Images & Words: Future, “March Madness”

Posted on April 14, 2015 by TP1.COM in Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

Future “March Madness” 56 Nights (out now on Freebandz) After 2014’s uneven Honest, Future has been on fire, dropping three incredible tapes in the last six months. The lead single from his most recent, 56 Nights, gets visuals from Vincent Lou, the same man behind the headtrip heartbreak of “Codeine Crazy” and iLOVEMAKONNEN’s original “Tuesday” clip. Like so much of his recent output, Future is both reeling and energized on “March Madness,” as if he knows the roller coaster is going too fast … →

Hot Jam of the Day: Chromatics, “In Films”

Posted on April 9, 2015 by TP1.COM in Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

Chromatics “In Films” Dear Tommy (out soon on Italians Do It Better) Welp, looks like Dear Tommy is officially 3 for 3. The third single from Johnny Jewel & friends’ upcoming LP is another direct hit. Evocative and slinky, “In Films” pairs vocalist Ruth Radelet’s icy vocals with rolling toms, driving bass, and an adhesive synth line. Knowing Jewel, there’s no telling how many tracks will be on Dear Tommy, but if they are as good as the first three (Exhibit A, … →

Images & Words: Hot Chip, “Need You Now”

Posted on April 1, 2015 by TP1.COM in Images & Words | Comments Off

Hot Chip “Need You Now” Why Make Sense? (out 05.19 on Domino) Though a good portion of their recent dance floor focused material leaves me a little cold, I am — and will always be — a sucker for a Hot Chip ballad. From Alexis Taylor’s beautiful, 2014 solo cut “Without a Crutch (2)” to 2012’s devotional, “Let Me Be Him,” to one of my all-time favorites, 2010’s “Alley Cats,” the Londoners’ last few records have been littered with heartfelt, transportive … →

Hot Jam of the Day: Jamie XX, “Loud Places” (f/ Romy Madley-Croft)

Posted on April 1, 2015 by TP1.COM in Featured, Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

Jamie XX “Loud Places” (f/ Romy Madley-Croft) In Colour (out 06.02 on Young Turks) Like so much of their work as the XX, “Loud Places” snared me quickly. 18 seconds to be exact. The XX’s brokenhearted first two albums have a number of lyrical gems, but the first stanza of this single is one of Croft’s best yet. “I go to loud places. / To search for someone to be quiet with, who will take me home. / You go to … →

Hot Jam of the Day: T-Pain, “Let Your Hair Down” (f/ The-Dream, Vantrease)

Posted on March 29, 2015 by TP1.COM in Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

T-Pain “Let Your Hair Down” (f/ The-Dream, Vantrease) The Iron Way (out now) Fresh off a mammoth 42-song set at The FADER Fort, T-Pain continues his renaissance with a new mixtape, The Iron Way. A glittering return to form, The Iron Way picks up where his 2014 singles left off, most notably on this exquisite collaboration with the Patron Saint of Thunder Penguin, The-Dream. Any superlatives I lob at “Let Your Hair Down” would underplay how much I’m feeling the … →

First Quarter of 2015 Mini Round-Up: The Best Songs I Missed

Posted on March 24, 2015 by TP1.COM in Columns, Featured | Comments Off

It’s been a busy three months for me, and while I’ve still had time to listen, I haven’t been able to keep up with what has turned into a blinding first quarter. Here are a handful of my favorite songs that I haven’t been able to write about. Stormzy “Know Me From” Digital Single Like a lot of American teenagers, I was enamored by the exciting world of grime thanks to early efforts from The Streets and Dizzee Rascal. Unlike … →

Hot Jam of the Day: Sicko Mobb, “Kool-Aid”

Posted on March 17, 2015 by TP1.COM in Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

Sicko Mobb “Kool-Aid” Digital Single It’s been a miserable winter for most of the country, even by the Windy City’s high (er, low) standards. However, Chicago’s Crown Princes of Bop don’t seem to be suffering any signs of seasonal affective disorder. Their anthemic new single is more fit to soundtrack weekend barbecues than a frigid trudge to the ‘L’. Unlike much of their frenetic back catalog, “Kool-Aid” is a mid-paced glider that is made for the gentle breeze of the … →

Hot Jam of the Day: Grimes, “REALiTi”

Posted on March 12, 2015 by TP1.COM in Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

Grimes “REALiTi” Digital Single Though Claire Boucher penned this single back in 2013, “REALiTi” sounds much more congruous with last year’s ever divisive, “Go,” than her 2013 debut, Visions. As someone who is staunchly pro Pop Grimes, this track is great news, and it’s another example of her razor-sharp songwriting and vocal hooks. There’s a lovely directness to her most recent work, which is well-tempered by her naturally experimental tendencies. When that balance is right (as it is here), there are few stronger forces … →

Hot Jam of the Day: Courtney Barnett, “Depreston”

Posted on March 3, 2015 by TP1.COM in Featured, Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

Courtney Barnett “Depreston” Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit (out 03.24 on Mom + Pop) Since the dawn of modern civilization, procreation and land ownership have been the principle goals of humanity. While much has been written about the personal collateral damage brought about by the former, substantially less has been written about the latter, especially in the world of pop music. The 26 year-old Australian’s rumination on a trip to look at suburban homes with her … →

Hot Jam of the Day: Skepta, “Shutdown”

Posted on March 3, 2015 by TP1.COM in Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

Skepta “Shutdown” Konnichiwa (out soon on Boy Better Know) Even though he’s been a force in grime for the better part of ten years, it feels like the 32 year-old Tottenham native is just getting started. Following what was probably the best year of his career — watermarked by my third favorite song of 2014, “That’s Not Me” — “Shutdown” is the first taste of Konnichiwa, the most anticipated album of his career. Based on this, the pressure hasn’t gotten to Skep, … →

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