World’s Worst Music Nerd

Getting better at being an audiophile one album at a time. No, I probably haven’t listened to that one album that “everybody needs to listen to at least once in their life”, so tell me about it and I’ll check it out! 2023: One album per day, all year long. Januarys line up: All Set.

[worldsworstmusicnerd]

2023 Album A Day: Day 167/365

SAWAYAMA • Rina Sawayama

Favorite Track: XS

Thoughts: When a new artist comes onto the scene and draws a lot of attention within the pop music sphere, it’s always exciting to see what sets them apart. Rina Sawayama brings a few things to the table in that regard. From a musical standpoint, there’s a cool rock element that Sawayama implements on this album. Playing into the performative pop sensibilities, there’s a big arena feel to a lot of songs here, with heavier rock and even nu metal instrumentation that feels perfectly geared for a stadium show or festival stage. It feels surprisingly fresh and definitely stands out within the broader pop landscape. Lyrically, Sawayama’s perspective as a Japanese-British citizen brings a lot to the table in terms of upbringing, identity, and perception of her culture from outsiders. But there’s also plenty of pop bangers that are more interested in glitz and glamour to balance out the more personal moments. This is a fun pop debut with an unexpected but fascinating mix of genres, styles, and influences.

[worldsworstmusicnerd]

2023 Album A Day: Day 166/365

Gossamer • Passion Pit

Favorite Track: Take A Walk

Thoughts: It becomes very clear after a first listen that this album was a very cathartic writing process for lead singer Michael Angelakos as he went through a very tough break up. The lyrics go through a lot of phases of such a difficult process, from the hurt and betrayal he feels to the complicated and conflicting feelings one would feel for an ex when a relationship fizzles out rather than having a more definitive ending. There is a clear sense of finality to things based on the lyrics, but it doesn’t feel resolved, instead feeling like there’s a lot of uncertainty going forward. Musically, the electropop sound on display is wild, with lots of intense and explosive percussion, glitchy synths, and some really smooth funk influences to round out the otherwise jittery electronics. It feels a bit dissonant to the heavy subject matter of the album, but this could be a coping mechanism to juxtapose the difficulty of processing it all, almost drowning out the pain in the wild, glitchy euphoria of the music.

[worldsworstmusicnerd]

2023 Album A Day: Day 165/365

Peace Beyond Passion • Meshell Ndegeocello

Favorite Track: The Way

Thoughts: This is an album of two halves from my first impressions from listening. The second half of this album is a very strong R&B experience, with lots of sultry jazz influences and smooth production. Having another half with more of the same music would be no problem. But the standout of this album, and what sets it apart for me, is the first half of this album, which consists of a conceptual exploration of faith and identity. Juxtaposing Old Testament texts and reflections on racism and homophobia, Ndegeocello is scathing in her criticisms of the hypocrisy of organized religion and painfully honest about the experiences marginalized communities face from their oppressors. The stronger gospel influences in this part of the album play into that overarching theme really well, and make some of the statements in the lyrics hit home that much harder. There are so many layers of depth to this album that make the first half hit so hard and make the back half seem so much more nuanced when you get into it.

[worldsworstmusicnerd]

2023 Album A Day: Day 164/365

Let Her Burn • Rebecca Black

Favorite Track: Doe-Eyed

Thoughts: I could talk about Rebecca Black’s career with this; I was in Junior high when Friday came out and can remember all the negativity vividly and can only imagine what it must be like to deal with that as a child. But with this album, all these years later, Rebecca Black has come into her own as an artist and as a person. She has released singles and features over the past few years, leaning into her internet infamy with a self-awareness and almost meta persona that was perfect for the hyperpop scene, which embraced her with open arms. But on Let Her Burn, Black sheds that outer layer of her past and looks forward. The lyrics are personal, but aren’t hung up on the baggage that has been tied to her name for so long. This album is about personal relationships, love and break ups and moving on, and also about her passion to be a musician. The hyperpop influences are still here, but there’s also bubblegum pop and more conventional ballads on here as well, making for a well-rounded pop album for her debut record. And I think that’s what I love about this album the most: Rebecca Black wanted to be a pop star all those years ago, and she’s finally finding the success of that dream.

