What the hell is the big deal with Tame Impala? The band has been everywhere lately, especially on my facebook page. Everyday it seems like a see a new article detailing the inner workings of the mind of frontman Kevin Parker. While this can get annoying, I have nothing but respect for the band. Kevin is certainly an extremely hard worker, and their it really shows in their music. They've never really made something that has wowed me, but honestly I had plenty of reason to be excited for this album. Their work has been continually improving, and some of the singles for this album really clicked for me. Let It Happen is a musical journey which features irresistible synth lines and a nice bass groove as well. This song definitely goes through many cool changes throughout the song, but I really like how that synth motif really is present throughout pretty much the entire track. The song is long, but it goes through enough different sections/layers that it doesn't feel stale. Disciples was the extreme opposite of this song. That song was short and a little more basic in structure, but honestly Parker's bubble-gummy singing is no less charming on this track than it is on the former track. This comparison says a lot about this album as a whole. Throughout many of the different sounds and textures on this album, Tame Impala's sound remains close to their roots and relatively intact. While Currents certainly sees a shift away from the band's more psych-rock sound, it also really still feels like a Tame Impala record. Kevin Parker and company are still providing excellent basslines, hard hitting drums, and in my opinion even better hooks than usual. So to say this album is album is a change in current would be correct, but if it is a hard pill for you to swallow, I really don't quite understand.
I bet you guys think I'm about to kiss Kevin Parker's ass, and give this thing a 9, but honestly, even with my respect for Kevin, I still wasn't really blown away by this record or anything. To me Currents is just another improvement for the band, and if the band keeps this up, I will probably EVENTUALLY (song pun) love one of their projects. Before I get into the highlights, lets just get the real bad stuff out of the way. One thing this album really suffers from to me is its pretentiousness. To me Kevin always is trying to say something important, but honestly I feel like the way he says things is just pretty much the easy way out. Perhaps this is most evident on track 4: Yes I'm Changing. This track is kind of a middle finger to all the people who will hate the "new" Tame Impala synth driven sound, which is honestly a cool route to go down, but for every intelligent and witty lyric Kevin will write, he write another line that is just cliche and gross. "They say people never change, but that's bullshit, they do" has to be the most cliche lyric I've heard on an album all year. The lack of specific real life, personal lyrics on this track is really a bummer because honestly the message was cool, and the instrumental was ok, but Kevin simply is not interesting on this track. Past Life is also a warbled mess. Whoever thought that computer automated voice was a good idea needs to be smacked. The voice just gets annoying, and honestly that mundane voice combined with just a bland instrumental makes a pretty terrible track. This record also occasionally does feel a little too samey as well. While the end of this record is very strong, it is also extremely similar. Reality In Motion, Cause I'm a Man, Love/Paranoia all kind of use this airy synth and high pitched vocal formula that really is not a huge problem, but when you hear this on over 75% of the record, it does start to become annoying. This is why tracks such as Less I Know The Better and New Person, Same Old Mistakes feel so good. These tracks really are not the best on here, but within the scope of the album they feel a little more fresh after hearing a kind of formulaic sound repeated a lot. Despite the sound being somewhat formulaic, there is more than enough musical moments to make the tracklist interesting. Eventually really feels like a beautiful combination of both synth and rock sounds, and its hook is honestly so catchy, how could you not love it? Nangs is a really twisty-turny interlude that just feels really refreshing, especially after the barn-burner that is Let It Happen. The Moment features some really cool drums over an unbelievably funky bassline. Plus this song really feels passionate. Parker really digs in with his vocals on this one. Also I love the layering of extraneous vocals, synths, and guitar parts. This song is definitely the closest thing to a mind blower on here for me. Less I Know The Better turns a hard nosed bass riff into a sweet song which was a pretty deceptive trick, and Cause I'm a Man is just an absolutely crazy atmospheric tune. That tune really makes the listener just lose their head in the music. It is so hazy, but at the same time so involved. I think that actually the whole album is pretty atmospheric, which I will certainly give it props for. I guess my biggest qualm about this thing is that there is no "wow" moment on here. Sure it's a catchy synth-pop record, but honestly nothing on here actually makes me pumped up or amazed. I will certainly listen to these songs a lot because they are fun and catchy, but when a record like this is hyped so much, it is hard not to expect big things. While this thing is certainly great ear candy, it is in no way remarkable. I still think this band has it in them, and this record is certainly a step in the right direction, but until they blow me away, I will always think of Tame Impala as prospects. Now it's just up to them if they are going to the next Jordan or the next Sam Bowie.
