As NC State approaches their fourth week of the semester, the first wave of exams and tests approaches.
Testing and exams never fails to stress me out and I know I am not alone in this sentiment. To ease some of the anxiety and stress that builds up over study time I have compiled a few of my favorite focus tracks.
When studying, I find myself gravitating towards jazz and relaxed indie artists. Although, I included a mix of genres in the following tracks.
This one is such an ideal instrumental to sit down and begin a study session. BADBADNOTGOOD is a fantastic jazz ensemble that provides rich compositions and excellent collaborations with other artists.
If you enjoy this track I recommend checking out their other works. They have some excellent upbeat tracks such as “To The Floor”, their newest single featuring Lil Silva. The other tracks off their album “IV” are great for raising energy after a long study session.
Shadow Community is a project by Mid-Air Thief, a folktronica musician from South Korea. This song in particular evokes such an airy, light feeling. There really is no real way to describe their music. It is mesmerizing, complex and light.
This track has a lot of nostalgia linked to me for me. Nujabes had such a gift for bringing so many powerful genres together. In this song in particular there are such graceful elements or hip-hop, jazz, and lofi.
I had a very difficult time picking just one Nujabes track to put on this list. Here are a few honorable mentions I simply cannot ignore, “Horn in the middle”, “Luv (sic)“, and “flowers”.
I think Far Caspian has one of the best voices to listen to while working. I typically prefer instrumentals when studying, but he has such a lovely gentle sound. His album “Ways to Get Out” was one of my favorite releases in 2021, it was a great stress reliever for me.
This is a track for those that enjoy studying to songs with lyrics. Yellow Ostrich is melding indie rock and folk together in this track. It is a really ideal indie study track due to its relaxed tone.
Red Hot Chili Peppers 2022 Global Stadium Tour flyer.
I was lucky enough to see this legendary lineup at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC on Sep.1.
If you missed it, there was a preview of this show posted just a few days ago. If you want to read up on some of the general information for each of these performers, you can find the preview on the WKNC Blog.
Overview
I want to provide a quick disclaimer before I begin: This is was my very first stadium concert. It was very large. I had a seat up in the middle section. By no means the best seat and by no means the worst seat.
My view of the stage, photo by Author.
My second disclaimer is quite a disappointing one: unfortunately due to traffic conditions and my class schedule, I missed Thundercat’s performance. So this review will just be evaluating The Strokes and Red Hot Chili Peppers performances. I know, I am sad I missed Thundercat too.
Let’s get into the general experience. Even though I was pretty far back, I had a great view of the stage. I commend the set designers for this show. As I will go more into later, the light design was phenomenal.
When paying for a stadium concert ticket you are paying for much more then just the sounds– you’re paying for the insane visual show too.
It goes without saying that this concert was stacked with talent. More than talent: skill, synergy, and pure passion for music. These guys are all legends. Without further ado, let get into the show.
The Strokes
First and foremost, I loved the energy Julien Casablancas, lead vocals, brought to this performance. I find it fascinating how different artists react to fame. It was clear to me that after a lifetime of performing in The Strokes Julien Casablancas treats his role very casually.
The Strokes had a extremely powerful performance despite their lowkey demeanor. They also had a such solid setlist.
One of my favorite moments was their performance of “Juicebox” off their 2006 album “First Impressions Of Earth”. The sheer endurance of The Strokes astonished me. Their tracks, especially this one, sounded much more grungy live than I was anticipating.
I loved the visuals they brought to the performance as well. Their backdrops displayed different dream-scape visuals. There was lots of muted colors that contrasted beautifully with their rough and energized sound.
My absolute favorite moment was undoubtedly their closing track, “Reptilia” off their 2003 album “Room On Fire”. This is one of their most popular songs for good reason. It is, in my humble opinion, one of the best songs of all time and their performance of this track made me love it even more.
The Strokes has been such a massive influence on the indie rock world. Their music inspired the creation of hundreds, if not thousands, of amazing artists and bands. Their music has been such a source of happiness in my life; being able to finally see them live was extraordinary.
Next up on my bucket list is to see Julien Casablancas perform in The Voidz.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
This performance was nothing short of remarkable. Their are few things more powerful than a group of musicians that have spent their lives performing together. The resonance Red Hot Chili Pepper have obtained is unbelievable.
