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Classic Album Review

Angel’s Pulse Review

My favorites: I Wanna C U, Birmingham, Benzo, Berlin

Listen if you like: Toro y Moi, UMI, Kendrick Lamar 

Angel’s Pulse (2019) is an album produced and performed by Devonté Hynes as Blood Orange. It’s the fifth Blood Orange album and a great addition to his overall discography. The fourteen-track album, delicately titled Angel’s Pulse, features numerous well-known artists including Toro y Moi and Justine Skye. Hynes performs vocals, guitar, bass, and keyboard; he also utilizes synthesizers and samplers to achieve a unique sound in his production. 

The album flirts with multiple genres but can’t be tied down by a single one. “I Wanna C U” and “Something To Do” give us ethereal neo-pop vibes, then Hynes switches it up with the gritty, slow melody of “Dark & Handsome.” Yet tracks like “Gold Teeth” are clearly heavily rap influenced, and “Tuesday Feeling (Choose To Stay)” gives an R&B vibe. The utilization of the talents of multiple artists with distinct styles allows the album to feature a unique mix of sound without deviating too far. The album follows no clear narrative and instead captures different emotions between notes of nostalgia. Despite the lack of a story and a variety of sonic influences, the album presents as a cohesive collection.

The album gives us a look into Hynes’ creative, artistic approach to composing his music – and what we get out of that is beautiful. Upon its first release it was given acclaim for the fresh and new sound it brought, but the album has withstood the test of time and continues to be beacon of experimentation and out-of-the-box musicality. Give this album a shot and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. 

– Miranda

Categories
Playlists

Sad Bangers

There is a certain levity in listening to sad music during moments that aren’t specifically sad. In my opinion, sad music can be enjoyed regardless of your current emotional state. This is untrue of other kinds of music – try listening to “Happy” by Pharrell while in the midst of a breakup and you’ll see what I mean. Whether you’re on a late night drive or crying in the club, this is the playlist of sad bangers that will help you capture that oddly specific vibe you’re going for:

  1. King of Carrot Flowers Pt. 1 by Neutral Milk Hotel: The opening track on In the Aeroplane Over the Sea finds Jeff Mangum juxtaposing playful childhood memories with traumatic ones.

  2. Nowhere2go by Earl Sweatshirt: The release of this song in 2018 marked Earl’s return from a brief musical hiatus. “Nowhere2go” gives us a brief update from him as he touches on his feelings of isolation and despair.

  3. Broken Bones and Pocket Change by St. Paul & The Broken Bones: On this track, singer Paul Janeway bares his soul over sorrowful horn lines from his band. His powerful voice is the perfect vessel for the emotional tone of this song.

  4. Self Control by Frank Ocean: As the king of sad bangers himself, Frank Ocean is known for his ability to convey emotional states in a way few artists can. “Self Control” is a slow burner that deals with a fundamental disconnect between two lovers, and features one of the most transcendent outros of any song I’ve ever heard.

  5. Heavenly Father by Isaiah Rashad: The melodic and upbeat nature of this song definitely betrays its heavy subject matter. “Heavenly Father” finds rapper Isaiah Rashad reflecting on the lack of guidance in his life from his estranged father and God.

  6. Good News by Mac Miller: The lead single from Mac Miller’s posthumous album Circles paints a picture of his tired soul, and describes the pressure he felt to hide his pain. The intimate lyrics combined with the gentle instrumentation make this song a truly bittersweet experience.

  7. Ex-Factor by Lauryn Hill: This classic by Ms. Lauryn Hill describes a toxic relationship that is all too familiar to many of us. The resonant lyrics and beautiful music make this song a certified Sad Banger™.

That’s the playlist! What are your favorite sad bangers?

– DJ Mango

Categories
New Album Review

Album Review: Here Comes the Cowboy – Mac DeMarco

Cowboys are back in style. Lil Nas X is just one example of the cowboy aesthetic gaining recognition in pop culture, but what about on the indie scene?

