Razzle's Album Rating 2023 (The Lottery Winners)

[Razzle Dazzle]

Another year, another list of albums i will never get round to rating lol

The Lottery Winners - Anxiety Replacement Therapy 8.30/10
You Me At Six - Truth Decay 8.15/10
Delain – Dark Waters 8.10/10
Circa Waves - Never Going Under 8.04/10
Anti-Flag - Lies They Tell Our Children 8.00/10
Theory Of A Deadman - Dinosaur 7.90/10
Belle And Sebastian - Late Developers 7.54/10
Dick Valentine - This Is Hell! 7.50/10
Måneskin - Rush 7.14/10

New Found Glory - Make The Most Of It
The Reytons - What's Rock And Roll?
Paramore - This Is Why
The Academic - Sitting Pretty
Inhaler - Cuts & Bruises
Steel Panther - On The Prowl
Black Honey - A Fistful Of Peaches
All Time Low - Tell Me I'm Alive
Fall Out Boy - So Much (For) Stardust
DMA’S - How Many Dreams?
Electric Enemy - Electric Enemy
The Lemon Twigs - Everything Harmony
Cyan Kicks - I Never Said 4ever
PONY - Velveteen
Foo Fighters - But Here We Are
Tigercub - The Perfume Of Decay
McFly - Power To Play
Heavenward – Pyrophonics
Superbloom - Life's a Blur
Queens Of The Stone Age - In Times New Roman
Nothing But Thieves - Dead Club City
Nita Strauss - The Call of the Void
Blur - The Ballad Of Darren
Greta Van Fleet – Starcatcher
Yonaka - Welcome To My House
The Front Bottoms - You Are Who You Hang Out With
Mammoth WVH - Mammoth II
The Sherlocks - People Like Me & You
Teenage Wrist - Still Love
PÆRISH - You're In Both Dreams (And You're Scared)
Hot Milk - A Call To The Void
Spanish Love Songs - No Joy
Des Rocs - Dream Machine


Starbenders - Take Back The Night

Work Drugs - Dreams Rule Desire
Taylor Acorn - Certified Depressed
Staind - Confessions Of The Fallen
Teenage Fanclub – Nothing Lasts Forever




 

[Razzle Dazzle]

DELAIN – Dark Waters



Release Date: February 10, 2023

Dark Waters is the seventh studio album by the Dutch symphonic metal band Delain, who are renowned for their orchestral arrangements. The brainchild of keyboardist, founder and main songwriter Martijn Westerholt, they are back with a new lineup. Rejoining the fold and bolstering Delain are original guitarist Ronald Landa and original drummer Sander Zoer, along with two new members, vocalist Diana Leah and bassist Ludovico Cioffi.

1. Hideaway Paradise 7.5
2. The Quest and the Curse 8.5
3. Beneath 8.5
4. Mirror of Night 8
5. Tainted Hearts 8
6. The Cold 8.5
7. Moth to a Flame 9
8. Queen of Shadow 8.5
9. Invictus 7
10. Underland 7.5

Summary
I'm not sure what the previous line ups sound was but this is very much pop metal with lean female vocals and orchestral arrangements, at times we get some nice synths (Beneath, Mirror of Night) and some demonic chanting (The Cold, Invictus). I'm new to the Delain party and got hooked in by the Euro pop chorus of "Moth to a Flame". This one is definitely for fans of female fronted synth metal fans 8.10/10

[greendemon]

Yay! I was listening to this one just earlier today, really enjoyed it. Symphonic metal, like power metal, can so easily be unlistenably cheesy but I think this one gets the balance right, and the singer's vocals are incredible. 'Moth To A Flame' is definitely the highlight.

That said I crack up whenever I hear the opening of 'Beneath' when she sings 'I have returned from down under' and I'm thinking, 'so how was Australia?'

[Razzle Dazzle]

Ha yeah, I had two listens today and I'm super impressed, I wasn't going to start my 2023 list because i still have a few from 2022 to get done but this was too good to not make a quick review so looks like i will have both going at the same time lol.