Best Tracks: Let It Happen, Nangs, The Moment, Eventually, Less I Know The Better, Cause I'm a Man, New Person Same Old Mistakes Worst Tracks: Yes I'm Changing, Gossip, Past Life, Love/Paranoia
The date was July 20th, 2015, and I was riding a train, both physically and mentally. The Metra train in which I was aboard ferociously approached my home, but in my mind I was still stuck in yesterday's news. I knew that living in the past is never a smart thing to do, but man, this experience just seemed so important and so big that I could not help but revisit it. I had just spent the prior three days at Pitchfork Music Festival in Union Park, Chicago, IL, and it was honestly such mind blowing weekend in so many ways. Not only was I surrounded by such an immensely talented group of artists, but I was also surrounded by people who were all united and truly devoted to music. This felt absolutely incredible, and honestly having the ability to connect to so many people I was previously strangers with such such an enlightening experience. Above all of this, the best part of the weekend was perhaps my realization: your opinion is the only one that matters. Honestly, I've spent the better part of my life just worrying. I cannot seem to help it, and for some reason it has consumed me. school, my music, and my social life has always been hindered to some degree because I, for years, have been afraid. But, for whatever reason, my weekend at Pitchfork Music Festival changed my perspective on how I view the world around me. As I sang, danced, and jumped around I realized I have let my life control me. I am always too worried about messing up or making simple mistakes that I often do not let myself see my full potential. Over the weekend I observed many people just really going all out. People there seemed so carefree and very accepting in the same breath. It really just feels like a place you can be yourself. This environment was perfect for me because it allowed to really just have some important "me" time, and seeing everyone else enjoy themselves so much perhaps taught me to loosen up. Even if the bands I saw this weekend were awesome, and the camaraderie I felt was very enjoyable, I have to say the greatest part of this weekend was just getting to know myself better. Alright, enough with the sappy stuff! Let's get down to business.
FRIDAY
Wilco-Random Name Generator
After about two hours of train riding, my friend Matt and I arrived in Chicago. We were staying the weekend in an apartment a little bit out of the city with my brother and his girlfriend. On Friday, everyone staying in this apartment was going to the fest. This was interesting because we had people from all different kinds of festival going experience in our group. My friend was going to his first festival as was my brother's girlfriend's roommate, while my brother and I had been to the festival a couple times before in the past. This excited me a lot actually because it is always interesting seeing people go to their first festival. It really is a unique experience. Anyway after cups of coffee and brief meals we made our trek to the festival. The day began at the Red Stage with Natalie Prass. The weather was unreasonably hot, and so was Natalie Prass! The heat was really beating down on the fest goers, but man was my optimism high. This was going to be a great day, and I just knew it. Natalie Prass put on a nice show, but I really do prefer her album to her live show. Her live set up does not allow a lot of the arrangements that were written for her album to come out. Still, her show was pretty entertaining and I wasn't too upset. Next there was kind of a lull in the day, so my friend and I decided to just camp for Mac DeMarco. Unfortunately while we camped, we could hear the obnoxious ILOVEMAKONEN which I can honestly say was one of the worst shows I've ever seen. MAKONEN brought a lot of energy to the stage, but his DJ was lackluster and his tunes just don't have any depth really. The wait for Mac was one of the first painful parts of the weekend. My legs already started aching, so I knew I was in for trouble in that department. Despite the pain, Mac DeMarco's show was extremely fun. The man didn't sound amazing or anything, but he is such a goofball and he really knows how to interact with a crowd. His twangly guitar tunes kept me entertained his entire set, and overall it was a fantastic show. Next we moved onto Panda Bear. During this show I met up with my dad, who was waiting for Wilco. It was great to see him, and I hope he had a good time. Anyways, Panda Bear was a very cool show. Quite unlike anything I saw all weekend. Noah Lennox went from tune to tune with seemingly absolutely no bumps. It was a really cool set, but I can't help but feel it was maybe not catered to a festival. It is the type of show I'd much rather see in a venue in the dark. It was still very cool nonetheless. After Panda Bear we just stayed at the Green Stage and camped for Wilco. We could hear Chvrches and they sounded tight, but our seats for Wilco were well worth skipping out on them. My second time seeing Wilco was absolutely incredible. They played their new album Star Wars front to back, and honestly it was astounding. This band has been around for 20+ years and yet they still are putting out great fresh material. You Satellite sounded particularly amazing. Glen Kotche was absolutely destroying the drumset, and Nels Cline was a monster on guitar. After they played the new album, they rocked through some of their greatest hits. This show just constantly amazed me. Tweedy and company have a mastery of their craft that few bands can achieve, and honestly watching them just run with it is remarkable. If you ever get the chance to see this band live you NEED to take it! I think they are possibly one of the best live bands in the game right now, and I guarantee they won't disappoint you. Anyways, after the show was over all of us were really exhuasted, but it turns out that the next bus back to the apartment wasn't for 15 minutes so we needed to hold on just a little bit longer. Eventually we made it back and we spent the rest of the night eating ice cream and pizza, and watching movies from my brother's laptop. Overall it was an amazing day of music, but I knew I still had plenty of work left to do for the weekend.
