Blue Train

Really impressive debut that announced a major new talent. There are a few rough edges that betray inexperience, but the raw ability and creative vision are undeniable. Can't wait to hear what comes next.

An essential listen for anyone who cares about music. Period.

This grew on me a lot. First listen I thought it was good, not great. By the fifth listen I was completely hooked. The subtlety of the arrangements really rewards patience and close attention.

Lost me about halfway through. The front end is promising though.

The production is excellent but the songwriting doesn't always match up.

Occasionally overindulgent but the quality is undeniable.

I want to like this more than I do. There are three or four tracks here that are genuinely excellent — inventive, well-produced, emotionally resonant. But the album as a whole doesn't sustain that level. The middle section in particular feels like it's treading water, and the closing track, while ambitious, goes on too long. That said, I do think this is worth hearing. At its best, it shows real creative vision, and even the weaker tracks have interesting ideas in them. It just needed a more ruthless editing pass to trim the good from the great.

A few tracks could have been cut without losing anything, but what's here is largely excellent. The production is gorgeous and the performances are top-notch. One of the better albums I've heard recently.

Pushes the boundaries of the genre in interesting ways.