[Razzle Dazzle]

ANTI FLAG - Lies They Tell Our Children



Release Date: January 6, 2023

Lies They Tell Our Children is the thirteenth studio album by American punk rock band Anti-Flag from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, it is the band's first concept album, and features multiple guest musicians from notable acts such as Rise Against, Bad Religion, Bad Cop/Bad Cop, Pinkshift, and Silverstein. Unlike their previous albums, Lies They Tell Our Children is the band's first concept album that looks at various anti-war, climate devastation and racism topics

1. SOLD EVERYTHING 7.5
2. MODERN META MEDICINE ft. Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage 8
3. LAUGH. CRY. SMILE. DIE. ft. Shane Told of Silverstein 8.5
4. THE FIGHT OF OUR LIVES ft. Tim McIlrath of Rise Against + Brian Baker of Bad Religion 8
5. IMPERIALISM ft. Ashrita Kumar of Pinkshift 8.5
6. VICTORY OR DEATH (WE GAVE 'EM HELL) ft. Campino of Die Toten Hosen 9
7. THE HAZARDOUS 8
8. SHALLOW GRAVES ft. Tré Burt 8
9. WORK & STRUGGLE 7
10. NVREVR ft. Stacey Dee of Bad Cop/Bad Cop 8
11. ONLY IN MY HEAD 7.5

Summary
It wouldn't be Anti Flag if he over arching theme wasn't that of defiance and a sense of self power and on "Lies They Tell Our Children" they continue to  fearlessly, articulately and aggressively address the wrongs of the world. I have always liked this band, their message and style but they hadn't consistently found the substance but "Lies They Tell Our Children" is a brilliant slice of rebellious pop punk  8.00/10

[Razzle Dazzle]

BELLE AND SEBASTIAN - Late Developers



Release Date: January 13, 2023

Belle and Sebastian hit the ground running in 2023 with new album Late Developers. Arriving almost back-to-back to 2022’s Top Ten album ‘A Bit of Previous’, ‘Late Developers’ comes on like its predecessor’s sun-kissed cousin. It is a full-hearted embrace of the band's brightest tendencies that is not only fresh and immediate but possessing all that we know and love about Belle and Sebastian.

1. Juliet Naked 7
2. Give A Little Time 8
3. When We Were Very Young 6.5
4. Will I Tell You A Secret 7
5. So In The Moment 8.5
6. The Evening Star 8
7. When You're Not With Me 6.5
8. I Don't Know What You See In Me 8.5
9. Do You Follow 8
10. When The Cynics Stare Back From The Wall 7.5
11. Late Developers 7.5

Summary
Having had a few listens now this one is just ok, not their best, not their worst, single "I Don't Know What You See In Me" is fun and poppy, actually most of the record is poppy rather than twee which I don't mind because "Write About Love" is one of my favourite Belle And Sebastian albums but the quality of the songs is far from what we had on that album. The production is also left wanting too at times, don't get me wrong this is still the better side of mainstream pop but nowhere near the genius of “The Boy With The Arab Strap” or “Tigermilk” 7.54/10

[Razzle Dazzle]

YOU ME AT SIX - Truth Decay



Release Date: February 2, 2023

Truth Decay is the eighth studio release from British alt-rock outfit, You Me at Six. The release follows 2021’s #1 album Suckapunch, an album reported by some outlets as the group’s most genre-defiant. Truth Decay goes more or less back to their roots from what I've heard and I've heard at least six singles so far which I loved them all so this one is up next

1. DEEP CUTS 9
2. Mixed Emotions (I Didn't Know How to Tell You What I Was Going Through) 9.5
3. God Bless The 90s Kids 8.5
4. After Love In The After Hours 8
5. No Future? Yeah Right feat. Rou Reynolds 8.5
6. heartLESS 9.5
7. Who Needs Revenge When I've Got Ellen Rae 7.5
8. Breakdown 7
9. Traumatic Iconic 7.5
10. :mydopamine: 8.5
11. A Smile To Make You Weak(er) At The Knees 8
12. Ultraviolence 7.5
13. A Love Letter to Those Who Feel Lost feat. Cody Frost 7

Summary
Truth Decay has something for everyone, there's nothing on "Truth Decay" that You Me At Six haven't done but 8 albums in you expect that, what they have done over the last few albums is really perfect their sound, there are hooks a-plenty and thumping drum beats. Lyrically the album is an honest look at life and how people grow and change as they get older. The best moments here are the throw backs to noughties alt-rock and pop-punk, yeah yeah I know 00s pop punk has been done to death and is 20 years out of date but if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Mixed Emotions, Deep Cuts and heartLESS are bangers 8.15/10

[Roo.]

I genuinely think Truth Decay might be their best album as a whole, which is impressive 8 albums in. Still surprised Fall Out Boy haven't come calling about the chorus of Who Needs Revenge, it's VERY similar to Thnks Fr Th Mmrs at points...

[Razzle Dazzle]

Ha even the song title looks like a Fall Out Boy song

[greendemon]

Mar 6, 2023 0:28:51 GMT 1 Razzle Dazzle said:

Ha even the song title looks like a Fall Out Boy song

Intended as a tongue-in-cheek tribute, perhaps...

I feel like it's a couple of tracks too long but it's a very good album.

