Lana Del Rey"Doin' Time"Sublime OST (out soon on Universal)If you grew up in California in the early 2000's, it was just about impossible to get in someone's car or go to a party that wasn't playing one of those two Sublime albums. Evidently, the same was true in wherever Read more
Stormzy"Vossi Bop"Digital SingleAfter a little while away, the London kingpin looks to be getting back in the game. "Vossi Bop" is a perfect comeback track because it is such a pure distillation of what makes Stormzy a true-one off. Over a tasty, yet simple beat, Big Mike goes in Read more
Even though we're a solid week into the second quarter, better late than never right? Here's a quick round-up of some of my favorite songs of the last three months. To keep numbers manageable, I didn't include anything from any of my favorite albums list and prioritized songs I Read more
Gah, I can't believe we're already 25% through 2019. That said, Spring is in the air, and we've enjoyed an excellent, diverse crop of music during these first three months. Have a look at some of my favorite LPs of the year so far in no particular order.
Dawn Richard
“New Read more
Chief Keef
"Ain't Gonna Happen"
GloToven (Glo Gang / RBC)
The Chicago stalwart's new project with the legendary Zaytoven is unsurprisingly full of weird and wacky sounds, moving in innumerable unexpected and exciting ways. Its most powerful moment is its starkest, as a heartbroken Keef floats freely over Zay's gorgeous piano.
"Face dried Read more
T-Pain “Textin’ My Ex” (f/ Tiffany Evans) Oblivion
Tomorrow, T-Pain drops his long-awaited fifth LP, the culmination of the most trying era of the R&B innovator’s career. Through no real fault of his own, Pain (né Faheem Najm) went from the jolly ringmaster of a multi-million dollar radio empire to a sullen, unfashionable has-been — the Chad Kroger of R&B. He’s been surprisingly open about how much the whole process hurt him, specifically chagrined by how little credit he’s given for his undeniable influence on the current sound.
The story around “Oblivion” — his first record in six years — centers around a man who’s gone through the meat grinder and is primed for redemption. Bruised but unbroken, an older, wiser Pain is ready to translate everything he’s been through into the most potent, affecting work of his career. Unfortunately, none of that was apparent on its lead single, “Goal Line.” It’s a flaccid, ineffectual trap snoozer, more the work of a follower than a leader.
However, the pre-release promise starts to show on thisswooning second single. A duet with rising R&B singer Tiffany Evans, “Textin’ My Ex” is a classic T-Pain song in so many ways — a well-written, well-sung ballad that tells a simple story. However, there’s a subtle difference. There’s a palpable ache in his voice that gives you the feeling that there’s higher stakes here. Maybe it’s because of all the bullshit he’s been through, or maybe it’s just that texting your ex is a much riskier proposition in your 30’s than it is in your 20’s. Whatever it is, it’s effective, and it’s made me so much more excited to hear what else is on “Oblivion.”
SOPHIE
“It’s Okay to Cry” Digital Single
Every once in a while, somebody puts out something that takes your breath away. “It’s Okay to Cry” is absolutely one of those moments. After spending her early career lurking behind faceless, chaotic, schizophrenic experimental dance music, the 32 year-old has stepped into the light and up to the microphone. The result is pure magic.
Built around a twinkling, celestial piano melody, “It’s Okay To Cry” plays out like a tender, ultra-modern Disney ballad. Her voice is sweet and confident, as she consoles a heartbroken loved one. The depth and power of the message is ratcheted up by the stunning visuals, which depict Sophie as an angelic figure. More than being Sophie’s first public appearance, it’s also the first time she’s clarified which pronouns (she/her) she’s using. It’s a massive statement in so many ways, and truly one of the best songs I’ve heard this year.
King Krule
“Logos” The OOZ (out now on XL)
Archy Marshall’s excellent new album feels like a collection of those wonky dream states that exist somewhere in that nether region between being wake and sleep. Though I’m still digesting all 19 of its songs, the hypnotic, jazzy “Logos” immediately stuck out. Over languid jazz chords (think: 7’s and 9’s) and faraway sax, a mumbling Marshall welcomes us into a world that is both racked with childhood terrors and infused with an medicated calm. It’s a perfect example of his rare ability to craft engulfing sonic worlds that draw you in and keep you there.
