Hot Jam of the Day: Young Chop, “Valley” (f/ Chief Keef)

Posted on October 16, 2014 by TP1.COM in Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

Young Chop
“Valley” (f/ Chief Keef)
Still (out 10.28 on Chop Squad)

Back in 2012, nobody could have predicated that the duo behind the earth-shaking, propulsive “Don’t Like” would have grown into such sonic mad scientists this early in their career. Tyree “Young Chop” Pittman is widely credited with creating Chicago’s drill sound, but as soon as it broke nationwide, Chop turned his back on drill and focused on crafting evocative, layered melodies and developing his songwriting chops (buh dum pish). As his producer spread his wings, so did Keef. The 19 year-old has spent the last two years relentlessly messing with his vocals, and he has cemented his place in a new breed of rappers who are reimagining what “gangsta rappers” should sound like. While much has changed for both artists in the last two years, one thing hasn’t. They’re still great together, and long may it continue.

Starting V: 5 Doughboyz Cashout Tracks You Need to Hear

Posted on October 14, 2014 by TP1.COM in Featured, Starting V | Comments Off

Detroit’s Doughboyz Cashout has been one of the best new finds of my music year, combining timeless g-funk beats with loquacious, swaggering bars. In a hip-hop scene increasingly driven by druggy production and #sadboi MCs like Drake and Future, the group’s energy, directness, and overall good vibes are extremely welcome. Though there are palpable traces of Bay Area swag, LA soul, and New Orleans/Atlanta late 90’s snap, their potent sonic stew is all their own.

Though they’ve endured a long road to fame (they formed in ’06), it looks like they’re finally set to blow, signing to (Young) Jeezy’s CTE Records. Here are five of the DBCO tracks that helped soundtrack my summer.

Payroll Giovanni: “Get Money Regardless” (Digital Single)
To my ears, Payroll Giovanni’s slick flow is reminiscent of the mid 90’s California artists that I grew up with, namely Rappin’ 4-Tay. That buoyant, effortless delivery (think: a vocal Bradley Beal 20-footer) is on full display here with Giovanni sliding through twinkling keys and a soulful vocal hook to devastating effect.

Big Quis: “Mayweather” (f/ Payroll Giovanni) (on My Turn)
On this, one of the group’s most anthemic tracks, Giovanni and the ravenous Big Quis turn their swag up to Money Mayweather levels here. Quis’ aggressive flow is an excellent foil to Giovanni’s laid back demeanor, and their vocal synergy is masterfully framed by a swirling arrangement and an adhesive hook. This should have been one of the songs of the summer.

Hot Jam of the Day: Jessie Ware, “Sweetest Song”

Posted on October 11, 2014 by TP1.COM in Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

Jessie Ware
“Sweetest Song”
Tough Love (out 10.21 on PMR)

I wrote last week about my anxiety about the second LP from TP uber-fave Jessie Ware, but this lovelorn slow-burner certainly helps curb some of it. Much of the Londoner’s best work is her most restrained, when she forsakes the over the top, TV commercial chorus for the stifled and the subtle. “Sweetest Song” is good Jessie at her best, as she smears her expressive, low-register vocal over the kind of sparse, sultry arrangement that helped make her debut one of the best albums of that year. Let’s hope the rest of Tough Love follows suit.

Hot Jam of the Day: Yumi Zouma, “Alena”

Posted on October 9, 2014 by TP1.COM in Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

Yumi Zouma
“Alena”
Digital Single (Cascine)

The New Zealand post-chillwave (ugh) trio returns with a twinkling new single that features a surprisingly hearty dash of dancefloor-ready bass. The added heft is a pleasing compliment to their sleepy dream-pop vibes with Kim Pflaum’s playful, alluring vocal sounding more virile than in their previous work. Whether “Alena” remains a sonic outlier or marks a stylist shift for the group, it stands as one of the strongest statements of their young career.

Hot Jam of the Day: Sun Kil Moon, “War on Drugs: Suck My Cock”

Posted on October 8, 2014 by TP1.COM in Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

Sun Kil Moon
“War on Drugs: Suck My Cock”
Digital Single

Already the subject of some eye-rolling #thinkpieces (I’m lookin’ at you Stereogum), Mark Kozelek’s hilariously Kozelekian new single “War on Drugs: Suck My Cock” is just as delightful as it sounds. The Koz keeps his jabs benign in the extreme, with lines like “bridge and tunnel people ’em some War on Drugs.” Listening to a guy who sings finger-picked folk songs about heartbreak, death, and long drives up the coast call another band “the whitest band I’ve ever heard” is worth the price of admission alone. Often accused of being humorless, it’s ironic that Kozelek is taking heat for this, especially when this song is just a more flagrant expression of the gallows humor that runs through all of his albums. More like this please, Mark.

