2020 was a year that had its ups and downs, musically and otherwise. Here are my 5 favorite albums to come out this year, in order:
5. græ by Moses Sumney
Album art for græ by Moses Sumney
Coming in at number 5 is græ by Moses Sumney, a two-part epic of an album that saw its full release in May of this year. If Aromanticism was any indication of what was to come from Moses, græ is a full realization of his talents. Over the span of twenty tracks the singer explores a wide array of topics, from love to identity to masculinity.
Favorite tracks: “Cut Me,” “In Bloom,” “Virile”
4. Circles by Mac Miller
Album art for Circles by Mac Miller
Up next is Circles by Mac Miller, a posthumous body of work released in January. Less than a month after the release of his previous album, Swimming, he was pronounced dead. From someone whose career ended at its height, Circles serves as a kindred spirit to Swimming and it is a testament to his incredible growth not only as an artist but as an individual.
Favorite tracks: “Good News,” “Everybody,” “Hand Me Downs”
3. Last Year Was Weird, Vol. 2 by Tkay Maidza
Album art for Last Year Was Weird, Vol. 2 by Tkay Maidza
At number 3 on this list is Tkay Maidza’s Last Year Was Weird, Vol. 2, released in August. This short but sweet album is a prime example of Tkay’s versatility as an artists, as she explores familiar yet uncharted territory in the realms of hardcore hiphop, alternative R&B and indie soul. Check out my review here!
Favorite tracks: “24k,” “Shook,” “Awake”
2. UNLOCKED by Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats
Album art for UNLOCKED by Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats
2020 has been so long that I almost forgot this EP dropped in February of this year, but I’m sure glad it did. As two of the most consistent artists in the game right now, a project from Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats is a match made in heaven for any hardcore hip-hop fan. Denzel’s frantic, wordplay-intensive rapping is the perfect fit for Kenny’s grimy, sample-laced production.
Last but certainly not least, my favorite album to come out this year has got to be Agüita by Gabriel Garzón-Montano. The range that GGM displays here is something that is truly remarkable. From alternative R&B to indie soul to Latinx hip-hop, Gabriel Garzón-Montano does it all with his own unique flair. Check out my full review here!
Favorite tracks: “With a Smile,” “Muñeca,” “Bloom”
Rilo Kiley is my personal favorite indie-rock band from the 2000s. With lead singer Jenny Lewis, lead guitarist Blake Sennett, Pierre de Reeder on bass and guitar, Jason Boesel and Dave Rock on percussion, this band came out with quite a few powerhouse albums throughout their time as a group. If you’re looking to get into some good quality indie-rock that screams “early 2000s,” you’ve come to the right place. Without further ado, let’s dive into the best of… Rilo Kiley.
“Portions for Foxes”
This tune off Rilo Kiley’s album “More Adventurous” is an absolute banger. This guitar heavy track about seeking physical connection to cope makes you want to scream along in the car with all your windows down. Funnily enough, this song was used in the pilot episode of the hit show “Grey’s Anatomy” and is used several times throughout the series whenever an allusion is made to the pilot. Everything about this song is classic 2000s indie-rock, and I love it. This is definitely the song I would recommend listening to first if you’re looking to get into Rilo Kiley. Favorite Lyric: “’Cause you’re just damage control / For a walking corpse like me.”
“A Better Son/Daughter”
This ballad about the feeling of inadequacy and growing pains immediately became one of my all-time favorites upon my first time listening to it. Jenny Lewis’ whispering vocals in the beginning builds slowly into her borderline screaming toward the end. This track is one for crying to, but still a banger nonetheless. One of their strongest songs lyrically, “A Better Son/Daughter” fits perfectly in with the rest of Rilo Kiley’s album “The Execution of All Things.” I cannot speak highly enough about the album, and if I could include the whole record on this list, I would. Favorite Lyric: “And crawl back into bed to dream of a time / When your heart was open wide and you loved things just because / Like the sick and the dying.”
“Let Me Back In”
This ode to Los Angeles has a beach-like feel with the main instrumentals being the acoustic guitar. There’s a powerful moment about three-quarters of the way through the song where the lyrics pause for an instrumental breakdown, and the percussion is the sound of clapping hands. The clapping gives it a human spirit, making this song one of my favorites by the band. Favorite Lyric: “And you can bury me when my body breaks / In the earth that created me, in the Golden State.”
“Spectacular Views”
Another lyrically strong track off of “The Execution of All Things,” “Spectacular Views” may be my favorite song by Rilo Kiley. The second verse of this song is just perfect. The band does make some interesting choices regarding instrumentation, with a squeaky recorder sounding breakdown after the second chorus, but I dig it. The track ends with a fragment of another song that’s woven throughout the album called “And That’s How I Choose to Remember It.” Favorite Lyric: “You never knew why you felt so good / In the strangest of places / Like in waiting rooms / Or long lines that made you late / Or mall parking lots on holidays.”
