the Microphones - Microphones in 2020 ALBUM REVIEW 

This album automatically drops by 3 points if you don’t listen to it with your shirt off in the yard

This Microphones record left me feeling headstrong and ready to take on anyone.

Although I agree with most of this review, I disagree that this song could have been broken up into discrete parts. That would erase its very thesis - there's no end, there's no breaking point between all of these experiences, they're not particles of history but an unending wave. The Microphones didn't end when Mount Eerie began, but the two exist together, just as we carry all of our memory at once.

Actually Melon, microphones aren’t the ones that make the music, the people who use them are

I always get scared when I see this flannel.

worst to best the microphones/mt eerie releases WHEN

Honestly, while I was expecting a higher score, I think this is a really excellent review from Fantano. It’s clear that Fantano took is time and took great care in writing an excellent review about an artist that he greatly enjoys and respects. He did a great job establishing the context of the record, identifying the subtle changes in the instrumentation throughout the song, and he highlighted some of the excellent lyrics and lyrical themes that are sprinkled throughout the Album. I think Fantano is right that the instrumentation is bare and one note, and that the album is a bit self indulgent and self centered. For me personally though, those identified “faults” are what make the album so excellent in my opinion. The album drones along and is enchanting with every subtle change of the guitar rhythms or the addition of extra instrumentation throughout the album. Not to mention that many of the lyrics punch me in the gut every time I hear it. Overall, I think this is one of the most positive 7s and one of the best reviews Fatano has ever made. For me personally, I think this album is a 10 but I totally understand and see his perspective. The Glow Part 2 and A Crow Looked at Me are better records but this album is certainly going to be something I come back to again and again in the future. Thanks Melon! Keep up the good work!

The instrumental involving the organ, the guitar, and Phil's humming around the 27 minute mark is my favorite moment in a record this year, especially with the video that shows Elverum showing the photographs of the ocean. And that moment in the video where Phil sings about when he was younger and writing songs regarding death even though he was innocent towards that subject whilst showing a picture of Genevieve just broke my heart. This is my album of the year so far, I guess it just hits different in a year where I've been nostalgically looking back at a time that isn't now. And honestly, after the amount of grief, heartbreak, and death that Phil had been going through these past few years, I'm glad he's been sounding better and more content these days and on this record.

Singing "I will never stop singing this song. It goes on forever" at 40 minutes into a 45 minute song is a power move and I find it hilarious

i feel like a kanye west fan in 2010

Anthony, you can't just get a nokia 3500 and say "Micro" phone and laugh hysterically for 12 minutes. also this record deserved a 9.

RYM is having a cerebral aneurysm rn

Don't let this distract you from the fact that the official pw elverum and sun channel has a howtobasic video on their liked videos playlist

Anthony you would have enjoyed this album better if you weren't spamming "Phil say Poggers" during the live stream even after Phil said to pay attention to the music.

Melon, that’s a funny way of spelling “The Microphones - Microphones in 2020 ALBUM REVIEW”

“I’m feeling a 7/10” **/mu/ will remember that**

I KNEW IT WAS GONNA BE A 7

Fantano pisses off /mu/ and rym for the third time this year

As someone who has only been following Phil over the past year, I felt like a lot of what made this compelling for me was the extremely emotional coming-of-age story about youth and passion, even if I’m not the most familiar with everything Phil has done.

The first time I heard this album was while staying in a cabin in Vermont. A friend and I listened to this on the porch at night surrounded by trees and dense fog. 10/10 experience

That Stereolab line gets me every time. Something in me shifted I brought back home belief I could create eternity.

Damn Fantano has never gone this deep into lyrics before.

Oh boy I can’t wait to see Anthony give microphones in 2020 a 10! I hope I won’t be disappointed! Edit: I am dead inside

First Kendrick, then Fiona Apple, and now The Microphones? When will you stop breaking my heart Fantano?

This album blew me away, I can't express how much I needed a project like this during the times of reflection right now. This album took me to a beautiful form of hopeful self wallowing I didn't know I needed.