SATURDAY
Sleater Kinney-Words & Guitars
After a long day of festival going, your body is bound to be tired. Perhaps this is why the 5 hours of sleep I got this particular night seemed to just obliterate my body and mind. All complaints aside, day 2 was an even more amazing day than day 1. Spectacular performances, good food, and ultimately surprisingly good seats really helped make this day fantastic. The day started out with coffee in the apartment again, and sadly I just cannot bear coffee. I am sorry, I like it just about as much as I liked ILOVEMAKONEN'S performance. Still, I am always down for a good bagel and egg breakfast, so I will keep my mouth shut. After breakfast we just chilled until we could catch a bus to the festival. The doors open earlier at noon on Saturday and Sunday, so that means we caught a lot more performances (YES!)! After being dismantled of all of our water by security (c'mon guys!) we finally were in the fest. Since we got there early we had plenty of time to fill up on water, and enjoy the record stores and accessory shops inside the fest. This was a pretty great experience, especially in a weekend so jam-packed with action. It was nice to just witness the culture of the fest for a little bit and just kind of look around. After we were done with this we headed over to the Blue Stage for the first time of the weekend. We caught Bully perform a short, but brilliant set full of energy and flair. Singer/guitarist Alicia Bogananno really brought so much to the table. She can scream, sing pretty, and her guitar playing is pretty badass too! Honestly this set was a real treat (if Smid is reading lol). After this set was done we stayed put and camped for Mr. Twin Sister, which was yet another spectacular show. Few bands at the fest had as unique of a sound as Twin Sister. They experiment with plenty of different synths, drum loops, wind instruments, etc.. Overall, it makes for a just a fantastic show. Their music really has a kind of airy and atmospheric feel to it, but it still feels dancey at the same time. Few bands can hit this balance, so it's really cool to experience this live. About half way into this set it started pouring. I'm not kidding, It was an absolutely menacing downpour, this was pretty cool seeing the band perform through this, but sadly shortly after Mr. Twin Sister the fest was post poned for about an hour. This was disappointing, but honestly it couldn't have came at a better time. It came at kind of a gap in the day, and it allowed my friend and I to see the posters and other accessories pitchfork had to offer. We weren't technically allowed to be in the park, but the security honestly just did not enforce the cancellation very hard, so many people just stayed in the back of the park kind of hidden. Things got started again around 4:45 and I realized that Kurt Vile's set was going to be cut tragically short, so we ended up just going to the Red Stage to camp for Parquet Courts. Kurt's performance was kind of muddled down by sound issues, which I completely understand because of the quick turn around after the cancellations, but Parquet Courts ruled! The crowd got really into it, and the band sounded great. There was energy coming from both sides, and honestly that is the way it should be. The mosh pits got pretty intense, and my body was pretty dehydrated at the time, so I decided against it, but the show was still pretty fantastic. Plus, my friend and I got extremely dirty during this show, which was pretty cool. I'm pretty sure he landed face down in the mud while he was in the mosh, which i've never seen happen. Anyways, you get it, very tight show! After PC, we saw a longtime favorite of mine The New Pornographers. Despite much of the band's live lineup being different than usual, they still brought the house down. A.C Newman and co. really still have it, and their setlist really made me happy. Lots of old songs from them, and you best believe I was singing every word. Shortly after my friend and I indulged on some delicious fries and pizza before we just camped out for Sleater Kinney. We heard Future Islands from a distance and they sounded good. Sam Herring really packs a ton of energy into his performances with the band, which I appreciate. After an hour of waiting, Sleater Kinney brought the house down! Carrie Brownstein was constantly going berserk on stage, which was both funny and badass. The girl really knows how to put on a show. Corin Tucker still has an amazing singing voice, and despite Janet Weiss' strange technique, she was rock solid on drums as well. Through all the struggles of the show (Carries fall, and a simple screw up during the encore) the band still managed to put on a fantastic show. Day 2 left me feeling more satisfied than a piece of sausage pizza, and although I was dirty, I really felt on top of the world. I encountered so many great people and artist, and I just couldn't wait to finish it out. After a short transit back to the apartment, we ended up washing our clothes and shoes out in a broken fire hydrant! If that's not life changing, I don't know what is. So yeah, when a day ends like that, you know it was worthwhile.
