Reviews (page 2 of 8)
I really enjoyed this! A cool mix of 60s-70s styles with modern electronic beats. I don’t think I’ve heard much like it.
Discover Weekly core 🥴 ..Maybe that's a bit disingenuous. To be fair, there are some inventive synths and bloops to enjoy here, and they did occasionally conjure up some rhythm that would have me nodding along. It just suffers from pretty unfocused songwriting that leaves the project feeling bland overall. Standout: Love's Dart
My feelings on this album are confused. It has a lot of interesting features, but like many albums on this list I don't feel that it actually coalesced into anything remarkable. My attention was up at the beginning but like so many albums it devolved into sludge. It does sound to me like a very modern take on Pet Sounds, which I could imagine some people liking, so it'll get the same rating from me.
Beatle-y (bad)
This was...fine? Listened to it yesterday and can't remember much except bopping my head at certain points.
Pretty sure I made my own attempt at imitating Animal Collective that’s rotting away on an old hard drive and more interesting than this dreck
..
Garxc
Pleasant surprise, I loved it. Except where there was whistling, theres just no need and it spoiled an otherwise great listen.
Quite interesting. Think I'd need another listen to decide whether I'm sold or not, but did like that cool Egyptian song.
second half does so much of the heavy lifting. solid project
Listens: 2 Standout Tracks: Default, Waveforms This was genuinely interesting. Had no idea what to expect. No real complaints. I appreciate seeing some more recent albums on the List. It's refreshing to see something that's not from the 70s, 80s, or 90s.
muy experimental
I don’t hate it, but the fact that it’s on this list annoys me.
Video game music.
quixas un poco aburrido casi al final
#138 with just a bit more polish this could have been sooooooo so great. it's still good but it's just missing a certain spark; i think the production is fantastic but some of the melodies and writing become a bit repetitive as it goes on. could have done with some more oomph behind it, but solid enough! ಄ average track rating: 2.8/5 ಄ favourite track(s): hail bop, waveforms ಄ least favourite track(s): hand of man ಄ album rating: ★★★☆☆ ಄ number of albums left to review: 951 ಄ number of albums i agree with being on the list: 58 ಄ albums from the list that i would consider for my list: 26 ಄ albums i would not include on my list: 112
Found myself really vibing to this. Some parts in the middle really lost me but this started and ended really strong at least.
Very enjoyable to study with. Nothing too crazy honestly but some overall good beats and a nice desert feeling. Definitely will add some of these to my study playlist.
Groovy
Django Django was a very good album. This album gives me a lot of the same vibes that Cornershop's When I Was Born For The 7th Time (which makes sense since both bands are British rock bands trying to replicate music from other cultures) but i definitely prefer this album as it feels far more interesting and seems to do way more with what it's given than that one did. The songs here are quite fun listens even if sometimes they can blend together a bit. There was still enough going on in most of these songs where i can excuse the sameness of the songs a bit since there is still enough songs i can remember by heart. Definitely a very good addition to the list. Best Song: Hail Bop Worst Song: Zumm Zumm
There are quite a few things to really like about this album, but it doesn't feel fresh after hearing Beta Band and Alt-J, who came before them. It feels like they are following a formula, in a weird way, even though they are doing an art-rock thing. I want to listen to more of their albums, though, because I think they could find their own thing. But, this album, is a 3.5 stars to me, and I have a hard time pushing it to 4, because it is not that exciting or surprising or better than its progenitors.
Not an easy album to rate. I kind of see what they're trying to do, but I'm not sure it fully works. It gave me the impression of a record that can't quite decide what it wants to be. The more synth-heavy tracks were easily my favourites, I'm completely on board with the retro electronica / synthpop vibe. It's heavy and dirty, it almost feels like synthwave. I really liked songs like "Skies Over Cairo". The vocal parts, however, didn't convince me. They're a little too upbeat and unremarkable for my taste, and sometimes feel out of place - "Storm" almost sounds like a modern remix of a sea shanty, something I thought I would love on paper, but which doesn't actually work that well in practice. Overall, I didn't dislike this album ; it feels like the band is onto something, and the artists are really trying their best to do something original. But I would probably have liked it better if was a bit darker and more instrument-oriented. It could have been a good electro album if they had fully dropped the poppier lyrics and gone further down the retro or experimental rabbit hole. Enjoyable, but not enough to listen again. 5/10
Good! The Western vibes in (Enio Moricone) electronic rock! Although the 4* is quite generous with tracks being too repetitive, downside of electronic music.
The introduction made me expect something far more ambitious. I went from intrigued to bored within just a few tracks. The vocal harmonies don’t always work and become tiring after a while, while the synth-heavy backbone often makes the whole thing sound like a video game soundtrack. I also struggle to get immersed in it because there’s no real atmospheric cohesion, constantly shifting between heavy bass and a much lighter mood. And yet, frustratingly, some passages are genuinely great. A few good moments, but not enough to make me come back.
4. Plenty
3.5
Positiv überrascht. Immernoch Rock aber trotzdem irgendwie was neues.
fun indie art album. kind of Dancy at times
Dunno exactly how to feel about this one. There is some catchy tunes hidden in there, but the lyrics (or more correctly, the vocal delivery) leaves me flat. Sounds like it is autotuned into obscurity, or perhaps like it was written or sung by AI. Having said that, Hail Bop and Default were decent tunes, but the rest seemed to blend into one after a while.
Is it British✔️ Does it belong on the list? ❌ How do I feel about it? 🤷♀️ 〰️ 😳 By my true feelings at this moment it’s a 2. But, there’s something here. So… 3 Boolean: False
I enjoyed that. Upbeat and still sounding new.
Hadn't heard of this one before. Not bad!