The World is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die “For Robin” Always Foreign (Epitaph) There are many, many awful things about addiction, but little is as insidious as the way it pushes its victims away from loved ones from their previous life and deeper into their illness. Anybody who has lost someone to addiction will relate to this crushing funeral dirge’s first lines. “Mike called once a week, and then he called once a month. / He called once every few years, which turned into never at all.”
When a friend dies, you’re obviously robbed of a future with that person, but I’ve found that the years that you had already lost hurt more. The ones where you’d slowly floated apart, the common cords that once held you together — the interests, passions, and shared experiences — snapping one-by-one, clipped by the all-encompassing nature of addiction. And all of a sudden, you’re left with your remaining friends trying to make sense of how we all let that person drift so far and why you’d not made the most of your time together. That’s what this song is about. It may be the stunning, versatile post-emo disc’s quietest moment, but it’s also its most powerful and haunting.
Stormzy “4PM in London” Digital Single
Turning freestyles into anthems is nothingnew to the ultra-talented Londoner. And though the ravenous “4PM in London” was probably written, it feels alive in the same way that many of those aforementioned tracks did. Unlike Drake (the man who originally rapped on this beat), Stormzy’s got the rare ability to make any line feel like a hook, so he doesn’t need a chorus or a sticky melody to make a track stick. “4AM in Calabasas” was about as memorable as a 72° day in the Valley, but Big Mike’s delicious, adhesive bars makes you want to run it back again and again. All hail.
As you may have noticed, I’ve done my annual “fall behind on a monthly column” thing over the last couple months. That said, that just gives me more ammo for a proper Q3 round up, featuring the best records of that period in alphabetical order.
21 Savage Issa Album Slaughter Gang What: The heartfelt, personal debut solo studio LP from the sharp-tongued MC Where: Atlanta, GA In a Tweet: Issa adds more deft, subtle melody to his singular, nihilistic, uncompromising sound. 21 is ready for prime-time. On God. Start Here: “Nothin New” “Famous” “Bank Account”
Bruno Major A Song For Every Moon July Records What: The velvet-voiced, cheeseball crooner’s debut LP, built off one year of monthly singles Where: London, UK In a Tweet: Journey deep into the heart of a modern softboi. He matches R&B and adult contempo influences with a jazzy heart. Start Here: “Cold Blood” “Second Time” “On Our Own”
DJ Python Dulce Compañia Incienso What: Brian Piñeyro’s first LP under this moniker. You might know him as DJ Wey, Luis, or Deejay Xanax. Where: Queens, NY
In a Tweet: The kind of gentle, deep house that’s easy to get lost in with just enough touches of reggaeton and dembow to maybe dance to. So well balanced. Start Here: “You Ran (Do)” “Todo Era Azul – Siempre Dub” “Acostados”
Japanese Breakfast Soft Sounds From Another Planet Dead Oceans What: Michelle Zauner’s follow-up to her gorgeous, dream-pop debut, “Psychopomp” (2016) Where: Brooklyn, NY In a Tweet: MZ drags her dreamy sound even deeper into space. Slinky pop jams collide with heart-crushing ballads. A writer with rare honesty. Start Here: “Machinist” “This House” “Road Head”
Jay Boogie Jesus Loves Me Too Self-Released What: The new mixtape from Jay Boogie, his first since 2015’s “My H.O.E.” Where: Brooklyn, NY In A Tweet: Sonically versatile and adventurous, Boogie’s breakout LP is modern and magnetic, driven by his melodic flow and exuberant storytelling. Start Here: “Malandrina”“Venti”(f/ Lily The Body) “Featherweight”
Jim-E Stack It’s Jim-ee Self-Released What: The EP is the LA producer’s first project since his 2014 breakthrough, Tell Me I Belong Where: LA via SF In A Tweet: Driven by a break-up, it’s a taut, sharp collection of emotional dance music. Beautiful exploration of how club music can heal the heart. Start Here: “I Did The Best I Could” “Moments Noticed” “Deadstream”
