I can understand from the get go that grindcore isn't for everyone. However, I will say that despite the influence, it certainly shows that it's very early, and is very rough around the edges. Will I say that it's truly awful? No, but I will say that there is indeed some room for improvement. I will say for the positives though that some of the instrumentation is great, real headbanging stuff even on a first listen. It's the rest of it that irks me. The fast sections just seem like a "let's see how fast we can go" with no room for melody or sense of timing. And thr vocals, despite having 2 different people, sound like a south park interpretation of death metal. If the record as a whole was a bit slower and more melodic, I would say it's a must listen regardless of genre. Other than that though, it's really only a recommendation for those that are brave enough to expand horizons, or for those who are already into the grindcore scene, and looking to see where it started.

Steely Dan is an artist to which i need no introduction, having listened to multiple albums already, such as the Royal Dcam and Aja. However, countdown to ecstasy is a new experience, as it was one that i hadn't got round to. I will say however that it lives up to the standard set by their later works, whether it be the catchy refrain of Bodhisattva, the jazzy and comforting instrumentation of Razor Boy, despite talking about losing everything, or the sunset vibe that comes across on Pearl of the Quarter and its story of seemingly unrequited love (Do note that the normal streaming version is slightly higher pitched, but you can find the original on sites like YouTube). The drumming throughout the album is also impeccably tight, and deserves a mention by itself. Its only downside is the fact that it never got a major radio single, and as such, isnt nearly as recognizable as Aja, Pretzel Logic, or Can't Buy a Thrill. Otherwise, it is very much worth the listen.

From one banging album to another. Seeing this come up on the rotation when the site revealed it to me triggered an audible joy, as I've heard no shortage of good things about this album, but my turn has now come to experience it for the first time, and as such my expectations are high. Right from the get go, its an absolutely high energy, bombastic experience that also provides a deeply insightful and sometimes sardonic social commentary from the perspective of the black community. Not every song is on the up however, as songs like "u" have an anger that really feels like it comes from a place of struggle. The sampling of various genres, like jazz, hip hop, and even some funk all blend together in a way that won't leave your head any time soon. And as for the lyrics, Kendrick has some absolutely fantastic bars, as well as some memorable lines such as "Bitin' my style, you're salmonella poison positive", and "Milk the game up, never lactose intolerant" from 'Institutionalized'. And the guest musicians? Are used in ways that well and truly make use of their strengths, such as Thundercat's bass work, or the lyrical capabilities of Anna Wise. Don't even get me started on the beats, as they carry so much of the album on their shoulders, such as the classic beat from "Alright", the funk of "King Kunta", or the upbeat pop sounding rhythm of "For Sale?", which not only helps to convey the message of its lyrics, but also changes to further convey the message that lays within it, just under the surface. As it stands, it is deserving of both the critical and commercial acclaim that it has received over the past decade, which considering the fact that it's held up as long as it has is yet another compliment to the record.

A fantastic album, with immensely clear instrumentation where it is easy to pick out individual parts. To boot, it is an amazing album to relax to, or to make anything you are doing feel way fancier than it probably is. The only problem that anyone might have with it is if you aren't into instrumentals, as there is not a single word on the album. However, for someone like myself where instrumentals are toward the top of my list, it fits right at home.