It feels 60's psychedelic rock with some electronic/synths. 2.6/5 Favorite Songs: Hail Bop Firewater WOR Life's A Beach
Not sure about this one. Wasn’t bad but wasn’t good. Just kind of was.
better than beetles
Not good. Not Bad. Average album. But Default one hell of a catchy song. It was like a big radio hit here in Belgium. So: 3/5
Not at all what I was expecting but enjoyed it quite a bit. Not sure I’d want to listen to the entire album straight through again, but will definitely give a few of the tracks another try.
Some catchy songs, but everything after the first half blended together to me.
The band so nice, they named themselves and their debut album twice. This is some good avant garde music that is fun and funky. Top tracks: “WOR,” “Storm,” “Hail Bop,” “Skies Over Cairo”
--Introduction...tribal science fiction? sure --Hail Bop...hand clapping head bopper. singalong stuff (complimentary) --Default...kind of a stomp-clap thing. but this one is special in that it's not terrible. sick midpoint breakdown --Firewater...giving me Beta Band vibes. I like the Beta Band --Waveforms...molly music --Zumm Zumm...occupies that weird space between catchy and annoying --Hand of Man...the lazy river tune. pleasant palate cleanser --Love's Dart...the driving at night song --Wor...outlaw country! --Storm...another toe tapper. haven't mentioned the vocals yet but they've been nice and clean throughout --Life's a Beach...things are getting samey but this LP has been consistently entertaining --Skies Over Cairo...funky and fun instrumental --Silver Rays...solid closer
Hm, ging so. War mir zu unterschiedlich von Song zu Song, als wäre hier jemand in ner Selbstfindungsphase. Kein Song der mich umgehauen hat
Django Django Django Django Django Django
Schwer zu bewerten. Default war ein cooler Song
It was catchy but the songs sounded the same after a while, which made it feel like the album lasted forever. Didn’t really need to be on the list.
There was over repetition
This was cool I guess. It sounded nice, sort of weird but in a good way. Nothing really stood out to me or seemed revolutionary but it was nice.
British art rock band made me roll my eyes….then I rolled them again over the boring monotony, & again at the long run time. 2.5 stars
Bought this the day it came out, and I still spin it regularly. That being said, I don't think it's either flawless or particularly groundbreaking. It's a prismatic kaleidoscope of Django Django's influences, channelled into brief, concise psychedlic-pop marvels. Well, if that sounds intriguing, that's because it is. This is a record well worth your time and absolutely worth revisiting. Honestly, though, it probably shouldn't be on this list (nostalgia factor notwithstanding). And still, it would break my heart to rate it lower than a solid 4.
Vibes man just vibes. Liked this one!! Perhaps a but repetitive but a good time overall. Saved firewater and waveforms
This is a catchy record and a great example of how the 2010s stomp-clap trend could be used interestingly.
i wike
Interessante
This was on my radar when it first came out, but if I heard it at the time, I don't remember it. This probably would be best characterized as a kind of heavily electronically inflected indie pop album. It's pretty catchy and a lot of it is shaped by the kind quirky and abstract qualities of certain types of electronic music, but it takes on moodier qualities as well. There are moments it sinks into blandness, but this might be one that improves with additional listens. Overall, I tend to like the more electronic stuff and the more conventional pop material tends to lose my attention a bit, but I could see changing my mind in a few months on this one.
I should like this. 2011 indie electronic psychedelia reminiscent of Animal Collective is right up my alley, but it's just not catching. There's a good amount musically to like here, but the vocals/vocal melodies are severely lacking.
A fun and eclectic album. Beach boy type harmonies and an energy that doesn’t get stale.
It's fine. It's fun. it reminds me of people I don't necessarily want to be around. Or just people I don't know. But it's fine.
trop bon moment
like music to my ears
Pretty cool, and totally new to me!
I liked it
I found this fun and interesting to listen to.
The name seems Dumm Dumm, but according to Wikipedia that was the point. Sort of an on-a-dare quality to the name selection. The Pedia also says that they are an English art rock group, which produced an inward groan. Default sounds very much like the Dandy Warhols. Firewater sounds like the Beta Band, as does Life's a Beach (which is a goofy pun worthy of the Dandies).. Love's Dart is legit good. Solid album. Better than many. Not amazing. Having a full album of Mad Professor dub versions for their 10th anniversary edition is a nice touch.
Perplexing. At times this record made me want to rip the plug out of my receiver. Other times it made me tap my toes. Most of the time I thought, "is this an instrumental? because I don't love it and it's going on a long time and it's getting boring" swiftly followed by "oh now someone is singing and yet it's still horribly boring and repetitive." I'm shocked at how many in the general 1001 group gave this five stars. It makes me really wonder what people want from their music. For me, not this. But then again, it wasn't horrible.... As usual, three stars.
Vaca come back
Nice little bops but a lot of it blends together to sound the same.
6.5/10
Electronic New wave pop
Great album, great energy, really interesting beats and instruments. I’ll be coming back to this one.
Personal favorite
Solid album, might have been a 2 but hail bop is an absolute tune
A couple of interesting songs while the rest is mostly unremarkable and borderline pointless...
I enjoyed this weird little delight of an album. Very psychedelic in nature while very rooted in 2010’s indie production and sound. I found it to be good for both background and close listening.
cool shit
Fine listen but nothing memorable.
This didn't do it for me. Another commenter called it lifeless and I'm going to agree with them.
An interesting sounding album, but without anything interesting to say.
Worth a listen, sure, though in no way worthy of this list. I liked Default a lot when it came out but ironically it does neatly encapsulate this band's limitations. Likeable enough, forgettable with it.
Pretty cool sound, I hadn't heard of these guys before so that's fun. I think the second half of the album is stronger than the first half, but overall it's not a bad listen. I'd be surprised if it really sticks with me past today though.
an interesting album, a mix of instrumentals, guitar rock. No clear style, nothing really standing out. One of these albums (I heard plenty lately) where I wonder how it got made in the first place
A fun album, to be honest i will love to leave it playing while I play board games with my friends or while talking. No something that I will listen by myself 3/5
This was interesting and fun.
This was only alright. Not offensive but not very interesting either.