SUNDAY
Caribou-Our Love
The last day of a festival is always something special. We had made it through 2 days already, so what were we to fear? Nothing. It was just time to go out one last time, and really put an exclamation point on the weekend. Going into the fest I knew most of my hyped artists were playing on Sunday, so honestly I was beyond amped. The prospect of being able to Courtney Barnett, Jamie xx, Caribou, Todd Terje, and Chance all in row just absolutely blew my mind. And guess what...it didn't disappoint at all, in fact, it might have even exceeded my expectations. But let's not get ahead of ourselves, lets for one last time start at the beginning of this (even though no one is reading this...still). Another nice breakfast included eggs, toast with cream cheese, and an apple. My brother introduced me to some new music I've never actually heard before after breakfast which was definitely a much needed kick in the right direction (I'm going to try to do reviews again, I know I messed up). After that we pretty much discussed our favorite sets of the weekend, and found ourselves in sometimes heated arguments. After we finished this, we headed over to the fest for one last go around. We got there early again, so we checked out concessions and it turns out Topman was giving away free shirts. The shirts were being pressed there, so seeing the process was actually pretty interesting. Also, who could pass on free stuff? That's one amazing thing about the fest. They always seem to give a lot of stuff away, whether it is water, or just cool merchandise. After acquiring my shirt, we headed over to see Viet Cong. The band released one of my favorite records of the year, so my expectations were high. Overall the performance was at times just ok, but the sheer intensity made it a can't miss set. The band brought a ton of energy to the set, and hearing Matt Flegel just scream out his vocals made everyone in the crowd really hyped. The second guitarist did occasionally really mess up or just not finish his phrases, but honestly a good performance moves the crowd, and Viet Cong made the crowd go nuts! Death is seriously one of the best live songs I've ever heard, just pure bliss. After Viet Cong we saw Kate Crutchfield's Waxahatchee. This set was unbelievably tame compared to VC's. It wasn't bad, but it didn't really pack the excitement of the previous band. I'm not mad about it at all though because it gave Matt and I a great opportunity to sit down and rest our bodies before the day destroyed us. After Waxahatchee we moved on to Madlib & Freddie Gibbs. This show was ultimately very entertaining, and just a great come-home show for Freddie Gibbs. The man really knows how to connect with a crowd. He made us laugh constantly with his goofy antics. He claimed to be "drunk as hell" and I wouldn't doubt it, but still if that man can rap that well when he's "drunk as hell" then he's a legend in my book. Madlib is a legend, and his production was just cream of the crop as usual. It was refreshing to hear a great DJ after seeing the atrocious DJ of ILOVEMAKONEN. Perhaps Freddie talked too much, but honestly I still really enjoyed myself immensely. After this we just needed to eat. There was no if ands or buts about it. We filled up on water and enjoyed delicious pulled pork sandwhiches while also munching on some fries which sadly made us miss about 20 minutes of Courtney Barnett's set. We got back though, and at least I know I felt phenomenal. Better than I had felt in days. Courtney sounded amazing and honestly everyday my mind changes about her. That album that I gave such a low score is actually pretty amazing (sorry Courtney!). Her band, with just 3 people, blew the house out of the water. It was a set that was both moshable and just enjoyable from an observers perspective. After a little bit of CB we decided to head over to Jamie xx. His set was a DJ set, but he does things the old fashioned way. He has two record players and some beat boards that he is constantly checking and playing with in order to create his music, and it was honestly unbelievable work. Anyone who says being a DJ is easy clearly needs to see this set because Jamie was always busy. He is always playing with something or switching something up. Everyone really dug his set, and it was really the beginning of a non-stop dance party. Caribou followed Jamie xx in just a monstrous way. The band's four man set up is simply incredible when you consider how much noise the group can make. Dan Snaith is always toying around with synths and even often playing drums to tracks to spice things up a little bit. Caribou, in terms of precision, might have been the best band I've ever seen. They can switch the groove to seemingly any feel or meter and everyone will still be together. This was really shown on the magnificent track Mars. The drummer's groove is completely arrhythmic to what the rest of the band is doing, but still he does not miss a beat. It's pretty incredible set. Two more highlights of this performance: Matt and I danced with a complete stranger for the last 20 minutes, and Dan Snaith played a pan flute on Odessa. Pretty amazing stuff. After this, we stayed back for about 3 songs of the badass, in your face hip-hop group Run The Jewels which was extremely enjoyable. We didn't have much time before Todd Terje, so we decided to stay back, but I mean even from far away, how can you not love RTJ?!? Soon enough we went to the Blue Stage to see the legendary Norwegian DJ Todd Terje (HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE TERJE?!?!). His live set was sporting a full band, which was just incredible. It made the tracks groove so hard, and honestly if you didn't dance during this set you are inhuman. Todd Terje honestly was just a superstar up there, and to see the rest of the band was just icing on the cake. My mind was actually so ecstatic during this entire set. My life may have peaked during the just delicious performances of both Svenk Sas and Alfonso Muskedunder. The crowd was just unbelievably energetic, and I was so happy to be part of it. The music was on point, the energy was there, what else could have made it better. The day could have ended there and I would have been completely content, but thankfully there was one more act to cherish. Chance The Rapper gave me one last piece of "Sunday Candy" (laugh at my joke please) for the day and boy was I grateful. During the show Chance energetically bounced from his early to his more recent projects, and he really connected with all the audience. His live band killed it, except for you Donnie Trumpet. Stop playing your instrument so damn loud. The set was just a perfect goodbye to the weekend. As Chance told Chicago how much he meant to him, it was hard not to feel proud. I was just proud of my family, my peers, and my community. I felt so happy to in that moment at that time, and only special person can do that. Thank you, Chance!!! As the day ended, we encountered some more funny people, and kind of just reflected on the whole experience. We knew we had to leave the next day which was depressing, but honestly I was ok with it. I accomplished everything I set out to do and more that weekend, and I am just happy that it happened. After all, Dr. Seuss says.....you get what I'm trying to say. We've all heard that quote a million times. As the day winded down I really got to think about everything in my life, and how perfect it all is. I have great friends, great family, a great education, and a great community. Sometimes you need a little vacation to see what is so special in your everyday life, and although that may be ironic, it is certainly true. Pitchfork was my vacation. It was a release from all the pent up emotions I had faced in the prior months (lol teenage angst). And even though I know it's not always going to be peaches and cream, at least I can always look back on moments like this and just really feel blessed. Life can be crazy and sometimes illogically strange, but then again, so can Pitchfork Music Festival, so maybe life really is beautiful.
