Scratch Vinyl

  2020  Released by English singer and songwriter Richard Dawson in 2019, 2020 serves as a prediction for what 2020 is going to look like. He places great emphasis on the dystopia of the modern world. The last few albums I’ve reviewed were a bit sad so listening to something so uniquely bizarre was a more than welcome experience. From the premise of the album alone, I knew that 2020 was going to be something special.  As far as first impressions go, I can best describe this album as aggressively British. The lyrics make it blatantly obvious with the most quintessential references to British culture. Many of these tracks feature him monologuing about his daily life, detailing his observations in song form. Even in its most mundane messaging, Dawson manages to tell a compelling story in each of these songs. The first track, Civil Servant is a ballad about not wanting to work. I found lyrics like Shoveling crisps in my face to be goofy but they added to the overall charm o...

  Pony  The debut album of country artist Orville Peck, Pony was released in 2019. Country music has a certain reputation, people will often view it as promoting a narrow worldview. This was a very unique listening experience to me because this is a genre that I don’t particularly like. Nothing against it but I haven’t connected to it as much as I would like. Pony made me realize that I just wasn’t listening to the right artists. Peck produces a more of an alternative genre of country music, featuring elements of goth, shoegaze, and indie rock. This was a new spin on a genre I have neglected previously, so this reimagining was a pleasant surprise.  His main trademark is that he wears a fringe mask, giving him a bit of mystique. I really enjoy his gimmick though I can understand if it's not for everybody. His take on the genre sets the mood quite well, being a pretty cohesive album. The traditional country music fan is usually depicted as having more conservative values b...

  Should I Remain Here, At Sea Released in 2016, Should I Remain Here, At Sea is Islands sixth studio album. They have an indie synth pop sound, a genre that I am very familiar with. What I found really interesting about this album was that it was mostly performed live and in some cases, one take. This makes it all the more intimate, showing the rawest versions of these tracks. When reviewing albums I like seeing other perspectives and how they differ from my own. With this album there was little to no analysis on these songs, leaving it completely up to my interpretation. This was a great exercise as I love overanalyzing the music I listen to.  The first track Back Into It is easily the catchiest song on the album with a more synth oriented sound. The more upbeat tones were deceptive as fully listening to the lyrics will tell you a much different story. The themes are more bittersweet, Looking back into a previous relationship. Here he’s still taking the power back after ha...

  New Age Filth Hail The Sun’s fifth studio album, New Age Filth was released in 2021. This was my long-awaited return to the emo music that I love and can’t quite let go of. With that, I was eager to listen to New Age Filth. Dubbed as ‘swancore’ this genre features complex riffs and is a subgenre of punk rock. With no prior knowledge of swancore, this was an exceptional introduction to the genre. I can clearly hear The Mars Volta ’s influence in a lot of these tracks, another band that I really like. Hail The Sun is still very distinct, putting their own spin on such a unique genre and doing so in a really artistic way. There is so much to love about this album I’m almost struggling to find the right words to describe it. During the whole run of the album I was shocked that it just kept getting better. I have relistened to this album more times than I’m willing to admit.  With an opening track like Domino , the bar was set pretty high. This explosive song sets the stage for ...

  Kids See Ghosts Recommended by my twin brother, Kids See Ghosts is a rap album released in 2018. My brother and I’s music tastes couldn’t be more different. While I lean towards rock, he is heavily into rap. But as a good sister and someone who wants to expand my music taste I gave Kids See Ghosts a try. What you might call a supergroup, Kids See Ghosts, contains rappers Kid Cudi and Kanye West. Some features include Pusha T and Ty Dolla $ign. They dip into the psychedelic influence, making this a distinctly unique album.  With only seven tracks, amounting to a 23 minute run time, I felt like I should give my individual thoughts on each song. Starting off pretty strong with Feel The Love this track is a tribute to the gospel sound and seems to be a good opener for the album. The song pushes the ideology that love is all you need. Pusha T’s contributions on the song were also a standout. Fire was an instant classic for me. The western feel of the song with the instrument...

  Good God! Rio Romeo’s Good God! was released in 2022. Despite hearing a couple of their songs in the past, this was the first album of theirs that I fully listened to. Romeo has a very distinct style, placing heavy emphasis on piano and vocals. I believe that this style works very well, having a more nostalgic feel. The level of vulnerability shown in each song on this album is commendable. The lyricism was a major highlight, being completely gender neutral so namely queer people can relate to and see themselves in it. I really admire this approach, giving a voice to those who feel unheard and want a story that’s personal to them. Their music goes fully into their experience as a nonbinary lesbian, hoping to empower other queer people. Good God! works so well with all the songs coming together to paint a vivid picture of love and loss.  With a runtime of about 15 minutes, I had plenty of time to re-listen to this album while writing out my thoughts. Inarticulation like the ...

  ...Like Clockwork Since launching the band in 1998, Queens of the Stone Age has made incredible music that defined a whole genre of rock. The lead singer Josh Homme would release their sixth studio album in 2013. This album went on to have a huge impact on the band, being their most acclaimed album since Songs for the Deaf . What sets this album apart from the previous ones is that it was heavily influenced by singer Josh Homme’s brush with death. After a knee surgery gone wrong, he was pronounced dead for several minutes. With such an intense backstory, it sets up this album to be one of their most personal yet. I have always admired the band's dedication to try new styles with each release and this album is no exception. Homme has built quite the lineup of guest artists for this album, featuring the talents of: Elton John, Trent Reznor, Jake Shears, and returning sticksman Dave Grohl. …Like Clockwork puts you through the journey of a lost soul, trying to regain his sense of se...