This was better than feared! I was expecting total indie landfill however it's brand electronic indie rock and neo-psychedeila was better than that, just not enough to warrant me spending any more time with them!
Doesn't have much to say and faded out of my consciousness as soon as I finished it
Music of no consequence.
Huh. It's fine. The singings not great, and the beats, surely repetitive by design do kinda drone on.
I didn't really love the mixing but everything else was pretty okay. It's not really anything special though, and the album eventually becomes sluggish largely due to the singing. It occasionally threatens to be interesting but it still mostly feels like "Made for TV adverts Art Rock"
#210/1001 🇬🇧 This is a jumble of influences but not in an entirely bad way. I hear Morricone, Brian Wilson, Kraftwerk, Beta Band etc. Throw in Rockabilly, Surf Guitar and Psychadelic Synths and you are part of the way there. Listened twice this morning but have largely forgotten most of it already. Best Tracks: Wor, Silver Rays, Default.
Ca me rappelle une belle période de découvertes (merci Maman) où on écoutait cet album régulièrement aux côtés d'Alt-j et autres groupes émergents - vraiment génial, à écouter sans modération Playlist pick : Wor
Actual Rating: 2.5/5
Never heard of them before, but I really liked this album. The jangly guitars were great. The album feels a little bloated, but overall a good time.
There's something of The Velvet Underground at points on this album, but it really has its own flavour, particularly in the latter third. Really enjoyable.
Default is fun. Complicated feelings about love's dart. I mean it's fine and it's ambitious and interesting, it just isn't a sound I feel the need to come back to.
New to me. There is quality here, an arty groove, some deft wordplay, surprising textures. It’s a few days later and it hasn’t stayed with me though, aside from my conclusion of three stars.
Weird, but not too bad. It's not something I need to hear again but it also wasn't an unpleasant time
No one will remember this album for being great. I'm going to be harsh with it because I am familiar and the exact intended audience for it. I was 23 when this came out and believed then, that it was alright. I would mix up Django Django with Alt-J a lot. Remember them? Still, it's a good, artful relic of the 2010s and they deserved their chance on the big stage. A little too weird for the radio and not innovative enough to be considered among the greats. It's way cooler than any of the stomp clap hey of their peers, but I'd say if you want to experience this style of music in its purest form, maybe go Lauren to Beta Band. 7/10
This sounds like light rock from the 60’s but it is 2012.
Has some great songs/moments but felt like a major drag which sinks the whole thing down.
good stuff
Maybe the first “nominated for the Mercury Prize” in the description record that wasn’t completely awful. Friends, it only took 1000 previous records listened to reach this true milestone.
Better than Coldplay
It was OK. I really thought it was going to hit, but many listens later it's just ok.
Exciting art pop that should be better remembered
It's ok. I remember quite liking it when it came out. It has no place on this list.
I thought this was such an interesting mix of electronica and rock. I could easily see this album being used for various montage sequences during a trippy desert road trip movie. Genuinely enjoyed it.
Kind of a neo-Beach Boys psychedelia thing. Don't know how noteworthy it really is, but it's an enjoyable listen.
I loved this album when it came out and had a lot of nostalgic feelings about it. But I’m amazed it made the list. It’s a very good pysch / pop / indie record, but I’m not sure I’d call it an essential listen. I do love how it stood out from others at the time, it’s definitely a lot more interesting and eclectic than some of the other big indie records of that time. I still enjoy it, but I think it is what it is. 3.5
How did Django Django make this list. They headlined one of the Liverpool music city festivals so I ended up seeing them way back when with no knowledge of them, and was nonplussed. 15+ years later and my opinion is unchanged. The main melody of every song sounds like a throwaway riff as part of a jam session warm up, and then it basically progresses in an obvious way. Nice enough groove most of the time but always sounds short of ideas, particularly highlighted on that Egyptian song where they just take that stereotypical sound and do not much with it. It's not so terrible as to be unlistenable but couldn't more underwhelming.
The back half of the album had absolutely zero ideas. Hail Bop is decent, but I've heard it loads of times. Overall, a little underwhelming.
Hmm. Enjoyed this largely. Perhaps reminded me a bit of that hookworms album we had? Closest thing I can pair it with anyway. Tha default track must have been on an advert or something, as I know it, but pretty sure I don't know Django Django I don't think I'll be rushing back, but I enjoyed it. Textbook 3.5
I didn't *dislike* this album, but it sounded pretty much like one song blending into the next. I didn't know DD before this, and likely won't encounter DD again.
I was looking forward to this album but it disappointed me a bit. I've listen to it before without it clicking, and it's the same again now. Sadly there wasn't anything special about it.
Trippy sounds Fave track: Default
Django Django. 3/5
Interesting album, could have been an excellent EP. 3.5
Never heard of this group before but very nice music. Reminds me of the Beta Band. Have been listening on repeat all week. Great album.
I enjoyed most of this album.
Improvisational but not very easy to listen to. I had to stop after 3 tracks because it gave me a headache.
I had only previously heard the song "Default" when I came across this album. The electric drum beats and experimental rock for the first three songs are an excellent opening to the album, but the vocals leave a bit to be desired (they sound a bit like a bored Carseat Headrest). The album has highs and lows, but the beats and electronic sounds throughout the album generally make for a pretty fun listen and pretty good working music.
This is no good for me
Modernia vähän erilaista rokkia jossa elektronisia elementtejä. Aika rauhallista tai ei siis sellaista räväkkää. Waveforms oli ilmeisesti GTA V radiossa, mutta en muista sitä ollenkaan. Parhaat: Firewater, Zumm Zumm
Zo'n originele sound, gave nummers, en mooi geheel
Excellent, I enjoyed at the time and it has aged well.
It was ok but the monotone singing got on my nerves after a while.
5/10 No es malo, pero medio aburrido. Me falto algo para que me guste mas
Fantastic, strange and catchy. I remember it well from my early 20's in Australia. The intro song through to default is a great run in on the album
A fun little album that I enjoyed. I can see why “Default” made the rounds in the indie circles back in the day.
