Images & Words: Ruston Kelly, “Faceplant”

Posted on August 13, 2018 by TP1.COM in Images & Words | Comments Off

Ruston Kelly
“Faceplant”
Dying Star (out 09.07 Rounder)
If you’re like me and have a soft spot for early Ryan Adams (specifically, Whiskeytown), Ruston Kelly’s sadsack alt-country will locate it and stick its talons straight through it. “Faceplant,” the fourth single off his second big project, is an honest, unflinching look at a time in his life where he was getting fucked up and fucking up, delivered through dusty, languid acoustic guitars. Though it’s far from a new sound, Kelly is a quality storyteller and songwriter and has a rich, affecting voice.

Images & Words: DJ Khaled, “No Brainer” (f/ Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper)

Posted on July 30, 2018 by TP1.COM in Images & Words | Comments Off

DJ Khaled
“No Brainer” (f/ Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper)
Father of Asahd (out in 2018 on Epic)
Though the perennial Dad of the Year’s new star-studded single has been panned by some joyless outlets, “No Brainer” is the exact kind of breezy, summer blockbuster that Khaled and co. are so apt at cranking out. The Michael Bay of music, Khaled’s not going to be winning any gold statuettes with this one, but his A-list cast comes through with solid performances and enough easy charisma to keep his worldwide audience hooked. He really is THE BEST (at what he does).

Images & Words: Foxing, “Nearer My God”

Posted on July 27, 2018 by TP1.COM in Images & Words | Comments Off

Foxing
“Nearer My God”
Nearer My God (out 08.10 on Triple Crown)
Though the St. Louis quartet has never hid their sonic ambitions, it feels like they’re REALLY shooting for the stars on their hyped third LP. First single, “Slapstick,” hinted at that, but the disc’s title track really underlines their widescreen ambitions. Vocalist Conor Murphy puts forth a sky-scraping vocal performance here, stretching his pained tenor right along with the ecstatic arrangement which wouldn’t sound out of place on an m83 record.

Images & Words: Blood Orange, “Jewelry” & “Charcoal Baby”

Posted on July 26, 2018 by TP1.COM in Images & Words | Comments Off

Blood Orange
“Jewelry” / “Charcoal Baby”
Negro Swan (out 08.24 on Domino)
Devonté Hynes returns with the first two tracks from his upcoming fourth LP as Blood Orange. Both tracks are affecting slices of the unique sound that he’s crafted, which features pieces of soul, R&B, indie rock, jazz, and pop. Though I’m trying not to get too carried away at this stage, both tracks feel important and could be big pieces of a truly special collection.

Images & Words: Tyler, The Creator x A$AP Rocky, “Potato Salad”

Posted on July 25, 2018 by TP1.COM in Images & Words | Comments Off

Tyler, The Creator x A$AP Rocky
“Potato Salad”
Digital Single
This super easy new single reminds me of two of my favorite videos: Odd Future’s freewheeling “Oldie” and A$AP Mob’s Pitchfork freestyle. Though both guys are capable of crafting thought-provoking music (especially, Tyler), they are both so potent when they’re having fun on toss-off tracks like this. I’d love to hear an entire project with the two of them going bar for bar.

Images & Words: Wet, “Lately”

Posted on July 16, 2018 by TP1.COM in Images & Words | Comments Off

Wet
“Lately”
Still Run (out now on Columbia)
I’ve waded slowly into the Brooklyn duo’s new project, mostly due to its pre-release singles being a little bit all over the place. However, the more I listen, the more I’ve found myself impressed with Kelly Zutrau’s evolution as a songwriter and — for all intents and purposes — solo artist.

She deals most openly with this change on album centerpiece, “Lately,” the sweetest expression of frustration you’ll ever hear. Her voice is soft but her words are scathing. She pushes back against bandmates (past and present), producers, and her label, annoyed that she must constantly be considering non-essential people’s opinions without getting much back from them in return. It’s a powerful, defiant step from an artist who is sick of being just a face in the group and is ready to come into her own.

Images & Words: The 1975, “Give Yourself A Try”

Posted on June 19, 2018 by TP1.COM in Featured, Images & Words | Comments Off

The 1975
“Give Yourself A Try”
A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships (out in October on Dirty Hit)
Though it’s been out for about two weeks, I’ve listened to the Manchester quartet’s new single roughly two million times. Compositionally, it’s totally unremarkable. Built around a repetitive, simplistic guitar riff and three chords, “Give Yourself a Try” would be a trifle in most singers’ hands.

As we know, Matty Healy is not fucking most singers. That this track feels so life-affirming is almost impossible and entirely indebted to his ultra-rare charisma, unique lyrics, and passionate, magnetic vocals. Here, Healy wholly embodies and pokes fun at the special kind of feckless world-weariness that only exists among people in their late 20’s and early 30’s who spend way too much time in their own head (slash, on the Internet). He manages to be both self-deprecating and totally committed, skewering his (our) generation and himself while simultaneously giving us something we can feel.

Images & Words: The Rhythm Method, “Chin Up”

Posted on June 18, 2018 by TP1.COM in Featured, Images & Words | Comments Off

The Rhythm Method
“Chin Up”
Digital Single
Every two years*, I get afflicted with the same illness. It usually starts up a few weeks before every major international football tournament and lasts until somewhere around the quarterfinals. Who knows how long my believesthatEnglandcanwinthewholething-itis will last for this year, but I’m hoping that Southgate’s men will make this a long, emotionally taxing bout.

And every great English World Cup run needs an equally excellent tune, and London duo The Rhythm Method came through with one of the strongest in years. It may not be official, but it features the doe-eyed hope, gallows humor, and cheeky arrogance (via a friendly shot at neighbors Scotland and Wales) of all the best ones.

Now, it’s time for the squad to deliver on the pitch. Will they? Probably not, but it’s always fun to see them try.

*Except 2008

Images & Words: Chromatics, “Blue Girl”

Posted on June 15, 2018 by TP1.COM in Images & Words | Comments Off

Chromatics
“Blue Girl”
Dear Tommy (out LOL on Italians Do It Better)
As much as I hate to admit it, with every new pre-release track from “Dear Tommy,” I can feel Johnny Jewel and co sucking me back in. Like, last month’s “Black Walls,” “Blue Girl” is the exact kind of inch-perfect, gorgeous synth ballad that makes the idea of a world with “Dear Tommy” in it so exciting. On the other hand, I know that the album’s never fucking coming out, so GAHHHHHH.

Please, Johnny. Stop fucking with our emotions. (But keep putting out music, because, my GOD, you are good at it.)

Images & Words: Chromatics, “Black Walls”

Posted on May 18, 2018 by TP1.COM in Featured, Images & Words | Comments Off

Chromatics
“Black Walls”
Dear Tommy (out PROLLY NEVER on Italians Do It Better)
Goddamn it, Johnny Jewel. Just when I’d moved on from the idea that I’d ever hear “Dear Tommy,” this guy drags me back in with a luscious new track and a (probably fictional) release date for Fall of 2018.

“Black Walls” is the exact kind of track that makes the forever pushed-back project so frustrating, as it’s another reminder that nobody else makes music that sounds like this. The snyths are impossibly romantic and lush, and they’re beautifully framed by chunky guitars and vocalist Ruth Radelet’s forever haunting vocals. If this album comes out this year (it won’t), there’s nothing else that I’m more excited to hear.

Images & Words