I was honored to be in the presence of such a great setlist. One aspect that contributed to their musical insanity was the sheer amount of improvised riffs in between and within every track.
One of my favorite tracks they performed were “Here Ever After” off of their newest album “Unlimited Love”. I was surprised by how few songs off this album they performed; but I was so happy the selected this one.
Another favorite was their opener “Can’t Stop” off their 2002 album “By the Way”. Red Hot Chili Peppers is composed by some of the greatest musicians of our time. Chad Smith ripped it up on the drums the whole performance, there was only a handful of moments he stopped drumming. The endurance of everyone was insane.
I simply cannot write a review of Red Hot Chili Peppers without mentioning the legendary Flea. His performance did not disappoint. There were multiple instances that he stole the show, most notably in tracks “Give It Away” and “Nobody Weird Like Me”. Also, Flea had a one sticker on his bass that said, “support your local freak” I thought I should share that detail.
I would also like to note how excellent their light design was. Their backdrops were amazing. They had such great color design to competent each of their tracks. Many of the visuals melded into the videos of them performing; whoever was manning the cameras for the show did an excellent job.
Red Hot Chili Pepper light design, photo by Author.
This is all to say the performance was excellent.
Concluding Thoughts
One of my teachers once told me, “the worst part of any performance is the audience”. This was very true for this show.
As an audience member, it is important to recognize that our behavior directly impacts others around us. If you are having a bad time at a show and are not enjoying or paying attention to the extraordinary music– it is very easy to leave. Be courteous of others.
Despite the distractions within the audience, this concert was astonishing.
The performers exceeded every expectation I had. I was very fortunate to see Red Hot Chili Peppers– it is unclear how much longer they will be touring for. I dearly hope they never stop.
They seem to have no end in sight in regards to releases. Red Hot Chili Peppers will be releasing a new album, “Return of the Dream Canteen” this year on Oct 14.
“Return of the Dream Canteen” album cover art by Red Hot Chili Peppers
I’ll certainly be looking forward to this release.
I sincerely hope to see these two bands perform again one day. I hope you all get the chance to see them too, they will not disappoint.
Kero Kero Bonito‘s Sarah Midori Perry released her first solo project, “Icarus”. According to an interview with DIY, Perry created her solo project, titled Cryalot in 2018 as an outlet to express herself in a space separate from KKB.
Cryalot was used for DJ sets until this year when Perry, along with producer Jennifer Walton, began releasing singles for the EP in June.
Flying Into the Sun
This EP leans heavily into an electronic pop sound that is reminiscent of KKB’s 2018 album, “Time ‘n’ Place”. This EP does stretches the boundaries of electronic pop, stepping into areas like spoken word and metal.
Five tracks in length, this EP is solely focused on the Greek myth of Icarus. Usually viewed as a cautionary tale, to Perry, Icarus is about the “beauty of human beings pushing themselves to become something more.”
Perry’s sweet voice mixed with the brutal beats from Walton make this EP truly memorable. Both Perry and Walton are firing on all cylinders to create a sound that complements both of their talents extremely well.
Falling Into the Tracks
Starting off the EP, “Touch the Sun” is a great introduction. The song uses perspective to tell the flight of Icarus from his perspective with a bassy, rythmic beat behind it. I felt this was a great starting track because each song following it seems to build on the sound used in this song.
“Let me touch the sun, wanna have it all / I don’t care if I fall, I accepted it all”
Cryalot, “Touch the Sun” post-chorus lyric
The following track “Hurt Me” is about the fall of Icarus, still in the perspective of Icarus. This song has the same appeal as the first song to me but I still enjoyed it. While listening to this track, I couldn’t help but picture Pieter Bruegel’s “Landscape with the Fall of Icarus“.
Cryalot, “Hell Is Here” single art
“Hell Is Here”, the third track, is the heaviest on the EP. This was probably the song I will continue to go back to in the future. Perry experiments with metal-inspired vocals in the chorus which really worked for me.
Following “Hell Is Here”, “Labyrinth” is much calmer. Starting with a calm piano and stepping away from the heavy bass-beats, it puts Perry’s voice in the spotlight. The chorus to this song is super catchy, and utilizes glitchy sounds very well.