Indie rock mixed with synth pop is always a fun combo; I can’t lie I enjoyed a bunch of this, tho not at the level that I’d listen to it again.
This really feels like the sound of that time, with a more modern indie synth-rock idea. It really has interesting and fun ideas, and I'm sure they enjoyed producing it, but I don't feel it is that refined, which makes it lose its edge. I'm also not 100% sold on his voice anyway. Also, my mother used to play Default in the car on CD with the Triple J Hottest 100 2012 edition (would make some of you feel old) when I was a kid, so I was pleasantly surprised to have that song on here.
this was a very fun album that i've taken some songs and put them in multiple playlists. glad to have met this band.
Interesting sound
Saw a tweet a few months back that says something along the lines of "There was a period in the late 2000s where every artist was trying to make their Pet Sounds". This is another one of those cases - Beach Boy inspired melodies and harmonies, modernized with some very nice sounding synths and other production. Really enjoyed this.
I really like this album. Fun and kinda quirky.
Great, another indie rock album. After yesterday's creepy, disgusting nightmare of an album, I needed something that wasn't weird and disgusting. This is not weird and not disgusting(except for the lizard thing on the cover, which is both to a mild degree). However, it's also not very interesting. While the band had some decently entertaining songs, they lack the ability to produce true bangers of songs. The vocals are uninteresting, and the lyrics are not that good either. They have some hooks, but they don't do enough to make their songs interesting. This isn't really an essential album for anyone, but at least it isn't gross pedo music(looking at you, Serge Gainsbourg, you vile piece of shit). This album is ranked #4 of 5 albums for 2012. Other 2012 albums rated by me: Blunderbuss(2/5)-4
Sure is a lot of this kind of stuff on the list.
This album confuses me a bit with the genres. The initial couple songs have a very 80s synth style, whereas the rest of the album has a very typical indie sound to it, so I didn't feel that the genres meshed too well. I do prefer the first fee tracks of this album for that reason. Just not a huge fan of the more indie styling as the album goes on. I don't hate this album but I feel that there is a a lack of variety once you hit the main portion of the album. No , not very much variation of tempo and the hills and valleys are not really present, so it does make the experience feel quite repetitive after a while. Fav Track: Default
Maximum quirk.
Pretty decent.
I was not previously familiar with the artist or album. This is a sort of indie album. The album cover made me think it might be like desert rock/stoner rock, and the Wikipedia entry talks about neo-psychedelia, but I didn't really get either very much. It was not bad but not particularly memorable either. I wouldn't mind hearing it again but wouldn't seek it out either.
Didn’t know what to expect but loved this one. Will go back to it
Not bad, but mostly too experimental for my taste. I did like the Waveforms track though.
sounds exactly like what you'd expect something called django django by django django from 2012 to sound like
This is probably one of the most awful collections of songs ever for me. Could not wait for it to be over. This influenced nothing and was special at no level ever.
Starts off really well and there are some great tunes and ideas in here, but it’s not universally strong.
This was a nice surprise.
Fun and catchy. Not really something I would put on repeat but enjoyable enough.
3/5
Hodor Hodor Hodor, Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor? Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor, Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor. Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor, Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor. Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor, Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor.
Some of this is kind of cool. I get Beck vibes here and there, and even a Bron y aur stomp Zeppelin vibe from Firewater. Cool surf guitar rif on WOR. There are some really good parts to this album, and it's something I could see myself liking more on future listens. I'll give it a high three for now, but probably could see it bumping to a four.
Correcto
Completely unfamiliar with this band. They've got a great sound, mixing vintage electronica reminiscent of Jean-Jacques Perrey with a more indie pop-rock sound. Because of that unique combination, it stands out against many of the more nondescript indie albums of the decade. It's far more interesting than most of them, and I'll definitely come back to this.
I live the introduction! Hail bop.is good, but Default is a banger! Firewater is good, too. While the album remains good after that, it does drop off a bit and not much variety. Incorporating air raid sirens into Wor.is definitely interesting. Skies over Cairo is brilliant, too.
Brutal, me encanta este paisaje. Dejé likes y promesa de reescuchar. (Encima me falta escuchar 2 temas todavia) Nota: 4.1
I feel that this album tries to be too quirky, just for the sake of it. Yes, that's Art Pop 101, I know, but it feels forced. Also, I have my questions about some of the mastering choices. Some pleasant songs though, when all comes together. 3 stars
They have a clear sound that they really push hard on this record, with reverb-y guitar, maraca percussion, and looped synthesizers abound. Often falls into a very generic territory that it does not escape from
try not to make 13 songs that sound virtually identical challenge IMPOSSIBLE
Eclectic mix of genres and sounds. Reminiscent of 60s pop, especially the Beach Boys sort of harmonies, but with super weird synth sound effects and glitches sprinkled through. The percussion on this album was interesting as well. I must say, however, that it is an exhausting sound. It gets tiring quickly and for me the album dipped down in quality in the middle a bit because of it. The last three songs were a great way to close the album.
I had high hopes for this one. Default was a banger 15 years ago. Unfortunately every song sounds like the one before it. And the Hamm Hamm song? Didn’t last more than. 45 seconds. 2/5
Bah, ruim.
Day905 - this was just the right amount of electronic to make this a decent album
If this record wasn't 15 years old I would think it was AI generated. It has no human feeling to it at all. It sounds synthetic front to back. Even the vocals sound like they have been generated by an algorithm. It kind of just drones on the whole time. And I swear there's like an undertone or something that is constantly present under the entirety of each song. I don't think this one was for me. I've heard worse albums but this is not something I would recommend or ever listen to again. 2.25/5
Good songwriting, fun spin!
*2012. British art rock. *Too electronic for me (Kraftwerk-y). *I skimmed through this album. It's not for me, although I don't hate it either. RATING - 5/10
Skies Over Cairo sounds like a Mario desert stage, its super distracting.
