Search found 293 matches

by irreduciblekoan
Mon Mar 07, 2016 9:55 am
Forum: Music, Music, Music...
Topic: Kendrick Lamar's "untitled unmastered."
Replies: 48
Views: 29535

Re: Kendrick Lamar's "untitled unmastered."

Let's just be glad that we live in a world where two hip hop artists as fascinating and wildly different as Kanye and Kendrick actually exist, to give us, in 2016, the two best rap albums of the year so far, which are also wildly different from one another. I love both albums, but here's the thing: ...
by irreduciblekoan
Mon Feb 15, 2016 1:58 am
Forum: Music, Music, Music...
Topic: Kanye West's "The Life of Pablo"
Replies: 152
Views: 88470

Re: Kanye West's "The Life of Pablo"

I really enjoy it. It has more immediately grabbed me than Yeezus (an album I ended up loving the more I heard it). As expected from Kanye, it's a left turn. Pretty much as loose and scattershot as Yeezus was abrasive and tightly constructed. Like most of Kanye's work, especially his later stuff, th...
by irreduciblekoan
Sat Jan 09, 2016 10:38 am
Forum: Music, Music, Music...
Topic: Bowie's Blackstar
Replies: 9
Views: 8205

Bowie's Blackstar

Unless I missed it, surprised that there isn't a thread dedicated to this album yet. Bowie is one of AM's most acclaimed artists and a true legend in his own right. I am personally not even his biggest fan but I at least appreciate what he has done for modern music. What do you all think of his late...
by irreduciblekoan
Tue Dec 29, 2015 8:05 pm
Forum: EOY 2015
Topic: Poll: Should playlists be eligible?
Replies: 10
Views: 13935

Re: Poll: Should playlists be eligible?

No, not if the playlist ONLY contains artists that are on the particular streaming site. Because that would mean artists that the critics otherwise would have included are being excluded, and not due to their genre or their quality, but merely due to their availability on a certain platform. And I l...
by irreduciblekoan
Sun Dec 13, 2015 3:19 am
Forum: EOY 2015
Topic: EOY 2015 - AllMusic (US)
Replies: 22
Views: 25547

Re: EOY 2015 - AllMusic (US)

So if Exclaim's genre-specific lists are eligible, then why not Allmusic's? Just curious, that's all.
by irreduciblekoan
Fri Dec 11, 2015 10:41 am
Forum: EOY 2015
Topic: EOY 2015 - Loud and Quiet (US)
Replies: 2
Views: 8845

Re: EOY 2015 - Loud and Quiet (US)

Very interesting number 2.
by irreduciblekoan
Fri Dec 11, 2015 2:25 am
Forum: EOY 2015
Topic: EOY 2015 Albums Spreadsheet Update
Replies: 71
Views: 169319

Re: EOY 2015 Albums Spreadsheet Update

Metal albums tend to get short shrift anyway on EOY lists, but Baroness is one of the better metal bands out there that has gotten larger critical attention (enough to have two albums on AM). So it's too bad that their excellent new record Purple is being released so late in the year, on top of bein...
by irreduciblekoan
Sun Nov 29, 2015 5:34 am
Forum: EOY 2015
Topic: EOY 2015 Albums Spreadsheet Update
Replies: 71
Views: 169319

Re: EOY 2015 Albums Spreadsheet Update

Thank you so much (again) for taking on this task, Harold! My favorite time of the year (EOY lists!). Aside from when this site is updated, of course.
by irreduciblekoan
Sat Aug 29, 2015 7:04 am
Forum: Music, Music, Music...
Topic: Beach House's "Depression Cherry"
Replies: 8
Views: 8363

Re: Beach House's "Depression Cherry"

Big Beach House fan here. All of their albums are growers. My usual experience is, I really enjoy a few songs during my first listen, but the rest kind of bleed together. But then, the more I listen to each album, the more that the rest of the songs start becoming distinct and I fully appreciate the...
by irreduciblekoan
Thu Aug 27, 2015 9:11 am
Forum: Music, Music, Music...
Topic: Errors in the 2015 Update
Replies: 538
Views: 374419

Re: Errors in the 2015 Update

Keane's Hopes and Fears has an allmusic rating of 4.5 according to AM, but the actual rating on allmusic is 3.5. Could be a major error if that 4.5 was the push the album needed to be a bubbler.
by irreduciblekoan
Sun Aug 23, 2015 6:40 am
Forum: REGULARLY UPDATED LISTS
Topic: ✅ Decibel (US): Metal Hall of Fame
Replies: 6
Views: 14161

Re: Decibel (US): Metal Hall of Fame

Noticed that this list wasn't included yet in the new update.
by irreduciblekoan
Sat Jun 06, 2015 1:12 am
Forum: REGULARLY UPDATED LISTS
Topic: ✅ Decibel (US): Metal Hall of Fame
Replies: 6
Views: 14161

Re: Decibel (US): Metal Hall of Fame

The site update is probably coming soon, so just thought I'd list the HOF entries that have been added since my first post.

