The Diary of a Hobbyist

SCORE: 98/100 'Come to Daddy' might just be one of the most off the wall electronic projects out there, pushing the limits of every single subgenre it crosses paths with in what might just be one of Aphex Twin's most impressive projects to date. The compositions are stunning; full of texture and intense, ripe life. Each melody and note takes you somewhere different, from the rough opener to the soft and steady 'Flim', this EP is one of the most impressive bodies of electronic music you can stumble upon. Not only is this EP impressive, it is also spectacularly ahead of its time. The style of this EP is something that can truly never be replicated - and the fact it was released in 1997 makes it that much more striking to think about. It manages to contain both some of Richard's best work and what is considered to be one of his worst songs - showcasing an interesting side to the project and how there are truly different ends to the spectrum, especially when it come...

SCORE: 71/100 The 'Girl/Boy' EP feels very much like Aphex Twin - it's unapologetically his in every sense, with his wonky and unique production style coming through on the 15 minute project. It's a delightfully short project for those who aren't looking to listen to anything "too" long, and it's a great little selection of works.  It's a wonderfully and boldly experimental project - pushing the limits of electronic music and showcasing the variety in Aphex Twin's sound throughout the different tracks. It isn't his most impressive or enjoyable project  - but it's worth checking out if you're already a fan of his. It showcases a starting point in his style; making use of different experimental elements that come together into one EP. It's clear that this wasn't a completely polished project - but it makes use of what it does in the short runtime it has. The first two tracks are a lot less interesting than the rest of the EP, ...

SCORE: 89/100 Sloan's 'Navy Blues' feels very Beatle's-esque at heart, with a mid-60s flair and a striking sound from the band, it's an impressive work from the minute it starts; showcasing the fun and entertaining side of the band with a mix of rock and power pop coming together into upbeat and cheerful songs. The style that the band uses on this album is a lot more interesting and enjoyable than what is found on 'Twice Removed', with more flair leading the album into a bigger direction. It's an album full of pep, with the band working together exceptionally well through their playing and style. The style of this album feels a lot more retro than the project is in actuality - which isn't a bad thing by any means. The harmonies of the band as well as their deeply enjoyable instrumental work make this album a fun listen - it's a hidden gem of sorts. The songs feel light and airy, a fun sound lingering within each of the tracks making the album eas...

SCORE: 79/100 Ville Valo's first solo project is reminiscent of HIM, with heavy traces of the bands' style coming through in his personal work. If you're a fan of HIM there's a large chance you'll enjoy this three-track EP based on sound alone. It's clear that Valo was the defining element of the band when they were together due to how his energy radiates through both this project and his projects with the band - but it isn't quite as memorable as some of his work with HIM. The more modernized sound of this EP leads to some weaker moments all in all - but it's a solid overall project that shows a large amount of promise for Ville as a soloist. His vocals are the driving force of the project, the instrumentals are great and the compositions of the songs lead his solo venture into a good starting point that can lead to other great projects further down the line. It's clear that he's still got it - and his creativity can continue outside of the band...

SCORE: 98/100 As soon as 'Irresponsible Hate Anthem' kicks in, Manson's second studio album is a hard one to resist. It has the delightfully sporadic sound you would expect from him brought up by at least ten notches - with sounds loud enough to blow your speakers out, 'Antichrist Superstar' is a much more loud and daring project than one might expect; even for Manson's standards. It's a gorgeous showcase of the heaviest sides of industrial rock - the sides that are murky and hard to define due to their sharp edges and hard-hitting sound. Manson pushes and bends the curve of rock with his second album, showcasing his massive skillset as a vocalist while being backed by stunningly layered and fleshed out instrumentals that bring his music to a new high - there's something captivating about the album, each sound reeling you in to another beautiful nightmare through jagged soundscapes and loud instrumentals.  From the more melodic track to the metal messes,...

SCORE: 96/100      CKY's third album is a bit more grunge-esque than their previous two albums. It shows the band in a new light as they step into a new and fitting musical direction that they had very clearly gotten down properly before putting it to the test on 'An Ånswer Can Be Found'.  The album feels a bit lighter than their previous projects while keeping the same amount of edge as their heavier & rougher projects. Their ability to pick up a new sound after their previous work is deeply impressive and applaudable - but it's a bit of an unexpected shift if you don't know what you're getting into with this album in particular. It isn't quite as layered and heavy sonically as their previous two projects - but it feels like a breath of fresh air into their discography that kept them from doing the same thing too many times. If this album had followed the same sound or structure as their previous albums it would've made the project feel uninspired s...

SCORE: 100/100 'Infiltrate•Destroy•Rebuild' is widely considered to be CKY's best project - gaining acclaim for the band after they polished up their style from 'Volume 1' and added more substance to their already pristine sound. The tracks pack the same amount of punch as the starters of their debut while keeping a more consistent tone and energy to the album and experimenting more with genre-hopping. It's a more consistent project when compared to their debut - an impressive feat when considering how cohesive their debut managed to be. It's clear that the band worked together very well at this still-early point in their career, and the musical direction of this album is considerably impressive and more full of depth than their previous work. The songs manage to keep up the same pace and stay on the same level while each individual member of the four-piece band is showcases throughout the layered and stunning compositions of each track. The instrumental per...