bigsusreview

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For the first time - Review #8

anxious beast

i know next to nothing about Black Country, New Road other than that people are really liking their shit. so i decided to check out their debut to see if it was my sorta thing... and MY GOD. this has gotta be one of the best records i've heard in a hot minute. it's so creative and desperate and raw and genius and energetic and mellow and GAHHH!!!!!

it's everything i love.

many albums have intros. i'm used to it, and i actually like them quite a lot. so when i realized this thing has a 5-minute instrumental opener i got pretty intrigued. it's got this sorta foreign/exotic vibe to it that i really didn't expect going in. when i hear "post-rock" or "post-punk" i tend to think of slower, almost boring emo-ish ideas. but this clearly has none of that. it really sets the tone perfectly, as a "first time" is scary in most cases. anxiety-inducing, terrifying. that's a pretty good way to describe the whole album really. it's scared of itself, almost.

Athens, France introduces us to the vocalist. i honestly don't know if i could say he's "singing" at all, but he's definitely saying words! and it works very well in my opinion. i don't know a lot about the lyrics or if this actually is a concept album, but some of them are quite good, especially on the next couple of tracks. luckily, understanding the lyrics kinda feels secondary to understanding the instrumental and emotion of everything. and the way this guy says shit is just... i mean, if you've been "there" before, you get it. i hope he's okay.

the ending to Science Fair is outstanding. i love the delivery of "And nothing to lose, oh, I was born to run... It's black country out there! It's black country out there! It's black country out there!" oh and also "But as I slowly sobered... I felt the rubbing of shoulders... and the sweat and the children crying... I was just one among crowded stands."

Sunglasses is the longest one, clocking in at nearly 10 minutes. i don't really know if i can talk about this one and do it justice, so i'll just leave some lyrics i like. just know that it's a masterpiece, especially when put alongside it's 2019 version. "I am so ignorant now with all that I've learnt," "I am invincible in these sunglasses," "Leave Kanye out of this,"

normal song length time. Track X kinda feels like a classic Midwest Emo sorta song, which is a very good thing in this case. the saxes and strings really add a new level of depth to this sorta song, though. this whole album feels like a compilation of some of my favorite musical ideas but done to a quality i've never really heard before, honestly. this also acts as a perfect "calm before the storm," and i guess a "calm after the storm?"

Opus. it's what it says it is. this is where the energy is brought up to a maximum. the band pull everything they have out. this is it. the moment everything has built to. it's a very sonically dark and dense ballad that follows the exotic elements from the intro, brining everything full circle. and i absolutely adore everything about that. genuinely a perfect closer. i would say so much more, but honestly, just take a listen for yourself.

so, obviously i love this album, but is it for everybody? hell no. i wish it was, but there are many aspects about this kinda music that will be an instant turn-off for a lot of people. mainly the vocals, as i can see them being annoying or melodramatic in some cases. the almost "theatercore" sound could also throw some off if they really hate that genre, i guess. personally, these are both positives for me.

Black Country, New Road has instantly become a favorite of mine off of this record alone. i will be paying close attention to them going forward as i think they could seriously be considered one of the "greats" of music, especially for the 2020s. just wish i was sooner to the party, honestly. please, please listen to this if it sounds interesting in any way. i promise it won't be anything like you expect.

favorite tracks:

Opus

Sunglasses

Athens, France/Science Fair

overall score: leave kanye out of 10

only six tracks and i still managed to make this one of my longest reviews. next time i might just try to limit myself to 3 paragraphs. anyway, school is starting soon for me so idk how often i'll be able to listen to new stuff.

[bigsusreview]

considering posting the shitty photos I’ve taken over the last few months. some of them are kinda cool. my little Midwest brain becomes a jubilant sphere when taking them sometimes.

here are a few to start:

Taken on an iPhone 12 mini with no edits because I honestly forgot I could do that. I may post some of these again and give them some more backstory because the big hotdog is probably confusing.

