Felipe's Favorite Albums

 Hello! In this blog, I will discuss the conceptual and heavy 2000 album Flood  by Boris. Cover art for Flood . Boris is an experimental rock and heavy metal band based in Japan. They've made several albums since the late 90s that have been considered among many music circles as some of the best music ever made. I've heard a few albums from their output, and they're all great in their own ways, but Flood  is one of those albums that I can truly call perfect. Divided into four sections, this album makes use of entirely different styles of sounds across its four parts. Part 1 begins with an infectious, calming repeating guitar riff that loops for thirteen whole minutes, with only the sounds of gentle waves in the background, immediately bringing to mind the seas and a vast ocean. The waves get stronger, which leads into Part 2. This part of Flood  focuses on a very calming rock sound that feels like having your back to the ocean while looking up at the night sky. The g...

 Hello! In this blog, I will be discussing the eclectic and influential 1971 album Tago Mago , by Can.   Cover art for Tago Mago. United Kingdom cover art for Tago Mago . In 1971, the music scene in Germany was undergoing a metamorphosis. Bands like Neu!, Faust, and Can started to experiment with a style of music called 'krautrock' that radically experimented and challenged to redefine what rock music could sound like: the most crowning achievement of this genre being the album Tago Mago  by Can, in my opinion. This album remains incredibly unique and consistent throughout its almost 80-minute runtime, while not afraid to make complete deviations in its sound, in a way that not only creates a focused environment but is off-kilter enough to never fail in keeping the audience's attention. I can very easily confirm that there is not a single wasted second on an album like this. "Paperhouse", from Tago Mago.

 Hello! In this blog, I will be discussing the soothing and melancholic 1972 album Pink Moon  by Nick Drake. Cover art for Pink Moon . For many musicians, fame is a very slippery slope. Many musicians find fame and have access to success, recognition, and adoration from loving fans. However, the sad reality is that many more musicians don't get so lucky. Nick Drake is one of the 1970s' more mysterious musicians who didn't receive any recognition when he was alive, but today is seen as one of the most recognizable and celebrated names in music today. This album, 1972's  Pink Moon , was the last one he released during his lifetime until his passing in 1974. With a melancholic acoustic folk sound, his songwriting is not only heard on this album, but felt. As such, his music moves like a gentle, calming breeze on a gloomy afternoon.  "Things Behind The Sun", from Pink Moon .

 Hello! In this blog, I'll discuss The Beach Boys' classic and influential 1966 album Pet Sounds . Cover art for Pet Sounds. In 1966, even more so than today, it was very rare to have an album that sonically stood out from the rest. It was more common then than ever before to stick to the sounds and trends that worked for the most successful rock n' roll musicians of the time. Bands like The Rolling Stones, The Monkees, and especially The Beatles were household names, as were The Beach Boys, but they were all in need of an evolution to their unique sounds. The Beach Boys, namely band leader Brian Wilson, had decided to take a step in a completely different direction and invent what was essentially the basis for all pop music going forward, and the result was an incredibly lush, harmony-centered album that crossed genres, turning simple rock n' roll boppers into progressive songs with elaborate walls of sound sonically, that each used different, storied techniques, coupl...