Ratings

Heavy Is The Crown

Anderson .Paak Album

Heavy Is The Crown is a pretty decent collab project from Anderson Paak and Cordae. To be honest, there isn’t really anything specific to say about this album. Good production, good rapping and some pretty nice lyricism in places help to solidify this as a neat 7/10. I particularly loved ‘A Good Day’, and its sample of Bill Withers’ ‘Lovely Day’. Bill’s version is one of my favourite songs of all time and it was pretty nice to hear it in a more modern medium (even though it doesn’t hold a candle to the original). Some songs are a little bit more iffy. Other songs such as ‘Karma Tax’ are a little bit more boring and flow a little less cleanly, but they still aren’t bad per se, just a little bit less enjoyable. Overall, this is a fun little project, just not one that will live long in the memory- but that’s not inherently a bad thing. The rap duo have put together an inoffensive performance with some nice production from some guests like J.Cole that was enjoyable throughout its whole duration.

7.4/10 Full Take

Oct 23, 2026

the now now and never

what is your name? Album

Niche niche niche niche I’m so niche losercore shoegaze RYM AOTYcore ebk knowledge losercorecore verity. No really, this album is incredible. The instrumentals are honestly one-of-a-kind. The type that make you nostalgic for an album you’ve never even heard that came out 4 years ago. It contains no vocals, but does contain vocal samples of laughter and things of the like, which only add to the atmosphere this album is trying to create. It incorporates many post-rock and even lo-fi elements amongst the shoegaze, which really helps to make its soundscape unique and even further hammer home this air of nostalgia and haziness. Overall, The Now Now and Never is nothing short of shoegaze excellence. Of course, there are plenty of people who will brand this project as overrated, but it is undeniable how impressive this album is to anyone with a trained pair of ears. I will always come back to this album and enjoy the exact same marvellous experience time after time.

9.8/10 Full Take

Oct 20, 2026

The New Sound

Geordie Greep Album

Doesn’t matter whether I made this review before, during or after the Greep controversy, it still doesn’t change the fact that this album is one of the most overrated of this decade. The concept of TNS is that of an inner monologue of a degenerate, misogynistic and pathetic man. Sure, pretty decent concept, but this completely deteriorates whenever the artist actually IS a degenerate, misogynistic and pathetic man. I suppose some may say this doesn’t deserve a rating downgrade, but it definitely isn’t going to give Greep any brownie points either and still doesn’t change my next view. Almost the entire album is so uncomfortable. I’m sorry but I just can’t take songs seriously when lyrics involve Greep talking about cucking himself. I haven’t given this album any downgrades in rating because of this, I just thought I should bring it up. Purely from a musical standpoint, Greep is the worst part of this album. This can be seen from the higher ratings in ‘The New Sound’, ‘If You Are But A Dream’ and especially ‘The Magician’. These tracks are all great and are primarily instrumental, with the latter being a pretty collaborative track that serves itself well. I just find Greep’s vocals so jarring. He does have some good lyricism here and there but asides from that it doesn’t do a lot for me. To summarise, The New Sound is an album suffering greatly from a vocal and lyrical standpoint. I love jazz fusion as much as the next guy, but I got little to no enjoyment from this project, until its tail end, whenever the conceptual bravado came to an end. There is clearly an audience for this type of album, and I can see why some would enjoy it more than me. However, from both a musical and circumstantial standpoint, I don’t see myself enjoying this album any time soon.

6.8/10 Full Take

Oct 19, 2026

Eyes Open

Snow Patrol Album

Eyes Open is a simple yet effective indie rock album from Snow Patrol. The main attraction is, of course, Chasing Cars. It is far and away the best song here, really showcasing the peak of the band’s potential. Every other song here ranges from average to very good, helping the album to its crisp 7.4 overall. The main thing holding this album back for me is the instrumental aspects of it. Some songs are a tad unimaginative and one-dimensional, but still sounds good enough to be enjoyed. Overall, this is a good album. I do think this is Snow Patrol’s best project, although it is very simple. They stuck to the status quo, and did their job pretty well.

7.4/10 Full Take

Oct 17, 2026

Dopamine Chamber

Fontaines D.C. Album

Great album. I don’t think its as good as Romance or Skinty Fia, but it definitely holds itself up well in Fontaines’ discography. This album has been received pretty badly by a lot of their core fans, but I think after a brief marination period, Dopamine Chamber could definitely be considered one of Fontaines DC’s best projects.

8.4/10 Full Take

Oct 16, 2026