[bigsusreview]

LONG SEASON - Review #7

🎵 drugs drugs 🎵

song-wise, the word "long" can be a bit ambiguous. to some people, a "long" song is 6 minutes or more. to others, maybe 10 minutes is a good mark. for Fishmans, 35 minutes is where they decide to draw the line. what the fuck. to be fair, it's split up into 5 distinct sections, but it still comes together as a piece to be heard in one sitting. personally, i suggest turning all your lights off and listening with headphones at night for the best experience. that advice would be awfully convenient if i was a serial killer. unfortunately, i am not a serial killer. so, like, go fuck yourself or something.

structuring this like one of my other reviews isn't really possible here so i think i'm just gonna kinda ramble for a while. hopefully that's not too annoying.

psychedelic music has been a recent interest of mine, with King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard being my main introduction along with a couple bits and pieces from Radiohead and Car Seat Headrest. so at this point, i'd already warmed up to the idea of incredibly long epics as well as listening to something for a distinct vibe instead of just a jam i can toss into a playlist. i decided to listen to LONG SEASON because i want to eventually listen to 98.12.28 all the way through. just kind of a pep-talk track, right? right????? it's not like it would completely change my perception of certain kinds of music overnight, right???????

well, i don't think it was that insane, but it was still very impactful. my only regret is not listening to it sooner. i really could've used it more a couple weeks ago, honestly. sorta been in a rough spot mentally since the last review, but i've been feeling better as of this week, so that's good.

anyway, back to the song. it's extremely hard to describe any of it due to just how... magical it feels? it's like a piece of music like this shouldn't exist, yet it does. it's able to make you remember every good and even not-so-good time you've had with those you love or just by yourself. i wish i could explain the way i feel about this in a better way, but i really can't. all i can say is to please give this a listen even if you're intimidated by it. if you still don't feel like giving it a shot, i've got another piece of advice, sort of. it's more like an observation, but i think it may help anyway.

LONG SEASON has made me realize something. music can be art, yes. i've known that. music has no bounds, yes. i've known that, too. but now i know that music can test you. this song tests your endurance. it's not a difficult test, really, but it is a test. if you pass it, you're rewarded. however, passing doesn't mean just "getting through" it. you have to pay attention and really give the track a chance. and the reward for doing so in this case is something i think can only be described as bliss. this one is blissful. yeah, that works.

if you still don't get it, fair enough, everyone has their preferences, but i really do just want people to hear this one. i don't think what i've written has done it justice, exactly, but it's how i feel right now. at this rate, i really can't wait to hear the live version.

favorite tracks:

LONG SEASON

overall score: i'm still not putting a number on this, but it's really really amazing out of 10

again, sorry for the sporadic nature of this one. i listened to this track just the other day for the first time and have already listened another two times since. i'm not sure what i'm gonna do next, as these reviews are kinda getting harder and harder to write, so i might just do something a bit easy and potentially short.

[bigsusreview]

new hail the sun record is gonna be my personality for the next couple months holy fucking shit

[bigsusreview]

Didn’t realize it’s already been 10 days since the last review, whoops. Guess I just haven’t been in the right headspace to get one out, but I’d like to soon!! I’ve been loving Car Seat Headrest like crazy the past couple weeks, it’s just so hard to get my feelings out about those records since they’ve been hitting really hard. Twin Fantasy has already got to be one of my favorites in a while.

I might also start changing my pinned stuff to include more about myself and I might also move my original song posts over to here too.

Also also, I may start doing mini reviews for like EPs and singles or if I just want to spend less time talking about something in case it didn’t make me wanna write an essay.

[bigsusreview]

Why Do You Love Me Satan? - Review #6

i love sharing random obscure shit

this is by a band called Fucking Werewolf Asso. they are a band from Sweden. this record is putrid and absolutely amazing at the same time and i honestly don't even know what genre to define it as. punk rock is probably the closest match. at only 31 minutes in length, this release flies by in what feels like seconds. but man, those are some memorable seconds.

