W/e 12/06/26 - Death Cab for Cutie, Liz Lawrence, HorsegiirL, Skrillex, Santana

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Congrats to Liz, our winner this week. She’s into the top 20 for the year, and just above her best previous offering – 2021’s Avalanches at #184.

It was a tight ‘race’ at the bottom, with both horsegirlL and Skrillex landing in our bottom 10 for the year, and bottom 50 overall , which is a pretty grim place to be - Skrillex becomes the first act with 2 albums there. His one from 2023 is just below at #1171.

Paul has his 2nd 😊 of the year. Andy retains the ☹️ but has to share it with Erol.

Santana were an enjoyable first listen for a few , and say hi to Supergrass and The Verve midway up the classic ladder.

Andy

Death Cab for Cutie - I’ve somehow never listened to this lot but I really enjoyed their grown up (for want of a better description) indie 7

HorsegiirL - A weird one, as you’d expect from someone who thinks they’re a centaur DJ. Some of it is ok, but most of it is just silly like An Apple A Day (don’t get me wrong, the angry doctor did make me chuckle) 4

Liz Lawrence - This was very nice of a bit folkier than I’d normally go for. A Good One feels like it will be a bit of a go to mourning song if it’s ever sadly needed 6.5

Skrillex - I don’t have the frame of reference to know if Mr Skrillex is good or bad but to my ears he’s very very dull. Interminable shite 2

TotW - Riptides by Death Cab for Cutie

Santana - Carlos obviously has guitar chops but this is all a bit too jazzy for me 5.5

Guy

Death Cab for Cutie – Nice bit of indie pop. Not very familiar with this lot but it worked well. Riptides is a great tune and takes my TOTW – 7.4

HorsegiirL – Despite the somewhat annoying voice, I actually enjoyed parts of this. High-energy electro-pop. I was listening to it in the gym and my review might have been very different if I was wandering around the park or chilling at home. An Apple a Day is awful but she/it nails it with Music Goes On – 7.1

Liz Lawrence – She’s got a great voice and this is clearly an album laced in sadness and grief, but it was just a little too slow for me. Still admirable effort - 7

Skrillex – Feared the worst but there are some half decent tunes in here albeit a bit frenetic. I liked the one that sampled Children in Spanish – 6.2

TOTW – Riptides by Death Cab for Cutie

Santana – A guitar maestro. Great album this. Top axe work and smooth Hamond organ action. Perfect holiday chilling tunes. Black Magic Woman and Oye Como Va are classics – 8.5

Carlo

Death Cab for Cutie – 7

His voice sounds like a cross between The Lightning Seeds and Placebo. It all sounded OK, but definitely not as good as either of those two. Not sure I feel the need to play it again.

horsegiirL – 7.2

Although probably a little poppy and girly for me, I didn’t mind this. Upbeat, with some good dance sounds that worked for me.

Liz Lawrence – 6.9

The first track started off so well, with a powerful, atmospheric sound… but then the depression set in. Luckily, it was saved by a few decent tracks towards the end.

Skrillex, Nitepunk – 7.5

Lively tunes that hit the spot. Quite repetitive in places, which gave me that “skip this track” feeling (shame). It was then massively helped by a bit of Robert Miles! All in all, enough energy to get me through the day.

TOTW: horsegiirL – Earth Is Turning

Classic – Santana – Abraxas – 9.0

Soulful guitar, Latin rhythms and great musicianship throughout. What’s not to like?

Phil (New)

Death Cab for Cutie 6.5

Not sure the term for the style of speaking singing from the lead, but found it a bit repetitive. 'How heavenly a state' was the standout.

horsegiirL – 6.3

The first couple of tracks sounded like a poor imitation of Nina jirachi but the album improved as it progressed, the eurotechno sounds were fun, but some proper tosh on here too.

Liz Lawrence – 8.2

This took me by surprise. The music was simple, her voice is stunning and not hiding behind effects. The album cuts a great balance of melancholic and uplifting. Really enjoyed it.

Skrillex 6.5

Initial excitement over some expected decent electronic stuff quickly faded, there were a couple of quality tracks, but not up to the standard of previous Skrillex stuff.

TOTW: Liz Lawrence - Yves Blue

Santana 7.5

I'd never listened to any Santana beyond "Smooth" from the '90s, which I really wasn't a fan of at all. This was an enjoyable listen with some genuinely cracking guitar work throughout.

