GutterPutter

Why Sara Bareilles’s Anti-‘Love Song’ Clicks Playing with ballad clichés, the Californian concocted one of the wittiest pop tunes of the late 2000s.

Playing with ballad clichés, the Californian concocted one of the wittiest pop tunes of the late 2000s.

Fading Like a Palimpsest with the Disintegration Loops Released nearly 25 years ago, avant-garde composer William Basinski’s work, done through withering tapes, stands sharply as an aural time capsule.

Released nearly 25 years ago, avant-garde composer William Basinski’s work, done through withering tapes, stands sharply as an aural time capsule.

How Anime Rock Bands Came to Roll Bocchi the Rock, K-On!, and Girls Band Cry are among the most popular shows of their season to the point where their albums sell. How do they click?

Bocchi the Rock, K-On!, and Girls Band Cry are among the most popular shows of their season to the point where their albums sell. How do they click?

Capping off 2025: Gradual Branching and Experimentation Just before a short break, a new post to celebrate 2025 is out with some end-of-year lists!

Just before a short break, a new post to celebrate 2025 is out with some end-of-year lists!

Capsule Reviews (December – Part 2) – Jim Ghedi, kinoue64, acloudyskye… Just before New Year's Day and the Capping Off entry, the second half of the Capsule Reviews closes nearly all of the albums that are due for a review!

Just before New Year's Day and the Capping Off entry, the second half of the Capsule Reviews closes nearly all of the albums that are due for a review!

Yeonsoo – This is How I Disappear (Record Review) Choi Yeon-soo, once an earnest K-pop aspirant called D:elta, peers through with one of the most stunning art pop works in this decade.

Choi Yeon-soo, once an earnest K-pop aspirant called D:elta, peers through with one of the most stunning art pop works in this decade.

The American Tragedy in the Pogues’ and Kirsty MacColl’s ‘Fairytale of New York’ The Christmas classic is not only honest about the holiday season, but it also examines the American Dream as being just a dream.

The Christmas classic is not only honest about the holiday season, but it also examines the American Dream as being just a dream.

Capsule Reviews (December 2025 – Part 1) – Panda Bear, Danny Brown, Candelabro… The first part of this month's Capsule Reviews is filled with comments on a wide variety of albums!

The first part of this month's Capsule Reviews is filled with comments on a wide variety of albums!

Sunmi – HEART MAID (Record Review) The K-pop artist and ex-Wonder Girls member’s solo debut is proof that not all that glitters is gold.

The K-pop artist and ex-Wonder Girls member’s solo debut is proof that not all that glitters is gold.

Every great game gets backed with a soundtrack that fits its environment. The acclaimed isometric RPG has a standout track that defines its theme.

Capsule Review (November 2025) – Richard Sallis, Cheap Trick, Mateus Aleluia… As a prelude to the upcoming month, this edition of Capsule Review looks into rock, pop, and rap!

As a prelude to the upcoming month, this edition of Capsule Review looks into rock, pop, and rap!

arthur and no one else – Racing Games (Record Review) Short, straightforward, and subtly showy sums the amethyst in the rough that is British singer-songwriter Arthur Elliot’s 7th self-recorded album.

Short, straightforward, and subtly showy sums the amethyst in the rough that is British singer-songwriter Arthur Elliot’s 7th self-recorded album.

It’s Bigger than Hip Hop 25 years after their big break, Florida-based Dead Prez’s ideological drive cuts through the heart of context-relevant songwriting.

25 years after their big break, Florida-based Dead Prez’s ideological drive cuts through the heart of context-relevant songwriting.

The Cult Leader Album – Lie: The Love and Terror Cult Charles Manson is one of the most notorious figures in pop culture history. His avant-psych style folk debut album is utter feces. This isn’t going to be a long retrospective album review that I would occasionally do with something like the Dismemberment Plan or Okkervil River. This is going to be more of a smaller thinkpiece that’s related to Halloween.

Charles Manson is one of the most notorious figures in pop culture history. His avant-psych style folk debut album is utter feces.

Capsule Review (October 2025) – Miley Cyrus, Shearling, Lil Carter… This month's Capsule Review will cover some of the most noteworthy releases that have yet to receive a review.

