The Daily Spin, March 21
Maximum Love | Jupiter
Welcome back to the Daily Spin, the series in which I review 365 albums during 2023.
Each album will be given a rating on a scale from 0 to 10. You can look at the entire set here. Additionally, you can check out a list of my favorite song from each album right here.
If you want to suggest an album, good news! You can do so right here!
Album: Jupiter (2020)
Artist: Maximum Love
Link:
With Jupiter, Maximum Love present the sort of vaguely popularized synthwave that wouldn’t feel entirely out of place in the Upside Down. Thumping bass lines roll under keyboard and plucky string or guitar accompaniments, and it feels very cyber-noir, harsh edges mean under softer, floating in ether, neon lights running linear along car windows late at night.
Occasionally, the album will delve into almost rock-like tendencies, an electric guitar wailing long over simple harmonies, and the album feels a bit more varied and complex then, but by and large, this stuff is pretty rote, and it’s the main reason it doesn’t score higher. I like this stuff as much as anyone - more than most, even, I’d wager - but 40 minutes of pounding electronica is a lot to stomach, since too many of the songs just feel like they’re running the same trail.
Rating: 7.7/10
Best Tracks: Sunset Dancer; Loaded Gun
Worst Tracks: Darkness at the Door