Tomb

A really pleasant album choice, like a fuzzy blanket of depression.

Very minimalistic. Sad, yet dreamy. Not something I'd prefer to play spontaniously. But could appreciate this

It makes sense that this person tours with Sufjan, because Angelo sounds like a not-quite-as-well-formed Sufjan. Enjoyable!

Very nice. Quite reminiscent of Elliott Smith and Sufjan Stevens but still different enough to be interesting. 4 stars.

Beautiful. I happened to get this on a cold, rainy day. It was perfect.

Got a very strong Elliott Smith vibe from this… low-key, dreamy, a nice rainy day album.

Sometimes life is simple. An unknown party using this generator suggests a gentle and sensitive modern folk album where a gifted artist wears his heart on his sleeve -- just as said artist tries to find meaning in a recent break-up, along with revisiting older family trauma -- and the thing is both evocative and memorable enough to make your day. I already knew Angelo De Augustine's name from that collab album he made with Sufjan Steven (which I haven't heard yet), but I had never listened to his music. This LP is obviously very close to Stevens' turf circa *Carrie & Lowell* (also in this list, which is great), with the same sort of soft falsetto vocals -- once or twice lacking a bit of personality, but most of the time distinctive enough to avoid being derivative of Sufjan's own artistry. There's also some sensibility in those very nice songs that's close to the one of Andy Shauf (unfortunately not mentioned in this list, I think). But once again, Angelo has a voice of his own, both literally and figuratively. It takes a bit of time for the record to find its groove, but once it does so, it's simply marvellous, as well as soothing and/or moving. ""Kaitlin", "Time" (with that enticing whistling part in the chorus), "Wanderer", "All Your Love" and "You Needed Love, I Needed You" especially shine. Glad I'm finally able to write a short review to tell my thoughts here. As I said, life is simple sometimes. 3.5/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums, rounded up to 4. 8.5/10 for more general purposes. Number of albums from the original list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 465 Albums from the original list I *might* include in mine later on: 288 Albums from the original list I won't include in mine: 336 ---- Number of albums from the users list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 4 Albums from the users list I *might* include in mine later on: 8 (including this one) Albums from the users list I won't include in mine: 10

Not gonna lie, not really my style at all. But generally dig concept/theme albums. The theme of breakups are pretty much universal and we can all relate. Understand why someone would really like this album, but the soft-spoken folksie-ness of it is a turn off for me.

This is so so so good

Well, that's just lovely. Thank you.

VRaiment bien, C'est super calme et ca détend. un bonne musique d'ambiance pour un petit moment. 4

7/10. This was good. I enjoyed listening to it. I feel like I should have more to say about it, but I guess this is it.

Had this on in my headphones, meandering around town on a bike late at night after an eventful day. It was perfect.

This album is sparse with fingerpicked guitar and high almost whispered vocals. Angelo De Augustine’s influences are clear but I’m not sure he’s doing anything new here. I enjoyed the album he did with Sufjan Stevens but this is a bit subdued compared to that. There are really beautiful moments here and there are some interesting melodic turns. Though sparse, the music is actually very layered and benefits from headphones and close listening.

Cool to see this one added! I'm a fan of this album for sure, love Angelo and his work with Sufjan Stevens. "You Needed Love, I Needed You" is one of my favorite songs of 2018.

Breathy! Gloomy yet very soothing.

A lovely, delicate reverb-soaked record. The vocals are beautiful and the instrumentals are sparse and effective. Sounds exactly what you’d expect something on Sufjan Stevens’ record label to sound like

Every break-up (and break-up record) should be so sweet-intentioned, insistently lilting and tuneful – warm and affable even. The whisper-falsetto vocals seem like they might get tiresome but never do, quite. Certainly they reflect the emotional fragility of the subject matter and situation (as well as also being evocative of Mojave 3 and other most likable and prestige-y bands [in one’s own mind]. Sonically, it’s charmingly different and resolutely dreamy and mostly soothing – one definitely digs. Playing and instrumentation (including organic and electric, like the bleeping keys [or software]) and arrangements all set out to shimmer, and succeed, don’t they? Whole thing (basically every song) works, though first side is stronger, starting directly with the lovely opener and the Beatlesque second cut, and the second half definitely has darker (and longer) shadows. “Kaitlin” is most favored cut. One caveat: could be said to be Sufjan, Jr, innit? But if he’s good enough for Sufjan, well then …

Started out strong for me (definitely in my wheelhouse as a Bon Iver, Sufijan Stevens fan) but feel like he doesn't find enough range and it all sort of fades together. The vocals only come in one tone and temperature and the music is so understated as to almost vanish at times.

