Category: Miscellaneous Album Reviews

• January 7, 2016

  My Top Albums of 2015

  Here it is, my 100th post for Mackens on Music. And what a better post to have the honor than a review of my favorite albums of 2015. This will probably be my last post on this WordPress site,  so I hope you all enjoy it! The following albums are listed in no particular ranking…
• August 24, 2014

  A Top 20 Album: Dookie by Green Day

  Similar to Weezer’s Blue Album, Green Day’s Dookie turned 20 within the first half of this year, and it serves as yet another indicator of how great music was that year. In the California trio’s third studio album and major label debut, Green Day packs 15 tracks into under 40 minutes, making for a project with…
• August 7, 2014

  EP Review: Wino Rider

  Released August 4th, the three track EP Wino Rider comes from L.A. husband-wife duo Danjasop, an act emerging from a dance music scene that’s been spearheaded by Mad Decent and is influenced by heavy bass. The EP is part one of a two part series, the second part being a project that should be released…
• June 27, 2014

  Song by Song Album Review: Neon Icon

  On Tuesday, Noisey shared a basement interview with the Neon Icon/Versace (insert noun here)/Rap Game (insert celebrity here), RiFF RAFF. The interview coincides with the release of his label debut album Neon Icon, which I have been waiting for since January of this year. I know the album leak has been out forever, but my…
• May 24, 2014

  A Top 20 Album: Weezer (The Blue Album) by Weezer

  We all know Weezer to some extent. If you’re the superfan, you know deep cuts from each of their eight albums and may have even went on the Weezer Cruise. You’re also a million times more of a Weezer fan than I think I’ll ever be. At the very least, you grew up listening to Top 40…
• April 25, 2014

  Flashback Friday: Straight Outta Compton Retro Review

  I wrote a review for UW-Madison’s student-run magazine EMMIE over a year ago, and I unfortunately had to cut most of it down to fit in with the other retro reviews within the feature. Fortunately for me, I kept the original cut of the review, and I’m finally taking the opportunity to share it with you now. Enjoy…
• February 25, 2014

  Song by Song Album Review: Oxymoron

  California rapper and Black Hippy affiliate ScHoolboy Q has finally released his first major label debut, and I couldn’t be more excited. Below I’ve written my initial gut reactions to each track from the iTunes deluxe version, fragments and all. Apologies in advance. 1. Gangsta – Q is a gangsta.  It’s as simple as that. There’s a lot…
• January 26, 2014

  Mini Review: Afterhours EP by Majid Jordan

  If you’ve ever heard the name Majid Jordan before, you most likely know the name as the featured artist on Drake’s 2013 hit, “Hold On, We’re Going Home”. The rhythmic beat and Drake’s infectious crooning combine for what I thought to be one of the best songs of 2013, so much so that I decided…
• January 7, 2014

  My Top 5 Albums of 2013 – #1: Acid Rap

  Of all the albums I listened to this year, Acid Rap was the one I listened to the most consistently throughout the year, as well as front to back and unabated. Technically speaking, Acid Rap isn’t even an “album”. It’s a mixtape that Chance has released for free. But with the level of production put into the…
• January 6, 2014

  My Top 5 Albums of 2013 – #2: The 20/20 Experience

  NOTE: This ranking is specifically for Part 1 of JT’s 20/20 Experience. Part 2 was sub-par in comparison to Part 1. Since his humble beginnings as a Mouseketeer, Timberlake has been bred to be a pop star. Throughout the program he was surrounded by future stars, including Christina Aguilera, Ryan Gosling, and Britney Spears, but…