Hey everyone! 👋🏽
I'm back and I’ve missed you all! I took some time off for personal reasons—mental health, mainly, because being chronically online was killing my motivation. As they say, comparison is the thief of joy. I used this break as an opportunity to slow down and reevaluate what I want this blog, Black Noise, to be, and to refine my overall internet presence through my persona, Saint Virgil.
This period of reflection allowed me to take stock of my media diet and cut out the noise. I’ve been diving into so much music, reading loads of fantasy and sci-fi (my current favorite is The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin), and consuming old yet familiar media to sustain myself while in this rut.
On a more exciting note, I’ve also been diving deep into the world of DJing! From learning how to DJ with vinyl to mastering CDJs, I’m committed to taking my craft to the next level, and it’s been an absolute blast so far.
Last Friday saw the release of a lot of really good music. I took the whole weekend to just listen to everything, consume, and then let it all marinate before sitting down to write this. Thank you for sticking around and being patient with me. Now, let’s dive into some fresh and exciting music reviews!
New Rating System
I’m excited to introduce a new rating system to better convey my recommendations. Here’s how it works:
Rating System
🔥🔥🔥🔥 Absolute Fire - modern classic, must listen These albums are my top recommendations. They are modern classics that you absolutely must listen to.
🔥🔥🔥 High Heat - potential classic, highly suggested listen These albums have the potential to become classics and are highly suggested listens for any fan of the genre.
🔥🔥 Warm Glow - for any fan of the genre These albums are great for any fan of the genre and will definitely keep you warm and satisfied.
I only talk about albums I liked in this newsletter so even the “Warm Glow” albums are still good 😉
Empire of the Sun: Ask That God
Genre: Electropop, synth-pop, dance-rock, electro-rock, new wave
Website | Spotify | Apple Music | Youtube
Empire of the Sun is back, folks! Eight years since their last album, Luke “Emperor” Steele and Nick “Lord” Littlemore have dropped another nostalgia-pop gem that’s a rollercoaster of emotions. The duo’s signature cape-swishing, astral-traveling sound is still here, swaddled in sleek, shiny futurist imagery straight out of 80s fantasy movies. This album is a triumph of feeling over artifice, making you forget all the hard work that’s gone into crafting their dreamy tunes.
Rating: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 Absolute Fire - modern classic, must listen
Standout Tracks: Changes, Cherry Blossom, Revolve, Music on the Radio, Ask That God
Clothing: From Memory
Genre: indie experimental, pop, alternative pop, electropop, indie, indie pop
Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music | Youtube
Clothing’s debut album, "From Memory," is an eight-song journey through experimental pop that’s as mercurial as memory itself. With influences from experimental bands like Animal Collective, this album pushes the boundaries of pop music. It’s a body-moving, heart-spinning, mind-melding experience that opens up more with each listen. The clever lyrics and soulful guest vocalists like Amber Coffman and Anna Wise make this album a blissful thirty-minute record that’s well worth your time.
Rating: 🔥🔥🔥 High Heat - potential classic, highly suggested listen
Standout Tracks: Paper Money, Afternoon Television, Sunset
Cults: To The Ghosts
Genre: alternative, alternative ,dreampop, indie pop, indie rock
Website | Spotify | Apple Music | Youtube
Cults’ fifth album, To The Ghosts, is a comforting return to their dreamy, reverb-heavy art-pop. Written during the pandemic, this album expertly contrasts light and shade, with tracks that sound light and breezy on the surface but have a dark underbelly. The band cites David Lynch’s "Twin Peaks" as one of their main influences, and it shows in the eerie yet captivating soundscapes. While the album might not push many boundaries, it’s a solid addition to the Cults’ discography.
Rating: 🔥🔥 Warm Glow - for any fan of the genre
Standout Tracks: Crybaby, Crystal, Eat It Cold, Onions, Hung The Moon
Wand: Vertigo
Genre: alternative, rock, drag city, psych rock, shreds
Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music | Youtube
Wand’s sixth album, Vertigo, captures the whole of the band’s sonic DNA. From their hypnagogic garage rock roots to their more progressive, art-rock ambitions, this album is a Rosetta Stone for their evolving sound. Tracks like "Hangman" and "High Time" showcase their ability to blend immersion and abrasion, creating a symphony of noise and feedback that’s both beautiful and dissonant. This album is an adventurously cohesive work that’s a must-listen for any fan of the genre.
Rating: 🔥🔥🔥 High Heat - potential classic, highly suggested listen
Standout Track: Hangman, Curtain Call, High Time, Lifeboat, JJ, Smile
Cassie Ramone: Sweetheart
Genre: alternative, indie pop, indie rock
Cassie Ramone’s new album, Sweetheart, is a compelling journey through dreamy, lo-fi sounds. Recorded on an old tape recorder, this album exudes a hypnotic and deeply personal quality. By releasing it as an audiovisual experience exclusively on YouTube, Cassie has created an intimate connection with her fans. It's not just about listening – it's about experiencing the album as she intended.
Collaborations with Mac DeMarco and Dylan White enhance the album’s charm, making it a standout release. The tracks range from grim fatalism to woozy, twang-imbued rambles, crafting an album that feels both familiar and unique. For longtime fans like myself, this album feels like closure, a farewell of sorts.
Ready to see music differently? Check out Cassie Ramone's Sweetheart on YouTube now and witness the future of album releases. This one is about to go platinum in my household.
Rating: 🔥🔥🔥 High Heat - potential classic, highly suggested listen
Standout Tracks: I’m Going Home, He’s Still on My Mind, Together, The Only Way I Know How, Dilly Dally, Wait a Minute
❤️🔥 Thank you! ❤️🔥 As always, thank you thank you sooooo much for reading this issue of Black Noise! 🥹
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See ya next time! Keep the fire burning. 🔥