If Jens Lekman can write, record, and produce a new song every week, I can write a monthly blog post rounding up my favorite musical goings-on from the last 28-31 days. These aren’t in order, and this isn’t a Best Of List. Rather it’s a random collection of ten things (i.e. scenes, songs, albums, new directions, etc) that caught my attention. I’ll mostly be picking things I didn’t have a chance to write about, so as to avoid repeating myself. Leggo.
1. PNB Rock’s melodic masterstroke, RNB3
It feels like Philadelphia hip-hop is on the verge of having a moment. From the buzzing, electric Lil Uzi Vert to the unique Tierra Whack to the A$AP Mob affiliated Chynna, there are a clutch of promising young artists coming through the city right now. And that’s just a few of them.
My favorite of the bunch is 24 year-old Rakim “PnB Rock” Allen. Hailing from Northwest Philly’s Germantown neighborhood, Allen is blessed with an easy tenor and a muscular flow that he effortlessly slips in and out of throughout his unassailable, RNB3 tape. Some may argue that he sounds too much like Fetty Wap, who is on this tape and hails from just a couple hours up I-95. But Allen’s storytelling and songwriting is distinct and more than strong enough to stand on its own. RNB3 has all the fingerprints of a slow-burner (remember, “Trap Queen” was out for almost a year before it blew up), and I wouldn’t be surprised if this excellent disc was the soundtrack to Summer ’16.
Download RNB3 here.
2. Kanye takes us to church on the divine, The Life of Pablo
There’s been a ton of brilliant writing on Kanye’s inimitable seventh album. But what’s stuck with me the most are the religious, ecstatic moments on this thing. Chance’s verse from “Ultralight Beam.” The hook on “Father Stretch My Hands.” Queen Kelly Price. Rihanna channeling Nina Simone. The confessional verses on “FML.” In the build-up, ‘Ye did describe TLOP as a gospel record, but I didn’t think that he’d go this far. You’d think I’d have learned not to underestimate the great man after all these years.
3. Memoryhouse returns
I’ve been swooning (and stanning) hard for this Canadian duo since they released their flawless debut EP, The Years (2010). Their sophomore LP, Soft Hate, is another delicious collection of gentle, affecting dream-pop. Though they remain frustratingly underrated, they continue to grow as musicians and songwriters, which is typified by vocalist Denise Nouvion’s confident, subtly commanding performance on this disc. Keep sleeping on these two at your peril.
4. The 1975 channels 1989 (the year, not the album)
The Manchester quartet’s remarkably consistent second LP plays like a never before heard “Monster 80s” comp. The well-balanced disc boasts captivating slabs of guitar rock (“She’s American,” “UGH!”), moody synth ballads (“A Change of Heart,” “Somebody Else”), and even a pair of “More Than Words”-style fingerpicked tearjerkers thrown in at the end (“Nana,” “She Lays Down”). If you can stomach Matty Healy’s occasional lyrical eye-rolls, there’s a huge amount of songwriting goodness to feast on here.
5. WE’RE GETTING A KAMAIYAH ALBUMMMMMMMMMMMMM
Like Philly, the East Bay hip-hop scene is thriving, and Oakland’s brightest young star is ready for her close-up. Its lead single “How Does it Feel” is a fucking anthem that feels both incredibly fresh and like a Bay throwback. And since I’ve basically worn out the three other tracks on her SoundCloud, the news of her debut project, A Good Night in the Ghetto, was greeted like Steph’s 35-footer from the other night. All hail, Kamaiyah.
6. Kendrick Lamar shuts down the Grammys
Every year, I get excited about the Grammys, only to be let down and reminded why everything about it is such a fucking joke. Every year, generational albums (Beyoncé’s self-titled album, Channel Orange, Good Kid, M.A.A.D City) are passed on for inconsequential ones (late Beck and Daft Punk albums, Mumford & fucking Sons). The recent winners are more fit to soundtrack a Tuesday morning playlist at Starbucks than to be talked out for decades to come.
This year was no different, Kendrick’s momentous To Pimp a Butterfly was beaten out by Taylor Swift’s third best album. And this time, the musical world yawned together, rolling their eyes instead of raising pitchforks, too beaten down to muster up even one fuck to give. The slight was as predictable as the majesty of his performance on the night, wiping the floor with the rest of the performers and reminding America that this year belonged to Lamar and that he is the preeminent talent in music, whether they like it or not.
Watch it over at Rap-Up.
7. Mikey Dollaz’s transcontinental drill
Though it rose as a highly insular scene, Chicago drill has spread its wings over the years, opening up its aggressive sound to producers from all over the country. On his breakthrough mixtape, Picture Me Rollin, Mikey Dollaz looked even further afield, copping credits from both sides of the Atlantic. The result is a fresh, versatile collection that pits Dollaz malleable vocals against emotional arrangements from a handful of rising European grime producers (Silk Road Assassins, Strict Face, Anti-G) and beats from Atlanta rap heavyweights like Dun Deal, Sonny Digital, and Honorable C-Note.
Download Picture Me Rollin here.
8. Boosie Badazz’s introspective next chapter
It’s hard to appreciate the power and importance Torrence “Lil Boosie” Hatch if you haven’t spent time in the South. I certainly hadn’t until I moved to Louisiana for college. The Baton Rouge native is an icon in his home state, a conduit for the struggles of a huge swath of people damn near forgotten by the country that’s meant to support them.
For more than ten years, Hatch toiled to turn his regional success into a national career, but just as he was about to take off, everything came crashing down. In 2010, he was indicted on drug and murder charges and spent 38 months in Louisiana’s infamous Angola Prison. He was found not guilty of the murder and was released in August 2014. But that wasn’t the end. He was diagnosed with kidney cancer a year later. Now cancer free, Boosie put out a pair of emotional LPs — In My Feelings (Goin’ Thru It) and Out My Feelings In My Past — that see the 33 year-old back in form, working through his myriad trials and hopefully on the road back to his best.
9. Porches rises from the fuzz
I have to admit that I wasn’t a huge fan of Aaron Maine’s early work under the Porches moniker. He struck me as a bit of a charmless Dent May/Mac DeMarco facsimile. However, on his second LP, Pool, he replaced all the reverb and fuzz of his early work with spare, tasteful keyboards and placed his stately voice front and center. Freed of the clutter, Maine shines as a vocalist and songwriter, who is capable of crafting an affecting, unique brand of mopey synth-pop.
10. Carly Rae in the Flesh
I caught Carly Rae in San Francisco last week, and though she was battling through sickness, the gig was sensational. She’s an absolute star who deserves to be playing arenas rather than theaters. Take advantage of the pop star market inefficiency and make sure you catch her when she’s next in your city.