IF YOU DON'T WANT TO READ THIS ENTIRE THING:
Pitchfork Music Festival was on July 17th-19th and I found out a lot about myself during this weekend. I learned that ultimately my opinion is the only one that matters in my life, and that I should not be worried about what others want me to be.
I stayed in Chicago with my brother, my brother's gf, and my friend Matt. We chilled hard lol. We ate some delicious food, listened to great tunes, and did not sleep well.
FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS: Wilco's amazing musicianship and overwhelmingly powerful show, Mac's audience connection, Panda Bear's unique show, Natalie Prass is really hot!, amazing strawberry ice cream after
SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS: Delicious Bagel breakfast, Bully's powerful yet quick set, Twin Sister in rain, Parquet Courts mud bath, New Pornographers still got it, Sleater Kinney prove women are bigger rockstars than men.
SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS: Burritos at end of day, Viet Cong's passionate performance, Chilling in grass at Waxahatchee, Freddie Gibbs & Madlib's hilarious yet impressive set, Jamie xx's old fashioned performance, Caribou's tight as nails sound/dancing with cool guy during this set, Todd Terje's crazy fun dance party in the dark, Chance's intimate and touching hometown show.
Sappy line about me saying sometimes the only way to remember the great joys of everyday life is to take a vacation
Sappy line about me comparing life's craziness and hectic nature to a Pitchfork Music Festival's craziness and hectic nature.
I made a lot of jokes in here, so if you aren't reading, I'm sorry.
Jamie xx has spent the better part of his career as the often overlooked member of the critically acclaimed group The xx. The group is known for their somber and minimalistic music; I would describe their music as haunting yet gripping. Jamie has done a lot of the bands production and mixing work, and he does not appear as a singer, so it is understandable why he has been overlooked, but I think he is more crucial to the xx than people think. A lot of the time the production can really help create an atmosphere, and I think Jamie's production really enhances that dark, desolate feel that the xx really exemplify so well. Anyways, Jamie xx is Jamie's way of breaking off from the band. He has not left the band or anything, but this project really gives Jamie a chance to shine on his own as a musician. His music is a lot more dancy and electronic than the xx's and it is certainly a lot more colorful. Jamie has gotten a lot of steam from remixes he had made over the years, and just now it is really starting to come to fruition. His record has been very well hyped up, and he seems to be really making a name for himself, but is Jamie ready to shine on his own, or should he have just stayed put? I'll just say one thing: this man knows what he's doing.
This album is perfectly described by its title: In Colour. This album can take you to a lot of different places, and whether it's an exciting place or a very relaxed place, this album always seems pull it off well. Sleep Sound and Loud Places both take you into this kind of drowned out environment. They seem to do so little, and they kind of excite your brain because of that for some reason. It really allows the listener to focus in on the very gorgeous instrumentation, and it does not drown us out with layers upon layers. Gosh is a hard edged electro tune that is very different to say the least. The groove is kinda mundane for me, but then the synth line at the end absolutely saves the song. This song really showcases just how gorgeous the instrumentation on here can be. Also very beautiful, is the steel drum led Obvs. This song does add a lot of layers into the mix, but unlike a lot of other electronic songs, it doesn't do so obnoxiously. It is very subtle in everything it does, and that's why this tune is fantastic. Stranger In The Room sees Jamie reacquainting himself with bandmate Oliver Sim. It is a very eerie tune kind of similar to the xx's music, but instead the synth kind of gives Oliver a brand new canvas to sing over and it sounds very nice. Romy also sees a couple appearances on this album, and she sounds nice over this instrumentation as well. Maybe the xx should make an album that is completely led by Jamie xx. That would be interesting for sure. Seesaw has probably the coolest transition on the album. The song kind of just sneaks up on you, and I thought that was very cool. I thought this track was also extremely good a long with this transition. Lastly, I Know There's Gonna Be (Good Times) is an absolute banger. This tune is an old-timey hokey hymn song mixed with today's "trap rap" sound. Overall it blends a lot better than you'd think, and Young Thug holds his own surprisingly. The album then proceeds to close out very strongly, but at this point that is no surprise, Jamie completely earned my trust, and the rest of my thoughts were just noise (that's a good track by the way).