You own a hipster café and want some easily digestible background music? Here you go!

Some nice songs on there. Calm, soothing and generally nice to listen to, but as a whole the album lacks pace and variety.

Very nice. Like the first Bon Iver a bit.

A very calming album though the songs started to blend together. I can see why someone would add this.

Electro-influenced folksy Americana, not great, not terrible. Better than a bunch of the filler in the book, and would be a worthy inclusion to show a different style and genre.

I see that this guy is on the same Ashmatic Kittly label as Sufjan Stevens, and he definitely sounds like Sufjan lite. I Could Be Wrong is nice, but the samey sameness of every song on this album and his oh so delicate voice gets a bit tedious after awhile.

Why is the singer putting on such a silly voice

Just listen to the first song. No need to listen to the rest of the album as it's all the same.

Eh. It was indie music. He has a whiny voice. I didn't care for it. No need to revisit.

Alternative, indie, folk. Pues muy bonito.

Beautiful release from 2019. If his other albums sound like this I'd definitely give them a listen. Angelo de Augustine... never heard of him before. Wow. I really like the style. But, by the time I got to the end of the album - I was grateful to hear something a bit more cheerful. :) Standouts: Tomb Rating: 4/5

Rating: 7/10 Best songs: I could be wrong, Time, All your life

I did not know Angelo De Augustine as a kindred soul of Sufjan Stevens. While listening to this album I discovered a lot of the elements that I make me like Sufjan's songs so much.

Lovely and sad. Not for every day, but for some days.

+1 for being family. Not craving, but like a less catchy

Breathy modern alternative/ indie is a lot of people’s jam but never has quite been mine. Nothing hurtful I’m just not that interested

Tasteful guitar here, tasteful vocal layering here... De Augustine's arrangements have all the benefits of our century, though the songs feel as likely assembled on tape as digitally. There are no huge stylistic or formal leaps, just spacious folk music which elegantly evades a temperature.

I like the vibe, but a whole album of it got very samey very quickly. Neat that someone from my hometown got put on this list though.

Definitely sounds like something that'd be on the Asthmatic Kitty label. It's fine, I don't mind the softness but it's a bit one dimensional in the breakup way. Maaaybe if I was in a huge breakup I'd really get with it.

I like this for a track or two, but a whole album drags. The piano based "All to the Wind" is my favorite by far. Makes me wish that was the primary instrument rather than guitar.

A few stand-out tracks, and I like the quiet vibe presented here. But 45 minutes of the same quiet vibe without really that much different things going on is a bit much.

This was nice and cosy on a lazy afternoon. But nothing I haven't already heared behoren in this genre.

The influence of Sufjan Stevens is so great and so overwhelming that it overshadows the merits of the album itself

Gentle, pretty and inoffensive. Very much inspired by Sufjan Stevens but without the experimental pop.

A little goes a long way with those vocals, but this was really lovely. A dreamy, melancholy, fall day kind of a listen. Thank you for sharing. Fave Songs: You Needed Love, I Needed You; Time; Bird Has Flown; A Good Man's Light; All Your Life

Not sure I get this one. It is entirely the style of an Elliott Smith or Sufjan Stevens but seems to be an octave higher and more waifish without the warmth or those other artists. This is fine singer songwriter material, but nothing really immediately engaging on first listen.

Light, dreamy, full of instruments, but not overplayed. Nice craftsmanship, if I can say that.

I'm normally one to not be bothered by vocals too much, but the vocals on this one started to cloy after a while. It doesn't help that the rest of the album is sparse and leaves them a lot of room. I eventually grew used to them, but I wouldn't say it was anything I overwhelmingly enjoyed. Favorite tracks: "Kaitlin", "Bird Has Flown"

Mjög ljúft og notalegt.

That was a lot of falsetto. Not bad though.

I normally don’t have a problem with wispy sad indie music like this but this one didn’t do it for me. It was elliott smith non over stuff but without the unique vocals or writing that makes those artists stand out.

This is the indie folk bullshit I love. Yet I hadn't heard of this dude and, unlike the Big Thief album from a few weeks ago, this dude seemingly has had no impact on the music industry. I know a ton of other artists that are doing the same thing as him, but better. Nothing is really standing out as unique or special about this album. Yeah its neat he works with Sufjan Stevens but beyond that seems to not have done much. My personal rating: 3/5 My rating relative to the list: 3.5/5 Should this have been included on the original list? No. There would be better examples of this kinda music I would go to over this.

