What's a Listening Log? Well, the idea is quite simple. It's a weekly segment that consolidates all the mini-reviews Dozens Of Donuts has given on RateYourMusic over the past week, split between the Past and Present. A straightforward grading scale has been put in place, ranging from A+ to F-, with C acting as the baseline average. There is no set amount of reviews per week, just however many I get around to reviewing. And don't expect week-of reviews. I wait one month - with at least three listens under my belt - before I rate and review an album. Enjoy!
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2012 | Industrial Techno | Listen
UNRELENTING SLAVE LABOR IN THE FACTORY OF THE FUTURE
If there's one thing that can't be denied about Oscar Mulero's Black Propaganda, it's the atmosphere. Persistent, cold, resolute, and uncompromisingly factorial. He's giving other like-minded Techno artists like Clark, The Field, and Andy Stott a run for their money when it comes to staunchly presenting Industrial without a lick of sugarcoating. The repetitive, Trance-like nature of the beats, at times, draw stronger comparisons to Drone-leaning projects Gas, Loscil, and Jan Jelinek.
That, therefore, is Black Propaganda's greatest downfall. It's perhaps too realistic. The titles even help solidify a dystopian world not far removed from our own. Every single track - excluding the two, two-minute intro and outro - land within 20 seconds of each other. 'Instant Widespread Of The Dirt' at 5:17 is the shortest, 'Intentionally False' at 5:37 the longest. These beats are systematic to a fault. They're lifeless, complicit, and utterly defeated. Technically speaking, Mulero did an excellent job executing his vision. It's just not particularly exciting or formative.
D+
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It's tough to properly contextualize just how atmospherically-gratifying Suburban Light is to someone who hasn't heard it. Really, The Clientele's debut compilation needs to be experienced, as it's one of the most soothing, idyllic, romantic albums I've ever heard. And before assumptions are made, it's not cheesy in the slightest. Alasdair MacLean's drifting vocals fade into the background like the comfort and safety of spooning someone you love. The production remains aesthetically-integral to the whole, using Lo-Fi Indie in the most mature way possible, combining yonder instrumentation with MacLean's longing echo to create a truly quixotic, Dream Pop soundscape.
Best of all, despite 'I Had To Say This,' 'Rain,' and 'Reflections After Jane' - Suburban Light's first three songs - being its best, the quality doesn't dissipate whatsoever as each track adds to the chimerical allure The Clientele present. There's not a single miscue here, with the worst songs ('Joseph Cornell,' 'Five Day Morning') acting as just less intriguing, but still satisfactory alternatives for other greats ('Rain,' 'Monday's Rain' respectively). 'Lacewings' is a magnificent close to anticipate as well.
A-
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2007 | Post-Rock | Listen
FAIR-WEATHER KIDS REFUSING TO LET GO OF THE SUMMER RUSH
In spite of & Yet & Yet, in spite of Winter Hymn Country Hymn Secret Hymn, You, You're A History In Rust might be my favorite Do Make Say Think project yet. This is how you mature as an artist, especially one stifled to the rigid parameters of a genre like Post-Rock. The band excels in two facets; 1. Taking Post-Rock to a more peaceful place, and 2. Incorporating superb instrumentation that allows point one to flourish. The same can be said for You're A History In Rust with the added benefit of an underlying genre addition; whimsy Folk. The result is brilliant.
Apart from 'You, You're Awesome,' there isn't a mistake on the record. Opener 'Bound To Be That Way' is easily Do Make Say Think's most typical song here, relying on the pitter-patter Jazz percussion that made them a noteworthy commodity on & Yet & Yet. However, from there onwards they branch out into new territory, all whilst keeping their vibrant, bemused aesthetic alive. Tracks like 'A With Living' and 'In Mind' do a marvelous job at incorporating vocals that are simple and nonintrusive. The former in particular reminds me of Cerberus Shoal, in particular the rousing Folk revere in the last five minutes of 'The Ghosts Are Greedy.'