Heute steht "Art Rock" auf dem Programm. Ist an sich gut hörbar, etwas verspielt und der Rock fast seicht in Richtung Pop. Der Rhythmus nimmt einen aber gut mit und die Musik verbreitet gute Laune. 4/5
Okay, this was an intriguing find. For those who don't know, Django Django are an art rock band formed by four gents who met at Edinburgh College of Art. Sure, drummer and producer David Maclean had some artistic connections, but for the most part, these dudes got together and formed a band at college, not expecting the overnight success they got with their self-titled debut. It's humbling to read about such a simple beginning for a band, and it certainly helped that the album they first put out is pretty solid. Their debut is pretty hypnotic, with the band's mix of neo-psychedelia and surf rock. The well-accented percussion from Maclean, the twisting keyboards and sampling from Tommy Grace, the low-end bass from Jimmy Dixon, and Vincent Neff's warm guitar licks made for such an impeccable sound, aided by Vincent's effortless vocal delivery and the backing harmonies. Maclean's production is top-notch, making these compositions feel as expansive as the desert they invoke in their imagery. The vibes are immaculate from an instrumental standpoint. As for the lyrics, they do seem undercooked in places. I will commend the band for trying to cover a wide range of topics, including the euphoria of trying to see a comet on "Hail Bop", the night out drinking gone wrong in "Firewater", the sensations and nostalgia invoked from music in "Waveforms", the aching desperation in finding a woman on "Love's Dart", the strife to defy a fated end on "Life's a Beach", and the castaway's futile attempt at escape from the island on "Silver Rays". But now and then, I find the lyrics to be sparing in detail, as with the generalized notions of imagination and conflict on "Hand of Man" and "WOR" respectively, or noticeably repetitive as with the vocal loop on "Zumm Zumm". Either these songs needed additional work, or perhaps they could've gotten away with more pure instrumental compositions; it certainly worked for "Skies Over Clairo" with that commanding percussive beat and Egyptian-esque keyboard motif. Then again, I don't think the guys in Django Django were expecting such an overnight success from their debut album. Maclean himself thought it would be just another underground release that sold a few copies. Even if it's not perfect, I do think Django Django put out a promising debut. It's certainly got me interested in hearing more from them.
I'd never heard of this before but I really dig it! And I hadn't looked at the album date at first....thought it was a lot older. Cool stuff.
Wacky. Like the weather in Maine, if you don't like it, wait a minute. I put Love's Dart on my kitchen playlist, and Default has a cool video.
fun. was anderes. art-rock. cool. 4/5
The indie tribal/jungle/neo-white soul scene was an odd sub genre in the early 2010’s it lasted as long as it took to feel a little queasy about maybe being culturally insensitive kind of? This band, Jungle, tame impala, Chet faker to name a few. It’s strong poppy and catchy, but I can’t help but recall tiny-insta-neon party girls at music festivals wearing skimpy bikinis and native headdresses. I say this as a white man, and still forming this theory
It took a second listen, but Default is just so catchy that I was rather won over.
First few songs I thought it was electronica that was both musically rooted and also inventive, but then it became repetitive and a little dull. I might've preferred it as instrumental music, because the singing was melodically and lyrically pretty dull, without dynamics. 2.5/5.
Maybe it was the surfer meets electronica as part of the soundtrack for a Tarantino move but this was definitely not an uninteresting listen.
I did not expect to like this, because it’s “Dance” and because I had never heard of them. But some of it was great! Good beats, eclectic, psychedelic and always surprising. I’m going to have to spend more time with this album
Still prefer Devotchka’s spaghetti westerns but the rest of this was interesting. Kind of surprised me, too.
Great layering and production, 2010s indie done well.
Not for me
VERY good reminded me of talking heads actually
I'm not in the mood for weird stuff like this today. Maybe another day I would have been more willing to figure this out, but I doubt even then if it would do anything for me. The choices they make about the repetitive clicks and annoying phasing reverb just gives me a headache.
Very Beta Band. Pretty repetitive, but I like what's repeated.
Feels kinda lifeless. There's a lot of ideas here (mostly Animal Collective copyings) but for some reason it just comes across so bland and unmoving.
Usually when I hear the term "art-rock," I run for the hills. But this album genuinely wasn't bad. It had a nice groove. Sounds like an album out of time, using a lot of interesting elements. "Skies Over Cairo" was the favorite track this time.
I didn't feel anything about this. Not terrible, not great. It sort of grabbed my attention at first, but after a few tracks nothing stood out.
Walks a line between good vibes and annoying for me. Too often falls on the annoying side. Didn't hate it, but ultimately not a fan. 2.5, rounding down.
Yeah, this didn't do it for me. Here we have another questionable inclusion from the 2010s, Django Django's self-titled debut from 2012. This is, unsurprisingly, a British indie band, because of fucking course it is. The band has electronic and psychedelic elements in their music, because of fucking course they do. This album is basically just "What if the Beta Band were only somewhat boring instead of completely boring?" Fortunately, unlike those guys, I only have to listen to one album from Django Django, so I'm not as upset about this as I was with those two albums. The band's sound is alright, though nothing really stuck out to me in either a good or bad way. The vocalist was not my favorite. The writing had some nice elements to it, but it wasn't outstanding either. This album isn't bad, but I do not care about it enough to vouch for its inclusion on this list at all. I get that 2012 didn't have a ton of excellent albums out there, but surely there were better albums to include than this, right? They could've at least thrown in The Money Store. That would be a 5/5. This? Not my thing. Low 3/5.
There’s some real inspired and interesting music here. There’s also some pretty underwhelming vocals, both in content and delivery that cheapens the whole thing. Firewater is my favorite example of this, as the singer sounds like he’s rushing to fit all the words in, and none of the words are worth it.