Overall this album is one of the best dance records of the year because of its colorfulness and its wild diversity. This album is not always the most upbeat and happy album, but it still really just throws itself at the listener, and by the end of this ride, you almost can't deny it. This album was a huge step forward for Jamie xx and I really look forward to what this guy may have in store.
Best Songs: Gosh, Sleep Sound, SeeSaw, Obvs, Stranger In A Room, Loud Places, Good Times Worst Songs: Just Saying, Girl
Sorry I Missed These Faith No More-Sol Invictus 6.0/10
Certainly not terrible, but also not really anything too exciting. Pretty disappointing after it being their comeback record. I feel like if you are going to make a comeback, it has to rival your previous work, and this album simply doesn't. Hiatus Kaiyote-Choose Your Weapon 8.2/10
extremely soulful and colorful album. Really sad I didn't get to properly review this album, and I feel like it blends electronic, jazz, and r&b influences extremely well. The songs are pretty interesting but surprisingly direct, and how could you not love that voice? Drake-If You're Reading This, It's Too Late 7.7/10
Undeniably powerful for Drake. Really have never been a fan at all, but this thing is chalked full of accessible and energetic rap songs that do not lack in the lyrical department either. It's not amazing or anything, especially compared to K.Dot's album, but it deserves a nice little shout out from me. Good job Drake. Waxahatchee-Ivy Tripp 8.7/10
A simple, yet very emotional record that wins you over with its charm and heart. Kate Crutchfield pours her soul all over this thing and honestly although its simple, it's secretly one of my favorite indie records of the year. Thee Oh Sees-Mutilator Defeated At Last 7.8/10
Another really solid art-rock/punk album from Thee Oh Sees. This album is another pretty simplistic album, but it thrives off it's catchy choruses and it's hard hitting tunes. Another good effort from a consistent band. Natalie Prass-Natalie Prass 8.3/10
a very nice, sprawling debut record for singer and songwriter Natalie Prass. This album is lovely on the ears, and it showcases the beautiful voice Natalie has. This album has some pretty tasteful old-school instrumentals that include strings, harps, etc. This album is a little sleepy though, so if you are tired do not listen to this.
A$AP Rocky has been one of the more hyped rappers in recent years, and he certainly has some great "cloud" rap songs. Rocky has made a name for himself by making very whispy, chilled out rap songs that occasionally have a nice pop appeal. A$AP is not really the most talented lyricist or anything, but he certainly brings a unique style to the board which is probably what intrigues me the most about him. While A$AP has certainly found success on his prior two albums, I think it is evident there is nothing groundbreaking on these projects. I think even Rocky himself is aware of this simply because of the sharp turn in sonic attitude he made on this latest project: At Long Last ASAP. This album is a hodge podge group of songs that are often unconventional and are even sometimes just downright disturbing. While this was a great idea on paper in my opinion, I have to say the execution is beyond flawed. Some of the songs are just so lazy, and some of the lyrics/features really hinder the end result of this project. While I have never been a huge A$AP fan, I must admit he certainly stood apart from many other rappers in his field. He excelled at what he did, but on this project we just do not see this level of execution. A lot of these tracks are simply not very memorable and the whole thing really feels like it could have used a little more time to really solidify itself. If this album is as big as the title implies than I have to say I'm very disappointed. At Long Last ASAP implies that this is who he has always wanted to be, but frankly I think this is his least focused effort he has ever released.
Don't get me wrong this thing certainly has highlights. It opens up with the grimey sounding Holy Ghost. This song features A$AP spitting at his best, and it also has a very anthemic chorus. The whole thing feels very badass. Canal St. also is a very minimalistic beat which really allows A$AP to shine. This track is just that kind of hypnotic cloud rap we have known to love from Rocky. Great lyricism over a very eerie piece of music. Electric Body shows A$AP flowing like Lupe Fiasco over a pretty sinister beat. While the lyrics are pretty questionable it still is a lot more interesting than the Migos-esque flow we got on a lot of this album. Schoolboy Q also is just intimidating as all hell on this track, and he feels great over the sinister beat. Also I really like how the tone of the track just kinda twists towards the end. Jukebox Joints is a very soulful track that just feels right at home. It has that Kanye West College Dropout thing going on, which is definitely not coincidental because Kanye is on this track. A$AP spits on this track and so does Kanye, so I do not really have any complaints here. Wavybone is perhaps the best track on here. The track has a nice hook and oozes confidence, and it features a lot of great rapping, even from Juicy J. M'$ also is a dark as hell beat, and it features a great verse from Lil Wayne. This track is not fantastic, but it's beat if pretty intriguing with the staggering 808 pattern. Back Home is also a really nice closer that also really feels badass. The beat has that grimey feel to it again, and it also has A$AP Yams on it which really feels like an appropriate tribute to one of Rocky's close friends. This beat also kind of flips on itself halfway through and it turns into a very airy song, but the song ties up the album nicely so I cannot complain. Other than those songs, I really don't have a lot of good things to say. A lot of the flows on this album are just so generic and plain and do so little to draw in my attention. This really hurts because A$AP isn't really known to be a fantastic lyricist in the first place. Also, some of these songs are weird, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but I feel like they are weird for no reason. If you decide to have a sonic change that is fine, but you still have to have a sense of direction in your songs. Songs like LSD and Fine Whine really feel like good ideas that were lazily put together. These tracks have no direction, and they really have no purpose quite honestly. They don't have a lot of great qualities and I feel like the album would be better without these tracks. The tracks following these tracks also generally just feel lazy. Excuse Me is very bad lyrically and it just feels like A$AP so much more capable than this. Lord Pretty Flacko Jodye has an atrocious chorus and the beat feels like something you would hear inside a Reebok store. Also annoying synth line on this one. West Side Highway is not very good content wise, and it also is a lazy track. The track literally is so boring and bland, and a very poor use of James Fauntleroy's talents. Everyday has some great ideas, and it is decently executed, but the ideas just do not blend into each other and it is sad. That track was a blown opportunity for sure. Better Things sounds exactly like Excuse Me, so that hurts both of those tracks. Overall this thing just blows a lot of opportunities. A lot of good ideas are just lazily sewn together which is really sad to see. So can A$AP come back from this? I'm not so sure. He seems pretty satisfied with this, but honestly a lot of people are not happy. I don't think our opinion matters that much to him, which I can respect, so I'll just let him do his thing.
