Janelle Monáe is at her most authentic self here, but while much of it is about self expression and living your truth, it's still very timely and aware of the larger things happening in our society (protest music you can party to). An album all her own sound that can only be described as 'futuristic funk' - it's sonics are lush, it's synths are bright, and it's bounce is irresistible.
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JoinedJuly 18, 2016
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CZARFACE & MF Doom put out a generally competent, but not particularly exciting, project that aims to please the hip-hop purists out there. But it's largely lethargic feel and average rhymes probably won't satisfy even the staunchest traditionalists out there.
Check out some of the past weeks' most talked about and interesting music videos from J. Cole, Jennifer Lopez, Miguel, SZA, Shawn Mendes, Ed Sheeran, The Internet, Janelle Monáe, and more.
We're back and talking about Kendrick Lamar becoming the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer prize for music, Meek Mill finally being released from prison and whether we'll get a Drake collab to capitalize on the moment, and give our expectations for Drake's recently announced next album, Scorpion. Then of course we talk about all of the madness surrounding twitter and Kanye West and his upcoming projects. Lastly, we breakdown J. Cole's latest album, KOD, whether it's his best album yet, and try to understand why he's such a polarizing yet wildly successful figure in hip-hop.
Alison Wonderland's sophomore effort is a crazy mix of wide ranging sounds that kept me on my toes throughout, not really knowing what to expect next. I'm not the biggest EDM fan but I really enjoyed her brand of music and I never would have guessed that someone could make me like a Chief Keef EDM song as much as I did.
I'm a fan but I've been as critical of his music as any one out there, but Cole absolutely knocked it out of the park with KOD. Easily his most relatable project yet that has something for everyone. If you're still in the 'hate J. Cole' camp after this then you're just not listening enough or you haven't experienced life enough. Simple as that.
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Yes, Tinashe does have a nice voice and yes there are a fair amount of head nodding pop numbers, but once again it was an experience that left me feeling largely indifferent. It checks all the boxes for what a pop album should have but misses out on the soul and personality needed to make it really stand out.
"Bless Yo Trap" is a by the numbers 'SoundCloud rap' album that fails to produce anything really worth of note. When the bar of entry into this sub-genre is this low they were always bound to start cannibalizing each others' sound and fan base sooner than later.
Superorganism's music is about as youthful, happy, and oddball as I'd expect from a group clearly born of the internet age and has an almost infectious quality to it that you can't help but vibe to. It's definitely one of the most inventive albums I've heard in a while and they clearly speak directly to this generation of teens.
I know we previously announced a winner for the new design of our Rebel Dad Hat Vol. 2 but due to some licensing issues we've had to go back on that decision and go with our other design which was a neck and neck runner-up anyways. We're also announcing the winner for the choice of t-shirt design.
I'm not saying The Decemberists come off as gimmicky or overtly "hipster" but I have no problem imagining many of the songs here being played at a local renaissance fair or in the soundtrack to one of Wes Anderson's latest movies, and not in an ironic way either. But for as much as I found myself eye rolling, I found myself singing along, which in itself is the ultimate goal of music isn't it.
While I do think Flatbush Zombies still sound too much like A$AP, they do come with their own flavor on "Vacation In Hell" and display amazing chemistry as they trade verses with an energy level that's always on a thousand.
Smoke DZA's "Not For Sale" is an homage to classic hip-hop and it may not open him up to a new audience outside of his already core fans or hip-hop purists but it's still yet another solid addition to an impressive and growing discography.
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Thirty Seconds to Mars try their hand at a politically charged record but they ultimately come up well short of saying or adding anything worthwhile to the conversation. It's essentially an album that's full of vapid buzz words/phrases set to painfully generic electro-infused pop rock. It's not a "terrible" album but it's not a particularly compelling one either.
In the Manic Street Preachers' latest, resistance may be futile but they're one of the last warriors still fighting to their last breath. It's solid raucous rock with a touch of punk spirit that gets the blood flowing and has you ready to stand up and fight.
Hard To Kill's sound is dark, lo-fi, moody, and very reminiscent of early A$AP. It's mood music and although it's nothing particularly new or different, it is extremely well done and I found myself grooving with the vibes for a large majority of the album.
Daniel J. Watts is a rising multidisciplinary performance artist (actor, dancer, writer, poet, and much more) by way of New York and he sat down to talk with us about how he got his start in acting, some of his most memorable experiences on Broadway, the differences between performing on stage versus a TV/film set, his role on Tracy Morgan's new show, The Last OG, and gives advice to aspiring actors.
Carnage's "Battered, Bruised, & Bloody" is a largely forgettable collection of generic trending beats, repetitive songwriting, and weak features.
Despite the clear similarities to Amy Winehouse, Kali Uchis' music stands on it's own and it's a brilliant exploration of blues, funk, soul, R&B, and latin sounds, which she maneuvers through with impressive ease. Isolation is a breathtaking debut and a statement piece that shows she might just be music's next big thing.
All in all, Sango's "In the Comfort Of" is a really thoughtful and lush album that does a great job of blending hip-hop, R&B, and electronic sounds, while contemplating spirituality, life, and love.
Wye Oak's latest feels decidedly more accessible than say "Civilian", but in reality their compositions are as dense and layered as ever, but the new synth and rhythm additions make their sound so much more expansive. And it's the interplay between the bright expansive backdrop and the highly introspective lyrics, sung through her still incredibly beautiful airy vocals, that make this such a fulfilling listen.
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