[worldsworstmusicnerd]

2023 Album A Day: Day 163/365

A Night At The Opera • Queen

Favorite Track: Bohemian Rhapsody

Thoughts: I don’t know what is more insane: the massive scope of this album conceptually, or how well they pull everything off. They really took the album title and ran within as an underlying structure, as this album flows with a theatrical grandeur that feels operatic. While there isn’t a narrative thread that connects everything, the pacing from track to track flows like acts of a stage performance, with the bigger, more ambitious tracks being interspersed by small, skit-like tunes to cleanse the palate between all of these massive, showstopping epics. There’s a bit of everything here, from plucky ukulele to sweeping harps to shredding guitar solos and so much more, and it never feels overdone or bloated. And then there’s the vocals; Freddy Mercury is untouchable and is just as fantastic in multi-part layered harmonies with himself panning between left and right as he is in the most delicate, isolated moments. Apparently, at the time of its release, A Night At The Opera was one of the most expensive albums to record of all time. I think that was money very well spent.

[worldsworstmusicnerd]

2023 Album A Day: Day 162/365

No Strings Attached • N*SYNC

Favorite Track: I Thought She Knew

Thoughts: N*SYNC dives headfirst into the 21st century with this album, a defining touchstone of the boyband movement at the turn of the millennium. While the novelty hits differently so far removed from the albums release, No Strings Attached has that electronic, synth-filled production of the early 2000’s that still reads as futuristic from an aesthetic perspective. It feels engineered for being played out loud in a massive crowd of people, especially when the booming bass of tracks comes through. I think the vocals shine through on the more stripped down R&B tracks, however. When the five voices are able to come together clearly, the harmonies blend really well, and the change in tone on the downtempo tracks works perfectly for the heartthrob aesthetics of the iconic boyband.

[worldsworstmusicnerd]

2023 Album A Day: Day 161/365

The Queen Is Dead • The Smiths

Favorite Track: Cemetry Gates

Thoughts: This is such an odd little indie album. Looking at the lyrics, it’s undoubtedly melancholy and a bit bleak at times, staring down themes of mortality and unrequited love and uncertainty regarding what love even is. But then you listen to the album and sonically you are met with an entirely different energy. It’s jangly, playful, with lots of charming acoustic guitars and the occasional bizarre keyboard ornamentation. This juxtaposition creates a cognitive dissonance that makes The Queen Is Dead feel very tongue in cheek. Whether it be the sarcastic or absurd stories told in many songs, or the carefree nihilism of others, this entire album feels like it doesn’t want to be taken seriously at all, and simply wants to revel in its disillusionment.

[worldsworstmusicnerd]

2023 Album A Day: Day 160/365

The Age of Pleasure • Janelle Monáe

Favorite Track: Float

Thoughts: This album is concentrated “Hot Girl Summer” from top to bottom. After spending over a decade curating this conceptual aesthetic of afrofuturistic sci-fi imagery to narratively tie albums together, Janelle Monáe lets all the pretense and conceptual work wash away under the waves of a laidback, seductive, sun-soaked backdrop of reggae and neo-soul. Monáe has liberated herself, both in the freedom to write music that she wants to make, and in the stories she tells on this album of love and sexuality. It’s the “Wet Hot American Summer” of a whole new generation, and Monáe is not missing out on a moment of it.

