Album Review

                🎶Album Reviews🎶 

Wishbone - Conan Gray ★★★★★

The album Wishbone by Conan Gray was a piece that was written in broken fragments after touring, which was never thought to be released. They consist of personal, heartfelt songs with themes of love, loss, and heartbreak. In the creation of this album, a cinematic universe was also founded around the characters Will and Brando, two boys navigating their feelings for each other, which really makes this album feel like a story from beginning to end. These music videos really put these songs into perspective, and give viewers a look into what Conan envisioned for the songs, but also give them a point to relate to and enjoy peak cinema. The poetic lyrics and deep meanings of these songs create such a relatable and comforting feeling around them, allowing listeners in any situation to resonate and see themselves in any of these songs, which is what makes them so loved by all. These songs really display Conan's vulnerability, and in some points feel almost like diary entries, which further adds to the personability of this album. The amazing vocals in this album and incredible instrumental support are another factor that makes this album so astounding and unlike any other. The wide range of different musical instruments used on each of the tracks allows these songs to all be enjoyable in their own special way, as instruments from acoustic guitar all the way to a mellotron were used. Overall, in my personal opinion, this album has no flaws and is one of the most impressive albums Conan Gray has put out so far. Not only is it pleasant to listen to, but it is also meaningful and deep.

Another Side of Bob Dylan- Bob Dylan ★★★★★

The album Another Side of Bob Dylan was released on August 8th, 1964, and is an album that flawlessly combines political themes with themes from his personal love life. I strongly feel that this diversity is incredibly important in creating a great album such as this one. Bob Dylan explains a lot of his past relationships in this album, but not in the conventional way. He writes these songs as if delivering a eulogy. Not once does he put them down in any way. He expresses the struggles they went through and every part of their personalities (the good and the bad), and how it changed and affected him as well. The way he writes these types of songs, though, makes it extremely relatable, which I feel is crucial in making a good song. The songs from this album that best support this concept are: To Ramona, I Don’t Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met), It Ain’t Me Babe, Spanish Harlem Incident, and Ballad in Plain D. All of these songs are extremely beautiful and are definitely worth listening to.

The political side of this album is just as beautiful, though. The years that this album was being made (early-mid 1960s) had so many historical events and made it rich in politics. This being the War on Poverty, the Civil Rights Act, The Space Race, etc. He expresses his admiration for a truly free country and advocates for it in these songs. This made this album a huge milestone in folk music history. The songs that display how this was a prevalent theme in this album are: Chimes of Freedom, I Shall be Free No.10, Motorpsycho Nightmare, and My Back Pages. While the song Motorpsycho Nightmare is a song based on a completely fictional story, it ties in elements of freedom of speech, corrupt nationalists, and distrust in people, while tying in references from pop culture at the time. I truly believe that this album is so so important, but also astonishing in and of itself. 

Siamese Dream - The Smashing Pumpkins ★★★★⯪

The second Smashing Pumpkins record Siamese Dream stands as one of the best albums of the 90s and one of the best alternative albums of all time. From the first 20 seconds of the album Jimmy Chamberlain's drum-rolls on Cherub Rock solidified the group as a staple sound and culture of alternative culture. With a mix of heavy guitar tones with fuzz and an extreme level of gain with songs like Geek U.S.A or Quiet to very quiet and peaceful reverb tones on Soma or Luna the divide in genres simply makes this album amazing. Along with the powerful guitar stacking and heavy drum beats the album features very unique lyrics following such dark topics like extreme depression and suicide on the song Today to very triumphant lyrics like on Rocket the album can serve in both sad and happy moods. Although this album connected with the youth of 1993 when it was released the album has made various returns to pop culture as it stands as a symbol of teen angst and the anger of early adulthood which makes it all the better, proving the test of time.

Tame Impala - Deadbeat ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Legendary. As an avid Tame Impala listener, this album was something I've longed to listen to. After 5 years of being deprived of incredible music, the release of this album was meaningful! Although seemingly, his music could be interpreted as being house music or incorporating dance-like rhythms, it was enjoyable.  (I love you Tame Impala, please get me tickets to your European tour). 

Songs for the Deaf - Queens of the Stone Age  ★★★★☆

The best and most successful music comes from a place of difference and uniqueness and that is precisely what this album is. There is no other band that encapsulates the desert rock sound like on Songs for the Deaf, the only comparable sound would be Mudhoney on Superfuzz Bigmuff. But even then they are 2 entirely different types of desert rock. Queens of the Stone Age as a whole is just a weird band, they have 3 guitars mixed with different keyboards as well as 3 different singers which makes every song sound different in that there is so much instrumentation to play with. But the album can go from a more metal sounding song like Song for the Dead to a very rock n’ roll rooted song like No One Knows in a matter of seconds. 

What makes this album truly special is the story it follows as a concept album. The album follows a road trip through southern California as you go from radio station to radio station hearing all kinds of weird local music. The interludes between songs makes every song flow into one another with a weird feeling of getting closer to your destination. The start of the album is truly fitting though, with the radio DJ stating “Songs for the deaf, you can’t even hear them” as the riff of "You Think I Ain’t Worth a Dollar, but I Feel Like a Millionaire” explodes with its raw crunchy fuzz tone. The most notable thing about the album isn’t the vocals or guitar like on most albums but its the drumming. I would personally say that this is Dave Grohl’s best drumming performance which is insane because of his prior performances in Nirvana and on the first Foo Fighters album.

With Christmas coming right around the corner, there's no better way to feel the holiday cheer than by listening to festive Christmas music. These are 10 of my favorites that always put me in the holiday spirit.

1. Happy Xmas (War is Over)

2. Christmas Tree Farm

3. Wonderful Christmastime

4. Its Beginning To Look Alot Like Christmas

5.  Rockin Around the Christmas Tree

6. It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

7. Jingle Bell Rock

8. Let it Snow

9 . Baby its Cold Outside

10. All I Want For Christmas is You