Best Songs: Holy Ghost, Canal St., Electric Body, Jukebox Joints, Wavybone, M'$, Back Home
Worst Songs: Fine Whine, L$D, Excuse Me, Lord Pretty Flacko Jodye, JD, West Side Highway, Better Things
I Love Summer
Summer has a certain kind of attitude about it that is just so fun and care free, and I believe what you listen to this summer should reflect that. I really enjoy some early 2000s indie rock during summer, but there is definitely plenty to choose from overall. The following list is just my favorite albums to listen to during summer, in no particular order.
Enjoy!
The Essentials:
Bombay Bicycle Club-I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose
Tokyo Police Club-Champ
50 Cent-Get Rich Or Die Tryin'
Arctic Monkeys-Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I Am Not/Favourite Worst Nightmare
The Strokes-Is This It?/Room On Fire
Titus Andronicus-The Monitor
M83-Saturdays=Youth
Cloud Nothings-Attack On Memory
The Cribs-Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever/The New Fellas
Nas-Illmatic
Albert Hammond Jr.-Yours To Keep
Weezer-Blue/Pinkerton
Kendrick Lamar-Good Kid M.A.A.D City
Modest Mouse-Building Nothing Out Of Something
Arcade Fire-Funeral
Pixies-Surfer Rosa
Caribou-Swim
Broken Social Scene-You Forgot It In People/Broken Social Scene
Deerhunter-Halcyon Digest, Microcastle
Built To Spill-There's Nothing Wrong With Love, Keep It Like A Secret
Wavves-King Of The Beach
Death Grips-Exmilitary
Kanye West-Yeezus/Graduation
Mac DeMarco-Salad Days
The New Pornographers-Twin Cinema/Electric Version
Interpol-Turn On The Bright Lights
LCD Soundsystem-Sound Of Silver/This Is Happening
Pavement-Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain/Slanted & Enchanted
Outkast-ATLiens/Aquemini/Stankonia Check It Plz
Suna-Sometime EP
Algernon Cadawaller-Parrot Flies/Some Kind Of Cadawaller
American Football-American Football
Tallest Man On Earth-Wild Hunt
The Walkmen-Bows & Arrows
Cymbals Eat Guitars-Why There Are Mountains/Lenses Alien/LOSE
Todd Terje-It's Album Time
Charles Bradley-Victim Of Love
Wild Nothing-Gemini
Clark-Clark
Wye Oak-Shriek
Washed Out-Within And Without
Unknown Mortal Orchestra-II
Strand Of Oaks-Heal
Speedy Ortiz-Major Arcana
Slowdive-Just For A Day/Souvlaki
The Promise Ring-Very Emergency/Nothing Feels Good
Portishead-III/Dummy
Lower Dens-Nootropics
Beach Fossils-What A Pleasure EP
Sleater Kinney-The Woods
Parquet Courts-Light Up Gold
SPORT-Bon Voyage/Colors
Tune-Yards-Nikki Nack
Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment: Surf 7.2/10
Let's get one thing straight right away: This is not a Chance The Rapper album. This is a collaborative effort between Chance, Peter Cottontale, Greg Landfair Jr., Nate Fox, and Donnie Trumpet himself. Why is this important? Well, at least to me, I have been pretty frustrated to see the general public not giving these other musicians their fair share of credit. There's no denying that Chance is a great talent, but giving him all the credit for a project like this is simply ignorant. These other musicians put in a lot of work into making this album, and I just felt like that should be at least acknowledged. Now that that's done, lets get to the review! I have loved Chance's work with the band thus far, so I was heavily anticipating this project, and I have to say, my expectations have been met, definitely not exceeded, but met. This album is an interesting blend of neo-jazz, soul, and hip-hop that is just really unique. Not a lot of people are making music like this today, and it is cool to see someone like Chance continue to branch out musically. Some tracks are energetic and punchy, but most of this album is actually very quiet and atmospheric. This is a very spotty direction for the band to go in because although the musicians are very talented, most of the group's vocalists have a really hard time carrying a track by themselves. Also, the quiet nature of this LP ultimately loses my attention sometimes. It's not that the music itself is boring, it is just that these musicians usually are way more vibrant with their songs, and I felt like some of these songs just lost life half way in. Regardless of this change, all the instrumentals/beats are very well done, and it seems like this group was more than capable of pulling off this change. Most of the songs on here are still rather captivating, but honestly compared to what I envisioned it just seems sort of lifeless. Overall, I still enjoyed the album, and there was still plenty to enjoy.