Quiet and lyrical

Quite nice

Sufjan Stevens at home

Sufjan esque without the extra umph

It was nice

Enjoyable. Nothing grabbed me to take it to this next level but enjoyed listening to it.

Sweet sounds

Sufjan S-two-vens.

Another Sufjan-adjacent album with the soft, falsetto vocals and the delicate melodies. Not bad, but I was past ready for it to be over when it was over.

Favorite songs: "You Needed Love, I Needed You", All to the Wind. Kaitlin, Time, Bird Has Flown, I Could Be Wrong Least favorite songs: Tide 3/5

yea homeboy has problems.

He almost got me with his sweet whisperings but it only works here and there the album as a whole is more boring rather than lovely dreamy and whatnot. Would work more if lyrics such as "over head the albatross hangs motion less upon the air". good still

Soft voice, livable lyrics.

ihanat vocalsit

Not my thing

This was a struggle. 2/5.

Sufjan-lite was exactly what I thought the second the vocals kicked in, and others hear seemed to have the same impression. The compositions are quite rich, and the production feels like you're right there with Augustine around some cozy campfire while he strums his guitar. The songwriting does leave something to be desired, however, as the LP starts feeling a bit repetitive not even halfway in – variation in tempo, dynamics, or vocal delivery could've saved my interest, but I found myself wanting to leave this campfire for a good while.

Didnt think itd bore as much as it did 2

Appreciate the album theme and the talent but not my gig.

This probably suffered from being generated a day after Sufjan Stevens' 'Carrie and Lowell'. Whilst it's fine for what it is, it appears to lack the poetry or authenticity that might engage me more and encourage me to listen again or to find out more about it. Rating: 2.5 Playlist track: Somewhere Far Away From Home Date listened: 30/07/24

To make this was a less talented sufjan album. Augustine really has one style this whole album and while the lyrics were pretty good, after about 3 songs it felt one note. This isn’t something I’d revisit. There are better artists that do the soft singing style better. 4.5/10

Plain and unoriginal

Boring. I need some tempo, some, to get into an album. Breakups are hard, yes I know. But this album really didn’t expand my tastes or excite me.

zzz

Found this one a little dull.

There’s only so much breathy, high pitched whispering I can take

Tomb doesn't work so well for me, it's a bit dreary and while I can appreciate some of the musicality, he sings in such a high register that it grates a lot really early on, just not for me. 2/5.

I went into this with an open mind. I was disappointed by Angelo de Augustine's first album Swim Inside the Moon, but suspected the lo-fi, bathroom-recording might’ve been part or if not most of the problem there. So Tomb is giving Angelo a second chance. And yes, the production is noticeably better. clean, crisp, with much more clarity. You could argue that's logical; it didn't take much. The opening track “Tomb” drew me in, and “All to the Wind” feels like a real step forward in both sound and structure. But ultimately, no matter how well-produced it is, this kind of whisper-folk just doesn’t land for me. I don’t enjoy the style, and I don’t connect with his voice. There’s nothing objectively wrong with the album, and I can hear why it would resonate with others. I won't be revisiting this and I don't think this one is an essential.

Pleasant but dull.

Ok at the beginning, but it becomes annoying very quickly. It was good to know the artist, but I'll hardly come back to listen to it again.

Låter ungefär som Jose Gonzalez fast sämre.

My first thought upon listening to this was "we have Sufjan Stevens at home". Turns out I was more right than I knew because this is the guy who made that awful collab album with Sufjan a few years back, so that tracks. It's fine it just makes me want to listen to similar albums that are better.

The vocalist style imitates Bon Iver and the accompaniment doesn’t back it up, so it comes off weak.

Big oof

I kept expecting this to build to extraordinary. No idea why, but it didn't happen.

This was actually painful, main singer seemed to want to be super quirky but was just boring.

Alternative, indie, folk. Aburridísimo. Un 1.

Wtf

Way too much falsetto for me, sorry.

God I can't stand this kind of breathy vocal delivery. Awful headphones experience.

I am struggling to get through this breakup album and it shouldn’t be that way as I’m going through a breakup right now. I blame the falsetto.

Awful. Almost enjoyably so.

I'm definitely not a fan of this drawled out style of singing. It reminds me of Bon Iver, but without any interesting music and with a significantly worse voice. Few songs and I'm out, never to be seen again.

Alternative, indie, folk. Aburridísimo. Un 1.

Super Boring whisper vocals with barely perceptible music behind it.