Mac DeMarco’s most recent LP, “Here Comes the Cowboy,” is a playful homage to the simplicity of Western living. The album is slow and swoony, filled with the classic DeMarco strums, love songs, and odd humor. You can really just imagine him sitting in a rocking chair in front of a prairie, wearing a flannel shirt and cowboy hat, plucking along to this album as he stares longingly at the blue sky. Maybe even a cigarette between his front teeth gap, who knows.

This has actually been one of my favorite Mac DeMarco albums so far. It’s really nice to play while relaxing or in the background, but it has its own merits for more focused listening as well. The first five songs definitely follow a definitive mellow Western sound, but things start to pick up and diversify with “Choo Choo,” which is a bit more upbeat, and “Heart to Heart,” which includes more synth-bass vibes. “On the Square” also has a bit more of a jazzy feel with the light piano notes. “Skyless Moon” is honestly heavenly with his characteristic crooning. “Hey Cowgirl” holds a very special place in my heart because yours truly is living on a farm right now. The album ends on another cowboy note in “Baby Bye Bye,” a strong finish for one of Mac’s most relaxing collections.

Overall, I really just love how Mac combines Western acoustic, synth-like strums, and prominent bass to make a really unique tone on “Here Comes the Cowboy.”

– DJ butter

Categories
Weekly Charts

Daytime Charts 9/15

Artist Record Label
1 BULLY SUGAR EGG Sub Pop
2 LIME CORDIALE 14 Steps To A Better You Chugg/London Cowboys
3 DOUBLE GRAVE Goodbye Nowhere! Forged Artifacts
4 FONTAINES DC A Hero’s Death Partisan
5 LOMELDA Hannah Double Double Whammy
6 BETHS, THE Jump Rope Gazers Carpark
7 ILLUMINATI HOTTIES FREE I.H.: This Is Not The One You’ve Been Waiting For Self-Released
8 GIRL FRIDAY Androgynous Mary Hardly Art
9 HOLY MOTORS Horse [Advance Tracks] Wharf Cat
10 NYALLAH Reflections [EP] Self-Released
11 BARTEES STRANGE Live Forever [Advance Tracks] Memory
12 ADRIANNE LENKER “anything” [Single] 4AD/Beggars Group
13 CAMERON BUTLER Extraterrestial UFO Baby
14 LOX CHATTER BOX How To Live Forever Illuminati Killers
15 RUN THE JEWELS RTJ4 Jewel Runners/RBC/BMG
16 CECILE BELIEVE Made In Heaven Self-Released
17 BELLA BOO Once Upon A Passion Remixes Studio Barnhus
18 FOUR TET Sixteen Oceans Text
19 EARTH TRAX LP1 Shall Not Fade
20 DWY “Latchkey” [Single] Wilder
21 GABRIEL GARZON-MONTANO Agüita [Advance Tracks] Jagjaguwar
22 JENEVIEVE “Baby Powder” [Single] JOYFACE
23 VARSITY Fine Forever Run For Cover
24 MEI “Rudimental” [Single] Self-Released
25 ARCA KiCk i XL/Beggars Group
26 BRAIDS Shadow Offering Secret City
27 PHOENIX DA ICEFIRE Panacea New Dawn
28 SHIVUM SHARMA “Diamond” [Single] Self-Released
29 HALF DREAM “Celia” [Single] Self-Released
30 DISCLOSURE ENERGY Capitol

TOP ADDS

1 TAPEWORMS Funtastic [Advance Tracks] Howlin’ Banana
2 OSEES Protean Threat Castle Face
3 LE COULEUR Concorde Lisbon Lux
4 NAKED GIANTS The Shadow New West
5 ARCHAEAS, THE The Archaeas Goner
6 PEKOE CAT Menace [EP] Light Organ
7 CULTS Host Sinderlyn
8 COUPONS Up And Up Counter Intuitive
9 CHUCK IS A BAND Tender Kid [EP] Wy Guy
10 BIG EASY, THE “It’s All Fun and Games Until Someone Gets Hurt” [Single] Forged Artifacts