This thing kicks off with the mystical, yet powerful Miracle. This thing features a great verse from Chance, and immediately shows the listener that this thing is going to a pretty different sounding album. My only complaint on this song is that the singing kind of just blends together into a mess, but otherwise this song one of the album's highlights for me. Slip Slide starts out with a very awesome Marching Band introduction which just sounds great. This song feels more Acid Rap-esque and it has that childish, yet fun attitude that we all love. It features a great guest verse from Busta Rhymes and another great verse from B.O.B. Janelle Monae also offers some great vocals here. I really love the vocals in the hook, and how they just make it so much more fun. The way they say Slip SLIIIIIIIDE makes me chuckle (in a good way). My one complaint about this one is that it abruptly ends. It kind of settles into a piano interlude with Chance on vocals, but then just disappears. I really liked what I was hearing there, but it didn't develop at all. Warm Again features great verses from J. Cole and Chance, but on this track the struggling vocals are pretty apparent. NoName Gypsy just cannot carry a hook, so I kind of just tune out during the chorus. Nothing Came To Me is a ballsy trumpet interlude, but although I kind of like it, I will admit this piece of music has absolutely no direction. It makes it a little hard to listen to at points. I think it is still a well played piece of music, but it just seems like mumbo-jumbo trumpet sounds at some points. Wanna Be Cool is definitely my least favorite cut on the album. The message is good, but Chance's vocals fail tremendously on the hook, and the rapper at the end is just simply annoying. When Big Sean is the best part of a song, that is not good news. Windows is one of the more emotional songs on here, and it is probably another favorite of mine. This song feels pretty sincere, and Chance seems to be telling his fans/followers that he is not a role model, but he does it in a way that somehow just makes you love the guy more. Caretaker is an extremely forgettable interlude that just kind of states one idea and never develops on it. I really feel like these 1 minute tracks on this album are pretty lackluster overall, and we could have done without them. Just Wait has a fantastic groove and Chance feels right at home on the track, but yet again this track ends with such a bummer. The trumpet part at the end showed promise, but it just feels unfinished. The track ends with 15 seconds of silence which is ultimately pretty disappointing. Familiar is a soul-funk tune that feels pretty great. The instrumental sounds bouncy and lovable, and there is also a sense of camaraderie on this track. Everyone kind of seems to be in this together. This song also features a Migos verse that is pretty bad, but yea not a huge surprise so no points off there. SmthnthtIwnt is actually the one great interlude on here. A great eerie instrumental with straight bars from Saba. Loved it. Go was a really big disappointment for me. Other than a couple of verses, and a guitar solo at the end, this song is just a looped groove. Although this thing is funky, it just seems pretty repetitive and annoying. Questions falls pretty hard because it really isn't a developed song, and Something Came To Me is not nearly as good as its predecessor track. It just feels like lazy trumpet playing over lazy drums, and until the blaring trumpets at the end, nothing special happens. Rememory is my favorite song on the album because it blends the intimacy of a Chance song with the added instrumentation of the Social Experiment. AlsoErykah Badu has a great connection to Chance on this track, and they fit together perfectly on this song. Sunday Candy would fit perfectly on Acid Rap, and ultimately is so catchy and huge sounding that I find it hard to believe that anyone would hate this. Pass The Vibes is a bad closer though. This song goes out on an eerie note which I can appreciate, but this song also never develops on its original idea, and just relies on wordplay to get it by. I really think this thing could've ended with a band, so that made me sad. Still, there is plenty of great songs on here, but also plenty to dissect and correct for the next release. Overall I enjoyed it, but I will admit that this thing could have been much better even. I still have very high hopes for these musician's futures.
Overall, if you are just into hearing some fresh sounding music, I would recommend this. There's not much that sounds like this right now, and even if it can fail at times, the whole thing is really cool, and I can certainly appreciate their vision. This album is not great, but it is certainly good, and I think that is good enough for me. Best Songs: Miracle, Slip Slide, Nothing Came To Me, Windows, Familiar, SmthnthtIwnt, Rememory, Sunday Candy Worst Songs: Warm Again, Caretaker, Just Wait, Don't Wanna Be Cool, Go