A very nostalgic album for me. Used to listen to back in the day. Reminds me of Cabinteely Park and all that. Holds up better than I imagined
Too bland yet simultaneously too all-over-the-place for my liking. The sort of "Lazy Sunday" sounding indie music that's way too monotonous for its own good, melodically especially, but also in the very empty feel of the production. Will point out some alright moments here that I still enjoyed. 'Zumm Zumm' had a nice slick synth loop that captured the psychadelic feel the album was clearly going for, and the tribal nature of the rhythm section here gave early Eno and Talking Heads vibes. I enjoyed the popped bass groove on 'Love's Dart', again, a pretty solid core groove here. 'Wor' was a much-needed change of pace after all the slower songs here, a really solid twangy lead on this one. And the sinister synth breakdown on 'Life's a Beach' was also another standout moment. So yeah, some interesting riffs and moments sprinkled throughout, but I can't think of a single song here that I'd willingly revisit in its entirety. An album of little cool moments as opposed to solid songs.
I listened to this in college but not since. I remember thinking it was a super fun bit of sonic escapism, and after listening again, I think the same. These medieval spaghetti western bops scratch my brain. 3.5.
no -1 please
Ei niin hirveää mitä aluksi ajattelin. Moninpaikoin miellyttävääkin elektropoppia. Parempi ku mid.
Oli vähän jotain muuta kuin ärsyttävää tusina indierokkia. Siistejä juttuja isolta osin ja herätti kiinnostuksen kuunnella kyseistä artistia muutenkin. Vaatii ainakin uutta kuuntelua ja pureskelua, mutta ensifiilikset oli isolta osin positiiviset.
Is this like Math Rock or whatever they called it? Not sure how I felt about this one so I’ll give it a three and revisit at a later date.
I have very little to say about this. It's performed well, recorded well, sounds nice enough. There's just no real substance to it. I forget the songs as I'm listening to them. Very little variety, quite chill, some interesting sonic ideas. Monotonous vocals. Yeah this is certainly an album that exists. Bland and inconsequential yet pleasant enough. Gets old halfway through. Very repetetive, and what it repeats isn't that interesting.
Not bad but not something I would buy or add to my collection. 3/5
Loved this
3.2 3x reminds me of beta band and fun, but not memorable
Interesting in parts, but not compelling. Often twee, and borrowing many themes from other bands and earlier eras, without making it new. Sounds like a couple of guys in their parents’ basement having a good time, thinking they’re more clever than they are.
Largely uninteresting, unfortunately.
This sounds like modern 60s psychedelic pop/rock. Definitely a Beach Boys vibe. The music is ok, but I'm not a big fan of the vocals. Too much droning, and the harmonies just sound off on a lot of the tracks.
I had never heard this before. There is a lot of potential here, especially in The rhythms, but it just comes up a little short. It's actually not too bad, just forgettable. I had started playing it and then forgot it was on like five times. It wouldn't bother me if this was on in the background but I can't see intentionally listening to it. I don't know why, but I can picture some of the songs on this album being an opening credits scene for a medical or crime drama series
not as good as Joni Mitchell’s Blue
This was very good!
C'était plutôt sympathique, ma foi. Je suis pas ultra-fan, mais c'était beaucoup moins pompeux que ce que laissait penser l'appellation d'art rock (je n'en pense que du mal). C'était riche en chœurs et en vrai, j'avais des grosses vibes de vieux groupes des années 60/70 juste à cause de ça. Je ne sais pas si c'est volontaire ou si c'est juste moi qui délire complètement. Chaque chanson se détachait vraiment, presque un petit peu trop, j'ai trouvé l'album un peu décousu, mais pas dans le genre fun comme Into the Pandemonium (oui, je claque des références à Celtic Frost dans des contextes qui n'ont rien à voir, je fais ce que je veux), plutôt dans le genre ça manque un peu de cohérence sans avoir un côté expérimental et inattendu qui est distrayant à défaut d'être parfait. Mais allez, c'était quand même très sympa !
I’m not sure what this is. The monotone singing was definitely a choice.
Really sweet and fun
Weird mix of pop and psychedelic. Sounds like an album made earlier than 2012. Decent though!
Horrible album, parece un techno de la jungla
ta chido :·)
This is a surprisingly great album. Far from perfect, but the musical ideas are incredibly interesting, without any complicated progressions. The vocals are the thing that caught me by surprise the most, they sound the same throughout the album, which usually turns me off, but I couldn't get enough of the vocal harmonies. 4.5/5
If Brian Wilson was born in the 90s he’d want to be like Django Django
just not catchy at all
Like tell me why that wasn't bad!
Another really underwhelming post 2010 album
3.5
Im not familiar with them, but after listening to them, this may be my favorite discovery from this project do far. I love that their vocals remind me of the Moody harmonies of Heywood, Lodge, and Pender. But what really grabbed me most is the innovative cross between electronic music and Rock music. It reminds me of some of the more forward Thinking Bowie or Gabriel in spirit... I'm starting this off at a mid to light 4½★s, but I really think that this will probably be a grower I actually want to look more into this group. (4.35) ★★★★½
Very boring. 2.5 stars
I thought Django Django was alright -- kind of reminds me of a cross between Modern Guilt-era Beck and a less weird Animal Collective. "Default" and "Hail Bop" were my favorites. 3.5 stars.
What’s this? I’m seeing double! Four Django’s. I’ve been quadruple Django’d! Make sure you or your film don’t get Django Django’d (where they intersperse the final cut of your film with audio clips and soundwave images of Django Django). You can delete this Django Django nonsense and give me some Django Django Reinhardt Reinhardt instead.
Good in the sense that it’s a bit different from the usual new wave stuff you get around here, but it’s not something I’d actively listen to again
Like a modern indie Beach Boys, no songs stood out to me but enjoyable as a whole
An interesting mix between something like edm and rock, not something I would listen to regularly but happy to have heard it.
For some reason, this is just not working for me. I think it might be the kind of record that rewards repeated listening, but on first pass, I am not really invested enough to put forth that effort.
I don't think I have ever heard of Django Django. Maybe something will sound familiar as I go through this. I have zero expectations so curious what this is like. Thoughts after listening 3 times... First 2 songs were pretty cool. "Default" sounded familiar, but I don't know why. A bunch of this kind of reminds me of The Beta Band which I first heard through this website, and I liked that one (3 stars). Also hear inspiration from 60s psychedelic pop/rock like Beatles, Beach Boys, and even The Kinks. I ended up liking 11 of the songs - everything except "Firewater" and "Zumm Zumm". This was a great surprise! Liked songs on Spotify: 11/13 Rating: 4/5
Started off as a 3 and worked its way down to a 2 with its repetitive songs without much energy
So nearly top marks for this album. The energy of it is fantastic, built by brilliant songwriting, atmospheric vocals and electronic grooves that keep you hooked from start to finish. Each track just has such a great imagination to it, with indie guitars mixed with synths, reverb and upbeat rhythms that get the foot tapping without you even realising. The entire listen is so fun as a result.
I kinda like this except for the singers. I’ll probably never come back to it, but I don’t hate it at all. Actually, the more I listen, the less I’m into this. It wears on you. I think a lot of this feels like it goes nowhere. And I really hate the singers. I don’t even think they’re objectively bad singers, but somehow they take away from any enjoyment I’m able to scrape out of this. It’s the damndest thing. 6/10
Some great ideas on this. I say ideas, because the delivery of said ideas can be a bit lacking, but it's still worth grooving along to.
Better than a lot of the newer albums on the list, but still falls prey to one of the biggest issues I have with newer bands - though this is a full band, if the bassist and/or guitarist were to not show up for a gig, it would make literally no difference in the sound of many of their songs. Didn't hate the listen. Wouldn't listen again.
I enjoyed Django Django "Django Django" much more than I thought I would.
This self-titled debut from Django Django definitely leans into a stripped-back, simpler take on that classic Beatles vibe, but unfortunately, it didn't quite land for me. I found the songs to be a bit too repetitive, and even though each track is its own thing, the riffs seemed to drag on for way too long. There are also some country-leaning elements sprinkled throughout, and since country is one of my least favorite genres, that really brought down my enjoyment of the album. I struggled to pick out a standout track as nothing really jumped out at me, and ultimately, I couldn't even make it through the whole record because it just wasn't my thing. Overall, this album failed to hold my interest and was ultimately a disappointing listen.
It attempts a quirky, psychedelic art pop sound, but it ultimately feels like a superficial, modern imitation of far superior 60s and 70s pioneers. There is no real progression here, just a retread of old ideas.
Šiaip superinis pasiklausymas
idk what to do with this. I liked some songs and didn't like others.
This album is very weird, but I like it. It's repetitive but never gets annoying. I would show this album to friends.
2.5
Enjoyed this one, had a modern whimsical feel and unique to what I’ve heard so far on this list. The vocals do seem like another instrument which means that they blend perfectly into the tracks but then it also means they don’t have an emotional punch, which I felt was lacking after the first few tracks. Overall good sound but lacking that lasting impact of a 5.
Meh
if this was made in the 80s I would be like "WOW THIS IS GOOD" but otherwise it is pretty mid and does not belong on this list
It was fine, some enjoyable pop songs. Nothing fantastic but nothing objectionable 5/10.
it's not bad album, but the vocals annoyed me
Saw someone call this "The Beta Band for the 2010s" and you know what, that is more accurate than I think most people are going to give credit for. I'm also going to take the time to call out how insane it is that the Beta Band have an album on this list, and it isn't The Three EPs (I know it's a compilation. I don't care. You want to talk experimental and essential?).
Dirge
Wanted to like this more than I did. Repetitiveness in these songs definitely has a lot of charm and makes them super catchy and fun, but over 40 minutes of that somehow feels like too much. 3⭐️
The band finds one sound and reuses it multiple times with little variation. The production was kind of interesting at first, but it got very repetitive very quickly. Therefore, I give this album two Djangos out of a possible five Djangos.
I'd never heard of Django Django, but I can't stop listening to this album. The music is so good, so interesting, genre-spanning... Somehow it manages to be both wildly experimental and yet satisfying to the ear. I suspect it's the harmonies. The production is lush, the arrangements never dull and despite much repetition it never feels boring or dragged out. Absolutely love this one, and will have to check out more Django Django. (Side note, usually when I get a band with a weird name or a self-titled album I turn my review into another episode in a saga detailing the great band wars (a fictitious conflict that I posit began when The Band was challenged for supremacy by The The). Django Django and their album "Django Django" would've been prime material for my stupid joke, what with the fourfold use of the word "Django"... but the album is so good I can't actually bring myself to do it - I can't help but feel it deserves a genuine review.)
Nice production, interesting ideas, however, it's a bit messy and unfocused. A bit bloated. Nice soundtrack for a roadtrip in Sedona or getting high with your friends. Not my cup of tea, but I can appreciate the artistry.
Standouts Waveforms Zumm Zumm WOR ... Silver Rays
Not too bad
Another band which I feel is simply mid and would never be considered “must listen” material. But at least they weren’t complete shit, and didn’t merely make noise or scream at you.
Bad bad.
I really liked this! It was experimental but at the same time it knew who it was and did it well.
Really solid.
unexpectedly eclectic, dynamic
I do like this genre and era of music (this does sound like yeasayer) but this was just fine - nothing grabbed me - similar rating to the Janet Jackson album I gave a 4 but should have given a 3
Too samey after a bit. There is a fine line between interesting/catchy and annoying.
I kind of liked this album. It's rock with just the right amount of electronic thrown in, and it has plenty of harmonies. It's a high-3 for me.
If this had leaned into the Beta Band vibe you get with songs like 'Default' more, I would have given it a 4 star. But there's another that roams too far afield into sort of a neo-exotica realm, that drags it down a little.
