Actress ft. Sampha - "Walking Flames"

 

Sampha adds his plaintive vocals to this lovely downtempo track from Actress.  It will be featured on Actress' upcoming record Karma and Desire.

2017 Favorite Albums (Numbers 10-1)

And finally, without further ado, my Top Ten Favorite Albums of 2017:

10.  Lorde - Melodrama

Lorde's second album Melodrama is a perfect encapsulation on what it is like to be a young woman and all that it entails in this age of social media.  Not to make it sound like some dry liberal arts course, however, it is teeming with euphoric anthems, intensely personal ballads, and is full of the mess of growing up and figuring out who you are.





9.  Fever Ray - Plunge

Plunge is like the flip side to Melodrama; youth is cast aside for more carnal pursuits.   Karin Dreijer is not afraid of such pursuits and, from there, like the Mad Hatter, she leads you down the rabbit hole, with a curious smile on her face.








8.  Zola Blood - Infinite Games

You don't so much listen to the songs on Infinite Games as you do inhabit them.  The London band crafts beautifully evocative worlds of muted electronics and hushed vocals, with only a few stray rays of light shining through.  These songs detail lives lived differently, striving for something out of the ordinary and mundane.






7.  Clock Opera - Venn

Clock Opera's Venn is not going to be a record you listen to for comfort, it is a record you listen to for emotional catharsis.  These songs make your heart hurt, the search for meaning in life and love, and what it means to be human.  "In Memory" starts with the existential question "Do you want me as I am?/Do you want me as I was/Do I still do things that made you fall in love?" and from there these songs never scale back, ending with the haunted closer "When We Disappear," wondering if "will there be no witness/no ripples on the surface/when we disappear."



6.  Sampha - Process

Whether he is singing over densely layered electronics, or simply over a plaintive piano line, Sampha's voice is always clearly in focus.  And what a voice.  Process is a record that keeps revealing more of itself with each spin, and just when you think you have it figured out, another door opens into his soul.  Breathtakingly good.






5.  The xx - I See You

The xx seemed to flounder a bit on Coexist, the follow up to their brilliant self-titled debut album, leaning more towards stark, guitar-led minimalism, and forsaking their dancier efforts.  The thrill of their debut was the constant push and pull between those warring sides, which made for some exquisite tension.  With I See You, you get that tension back, and with Jamie xx's recent solo success, you can feel the other members stepping up their game.  it all culminates in a fascinating, sonically challenging record.




4.  Kelela - Take Me Apart

Future foward pop/R&B, that always had heart.  Kelela's debut album Take Me Apart is a stunning tour de force that gets better and better with each listen.  Even with a bevy of different producers, Kelela knows how to craft a singular vision.  Her sultry voice is never overtaken, even when working with heavy experimental titans like Arca and Jam City.






3.  H.E.R. - H.E.R.

Twenty year-old singer Gabi Wilson, better known by her stage name H.E.R. (acronym for "Having Everything Revealed"), has slowly been releasing music, teasing and tantalizing us with her creamy vocals, and dreamy, fluttering R&B.  H.E.R. is not a traditional album release, as it combines her Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 EPs  and a couple non-EP tracks.  Whatever you want to call it, H.E.R. is just flat-out stunning; an emotional power house, that is the perfect lonely night soundtrack.




2.  Julien Baker - Turn the Lights Out

Julien Baker's debut album Sprained Ankle was obviously just the tiny top of a massive creative iceberg.  Showing massive leaps in power and strength, Baker makes no missteps on this sublime collection of tracks dealing with loneliness, feelings of self-doubt, and loss of faith.  Though it may sound depressive, and at times you will surely need a box of tissues, Baker always uses these songs to give hope.





1.  Slowdive - Slowdive

When I heard the first few stark guitar chords of "Slomo" echoing underneath a rising cloud of synth washes, I knew I had nothing to worry about.  After lying dormant for over 22 years, Slowdive returned as if there was no hiatus.  What could have been a shameless retread of past albums or, even worse, some misguided attempt at being "current," instead, is an organic transition for the band from the past to the present.  Slowdive is everything I wanted it to be, everything it could be, and even more.  Only one album made me cry literal tears of joy, and it was this record.  It is my Favorite Album of 2017.

Jam of the Day: Sampha - "Under"

Totally addicted to this record. I am trying not to post every song on here, but it is almost impossible. The different textures of this track are so enticing, I had to post it on here. Again, Process is an album you must own this year. "Under" can be heard here on Spotify.

Jam of the Day: Sampha - "Blood on Me"

If you aren't listening to Sampha's debut album Process, you are truly missing out on one of the best records so far this year. "Blood on Me" is a harrowing track, showcasing Sampha's vocal range.

Jam of the Day: Sampha - "(No One Knows Me) Like the Piano"

Deeply emotional ballad from Sampha. Prepare to cry.

2016 Favorite Songs (Numbers 30-21)

Inching closer to the top of my countdown:

30. Solange ft. Sampha - "Don't Touch My Hair"



Stunning highlight from her masterful record A Seat at the Table.