122. Bang - Bang (1971)
123. Celtic Frost - To Mega Therion (1985)
124. Death Angel - The Ultra-Violence (1987)
125. Fear Factory - Demanufacture (1995)
by irreduciblekoan
Tue Mar 31, 2015 6:36 pm
Forum: Music, Music, Music...
Topic: MCCh 2015 (05) March 31
Replies: 7
Views: 9745

Re: MCCh 2015 (05) March 31

Got a question, does Lupe Fiasco Tetsuo & Youth not qualify for this list? I'm guessing a combo of not enough reviews from MCCh's sources, and scores too low from the sources that did review it. Tetsuo was a solid album (though I don't love it), but it didn't get the number of reviews I feel Lu...
by irreduciblekoan
Sun Mar 29, 2015 9:22 pm
Forum: Music, Music, Music...
Topic: Albums of 2015
Replies: 304
Views: 217215

Re: Albums of 2015

Am I the only one who personally feels To Pimp A Butterfly is good, but not quite that great? In that, I get it as a whole album being a fully realized piece (and the acclaim it has gathered), but then on a song to song basis it falls a bit flat in some parts? My favorite songs are the first three ...
by irreduciblekoan
Fri Mar 27, 2015 6:49 pm
Forum: Music, Music, Music...
Topic: Albums of 2015
Replies: 304
Views: 217215

Re: Albums of 2015

I would say this year has proven to be more impressive than last year. There was the great start with Bjork, Panda Bear, Sleater Kinney and Father John Misty (I also really enjoyed Viet Cong), then kind of a slow period, but now we're in the midst of a second very strong period entering spring with ...
by irreduciblekoan
Fri Mar 27, 2015 3:22 am
Forum: REGULARLY UPDATED LISTS
Topic: ✅ Decibel (US): Metal Hall of Fame
Replies: 6
Views: 14161

✅ Decibel (US): Metal Hall of Fame

A great while ago before the forum remodel, I asked Henrik if this list (which is Decibel's closest thing to a greatest all-time list) was eligible, and he said yes. Since then, we both forgot about it and the topic became lost, and it wasn't included on the last update. As a metal fan, I think it's...
by irreduciblekoan
Tue Mar 24, 2015 11:55 pm
Forum: EOY other/various
Topic: JazzTimes EOY lists: can anyone transcribe?
Replies: 3
Views: 6453

Re: JazzTimes EOY lists: can anyone transcribe?

2003: 1. Wayne Shorter: Alegria 2. Dave Holland: Extended Play 3. Jason Moran: The Bandwagon 4. Andrew Hill: Passing Ships 5. Art Ensemble of Chicago: Tribute to Lester 6. The Bad Plus: These Are the Vistas 7. Dianne Reeves: A Little Moonlight 8. Vijay Iyer: Blood Sutra 9. Keith Jarrett: Up For It 1...
by irreduciblekoan
Mon Mar 23, 2015 5:04 am
Forum: EOY other/various
Topic: JazzTimes EOY lists: can anyone transcribe?
Replies: 3
Views: 6453

Re: JazzTimes EOY lists: can anyone transcribe?

Also found 2009 1. Joe Lovano Us Five: Folk Art 2. Vijay Iyer: Historicity 3. Miguel Zenón: Esta Plena 4. Henry Threadgill Zooid: This Brings Us To, Vol. 1 5. Allen Toussaint: The Bright Mississippi 6. Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society: Infernal Machines 7. Gary Burton/Pat Metheny/Steve Swallow/Ant...
by irreduciblekoan
Mon Mar 23, 2015 4:35 am
Forum: EOY other/various
Topic: JazzTimes EOY lists: can anyone transcribe?
Replies: 3
Views: 6453

Re: JazzTimes EOY lists: can anyone transcribe?

I'll start with the only full list I could find: 2010 1. JASON MORAN: Ten 2. CHARLES LLOYD QUARTET: Mirror 3. RUDRESH MAHANTHAPPA & BUNKY GREEN: Apex 4. KEITH JARRETT/CHARLIE HADEN: Jasmine 5. DAVE HOLLAND OCTET: Pathways 6. VIJAY IYER: Solo 7. CHRISTIAN SCOTT: Yesterday You Said Tomorrow 8. REG...
by irreduciblekoan
Mon Mar 23, 2015 4:14 am
Forum: EOY other/various
Topic: JazzTimes EOY lists: can anyone transcribe?
Replies: 3
Views: 6453

JazzTimes EOY lists: can anyone transcribe?

