Vignettes of the early 90s era of hip hop and club-centric tracks. Some songs linger for a bit too long and are meant to evoke that dance club feel but don’t work in a casual listen. The last act is super creative and surreal. Tons of creativity flowing through and it’s influence is clear.

I wish I had more to say about this one. The sounds are pleasing, the instrumentation is languid, and the singing adds to the overall atmosphere. But, I can’t get behind it fully. It bored me during a bulk of the listen. I was excited to hear a record exploring the inner workings and psyche of a struggling man. Perhaps the lyrics dig deeper, but the overall soundscape is more akin to easy listening and background music. The 80s inspiration was nice to hear. I can enjoy the sounds of that time and the ones that are influenced by it, but this record sort of just rambles on with no pockets of greatness really shining through. It’s pretty much a constant repetition of psychedelic guitars, basic drumming, piano arpeggios, and inspirational synthesizers with an unimpressive vocalist to top it off. The first two tracks were good enough to keep me in for the full listen. Overall, not my style but respectable.

R.E.M. has always been one of those bands that just doesn’t click with me. This is my first experience listening to a full record of theirs and I see the appeal, but I still can’t say it’s my cup of tea. I love when a vocalist is captivating and unusual, but Michael Stipe’s vocal style has always escaped me. I recognize his presence on a microphone and easily recognizable inflection. I also appreciate the politically and socially charged topics of the record. In the end, this band is just not my thing.