Finishing the EP, “See You Again”, is more of a spoken-word song than anything. The production carries this song, but in my opinion it ran on a bit too long for me to want to come back to it.
Conclusion
“Icarus” was a really enjoyable listen. Tracks like “Hell Is Here” and “Labyrinth” will definitely be on repeat in the coming weeks. This EP very effectively tells the story of Icarus from a different perspective, one that I had never considered.
My only problem with this EP is I think some of the songs run a bit too long for my liking. “Hell Is Here” perfectly utilizes it’s length and does not have any fluff which makes it very easy to come back to.
I look forward to future work from Cryalot. This short EP is a very promising start to this project and I can’t wait to see what Perry does next with the project.
If you’ve never heard of Bird’s Eye Batang, then you may be familiar with the South Korean artist’s other moniker, Mid-Air Thief, who’s 2018 album “Crumbling” has been getting more and more attention as of late. If you aren’t familiar with either of them, then get ready for a folktronica sound you’ve never heard before.
“Flood Format,” which released earlier this year, is far less folk- and far more -tronica, but still sits within the outskirts of the genre. It doesn’t reach the deeply organic and transcendent breadths of “Crumbling,” but it succeeds in exploring darker, more alien territory, with a signature maximalist sound.
The first track, “Slippery Smile”, has these jubilant, joyous and bouncy chimes that remind me of the vibrant buildups you’d hear in a Stevie Wonder song. It then slips into something more fluid and abstract as it transitions to the second track, where the melodies are still bright, but harsher. It leads into sections of experimental noise before circling back around to the lead melody.
The third track, “Spin and Stone”, feels mysterious and curious, and as it starts to pick up it, feels like you’re being swept into an entirely different world. The picture below is the closest image I can find that looks like how this song feels.
Imagine you’re a tiny little woodland elf going out here to gather pebbles. That’s what the song feels like. Photo courtesy of Toburke, under Creative Commons.
“Ripplippling” is a sort of chillwave track with its wide, filtering synths and echoing bells, but with far more texture and character than most chillwave I’ve come across. On its own, “Ripplippling” is the most digestible track on this album.
Unfortunately it’s cut a bit short by an interlude, which showcases some brilliant sound design and noises that are most likely from a bird. This is the worst track on the album for me but it’s less than a minute long.
The album then transitions to its darkest portion. “Brux Batang” features discordant sounds layered over a techno beat before suddenly enveloping the listener in a suffocating symphony of dying machines, noise being stretched and warped around you, a complete storm, pulled and worn like taffy, ending in a crumpled heap.
“The Wider The Wheel” feels like a rush, a need to escape, hurrying past all these sights and sounds, not able to fully process any of them, letting them penetrate your conscious before promptly leaving. You escape. You are faced with an enormous empty void.
And the final song, with a light samba swing, is a much needed breath of comfortable relief.
“Flood Format” is a journey. Bird Eye Batang continues the legacy of one of the most intricate musicians working today, and hopefully now people will shut up and stop comparing him to Grizzly Bear.
I give Bird Eye Batang’s “Flood Format” ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆. Great Album.
Cover Art of Singles by Mr Jukes and Barney Artist
This is an absolutely remarkable collaboration between British artists Mr Jukes and Barney Artist. The two releases a series of 4 singles between May. 25 and Aug. 25. 2022.
Mr Jukes is the passion project of Jack Steadman, lead vocalist of Bombay Bicycle Club. In his solo work is a bender of genres– tapping into jazz, funk, soul and rhythms and blues influences.
I have been a big fan of Jack Steadman for quite some time. It is exhilarating to see him thrive in his solo work year after year.
His 2017 album, “God First” has some of my favorite tracks of all time including “Grant Green” and “Tears”, but frankly every track on that album is phenomenal.
Barney Artist was just introduced to me through the album, “The Locket”, a prior collaboration with Mr Jukes in 2021. His music has such a vibrant energy.
The pure musical talent between these two artists are simply meant to combine.
“The Locket” Album Cover Art
The New Singles
“93”, this single released May. 25. This track is such a great taste of what these two artists can do together. I honestly think this track is a little revered of a sound for them.
The back tracks are characteristically layered and rich– however the lyricism is a bit repetitive. I would have loved to hear a touch more of the verses.