In 10 years it’s gonna be in his top 5 of the decade

Listened to this for the first time at 3am. I was the only car on the interstate. I held onto the steering wheel for dear life. Like if I let go I would float out the window. I felt every minute of this record so deeply

This album is in my Top 5 of all time, right out of the gate. I felt like I was listening to a man at the end of his rope, reflecting with melancholy for the most part on his past and all of the things that led him to be who he is now. The two chords are Phil's constant, his psyche sometimes being drowned out by loud instruments and other noises, only for them to come back. As an album, I understand why you'd give this a 7, mostly because of how repetitive it might seem on the surface. I mean hell, he doesn't start singing until 7:30 in, but I feel like that was done purposefully. Whether it's Phil gathering his thoughts, or something else, this album is precise on all fronts. I think why I loved it so much was because of how it felt like I was being told the story and struggles of being a musician like Phil Elverium, a man who has put his soul and mind at the forefront of his works. I love music. I think it's wonderful how we can all find enjoyment and distaste in the same things. I was moved to tears while some might be moved to boredom. While this album does cater to Microphones fans I'd arguably consider it Phil's magnum opus including ALL of his projects. It's what he's been working towards for 3 decades. This album. "It's not fucking sad" he wrote during the premiere, and I think that's when this album clicked for me. Phil has been through unimaginable pain and loss, but he's still able to be content with his past and realize he was always himself, whether he was the Microphones or Mount Eerie. Not every album needs to be a To Pimp a Butterfly when it comes to being a narrative reflection of what drives us as people and musicians, and I think that's why I love Microphones in 2020. I predict that this album will be up there in your Best of the 2020s by the end of the decade, after repeated listens. If you read all of this, thank you. I hope you have a great day and make something you love.

Microphones in 2020 is just politically acceptable sun kil moon

Anthony, you cannot justify giving this album a 7 just by claiming you're "headstrong" and "ready to take on anyone"

It’s real good 😊

I had just finished a project of my own, then I found Phil's discography and heard it all in the course of half of this month, and it put me right back into wanting to make another project immediately, even though his style is very noticeable and carries over album to album for the past 20 years, it is very unique and doesn't get tired from my point of view. I love it.

*These microphones did so much better than 2020 as a whole.*

I'm here watching your channel for the first time after finding this album yesterday. Never having heard of this artist before this, I can say, that for me, this album was great and inspiring and power full. The story they tell on the record and the way they use poetic lines to describe things, was absolutely enjoyable for me even though I knew nothing of this artist. Now, I will be on a long journey of giving a listen to everything else from this artist along with their photographs and artwork. Can't wait to experience it all, and also see what influences and inspirations it brings to me.

Best Microphones album of the decade

Great review. I started listening to this album on RU-vid alongside the video the day it dropped and got about 15 minutes until and grasped the concept. I'm now waiting on my vinyl copy to arrive to enjoy the whole thing, but really enjoyed this thorough response from a fellow Elverum fan!

when they announced the record, my thought process was "fantano bettter not give this a 7". Then I heard the album couple of times and my thought process was "Anthony better not give this a 7". You gave it a 7. Unsubscribed and Disliked.

So nice for Melon to finally give something a 10, right guys?

This honestly one of the best reviews I have ever seen from you. Good job fantano boy. love ya

I didn't know this was a single reflective song when I put it on this morning, so my breakfast-adjacent routine turned into a spiritual nostalgic journey and it was glorious. Wasn't even my life I felt nostalgic for. Brilliant.

The video should be titled: "Melon laughes at everyone that hasn't listened to every single album Phil Elverum has made".

the weather was hot, we stayed in the water

I didn’t like the repetitiveness of the album either but I feel like I’m a little more warm to the idea because I feel like it aligns with the themes. The instrumentation is just a continuation with moments of change but at its core it is that same at the 6 minute intro. It’s almost like “there is no end” to the sound as well as the story. I completely get it tho.