Categories
Weekly Charts

Chainsaw Charts 9/15

Artist Record Label
1 SIX FEET UNDER “Amputator” [Single] Metal Blade
2 INGESTED Where Only Gods May Tread Unique Leader
3 ABOMINABLE PUTRIDITY “Non Infinite Sequence” [Single] Self-Released
4 SO THIS IS SUFFERING “Moonlight Serenade” [Single] Self-Released
5 NECROT Mortal Tankcrimes
6 OBSCURE OF ACACIA Eclipse. Self-Released
7 LORNA SHORE Immortal Century Media
8 UPON A BURNING BODY Built From War [EP] Seek & Strike
9 SKELETAL REMAINS The Entombment Of Chaos Century Media
10 MASTODON Medium Rarities Warner

Categories
Weekly Charts

Afterhours Charts 9/15

Artist Record Label
1 DISCLOSURE ENERGY Capitol
2 ELKKA “I. Miss. Raving” [Single] Local Action
3 TAMA GUCCI “I Let You” [Single] b4/4AD
4 BIICLA No Place [EP] Good Luck Have Fun
5 JAYDA G Both Of Us/Are You Down [EP] Ninja Tune
6 JESSY LANZAAll The Time Hyperdub
7 YVES TUMOR Heaven To A Tortured Mind Warp
8 SYSTEM OLYMPIA Delta of Venus Huntleys + Palmers
9 KITTY Charm And Mirror [EP] Pretty Wavvy
10 YAEJI What We Drew XL/Beggars Group

Categories
Weekly Charts

Underground Charts 9/15

Artist Record Label
1 SMINO “Baguetti (ft. JID & Kenny Beats)” [Single] Zero Fatigue/Downtown/Interscope
2 RUN THE JEWELS RTJ4 Jewel Runners/RBC/BMG
3 MALIIBU MIITCH “Let’s Be Honest” [Single] Phase One Network, Inc.
4 RICO NASTY “IPHONE” [Single] Sugar Trap
5 HOOK “Street People” [Single] GC
6 CHIKA “U Should” [Single] CHIKA/Warner
7 CUPCAKKE “Discounts” [Single] Self-Released
8 AMINE Limbo Universal Republic
9 MEI “Rudimental” [Single] Self-Released
10 TRENT THE HOOLIGAN “Envy” [Single] Cult Rap/BDS

Categories
Miscellaneous

Album Art Gems: Part 2

This is a continuation of a series on my all-time favorite album art!

There’s so much really bad cover design out there, so when I find one that catches my eye it’s a great feeling. It’s hard to make a good album cover; to be able to capture the feel of an album and an artist through visuals is a real talent. There’s no doubt that music and design fit well together, but to find the sweet spot that encapsulates an artist’s vision while staying tasteful is difficult.

Here are this week’s albums that do just that:

1.     JACKBOYS – JACKBOYS & Travis Scott

The everlasting king Travis Scott has done it again. He is honestly one of my biggest guilty pleasures, but his stuff is always so fire, including the JACKBOYS cover. This short album, with Don Toliver, Sheck Wes, and other guests came out around Christmas in 2019 and has to be one of my favorites from Travis. The grainy film texture and colors on this cover are amazing.

2.     Still Striving – A$AP Ferg

I really adore the simplicity of this cover art. To me, the best covers are the ones that completely leave out all the information about the album and opt to provide a visual that speaks for the music itself. A$AP Ferg accomplished this beautifully with “Still Striving,” his 2017 release.

3.     Chinese Fountain – The Growlers

Not the biggest fan of the Growlers right now if I’m being honest with myself, but the “Chinese Fountain” cover is a really stand out piece. The colors of the neon sign, the fog, and how it all mimics a restaurant you’d find in China Town really complements the album nicely. 

4.     Thickfreakness – The Black Keys

I love how the all the album info is worked into this cover. This is from one of the Black Keys’ older albums, but it continues to be one of my favorites now. All around, I just love the colors and composition.

5.     Mint – Orions Belte

Recently, Orions Belte has been at the top of my listening cue. If you’re into any sort of psychedelic surf rock, you’d be into them too. The way the lines and figures all blend together is so fantastic and trippy.

Stay tuned for next week’s rendition of Album Art Gems!