[Razzle Dazzle]

Yeah the last two tracks might be growers but didn't really add a lot to the album

[Razzle Dazzle]

DICK VALENTINE - This Is Hell!



Release Date: February 2, 2023

Next up we have a solo album by Electric Six front man Dick Valentine, he is no stranger to solo work, before Electric Six he released a solo album (Smog Cutter Love Story) under the name The Dirty Shame, which included a few tracks that would make it onto their debut album Fire, in fact he had already written a lot of what made it onto their debut album including Gay Bar, Nuclear War (On The Dancefloor), Naked Pictures, Danger! High Voltage, Getting Into The Jam, Vengeance And Fashion in the mid 90's. More recently though over the last decade he has released 9 more solo albums, most of which are acoustic stripped down songs but this one I had a first listen to over the weekend and thought, this could be an Electric Six album.

1. Evil When I Get Good 7.5
2. Recreational Cough Syrup Girls 7
3. This Is Hell! 7
4. Set of Steak Knives 7.5
5. Go Fund Me 7.5
6. The Song Is You 8
7. Malachi! Malachi! 9.5
8. Manhattanites 8
9. Life on a Loop 6
10. Goodnight (Juana's Gift) 7.5
11. Darlin' Waterfall 7

Summary
I enjoyed this one more than many of his other solo albums. The production is definitely more fleshed out here, but there are still a few songs that sound more like a demo. Love the opening groove of "Evil When I Get Good" but the highlight of the album is the toe tapping "Malachi! Malachi!", this album really gets going in the middle with "The Song Is You" which has the same melody as Electric Six song "I Am A Song", which is pretty clever, I really enjoyed "Manhattanites" too, overall the lyrics and melodies were catchy even though at times the DIY sound lets a few songs down 7.50/10

[Razzle Dazzle]

CIRCA WAVES - Never Going Under



Release Date: January 13, 2023

Circa Waves are an English indie rock band formed in Liverpool in 2013. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Kieran Shudall, guitarist Joe Falconer, bassist Sam Rourke, and drummer Colin Jones. Since releasing their debut album "Young Chasers" in 2015, Circa Waves have gone from strength to strength releasing 5 albums, with the last being 2023 release "Never Going Under".

1. Never Going Under 9
2. Do You Wanna Talk 8
3. Hell on Earth 8
4. Your Ghost 7.5
5. Carry You Home 9.5
6. Northern Town 8
7. Electric City 8
8. Want It All Today 6
9. Golden Days 8.5
10. Hold On 7
11. Living in the Grey 9

Summary
Circa Waves are one of them bands, people either love them for releasing infectious fun indie-rock/electro-pop that was big in the mid 00's, other people hate them for for releasing infectious fun indie-rock/electro-pop that should've stayed in the mid 00's. Really weird reading through the reviews of bands like this as most comments are "THIS IS NOT FOR ME, I HATE IT", but 5 albums in you know what your getting with Circa Waves, if you don't like it then its not made for you. I thought this was a very good Circa Waves album full of fun electro pop, there are some really good songs here actually with "Carry You Home" one of the best songs they have written, "Never Going Under" is a bit of a toe tapping opening track and the beautifully soaring “Living In the Grey” to close the album is the perfect end to a very good album 8.04/10

[Razzle Dazzle]

back to 2023 for the next album!

[Razzle Dazzle]

THEORY OF A DEADMAN - Dinosaur



Release Date: March 17, 2023

Dinosaur is the eighth studio album by Canadian rock band Theory of a Deadman.  Formed in 1999, the band is currently signed to Roadrunner Records as well as 604 Records. The band includes traits of music styles, such as country and acoustic, in addition to their post-grunge and alternative rock foundation. Nine of their singles have entered the top ten of the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, including four songs that peaked at number one: "Bad Girlfriend", "Lowlife", "Rx (Medicate)" and "History of Violence".

1. Dinosaur 8
2. Medusa (Stone) 9.5
3. Sick 8
4. Two Of Us (Stuck) 8
5. Ambulance 7.5
6. Sideways 8
7. Get In Line 8
8. Head In The Clouds 7
9. Heart's Too Wild 7.5
10. Summer Song 7.5

Summary
There is some great grungy alt rock on "Dinosaur", the songs cover topics that most likely all of us can relate to in one way or another, of course this is dad rock at its finest complete with a few obligatory power-ballads. Highlight has to be the banger  “Medusa (Stone)”, such a great song even if it's about destructive love but there is also plenty of good stuff here, even their unique take on "Two Of Us (Stuck)" which samples "Just The Two Of Us" is pretty well done, true enough to the original but with a modern twist 7.90/10

[Razzle Dazzle]