[worldsworstmusicnerd]

2023 Album A Day: Day 159/365

Bronco • Orville Peck

Favorite Track: Kalahari Down

Thoughts: Orville Peck has drawn a lot of new people into the country music space, and for very good reason. While it is no doubt great to have new perspectives and more diverse representation in a genre that can be criticized for being stagnant, I think that pinning all of Orville Peck’s success on his identity as a masked, queer musician within the genre isn’t just reductive, it’s inaccurate. While it’s definitely the X factor that has gotten him noticed by both country music faithfuls and newcomers, people are staying because of the quality of his music. He draws inspiration from classic country artists that established the genre throughout the 20th century faithfully and builds upon that tradition. Bronco covers a wider range of country styles than previous work from Peck, with influences from psychedelic rock, bluegrass, and classic rock and roll amongst the outlaw country sound that Peck originally made his name on. His vocals are captivating, with a deep baritone croon and clear falsetto and everything in between. It’s refreshing to have a modern take on such a timeless sound, giving the traditional country tradition a fresh coat of paint and a fresh story to tell.

[worldsworstmusicnerd]

2023 Album A Day: Day 158/365

Silent Alarm • Bloc Party

Favorite Track: Positive Tension

Thoughts: This album plays so well into both the mainstream appeal of post-punk of the early 2000s as well as the niche technical expertise found in the math rock scene. The intricacies of this album unfold as you listen closely to this album, between the ways they mess with meter and layer rhythmic patterns within the subdivisions of measures, particularly in the drum parts. It’s dynamic and wild to follow as you try to make sense of it. But it never sounds too abstract when you pull back; there’s always a clear pulse and flow to everything, making the complexity engaging rather than off-putting. Add in the stellar hooks in the vocals that you can’t help but sing along with, and you’ve got some of the artsiest punk rock that still packs a powerful punch and draws anyone who listens in.

[worldsworstmusicnerd]

2023 Album A Day: Day 157/365

Walk The Moon • Walk The Moon

Favorite Track: Anna Sun

Thoughts: For my money, this is one of the highlights of the indie music scene of the 2010s. Shimmery, psychedelic guitars run the show for much of this album that immediately feels summery and lively. While much of the album feels energetic and fit for a beach party, there are moments that pull back and let everything wash over you with a calmer, more reflective vibe, like the feeling of looking up at the sun from underwater. Walk The Moon are youthful and carefree with their debut album, and I think that even after all these years, the blend of indie rock holds up as the perfect music to have as a backdrop to the summer.

[worldsworstmusicnerd]

2023 Album A Day: Day 156/365

Ágætis byrjun • Sigur Rós

Favorite Track: Ny Batterí

Thoughts: Ágætis byrjun is such a mesmerizing ambient experience. The shoegaze elements are boosted so much by the use of a cello bow on the guitars in this album, allowing for a resonant sustained sound that carries even before reverb and effects are added. Add on top of that all of the strings and brass and you get this gorgeous chamber pop sound that ornaments the post rock foundation of the album. There are also some great moments within the percussion of this album, using atmospheric sounds for their rhythmic qualities interlaced with the drums to create a very nuanced and intricate beat on various songs. The vocals are gorgeous; the heavy use of falsetto can be risky for some but the vocals here nail the balance perfectly and sound heavenly. This album is genuinely moving, even without an understanding of the lyrics, and I think their use of a nonsense language on one of the tracks speaks to their understanding of how to convey meaning through the music itself, allowing that emotion and message to come through without the need for words to do all the work of conveying it.

[worldsworstmusicnerd]

2023 Album A Day: Day 155/365

OIL OF EVERY PEARL’S UN-INSIDES • SOPHIE

Favorite Track: It’s Okay To Cry

Thoughts: Equal parts harshly grating and stunningly beautiful, SOPHIE’s only album was a triumph of the hyperpop scene and a showcase of her mind bending production. SOPHIE’s blend of metallic and industrial noise combined with bubbly and ethereal pop is compelling and unpredictable, soothing and overstimulating all at once. It’s well documented that this juxtaposition of sounds draws lots of inspiration from the dysphoric experiences of being transgender, and the lyrics on display here show that idea as well, from detached perspectives of bodily autonomy to reassurances of inner beauty. It’s aggressively artificial, but entirely personal and intrinsically human, which I think is very fitting.