– DJ butter

Categories
Classic Album Review

Classic Review: Section.80 by Kendrick Lamar

In general, discussion of the Kendrick Lamar canon is limited to the holy trinity of good kid, m.A.Ad city, To Pimp a Butterfly, and DAMN., with the occasional nod to untitled unmastered. Rarely is there mention of Section.80, Kendrick’s 2011 debut. It’s true that some of the tracks haven’t aged well (“No Makeup”, “Tammy’s Song”), but in my opinion there are many more hits than misses on K. Dot’s first studio album. It isn’t as focused as GKMC, as ambitious as TPAB, or as eclectic as DAMN., but Section.80 has a story to tell all its own.

That story centers around Tammy and Keisha, two characters who struggle to make sense of the world around them. Kendrick paints a picture of this world in great detail throughout the album’s runtime. On “A.D.H.D”, he reflects on the drug abuse that is so prevalent in his generation by saying “You know why we crack babies?/Because we born in the 80s, that A.D.H.D crazy.” “Ronald Reagan Era” describes Kendrick’s hometown of Compton, California in a way that only a true emcee could. In one bar, he says “1987, the children of Ronald Reagan/Rake the leaves of your front porch with a machine blowtorch”, which speaks to the generation of children who have been negatively affected by president Reagan’s policies. The narrative continues on “Keisha’s Song”, in which the titular character becomes a sex worker in order support herself. Like Tupac’s classic “Brenda’s Got a Baby”, Kendrick shows how this vicious cycle of neglect ends in tragedy. On “Ab-Soul’s Outro,”, the penultimate track on Section.80, Kendrick meditates on the themes presented throughout the album. In a particularly candid moment, he says “I’m not on the outside looking in/I’m not on the inside looking out/I’m in the dead f—— center, looking around.”

Even in 2011, Kendrick – who had not yet reached his prime – was no stranger to the Odyssean task of creating a concept album. He would continue to develop this skill with each project following Section.80, cementing him as one of the most gifted storytellers in hip-hop. While the narrative on this project isn’t as compelling as those found on his later albums, it is definitely worth a listen. To see the world through Kendrick Lamar’s eyes is a one-of-a-kind experience.

Favorite tracks: A.D.H.D., Ronald Reagan Era, Rigamortus, Kush & Corinthians, HiiiPoWeR

– DJ Mango

Categories
Playlists

The Victorious Soundtrack: A Hidden Gem

Everyone born in Gen Z remembers and loves Victorious which aired on Nickelodeon between 2010 and 2013. This show was a favorite of mine and all of my friends during middle school, and I remember it fondly. The show has complex characters and some great scenes, but most notably the soundtrack is sung by the cast and many of the songs are total bops. It’s unsurprising that these actors make great songs, as many of them got their start young on Broadway, and actresses like Ariana Grande who performed on Victorious are now well-known for their musical talent. 

1. Take A Hint 

This is the best song hands down. Not only are the vocals amazing and memorable, the scene itself is really empowering as two of the female characters shut down two annoying guys that are hitting on them. This song pops into my mind constantly and it’s definitely worth a listen if you want to reminisce about the show. 

2. It’s Not Christmas Without You 

I love a good holiday song and this is no exception! The scene itself has some of the cutest costumes and narrative of all the episodes, and the song itself is great to put you into a Christmas mood. 

3. Best Friend’s Brother 

10/10 always a bop. I definitely can’t relate to the subject matter, but despite that I think Victoria Justice did a great job with this one and the background vocals are also amazing. The music video is cute as well. 

4. Give It Up 

I love the vocals by Liz Gillies and Ariana Grande, so this R&B style song from the main soundtrack is also one of my favorites. The harmony between the two girls is beautiful throughout. 

5. I Want You Back 

A classic cover song with talented vocalists can’t go wrong. I love the energy the cast brings to this track. Though Victoria Justice dominates the track, we get snippets of vocals from members of all of the cast. 

I love listening to all of these songs when I feel nostalgic for this period of my life, and it’s always entertaining to listen to these amazing straight up bops. Let me know your favorite songs from the show, and if you agree with my ranking. Hope you enjoyed. 

– Miranda