Cri Du Chat is a (mostly) instrumental introduction, allowing you to get a good feel for how the rest of this album is gonna sound. pretty standard stuff. My New Sneakers Could Never Replace My Multi-Colored Bangalores then continues with a massive breakdown beat and some of the most in-your-face, abhorrent screaming and singing i have ever heard. but there's a level of cohesion and understanding to the madness. this band really knows what they're doing and have already shown that with just the second track. The Tito Beltrán Massacre has a much more punk-friendly sound with some 8-bit-inspired synths added into the mix, reminiscent of some sorta old Nintendo game (hence why this band is usually referred to as "Nintendocore," but i hate that phrase). Alphonse Laurencic starts out with the now typical whiny scream-singing until exploding into a massive wall of sound. if the band hadn't shown you that they're worth your ears just yet, they have now.

the biggest highlight to me, though, is the 5-minute Your Ex Doesn't Mark Treasures. it's the longest piece on this record by far, with every other song having an average runtime of around 2 to 3 minutes. it closes out everything perfectly, feeling like the band's true magnum opus. if nothing connected beforehand, this one will. it's probably the easiest song to listen to by them and it really shows. it also features a different vocalist sometimes, which can help keep it grounded for the more serious tone it sets.

as mentioned before, the main vocalist sounds like shit. it may be on purpose, but i can definitely understand why that would turn some people off. having an open mind is a pretty necessary part to enjoying this album because it sounds like this band wants to rip your face off as soon as possible and then eat it. but hey, that's the main appeal in my opinion so there's a really good chance this one's not for everybody and that's alright too.

i hope you liked my little show and tell. this album has become a favorite of mine, reminding me a lot of MCR's debut if it was more unhinged with the vocals and tighter with the instrumental. there's a clear influence of all things punk and old VGM on this record, which is a hard combination to nail as well as it does here.

favorite tracks:

Your Ex Doesn't Mark Treasures

Alphonse Laurencic

everything else (it's all very consistently great)

overall score: fucking werewolf ass out of 10

also i think one of the guys from this band made Hotline Miami? that's some pretty fun trivia. it does make a lot of sense though. i swear scandinavian people are some of the most insane individuals alive.

[bigsusreview]

Nonagon Infinity - Review #5

Nonagon Infinity opens the door, Nonagon Infinity opens the door, Nonagon Infinity opens the door, Nonagon Infinity opens the door...

this album singlehandedly brought back my love of listening to music and got me to pay more attention to why i might love an album. i don't consider myself much of a "critic" as i very rarely listen to music i don't enjoy, but after hearing this i wanted to discover what it is about a record that makes it stick. for this one, it's the absolutely ridiculous breakneck, rollercoaster-esque pace this thing takes on. Robot Stop alone took me like a week to fully process before i was ready to dive into the full experience.

there are so many fucking bangers on here. as mentioned before, Robot Stop is the best possible opener for this that you could hope for, having so many intricate details and leitmotifs shoved in there that continue to reappear over and over later on (it even hints at their next record with the little microtonal segment!). i don't necessarily know what they all mean, but it's always fun to notice when they reuse a melody you recognize. it really ties this thing together as if it's just one really long song. Big Fig Wasp acts as a sister track, building on a few ideas introduced in the opener while presenting some new material. Gamma Knife is the first switch-up in my opinion, having a more distinct vibe compared to the last two, and acting as a very clean transition into People-Vultures, which has a much more foreign sound, almost like a desert-ish thing. it also happens to be my favorite track most of the time. Evil Death Roll is the longest, clocking in at 7 minutes and 14 seconds. it brings the record back up to pace after the more mellow Mr. Beat and is just a fun as hell jam all around. despite being on the longer side of things, it flies by. it reflects basically every good thing about this album, which sorta makes me think of it as a title track in a way.

the most unique and intriguing fact of this record is widely known already. it cleanly transitions through all nine songs and then loops back to the beginning, hence the name Nonagon Infinity. every time i heard a track transition in any other album, i wondered if it was possible to just transition everything, like these guys did, so when i found out that was a real thing i was stoked. a band actually pulled through and managed to utilize this concept. and they utilized it VERY well. it allows the record to truly feel like an experience. once you were along for the ride, you couldn't get off. it pulls back at every right moment and never hesitates to head right back to full throttle.

