Q1 2022: Quick Albums Reviews

    The first quarter of 2022 has come to an end. There're some albums that I liked, some albums that I felt disappointed with. I'll talk about some albums that I have feelings about. Here we go!

Silvana Estrada - Marchita

    I don't listen to Spanish music much, because I don't understand Spanish, basically. However, emotion is beyond languages and it's truly beautiful. I couldn't keep track of the lyrics all the time, but I'll try my best to comprehend. The instruments built a very gentle and soft atmosphere and when the vocals dropped, the whole vibe became heartbreaking. The album has a very solid flow whether the tracks are simple or complicated, I equally love all of them. Every element complements each other so well. A very sad and melancholy listen.

Nilufer Yanya - PAINLESS

    My initial thoughts after the first listen: this girl doesn't sound like a girl at all! She reminds me of Snail Mail, but Nilufer sounds more hoarse and manly. It's a decent pop rock album, and her vocals sound super unique. I love how diverse this album sonically sounds, those bristling synth sounds and drum machine, even some elegant strings. Although the instruments have so many layers, I still found the whole experience to be a bit one-dimensional. That's my only complaint about this album.

Charli XCX - CRASH

    Charli has been killing this hyperpop genre since the Vroom Vroom EP. This is undoubtedly a huge turn for her. CRASH sounds more accessible and synthy. A lot of fans discredit Charli for doing so, and I can see the point. I'm normally a fan of nostalgia 80s synth-pop, but this is not the one. Something just doesn't click with me, like Charli or how i'm feeling now. CRASH really gives me a sell-out vibe, but a decent sell-out, not like those 2000s rock bands. There're some good tracks here and there, but they only sound good and do not stick with me. It's a hit-or-miss Charli record for me.

The Weeknd - Dawn FM

    This was at the very first of the year. Speaking of synth-pop, this is a synth-pop record I do love. Compared to After Hours, the synth-pop and 80s vibe are heavier, and the production value is better. There're some amazingly catchy melodies that I just can't get out of my head. Dawn FM has a really cool concept as well, those short interludes add an extra nice flow to it. This album wasn't doing fantastic commercially but in my humble opinion, this might be the greatest The Weeknd album. This one is underappreciated as hell.

Black Country, New Road - Ants From Up There

    After the sad departure of Isaac Woods, they released a modern post-punk masterpiece. Ants From Up There is a more vulnerable and mature deep cut from BC, NR, and I predict, this album is my top 5 of the year. When they did For the first time, you can still hear the direct influence of Black Midi or Slint. However, they had a distinct sound on this one. They wielded more jazz sounds and made it sound so elegant and refined. So many great tracks as well, but I don't have the time to talk about them here. Anyway, gorgeous and stunning album!

Denzel Curry - Melt My Eyez See Your Future

     Well, Denzel Curry is just the artist who can't miss at this point. I like how he had an interesting album flow throughout his career: a straightforward bangers album after an introspective album. The last one is TA13OO, which blew everyone's mind, and this album showed how much as an artist he can improve. Compared to TA13OO, this one is brighter and smoother. The biggest surprise to me is how diverse Denzel sounds. I always have the impression of him yelling Ultimate in front of a big crowd, but I haven't realized how far he can actually go. It's a genuinely fun experience and the level is as high as TA13OO. It's hard for hip-hop artists to top this album this year.

Earl Sweatshirt - SICK!

    Speaking of hip-hop artists, one of the most critically-acclaimed rappers of the 2010s released an album as well. Firstly, I was never too crazy about Earl, Some Rap Songs is a bit inconsistent to me. After finishing listening to this one, it didn't impress me either. Don't get me wrong, I still think it's an enjoyable experience, and I love when rappers put effort into the production. However, there aren't any tracks that stick out to me personally. That's my biggest issue, it's just a hit-or-miss to me.

FKA Twigs - CAPRISONGS

    This album was also released at the very start of 2022. After the heartbreaking album MAGDALENE, she turned into a brighter side by doing those collaborations with other artists. I love to see when artists make changes, and Twigs pulled out a decent work here. This mixtape isn't as grieving as the last album, nor as experimental as her older stuff, it's just a fun trip. She still shows her ambition in songs like Darjeeling, hearing Twigs sing over a Drill beat is hilarious. Final thoughts: a chill and interesting mixtape.

    

    After reviewing those albums, I'm quite satisfied with this first quarter of 2022. Artists made their changes, and it's good to see.