Album Review: Mitski – Be the Cowboy

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Artist: Mitski

Album: Be the Cowboy

Genre: Indie Rock/Alternative Rock

Rating: 8/10

It’s no secret that much of Mitski’s music is melancholy and tear-jerkingly sad, but the incredibly talented New York based musician does not want your pity. Singing with incredible passion, it’s hard not to assume that all of her music is autobiographical, but before going into her music one must understand that she is creating scenarios and maybe fictional characters, singing from the perspective of someone who has to go through these situations that are often dark and tap into a melancholy state of mind. That isn’t to say there isn’t truth behind these songs. Her last album Puberty 2 was an experience of immense fervor and music that frequently shifted from raw guitar-oriented “Rock” to bare “Indie Folk,” and lyrically it was hard to differentiate what was autobiographical from what was fiction, but you know what? That’s one of the many reasons why she is a beautiful songwriter. Her new album Be the Cowboy could have been another Puberty 2, and yes much of the melancholy vibes from that album drive this new album as well, but this time around the delivery and combination of infectious instrumentation and passionate vocals are near perfection. With lyrical themes that dwell in the more obsessive or co-dependent nature of being in a relationship or experiencing a breakup, this music can resonate with everyone, because we’ve all had to deal with the realization that romance isn’t all sunshine and kisses like the movies and love songs will have you believe, but instead of sounding bitter, Mitski uses this realization to meditate and to raise awareness on how unhealthy it is to lose your identity in someone else. However she is in by no means being preachy. She like many of us succumbs to the common unhealthy traits of our love hungry hearts. Traits like blaming the other person for a failed relationship like on the track “Why didn’t you stop me?” being afraid to let go of a previous lover even when you’re in a new relationship like on the track “Old Friend,” and the feeling of wanting to project an image of success and happiness to an ex, only to realize that the fact that you’re doing all of that just to prove independence to this person shows that they’re still very much on your mind like the track “Lonesome Love.” She is very much aware of our many flaws, and if this album has a central theme it would be realization. Many of us want to be remembered and can’t deal with the fact that we’re insignificant when it comes to the bigger picture of this world, she realizes that on the track “Remember My Name.” Many of us seek importance and flattery someone else can give us, she realizes this on the track “A Pearl,” and as much as this album focuses on our unhealthy traits, Mitski manages to prevent this album from being a real downer. The upbeat and light melodies of many of the instrumentation contrasts the lyrical content quite well. It’s almost as if she’s accepting of the fact that we are all co-dependent beings. It’s almost as if she’s celebrating these flaws. Finding beauty in this unhappiness, because she doesn’t have the answers. She’s merely projecting these feelings that can resonate with us all, and the loneliness anthem “Nobody” with it’s upbeat Disco-driven style is the album’s most shining moment that encourages us all to learn to live with ourselves and be comfortable with the fact that there are going to be a lot of situations where we’re going to be alone, and that’s okay. Mitski may seem like she’s on a mission to encourage us all to rid ourselves of our many toxic characteristics, but she’s simply spotlighting her own experiences of love, loss, and loneliness to tell a story or to therapize herself, and the music is all so relatable that it can help many get through tough times, it can even save a life. Mitski has proven herself to be one of the most important songwriters today.