29. Balance and Composure - "Postcard"



For me, this was a weak year for guitar based records, however, songs like this got me through.

28. The Big Pink - "Hightimes"



Fitting to its title, this song churns along on a druggy vibe.

27. Cubicolor - "One False Step"



Gorgeous electronica; love how the vocals and synths reach soaring heights at the end.

26. AlunaGeorge - "Hold Your Head High"



Awesome banger from the UK duo.

25. Broods - "Worth the Fight"



Touching song about trying to save a relationship.

24. Trentemøller ft. Jehnny Beth - "River in Me"



Gothy goodness.

23. Delorean - "Muzik"



All parties must come to an end, and this is the soundtrack to the Uber ride home.

22. Beyonce - "Sorry"



A literal middle finger to all cheating spouses, and the awakening of a new feminist anthem.

21. Banks & Steelz - "Can't Hardly Feel"



On paper, this collaboration should be a disaster, however, I was amazed at how many times I went back to this record and found something new. I love this lonely little track, and you just feel a palpable sense of loss.

Jam of the Day: Solange ft. Sampha - "Don't Touch My Hair"

It was almost impossible to pick just one track from Solange's stunning new record A Seat at the Table. This is one of the many highlights.

Videos of the Week

Here are the videos that made me want to suppress my boiling rage this week:



Tongue in cheek look at sexism in the music industry from Lily Allen.



Low budget, and low key video for the gorgeous closing track from Blood Orange's masterful album Cupid Deluxe.



Simple video of Charli XCX dancing in a wide open studio. It fits the mood of the trippy remix of the track from Yeasayer.



Gorgeous version of his collaboration with Drake, Sampha pairs it with this stripped down video.



More over the top video shenanigans from Drake.



Gorgeous video directed by Sofia Coppola.



Spacey and trippy clip from the duo Teengirl Fantasy.

Album Review: Drake - Nothing Was The Same

Drake
Nothing Was The Same
Rating: Grrrr

For arguably the most popular rapper at the moment, Drake sure puts out some strange albums, full of inward looking lyrics and some of the most atmospheric and texturally interesting backing tracks. Most of his records ping pong back and forth between straight up rap tracks and R&B crooners, sometimes blurring the lines between both. I find him more interesting when he sticks to one over the other, his raps being more of his hyper-id personality, full of broad boasts and some of his most chillingly harsh attacks on women, friends, and family, while his more vocal focused tracks find him in a more contemplative mood, looking deep inside himself, being his most harsh critic. His last record, Take Care, is, for me, the most representative and best of his records, finding the right balance between his two personas. That is not to say that his latest record, Nothing Was The Same, is a less impressive release. It is still one of, if not the best hip-hop records of the year, but for me it is Drake really trying to find himself, and with that stretch, the record is a bold experiment that works almost all the time. But when you stretch this hard, it is bound to be a mess at points, and there is a lot to criticize here, but overall, these mistakes somehow make him more human.

Nothing Was The Same is a dark, behemoth of a record that practically drowns you in its sonic bleakness. It is a record of immense highs and devastating lows, where you practically get overwhelmed by being in Drake's mind for so long. It is not a fun record at all, and at times, the oppressiveness can take its toll, however, you keep finding yourself coming back to this album as it takes its hold on you. Starting off with the 6 minute opener "Tuscan Leather," the track finds Drake bragging and then lamenting failed relationships almost back and forth, as he and collaborator Noah "40" Shebib never let you get a hold on the beat, as it frequently changes throughout the run time, feeling like almost four different tracks put together. "Worst Behavior" is perhaps Drake's most blisteringly mean track, him spitting his lines out like a machine gun over dense synths and splattering beats.



He lightens up a little bit on hit single "Started From The Bottom," with its slippery bassline, slapping percussion, and dreamy, ambient piano samples.



But the majority of the record is a bleak affair, especially the deeper you get into the record. From the ominous and dark track "The Language," the frantic "305 To My City," to the dark tale of a toxic relationship in "Connect,"



there is a underlying sense of darkness and treachery throughout Nothing Was The Same.

I respond more to Drake when he is in his singing mode, as I feel he takes more risks and connects more to me as an artist. It is in this mode where Nothing Was The Same truly shines and takes his music to a whole other level. From the amazing single "Hold On, We're Going Home," where Drake channels his inner Marvin Gaye and puts out his most achingly human vocal,



"Wu-Tang Forever," with its subtle use of ambient textures and a lonely Wu-Tang Clan sample,



to the absolutely stunning vocal turn on "Own It," where Drake really lets down his guard.



On this record Drake is definitely trying to find the right mix of rap and singing that works best for him. While not always successful, there are several moments where there is an interesting contrast that suits him well. On the gorgeous "From Time," stark piano chords along with the haunting vocals of singer Jhené Aiko bump up against Drake's interior feelings about his family.



While on "Too Much," UK singer Sampha's earthy croon is the perfect counter to Drake's feelings of loss and estrangement.



