Orson List
The following page is a huge list of tracks I've reviewed from OrsonXD's misc. review sheet. With it I've expanded my music taste a decent bit, and it's helped me find my voice in writing.
(Half of these reviews use my outdated rating system, don't mind it.)
Stutter Step
Kolaĵo
The whole track is solid, but the tunes from the second bumper on are awesome.
Cosmic Embassy
TheSuperMarioBros2
Now that's an interesting soundscape, much of it feels so... glooby. It's dense with massive bpm, yet subdued in a satisfying way.
But the beat drop with piano! Even without it this song has a serene quality, but from there it increases in scope and emotion. The riff at 2:48 reminds me of Mario Galaxy, which isn't farfetched with the artist's name. This song is similarly welcoming and heartfelt.
Can't Feel Our House
Psynwav
Divine Intervention
DM DOKURO
Dramatic climax to this track, but I'm getting ahead of myself. This song has tons of variety, perfect for a rhythm game.
Good ol' guitar with DnB, a section that gets rave-esque, and a violin rising into a sick finisher. What stands out most is the percussion, those drums are savage.
Potential for Anything
Magnus Pålsson
4'33''
John Cage
Music accompanies us everywhere. I often reach for my headphones to direct my emotions in certain ways, to experience a different world. 4'33'' invites me to listen to the surrounding world with that same level of curiosity. An absence of music and intentionality releases expectations, emphasizing the transient moment in both direct experience and sound.
It's akin to a meditation, which I like. I've thought recently that I use music too often to affect my mood, that I should embrace a proper dose of silence. This track is a reminder that sometimes, the best thing I can do is witness the world without exercising control. Music is a record, but this is the present. Simply what is.
I listened outside of my workplace at 8 p.m. taking in the sounds as they came. Industrial whirrs, the slamming of construction, the buzz of a chopper, and other moving parts that I don't understand. Was an environment with ample activity. I'll certainly try this again sometime.
DVNO
Justice
Bulls On Parade
Rage Against The Machine
Hell yeah, this is a spicy one. I've long since listened to Rage Against The Machine's titular album, and left impressed by its raw defiant energy. I'm aware their music is packed with meaning, much has flown over my head but this here speaks in obvious terms. The abominable war machine, its senseless damage and incessant funding by the government in lieu of supporting its people.
Exposing atrocities with no filter will forever be a part of music, one of the fastest ways to spread a message far and wide. For that I highly respect groups like RATM, despite their popularity their music feels like scrappy, grassroots activism.
Oh yeah, and that intro. Epic stuff.
bowwow chika bowwow chika chika chika
Close Eyes
DVRST
I'll have to agree, this IS the best Phonk song I know. There's a level of poise in how it progresses, lending to a smooth experience. In a word, nothing about this song is overpowering. Might actually be great as focus music.
This track feels like the quiet determination to take action, with a hint of melancholy. The piano sections are quite empty, rap and backtrack leaving the foreground.
And although it's a short song, it's infinitely loopable into itself. A great trait to have.
Satch Boogie
Joe Satriani
Nothing but a badass guitar solo, 80s rock screaming into your ears. But confidently isn't generic_guitar_song.wav, guy knows what he's doing. Dare I say it sounds a bit psychedelic at the end there. I don't know if I've heard anything like this from a guitar before, it's hypnotic.
Satch Boogie feels like it'd be the opening act to something larger, but does a fantastic job by itself. I'm sure if I was a guitar nerd, I could spout about all the intricacies behind the performance.
Arrows
Foo Fighters
A lamentable rock song, I'm reminded of the angst I'd get from some Linkin Park music.
This speaks of someone living their days in anguish, fear & hostility baked into their personality. This track isn't furious, but speaks to the intensity of someone's outlook and how it's affected the songwriter. Turns out the subject was their mother, which is unsettling to think about personally.
I've known people who integrate too much external suffering with themselves, so it hits a bit close. The lyric "fear where her heart should be" speaks to me the most.
Mt Saint Michel + Saint Michaels Mount
Aphex Twin
A distinctly Aphex Twin™ mishmash of sound. I don't often realize these tracks hit store shelves over two decades ago... must've been even weirder back then lol
Let's break this down... you have church bells, followed by blazing breakbeat nonsense. Really love the first part, height of activity.
But then the penis music begins at 1:39, all bassed up and eccentric.
A tone at 2:19 that sort of ties this track together, my favorite aspect of the song. The energy changes into something mellow.
A clanky drum enters at 4:37, followed by a crunchy sound before returning to an ambient calm.