This month's Capsule Review will cover some of the most noteworthy releases that have yet to receive a review.

Tame Impala – Deadbeat (Record Review) The acclaimed psychedelic music project of Australia-born Kevin Parker fully embraces his dance and electronica influence - for better or for worse.

The acclaimed psychedelic music project of Australia-born Kevin Parker fully embraces his dance and electronica influence - for better or for worse.

Taylor Swift’s Newest Album is a Poptimist Farce Few albums have heralded the fall of mainstream excellence like the country/popstar’s latest disses and wangst.

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Pain.

AFI – Silver Bleeds the Black Sun… (Record Review) One of the leading gothic rock bands in the 2000s went back to their old roots; their vision at the very least making up for overproduction.

One of the leading gothic rock bands in the 2000s went back to their old roots; their vision at the very least making up for overproduction.

Geese – Getting Killed (Record Review) The stalwart New Yorkers’ fifth album is immediately making headlines, its eclectic indie rock style standing firm in its sharp form.

The stalwart New Yorkers’ fifth album is immediately making headlines, its eclectic indie rock style standing firm in its sharp form.

Under the Label – Shoegaze (Part 1 – Prototypes) Like the Big Bang, one of the most unique alternative genres got its start as scattered energies waiting to pop in the right conditions.

Like the Big Bang, one of the most unique alternative genres got its start as scattered energies waiting to pop in the right conditions.

Titanic – Hagen (Record Review) Mabe Fratti’s second album in the art pop project with her partner Hector Tosta piques artsy curiosity with restricted expressive virtuosity.

Mabe Fratti’s second album in the art pop project with her partner Hector Tosta piques artsy curiosity with restricted expressive virtuosity.

The country’s history with politically conscious music rings strong from the current government protests - one that could echo in Southeast Asia.

The country’s history with politically conscious music rings strong from the current government protests - one that could echo in Southeast Asia.

The country’s history with politically conscious music rings strong from the current government protests - one that could echo in Southeast Asia.

Warcraft Legacies – That One Route Blizzard Could Have Taken In more than 20 years since the release of Warcraft III, many maps have been made to mimic the franchise’s epic scope. One series sums it up.

In more than 20 years since the release of Warcraft III, many maps have been made to mimic the franchise’s epic scope. One series sums it up.

Dijon – Baby (Record Review) Dijon Duenas’ second solo album is as imaginative a take on R&B as Devon Hendryx or Frank Ocean. And a strong contender for the genre staple.

Dijon Duenas’ second solo album is as imaginative a take on R&B as Devon Hendryx or Frank Ocean. And a strong contender for the genre staple.

McKinley Dixon – Magic, Alive! (Record Review) I have thought about writing a review on this for over two months now. This breathes hip hop in all its ways with Black American experiences.

Please, please, please, go and listen to McKinley Dixon's 'Magic, Alive!' if you haven't already. I have listened to it tons of time and it's my pick as album of the year.

Quadeca – Vanisher, Horizon Scraper (Record Review) The ex-YouTuber’s fourth album as a musician shuts all pretentious haters up as its free-flowing folktronica ripples through oceans of memories.

Quadeca – Vanisher, Horizon Scraper (Record Review)

The ex-YouTuber’s fourth album as a musician shuts all pretentious haters up as its free-flowing folktronica ripples through oceans of memories.

Tyler, the Creator – DON’T TAP THE GLASS (Record Review) The stalwart West Coast rapper-producer drops a surprise record that is clearly made for full-time fun. Move on if you are hoping for a tour-de-force.

Tyler, the Creator – DON’T TAP THE GLASS (Record Review)

The stalwart West Coast rapper-producer drops a surprise record that is clearly made for full-time fun. Move on if you are hoping for a tour-de-force.

Clipse – Let God Sort Em Out (Record Review) One of the most dangerous duos in hip hop history, with a bible on cocaine,  came back with an effort that is “hot” and “culturally inappropriate”.

Clipse – Let God Sort Em Out (Record Review)

One of the most dangerous duos in hip hop history, with a bible on cocaine,  came back with an effort that is “hot” and “culturally inappropriate”.