Written By: Steven Sandoval

Date: 08/19/18

Album Review: Denzel Curry – TA13OO

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Artist: Denzel Curry

Album: TA13OO

Genre: Hip Hop

Rating: 8/10

 The human mind is far from being one dimensional, so why should music be? Florida rapper Denzel Curry realizes this. While his more popular contemporaries spotlight one emotion out of the myriad of emotions contained in the human psyche, Curry made it his mission to explore all sides of the human mind on his new album TA13OO, no matter how dark or light, and he definitely has the versatility to do so. The roll-out for TA13OO found the album being released in three different acts. “Act 1” is dubbed “Light,” “Act 2” is “Grey”, and “Act 3” is “Dark.” Of course at some point you’re going to have to listen to this album in it’s entirety, and impressively enough the album never feels too incohesive despite it’s constantly shifting moods. How does this work? Well, the glue that holds it all together is the understanding of dichotomy. That dichotomy is right away presented to us on the opening track “TA13OO.” Seeing as how this track opens the “Light” section, the instrumental is fittingly laid back, dreamy, and hopeful, but Curry’s first line confuses the listener as he sings “Welcome to the darker side of taboo.” This contrasts the light instrumental quite well and may represent to us how even in our happier or hopeful moments there’s always that feeling of self-doubt or fear. No matter how minuscule the negative may be during large bursts of happiness and contentment, it’s still there. The personification of “taboo” on the track can be confusing, but it’s appropriate. After all, what’s more identifiable to a human being than another human being? The following track “BLACK BALLOONS” follows the same light and dreamy vibes of the previous track, and it’s heavily inspired by Stephen King’s “IT” with it’s references to floating balloons, and with an exceptional verse from GoldLink and smooth backing vocals from Twelve’len, this track is definitely a highlight. The track “CASH MANIAC” is a smooth banger laden with 80’s synths and a heavy “P-Funk” sound. Coming from the point of view of a hungry rapper seeking out cash and overcoming the hardships thrown at him, it informs the listener that they’re on their way to the “Grey” part, a part that finds Curry celebrating success, and with a track like “SUMO,” a “Trap Heavy” banger where Curry aggressively flexes, it transitions perfectly into the “Grey.” The “Grey” section is where the “Trap” heavy bangers kick in with Curry’s signature hype flow. On the surface some of these tracks don’t sound too far from your mainstream “Trap Rap” favorites. They’ve got the high hats, the bass heavy kicks, the catchy hooks, and the quotable ad-libs the mainstream usually gravitates to, but the ingredient these tracks have that most others don’t is quality lyrical content and wordplay. Even when you delve into the lyrics the underlying meanings will at first be buried under the clever Pop culture references and flexing. With a track like “SWITCH IT UP,” the bi polar feelings and shifting moods reflect how even at our most successful or wealthiest, our moods still constantly change, and as the the “Grey” section gets progressively melancholy with tracks like the socially aware “SIRENS” featuring a spectacular J.I.D. verse, and the gut-wrenching “CLOUT COBAIN” with it’s heavy themes of depression and pressure the media puts on entertainers, we follow the album’s descent into darkness. The “Dark” section is…. you guessed it! Dark. The production is meaner and moodier, and Curry lets loose with an all out aggressive flow. It’s violent and braggadocios, and while the “Grey” section was a melancholy kind of dark towards the end, the “Dark” section finds Curry delivering aggression. It even begins with the hook “Feels like a Horror movie” on the track “THE BLACKEST BALLOON.” The track “PERCS” is a comment on the drug Rap culture and how Curry refuses to succumb to it’s dominance, detailing how his goals are to innovate and push the boundaries in Hip Hop. He has succeeded at that. With the final tracks “VENGEANCE” featuring a killer JPEGMAFIA verse that will make you once again say “Daaaaaamn Peggy,” and the balls out aggression of “BLACK METAL TERRORIST,” the album ends in the darkest way possible, which was Curry’s plan. It was a bold move doing this, considering how most albums or movies leave people with a happy ending, or how most albums begin with the hype tracks and then transition into the more introspective, but the idea that not all things end in the light, and how some things get progressively darker is something Curry wanted to spotlight, and it works, because if you restart the album it seamlessly flows right back into the light, representing the never ending cycle of moods we go through while we’re alive. Denzel Curry is one of the few rappers today who can make an album this dense and conceptual, and it’s truly incredible how he can touch on darker subjects without straying away from accessibility. This album is proof that you can be catchy and innovative at the same time. Take notes people. 