Hot Jam of the Day: Tinashe, “Bet” (f/ Devonte Hynes)

Posted on September 30, 2014 by TP1.COM in Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

Tinashe
“Bet” (f/ Devonté Hynes)
Aquarius (out October 7 on RCA)

Already the owner of one of the year’s most undeniable singles, the 21 year-old is set to take aim at interstellar pop domination with her debut LP. For the disc’s third single, the LA resident teamed with established (indie) hit maker, Devonté Hynes of Blood Orange, to craft this lurching new single. Much of Hynes’ most notable songwriting credits (Sky Ferreira’s “Everything is Embarrassing,” Solange’s “Losing You”) tread deftly between moody heartache and bouncy radio pop, but “Bet” is a darker, more opaque affair. It pairs a jilted, expressive powerhouse vocal performance with undulating synth layers and rolling hi-hats to devastating effect. More than anything, it highlights the young vocalist’s versatility and hints that there will be a lot more to Aquarius than radio-friendly fare.

The Most Anticipated Albums of the Fall (Part One)

Posted on September 26, 2014 by TP1.COM in Album Reviews, Featured | Comments Off

Summer is over, and the best part of the year is upon us. 2014’s fall release schedule is already packed with tons of sonic goodness, which, at any moment, could be bolstered by the emergence of long-rumored new releases from the likes of Kanye, Kendrick, Frank Ocean, and many others. Here’s part one of our round-up of the best stuff with firm release dates.

Aphex Twin
Syro
(09.23, Warp)
We’ll kick off the list with the big one: electronic music demigod Richard D. James’ first LP in 13 years. One of the most influential, restless artists in modern music, James has made a career out of refusing to sit still and make the music others want him to. Syro looks set to be another fascinating chapter in his illustrious career.
Giddy-O-Meter: 9.999/10

Hot Jam of the Day: Ryan Hemsworth, “Snow in Newark” (f/ Dawn Golden)

Posted on September 25, 2014 by TP1.COM in Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

Ryan Hemsworth
“Snow in Newark” (f/ Dawn Golden)
From Forthcoming New LP

Everyone’s favorite DJ/Pokemon enthusiast, Ryan Hemsworth, returns with a feels-focused slow jam, blessed by Dexter “Dawn Golden” Tortoriello’s perma-bummed baritone. While Hemsworth is best known for his dancefloor filling remixes, much of his solo work has veered toward singer/songwriter world, and “Snow in Newark” is perhaps the strongest all-original composition he’s penned yet. Over a choppy bed of emotive percussion, Tortoriello pines for a loved one from the solitude of a hotel room. It’s a feeling that you’d imagine that Hemsworth knows well, as he adjusts to life as a touring musician, and you can feel the lonely days and nights all over this track.

Hot Jam of the Day: RL Grime, “Reminder” (f/ How to Dress Well)

Posted on September 24, 2014 by TP1.COM in Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

RL Grime
“Reminder” (f/ How to Dress Well”)
VOID (out 11.18 on WeDidIt)

After three solid years of cranking out EPs, remixes, and singles, Henry “RL Grime” Steinway is finally ready to make a full-length statement. How to Dress Well’s expressive falsetto is the perfect partner for Stienway’s labyrinthine, emotive arrangement, and the artists combine to devastating effect here. While he is known much more for his club friendly cuts, the LA-based producer shows his chops as a songwriter, crafting a melodically lush canvas for Krell to glide over. It’s a new sound for Steinway, but it’s a welcome one.

Hot Jam of the Day: Mr Twin Sister, “Blush”

Posted on September 19, 2014 by TP1.COM in Hot Jam of the Day | Comments Off

Mr. Twin Sister
“Blush”
Mr. Twin Sister (out 09.23, self-released)

“Have you ever felt like you would always be alone?” A song built around a lyric like that really has no right to feel good, but the NYCers pull it off with this gorgeous, lithe waltz. “Blush,” the cornerstone of their exquisite comeback LP, is a shuffling ballad that just washes over you, thanks to vocalist Andrea Estella’s inviting coo and a lush, “More Than a Woman 2014” arrangement. At this point, its late night sax outro (you read that right) has a Pavlovian effect on me, reminding subconsciously that it’s time to start the song over again. Magic.

« Previous 1 2 ... 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 ... 103 104 Next »