...until the last track. the closer is a bit of a flop in my opinion. something really sick could've been done here, but that just didn't happen. Road Train isn't bad, it's just underwhelming. transitioning back to the beginning wouldn't have even been all too difficult anyway, so i'm not sure why they went with this approach. it doesn't ruin the record or anything, it just annoys me a tad. still a good song, just not the best it could be.

so far this is easily my favorite King Gizzard album. i'll be surprised if anything beats it, but who knows. considering these guys have over like 20 albums it's totally possible that there's something out there i like more than this. still, i highly recommend taking this one for a spin, especially if you're new to the band sorta like i am.

favorite tracks:

People-Vultures

Robot Stop

Evil Death Roll

overall score: this gizzard is a king AND has a LIZARD who is ALSO A WIZARD?!?!?!!??? out of 10

i havent heard enough of PetroDragonic Apocalypse yet to write about it, but i will eventually. it's super interesting and has some incredible lead guitar work.

[bigsusreview]

Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You - Review #4

bonus points for dragon

i was extremely anxious yesterday due to having a road test today (i passed), so i thought it might be a good idea to put this on and just relax for a bit. surprisingly, it actually did calm my nerves and i sat through the whole 80 minutes. there is really just so much to like about this record if it's your thing.

despite my parents loving the genre, i haven't really explored this folk/country vibe to much in my own time. Simulation Swarm really caught my attention at first, with its catchy yet calm nature. it feels almost ghostly, but grounds itself right as the chorus hits. the title track is another highlight for me, sounding like a wistful nighttime journey or something. it's absolutely magical.

this is more than just a normal folk album, though. it ventures out to many more unexpected places and truly shows how much variety the genre has to offer, displaying some inventive soundscapes for you to get lost in. Blurred View is quite a good example of a switch-up with some Lo-Fi drums and synths.

i guess the only thing people could have an issue with is the runtime and number of tracks. there's a lot of material to get used to, so it might blur a bit here and there. that being said, the amount of unique twists presented diminish that feeling for me personally.

i had a great time just chilling out to this, and maybe you will too. it's not for everybody, i feel, but it's still damn good if you just give it a shot. something is guaranteed to stick out.

favorite tracks:

Simulation Swarm

Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You

No Reason

overall score: dragon mention out of 10

been absolutely crazy about car seat headrest lately so i may try to get around to twin fantasy soon. king gizzard also had a really good new album though. or i could do neither of those and do an obscure midwest emo record instead.

[bigsusreview]

In Rainbows - Review #3

ok so people really, REALLY like this one

first heard this along with Kid A while on a 6-hour bus ride to Mackinaw City and Whitefish Point. it quickly became apparent that i was gonna be in for a fucking TRIP. once again, i could listen to an album for years and be satisfied. and that was with shitty earbuds!

from the first 5 seconds alone (15 Step), the production is some of the best i've heard, if not the best. and it's not even close, honestly. the mixes and soundscapes on all of these songs are just unreal. it feels like you're flying through lands of fantasy while this shit is on full blast. Bodysnatchers is quite disorienting at first, but everything is entirely cleared up once the interlude shows itself, taking you on a journey through the genius of this band. i, personally, think this one is really underrated. Reckoner sounds like a jungle or rainforest to me and would be perfect to play on a nature walk while taking in the morning dew or smth. And jeez, Jigsaw Falling Into Place is a fucking BANGER. it starts out relatively reserved, but by the end it's exploded into an insane mental breakdown of a groove. fuck, i love that one.

i think where this album truly shines is on the third track, Nude, however. it's quickly become one of my most favorite songs of all time. i don't think i'm gonna go too far into detail on why, exactly, but once you hear it and look at the last couple lines, it'll make sense. the band had held onto this song for over a decade prior to its debut, apparently, but i'm so glad they did. it really only could have worked on In Rainbows. (also it recently hit 100M on Spotify woo !!)

in my format document, this is the paragraph used for my complaints. i have none. this album is genuinely perfect. it may be the easiest one for a non-Radiohead fan to listen to, but somehow that makes it even better.

so yeah, that's the best Radiohead album. it's my favorite, anyway. Kid A is pretty high up there too, but i listen to this one a lot more. if you wanna get into Radiohead and only know like Creep and maybe No Surprises, i'd suggest starting here.

favorite tracks:

Nude

Jigsaw Falling Into Place

Reckoner, Bodysnatchers, Weird Fishes/ Arpeggi, etc.

overall score: gay people out of 10

more Radiohead reviews at some point idk, the only album i haven't heard by them is A Moon Shaped Pool so i could also write a discography thing entirely too. also we're up to a total of 2 interactions. fucking huge.

