music log ♪ #4

some revisited albums some new to me… let me know if this is too lengthy or tips for formatting in the future (drake hands emoji)

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midori - shinsekai (2010)

genre: art rock, and yes avant-punk/jazz

FFO: obotoke beaver, tricot

rating: 9.5/10

midori is an incredibly unique and masterful band blending the art of the refined with that of the hardcore. featuring instruments such as the standing bass and piano, this band offers some atypical arrangements for such typically classical-featured instruments. scattered, frantic, energetic, almost a panicked and exasperated performance on this album. I enjoy it just a little more than their most popular album from 2008. it’s in japanese so I can’t understand the lyrics but that doesn’t make me enjoy it any less. in fact it may be the opposite. I don’t really enjoy foreign language music unless it is super fast paced and this album ticks all the boxes for anything that i would want from this particular ensemble.tracks I would recommend: 2, 4, 7,9 &10

le bang - robot island (2023)

genre: punk, riot grrl (inb4 I know it’s not actual riot grrl that’s just a moniker)

FFO: le tigre, bratmobile, the ting tings
rating: 8/10 for sameness

punchy basslines! women exclaiming! catchy hooks! adorable imagery! this album is just plain fun, and the artist as a whole just sounds effortlessly cool. a lot of the tracks have a very similar sound so points deducted for that, but it is a great sound that is loveable. stolen from a ZOOMOF. tracks I would recommend: audio robot disco, eurotrash girl, bunny boy - sped up

black bug - s/t (2010)
genre: synth punk, garage punk
FFO: jay reatard, suicide, powerplant
rating: 9/10

this album was released on FDH records in 2010, and carries a similar feeling to the le bang release I mentioned above. it hits the bullseye for a great release from this label: fuzzy, noisy, muddy, and jolting. this is one of my favorite synth punk albums I’ve found that somehow ties a knot between “Severe Exposure” (an all-time 10/10) and another jay reatard project that I haven’t mentioned yet, his band Lost Sounds with Alicja Trout. another synth punk outfit. black bug also includes abrasive female vocals and grinding, wall-of-sound synths. tracks I would recommend: beating your heart out, run, razor face, unicorn

clay birds - bled out and painted blue (2024)
genre: screamo, emoviolence
FFO: I hate sex, saetia
rating: 8/10

you can hear some noise and math influences here especially in tracks like Miguel Song. I wouldn’t label this as pure modern emotional hardcore for that reason. it strays musically from the narrow path that a lot of current skramz bands have meandered. very emotional vocals and not a flat delivery like you can find with some bands in this house show-spotted scene. I like the instrumentation here as well especially the drums– hard and fast! songs I would recommend: miguel song, call out my name, a letter sent back to me, six

cat power - dear sir (1995)
genre: slowcore, indie rock
FFO: julie doiron I guess, anything Numero really
rating: 7.5/10

high tide on a stormy day. rough waters. dark and murky. prehistoric creatures live in dark holes down there. not a super high rating from me but definitely worth a peruse && contemplation session. I am a huge fan of “What would the community think?” (1996) [[shoutout Steve]] so I of course had to check out the release that came before it, and I wasn’t disappointed. i <3 emo bitches. songs I would recommend: 3 times, mr. gallo, rockets, no matter