Kodak Black Project Baby 2 Atlantic What: The follow-up to his breakthrough Project Baby mixtape from late 2013 Where: Pompano Beach, FL In A Tweet: The walls are closing in on the troubled 20 y/o, but PB2 hints that he knows that he must change if he is to fulfill his infinite potential. Start Here: “Change My Ways” “Versatile” “Transportin'”
Kommode Analog Dance Music Random Two Syllable Word What: The guy from Kings of Convenience who isn’t Erlend Øye’s long-awaited side project Where: Bergen, Norway In A Tweet: Romantic, luxurious dance(ish) music with the voice of a Scandinavian man-angel. Beautiful, sharp, languid, and disastrously underrated. Start Here: “Not The Bigger Picture” “Fight or Flight or Dance All Night” “Lady-Logic”
Lil Durk x Lil Reese Supa Vultures – EP OTF/EMPIRE What: A collaborative project featuring two of the key members of Chicago’s mid-10’s drill scene Where: Chicago, IL / Atlanta, GA In a Tweet: Two of drill’s core innovators link up for an EP that’s much more than a nostalgic exercise. Both sound fresh and compliment each other so well. Start Here: “Distance” “Unstoppable” “Nobody Knows”
Lomelda Thx Double Double Whammy What: The second LP from wistful singer/songwriter Hannah Read Where: Silsbee, Texas In A Tweet: Heartsick, imperfect guitar pop from Smalltown, USA. Captures the loneliness of outgrowing your hometown but also the fear of leaving. Start Here: “Out There” “From Here” “Only World”
Mhysa Fantasii Halcyon Veil What: The experimental, proper debut LP from the multi-platform artist Where: Philadelphia, PA In a Tweet: Arty and seductive deconstructed R&B that dips its toe in many sonic pools. That said, listeners will get more the deeper they dive in. Start Here: “Bb” “Spectrum” “Strobe”
Moneybagg Yo
Federal 3X
N-Less What: The third installment of the 26 year-old’s Federal mixtape series Where: Memphis, TN In a Tweet: We already knew that Moneybagg has bully bars for days. But on F3X, he spices them up with extra understated hooks and melody. Tasty. Start Here: “Important” “Blog” “Mind Frame”
Moses Sumney Aromanticism Jagjaguwar What: The critically-acclaimed debut from the genre-fluid mystical singer/songwriter Where: San Bernardino, CA In A Tweet: Good luck categorizing this LP. He pairs his unforgettable falsetto with indie, chamber pop, blues, soul, and about 4,000 other sounds. Start Here: “Self-Help Tape” “Plastic” “Lonely World”
The National Sleep Well Beast 4AD What: The seventh studio LP from the road-weary, stately indie rock quartet Where: Brooklyn, NY In a Tweet: The best of the recent indie-rock old guys revival, SWB is boosted by a gorgeous, heartfelt B-side. A big upgrade from their last effort. Start Here: “Carin at the Liquor Store” “Dark Side of the Gym” “I’ll Still DestroyYou”
Phoebe Bridgers Stranger in the Alps Dead Oceans What: The debut LP from the promising, young singer/songwriter Where: Los Angeles, CA In a Tweet: A spooky, heartbreaking collection of folk dirges that are granted levity by her gentle, gorgeous voice and tender guitarwork. Start Here: “Smoke Signals” “Funeral” “You Missed My Heart”
Turnover Good Nature Run For Cover What: The post-emo trio’s follow-up to 2015’s much beloved Peripheral Vision Where: Virginia Beach In a Tweet: Or, how an angsty east-coaster moved to Cali, fell in love, went vegan, got into Real Estate*, and crafted a heartfelt, optimistic guitar-pop masterclass. Start Here: “Pure Devotion” “Breeze” “Super Natural”
*the band, not like flipping houses
Tyler, The Creator
Flower Boy Columbia What: A softer, more mature follow-up to 2015’s noisy, frustrating Cherry Bomb Where: Los Angeles, CA In a Tweet: Though he isn’t screaming anymore, his voice has never yielded more power. Over gooey, delicious beats, Tyler speaks his truth with stunning results. Start Here: “See You Again” (f/ Kali Uchis) “911/Mr. Lonely” (f/ Frank Ocean, Steve Lacy) “Garden Shed” (f/ Estelle)
The War on Drugs A Deeper Understanding
Atlantic
What: Adam Granduciel and co.’s all-conquering successor to 2014’s “Lost in a Dream” Where: Philadelphia, PA In a Tweet: The LP that saw the stringy-haired sadsacks take over indie-rock. Granduciel is a master of making unspecific ennui feel life-affirming. Start Here: “In Chains” “Pain” “Clean Living”
Waxahatchee