“Accidntel Deth”
This track contains my favorite production in a Rilo Kiley song as well as my favorite Jenny Lewis vocals in a Rilo Kiley song. The upbeat production and springy instrumentals starkly contrast with the rather dark lyrics about death. With lyrics that read like poetry, this tune is my favorite off of Rilo Kiley’s album “More Adventurous.” Favorite Lyric: “And the skin you call your home / Holds a heart that quits and knees that buckle in / And lungs that can’t breathe when they’re alone.”
“Silver Lining”
This song is very sonically different from the rest of the tracks I’ve recommended, but still a very strong contender nonetheless. Jenny Lewis’ vocals really shine through on this song about the end of a relationship. It also features my favorite instrument, the triangle, during the bridge; what’s not to love? Favorite lyric: “And our bruises are coming / But we will never fold.”
Unfortunately, the group disbanded in 2013 after the release of their final album “rkives,” but they are remembered fondly by fans to this day. This was far from the end of the road for their lead singer, Jenny Lewis, who is still releasing music to this day. Other members also went on to continue a career someway or another in the music industry, whether it be through continuing to play live music or by owning their own recording studio. If you want to check out my picks, I curated this playlist for you.
Miss seeing some of the coolest album covers ever made on your favorite blog? Me too! I’ve found some more fantastic album artwork that I just had to share. Without further ado, welcome back to the slightly extended encore of Album Art Gems.
1. Their Satanic Majesties Request – The Rolling Stones
Does this cover look familiar to you? It should if you’ve ever seen The Beatles album “Seargent Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club.” Wanting to keep up with the psychedelic trends in the 60s, The Rolling Stones hired Michael Cooper, the same photographer who shot the famous The Beatles album. The original vinyl cover was supposed to have a 3D effect, but due to costs, only about 500 were released with the lenticular printing.
2. 1999 – Prince
Nobody actually knows who designed Prince’s “1999,” but many think that the iconic artist did it himself. It features several hidden references to his earlier and future works, including his eyes from the “Controversy” cover and the name of his band, “The Revolution,” who performed with Prince for the first time in “1999,” written backward in the “I.”
3. Stars Are The Light – Moon Duo
This album cover embodies the dreamy psychedelia that Moon Duo is known for. The spacey feel of their music is clearly reflected in this piece, which looks as though it’s on an alien planet. It comes in four different color schemes (this just happens to be my favorite). The typography is EXQUISITE and I am drooling over the flowy patterns and bright colors.
4. The Crescent Ship – Bad Liquor Pond
There isn’t much information out there on this cover by Bad Liquor Pond, a Baltimore-based band that no longer exists. Nonetheless, the screenprinting collage effect is so eyecatching. I especially love the little demon cat up in the upper right corner.
5. The Low End Theory – A Tribe Called Quest
I don’t know how I forgot to include this cover in my original Album Art Gems blogs. Designed by Jive Records (now known as Zombart), it takes the cake for A Tribe Called Quest’s best album cover. The bright reds and green fluorescent paint on the figure are said to be an homage to traditional African art.
6. Royal Albert Hall May 2-3-5-6 2005 – Cream
This cover, based on one of Cream’s band portraits, was created for their live album, which was recorded at the Royal Albert Hall in 2005. The distinctive line and shadow art is a fantastic use of gestalt principles; notice how you can tell their hair textures apart just by some squiggles? Though designed in the 21st century, it emulates the classic rock style frequently used at the height of Cream’s fame in the 60s.
7. Moon River – Frank Ocean
Last but not least, I just had to include another Frank Ocean cover. His album art never ceases to amaze me. If you look closely you can see what looks like a human figure from the shoulders up in the top left corner. This figure is actually based on a scientific diagram that shows how ASMR travels from the brain to the body. The warm pink pattern also makes an “M,” standing for the song’s title. Pretty cool, huh?
I hope you enjoyed this little additional performance of Album Art Gems!
Let me paint you a picture. A group of respected men walk into a New York Corner Store. They have a little chatter with the owner, otherwise known as “Papi,” and ask for a chopped cheese, a staple New York delicacy. It differs from it’s cousin, the Philly Cheese Steak, in the distinction that the steak is chopped up along with the cheese. After a short discourse on the goods of their exchange, the conversation between the men shifts to new and upcoming rappers “acting like they’re cozy.” This facade seems to antagonize the group of men, because the new rappers are not cozy. The group of men have been in the game, working hard for years, and quite frankly it’s offensive to see these new rappers come in, “sweat-suited up,” with their cheap, off brand clothes while concurrently trying to look like the homies. They are not cozy.
Another unnamed member of the group, who had until now kept quiet, interjects and concurs that he has also taken notice of the recent mockery. However, he goes on to describe how exorbitantly cozy he is. While these new rappers may seem cozy, the man speaking is coming through with the Playboy boxers, with the Playboy fitting, wearing old man socks with the things that hold them up (the sock holsters). He reassures the group that he is cozy and the other men seem to approve.