I wish jazz were covered more on this site. Obviously adding one more source won't make jazz albums suddenly appear on AM, but still, Henrik seems to care very much for inclusiveness and finding every worthy source out there. JazzTimes has been a leading jazz publication since the 1970s. As far as I...
by irreduciblekoan
Fri Dec 19, 2014 1:36 am
Forum: EOY 2014
Topic: Not many lists posted today...
Replies: 7
Views: 10836

Re: Not many lists posted today...

It's a much better album than Beyonce's self titled, and D'Angelo is a more critically respected artist. For that reason, I do expect it to place on more EOY lists next year, than Beyonce did this year.
by irreduciblekoan
Fri Dec 19, 2014 1:35 am
Forum: EOY 2014
Topic: Not many lists posted today...
Replies: 7
Views: 10836

Re: Not many lists posted today...

It's safe to say that D'Angelo will make it to any future decade and half-decade list worth its salt, and a few all-time lists too. So in a couple of updates, or at least by the end of this decade, I expect Black Messiah to be very high on AM, perhaps even top 200. But no, I agree with Harold, it wo...
by irreduciblekoan
Wed Dec 17, 2014 9:07 am
Forum: EOY 2014
Topic: EOY 2014 Pitchfork (USA)
Replies: 10
Views: 21428

Re: EOY 2014 Pitchfork (USA)

Troll Pitchfork: puts Beyonce on their song list twice, but not on their album list. Should have seen it coming... Even weirder is that Beyonce didn't even make it as an honorable mention ( http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/9559-albums-of-the-year-2014-honorable-mention/1/ ). AND she made i...
by irreduciblekoan
Wed Dec 17, 2014 8:53 am
Forum: Music, Music, Music...
Topic: D'Angelo and The Vanguard's "Black Messiah"
Replies: 23
Views: 20410

Re: D'Angelo and The Vanguard's "Black Messiah"

So Black Messiah is getting astonishing reviews, which isn't surprising because I myself loved it. 96 so far on Metacritic. Which begs the question: what will its eventual AM success be? It's being released too late in the year for a decent EOY placement. It's best hope is a few years down the line ...
by irreduciblekoan
Mon Dec 15, 2014 5:56 am
Forum: Music, Music, Music...
Topic: D'Angelo and The Vanguard's "Black Messiah"
Replies: 23
Views: 20410

Re: D'Angelo and The Vanguard's "Black Messiah"

I came to this forum just now to post about this album's release tomorrow, and you beat me to it. Talk about highly anticipated. D'Angelo's first two albums are both in the top 1000 on AM, and now his third is finally coming out. I haven't listened to it yet so I don't know if it lives up to his pre...
by irreduciblekoan
Fri Dec 12, 2014 8:01 pm
Forum: EOY 2014
Topic: EOY 2014 Albums - Spreadsheet Updates
Replies: 105
Views: 231678

Re: EOY 2014 Albums - Spreadsheet Updates

Reception for Andy Stott is disappointing. Luxury Problems did very well on the spreadsheet (and AM update), and if not AS great, Faith In Strangers was close and certainly one of the year's best electronic releases.
by irreduciblekoan
Wed Dec 10, 2014 8:00 pm
Forum: EOY 2014
Topic: EOY 2014 Albums - Spreadsheet Updates
Replies: 105
Views: 231678

Re: EOY 2014 Albums - Spreadsheet Updates

Yeah, that's true. And also, let's not overthink this. 1989 IS her best and biggest album, after a career of solid albums. Listening to it, one can tell that Swift was consciously trying to become a critical darling by embracing the sort of style most critics are going for these days. And she succee...
by irreduciblekoan
Wed Dec 10, 2014 7:08 pm
Forum: EOY 2014
Topic: EOY 2014 Albums - Spreadsheet Updates
Replies: 105
Views: 231678

Re: EOY 2014 Albums - Spreadsheet Update, December 9

The day has come that Taylor Swift is quite critically acclaimed. I don't know what I'm gonna do now. To be fair, she's always been held in fairly high esteem in certain circles. It's just that rock critics traditionally ignore mainstream pop music, though that's slowly starting to change. Also, sh...
by irreduciblekoan
Wed Dec 10, 2014 5:06 am
Forum: EOY 2014
Topic: EOY 2014 Albums - Spreadsheet Updates
Replies: 105
Views: 231678