The rest of the track is atmospheric, instruments recede to high tones and a beautiful voice.
The burst at 7:04 is like a final encore, a stabbing choppiness overtaking what remains to wrap things up.
It was challenging to talk about this song without getting specific, but that's a statement to how stimulating it is. It's a song where every nook and cranny ought to be studied, rewarding deep focus.
BALD!
JPEGMAFIA
Do I get what he's saying?
Absolutely not, but it's funny to see this guy deep in the flow. I can get behind how BALD! doesn't take itself seriously.
Did this guy really just call people pussy-ass critics... that's certainly a conjunction of words. A sentence of all time.
But it's ok, everything is ok. Because, my children, he is
B A L D
HAZARD DUTY PAY!
JPEGMAFIA
These bars have some oomph, but I prefer the whimsy of BALD! so it's harder to get into. It comes across as some kind of rant, the backtrack clashing with the tone of language. It's an ironic feeling that adds to the vibe, but I'm more interested in the backtrack itself than how it's transformed.
Pain, pain pain... sometimes we feel pain.
#19
Aphex Twin
Stone in Focus is like looking down from the summit of one's life; The me of today is the oldest, most experienced I've ever been. Yet the youngest I'll ever be again.
Every tick is a unique moment to meet yourself where you are, to strip the reflexive tendencies and thought loops that create needless difficulty. With stillness and perspective, those naturally fade away.
As such, this track has a deep healing effect on me. It's a safe space to bask in my thoughts, and let them pass without judgement. To feel harmony with the world, my feelings, what I can and cannot influence.
Attuned with them or not, these are all seconds we can't take back, and they're just as important as the seconds before or after. They'd best be fully lived in, and this music helps me make that conscious decision.
I've listened to this track at least two dozen times, and will continue for the foreseeable future. It's a precious gift, easily among the greatest tracks I've heard in 2025. A keeper for life.
Breakaway
Basement Jaxx
SFM
Basement Jaxx
The pace of this song is kinda cool, with a mix of crazy sfx and instruments. Even a suspenseful string at the start. I'm just not one for the sexy vibe, always found it hard to listen to. Much better than radio slop though, I can appreciate this for what it is.
Golden Brown
The Stranglers
edamame
bbno$ & Rich Brian
Hold up, I've heard this before somewhere... specifically that "chain swinging cling clang, and it cost a lot"
That being said, the flow of vocals here is constant and smooth. And while the main singer stays in a super low range, it works with this style.
Even Flow
Pearl Jam
It's so lively! The rock I've heard recently is super gritty, so this is refreshing. Vocals are smooth with the right amount of edge, hyped me up right away.
When the "Even flow" verse starts, the energy changes to into something cathartic. And the guitar solo afterward feels earned, circling back into the chorus and high energy in the close. Unadulterated banger.
Crimson Dance
lexycat
Some solid depressive breakcore. The vocals feel hushed throughout the track, even at their loudest. The emotional peak for me is the 2nd verse, ending with the lines;
"I am falling, I am fading
I have lost it all"
So much twisted yearning packed in that segment, it's beautiful.
The song's climax of overlaying whispers and layers is pretty good, especially in how it fades with an empty ringing, just as it started.
Saucers
Ozric Tentacles
There's a grand & mystical quality when those elements overlap, and others with silly sound bytes that blend with the aesthetic. All throughout it's quirky and super engaging, it goes wherever it wants and I'm consistently entertained in following its ideas.
euphoria
Kendrick Lamar
Goddamn, this track is meticulous and cold. The tone shifts from a soft-spoken intro to unfurling loads of resentment.
Kendrick describes Drake as vapid and irresponsible, profiting from violence and misogyny through his craft. He contrasts themselves as people and producers,
by the messages they spread and the sincerity within.
There's a lot more heinous stories to come out of the woodwork though. I won't comment on those, but among these are the shots against Drake as an absent father, which are hilarious to me.
...I got a son to raise, but I can see you don't know nothin' 'bout that
Wakin' him up, know nothin' 'bout that
Then tell him to pray, know nothin' 'bout that
Then givin' him tools to walk through life like day by day, know nothin' 'bout that
Teachin' him morals, integrity, discipline, listen, man, you don't know nothin' 'bout that
Speakin' the truth and consider what God's considerin', you don't know nothin' 'bout that
When all's said and done, Kendrick says he speaks for the culture in his teardown. A killshot years in the making.
Pop-culture and celebrity drama put me to sleep, but I'm aware this diss track is done well.
