When I am feeling overwhelmed and stressed I love to distract from my current state of mind with an upbeat and funky album, and there’s no better remedy than Steve Lacy’s, ‘Apollo XXI’. Singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer, Steve Lacy is a jack of all trades when it comes to the music industry…
Tekashi 6ix9ine has always been seen as that annoying kid in school that never seems to run out of new things to annoy you about. That business model has proven to be quite effective, as 6ix9ine has become one of the most talked-about rappers in the world. I’d estimate every teenager who listens to hip-hop, the largest genre in the world right now, has heard of 6ix9ine. But with his post-’rat’ releases, most recently his 2nd studio album TattleTales, everyone seems to suddenly, finally, be losing interest…
After pushing and testing modern music boundaries for more than thirty years, Napalm Death goes further by continually refining their sound, refusing to get stuck, pressing forward, growing, and evolving…
There are plenty of events from 1975 applicable to 2020, but none of what I mentioned are the real reason as to why I am looking 45 years into the past. I’m looking at 1975 because on August 25th, Bruce Springsteen released his climactic cornerstone rock album, Born to Run….
Weezer’s latest single, “The End of the Game”, is a driving force carefully crafted to continuously propel you forward from start to finish. With steady, heavy power chords guiding you along like a train on a mission, scenic “views” of acrobatic guitar riffs sprinkled throughout to joyously catch you by surprise, and a melody that is both simplistic and infectious at the same time, this song is a seamless blend of Van Halen-style rock and the kind of mood-elevating pop you sing along in the car to with your friends…
If you are in need for the perfect summer night drive song, I have been loving “Guilty Conscious” by 070 Shake. This creative piece tells a story while allowing the listener to get lost in the futuristic beat. Somehow feeling very nostalgic, and comfortable this song really speaks to the listener. Lyrically, the song takes you on a journey feeling pain, sadness and release…
Whether I am about to go out, singing alone in my car, or need a song to help me during a good cry, my go-to artist is Beyoncé. I genuinely never get tired of her stunning voice and am consistently finding myself turning to her time and time again.
African Head Charge create a synthesis of experimental reggae, psychedelia, dub, and electronica. Rhythm from the drums and bongos, play into one another like percussive molecules. I went to bed each night and I put on the same album and by day thirty, I realized I couldn’t stop listening to it.
As this pandemic drags on, I look back on my music stats to see what I’ve been streaming most, and it is by far Check Your Head. Despite the raw and seemingly unrefined sound of this album, it is as slick as Vaseline. Check Your Head has an atmosphere, vibe, and energy unlike anything else you can listen to.
With joyful songs of simplistic sincerity like “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “A Hard Day’s Night,” and “She Loves You,” to more contemplative tracks like “Help!,” “Yesterday,” “Ticket to Ride,” “And I Love Her,” and “If I Fell,” John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr ignited a cultural and musical phenomenon that the world hadn’t, and likely will never see the likes of again.