Nothing Was The Same is a complex, intriguing, frustrating, exasperating, yet ultimately successful record that is Drake being Drake, for better or worse. While he is always going to have his detractors and naysayers going after him, he is truly, aside from Kanye West, the biggest innovator and envelope pushers in the hip-hop field today. What I like about Drake is that you never get something half-assed from him, he does what he likes. And people respond to that; and that is true art.

Rating Scale:

Chilfos: masterpiece; coolest thing I've heard in ages.

Woof Daddy: excellent; just a hair away from being a masterpiece.

Grrrr: very good; will definitely be considered for my top releases of the year.

Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It: good; definitely invites further listens and piques one's interest for more material.

Meh: not horrible, but certainly not great; could have either been polished, trimmed, or re-thought.

Jeez Lady: what the hell happened? Just plain bad. They should hang their heads in shame and be forced to listen to Lady Gaga ad nauseam as penance.

Tragicistani: so bad, armed villagers with pitchforks and torches should run the artist out of the country for inflicting this abomination on the human race.

New: Drake ft. Sampha - "The Motion"

New track released by Drake. Unsure whether it will appear on his upcoming record Nothing Was The Same, but hey, who cares? It's a new Drake track!

Album Review: Jessie Ware - Devotion

Jessie Ware
Devotion
Rating: Woof Daddy

Jessie Ware's back story reads like a 50's musical, backup singer plucked out of obscurity on the strength of her voice and pushed into the spotlight. What's different about Ware is how she has taken all of this in stride, seeing it all as a lark, that she is somehow playing a role, and none of this should be taken all that seriously. While her self-deprecating view of being a pop star keeps her grounded, there is nothing in her music that shows her not taking her craft seriously. Devotion is one of the best debut releases in ages, and is quite simply the best pop album of the year so far.

Ware was noticed first singing on several EDM and UK bass singles from producers SBTRKT, Sampha, and Joker, her earthy voice the calm center around all the swirling electronics. It was fear at first that her solo material would stay too close to this type of track and that her voice would be lost within too much production overload. Instead, Ware chose to work with producers Dave Okumu (of UK art-rockers The Invisible), Julio Bashmore, and Kid Harpoon (who worked with Florence and the Machine on their sophomore album Ceremonials) and has put together a collection of tracks that put all the focus on Ware's amazingly supple voice, which can veer sharply from a Sade-like coo to a full on Whitney Houston rafter raiser in a split second. Main producer Okumu's touch is felt the most on the album, providing a subtle, and minimal backing but not providing merely aural wallpaper; the music works with Ware rather than overpowering.

Leading off with the title track, "Devotion" eases into the record, Ware's voice almost a hushed whisper as atmospheric guitars and keyboards guide and push her along, providing a modern update to Sade's elegant R&B sound.



Of course, Ware is not going to be satisfied just gliding along each song. New single and album standout "Wildest Moments" perfectly encapsulates her wonderful voice in all its facets. Under booming drums and stark piano chords, Ware bites her teeth into a meaty melody, singing about a doomed relationship where "maybe in our wildest moments/we could be the worst of all":



From there, Devotion provides a diverse and varied set of tracks that run from pop ballads, R&B funk workouts, and more atmospheric pop singles. In all, Ware's voice provides the guiding force. There is not one track on here that is a throwaway or inferior to the next; it all works seamlessly together. Highlights for me are the Soul II Soul referencing "No To Love," early single "110%" which puts Ware's voice against skittering beats and UK bass backing,



and gorgeous album closer "Something Inside," where Ware's voice, hushed and lovely at the beginning, drops out just before the chorus, rising into the heavens.

There is something for just about everyone on this record, from beautiful pop tracks like "Running" which picks up the beats a little more, and lets Ware explore her wide range,



to mid-section album duo "Night Light" and "Swan Song," two mid-tempo numbers that again showcase Ware's elastic voice,



to sweet pop numbers like the jazzy "Sweet Talk," finding Ware in a kittenish mood.



Devotion is a brilliant debut that really gives a true sense of who Ware is as an artist. She doesn't take herself seriously, but she takes her music very seriously. She could easily have let her producers take control of her sound and direction, and also could have just released 10 electronic tracks with her vocals on them, but instead, she worked closely with her producers to come up with something that was truer to herself. Devotion is a must have record.

Rating Scale:

Chilfos: masterpiece; coolest thing I've heard in ages.

Woof Daddy: excellent; just a hair away from being a masterpiece.

Grrrr: very good; will definitely be considered for my top releases of the year.

Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It: good; definitely invites further listens and piques one's interest for more material.

Meh: not horrible, but certainly not great; could have either been polished, trimmed, or re-thought.

Jeez Lady: what the hell happened? Just plain bad. They should hang their heads in shame and be forced to listen to Lady Gaga ad nauseam as penance.

Tragicistani: so bad, armed villagers with pitchforks and torches should run the artist out of the country for inflicting this abomination on the human race.