Re: EOY 2014 Albums - Spreadsheet Updates

It's worth stating that all of her albums received solid reviews, even if this is her first to garner particularly high EOY success. She has always been a talented singer-songwriter, even if her media persona made her easy to poke fun at. The success of 1989 isn't as shocking as, say, if Nicki Minaj...
by irreduciblekoan
Wed Dec 10, 2014 12:25 am
Forum: EOY 2014
Topic: EOY 2014 Fact (UK)
Replies: 6
Views: 14896

Re: EOY 2014 Fact (UK)

Another good list by a source that usually makes good lists. Nice to see the Under the Skin soundtrack there.
by irreduciblekoan
Wed Dec 10, 2014 12:22 am
Forum: EOY 2014
Topic: EOY 2014 The 405 (UK)
Replies: 5
Views: 12786

Re: EOY 2014 The 405 (UK)

I didn't mean Bobby McFerrin is acclaimed on this site, but in general he is a highly regarded musician.
by irreduciblekoan
Tue Dec 09, 2014 1:47 pm
Forum: EOY 2014
Topic: EOY 2014 The 405 (UK)
Replies: 5
Views: 12786

Re: EOY 2014 The 405 (UK)

Nice to see Taylor McFerrin (talented son of acclaimed Bobby McFerrin) make it so high.
by irreduciblekoan
Mon Dec 08, 2014 8:31 pm
Forum: EOY 2014
Topic: EOY 2014 NPR (US)
Replies: 8
Views: 18818

Re: EOY 2014 NPR (US)

Definitely eclectic. You've got T.I and Taylor Swift there with Janacek and Fred Hersch!
by irreduciblekoan
Mon Dec 08, 2014 8:21 pm
Forum: EOY 2014
Topic: EOY 2014 Albums - Spreadsheet Updates
Replies: 105
Views: 231678

Re: EOY 2014 Albums - Spreadsheet Updates

Nick made a good point. But simply put, the albums we remember come December are often different from the albums that got high scores upon first release. One great example is Sleaford Mods. The reviews were overall mixed, but when I listened to it, it definitely caught my attention and etched itself...
by irreduciblekoan
Sat Dec 06, 2014 7:30 am
Forum: EOY 2014
Topic: EOY 2014 Pretty Much Amazing (US)
Replies: 3
Views: 11757

Re: EOY 2014 Pretty Much Amazing (US)

Very nice to see BadBadNotGood make it to a list.
by irreduciblekoan
Thu Dec 04, 2014 8:48 pm
Forum: EOY 2014
Topic: EOY 2014 Fopp (UK)
Replies: 2
Views: 8443

Re: EOY 2014 Fopp (UK)

Appears to be a store, which is unfortunate because they included Atomos which deserves to be on more lists.
by irreduciblekoan
Wed Dec 03, 2014 10:48 pm
Forum: EOY 2014
Topic: EOY 2014 Albums - Spreadsheet Updates
Replies: 105
Views: 231678

Re: EOY 2014 Albums - Spreadsheet Updates

As someone who actually enjoyed the new U2, I'm kind of glad to see it in the top 50 so far.....
by irreduciblekoan
Sun Nov 30, 2014 5:56 am
Forum: EOY 2014
Topic: EOY 2014 Textura (Canada)
Replies: 3
Views: 9703

Re: EOY 2014 Textura (Canada)

The only album on here I've heard is the Grouper one, and the only artists on here whose names I recognize are Grouper and Wadada Leo Smith. Talk about an obscure list! It's partly because they are classical- and experimental-focused (although by no means exclusively because the list includes elect...
by irreduciblekoan
Sun Nov 30, 2014 12:48 am
Forum: EOY 2014
Topic: EOY 2014 Textura (Canada)
Replies: 3
Views: 9703

Re: EOY 2014 Textura (Canada)

Wow, I already knew that the underrated and under-known CYNE's new album would go unnoticed, but I was hoping it to be on a few lists. However, this was NOT the list I expected it on. I'm glad someone picked them.
by irreduciblekoan
Tue Nov 25, 2014 11:41 pm
Forum: EOY 2014
Topic: EoY Predictions Topic
Replies: 12
Views: 37938

Re: EoY Predictions Topic

Really enjoying that Sturgill Simpson. It's precisely discoveries like that which is the reason I love the EOY lists (and AM in general) so much. Founding out about those great albums that didn't get much critical attention at first, which I might have missed.
by irreduciblekoan
Sat Nov 22, 2014 9:13 pm
Forum: EOY 2014
Topic: EoY Predictions Topic
Replies: 12
Views: 37938

Re: EoY Predictions Topic

Beyonce's self titled has already made it on two half decade lists if I'm not mistaken, so it's already starting well on its way to being an AM mainstay. At the same time though, I actually do no expect it to make a LOT of end of year lists this year. Some, but certainly not enough to be in the top ...
by irreduciblekoan
Thu Nov 20, 2014 12:13 am
Forum: EOY 2014
Topic: EOY 2014 forum?
Replies: 8
Views: 10523

Re: EOY 2014 forum?

