Album Breakdowns Part Two

Scoring Key: 10= Perfect 9.5-8 = Great 7.5-6.5= Good 6-5= Average 4.5-3.5= Below Average 3-0= Bad

Over the months of March and April, I have been able to branch out and listen to music that was unfamiliar to me. I have also been working to fine-tune my critiquing skill so that I make sure to produce a quality product for my readers (and thus the grading will be a little different then last time). I will continue to review some great albums that I hope you guys will enjoy!

Album: Heaven To Tortured Mind

Artist: Yves Tumor

Favorite Song(s): “Kerosene!”

Rating: 8.5

I didn’t really know what to expect when first listening to this album, because Yves Tumor and their sound was very new to me, but simply put, this was a good album. Heaven To Tortured Mind is a fantastic album which is what I consider to be the pinnicle of modern alt music. The different sound and style was a nice change of pace for me, and while I would definitely recommend this album to fans of alternative music, I think you would enjoy it even if you’re not.

Album: CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST

Artist: Tyler, The Creator

Favorite Song: “CORSO”

Rating: 9

When I first listened to this album, I didn’t think much of it, but when I re-listened to it after it won the Grammy for best Rap Album, I was blown away. The creativity and sound of Tyler, The Creator is, in my opinion, at an all-time high with this album. I think that songs like “Corso” and “Wusyaname” are some of Tyler, The Creator’s best work, and that this album rivals his 2019 album Igor for his best album. This project definitely deserved the Grammy in my opinion. Other less recognized songs on this album are also a bop.

Album: I Love My Mom

Artist: Indigo De Souza

Favorite Song: “Take Off Ur Pants”

Rating: 8

Indigo De Souza is a slightly lesser known indie artist that I knew nothing about until she popped up in my Spotify recommended. This album was a big surprise to me because of how good it was. While it isn’t the most original album ever, it is still a very good album that is a mix of indie pop and rock. Altogether, it is a super underrated album that all indie fans should definitely check out at some point.

Album: Punisher

Artist: Phoebe Bridgers

Favorite Song: “I Know The End”

Rating: 8.5

This is a fabulous album, and probably her best (although I enjoyed her previous album Stranger in the Alps)! Bridgers sticks to her emotionally-charged indie styled sound and perfects it here. The somewhat common critique of this album that some of the songs are boring has some validity to it. That being said, it is still a great album. After listening to Punisher, it’s not hard to see why Bridgers is such a popular artist. If you're looking for an emotional album with an impactful sequence of songs, Punisher should be at the top of your list.

Album: Melodic Blue

Artist: Baby Keem

Favorite Song: “Family Ties”

Rating: 7

Although I already reviewed this album, I feel that I was too harsh the first time. While I’m still not the biggest fan of this album, I am willing to admit that it was a good album. I think that Baby Keem’s unique sound alone makes this album good. Also, many of the songs on this album were catchy and unique. I would check out Melodic Blue if you have time at some point.

Album: Sour

Artist: Olivia Rodrigo

Favorite Song: “Drivers License”

Rating: 8

I recognize that Olivia Rodrigo is wildly popular, but I still have been seeing some unwarranted dislike for her music. Most of the “critiques” of her music is that it is cheesy or basic. While her music isn’t super original and can be a little cliche, that's not a bad thing. Her latest album, Sour, knows what it is. Sour is a heartbreak album, and it's a really good one. This album has produced some already classic pop songs, and I think a few years from now she could be as big as stars like Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift.