Reviews (page 5 of 7)
That's an odd one.
3.5 odd but alright
It's actually pretty good. I think it's really creative and I like the way how it melds different genres into something new and fresh. That said, I'm having a bit of trouble ranking it. I think it's good, quite good, but I also think the singer's voice is a little grating, and it starts to sound a bit Arcade Fire-y at points, which is annoying. It's an easy 3.5 if we had half star rankings, but the struggle is - do I bump it to a 4 or leave it as a 3? It's better than yesterday's Minor Threat album, which I gave a 3, and probably better than the Sonic Youth album I gave a 3 the days before that. I gave Travis a 4, which is probably a bit high, to be honest, but this isn't as good as The Blueprint by Jay-Z, which I gave a 4 last week. Ultimately, I think 3, because by the time I got to the back end of the album I was more than ready to have it wrapped up.
Sounds like a mix of bands I already know but not unpleasant
Was ok
A pretty impressive fusion of synth pop, indie pop and prog rock. The songs are bright and colorful. The production is excellent. Some songs reminded me of MGMT, others a little bit of Radiohead. A lot of songs have a driving, repetitive rhythm that gives the songs forward momentum.
This is a fun listen with an abundance of comfortable energy, great pulsating synths, and a sleek voice that sits really nicely on top of the instruments. I really enjoy the continuous 4-on-the-floor beats throughout the album; it was like the momentum never really ceased and kept me going. I'm listening to this album sporadically on a frumpy Monday morning in March and I haven't had coffee yet and I wonder if the energy of these songs is keeping me awake and moving right now. I will say that it does take a little too long to get to any respite(s). It's fine, but that's one small thing I'd like more of: more dynamics in their structures so that I can breathe and lean-in and lean-out along with the flow of the music.
I had no clue what to expect. Fun! Maybe a little average, but fun! Still don’t know who these guys are, though.
Never heard of the band or the album before, but I like it. Psychedelic sort of pop, rock, other in interesting combinations. I'd listen again, it's not something I've heard before but it hooked me.
For not being my kind of style, it's quite nice. Overall sounds very modern with hints of nostalgia. It sounds like "if synthwave met indie pop/indie rock". First song is interesting, sounds experimental, drone-minimalist with some rock elements. Sounds quite unusual, yet very uplifting. Second song is very nice, rocky with comforting synths. Third song sounds chiptune and drone-like song. Sounds bright with synths. Relaxed and nice song. Fourth song starts mellow, and stays consistent. Upbeat and uplifting. Fifth song starts with an ascending tone. Drone noises. Progresses to a sound that feels like you're going through a cloud with the synths. Towards the end of the song sounds like there are good (noise?) rock solos. Sixth song starts very mellow and dreamy. Sounds electronic and experimental, yet still quite nice. Seventh song starts nice, groovy, uplifting, psychedelic. Slowly becomes very noisy (not in a good way). Experimental, noisy and quite annoying. Eighth song starts dreamy, relaxing, ambient. Psychedelic feeling, not bad. Ninth and final song starts really nice, indie rock with psychedelic elements. Quite uplifting. Comforting hazy synths come in later. Song gets better as it progresses until the end. 7 out of 10 rating. 3 out of 5 stars.
Enjoyed the album, not as good as LCD system but enjoyable nonetheless. I think reviews on here are a bit harsh, song good songs but some also not so good songs. 5/10 down the middle for me.
Day431 - right out of the gate i was thinking what is this? it got better quickly and i ended up enjoying it
In one way, there's nothing truly powerful here. MJ (the band members all have abbreviated names - don't ask me why) sustains a high register and can, in his own manner at least, belt, but he doesn't blow me away, and the blend of rock and techno is competent but not out of this world. In another way, the nine songs that comprise this record are indeed powerful, b/c they get you moving, they are bound by an authentic sweetness, and they exult in some impressive lyrical statements: 'My father waited for hours just to hear me play a note'; 'There's nothing wrong with being fragile in life'; 'Peeling out and high in the reasons you're worth knowing.' Their project exceeds what I'm assuming it had been on paper - & thus, it has success.
This was pretty good. Not at all what I expected. Noisy yet melodic.
3/5
It wasn’t bad
I'd give this a 3.5. I want to listen again.
Never heard of them but first listen quite enjoyable.
First? 3,5 /5 Again? 3/5
I had never heard of Hookworms prior to exploring this list, which is surprising, as I considered myself to be very aware of pretty much any major new release, and apparently this was their final album. I quite like this type of modern Krautrock (or faux-krautrock, given this is a british band). Groovy and psychedelic. Very curious inclusion. Key tracks: Negative Space Ullswater
I had no preconceived ideas about this because I hadn't heard of the band, Hookworms, nor the album, Microshift. I was curious so hear why an album released so recently could be so impactful and great that it can make the list. It started slowly, but really upped the beat on the second track and it continued with a satisfying mix of indie rock and electronic beats. A few tracks reminded me of Arcade Fire and the Postal Service and overall it was varied enough to keep my interest up. It started to drag a bit towards the end, but the heavy bass on several tracks kept it feeling like the party wasn't over yet. I generally liked it and while trying to separate serious abuse allegations versus the art can be difficult, I didn't read about the issues with the lead singer until after listening the first time. Now it's weighing on my mind while listening again, but it's still a worthwhile listen and this will probably remain their last album. (Minus one star for MJ for being a dick)
good, interesting
ez egészen izgalmas volt, a krautrock-hangzást nagyon adom pl. valahogy mégsem mozgatott meg, szóval lehet, hogy még visszatérek hozzá.
Pleasant yet forgettable; good background music. I don't think this really merits inclusion on the list. It's almost like LCD Soundsystem trying to perform while sleep deprived.
The Hooks!!! This album was funky but an interested choice? As they only have 6k listeners on Spotify but I was happy to listen. I was nervous it was gonna be rudimentary EDM like MJ Cole according to their bio but they actually had fun beats and the lead vocalist had a nice voice.
It's good but I am strangely not fussed. I find it weirdly forgettable
Some fine moments.
Favorite Track: Negative Space
Decent. I hear a lot of Stereolab and Animal Collective, two bands I got deeply into in 2024. I might come back to this, but I'll probably rather reach for the above bands or MGMT, LCD Soundsystem, Hot Chip etc. instead. The allegations against the singer do dampen my enjoyment of the album, particularly for some of the self-pitying lyrics contrasted with his alleged behaviour. I might track down some of the other band members more recent projects though.
This album list confuses me sometimes. How the hell did someone on the team making the list discover an album like this and deem it necessary enough for someone to listen to before their death? How could they look at all of the album from the late 2010s and determine that Microshift by Hookworms is more important and/or better than albums from actually iconic artists like Tyler, The Creator, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, and Billie Eilish? I don't get it! Whatever. At least the album is decent. Microshift isn't a bad album. It's just a weird inclusion for a list like this. Is there really anything that this album provides that I can't get from something like an LCD Soundsystem album? I don't think there is. The singing is fine. The writing isn't bad. The songs are okay. Admittedly, the style of this album is good. It's just not original or unique enough to be on this list. I know I should try to rate these albums by how much I actually like them, but I have to admit that justification (or the lack thereof) of an album's inclusion on this list has absolutely played a part in how I listen to some of these albums. I'm sorry Hookworms... is what I would say if your singer wasn't (allegedly) a creep. The album's fine, I just don't particularly care for it. It's not a crime for existing, but I seriously question its inclusion on this list. 3/5.
Despite featuring only 9 songs, they all varied wildly. Lots of crazy synths, bass, and other funky sounds. I can't say I liked all of it, but most of the songs were good. I feel like I'm landing at a high 3. Not quite a 4 in my book.
Enjoyable listen, a bit generic. The last songs in the album seem to be going for sensory overload.
Hookworms, huh? Never heard of them. Not a whole lot in the wiki about it. British rock band...let's see what it's all about.
Not a bad album. I would've liked some more inclusions of albums that came out ten years before this that sounded pretty damn close to it. But they wanted to take the safe, euro centric approach. Would I listen to again? Maybe. Doubtful.
Fun sounds; not necessarily the most memorable but I liked the album overall
ребята хотели под хот чип закосить и меня провести, но нет, только в их мечтах
I'd never heard of Hookworms before and I really enjoyed this! I'm not sure how much repeat-listen value this had for me, which is why I didn't rate it higher
Reminds me of Stereolab
Aikas nörtti. Kaipasin rosoa ja psykea vielä enemmän, jäi vähän indieksi. Parempi kuin Arcade fire kuitenkin. Hmmm, juuri ja juuri kolmonen, koska saatan palata tän bändin tuotantoon joskus.
Yeah I enjoyed it, couple skips though. Highlight: Ullswater
good vocals
Good enough songs, especially in the first half, just not sure why it’s here given everything else that came out in 2018… Will be upset if like “Be The Cowboy”, TBHC, “Little Dark Age”, or “Sex & Food” aren’t here but this is.
Not great. Not terrible.
This was pretty innovative. I dug the hard driving beats that felt like they were never going to stop.
Not bad for electronic music.
Interesting digital music.
Cool.
Quirky, not in a bad way, but a curious addition to this list.
had no previous knowledge of this, liked it enough to listen to more hookworms
why is "Opener" track five this was pleasant enough but did it need to be here?
Pleasantly surprised by this one. The vocals were meh but overall the sound was pretty interesting.
It was fine. Not very memorable
Love a lot of the music. Really put off by the vocals though. And isn't this guy an abuser?
Easy to forget
Strong start and lost its way later.
2018, a simpler time when WFH was a crime Pre pandemic pre-post-punk being endemic Catchy songs from Leeds Just what a dreary Tuesday needs And what a lovely cover indeeds
Very middle of the road indie psych dance record from the 2010s. It was fine, nothing wrong with it, nothing great about it.
Partially not boring
Interesting, kind of a mix of modern indie rock with New Wave?
I'm convinced that Robert Dimery has listened to only 10 albums since 2017, and every single one automatically gained a spot on this list. I mean, this is a perfectly alright record with some interesting and even pretty accomplished production, albeit with a definite lack of distinct personality and purpose. It's kind of cool as an underappreciated project, but how that got it its spot on the list as opposed to all those other great, missing albums from the same year is nothing short of perplexing.
Solid, but non-transcendent indie/alt-y rock blending math rock, chillwave and slowcore, and the odd shoegazing bit. Stereolab is the obvious comp, in terms of kids having fun with synthesizers and sequencers, but making the comp would flatter MS. It's all a touch too synth-y, as well as being occassionally over-reaching. What gets catchy doesn't stay catchy, which is why one is a bit surprised not to like it more. "Shortcomings," last track, is quite good, easily best song, with some New Order and DCFC overtones. Editors damn with faint praise, which feels about right.
Never heard of them before. It was enjoyable, but nothing that new or unique (in 2018) that I would have had to hear before taking the final slumber.
This is pleasant but nothing special. There are moments when I thought it was going to be more interesting than it was, particularly the tracks with a more electronic bent. However, the guitar parts of the album have a faint whiff of the landfill about them. Ullswater was probably the only song I'd go out of my way to listen to again.
This is real nice
Very neutral. Not bad or good
Compleet onduidelijk wat dit album doet in de lijst van 1001 albums. Microshift is een plaat uit 2018 en kan dus teren op drie decennia alternative en indierock. Want Hookworms klinkt op deze plaat als veel andere rock-bands. Met name door de drone-sound klinkt Microshift als bands als Spiritualized, LCD, Hot Chip, etc. De gitaar-riffs doen me denken aan bijvoorbeeld Franz Ferdinand of the Strokes. De stem van de zanger lijkt op die van Brandon Flowers, van the Killers. Waar sowieso de muziek veel gelijkenissen mee vertoond. Dus, uniek? Nee, absoluut niet. Populair? Nee, slechts 2 nummers halen de 1 miljoen streams op Spotify! Matige muziek dan? Ook niet! Ik ga hier eigenlijk best lekker op. 7/10 Highlights Negative Space Static Resistance
'Opener' is a killer tracks, and I seem to recall 'Negative Space' being all over commercials at one point. But it might just be because there was a period in the 2010s where every indie-electro band tried to sound the same. Why are Hookworms included in the list? Absolutely no idea, and the wiki really does not help.
It’s good. It’s not great, but it’s good. There’s very little information on this record - and I have a hard time understanding why it should be a necessity to listen to this album.
Contrary to the rather mediocre reviews from the community, I didn't think the album was that bad. It won't be part of my daily stream, but it was quite interesting in parts. 3/5
This album sorta passed me by. I liked it ok, but also I don't really understand why this is on the list because it seems like Animal Collective or MGMT, but 7 years too late. 2.75/5
Albumi #88, 24.10.2024 Hookwormsin kolmas ja viimeinen albumi vuodelta 2018. Kiinnostavaa space rockia tai noise rockia soittava leedsiläisyhtye on mielenkiintoinen uusi tuttavuus iljettävästä nimestään huolimatta.
OK.
Decent background vibe. Enjoyed listening to it while working.
First song is amazing, second one is also good but the rest is kinda hit or miss for me.
Good alt album. Pink Floyd isn’t at a few moments
Not really into that style, but not bad
This is a late-2010s rock album if I've ever heard one. It's sprawling and anthemic and a bit labored. I'm glad I've heard it, because I never would have otherwise, but I'm not sure I'll revisit. Someone somewhere will absolutely love this thing. Highlights: Ullswater, Boxing Day, Shortcomings
I'm a little confused why this super obscure album was on the list but it wasn't bad. My favorite song was definitely the last one.
Another run of the mill, assumedly British, indie rock project that will leave you scratching your head “why did I HAVE to hear this one?” (2.5/5)
I liked the first few songs but it felt front loaded. Reminded me of the band Does It Offend You Yeah. From the 4th song on it was pretty meh, Shortcomings was a bit better but too little too late. Also probably the most questionable pick I've had so far, a 2018 release with less than 2M listens on the top song - how many of those were from people following this list? Seems like a friend of the editor. Favorite songs were: 1. Negative Space 5/10
This put me much in mind of Tame Impala, and I was never that big on Tame Impala. It was fine, but I'm just not a fan of that flavor of psychedelic revival. No real standout tracks, and none that I strongly disliked. 5/10 Album cover: (B-) It's a cool graphic, but it really looks like a graphic design student project. It feels a bit overly "designy". Also the trippy orb again reminds me of that Tame Impala album cover.
It was fine. But not sure why this album was included in the list over countless other indie bands of the time with a very similar sound.
Background vibes
Never heard of them but not bad
For as much as I think records like this shouldn't be on a list of this caliber, I wasn't entirely displeased with this thing by the time I was done. It's some good psychedelia and all those ambient droning intros and interludes admittedly sound great like with that 3-and-a-half-minute intro to 'Opener'. Vocally, the guy reminds me of the vocalists of groups like Animal Collective - it's melodically sound and leans into its pop-sensibilities. I also really enjoyed the duet, 'Each Time We Pass,' with those female guest vocals. I also thought the closing track was pretty neat. Yeah not too mad about this one - it's an interesting fusion of genres and super light on the ears. Can't say I was blown away though, by 2018 the sonic ideas presented here had already been exhausted in prior years.
Pretty enjoyable overall. Standout songs: Static Resistance Ullswater Shortcomings
While I think this is a very left field pick for something out of the late 2010’s, it deserves to be here. I just wish there were more albums from its time. I hear a lot of Spiritualized in these guys. They do the same exercise of taking a musical idea and letting it grow its own atmosphere over a few minutes. The abrupt ending of the song Boxing Day was really cool, caught me off guard. And Reunion will be used in the ambient playlist going forward too. Hard working 3 almost a 4
Good
Interesting
I hadn’t heard of this band before, which always intrigues me with the more recent albums. After reading about the band I have a feeling the allegations stopped them really breaking through. Putting that aside this is a really Good album, good mix of indie dance rock, which I’m glad I listened to, not sure it will be one I’ll come back to Though, but time will tell.
It’s a solid album a bit boring in some places but generally a nice enough listen though the allegations against the singer kinda irk me. 3/5
Meh. Foster the People × Passion Pit × Animal Collective. Kinda derivative of better 2010s indie groups. Neat electronics tho
This album grew on me, not fantastic, but got better as it went along.
Ok but nothing mind blowing
Microshift is the third studio album by Hookworms, originally released in 2018. This was some pretty run-of-the-mill 2010s indie. Lots of electronic influence one here. I hear some Kraftwerk and even some Spiritualized influence. The songs are alright. Nothing really stood out to me as amazing. This sound was a dim-a-dozen in 2018. This is the most recent release by the band listed on Spotify. Their monthly listeners is fairly low, too. It seems they've been inactive for a while. I was curious as to why this band seemed dead. Reading through their Wikipedia and... yeah. Pretty much what we've come to expect from many modern bands unfortunately.
It's actually quite good. Not unique or innovative but solid with all the notes in the right place. Not a 1001 album but ok.
Actually really liked the composition of this album from 2018, good song blending and had an enjoyable retro synth sound. Very under-listened
Pretty good I liked it. Music had already been done. Yet still cool they keep up after 40 years and keep doing it right
Energetic and catchy. It has a lot of sounds-like moments. Good vibes
Didn't love it
3 decent disliked the vocals
Hm. An odd entry in this collection, although I was a bit disappointed that the tantalizing Daft-Punk-like opening riff to the album settled into a less interesting song (although I like the use of the term "negative space"). Overall, this seems fine as an album, but not particularly distinctive, and it feels like this album's release was probably a lot more impactful to Hookworms fans than everybody else. I did enjoy "Ullswater" and "Opener" from start to finish, and with nice transitions between their surroudning tracks. But overall I guess I'm not all that drawn to their mix of emo-rock and electronica, if that's a fair description of their style. Wikipedia wasn't much help in figuring out why this album (or band) was included, with one of the shortest album entries I've seen so far. I *did* like reading a largely indecipherable summary by a music critic (referring to their 2011 EP release): "an epic 26 minutes of sub-Zabriskie Point ambient road-movie heat haze-on-the-road sonic wipeout of the post-Loop variety." I'm not sure whether this album continues that vibe or not, as I'm not even sure about most of the quote's references, but it sounds kind of cool. I couldn't find an online copy of the "1001 albums" book to figure out why Robert Dimery wanted to include the album, but most of the Metacritic-sourced critics' reviews suggest that this album was a transformative leap for the band, but from where and to where is a mystery (to me). Also a bummer to read that the band abruptly disbanded not long after this album was released, largely based on a social media storm surrounding accusations of sexual assault by the lead singer. Not the way anyone wants to go, but also not the way anyone wants to be treated.
I actually remember listening to "The Hum" when they sent it in college and enjoying it so am surprised this band is making an appearance on this list. Particularly with such a recent album. That being said, it's pretty solid. Cool use of electronics in a new wave(New Order) on the start of Negative Space. Gets a little more psychedelic/garage-y over time. "Each Time We Pass" and "Soft Season" are really pretty excursions but otherwise there seems to be a formula of a fairly midtempo/driving beat and a jam/hook the band will play on until they get all their ideas out. Not in a bad way by any means but some experiments work better than others. This will make me upset if this list doesn't have a Ty Segall or Thee Oh Sees record as this band feels like a decent band within the genre but not as groundbreaking. Good record otherwise.
3.5/5. Was pleasantly surprised by this one, they were on Domino Records which is a pretty reliable label in terms of quality. They also broke up because one of the members had SA allegations thrown against him, that obviously taints their image for me.
Gave it a 3 as this is the most average album I’ve had so far!! Not sure if this was the best of 2018 perhaps that was a bad year!!
Probably 3.5★? Enjoyed this a lot, but less so on relistens.
It's pretty good. Not spectacular but it was a decent enough listen. Surprised me a bit in a good way.
Well the band’s wiki site reads like a melodrama. This is a band I have definitely never heard of. However I found this album to be quite enjoyable. The synths are prominent &, for once, I don’t mind. The music is so varied. They don’t stick to any particular road - they’re all over the place. Wiki describes them as a neo-psychedelic band. Whatever, I enjoyed it.
Boring
Decent - enjoyable listen
Only managed to listen once and sounds alright. Needs further listens.
Pretty good electronic psych rock album, but I really don't get how it's supposed to appear on this list. At this point, many more albums made a much bigger impression in the psychedelic rock universe : King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, Thee Oh Sees... Hell, even Tame Impala isn't on this list. Are you guys just adding album that won a prize? Because time proves that a prize doesn't make an album a cult one. Just hire somebody else to update the book if you can't keep up.
not bad not exciting
Interesting album, can't quite figure out the vibe its going for but it switches between rock/shoegaze/krautrock.
Sounds like James Addiction meets Depeche Mode. Hookworm is a band I’ve never heard of but this album was fun to explore. Is it worthy of being on the list? No. But it isn’t miserable.
This album started off decent enough with Static Resistance and Ullswater as songs standing out for me. But then it seem to turn into too much dance pop music and some too long sings. It wasn't terrible, but nothing seemed to grab my attention until Boxing Day and that was the shortest song off the album. Btw, only 197 days until Boxing day for all you Canadiens out there. And only about 8-9 more days until Canada goes another year without a Stanley Cup winner. Overall, the album was ok. Nothing great, but it was a decent listen. While I let the genre play out at the end of the album, I heard another song by these guys, sung by the girl singer, called The Impasse. This was an in your face, punk kinda song. Think I would have enjoyed whatever album that was, more than this but here we are. Just ok for me here. I'll go with a 3.
Sweet little art rocky post punky album with electronic bits. Cool
Very strange and different. But not horrible. Nothing really jumped out at me as being great or terrible. Had it as background music.
Well that was a bit of pretentious non-event. Nothing terrible but nothing groundbreaking
??? (Pretty decent actually)
I am highly disappointed with this album, and I'm unsure as to why. I know nothing of the band, the music inside, or even why it had a mini-Renaissance as something popular enough to make the rounds, but there was some part of me that was intrigued by that elusiveness, and wanted to see what this was all about. So, finding out it's a half-baked, very commercial impression of indie acts from the 2010s such as MGMT, Tame Impala, and any other act you may hear in a hybrid car commercial was really a bummer. The real crime here is that it sounds like it was made purely to be commercial, rather than just finding unexpected success, and that rubs me the wrong way. There are glimmers of something promising, as they have decent build-ups that promise something greater, and even a few tracks here worth checking out, but once you hit the six-minute mark and nothing of great importance has happened still, or you've sifted through thirty minutes of songs to find that one track, you tend to just feel there a tad defeated. It is completely competent music making, and I feel the mix of LCD Soundsystem and Can is an intriguing one, but it rarely works here. If anything, the standout to me was the short interlude Boxing Day because it is unlike anything else on the album. It's loud, it's quick, and it stops in the middle of its build-up to go fuck off somewhere else, and I really appreciate that, because it defies every expectation so far. I can see this being a lot of people's cup of tea, just because it is so accessible due to its bubbly, sugar-coated take on psych-rock, but acts like Stereolab were doing that exact style twenty years earlier, and they did it far better. Again, technically good, but I wanted more.
Didn't love it, didn't hate it
I was fully prepared to hate this and I didn’t. Not sure it was an album I needed to hear before I died, but it’s not terrible. It’s also not special either.
it was all very good and washed over me and flowed pleasantly but i can't lie by the halfway mark i was itching for some variety in the sounds i was hearing & it became very hard to not skip the 2nd half of every song
3.5
Never heard of the band, don’t think I’ve heard any of their songs. No expectations going in. This was cool. Each track really seems to build on itself as it progresses. There’s layer upon layer until it peaks. And that’s cool because a lot of bands get right to the hook. Not this band. They take their time. To the point where some of the longer tracks are almost too long. They teeter on the edge of overstaying their welcome, but they don’t. The sound is also cool, combining elements of 60’s and 70’s rock with modern sensibilities and production. Space rock feels, and some psychedelia thrown in. This was a vibe for sure. Overall I liked it but didn’t love it. Would give it a second listen and could easily see it growing on me. But for now, 3 stars. Standout tracks: Negative Space, Static Resistance, Ullswater, Shortcomings
Fine. Nothing jumped out at me as being exceptional.
This was new to me, and it was pretty good! Got a little nervous when the album was described as electronica, but it’s more electronic elements mixed with garage rock revival. Much more my style. That said, there are some songs where it feels the embellishments are there because there’s not really a song. Still, a good time.
This was fine. I’ve had a complicated relationship with electronica during this project, but I think I’ve found that I’m OK with actual songs with electronica backing (Bjork). I didn’t hate this, but it had very little impact on me. So, little in fact that I was listening to this on my earbuds while cleaning the kitchen and almost asked Alexa to play something until I remembered I already was.
Good background music for work.
Better than a 3 stars but slightly lower than a 4. The Soft Season and Reunion are not that good. Every thing is catchy and enjoyable. 3.5
3.5
Catchy 3.5
It's ok. Gets a bit repetitive. Possibly more of a 3.5, but not a 4
2.5 rounded up
Im definitely all for separating the art and the artist, but it does make it less enjoyable. Fun album for sure! Had never heard of it so pretty exciting to find something fun, but don’t think I’ll continue listening.
This was a pretty cool album! Kind of Tame Impala vibes, I liked the instrumental layering
This would be a good album to listen to when smoking. I think tame impala does this style of music better but still enjoyable
Not a bad listen. Beta Band vibes, but wasn’t something I’d listen to again. 3/5
Hadn't heard them before. I like the electronic vibe to it. Sounds different than other generic BritPop
Fine for a background listen - doesn't seem like any great inspiration behind it, and based on a quick lookup maybe certain members of the band were distracted by troublesome diversions.
Synth punks. I could have been convinced to drop a 4 on these guys, but these songs really didnt need to be 6,7,8 minutes long. Lets get in and out in 3, boys.
Space rock. Ni fu ni fa.
I enjoyed this. The first track is a belter! Surprised I've not come across them before. Tails off later though.
A tale as old as my experience with this list: Strong first half, underwhelming second half. Album would be a lot better if the lengthy songs were tighter and there weren’t so many synths interludes that barely added anything. Top tracks: Negative Space, Static Resistance, Ullswater
Pretty solid neo-psychedelia with krautrock vibes. I could probably come back to this, 3.5 for now (with some room to grow probably).
Pleasant listen.
Only heard first track.
Oh well. Take one third of Neu!, one third of Hot Chip, and one third of Arcade Fire, and you get this album. Not so bad, thanks to the ingredients. But quality-wise and intensity-wise, the whole things leans harder towards Hot Chip territory than to Neu! soundscapes, quite unfortunately. Motorik is quite a tricky genre to handle : if you do not develop your songs long enough, they may come off as half-baked and not mesmerizing enough ; but if they go on for too long without the properly controlled, "less-is-more" dynamics, they will wear out their hypnotic welcome quicker than intended. Hookworms chose the second option. Wish they could have found a more convincing middle-ground here. To focus on the positive side of things, the first five tracks are pretty good overall, in spite of how unnecessary long three of them are. The synth bass *hooks* (ha ha) and other digital tidbits are what sustains your attention, and the vocal parts, harmonies and chord changes are somewhat enticing, even if they don't always gel well with the relentless grooves behind them. Maybe taking out and then re-adding some of the instrumental layers at some critical points of the recording / mixing process might have made those tunes sound way better. Because, as they are now, the daunting "blocks" those songs are made of *never* build up to any clear, impressive climax. Which is, obviously, a missed opportunity. Besides, the second part of the album is quite a borefest. It explores ideas that may remind you of other, more famous acts (good ones like Animal Collective, or slightly overrated ones such as Tame Impala). Yet those ideas are never transcended into something that would feel personal or heartfelt. "Cold" music can be invigorating sometimes. But Hookworms's music was more akin to "medium-temperature". And this not in the sense of "cool" or "warm", mind you. Browsing through the web, I've learned more about the band's incredibly harsh "curse" during its short life, which prevented them to reach the ambitions they probably aimed at on a commercial and artistic viewpoint (apart from a few glowing reviews in prominent British music sites and magazines at the time, plus this slot on the 1001 Albums project). There were not one but *two* flooded studios owned by people from the band, loss of gear and recordings, deaths in the their entourage, long depressive phases for their singer... Under that light, it feels like the sexual and psychological abuse allegations against Hookworms' frontman, which effectively ended the band's trajectory--allegations stated by a third party, and never investigated by a court of law anyway--come off as one of those rare cases where such events could have stemmed from "grey areas", involving protagonists who were both ill-equiped to deal with each other. Of course, no one will really know for sure. That third party recanted her initial accusations, wishing good luck to "MJ" for the rest of his career as a musician (good luck with that indeed, lol!). And in return, the singer ended his legal action to ask reparations for libel and defamation. Out of court, out of sight. Case closed, if not solved. One of the band members, Sam Shjipstone, found a way to bounce back, however. Indeed he is now a member of Yard Act, and they're surely at the top of the hype machine these days, somewhere in between post-punk / indie-"rock" and post-disco. And the man also plays with other former Hookworms alumni in Holodrum--this time more disco than post-punk or motorik, and surely less interesting than the band they're all from. Wherever "MJ" is now, one can surely imagine how bitter he must feel about all this... All of this might be instructing to a degree, but we're getting away from what to do with *Microshift*'s inclusion in this list. Yet this whole music-business-related soap opera could actually bring us to other considerations that are far more relevant for this 1001 Albums project. Maybe indeed the lesson to learn here is that selecting this recent, decent-yet-not-"stellar" record--which will most probably be "erased" in subsequent editions of the book anyway--was not such a good idea after all. And this even before that whole abuse allegation thing. Actually, the more I think about it, the more I feel like including albums from the last ten years or so is a little vain. I didn't think this at all when I started this project two years ago. But now I think you need time to accomplish its good work on those potential candidates for "essential" records--you need to wait a little to see if they age that well, both for their music, or for the circumstances that surround them, or for what they mean for "culture" overall. And you need time to separate the whiff from the chaff. Don't get me wrong, there are albums from the last ten years or so I *do* feel strongly about. But everyone using this app does, and given that "monoculture" is a dead and buried thing, no "immediate" consensus can be found when it comes to *today*'s essential albums. When I see the records from 2018 singled out by a couple of reviewers here, it makes me want to laugh. But if they saw my own selection, they would prabably roll on the floor with laughter as well. That death of the "monoculture" might be a sad state of affair for some, and a good news for others. But it is what it is. Still giving *Microshift* a grade, though: 2.5/5 for the purposes of this list, rounded up to 3. It may sound severe, but bear in mind that if I translate this grade for more "general" purposes, following my usual method automatically adding 5 points to that first grade, the end result for this record is 7.5/10 (2.5 + 5). Not so bad, huh? Number of albums left to review: 261 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 323 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 184 Albums from the list I won't include in mine (many other records are more important to me): 238 (including this one) End note (a long one): I thought about what I said about the end of *monoculture" in my review. To give you a precise example of what I meant, here is a list of my 50 favourite albums from 2018, right after this end note. Surely some of my choices could look "weird" for different stripes of listeners out there. But maybe indeed, some of those choices make more sense than *Microshift* to some of you Whatever the case may be, don't hesitate to click on the "like" button if that list speaks to your soul. But you can also click that "like" button if it doesn't, actually. 😆 By doing this, you would signal to me that you agree with my overall point--that there is no such thing as a "monoculture" now, and that all of us are little Robert Dimerys desperately trying to make sense out of the information overload out there. Hope I haven't added too much to that overload in my lengthy review, and that at least parts of the latter were interesting or instructive for you. So here's the list (number 1 to 50). Take care, y'all. Low - Double Negative Shame - Songs Of Praise IDLES - Joy As An Act Of Resistance Young Fathers - Cocoa Sugar Daughters - You Won't Get What You Want The Armed - Only Love Parquet Courts - Wide Awaaaaake! Ty Segall - Freedom's Goblin The Breeders - All Nerve Beak> - >>> Say Sue Me - Where We Were Together Suuns - Felt Tropical Fuck Storm - A Laughing Death In Meatspace Beach House - 7 Kids See Ghosts - Kids See Ghosts Amen Dunes - Freedom No Age - Snares Like A Haircut Adrianne Lenker - Abysskiss Superchunk - What A Time To Be Alive Stephen Malkmus And The Jicks - Sparkle Hard Ty Segall - Ty Segall 21Savage / Metro Boomin - Without Warning. Caroline Rose - LONER Litovsk - Dispossessed Nils Frahm - All Melody Car Seat Headrest - Twin Fantasy (Face To Face) Cardi B - Invasion Of Privacy SOPHIE - Oil Of Every Pearl's Un-Inside Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever - Hopes Down Denzel Curry - TA1300 Beechwood - Songs From The Land Of Nod Pusha T - Daytona Mac Miller - Swimming Travis Scott - Astroworld xxx tentacion - ? JPEGMAFIA - Veteran Preoccupations - New Material Hot Snakes - Jericho Sirens The Soft Moon - Criminal J Cole - KOD Birds in Row - We Already Lost the World Cloud Nothings - Last Building Burning Deeper - Deeper Nas - Nasir Superorganism - Superorganism Mount Eerie - Now Only Navy Gangs - Poach Yo La Tengo - There's A Riot Going On Anna Von Hausswolf - Dead Magic Mitski - Be the Cowboy
Reminder me of the late 89s techno
Difficult album to rate. Very specific style, songs with a constant beat throughout, building on it to better or worse results. Quite good vocal, but otherwise a very much hit or miss. I wasn't entirely convinced by it though, so I will give it a three for today and then grab it again someday to give it another go.
faltou coesão? falando assim me sinto avaliando uma redação hahaha pontualmente jovem e edgy, mas o conjunto ultrapassou barreiras de bom gosto musical e não deu certo. seria um 2,5, de novo a falta de décimos...
É, bit noisy sometimes. Tiveram bons momentos. Não é um 4, nem um 3... 3,5/5
It was aight some good ones
Pleasant surprise until I googled the band… it’s hard to disentangle the accusations from the music (and should I?). The first song made me worried I was going to hate this but when we got harmonization and unique cadence and rhythm in the songs, I really liked it. I would say it’s a 3.5 but I’m rounding down for the other reasons…
Interesting. Revisit.
Hadn’t heard of the band before, after the first 30 seconds of the first song I thought we were headed to 1-star territory but it totally redeemed itself the more I listened. Had the stereo turned all the way up, might keep it on rotation in the car for the weekend. 3.0 on the nose.
3.5 I liked this entry. There wasnt a bad song on the album but it didnt have any absolute burners either.
dakle ovaj popis ima neke tak random albume i bendove ne kuzim, al dobar je svida mi se al nis spesl kopija arcade fire
Ok je al ak ne bude neki Slayer ubrzo poludit cu od ovih albuma
I like LCD, I like HotChip - I like this enough to add it to my 'give it a listen' rotation. Never heard of them
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Worse Hot Chip, basically. Only the first song was all that worthwhile, and also 2018's a bit late anyway to be doing electric indie pop and still have it sound fresh. Fun album art, though! Reminds me of a geometry textbook
quite like it
Some of this is really good, a lot of it is absolute guff
3.3. Spoonish
Wavy Stereolab-oriented Kraut-Pop, pleasingly psychedlic, catchy, but also lacking innovative qualities; nearly only nice.
To me, sounded like EDM cut with angry lyrics…somebody might have it on their 1001 Album list, but not me
Microshift is one of the most recent albums I have come across in this challenge, and it was a really pleasant surprise. The sound feels modern and textured, but still melodic and accessible. There is a driving energy underneath it all, with layers of synths and guitars that create a slightly hypnotic atmosphere. It manages to feel fresh without being overly experimental for the sake of it. What I liked most is how immersive it is. The songs pull you in rather than hit you over the head, and the mood builds naturally across the album. It is the kind of record that benefits from repeat listens, and I will definitely be going back to it. Favourite song: A Short Distance Least favourite: None that stood out negatively Album artwork: Bold and distinctive. A striking cover that matches the modern feel of the music
It's a very stereotypical 2010s indie rock triumphant sound mixed with emo vocals and droning synths reminiscent of Stereolab and forms of krautrock and post-rock. The production and garage revival-esque groove and fast pace also remind me of other modern indie bands like Arcade Fire who have executed these ideas much better. Then there's the dreamy bright harmonies and vocals that gives of Animal Collective or Tame Impala vibes. The most outstanding thing about this record is the coherency. The first 2 songs are standalone pieces, but then the track begin to flow into one another. Tracks 3-5 form one piece, tracks 6-7 another, and 8 and 9 also being standalone. I don't think there are any remarkable songs, but they all work together as a team marvelously, with a nice track ordering, long patient songs without too much going on, that makes it all quite accessible yet very intriguing as long as you're not honing too closely on any of them. Even though it is derivative and soulless, it's a vibe I like and can appreciate, especially when left in the background when going for a drive, studying, or staring at the stars. Favorites: Negative Space, Each Time We Pass, Shortcomings
Actually kind of banger no
This started off a little questionable but got better as it went along. I enjoyed it and could possibly bring it up to listen to again. Scale: 5 - My absolute favorites. 4 - Albums I like. 3 - It was ok to listen to but I wouldn't seek it out. 2 - Didn't like. 1 - Absolute shit.
Pretty solid but didn't really grab my attention too much. Might need another listen later
Nothing particularly interesting or noteworthy, 100% fine.
Ehhhhhhh
Enjoyed it, with some good songs, but not essential.
After a bit, the singer reminded me of Big Audio Dynamite. I wasn't sure where this was going band was going. The songs seemed to have a lot of different influences (which isn't a bad thing). Again, I hesitate on a band that released an album so recently as the album I have to listen to before I die. Really? 8 thousand listeners on Spotify? Who _are_ these guys that they warrant such a coveted spot on the list? All in all, it was okay, but I didn't get what made it so significant to put it on the list.
Shades of LCD Soundsystem, that being said, I’m hoping there will be some of their stuff on this list
Some sounded interesting. Some not.
Interesting choice by the 1001 Album Generator, especially since albums such as Playboi Carti's Die Lit were also released in the same year. The tracks on the album sounded pretty good for the most part, but somewhat familiar to other indie/alternative bands out there. I was not a fan of so many long songs, and I liked the first half more than the second.
Not a huge fan but don’t think the music is bad per se, just not something I see myself listening to — im not big on the whole techno electric thing but I think it’s executed well enough 5.5/10
Kinda weird but I didn’t mind it, wouldnt choose to listen again though 6.5/10
It was a decent listen. Nothing spectacular and nothing to write home about.
C+ Negative Space 3 Static Resistance 3 Ullswater 3 The Soft Season 3 Opener 3 Each Time We Pass 3 Boxing Day 3 Reunion 2 Shortcomings 3 This was underwhelming. I had high hopes for a modern, electronic, alternative album, but it was average.
It’s ok. Starts off a lot like Arcade Fire but then kind of circles the same sound over and over
Didn’t stick with me. There was nothing remarkable about it, but it wasn’t offensive.
Theres some cool stuff in here! Was it totally memorable though? Not rly
Ew. I hate this album cover. We’re not off to a great start. That intro on the first track was rough, but I’m glad I stuck with it. This album got much better as it went on and wasn’t nearly as bad as I’d assumed based on this incredibly unappealing album cover. Very much a 2018 record.
Ca sonne un peu comme l’album de Justice, tsé l’album techno ultra granuleux? C’est ça mais en moins bon. Ps: J’aurais dû mettre un 5/5 à Justice, c’est trop d’la bombe cet album
This album was surprisingly not that bad. Just the right amount of indie electronic pop mix that I enjoy. It wasn’t anything too special and felt like an amalgamation of many previous modern albums this list but as an album from 2018 it was a good listen. Never heard of the hookworms before but this could be listened to again. 6.4/10
Yeah interesting
I found most of this record engaging, and I was pleasantly reminded that I had a song or two saved in previous playlists, though I can’t say most of what’s here warrants regular rotation.
Not sure why this album is listed. It's not bad but there's nothing new or ground braking about it. If it was from the 80s or 90s I'd think differently but for a 2018 album it's very standard. I like the instrumental tracks more
Groovy soft rock with some electronic influences
One star off for being terrible people
3.5/5. This was ok. Kind of an indie electronic thing. Can't say this album excited me, but it was not bad.
2.5
Ouai ok, sympa
I didn’t get through the whole album but the first half was pretty good. I was maybe too tired to fully enjoy the energy of the music but in a different context, I think I would have liked it a lot more
Modern like. At first it hurt my gears but then I got into it.
Pink Floyd started this with more distinction of input sources. But this has the same appeal. Movie themes? I guess. Long sustained sound, every song is a flight. Lyrics, must be generational. Young don't move on, but welcome the deep deeper deepest analysis. Which is better, I don't know. Comes from being independent and alone. Some are more married to memories than to actual relationships. I like new sounds (I'm evidently older than most of the people doing this), but lyrics often leave me cold.
This has all the hallmarks of something I should really enjoy. It pulls influences from a number of different highly-compatible places. The problem is the result sounds impressively artificial. Nothing particularly stands out or surprises or makes any major changes to the formulae from which it borrows, and we get this washy, boring mishmash of all its components. I can't pinpoint much that's objectively wrong here, but I don't find anything very compelling, either. It gets a little better in the back half, but not enough to make up for the first.