The lack of Run Thee Jewels 2 (so far) surprises me. And the lists have included other hip hop, so it isn't like the sources so far don't like the genre. On the other hand, I am happy that A Winged Victory For the Sullen has made it on three of the lists. Yes I know it's super early and the lists so...
by irreduciblekoan
Tue Nov 18, 2014 1:40 am
Forum: Films, Movies, Motion Pictures...
Topic: Greatest/Favorite Directors Poll?
Replies: 21
Views: 18582

Re: Greatest/Favorite Directors Poll?

Count me in. I don't usually do polls in this forum, and the reasons for that are many. Mostly, I'm bad at organizing what I like into lists, because it's hard for me to decide if I like one great thing better than another equally-but-very-different great thing. And also, I feel like I still haven't...
by irreduciblekoan
Sat Nov 15, 2014 6:29 am
Forum: Music, Music, Music...
Topic: Albums of 2014
Replies: 430
Views: 309912

Re: Albums of 2014

Some of you may laugh at me, but I would like to nominate the soundtrack to the film Interstellar as an album recommendation. I'm not usually a fan of soundtrack albums, and I certainly am no fan of the movie, but I think the album just may be one of my favorite classical recordings of the year. It'...
by irreduciblekoan
Fri Nov 14, 2014 5:56 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Favorite Books
Replies: 160
Views: 203219

Re: Favorite Books

Speaking of which, I wonder if Shane has taken a break or something. His site has stalled at 69 lists since September. Not that I'm complaining. Actually I wouldn't mind it if he kept a set schedule for updating his site, such as how AM updates every June and They Shoot Pictures the beginning of eac...
by irreduciblekoan
Tue Nov 11, 2014 9:40 pm
Forum: Music, Music, Music...
Topic: Albums of 2014
Replies: 430
Views: 309912

Re: Albums of 2014

The new Pink Floyd album is nice-sounding, but after a few listens I'm already feeling like I won't be coming back to it often. It's ultimately unremarkable, but it's worth a listen. Right now the album on repeat is Big K.R.I.T.'s Cadillactica. I thought Run the Jewels 2 was the best rap album of th...
by irreduciblekoan
Sat Nov 08, 2014 6:11 am
Forum: Other year spans
Topic: ✅ Rockdelux (Spain): 300 best albums from 1984-2014
Replies: 17
Views: 34535

Re: Rockdelux (Spain): 300 best albums from 1984-2014

Oh my god, I thought i was the only one who loved Morente & Lagartija Nick's Omega so much (I'm a big fan of the poet Lorca). How delightful. What a great list just because of that. The rest of the choices are solid too.
by irreduciblekoan
Fri Nov 07, 2014 6:54 am
Forum: Other year spans
Topic: ✅ Rockdelux (Spain): 300 best albums from 1984-2014
Replies: 17
Views: 34535

Re: Rockdelux (Spain): 300 best albums from 1984-2014

Already a pretty interesting and good list, though I'm disappointed that Channel Orange is so low.
by irreduciblekoan
Tue Nov 04, 2014 9:00 pm
Forum: Other year spans
Topic: ✅ Fact Mag - The 100 best albums of the decade so far
Replies: 4
Views: 10721

Re: Fact Mag - The 100 best albums of the decade so far

This is a very interesting list, not always in good ways. I usually like Fact's lists (they are one of my favorite sources in general), but this is a bit too much for me, to place MBDTF so low and not even have Channel Orange anywhere. On the other hand, I love some of the other surprises, such as A...
by irreduciblekoan
Fri Oct 31, 2014 8:06 pm
Forum: Music, Music, Music...
Topic: MCCh 2014 (19) October 31
Replies: 6
Views: 8731

Re: MCCh 2014 (19) October 31

Yeah, it should go without saying that MCCH is mostly useful DURING the year. Once EOY lists roll out and that spreadsheet gets made, I consider that spreadsheet to usurp MCCH. MCCH is my main resource before that point. I of course don't take the rankings as gospel (and that goes for AM). As a rule...

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