My friend introduced me to Microphones through this album. I already really enjoy this type of lo-fi, droning, slowburn type music, so it's easy for me to enjoy even as an outsider. I can resonate with a lot of things he sings about, even if a lot of it might be lost on me.

As a relatively new fan to microphones, (I only listened to the glow pt 2 and a crow looked at me around a month ago), I thoroughly enjoyed this record and will probably rank it as a top 10 of the year. Hearing phil describe his career in immense detail is so interesting and makes me want to become more invested in his work.

I found this on bandcamp discover today randomly with absolutely no idea who it was. I still enjoyed it very much and I'm excited to listen to all of his other music!!

Too late Melon, I already form my own opinion on this. It's preettyy, preeetyy, preeetty good. 8/10.

this is certainly one of your best review, anthony. congrats!

Great review. No joke actually. I’m pretty new to this genre and band but your review made me excited. Thanks!

As someone who has only ever listened to Crow and Now Only, I digested this album as more of a reflection on time than a “director’s cut” type thing. Along with the visuals within the RU-vid vid, I found this album very moving. Beautiful as hell, 9/10

this is by far your best review ever, great video!

Do 'I Hate Mars Bars'.

12 years later and fantano has still never had a good opinion

I personally haven't been following Phil Elvrum's work for years, but i am a little familiar with some of his work. And while listening to this i was completely engrossed and mesmerised from start to finish, its only because of how affective this Phil's stories were, despite not being familiar with his life experiences, that I'm here at all to see what melon thinks.

Fantano: "Feeling a 7/10" RYM: **rapid typing**

This WAS my first exposure to Phil Elverum. Knew nothing about him before but I was still utterly mesmerized throughout the whole of this 45 minute song. Maybe it's because of my love for Mark Kozelek and Red House Painters (name-dropped on this album).

I’m not a huge microphones/mount eerie fan but I still loved this album. One of my favourite things about it was the atmosphere, the music video, instrumental, and lyrics come together to make a rly unique experience. It’s hard to explain the feeling I get while watching/listening to Phil recount and reflect on his life, and the ending of the album is very meaningful and powerful and ties together all the themes nicely. The lyrics were enthralling and I didn’t feel the run time of the song at all, and if this album was broken up into shorter songs I think it would’ve been ruined as the themes on the album are about life being vast and continuous so the instrumental kinda symbolizes that. This is my favourite album of the year and I don’t think anything is gonna top it

This album was a double win for me. I loved the album and it also introduced me to crouching tiger hidden dragon and red house painters.

so this is how the fiona apple stans felt still glad its positive have a nice day fantany edit: finished watching the video and while i disagree with a couple of your critiques i think that 7 is an okay overall rating. its a 9 for me, someone who cares about elverum's life, but for the average listener it's hard to recommend in the same way you could recommend, say, a crow looked at me.

A fair and honest review with valid critiques. unsubbed.

I don't understand how anyone can dislike this video, your passion for Phil's music and how you describe it is endearing at the very least.

very comprehensive and well done review anthony! while i may not have agreed with all criticisms, still loved the review. thanks.

Very nice review. Thank you so much!

I understand and respect your opinion Melon, but that will not stop me from disliking all of your music reviews and unsubscribing from this point onwards. Liked and subscribed.

This is the first Phil Elvreum project I've fully listened to and I really didn't feel the need to know all of the details of his story to enjoy it. The music video with the old photos was also an amazing complementary touch. Trying to find the meaning in a creative venture/life is something that anyone, and especially other creatives, can connect with.

