https://vimeo.com/119554597 Let me know what you think and if I missed anything in the comments. Subscribe and check back every...
Northern Lights is a wide ranging album, employing sounds from pop, hip-hop, drum and bass, dubstep, and more. They sacrificed cohesiveness for diversity but it results in having just too many disparate parts and the album starts to lose momentum halfway through.
Rennen was such a unique listening experience that produced an interesting dichotomy between the modern synths/beats and the melancholy vocals. It's a mesmerizing album that showed SOHN to be a world class producer.
Voyager was a sharp turn from his previous album, with decidedly dialed down production that ultimately left the music sounding more generic than ever. The whole affair just feels meaningless and empty; not good feelings to have about an album.
I really didn't know what to expect from The Chainsmokers but somehow what we got on their debut still felt expected, like I've heard this a million times. For a group with a song as big as "Closer" their album is oddly muted and underwhelming.
Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1 is a short, slight detour from what Calvin Harris is normally known for. It's generally enjoyable but doesn't leave much of a lasting impression or take many risks. Here's to hoping for more from Vol. 2.
Synthesizers took the '80s by storm - changing the landscape of popular music and pop culture at large in the process. As musicians embraced the emerging technology, their own sound and style transformed into everything we remember the era for.
N.E.R.D's long awaited return isn't nearly as impactful protest music as they'd like you to believe but it is a wild ride nonetheless. On another note, it's taken nearly a decade for the rest of music to have even remotely caught up with their experimental sounds, so that's a testament to their vision in itself.
Fever Ray's sound is not easily quantifiable nor is it's intent, it's quintessential mood music and just one of those things where you just know it when you hear it. I'm not sure that I enjoyed Plunge as much as her first album, at least not immediately, but there's no denying the sheer creativity and boundary pushing present that succeeds at evoking emotional response better than almost anything else that comes to mind.
Dhanya's take on Eastern sounds is experimental and atmospheric. Solid track with loads to love for any and all Bjork fans.
I'm not sure if WhoMadeWho was aided by any psychedelics in the creation of Through The Walls but he managed to craft one atmospheric, contemplative, trippy musical journey, and I can dig it.
Little Dark Age is full of MGMT's clear reverence for '80s pop and rock - with all of the vintage synths, dub effects, and just overall aesthetic feel, but with their own decidedly psychedelic twists thrown in for good measure. They create an interesting dichotomy of warm, buzzing production and darker, more cynical lyrics and the result is a largely pleasing listen from start to finish that contains some of their most infectious work in years.
February was a massive month for music that included a lot of heavy hitters dropping full lengths as well as...
Woman is a decidedly more analog album from the duo that hearkens back to 70's era dance floor disco. While it succeeds to varying degrees, it's still an interesting album that'll make you want to groove.
Process is the long awaited debut of music's hidden 'it' man and it delivers in every way imaginable. The production is a fantastic blend of R&B, pop, and electronic that kept me engaged throughout. While his unique voice and deft lyricism showed the special kind of talent he is. Amazing debut.
Drunk is easily one of the most unique listens I've had in quite some time. It's crazy brew of free flowing instrumentation, crazy synths, funky bass lines, and random noises give you a peek into the wild mind of Thundercat.
Mura Masa is a fantastic debut for the rising producer full of great features and stellar production that brings together all of his different musical influences to create a sound all his own. Highly enjoyable listen from start to finish.
Toro y Moi has returned with yet another super enjoyable album that shows off his incredible breadth as an artist. His brand of indie electronic lo-fi pop is always unexpected but usually in the good way, like this here.
Akira Rabelais - a composer/software developer/project manager(?) who exudes mystery and tongue-in-cheek-references in everything he does, makes you walk through forked paths, all inspired by one of his favorite writers, Jorge Louis Borges.
Tove Lo creates an interesting dichotomy on her latest album with it's glossy, pristine production and her unabashedly sexually depraved and devious lyrics. It's a softcore raunchiness with incredible grooves that I can't help but continue to revisit.
East Forest floods the senses in "Cairn" - soothing the heart and challenging the mind, building on its meditative theme with admirable sophistication. Sweet song all the way.
While Django Django's previous efforts felt a bit more artsy in intention, the experimentation on Marble Skies feels done with the sole purpose of creating something fun. And it is fun, it's a lighthearted, head nodding romp full of brilliant melodies and earworm hooks. It's almost impossible not to be pulled into their joyous orbit.
The overall feel of Moby's latest seems to revel in emptiness and hopelessness but still somehow manages to be beautiful and not overly nihilistic. It's a mellow listen that doesn't have anything nearly as bombastic as "Extreme Ways" but it's equally parts lush and bare and has the potential to evoke a strong emotional reaction. The title is a perfect summation of what the album's 12 tracks have in store.
Like a lot of today's music, trying to put a label on or even describe their overall sound is damn near impossible. It's a little bit of pop, a little bit of punk, a little bit of electronic, a little bit of hip-hop, and a whole lot of countless other influences. It all sounds highly experimental, and a bit chaotic, but never so much that they lose their cool. Young Fathers have crafted something special here and I've found it difficult to pull myself away. This one is a must experience.