“Out In The Storm” Merge What: The fourth LP from Katie Crutchfield’s alt-rock project, mostly dealing with the end of a relationship Where: Philadelphia, PA In a Tweet: Their quietest and most affecting LP yet. Crutchfield picks through the bones of her relationship, writing honestly and singing forcefully. Start Here: “Recite Remorse” “A Little More” “Sparks Fly”
YoungBoy Never Broke Again
AI YoungBoy
Self-Released
What: The 17 year-old’s first project since his breakthorough 2016 mixtape “38 Baby” Where: Baton Rouge, LA In a Tweet: One of the most promising young talents in music. He raps with the poise, versatility, and precision of artists twice his age. Don’t sleep. Start Here: “Untouchable” “Left Hand Right Hand” “No Smoke”
Yves Tumor Experiencing The Deposit of Faith Self-Released What: A new compilation from the shadowy ambient-leaning producer. His first since 2016’s exquisite “Serpent Music” Where: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
In A Tweet: Few create sonic worlds as engulfing as Yves. This mantric, confounding collection is his best and hardest to pin down yet. Start Here: “Ayxita, Wake Up” “My Nose My Lips Your Head Shape” “E. Eternal”
Creek Boyz
“I’m the One” Digital Single
It’s still very early in their career, but the soulful, melodic Baltimore County crew feel like one of the freshest new groups out. Following up their magnetic debut single, “With My Team,” “I’m the One” is a triumphant, buoyant anthem that showcases their versatile talents as singers, rappers, and songwriters. Though their sound is hard to put your finger on, their nearest sonic analogue is probably Philly’s PNB Rock, a man who hails from about two hours north on I-95. It’s an exciting early statement for the group and for an increasingly promising regional rap scene.
King Krule
“Czech One” Digital Single I first covered the 22 year-old when he was just a random London teen named Zoo Kid. And while his potential was obvious, I doubt many predicted what an original and sonically restless artist Archy Marshall would become. In the four years follwing his excellent debut LP, 6 Feet Beneath the Moon, Marshall released the excellent ambient-leaning, beat tape, A New Place 2 Drown, and has collaborated with artists from all over the indie landscape.
Now, he’s is returning with new music under the King Krule moniker, and this single is another of the twisted lullabies that he’s always been so adept at crafting. On “Czech One,” Marshall pairs spare, jazzy instrumentation with his languid, almost-spoken vocals. The result is a subtle and majestic waking dream.
Julien Baker “Appointments” Turn Out the Lights (out 10.27 on Matador) “It’s the hope that kills you,” goes the old saying. But it can also be the thing that saves you and drives you through life’s dark stretches. It’s what the 21 year-old is reaching for on this breathtaking first single from her highly-anticipated second LP. Baker has the ultra-rare ability to distill life’s most complex and difficult moments into gorgeous, insightful songs that often tell you more about your life than hers.
“Appointments” is the next in a longline of stunning, stripped-back guitar ballads from the Memphis native. Over a lonely, reverb-drenched single-string riff, Baker tries desperately to old on to the hope that she knows she needs. Baker confesses all this to a disappointed lover, admitting that she’s reached a point where there’s nothing she can do but believe in the process, even though she is far from convinced that it will work. Unbelievably moving.
Kelela
“LMK” Take Me Apart (10.06 on Warp) Our agonizing wait for the first taste of Kelela’s proper studio debut* is finally over, and my GOD, our girl came through with a banger. In lieu of just typing 4,000 fire emojis, I’ll just say that “LMK” is such a perfect distillation of what makes her such a special artist. The track lives in that ambiguous space between the club, the bedroom, and the radio. And the D.C. native devouring a club-ready Arca production and turning it into a slick, intoxicating slab of ultra-modern R&B.
And though everything about it sounds pristine, Kelela’s lyrics are never mere empty calories. She effortlessly deconstructs modern ghosting culture, reminding your local neighborhood fuckboi (or girl) that the main thing most people are looking for in the early going is honesty.
T-Pain