As many others have mentioned, I’ve never heard of this band. But it was a quick listen, and I finished it all in one sitting. Not sure if I will come back to it though. Didn’t really have any favorite songs.
meh
It’s fine. It’s blessing is that it’s very similar to LCD Soundsystem, and I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like LCD Soundystem. But that’s also it’s curse. It doesn’t have any of James Murphy & co’s heart. Also, apparently the lead singer is a piece of shit
A nice little record with some interesting sonics, but shouded in a very inconsequential feeling. That it the last album in my edition of the book is baffling. I can understand the difficulty of putting new albums in, because the editor must decide what will be considered a classic, and what will be considered embarrassing in retrospect, but something as plain as this? Was never going to be either.
I thought this was pretty good and a fair surprise from what I expected. It's mostly fun, bouncy electro-pop, nothing remarkable, just a good listen.
Never heard of this before at all, but it's quite good. Not wildly different to the MGMT album we had a few days ago, but not as good. Fun electro-pop, feels much more 2010 than 2018 though. Just about gets a 3.
Pretty good modern psychedelic rock.
A good enough blend of electronic, psychedelic, and indie rock. Good, but not sure how it merits being on the list.
Meh
Reminds me of the band Hot Chip. Not as good IMO. But an easy listen all the same. We'll produced.
I was worried about the journey ahead when this album started, like what the goodness was the first few minutes? Settled into generica.
There were some ok moments on this but I'm not really sure what this band is. I read about why they folded so not keen to follow up.
Sounded like a less creative, less fun, less hooky Animal Collective. 5/10
Just very mid: released in an era where new rock music is slowly falling away this was nothing to break the trend. There are so many better albums on this list but this wasn't bad. It was just rock music, I can see this being outro music to a show or film, nothing notable but just there to fill the space. If you're looking for the most average music out there bc for some reason you just want to settle, this is it.
Some songs are nice, some are not...
Moderne britisk rock, tunge beats, stemningsfyldt
Nice
Very enjoyable 3.5
it was pretty interesting. Good stuff
Aucune chanson qui ressort du lot. un peu comme du Hot Chip, mais moins bon 6.5/10
It's a pretty good retro sounding album.
I've been getting a lot of techno/electronic stuff lately. Not my jam. I was prepared to hate this one too, but I actually really liked it. It gave off some serious 90s vibes (Blur/Weezer, maybe a little Pumpkins). It was fun. Shortcomings was the standout track for me. Great way to close it out.
Don’t understand why this would be a top album, but has nice electronic beats!
Weird one to be on the list. Feels very much like it's a 2010 album instead of a 2018 one. Might've been a fan had it existed and come to my attention at that time. For now it's just decent
Was listenable, the singer had a decent voice, but beyond that it didn’t do a lot for me.
Kind of cool
6/10. Not bad, but nothing memorable for me either.
As one for whom mid-career Arcade Fire is basal, I dig it but... Punch through the ceiling instead of reaching it.
Good listen, doubt I'll listen to it again though
Synthy
Another cancelled band, no wonder I haven't heard about that. Not bad though.
I think this was pretty good
Ah man, Hookworms. We were rooting for you. We were all rooting for you. I remember this album coming out and being super psyched that they were on the verge of breaking into something stratospheric - then it all came out. Yes, I know, it never went to court. But enough people round here knew what happened. Terrific album. Should have been 5 stars. MJ threw it away.
Def interesting, kind of a British take on Arcade Fire
They remind me of The Postal Service but with a little too much Coldplay. Decent album but I probably won't seek it out again.
Space rock. Ni fu ni fa.
Pretty good
Dig it. Like U2 meets Rush.
Alright, must have been a blast to see live.
If Krautrock and pop had a baby. Catchy, yet adventurous. Nice to see a newer act that knows how to put a strong album together, although it appears the band has split. I enjoyed this quite a bit. Fave Songs: The Soft Season, Opener, Negative Space, Ullswater, Static Resistance
The band and its music are entirely new to me, and I enjoyed listening to this album. I hear a nice mash-up of various styles and influences, and it all comes together quite well here. I like that there are elements of synth-pop and synth-rock alongside more 'analog' instruments and performances. Neither seems to dominate the other too much. Reminds me, too, a little bit of New Order and that sound, and even a bit of Porcupine Tree, too. (I know those references also incorporate by reference dozens or hundreds of other bands, and of course that applies to all performers -- not meant in a snarky or negative way at all; just the way music responds, reflects, and evolves in such interesting ways.)
weird but interesting. 3 stars.
There are a lot of good space rock/psychedelic rock songs though it is not very coherent as an album. As a whole it is isn't as memorable as many similar albums from the past 10-15 years either. I like the genre and I like when songs flow together well, but for example the end of the song 'Boxing Day' was way too abrupt compared to other songs. Overall a good album but I feel like it doesn't really deserve more than 3+.
What is this? Sounds like speeded up Krautrock. I almost like it, but not quite.
Weird but interesting. A solid effort.
Rating: 6/10
Interesting listening to this the day after In Rainbows. I’m no Radiohead super fan but compared to yesterday this album feels completely outmatched. Other than that though there’s nothing really wrong with it. I liked The Soft Season.
I expected to dislike this album a lot, but I was surprised that I did like some of it, especially Static Resistance. If they just played the songs without all of the electronica elements, I might have really enjoyed it.
This honestly sounds a bit like the Radiohead album from yesterday in a way, though certainly much less innovative. Never heard of this group before and have many better suggestions for a 2018 album. Here are a few: Championships by Meek Mill, Scorpion by Drake, Invasion of Provacy by Cardi B, Astroworld by Travis Scott, Black Panther Soundtrack, Thank u next by Ariana Grande
Interesting sounds I guess. Cool band name.
The cover art, album title, and name of the band made me think this album would be weird -- which can go either way with me. The first track starts out pretty interesting, although I didn't especially like it, it was at least a little weird. Pretty soon, though, the music turns more pedestrian, a little more likable, perhaps, but I really don't see why this album is on this list. I mean, I guess its fine, but I would not have had any regrets had I shuffled of my mortal coil without having found time to listen. 2.5
Not terrible
It’s ok
3/5. A solid pop album that I had no complaints about but didn’t stand out enough for a 4.
This was OK. A bit boring. I didn't actively dislike anything about it, but I didn't actively like much of anything about it either.
Decent movie soundtrack type album
Okay album, didn't make me feel much though. I do like some of the experimented stuff they went for, but it didn't really do anything for me and also felt a bit generic at times. Another issue would be that the songs are too long with not much happening throughout. 5/10
Pretty cool rock album. Enjoyable to listen to, but a tad boring.
Had fun with this one. Cool and effective modern techno alternative something. Sometimes gave me Death Cab meets Capital Cities meets Daft Punk vibes. Hip but not cringey
The record sounds very 2010s arty alternative. The scene was already at its peak when Microshift appeared. They barely caused a microshift, rather than a landslide. I think this style is already covered with Tame Impala and MGMT. Not bad, not essential, not to my taste. There's over 1000 albums more worthy to be on the list. Favorite song: Boxing Day.