MANESKIN - Rush



Release Date: January 20, 2023

Rush! is the third studio album by Italian rock band Måneskin, It was preceded by the singles "Mammamia", "Supermodel", "The Loneliest", and "Gossip", with "Baby Said" following on 3 March 2023. In support of the album and its predecessor Teatro d'ira: Vol. I (2021), the band embarked on the Loud Kids Tour Gets Louder between late 2022 and mid-2023. They were also influenced during the writing and recording process after listening to Radiohead, with bassist Victoria De Angelis stating that Måneskin had "tried to experiment a bit more with [their] sound. We listened to a lot of Radiohead where they work a lot with pedals." Frontman Damiano David said: "I think that the inspiration we got from Radiohead was to be very focused on creating a very specific world for each song. It's something they do very, very well so we tried to create these amazing atmospheres. They really create an image of what you're listening to, and that gave us inspiration." Probably the most hated band in the world if you pay any attention to the toxic rock fandom with reviews such as, "The music equivalent of being trapped in a vat of pig sh*t for 53 minutes straight", "Not even your worst enemy deserves to be forced to listen to this. Swimming in the acid would be better", "RUSH! is a definitive worst album of the year contender and a definitive 1/10 album", has got me excited to check this one out, I enjoyed the singles

1. Own My Mind 8
2. Gossip feat. Tom Morello 9
3. Timezone 7.5
4. Bla Bla Bla 3
5. Baby Said 7
6. Gasoline 7
7. Feel 7
8. Don't Wanna Sleep 7.5
9. Kool Kids 5.5
10. If Not for You 7.5
11. Read Your Diary 7
12. Mark Chapman 6
13. La fine 7
14. Il dono della vita 6.5
15. MammaMia 7.5
16. Supermodel 9.5
17. The Loneliest 9

Summary
Ok, to be fair there are some stinkers on here but there are also some songs of merit on here too, I'm not sure why bands release 17 track albums full of dodgy songs when they have the makings of a very good 10 track album, The 1975 are usually guilty of this. The album starts well with the catchy "Own My Mind" and the single "Gossip" that features Tom Morello, the Rage Against The Machine guitarist bringing his usual unique brand of guitar wizardry to the table but then it all gets a bit samey with the same "duh duh, duh duh duh duh, duh" groove, that is only broken up by what I have to say is one of the worst songs of 2023 "Bla Bla Bla", the album does improve a lot towards the end though with the excellent "Supermodel" and "The Loneliest" which were both singles too, if they stuck to the singles and 3 or 4 of the better album tracks this could've been a solid album 7.14/10

[Razzle Dazzle]

THE LOTTERY WINNERS - Anxiety Replacement Therapy



Release Date: April 28, 2023

Manchester indie pop band The Lottery Winners new album ‘Anxiety Replacement Therapy’, features collaborations with Boy George, Frank Turner, Shaun Ryder as well as three spoken word interludes performed by Stephen Fry. Tackling subjects such as austerity, as well as of course, anxiety, mental health and its medications, and ADHD. It helps that these messages come wrapped with some of the best choruses you’re likely to hear all year. “Each of the albums in my collection are a self-help tape for me,” explains singer Thom Rylance. “If I listen to Paul Simon’s Graceland, it’s because I know it’ll put me in a good mood. If I play The Queen Is Dead by The Smiths, it’s because I want to embrace feeling sad. We wanted to present ‘Anxiety Replacement Therapy’ as a self-help tape for anyone playing it.” This is the fifth studio album by English indie pop band the Lottery Winners registering 22,209 sales, a total which was more than all their other album's sales combined, making it the band's first top 10 and number one album. The following week, the album broke the all-time record of the biggest second week drop from No.1 in the UK album charts, when the album vacated the top 200 altogether selling 880 copies

1. [PLAY] N/A
2. Worry 8.5
3. Burning House 8
4. Money (ft Shaun Ryder) 7.5
5. Long Way Down 9
6. Sertaline 8.5
7. [PAUSE] N/A
8. Letter To Myself (ft Frank Turner) 10
9. Jennie 8
10. Let Me Down (ft Boy George) 8
11. Not Alone 7.5
12. Anxiety Replacement Therapy 8
13. [STOP] N/A

Summary
There is no denying The Lottery Winners have reached their full potential on "Anxiety Replacement Therapy", whilst I usually pick a few songs out I would suggest listening to the album in its entirety first because the album is a little prog in that there is a narrative from start to finish, there aren't many indie pop masterpieces released these days but this is one. The ten songs are supported by three short narrated pieces that mimic old self-help tapes, spoken by none other than Stephen Fry. Wish I got round to this one sooner, great album. 8.30/10