[worldsworstmusicnerd]

2023 Album A Day: Day 154/365

Dookie • Green Day

Favorite Track: Basket Case

Thoughts: A defining album of the pop punk subgenre and quintessential “slacker rock” icon. While Green Day would have plenty of ambitious, anarchic, and rousing albums throughout their careers, Dookie finds them at a nearly apathetic level of disillusionment. However, this attitude is not reflected in the composition at all, quite the opposite. We get these powerful punk rock guitar riffs, some stellar bass lines that drive many of the songs, and some pulse-pounding drums that all shine in equal measure. I think that’s one of the highlights of a band like Green Day where there’s one guitarist, one bassist, and one drummer; all three instruments balance so well as a trio and all three take center stage at different moments. The album is often juvenile, occasionally crude, and chaotic as it spirals around mental health and adulthood with a paranoid sense of “is this really it?” This album would set the stage for generations of pop punk, and all of the anxiety, self deprecation, and crass humor that would come with it.

[worldsworstmusicnerd]

2023 Album A Day: Day 153/365

Yes I Am • Melissa Etheridge

Favorite Track: Resist

Thoughts: This album released within months of Melissa Etheridge coming out publicly in 1993, and that context makes the bold confidence of this album all the more powerful. Etheridge is dynamic throughout this entire album, with slightly weathered but explosive vocals backed by a distinctly Americana rock sound blended with blues and folk. While her coming out isn’t the focus of this album, you can definitely see the ways that it influenced her writing and the stories she wanted to tell, and I think with that openness and liberation came a fire and energy that makes this album shine.

[worldsworstmusicnerd]

2023 Album A Day: Day 152/365

MONTERO • Lil Nas X

Favorite Track: INDUSTRY BABY

Thoughts: Lil Nas X has made a career out of being provocative and unpredictable, and in making his debut album, I think that the most shocking thing he could do was give us a sincere look behind the curtain at just who this young man is. Lil Nas X had established quite a reputation in his short career, whether it was the viral rap-country fusion that launched his career to the ire of purists from both ends of the genre spectrum, or the artistic direction Lil Nas X took in the rollout of the album with its open themes of his sexuality and the controversial imagery that came with it. But upon the albums release, the hidden layers of the album became clear. Lil Nas X is vulnerable on this album, and it shows in the lyrics and the music backing him. There is less shock value to the unpredictable genre influences of the beats, with electronic, dream pop, and punk evoking an emotional sound that perfectly sets Lil Nas X up for the more personal moments here. And you still get plenty of rap tracks to satisfy the hip hop crowd, full of bravado and confidence. This album is a powerful statement in its confident sense of identity: an openly queer rapper in a world seeped in bigotry, pushing against the established boundaries of the genre to help redefine what hip hop is capable of.

[worldsworstmusicnerd]

2023 Album A Day: Day 151/365

White Pony • Deftones

Favorite Track: Knife Prty

Thoughts: Bringing the more unsettling aspects of this era of metal music but with a more palatable edge, this album is a great entry point into the genre. You get a lot of nu metal qualities as the subgenre was just beginning to blow up during this album’s time, but it doesn’t lean into the hip-hop stylings of nu metal as much as it does the noise and art rock vein. You get distorted vocals that feel alien with how warped and noisy they are, plus some oppressive synth work that adds to the unnatural, otherworldly sound. Add in lots of droning guitars, infectious looping riffs, and a tendency for odd and unpredictable meter changes, and you’ve got an alternative metal album that never lets you truly settle in and get comfortable. That uneasiness is part of the appeal of this album, however, and for the people who can appreciate the discomfort Deftones seek to evoke, they will be rewarded with a compelling album that keeps them on their toes and worms it’s way into their head with some excellent melodies and hooks.