Is Talk Memory a good place to start with BadBadNotGood?

Yes, Talk Memory is recommended as a starting point for new BadBadNotGood listeners. A blend of intricate jazz improvisation, electronic textures, and atmospheric soundscapes that evoke a sense of exploration and reflection. Released on October 8, 2021, Talk Memory marks BadBadNotGood's fifth studio album, following their 2016 release IV. By this point, the band had established themselves as innovators in modern jazz, known for their genre-blending approach and collaborations with hip-hop artists. The album showcases their artistic evolution as they delve into more expansive and ambient territory.

Who is Talk Memory for?

Talk Memory works well if you're into dynamic emotional journeys, long immersive listening sessions and reflective and contemplative moods.

How many songs are on Talk Memory?

Talk Memory has 10 tracks, running approximately 51 minutes.

Released 5 years ago this October

Talk Memory

BadBadNotGood · 2021

51 min · 10 tracks · jazz

A blend of intricate jazz improvisation, electronic textures, and atmospheric soundscapes that evoke a sense of exploration and reflection.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Signal From the Noise Start here — Opening with a lengthy exploration of sound, this track sets the tone for the album’s expansive nature and showcases the band's intricate instrumentation.
→
City of Mirrors — This piece juxtaposes delicate melodies against a backdrop of textured layers, embodying the album’s themes of introspection and complexity.
→
Love Proceeding — With its emotive harmonies and dynamic shifts, this track represents a peak in the album's emotional landscape, inviting deeper listener engagement.
→
Stepping Through Stars — This track encapsulates the album's overall ethereal quality, blending rhythmic fluidity with expansive sonic space that invites contemplation.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

72 /100

Alpine

Higher than 95% of albums we've rated

The album showcases intricate compositions and skilled performances, creating a unique sound within contemporary jazz.

What we noticed

The album features a consistent use of layered instrumentation, with each track building on complex rhythmic patterns that evolve throughout.
Several tracks incorporate extended improvisational sections, allowing for dynamic shifts in mood and texture.
The first half of the album maintains a more upbeat tempo, while the second half transitions into slower, more contemplative pieces.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 8/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

dynamic emotional journeys
long immersive listening sessions
reflective and contemplative moods
layered dense sonic textures

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Critical Peak — The album showcases ambitious genre fusion and is highly regarded in their discography.
Themes: collaborative soundscapes· introspective journeys
Moods: Ethereal· Introspective
Career context: Released on October 8, 2021, Talk Memory marks BadBadNotGood's fifth studio album, following their 2016 release IV. By this point, the band had established themselves as innovators in modern jazz, known for their genre-blending approach and collaborations with hip-hop artists. The album showcases their artistic evolution as they delve into more expansive and ambient territory.
Stylistic neighbors: GoGo Penguin· Snarky Puppy· Hiatus Kaiyote