This song has such a sweet sound. The happy keys and brass in the background complement Barney Artist’s voice beautifully. Mr Jukes has integrated many jazz influences into his past music. The hint of brass in this track brings a energetic jazzy sound to the whole track.
“Air To Your Hidden Lung”, this single related July. 8. The message of this track is that the current state of the music industry is ephemeral.
Barney Artist provides a sharp commentary on other’s artist’s motivations for creating music. The act of making music simply for the love of making music is fading– over shadowed by the drive for fame and money.
“Eternal”, this single was released Aug.5. You can hear how much energy these artists have in this track.
Barney Artist’s lyricism in this track is strong. This track out of the four is perhaps the most hip-hop influenced. It hast fast paced verses and a smooth chorus.
“Run Away”, this track is my favorite of the four. It released Aug. 25, and provided a great conclusion to this set of singles.
It’s unclear whether or not they will be releasing more songs in this set, but they have created a song composition of four with these tracks.
Mr Jukes and Barney Artist have formed such a rich sound together. Especially in “Run Away”, their two voices are paired perfectly. Barney Artist provides such a sharp, powerful tone. Mr Jukes brings such a gentle, smooth sound into the track.
Conclusion
Mr Jukes and Barney Artist are a powerful fusion mixing multiple genres, sounds, and influences into one.
I envy all the folks in the Brighton area that get to see these two live. I will be awaiting the opportunity to see them in concert.
If you would like to hear more of them, I recommend giving “The Locket” a listen. I’m looking forward to all these two will create in the future.
Self-proclaimed “fastest band in the world”, Jerry, at the Beach is a ball of fire blasting you away with every track. High-energy and raucous, singer Josh Russell and drummer Ethan Flynn create a sound that can only be thought of as “surf emo.”
I discovered these guys at the beginning of the summer and I have not stopped listening to them since. Upon each listen, I find something new that keeps bringing me back. Within their discography, there are consistent themes of youth, death and love captured with as much angst as you can expect from an emo band.
Jerry currently has two albums: “Jagerbomb” released in January 2021 and “Ketamine” released in June 2022. They also have an EP titled “Jerry, at the Beach” released in 2020 available on their Bandcamp.
Cranberry Run and Before
Their self-titled EP is a very different sound than anything released since. Much slower and more melancholic, this release is clearly a very personal piece of art, coming with a 32-page booklet. The laid-back instrumentals and vocals with jazz influence are reflective of a sad summer night.
“I sail / I sail everyday into the dawn”
Jerry, at the Beach, “Jerry, at the Beach” lyric
While different in sound, their following release, “Jagerbomb” maintains many of the reflective themes expressed in their eponymous EP. This album is a whiplash of tracks that mix slow and fast pacing, building slowly before crashing back down in an explosion of sound.
And crash this album does, with constant allusions to cars, violence, and death. The two-track lineup “I Am Not Responsible” into “Cranberry Run” highlight the uniqueness of the LP.
The Basement Floor
Their latest release, “Ketamine”, builds perfectly on the sound created in “Jagerbomb” with the intensity turned up to 11. In this LP, Jerry, at the Beach isn’t only a ball of fire, they are the sun.
“One look at the basement floor / Tells you everything you need / To know / Don’t go”
Jerry, at the Beach, “I’m Hurting” lyric
Starting off explosively, “I’m Hurting” has been stuck in my head for at least three months. The song perfectly sets the tone for the rest of the album with allusions to unreturned love, youth and pain. The second track, “I Love You”, slows the tempo before exploding into “Ketamine”, the titular track.
Each song on this 40-minute album provides something new while maintaining the sound that makes listening to Jerry so enjoyable. This album is a great starting point for Jerry, at the Beach and perfect for a listen while it’s still summer. Each song flows directly into the next, inviting you to continue listening until it’s done.
Beyond the Year 2022
The powerful sound created by Josh and Ethan over the past three years is very inspiring. Heartfelt and emotional, I am excited to see what Jerry, at the Beach does next.
On their Spotify page, they say, “Jerry, at the Beach has lots of music coming out throughout the year 2022. Beyond the year 2022 they will also have lots more music coming out.”
I hope that they continue building on their sound, increasing the intensity to 12 on their next project and continuing their legacy as “the fastest band in the world”.
