The last spotlight was made for very specific occasions. Endless White by Flying Lotus is a meditation song, an enveloping sonic experiment. With no structure, melody, or vocals, the song is more of a commodity than a tried and true favorite. This time, I decided to go the other way and choose a song with... Continue Reading →
A Gift From Me To You.
Do you like Christmas music but hate the garbage radio commercials and the cheesy "timeless classics" that you don't particularly like? What about your collection of 50 Christmas CD's, on which there's only 20 songs you actually want to hear? Boy, do I have news for you: you don't have to deal with it! Spend... Continue Reading →
Blurryface by Twenty One Pilots (2.5/5)
Must Hear Tracks: "Ride" "Tear In My Heart" "We Don't Believe What's On TV" I wanted so very badly to give this album a one out of five. I wanted to laugh ironically at every song. I wanted to listen to Blurryface and shake my head at overly-serious lyrics masquerading as motivation. Going into it,... Continue Reading →
Spotlight: Endless White by Flying Lotus
This is the introduction of a new "segment," on the site. As the name implies, Spotlight is when I choose a particular track which I find especially interesting and point out why it stands out to me. These tracks could be noteworthy for any reason but they will certainly represent a creative triumph for the... Continue Reading →
Myths 001 by Connan Mockasin and Devonte Hynes (2.5/5)
Top Track: "Feelin' Lovely" The phrase "intimate set" has always intrigued me, mostly because it's so relative. A friend of mine recently purchased a ticket for an "intimate" Kendrick Lamar show at Concord Music Hall in Chicago. Concord has a capacity of 1500 and general admission tickets are already sold out. To me, that's not... Continue Reading →
BADLANDS by Halsey (1/5)
Must Hear Tracks: "Coming Down" "Young God" "Ghost" Halsey's music is garbage. It's not the unlistenable kind of garbage, its the kind of garbage that exists to fill some musical niche created by the success of other artists. File her under "trendy pop music." My theory on Halsey is that she is a temporary substitute... Continue Reading →
Bridge Over Troubled Water: Amended.
Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel is a timeless album. Just the highlights (Cecilia, El Condor Pasa, Bridge Over Troubled Water, The Only Living Boy in New York and The Boxer) can give it that distinction. Having said that, I can't stand the order of the songs. I'll admit that I don't know... Continue Reading →
City of Quartz by Nick Diamonds (3/5)
Must Hear Tracks: "Love is Stranger" "Witch Window" "Something About the Moon" Let me set the scene: it's a cool September evening. The beer garden is nestled between two three-story brick buildings. The wall to my left is decorated with an massive colorful mural. The wall to my right is covered with vines. The stage... Continue Reading →
Vega Intl. Night School by Neon Indian (4/5)
Must Hear Tracks: "Annie" "Slumlord" "Baby's Eyes" I've been a huge Neon Indian fan since Psychic Chasms came into my life around 2010. In the five years since, Alan Palomo's songs have followed me. They go in and out of vogue, but they never disappear completely. Needless to say, I was excited when Vega Intl.... Continue Reading →
Badlands by Dirty Beaches (3/5)
Must Hear Tracks: "Sweet 17" "True Blue" "Lord Knows Best" Badlands begins with three rather Can-esque tracks (Speedway King, Horses, and Sweet 17). Repetitive drum beats, plucky, hypnotic bass lines, and disjointed vocals abound. Furthering the connection to Can is a sense of momentum that radiates from each song. While rhythmically very static, the driving... Continue Reading →
The Healthy Alternative 