The Glow Pt 2. is an undeniable classic

REVIEW LIL B - BRUNO WIT DA PRUNO

Great and fair review; it's clear that you have been a fan for years which does make a difference. However, I feel this works completely on its own. He's laying it all out there in words, pictures, + 2 supposedly mesmerizing chords, we could all debate that choice. I'm more of an A Minor/E 2 chord woman or I just start turning the strings until I find an open tuning that sounds great to my ear. I think seven is fair. He's accomplished his goal with one album, you have to admire that. He told his mother he didn't want to be immortal he just wanted to be remembered a little longer. He's earned his place now definitively with this 45 minute track. Now he can just run with it and do whatever he wants but keep in mind at 20 he was already who he is now... Where will he go? I guess if you're a fan, you'll be waiting for the next album drop. I will.

So....what are you’re favorite tracks ?

How do you have the same track for your least and most favorite??

This was the first album I heard from him a few days ago and I didn't get too lost in the origin story.

Yes! Yes! It's finally here!

This album perfectly encapsulates the feeling that 2020 has given us all.

I remember the cover of the microphones that you made melon I won't forget

very descriptive review i must say!

Anthony, sucking microphone for twelve minutes straight isn’t a review.

Which microphone is your favorite melon?

It feels a bit like a culmination of the narrative-focused sound that Phil has been going for recently and the classic ‘microphones’ sound of the past, as if after this project neither of those sounds will ever really return to Phil’s music. Like Anthony said, it really does feel like an epilogue, and I’m really curious where (or even if) Phil will push forward following this record.

listened to this and very happily waited 13 minutes for the beat to drop

licking the microphone isn’t “reviewing” it...

Thanks now I know what microphone to buy

If you wait long enough at the end of the album you will hear there super secret bonus track called "Headstrong" I hear it will leave you ready to take on anyone.

I'm here early, but I have nothing clever to say. That is all, have a great day.

this is only available on youtube right?

I wasn't even a fan of Phil's before this and I loved it.

fantano is never going to drop the microphones in 2020 review is he

I was really hit by listener's fatigue. This album reignited my love for listening to albums.

how many times do you listen to an album typically before you review it?

The fact that you think the album could have been broken up into smaller tracks is proof that you've missed the beauty in the congruity between form and content. Why would an album about being ever present, about endlessless, benefit from being broken into disparate chunks?You claim that this proposed division would lend 'clarity' and 'focus' to the 'narrative' elements of the album; Phil's point is that, for him, these moments are not isolated narratives to be told separately, rather they are constantly unfolding in the present moment - he is his own past as it represents itself, 'now only.' You're clearly a much bigger fan of the Microphones and Phil's output in general (I've only really got into him with Wind's Poem - perhaps still my favourite Mt. Eerie release) but I guess that doesn't bolster the strength of the argument you present here too much. I can understand the desire for a broader range of instrumentation, and I can even understand your slight frustration with some of the lyrical elements of the piece (Phil does, occasionally, descend into post-Benji Sun Kil Moon territory) but I can't understand how you manage to at one point acknowledge the importance of the track's form in relation to the content of it's lyrics, only to suggest that it should have been cut up... Anyway, like your reviews occasionally, at least you put some thought into what you're saying. Thanks for all your hard work, etc, etc.

are u trying to recreate some rap songs album cover?

Very good review

i thought it was interesting when he was bringing other artists into the lyrics as well, though i liked when he would juxtapose a thread of lyrics with an acknowledgement of his current state. great way to thread the piece together i thought it maintained buoyancy pretty well as i didn't really ever find myself wishing it would hurry up. some of the lyrics were a little too mystical without examination (like when he'd talk about nature) for my taste, but one of my favorites of the year so far. very ballsy. i would've given it a strong 8 to light 9

rock and roll peed my pands

I really would like to hear the opinion of somebody who's never listened to Phil's music on this one. It surprised me how it carried me through its 44 minutes quite smoothly. As for the production, I feel like it is The Microphones but polished, evolved somehow. I enjoyed it

If you want to find out what this was like for someone who's never heard The Microphones before, I recommend Professor Skye's Music Review channel. He's great.

ive listened to this through like 9 times now, it’s unbelievable, the last 10 minutes make my heart race in fear

"Now only"-thony "There's no end"-tano

Wait he back

cool video anthony 👍

Don't let gravity win