Starts off strong (ish) and peters out. Will anybody remember this album in 10 years? Best track: Negative Space
Idk what so say about this haha
Britse neo-psychedelica en dat hoor je. Laat denken aan Black Country, New Road en net als deze band is het goede muziek maar zonder een nummer dat er direct uitspringt. leukste nummer: Opener Band bestaat niet meer door geheimzinnige betichtingen aan de deur van de lead zanger
Weird but not uncatchy in places
I've favourited the opening track Negative Space on Spotify so it comes up quite often on my playlists, but I hadn't heard the rest of the album until now. Its actually quite decent, I get some Built to Spill x MGMT x Tame Impala vibes, with some hints of Krautrock. The hypnotic driving beats are pretty mesmerizing. Opener is also a banger of a song, its great if you crank it up.
I like this. Reminds me of LCD Soundsystem. Never heard of them, but it's good stuff.
Pleasant but mostly unremarkable, the first few tracks hooked me more than the rest if the album. Hard to say anything more meaningful than "middle of the road."
Indierockkitapasta. Kappaleet sulautuu ja linkittyy hyvin yhteen, ei kuitenkaan ihan yltänyt alun odotuksiin. Vaatii varmaan uuden kuuntelun
3.75
Borde nog gilla det här. Kanske gör jag det. Kanske gör jag det inte. Behöver höra mer.
Efter ett briljant nledningsspår blir det lite tristare fortsättning.
Not bad
Interesting. Not my style but pretty good!!
I was excited by the music... at first. I can go for this sort of textured electronic thing. Then the vocals came in and immediately started to get on my nerves. Like a weird piece of candy that has a curious flavor on its outer shell, but when you bite down it becomes sickeningly sweet, and you want to spit it out.
pretty good
meh
basically stereolab if they were mid. the synths, instrumentation, and production overall, were pretty interesting but the vocals and songwriting were pretty lackluster. which really brought it down for me.
Some nice synth and grooves. Nothing I haven’t heard before, but still pleasant.
yeah nice cool cover not really for me
Second rate MGMT
Before today I had never heard of Hookworms before, so I had no idea what I was in for. What I discovered was a very ambient, almost atmospheric sound, with heavy electronic backing, and distant, layered lyric delivery. The music has strong phychadelic rock/electronica vibes to it, with a very strong beat. Although I have had issue with most electronica on this 1001 Albums Generator, I enjoyed this stuff. Perhaps it was the inclusion of a singer, perhaps it was the inclusion of an actual beat, either way it worked. Hookworms sounds similar to MGMT who I have reviewed before. A lot of the songs on this album run into each other like a compilation, which I enjoyed. It made it a better listening experience. Apparently this album was a huge change from their previous works, and it ended up being their last album as a band. Overall, I enjoyed this album. It isn't something I would gravitate to often, but it wasn't bad at all. Favourite songs: Ullswater, Negative Space, Static Resistance, Opener Least favourite songs: Boxing Day, Reunion 3/5
Inte alls oävet.
3.8 - Energetic and urgent. Reminds me of LCD Soundsystem.
Ayant accumulé un retard monstrueux au sein du générateur et n'ayant plus le moindre souvenir de cet album, je vais procéder de manière inédite ; ma critique sera intégralement focalisée sur un passage de cinq secondes pris au hasard au milieu du projet. Le passage en question écouté à l'instant ne m'a pas particulièrement procuré d'émotion. J'y ai décelé un gloubi-boulga d'ambient électro sans le moindre intérêt. Robert, si tu me lis...
Robert tu es vieux arrête d'essayer de faire croire à tout le monde que tu n'es pas dépassé par les évenements, tout le monde deteste tes albums de merde post 2000.
I can't remember the first Hookworms track I heard or when but it was streaming era randomness (which is to say either partly or wholly governed by the algorithm). It felt like just a song on a playlist somewhere in the Spotify Sea. Off the coast of Wherever, it was enough to make me look into them. And, I really like this record. It sits squarely in that sweet spot for me of psychedelic, fuzzy, synthy rock. Some tracks edge into pop territory more than I might prefer, but it feels holistic to the band rather than calculated. It doesn't feel like a coincidence that it's Neu! 75 for me one day and Hookworms' Microshift the next. They, along with Maserati and Turing Machine, sound like kin to my ears — the kind of family you actually want to hang with. That said, I've only ever been a casual fan. It must be hard for bands with a lot of casual fans in today's media landscape. I've never bought merch, never bought an album, never supported them by going to a show or sending a few dollars their way. Not even bought some Bandcamp mp3s. Essentially, I streamed a song or two with some regularity, probably tossed one onto a playlist I listened to for a month before forgetting it, maybe checked out a few albums during the initial discovery phase and settled into putting this one on every now and again. And what does that amount to in terms of financial viability? A few pennies here and there from me. I understand platform math, the long tail, and how things can add up but they don't always. I also understand money isn't what drives most music, but they've got to eat too. Anyway, I hope these guys, who were around from 2010 to 2018, understand. I liked them then, and I like them now. Of course, this is also one of the dangers of casual fandom. You might not ever know if or when someone has been a creep and that can come to light only after hearing a record via 1001albumsgenerator.com, writing a positive review and then checking Wikipedia once the record ends but before the next album begins. Disappointed again.
I found this to be spacey and unique! It was just exciting enough while being chill, just experimental enough while being familiar. It didn't grab me fully, but I was intrigued. I felt like the album had a very cohesive idea around it, musically; everything fit together well. Again, I won't debate whether or not this really needs to be on 1001, but I'm glad for the opportunity to check it out! I'd rate this somewhere above a 2.5, so might as well bump it up and call it good.
I certainly admire the modern krautrock stylizations of this record, but nothing really struck me.
This was an interesting album. It was a lot of electronic music with many elements that I normally like. The beginning didn’t grab me, and neither did the rest, but I enjoyed it the whole time
My first thought when I saw this was: "who?" I listen to a lot of music, and as annoying as it sounds, I like to think that a lot of what I know isn't mainstream, and I've literally never heard of this band or album. This list has kind of surprised me with how out of left field some of the albums have come. I kind of can't tell what the impetus for that is. Are they pet albums of the curators? Are they just critical darlings? This album doesn't really feel like the latter. Don't get me wrong, I actually really liked it; it's a solid 3.5 (gonna round down), but the presence of this album on this list kinda defies reason, in my mind. Standouts: Negative Space, Static Resistance, Ullswater
Opening track started off pretty promising Latter half wasn't what I expected at all until the final track.
Enjoyed parts of it. Kinda faded into the background for me.
Decent listening. It's giving atonal, whiter Tame Impala. And the white guy's voice is like every other white guy's voice. I'm not mad at it though. Nice transitions. Good to drive to.
I've never heard of this band before. Wasn't bad at all. Nothing great either but I'd probably listen again.
hookworms - microshift (2018) notes - indie rock with psych and kraut rock influences - shades of phoenix, arcade fire, mgmt - never heard of this band, wonder why this album made the list - band broke up in 2019 after allegations of abuse by frontman MJ fav - ullswater - upbeat instrumental with lyrics about a breakup - cool synth lines throughout least fav - each time we pass - nice spacey song but didn’t feel like it really went anywhere 3.5/5
Weird style. Sort of grows on you.
Completely new to me. Not bad, will definitely have to listen again
Rock experimental.