While this outfit is undoubtedly cozy, a third speaker, who I can only assume to be Rocky, brings light to the situation. He shows a confidence that leaves the group thinking if they even know the true meaning of “cozy.” He uses his outfit from yesterday as an example. While a seemingly meaningless phrase, the use of the word “yesterday” implies that for Rocky to dress this cozy is nothing to him. It’s something he casually does on a daily basis. As to the outfit he wore, it consisted of the Valentino shorts with white and red pinstripes. Rocky sported a real goose down feather bubble jacket. He described it as “very cozy, warm.” Then he had the durag hanging down with the bow string slinging in the wind. It was a two toned durag, with red on one side and white on the other. Some say he was so cozy that he fell asleep before he left the house. When asked what his inspiration was he told them “global warming.” In short, he was “too cozy.”
This is an intro to a song called “Yamborghini High,” a tribute to the late A$AP Yams. It’s one of my favorites and I think the intro was just too good not to share.
Hope you guys enjoy, -The DJ formerly known as “Chippypants”
Creative blocks can be a real pain, especially if you’re getting paid for your artistic skills and need to be productive around the clock. After being a tad bit burnt out from design school this semester, I decided that over winter break I was only going to exercise my creativity in relaxing ways. No coding, no typography, and for godsakes NO ANIMATION. However, when I sat down to start a drawing or painting, I found myself feeling frustrated, impatient, and completely uninspired. Why was the thing that was supposed to make me feel better actually making me feel worse?
I didn’t want to give up on my winter break intentions, so I went down to Reader’s Corner (which you should go to if you’ve never been) on the hunt for vintage magazines. Always being a lover of collaging, I had hope that a new medium might be the answer to unclogging my creative blockage. Spoiler alert, IT WAS!
Vintage graphic design makes me drool, so it was uber inspiring to see it straight from the source. The grainy film, retro fonts, and cigar ads make fantastic collage materials, though it is a bit heartwrenching to cut up a mint condition “Playboy” from 1971. Even if you don’t consider yourself an “artistic” person, collage is a great way to quickly make something that looks great. There are endless things to do with it, like including your own drawings or poetry. My personal favorite thing to do is base my collages off of the music I’m listening to at the time!
There are an infinite amount of techniques, styles, and materials to use while collaging, but I like to let the magazines inspire me rather than plan out what I want a piece to look like. For me, this tends to make collaging a more interactive, spontaneous exercise.
Want to get into collaging? Don’t know where to start? Here are some tips and advice from DJ Butter on how to absolutely rock it:
Q: Where do I get magazines from?
A: If you don’t have any magazines at home that you’re willing to cut up, head over to your nearest thrift store, used book center, or record store. A lot of the time they’ll have super cheap (or free) magazines. Don’t be afraid to use non-magazine items too! I’ve used dried flowers, decorative paper, tea fortunes, and notes from friends in some of my collages.
Q: Which magazines are the best for collaging?
I specifically like to use vintage magazines, especially from “Rolling Stone,” “Playboy,” and “Record Collector.” Any art magazine is great too. Just make sure whatever you choose has lots of pictures!
Q: What materials do I need besides magazines?
Paper: Pick something that won’t buckle under the weight of glue, paint, or whatever else you decide to put on. I like to use this mixed media pad from Strathmore, but the paper in my Art Collection Moleskine journal works well too.
Glue: Any glue will work, but make sure that it dries clear. Liquid glue tends to work better than a glue stick, but remember that you only need a tiny dot in the corners of your collage cuttings. Too much glue will make the paper wrinkle.
Cutting: I like to use regular scissors for cutting our larger pieces and an X-Acto knife for smaller, more detailed ones.
Whatever Else: Find a box or pouch to keep your collage cuttings! I know you probably don’t think you need one, but trying to shove all your unused pieces in the folds of your magazines will lead to lost cuttings, ruined photos, and sadness.
I hope this inspired you to make a collage today! If you want even more inspo, here’s a list of my favorite collage artists:
ZE Records was a New York record label big in the early ’80s for its unique fusion of abrasive punk and no wave with early dance music. Music from the label’s artists was popular among hipsters, goths, and the remains of the gay disco scene. Notable entries on their roster include Lydia Lunch of Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, Christina, James White and the Contortions, and the ever-popular Suicide.
Imagine my shock then, when typing the record label into a google search bar only to have the phrase “ZE Records Christmas Album” appear in the autofill. I dropped everything, ran to grab my headphones, and prepared myself for what promised to be an unmitigated disaster. The album did not disappoint. It has depressed hipsters wailing the word Christmas, rock-disco songs about cruelty to pine trees, and no less than five women doing Nico impressions while singing traditional Christmas carol. It even had a minor hit with Christmas Wrapping by The Waitresses charting in the UK.
The album is glorious cheese. It may not be good, strictly speaking, but there is never a dull moment and I cannot recommend it highly enough. However, if you are too busy preparing for the holidays and only have time for a single track, I implore you to give “Christmas With Satan,” by James Chance a listen, you will not regret it. Merry Christmas!
