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Mystic Familiar: A Cathartic and Spirited Journey with Dan Deacon

Image Source Vibrant, dynamic, radiant—these are some of the most apt descriptors one could assign to Dan Deacon's latest full-length project, Mystic Familiar . The album serves as a somewhat elementary yet earnest and uplifting thesis on personal philosophy. The Baltimore producer excels at crafting songs that sonically reflect what is being expressed verbally—resulting in an experience that's as cathartic as it is spirited. Throughout the project, Deacon ruminates on concepts such as fear, fate, and ephemerality—but does so with a keen sense of optimism and hopefulness. Using a rich and vivid sound palette, he transports you to new worlds—leaving you entranced and utterly enthralled with the colorful expanses that surround you.  The lush and resplendent  "Become a Mountain"  is a strong opener—beautifully epitomizing the most remarkable and distinguished aspects of the album. What begins as a singular, pulsating piano progression soon swells into a vast
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Top 75 Albums of 2019

Image Source Well, here we are. Another wonderful year in music has come to an end—and I've finally completed my Year-End Top Albums list. Here are my Top 75 Albums of 2019, along with some honorable mentions. This year has been especially impressive to me; there were so many noteworthy albums released this year that I extended my list from 50 to 75.  I've done a lot of traveling throughout the year, and it's also my senior year of college. Unfortunately, I've been incredibly busy and haven't been able to stay up-to-date with this blog; I apologize for that. However, I've still been actively listening to and critiquing new releases. If you want to stay up-to-date with my album ratings, feel free to follow my RateYourMusic profile; my username is   @greersears. At any rate, I'm excited that this list gives me the opportunity to share my opinion on some albums that I never got around to reviewing.  As always, I want to emphasize that this list is opini

Remind Me Tomorrow: Sharon Van Etten's Successful Attempt at Artistic Reinvention

Image Source Remind Me Tomorrow  is a dramatic reinvention for Sharon Van Etten that introduces us to an entirely new and diverse sonic palette. Etten abandons the simple, stripped-down, guitar-driven balladry we’ve come to expect from her, and in turn gives us a record that is characterized by dark, complex, and synth-heavy instrumentation. Not only is this a stunning testament to her artistic versatility, it's also a befitting aural manifestation of the themes this album explores.  Remind Me Tomorrow  is a stark and unembellished portrayal of love and intimacy; throughout the album, Etten finds herself trudging through the good, the bad, and the ugly. The album opens with "I Told You Everything," a piano-driven ballad with staggering instrumental entrances and dainty lower harmonies. Etten discusses the relief, comfort, and closeness that stems from becoming totally and completely transparent with your significant other. She describes the moment she opened up to h