The Valley

A new album of infectious, fizzy pop music has been released by Australian singer Betty Who. The Valley is all about finding love, overcoming heartache and promoting self-empowerment. Her single, “Somebody Loves You” from her debut album became a hit after it was used in a flash mob marriage proposal at a Home Depot, which left her sophomore effort with high expectations. While there are several earnest dance hits on this release, the repetitively catchy rhythms, electronic instrumentation, and modified vocals make her no more unique than Charli XCX, Phoebe Ryan, or any other female pop icon.

4/10

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Art Of Anarchy - The Madness

American hard rock supergroup, Art Of Anarchy, are back with their newest release, The Madness. This is the band’s first album with Scott Stapp as their frontman, who is continually recovering from his bipolar disorder and substance abuse issues he underwent in 2014. Stapp brings raw and vulnerable vocals as he bares his soul in the lyrics with references that are both obvious and more veiled about his personal struggles. The band also features former Guns N’ Roses guitarist, Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, Disturbed bassist, John Moyer, and brothers Jon and Vince Votta on guitar and drums. Chugging guitars riff with some killer guitar solo trade-offs are found in the album’s opening track “Echo Of A Scream”, while “No Surrender” pulls things back with a spiraling hypnotic guitar opening that builds into a chorus with the band firing on all cylinders.

7/10

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Michael Abels - Get Out (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

American composer, Michael Abels, makes his debut as a film composer with the release of Get Out (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack). Also making his directorial debut, Jordan Peele follows protagonist, Chris, who meets his girlfriend’s family for the first time at their estate and discovers a disturbing truth about the family. Abels accomplishes so much by staying incredibly simple, resulting in a horror score that builds suspense and terror, without the use of clichéd horror tropes. The utilization of mainly acoustic instruments gives the music a very organic and human feel; featuring a string orchestra, harp, and tuned metal percussion, along with very little electronics. The use of the Swahili vocals compliment the overall plot of the film, while giving the score a startling uneasiness. Both Peele, as a first time director, and Abels, as a first time film composer, manage to take their unique experiences and apply it on this project, giving both the film and score a truly fresh perspective.

8/10

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2CELLOS - Score

2CELLOS brings a game-changing sound to classical music with the release of their newest album, Score. In this album, Croatian cellists, Luka Sulic and Stjepan Hauser, are joined by the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted and arranged by Robin Smith. Together, they provide the most popular melodies ever written for classic and contemporary movies and television, lead by the dark and resonant sound of the two cellist. The vocal beauty of the cello’s sound is a perfect match for the romantic themes, such as “May It Be” and “My Heart Will Go On”, while culminating in the bold and heroic arrangements of the “Game Of Thrones Melody” and “Titles From Chariots Of Fire”. By performing arrangements of these popular melodies, 2CELLOS is able to break down the boundaries between genres of music, creating an album people of all musical tastes can enjoy.

7/10

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Mayday Parade - A Lesson In Romantics (Anniversary Edition) 

The re-issue of Mayday Parade’s debut album, A Lesson In Romantics (Anniversary Edition) has now released. This re-release includes all the popular tracks from the original album, along with several demo versions of old favorites, including “Black Cat” and “Ocean And Atlantic”, and a brand new demo titled “Coming Back With Winter”. Heartbreak, angst, and energy are all accompanied by pulsating, hyper active choruses, simple, sing-a-long vocal melodies, and a well balanced mix of the heavy and the light-hearted guitar riffs that any true pop punk fan can jam to. Mayday Parade are undoubtably a talented set of musicians; still setting the stage for pop punk music after ten years.

8/10

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Various Artists - The Vampire Diaries (Original Television Soundtrack)

After the undeniable success of their first season, it was only a matter of time before the release of The Vampire Diaries (Original Television Soundtrack). Based on the L.J. Smith novels of the same name, the recently concluded television series revolves around two brothers who obsess over the same gorgeous girl and fight to control the fate of a whole town. Viewers have long commented on how beautifully fitting the music is in regards to accompanying key episodes; as composer Michael Suby sets the tone off right with a dark opening to the album. Deep synthesized tones from Placebo, Bat For Lashes, and others continue to bring beauty into the mysterious vampire world. While these arcane and sensual tracks don’t always coincide with synthpop tracks such as “Obsession” by Sky Ferreira, or electro rock songs, such as “The Fellowship”, by The Smashing Pumpkins, this soundtrack features a varied mix of alternative rock and pop music, paired with emotional climaxes, that are meant to engage the audience during each episode of the teen-centered drama. 

6/10

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Various Artists - Never Say Die One Hundred

Founded by British dubstep producer and DJ, SKisM, in 2009, Never Say Die Records is an independent record label, based in London, England, which releases electronic music, most recently being their complication, Never Say Die One Hundred. The album features many dubstep favorites from the label, such as Zomboy, MUST DIE! and Eptic, and is everything a bass head could ask for: earth shattering dubstep by the scene’s finest. The most impressive track on this record is the 100th mix released by Never Say Die Records, mixed by SKisM himself. The hour long journey gives the listeners a sampling from an expansive range of tracks from all over the Never Say Die catalog, along with plenty of SKisM’s personal favorites. While there’s nothing sonically new or edgy about this release, it’s one that dubheads will surely enjoy.

5/10

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Havok - Conformicide

Filled with funky, slap-heavy basslines and razor sharp guitar riffs, thrash metal band Havok doesn’t disappoint with the release of their fourth studio album. Conformicide contains all the classic elements of a modern thrash album, including fast blast beats and compelling hooks. Even so, what truly makes this album original compared to the music of distinguished metal bands Slayer, Megadeth, and Metallica, is their songwriting. Everything from politics to religion to resisting the politically correct culture we live in are represented on this album in an honest and bold fashion. However, by taking the risk of making audacious lyrical statements, Conformicide feels the most complete of all their previous albums to date. 

8.5/10

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Jim Williams - Raw (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

British guitarist and TV and film composer, Jim Williams will emerge you into a dark and twisted soundscape with his newest creation, Raw (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack). Williams delivers a combination of light guitar melodies over mysterious and ambient electric sound waves. While the tracks of the record flow seamlessly into one another, many of the pieces are short-lived and leave more to be desired. Be that as it may, this only adds to the suspense of the entire album, resulting in a thrilling, yet somehow light-hearted atmosphere; taking you back and forth between feelings of anxiety and contentment. 

8.5/10