Rap music is dense, a cultural snapshot. Euphoria weaves through a giant web of ire that traces back to Drake.
Chains & Whips
Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Malice, Pusha T
The beat of the chorus is excellent, that funky trudging momentum with guitar is a perfect backbone for rap. The tone of this rap is abrasive, with blunt takes on wealth in relation to the artists, opponents and society at large.
Pretty good, some of the best hip-hop I've heard based on pure vibe.
Plastic Love
Mariya Takeuchi
It's surreal to hear the original after so long...
Undoubtedly my favorite city pop song, its vibrance is glorious and imbued with feeling. It's that addictive blend of swooning sentiment and melancholy, the kind that can make you nostalgic for experiences you've never had.
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Michael Jackson
The big MJ! Been ages since I heard him, I've long been amused by how far he can stretch his voice.
There's some fun vocal bits here, and the signature backup singers™️ I'd expect. It's flamboyant funk with a bit of cheese, smooth and saucy. A definition of cool I'm removed from, but appreciate nonetheless.
Time Machine
Waterflame
Breakbeat techno led along with flute & violin. It was slightly odd at first, but the orchestral elements elevate it with wonder and whimsy. Fun and VGM-esque.
Scream
Michael Jackson
Scream is pure vent art, a cry at the world and its unrelenting pressure. It's pleasure in twisting unreal narratives about your life, and of widespread, senseless injustice.
Police sirens, dizzying noises, screams of agony...
It's an intense anthem of what desperation means to the sibling duet. Admittance that it's too much, the urge to scream overtaking. Effectively saying the world is ill, and so am I.
With such confusion, don't it make you wanna scream?
...
You try to cope with every lie they scrutinize
Somebody, please have mercy, 'cause I just can't take it
The vocal distortion of the chorus is fluid, matches the heavy atmosphere present from the start. My favorite part alongside the epic beat drop after the bridge.
It's an absolute bop, and I'm grateful the Jackson's could channel their anger through this work. Newly my favorite song of MJ, along with Smooth Criminal.
Taunt
Lovejoy
The Heart Part 5
Kendrick Lamar
Lyrically I see this song in two halves. Reflections on Kendrick's roots and experiencing loss in an ill culture, and a tribute to black artists who shaped history.
As he said, life is perspective. History repeats, but the heart evolves, perseveres. And through it, the song speaks with love.
Architecture
DJ Myosuke & Noizenecio
There's inherent absurdity in stuff like this, one that's fun to embrace. Featuring stretches of literal AAAAAAAAAAAAAA & incessant kicks, sometimes both! I'm less familiar with speedcore, but no stranger to harsh sound, so enjoying this is natural. Drums are a perfect vehicle for relentless noise.
P.S. I like the swooshing noises in the final section.
PUSH UR T3MPRR
femtanyl
The consequence of liquefying a 2006 rawr XD deviantart tween into sound ----- and I say that with love lmao
It's got that analog aesthetic, but those edgelord lyrics with sassy delivery, I'm surprised how much I like them! This unapologetic commitment to the theme makes me nostalgic.
The chops and beat are a perfect blend of cheery chaos, let's not forget. And the drums, man! Surprisingly intricate composition, doesn't feel short as it is.
Connected (Yours Forever) [In-Game Mix]
Hydelic
I know modern Tetris games go this direction, creating some kind of epic presence.
It's wide and ambient, droning before steady drums and claps pace you along. The opening 1m10s are my favorite.
It's grand yet relaxing. Vocals are fine, they're cheesy and do resemble emotional_music.mp3 to a degree, but there's nothing wrong with that. Hits the intended vibe for me.
Teardrop
Massive Attack
With that all, it's sung in a delicate wistful tone matching the lyric's poeticism. Like a precious, fleeting love; Longing to be held, captivating in its fragility.
Close To You
The Avalanches
I heard this was composed entirely from samples, an impressive technical feat.
Nothing ever clashes, despite being hand-picked across countless sources. I'm briefly reminded of Daft Punk in the opener, with its vocal scramble and funky sound font.
Close To You gives both a homely & party vibe. Drums are at its heart, but lighter sounds like flute, piano and the sound of laughter feel so wholesome and cheery. There's a tropic motif too, with audible waves and associated instruments.
glitter ✩‧₊˚
lexycat
Another song reminiscent of early 2000s internet. Happy to hear something less pained from lexycat.
My first words were digital moe-pop, but I've learned bubblegum-pop is recognized, and it's perfect. I've lived with this aesthetic in its prime, impossible not to compare to dreamy melodies in Shoujo anime like Tokyo Mew Mew. Just plaster some Hot Topic and Zumiez stickers on the wall, and we're got a microcosm of my childhood.