Sam

Death Cab for Cutie : I like this band and though this album needs a little more gas in the tank it’s great when it lets loose . 8

Horsegirrl : some of this was annoying but surprisingly some was decent dance music . Take a motherfucking bite !!! 6.8

Liz Lawrence : great voice and full of emotion but it did drag a little . 6.5

Skrillex : I do like the madness of this ! Tighten it up a bit and it’s a great dance album : 7.5

TOTW : How Heavenly a state by Death Cab for Cutie

Santana : Me gusta mucho esto ! Great musicians and a lovely feel to the album . Nice one Carlo 8.3

Phil (OG)

Death Cab for Cutie 6.5

Insipid indie. I didn’t get on with the singer’s voice and there isn’t enough in the music to compensate. Interesting historical fact: the band took their name from a song on the first album by the Bonzo Dog Band, Gorilla.

horsegiirL 3

It’s a strange record where the autotuned vocals are preferable to the ones that are sung, er, straight. But somehow horsegiirL manages it. This is awful sing-song stuff with bouncy percussion and what sounds like toy pianos. The instrumental tracks are just about tolerable but that’s not saying much. If I were Horsegirl the indie band I’d consider suing her for besmirching their good name.

Liz Lawrence 8.2

This album would have stood out in a good week and this was not a good week. Dealing with grief isn’t easy and to write and make art from it must be nearly impossible. I’m struggling to find the right words to describe this album but I thought it was terrific. One of the albums of the year for me.

Skrillex 5

I often listen to some of the albums we review and think “why would anyone want to produce an album that sounds like this?” This opus from Skrillex falls into that category. Many of the tracks have something approaching a dancebeat but the vocals, where there are any, add little to nothing to the track they’re squatting on.

TOTW – Liz Lawrence – Happy birthday

Classic

Santana 8

Yeah, I’m old enough to remember this coming out. Santana stood out among the bands of the time, partly because of the Latin rhythms but mainly because of Carlos Santana’s guitar playing. Even in an era when Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Peter Green were lauded as rock gods, Carlos was up there. All you need to do is listen to Samba pa ti to see why. Great choice, Carlo.

Justin

Death Cab for Cutie - Some quality indie. 6.9

HorsegiirL - hyper pop nonsense and some terrible songs. But. The good songs like apple a day and music goes on have had loads of listens. 7

Liz Lawrence - Moody and atmospheric. Hardly fun but still a good listen. Very like Joanne Newson. 6.8

Skrillex - This was truly terrible. Even the worst album gets some points as I know it is better than I could do, but this album just seemed to consist of the sounds of pressing random buttons. 1

TOTW HorsegiirL - an apple a day

Santana - Guitar noodling heaven. Also bonus points for Black Magic Woman which we played every week for years at my guitar club (still can't really play it) 8

Simon

Death Cab For Cutie 6.5

Was assuming this would be in landfill territory but it's actually slightly better than that - the slower numbers are a bit wishy washy but they make up for it with the more engaging uptempo ones (e.g. How Heavenly A State).

horsegiirL 4.5

Pretty run of the mill euro house/pop, albeit occasionally bonkers (an apple a day). Nothing of much appeal here at the best of times, and certainly not helped by the annoying novelty horse persona.

Liz Lawrence 8.5

More proof (not that I needed it) that Liz is one of the UK's most talented female songwriters - this is a tribute to her late sister, and with its simple and uncluttered arrangements and deeply personal lyrics it's both poignant and affecting. A really impressive album.

Skrillex 4

Didn't get on with this at all - too fidgety and disjointed, it's like dance music for people who find Tik Tok videos too long. The tribal house sound of E o Bonde was the only bright spot.

TotW: Liz Lawrence - Sister

Santana 8

Can confidently say I would never have otherwise listened to this, and given how much I enjoyed it I should thank Carlo (and Carlos) for expanding my musical horizons.

Mark D

Death Cab for a Cutie 6.75

Enjoyed parts of this, but some song structures were a bit unusual and didnt feel like there were any standout melodies to help the score. When they went for it they stole TOTW.

horsegiirL 3.5

Skrillex is at least consistent in style. This was all over the place. Some songs felt more like five in one. Fairly painful w some laughable "lyrics" and the score decreased during listening. Liked 'Karma Is' which sadly seemed the shortest song.

Liz Lawrence 7.5

V atmospheric mix of folk, indie, electronic, strings. Beautiful voice and the mix of instruments throughout really kept it feeling very distinct.

Skrillex 5.5

Enjoyed a couple of these a lot (Smoke / Noche Without You) but too much of it lacked variation in samples/ beats and tracks were just tiring by the end.