[bigsusreview]

But Here We Are - Review #2

time to check out something pretty new

my mom happens to really like these guys and i personally love Everlong, so my expectations were decently high. having never heard a Foo Fighters album, i can easily say i'm very impressed. i'll definitely be coming back to this one for a while, despite a couple problems i'll mention later.

the alt vibe is super noticeable, with very interesting chord progressions present everywhere. the lyrics that i picked up on were fantastic, especially on the closer, Rest. being released in June as well, this is a pretty great summer record with a couple country influences, like on The Glass.

what this album does perfectly is the ending. both the 10-minute epic, The Teacher, and Rest, are incredible highlights. they reference the passing of Taylor Hawkins and Grohl's mother, making this experience so much more emotional. my favorite line's gotta be "Wakin' up, had another dream of us, In the warm Virginia sun, there I will meet you," which is also the last line. poetic as hell.

now i'll criticize it a bit, because something is off here. the mixing and mastering is kinda bad, with the high ends being way too present. i noticed this almost immediately, but the song that made me wanna mention it is Beyond Me. that's probably the dud of the record, sadly. i'd like to say most people won't care and will be able to look past that part either way. plus, the closers don't have this issue.

so yeah, this record is an awesome listen if you're not a huge critic, which works perfectly. every song individually works in its own right, too. definitely something worth checking out if you like 90s-ish rock, Everlong, or are looking for raw emotion.

favorite tracks:

Rest

Hearing Voices

The Teacher

overall score: big foo out of 10

i will not stop these reviews even if nobody sees them. i am too powerful. planning to get one of these out a couple times a week. still got a backlog of like 100+ to talk about though.

[bigsusreview]

Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge - Review #1

this thing is a perfect benchmark, so i might as well start with it.

my first full listen was back in the summer of 2022 while in Ohio for a vacation. this shit hit SO hard out there, seriously. combined with Bullets and being in an anxious state, all i could do was listen to MCR over and over again. this entire record is burned into my brain. i genuinely think if this was the only thing i could listen to for the rest of my life, i'd be perfectly happy.

it's much heavier than the other records by MCR in my opinion, having songs with some INSANE solos like You Know What They Do to Guys Like Us in Prison, crazy catchy riffs like Thank You for the Venom, and of course the cinematic closer that is I Never Told You What I Do for a Living. i really hope if they do make another record, they bring back the level of insanity on this thing.

the pacing found here, too, is also so fucking good. it doesn't get boring, ever. for being 39 minutes, that's not half bad. it doesn't overstay its welcome, and that's alright. some tracks help switch up the fast-paced explosive sounds as well, like The Ghost of You, a stunning highlight of the emotion displayed on the album.

unfortunately, the concept of this record is sorta lost. i still have no idea what it's supposed to be, despite owning a vinyl and knowing the premise. the only tracks that seem to contribute to a bigger story are the last few and possibly Helena. i don't care all too much though.

overall, this shit rocks, and it rocks hard. TBP may have gotten me into MCR, but this made me stay. it does trade places with other entries sometimes, but it's still pretty consistently my favorite release by the band.

favorite tracks:

Thank You for the Venom

You Know What They Do to Guys Like Us in Prison

I Never Told You What I Do for a Living

overall score: 1 broken marriage out of 10

oh yeah and these reviews are probably gonna be a bit short and general cause i don't wanna write a novel every time i talk about something i like

[bigsusreview]

got nothing much to share here, but i might as well recommend this album. twitter can continue to rot in hell.

here's a more public account, so consider this the secret stupid fart account i only use to like funny images and maybe review albums sometimes

still trying to figure out how this place works, but i like it a lot already. feels comfy. and thank fucking god for this edit feature cause god damn, does my mind want to change my words constantly.