Those first sound bytes roll off like a staircase, entering the domain of a digital princess. The melody is so dreamy, matched by pitched vocals that swoon with angst and bashfulness.
I adore the last 40 seconds, wraps it up with a nice pitch change from the melody.
Blast Doors
Everything Everything
A barrage of condescending narration, cynicism directed everywhere. I interpret Blast Doors as a person in ruin, going down the laundry list of who and what to criticize.
This sentiment before the chorus is bleak, relevant at large but feels personal:
You say you're gonna change, yeah
But you don't have any time, yeah?
It's hardly a triumphant song, especially by the end. It's cathartic to hear that same woeful voice take focus again, extended further to the final chorus.
Re-Hash
Gorillaz
The first Gorillaz's song, apparently!
Quirky as I'd expect, Re-Hash feels designed for slacking off. Without tension or stark change, just a lazy cruise down a road of aimless, simple pleasures. It's understated in that way.
Vocal layers and disparate sounds meld strangely, like kids cheering or the screech of tires. The brief banjo segment, followed by "Bum-bum-bum..." are the most charming to me.
Woke Up Laughing
Robert Palmer
I sense a lot of irony here. It opens with an odd reminisce with conflicting signals, but quickly shifts to themes of regret. Plans undone, place in the world unknown; But you woke up laughing, day after day.
The chorus vocals are strung along nicely, strange expressions of grief packed within. All through a jovial instrumental loop, lonely in its consistency. Definitely the backbone of this song.
Open Up
Leftism
oooOOOOppPPeeEEEENN UUPPP
Very much a house song, among the housiest I've heard lol. Feels like a foreign era.
Open Up is a gaping pit of strange, self-indulgent dance music, sporting wack vocals and electronic variety (sometimes trance-like). The vocal cadence is openly absurd, holding many syllables for the drama, with spirited non-lyrical vocal riffs for atmosphere.
Funny lore fact, this song was made to vent the singer's frustration at Hollywood for giving him no acting roles. (as subtly expressed by BURN HOLLYWOOD BURN) But forest fires spread as it released, so radios stopped playing this song... yet it still got #13 on the UK singles chart.
GONE, GONE / THANK YOU
Tyler, The Creator
A reflection on loss and love; Unrest lingering from a breakup, the conflicting emotions that cascade.
GONE, GONE is the messy knot of loose ends and anguish left behind. Tyler expresses reliance on their partner, takes responsibility for their part in the breakup, yet feels they were better for their ex in some ways. There's a few lines directed to the ex's new partner, comparison in mind.
That love was far from perfect, but it felt so necessary to keep moving forward.
You kept me going (gone, gone, gone), the Band-Aid is falling off now
Going, and now I'm scarred for life
THANK YOU speaks of gratitude, whilst accepting the absence of love; both their ex, and a waned desire for intimacy. It shows relative peace in heartbreak is attainable, so I find this song inspiring that way.
I dislike obsessive love songs, or what amounts to digging a hole of self-hatred. Those feelings are valid, but it's nonetheless refreshing to see such maturity in a breakup song.
Nothing can return the past, nor detract from its value. Emotional scars continue to sting, but there's wholeness to be found in honoring the innocent times, smiling through the tears.
She's So
Röyksopp
My first thoughts were Jazzy, yet ominous.
A lone sax in an ambient soundscape, unresolved and drifting.
When the beat kicks, I feel transported to a muted, mysterious world. It feels reminiscent of atmospheric pieces that'd belong in a game like OneShot.
I envision a landscape untouched, littered by relics with few to appreciate and none to trace their purpose. A glance at horizons beyond reach, to what must've meant so much to someone, far away...
美しい沈黙
t e l e p a t h テレパシー能力者
A foreboding bass emerges, distant notes respond to its dire call. Tension then dissolves, with gentle notes and hazy whispers that lull the senses. A minimal experience suited to contemplation and rest, bookended by its ominous intro.
CRUISER
ESPRIT 空想
The wave is sure vaporing tonight. I've heard this countless times throughout youtube, it impresses an aura of quintessential vaporwave.
These beats and claps are paced slow and easy to follow, making it natural to groove to. A strength to this type of vaporwave is how approachable it feels for chill and energetic times, with a hype ceiling to keep you relaxed.
Among my favorite audio effects are gradual forward/backward audio pans. The path to decompression / building back to the forefront creates deeply satisfying payoffs, and CRUISER is no exception.