Expected to like this given it's got such heavy Beta Band vibes and kind of sounds like Animal Collective at times. But somehow, mashing those two things up didn't actually improve either.
1001 albums so boring you'll want to die
was dreading this one a little but surprisingly good; fun and inventive
They took all of the standard alert sounds from an iPhone and made an album with them. It’s not as bad as it should be, but I didn’t enjoy it.
A cool modern take on surf rock.
guess this is also one band that have been hailed as the savior of rock and roll... but theyre just kinda ok im hesistating on giving the 4 but im not doing it 3.75/5
Definitely not what I was expecting by the name. This sounds so 80s for something from 2012.
I feel slightly harsh giving this a three. Truth is, it found it pleasant and quite familiar but not especially exciting. There are a few elements of weirdness that make me think if I go back and listen again that I’ll rate it higher.
Oh yeah, I remember that Default song now. The rest is a tad bit repetitive but otherwise fine. 2.5⭐️
This is awesome. I've heard these guys' name before but never the music. Nice find by the list. ALMOST makes up for the plethora of Elvis Costello albums....almost.
This is awesome already!! The introduction leading directly into hail bop! It’s the music that really is standing out for me. The vocals are alright and don’t take away from it, but the music itself is the highlight. Default had such a cool sound to it and was unexpected. Firewater is the first one of which I found that the vocals were the main focus. I thought it ended up being pretty great. Waveforms had awesome vocal effects to it. Zumm Zumm was aptly named. Loves Dart was awesome! Wor was also a ton of fun. I unfortunately don’t have anything specific for the rest of the album as I was completing work whmis training for the 5th time and was only half paying attention. Genuinely did enjoy this album though!! I think it’s solid, fun, and different. 4/5 ⭐️ 124/1089
another project i was simply not in the mood to hear. 2.5--i was bored and annoyed the whole time
Extremely well produced, this albums sounds fantastic. I love that this band leans so hard into their particular spaghetti western/space opera aesthetic, even if it is somewhat silly in places. Like so many albums on here, with a bit of judicious editing this would be a classic.
On their debut album Django Django takes the weirdness of the Beach Boys' *Pet Sounds* and pushes it a *hair* further, but certainly not far enough to avoid sounding like a copyist. (Could be worse though, at least they're not taking their inspiration from Three Dog Night or Grand Funk Railroad.) The multitracked vocals are also a real distraction - I'm not saying this is an attempt to cover up the fact that they don't have anyone strong enough to be the lead vocalist, but I guess we'll never know (since they ain't letting go of that idea, ar least not on this record).
Not bad, but not particularly interesting, or exciting, or… good either. Very much a “why is this here” entry on the list.
I found this kind of nice to listen to while I was working.
Boring music that I didn't like
Psychedelia so good that they named the band twice.
Overall: 4/10 Fine music, but nothing really stood out as memorable. It went in one ear and out the other. Fav Song: Love's Dart
British Art Rock color (or shall we say colour) me intrigued. It reminds me a lot of the Beta Band and that is not a bad thing, inf fact this is a good thing cause I like the Beta Band. While not a great album and pretty good album I would not change the radio dial (or new playlist for the youngs) if they came on.
Super
better than I thought it would be based on the album cover and first few minutes. like a boppier more upbeat Air.
When old guys like me say modern "music" sucks. This is why. 1
Highlights: Hail Bop, Default, WOR and Life’s a Beach. 3.4
прікольний тріп
Fun first impression!
I like the Super Furry or Beta Band vibes and listened to this a bit when it came out. It's still decent. Oddly, I can't really remember it that well and on playback only the 'hits' spark any memory, which probably speaks volumes of the albums staying power.
Just want to understand why this garbage is in here
Отсылка сразу и к кино, и к программированию What is this, a cross-over episode?
Довольно неожиданный пик, но музыка интересная, что-то в ней есть. Когда не просто психодел ради психодела
Как же плохо состарится этот альбом… От Waveforms захотелось дэнсить, но в остальном что-то просто как три копейки. Тогда, конечно, заходило на ура. Вот так и живем на автомате мышечной памяти. Но 4 поставлю из-за ностальгии и доброты душевной. Хотя все-таки 3. Никакой доброты сегодня.
Камбуча тайп оф мьюзик. Пока слушал потерял те незначительные остатки тестостерона, которые у меня были
Чет прям душно
очень понравилось, одно из редких открытий для меня из этого списка альбомов, 4.5 даже готов проставить и пару песен в liked добавлю
I liked this a bit more than I thought I would.
Une découverte pour moi. Agréablement surpris. La petite sphère électro mise à part, je fais un lien avec un groupe dans lequel je jouais et qui s'appelait Nicole (prolongation dans le temps de Lila dit ça). Les gens nous comparait, à tort selon moi, à Avec pas d'casque; je viens de trouver une comparaison plus plausible. (J'aime beaucoup Avec pas d'casque by the way)
Je vais refaire la joke ici (désolé Guillaume): je pense qu'ils se sont trompés d'année, c'est 1968 pas 2012. Grosses vibes summer of love avec un peu d'électro en background, j'aime bien! M. Dimery aime ses hallucinogènes... Firewater sur le pont Victoria ça rajoutait une couche psychédélique en terme acoustique, je recommande l'expérience. J'ai moins aimé Cairo que j'ai trouvé un peu convenue.
C’est bien. Ça m’a fair penser un peu à l’album Oak Island de Nightlands. Bien aimé le cresendo pour débuter et la chanson où il semble dire « Gatineau » sans cesse
Neat album with some easy going chill vibes. I dig it.
There was a brief period in 2012 when I checked out new music on MTV (after not having done so in years) and Default was one of the songs from that time that I still listen to sometimes. I should have bought the album, it sounds like! Groovy rhythms! I usually hate vocal chopping, but here it's like an art form. There's also not a lot of it, so no chance to get tiring.
This is a pretty good album for not really listening to this genre. I really enjoyed it and the best songs were Wor and Default