Written By: Steven Sandoval 

Date: 07/31/18

 

Protomartyr and Spray Paint Announce Collaborative Split Single

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“Protomartyr” and “Spray Paint” have been friends as far back as 2013 when the two bands toured together. It was then where the two bands came up with the idea to collaborate. Now that idea has come to fruition. The two will release a collaborative 7” Single on August 17th titled Irony Prompts The Party Rat. Side A will feature lead singer of “Protomartyr” Joe Casey on vocals while “Spray Paint” provides the instrumentals, and Side B will feature “Spray Paint” on vocals while “Protomartyr” provides the instrumentals. You can pre-order the 7” as well as listen to Side A below:

http://monofonuspress.com/store/protomartyr-spray-paint

BROCKHAMPTON Release New Song “1997 DIANA”

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“BROCKHAMPTON” have been dropping banger after banger in recent weeks, and their new track “1997 DIANA” is no exception. Accompanied with a music video containing the group’s signature off the wall energy, “1997 DIANA” might be the group’s best single of the year by far, even though it is their shortest. You can watch the music video below:

ADULT. Announce New Album, Share New Song “Perversions of Humankind”

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As overlooked as “Electronic” duo “ADULT.” may be, there’s no denying the fact that they consistently release forward thinking and enigmatic music. It’s at a point now where simply labeling them “Electronic” doesn’t do the duo’s uncompromising sound justice. Following their ambitious collaboration heavy album Detroit House Guests, the Detroit duo will release a new album on September 7th titled This Behavior through “Dais Records.” They have also shared a brand new track off the album titled “Perversions of Humankind,” as well as a music video to accompany it. You can watch the music video, pre-order the new album, and check out upcoming tour dates below:

 

This Behavior Pre-order:

ADULT

ADULT. Tour Dates:

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BROCKHAMPTON Release New Song “1998 TRUMAN”

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Last night “BROCKHAMPTON” released the second episode of their Things We Lost In The Fire radio show on Apple Music, and like the previous episode, the group released a brand new track along with it. Following “1999 WILDFIRE,” their new track “1998 TRUMAN” is a bit zanier and a lot more high energy than the preceding track. Still no word on whether or not these tracks will appear on their upcoming album The Best Years Of Our Lives, or when that album will even be released, but it’s clear that “BROCKHAMPTON” will continue to release new music throughout the Summer. You can listen to “1998 TRUMAN” below:

 

Denzel Curry Announces Release Date For Upcoming Album “TA13OO,” Drops Music Video For New Track “ClOUT CO13AIN”

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Denzel Curry has finally unveiled the release date for his upcoming album TA13OO, and it will drop on not only one, but three days. The album will be released in three different acts on July 25th, 26th, and 27th. The Florida rapper has also shared a new music video for a new track off the album titled “CLOUT CO13AIN,” and it depicts the issues some artists have having to constantly entertain and dealing with depression while the whole world watches. You can watch the video as well as check out TA13OO‘s tracklist below:

 

TA13OO Tracklist:

Act I. Light

1. Taboo Ta13oo
2. Black Baloons 13LACK 13ALLOONZ (feat. Twelve’len & Goldlnk)
3. Cash Maniac CAZH MAN1AC (feat. NYYJERIA)
4. Sumo Zumo

Act II. Gray

5. Super Saiyan Superman Zuper Za1yan Zuperman
6. Switch It Up Zwitch 1T Up
7. Mas I Got It MAD 1 GOT 1T
8. SIRENS Z1RENZ (feat. J.I.D)
9. Clout Cobain Clout Co13a1n

Act III. Dark

10. The Blackest Balloon the 13LACKEZT 13Alloon
11. Perc Percz
12. VENGEANCE – VENGEANCE (feat. Zillakami & JPEGMAFIA)
13. Black Metal Terrorist – 13MT

 

Childish Gambino Releases Two New Summer Songs

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Donald Glover A.K.A. Childish Gambino has had quite the year. The multi-talented artist sparked controversy and countless think pieces with his dense music video “This Is America,” he’s embarking on a tour in September, and a new album is most definitely on the horizon. Now, Gambino has released two brand new Summer songs titled “Summertime Magic” and “Feels Like Summer,” and they have been released under what he’s calling the “Summer Pack.” You can listen to both tracks below:

BROCKHAMPTON Release New Song “1999 Wildfire”

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In the wake of recent hardships, everyone’s favorite boy band “BROCKHAMPTON” have managed to prevail. Following the group’s emotional performance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” the group have released a new track titled “1999 Wildfire,” and this track assures us all that the group is here to stay. Whether or not this track will appear on their upcoming album The Best Days Of Our Lives is unknown at the moment, but one thing is for sure, “BROCKHAMPTON” plan on owning this Summer. You can listen to the track as well as watch it’s music video below:

 

 

E.P. Review: HMLTD – Hate Music Last Time Delete

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Artist: HMLTD 

EP: Hate Music Last Time Delete 

Genre: Synth-Pop/Art Rock/Post-Punk/Glam Rock

 Music fans have unfortunately been subjected to this ridiculous idea that “Rock is dead” from many music publications. Of course, that is completely absurd. The countless “Indie Rock” bands, “Post-Punk” bands, “Metal” bands, and “Garage Rock” bands all continue to breathe life into a vague term like “Rock.” An emerging scene that is completely enthralling and continues to disprove “Rock” naysayers is the South London scene. A scene that consists of up and coming bands such as “Goat Girl,” “Sorry,” “Hotel Lux,” the already revered “Shame,” and a unique as Hell band that goes by the name of “HMLTD.” What separates this band from their contemporaries is their huge ambition to incorporate elements of just about any damn genre that resonates with them, and like many of the greats, this leads to the band being impossible to categorize. This 6 piece band have been at it for a few years now, releasing ambitious single after ambitious single. The band have garnered a huge following of music fans who yearn to hear something new and innovative, but one question remains, and that question is “When the Hell are they going to release a full-length album?!” Well, we still don’t have a full-length, but we have been gifted a new E.P. by the band titled Hate Music Last Time Delete to satisfy our hunger. This E.P. opens with without a doubt the band’s most accessible song yet. Incorporating modern production that leans toward a “Trap” flavor, “Pictures Of You” might sound trendy on the surface with it’s catchiness and dramatic building up of the chorus, but the subject matter is far from friendly. It’s dark, but it is completely relatable in this Internet age we live in that is driven by social media. Lead singer Henry Spychalski sings from the point of view of someone addicted to pleasuring himself to photos of others on social media, and as much as this is a detailing of one’s shameful addiction, it’s also an important commentary on the loss of privacy thanks to everyone’s willingness to post photos of themselves online. Oh yeah, and if this isn’t dark enough for you, there’s also an even more disturbing music video to reflect this dark reality. The following track “Proxy Love” finds the band getting weirder but their attention to “Pop” structure keeps the band from going off into the deep end. This track is zany, it’s odd, it’s glamorous, and it features everything we’ve grown to love about the band from their previous singles. As bizarre as this track is, the “Synth-Pop” dominance and catchy vocal structures present to us how “Pop” music can have substance, and that’s one of the many reasons why this band is brilliant, their attention to catchiness. Their fearlessness to create a catchy chorus even after their descent into musical madness is immensely impressive. The following tracks “Mannequin” and “Apple of My Eye” carry a similar vibe, but this four track E.P. is far from being one-dimensional. The guitar riffs are very reflective of “Post-Punk.” The synth lines are laden with 80’s Glam, and the vocals heavily reflect “Goth” acts such as “Christian Death” or “Virgin Prunes.” The lyrical content doesn’t bombard the listener with hard to decipher metaphors, instead it’s blatantly obvious that these songs deal with self-love, addiction, and even the feeling of being in love with a mannequin and wishing it could do the things a living being can do (I hope Frank Zito was an inspiration.) Just four tracks in length, this E.P. proves that “HMLTD” are without a doubt the most intriguing band at the moment, and this is only the beginning of what may be a fruitful legacy.

Written By: Steven Sandoval 

Date: 07/07/18