The track stutters off drunkenly at the close, like a machine breaking apart. Odd but notable.
Eccojam A2 (Angel)
Chuck Person
Ah, Eccojams! A progenitor of vaporwave if I'm not mistaken.
A2 (Angel) lies on the somber side of retro. Comprised of a singular vocal segment, a sense of longing distorted by peculiar warps and self-obsessed repetition. Variant pitch and chops offer a surreal experience, inviting you to perseverate on the same emotion to the point of madness. A fascinating series of tweaks that preserve the sample, whist feeling original.
I've realized while writing, this shares DNA with the plunderphonic horror tracks I enjoy. Like an accessible version of that idea, but far more pleasant lol.
Robot Stop
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard
oOOHHHhʰhₕhʰhʰhₕhʰhₕₕₕₕₕₕ
Robot Stop is PACKED. From thrilling drops to fierce guitar arranges, it attacks the listener every moment. The vocals goes all-in on the theme, bodacious and blaring like a digital loudspeaker.
It boasts variety in the guitar solos, too. With sounds that build suspense, wackyness or even beauty. And I hear one that uses micro-tones, didn't expect that!
Lyrically, Robot Stop parallels the artist with a robot, which sure is topical. People are either worked like robots, or the business becomes a literal "Robot Stop". If not the former, let the raw creativity of works like these stop the latter from happening.
I've used rollercoaster analogies before, but this literally feels like one and deserves a themed amusement park ride. Imagine that, entering the gizzard dimension with protective goggles to keep your brain from frying. Just hope they let you off when the album endー
Pump It
The Black Eyed Peas
Another throwback, The Black Eyed Peas were in the constant periphery of my 2010s. The instrumentation here is entirely different than I remember, it sounds like surf rock? Since when? Clearly more distinct than I knew, I can see why it became iconic.
The rising trumpet with the titular "Pump it!" verses is exciting. The rest is mostly alright to me.
After Glow
Foals
After Glow is quite majestic in its opener, with synths flickering unevenly in both channels. Wistful vocals surround, growing in emotion before swelling into an incredible drop! I was taken aback by how incredibly pained the performance feels, with the guitar roaring like a beast.
I love the emotional crux of the track, but it got my attention from the start and builds itself gracefully every step of the way.
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「SPARKLE」
Tatsuro Yamashita
My latest exposure to Japanese citypop. I listened to this album before, but you know? I finally get it now, for Sparkle at least.
Its clicky guitar is addictive, bassline intricate, and the brass instruments make this song boom to life.
Each layer is expertly tuned to feel both loving and fantastical, a feature of citypop. A spotlight on romantic sentiment amidst the endless sea of lights, a journey through this vibrant world and your own radiance within it.
Julie And Candy
Boards of Canada
Julie And Candy feels like... if a bewildered alien got off the train alone, and tried to communicate by mixing beats with a rusty swing-set.
It's a calming experience, somewhat lo-fi (at least for the oddball intro) leaning towards ethereal beauty despite the beat. I love the choice sound-font Boards of Canada use in Geogaddi, it's got plenty of weird factor along with that "whiny synth" I love so much. Will surely listen again on an outdoor stroll, feels apt for walking pace.
House of Leaves
Laryssa Okada
Starting with minimal piano, House of Leaves turns pleasantly lively. Like waking up from ideal rest, rays trickling through the window at dawn. The screech of violins rouse the song to life.
These sounds and emotions reminds me of C418, settled down with a faint sense of hope. It even sounds like a classic windows jingle here.
The quiet, bubbly percussion(?) sound is a fun texture too, adding a bit of playfulness to the track. Overall it's peaceful in a way that doesn't evoke sadness to me, which I appreciate.
void machine
peepo
A one-off track I'd describe as ambient techno breakbeat, that goes for some weird factor using swooshy synths & a few goofy pauses. Plus piano to provide calm against the dynamic stretches. The D&B energy is fun and measured, but this piece feels completed by the comfy light melodies that hold your focus.
Crazy Beauties II
Diabarha
An onslaught of harsh bass, bitcrushed to hell and back. The timbre is intense and gravely, close to white noise in texture. I can't speak for the production technique, but it's certainly more tiring to hear by design!
You've also got a range of sinister melodies with a gothic touch, and bizarre disorientation as they flicker between rapid blasts. At some point the speed gets so ridiculous, you can feel a giant bass lump just sitting there, yelling at you.
I've heard of extratone which reaches higher bpm, but I think this track hits the sweet spot to stay rapid while maximizing impact per beat. A fascinating experience in pushing sound.