Then there's 'A Tender History In Rust,' which isn't Post-Rock or Post-Rock-oriented whatsoever, falling gracefully into picturesque Chamber Folk. Even the songs that do abide by the genre's strongholds - 'In Universe!,' my personal favorite, and 'Executioner Blues' - breathe such modernistic life into the genre with energy, vitality, and tremendous amounts of vigor. Excellent record, through and through.
B+
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2011 | Dub Techno | Listen
INTERMITTENT BROADCASTS REACHING A DISTANT ALIEN COLONY
On the surface, a rather run of the mill Techno record. The ethereal, space-faring 90's influences are worn assuredly, as pioneers Autechre, Aphex Twin, and Boards Of Canada can be seen across this whole thing. The last one isn't overt throughout, only emerging in the vocal samples and coming out boldly on 'Eis,' which is honestly the most successful BoC imitation I've ever heard.
What Lucy does well is multi-layering, as the percussion builds and synchronized overlapping shine on tracks like 'Torul' and 'Es.' They're paced at undulating intervals, which makes for really catchy, hypnotic beats. 'Bein' is likely the most thorough in this regard, as it's the only six-plus-minute track (in competition with 'Lav,' 'Eon,' and 'Mas') to warrant the length, as it billows, crests, and unfurls consistently throughout. A classic IDM-power cycle that could be seen in Trance rave culture all across the 90's. Wordplay For Working Bees is somewhat out of step with the rest of modern Electronica though, with the technical, industrial atmosphere giving the LP quite the boring background for the beats to parlay against.
C
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1994 | Alternative Rock | Listen
DISTANT LOVE SEPARATED BY A WELL-WORN ROAD
Five albums in and it's becoming apparent that The Jesus & Mary Chain's discography falls into just two categories; good and great. Psychocandy, Darklands, and Honey's Dead are part of the latter, with Stoned & Dethroned joining Automatic in the former. As per usual, there's nothing overtly wrong with Stoned & Dethroned. In fact, it might be the band's most pleasant listen to date, with 17 light 90's Alternative Rock compositions that nearly anyone could enjoy. Similar to Spiritualized's material. Problem being, TJ&MC don't stray from that narrow path and, while delectable, few moments are truly worth remembering.
The simpleness comes from a desire to be more in-tune with one's tender, loving side, and that's evoked quite well in the acoustic-based ensembles. However, the best tracks resort to TJ&MC's past, treading closely to Britain's Baggy era with the Hope Sandoval-assisted 'Sometimes Always,' 'She,' and 'Girlfriend.' These are, within the context of the album, the highs of a relationship and they all work quite well. Unfortunately there's just too many safe, unmemorable moments scattered throughout to really reach that next tier in their discography.
C
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2013 | Chamber Pop | Listen
HALF A CENTURY OF LOVE IN A SENIOR CITIZENS PHOTO BOOK
When ranking Camera Obscura's discography the one argument that needn't be made is Desire Lines' place at the bottom. Consistency reigns supreme in the previous four, with reservations for the rather reluctant Biggest Bluest Hi-Fi, but on what's currently their final album there's just something missing. And I'd argue it's the intrinsic factor of Twee Pop to be youthful, giddy, and carefree. Of course, that's lambasted across Desire Lines but it comes from a place of maturity, as if long-indebted lovers are reflecting on their moments of grandeur and not experiencing them firsthand.
That's why some of these songs embody a vintage panache, like 'Do It Again' and 'I Missed Your Party' which have a flavorful Doo-Wop feel. Or 'William's Heart' and 'Break It To You Gently' which weave kitschy 80's Synthpop into Camera Obscura's style, a type of Chamber Pop which really only comes out on 'This Is Love' and 'Troublemaker.' Really, the album's faults become apparent at 'Every Weekday,' which could only be made and appreciated by retired seniors swaying to Jimmy Buffet's 'Margaritaville' for the 100th time. Oh, and Camera Obscura's streak of fantastically-epic closers comes to an end with the dull title track.
D+
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