TOTW How Heavenly a State - Death Cab

Santana 7

Never listened to Santana before and this is a good album w a raw / live feel to it. It was a bit too heavy on the indulgent (but brilliant) guitar and instrumental side so I couldn't score higher.

Paul

Death Cab for Cutie (8)

Excellent, strong songwriting backed by decent indie tunes, also thought his voice worked well with the overall feel of it.

HorsegirrL (6)

Ok dance pop with few decent tracks combined with a few mad moments.

Liz Lawrence (8.2)

Really good, clearly a very personal album. Shes got a lovely voice, full of raw emotion and it’s given plenty of room to shine.

Skrillax (7)

Decent frantic dance tunes, did get a bit samey in the 2nd half but enjoyed it overall.

TOTW - Liz Lawrence - Black Ulysses

Santana (8.3)

Another new one for me. Some top quality Latin funky crackers on there! Gave it a few spins over the week.

Erol

Death Cab For Cutie - better than average indie rock with a few stand out tracks (eg Riptides). He has an unusual voice but it’s perfectly listenable. Reminds me a bit of Two Door Cinema Club. 7.5

HorsegiirL - ridiculous nonsense. Much of it sounds like a sped up version of an 80s arcade game soundtrack. Not for me. 4

Liz Lawrence - a beautiful voice and some heartfelt lyrics. 7

Skrillex - terrible. 1

TOTW - Punching the Flowers, Death Cab for Cutie

Santana - soaring guitars and fantastic keyboards all blended into a cracking Latino-jazz vibe. Have never listened to this before but will definitely go back. Nice choice, Carlito! 8.5

Adam

Death Cab For Cutie 7

Some good tunes from a leader in sad/misery rock. Doesn’t hold up to Plans (2005).

HorsegiirL 3

Not sure this weirdness would make it onto Eurovision. You can afford the oddities if your music is good, but this is not.

Liz Lawrence 8

A real talent and highlight of the week. Hauntingly beautiful in places.

Skrillex 3

Poor mix of noise.

TOTW Liz Lawrence - A Good One

Classic 8

Funky! Silky beats, great guitars. Made me want to be on a beach with a cocktail and cigar in hand.

Jim

Death Cab For Cutie 7.5

Really enjoyed this. The opening trio are ace, with a few other crackers in the 2nd half. It stays on the right side of quirky, and there is a little Future Islands about them and his voice.

HorsegirlL 3

Soulless, rhythmless hyper-ish pop/EDM. There were moments when tracks started with a OK tune but in nearly every case turned into a load of tosh. I’m not surprised clubland is struggling if this (and Skrillex) is the sort of thing being played. I’m with you Simon on the attention span aspect. And If you’re gonna go gimmick, you really need to back it up with tunes (a la Deadmau5).

Liz Lawrence 7

Lovely, classy stuff. Understandably missing a little of her swagger and the catchiness of recent offerings, but still a nice listen

Skrillex 3.5

Soulless, rhythmless dubstep(?)/EDM. There were moments when tracks started with a OK tune but in nearly every case turned into a load of tosh. Pente has solid D&B track in there, Bonde the same for techno – shame he mucks’ about with them so much. And it takes a special sort of talent to do a crappy version of Children.

TOTW : Death Cab’s Punching the Flowers.

Santana 6

A little too noodley for me, and I have a hard-to-explain negative reaction to anything that goes a little cha cha cha

Mark KE

Death Cab For Cutie - 7.5 - for some reason I couldn't get past his voice sounding like a cross between Neil Tennant and Robbie Williams, but this was pretty good overall.

Horsegirl - 4 - mostly silly stuff really, until it gets to the closer Music Goes On which I thought was a nice bit of blissed out house.

Liz Lawrence - 8 - beautiful album, lovely natural vocals and arrangements that tug at the heart strings, bravo.

Skrillex - 4 - all just sounded like one endless build up / breakdown, EDM nonsense with irritating samey Spanish vocals.

TOTW - Stone Over Water, by Death Cab For Cutie

Annette

Death Cab For Cuite: 7.5

Horsegirl: 4

Liz Lawrence: 7.5

Skrillex: 4

TOTW: Sister by Liz Lawrence

Classic: Santana - 6.5

Matt

Death Cab For Cutie - 7

Horsegirl - 3

Liz Lawrence - 6.5

Skrillex - 4

TOTW - Riptides, Death Cab for Cutie