I have been listening to a lot of A Winged Victory for the Sullen over the past few weeks and I have become a fan of their minimalistic melancholy music. “Minuet for a Cheap Piano” is one of my favorite songs from their catalog. It is a quiet and somber tune that features a beautiful repetitive piano riff. Check it out.
Whenever Mount Kimbie and King Krule get together, they produce some of the most intriguing and dynamic songs that instantly have you wanting more. The latest collaboration is “Blue Train Lines,” a post-punk track that has King Krule belting his heart out in his familiar gravelly voice. Check it out.
Wynton Marsalis’ trumpet creates a distinguishable sound that is completely his own. That New Orleans feel resonates on every song that Marsalis has produced. “When It’s Sleepy Time Down South” is one of Marsalis’ popular tunes with its easygoing and somnolent playing. Check it out.
Gary Clark Jr. is a phenomenal blues musician who continues to put out music that seems to fly under the radar. His last record The Story of Sonny Boy Slim featured various genres including soul, R&B, and rock. “Our Love” is one of the best tracks from the album with its soulful vibe and Clark’s intricate guitar riff. Check it out.
I have been real busy lately with work and a much-needed vacation. When I heard that Prodigy from Mobb Deep had passed away, I was as shocked as the rest of the world. For a very long time, Prodigy was my favorite rapper. I had posters of the rapper and Mobb Deep on my wall when I was in high school. I bought every single Mobb Deep album and listened to it on a daily basis.
I bought every single Mobb Deep album and listened to it on a daily basis. “The Infamous” is still one of my favorite hip hop records with its portrayal of 90’s New York life. The album featured some of the most introspective and no-nonsense lyrics that showed that this duo was to be listened to.
Many hip-hop fans say that “Shook Ones Pt. II” is the best record from the album, but for me, it’s the opening track. “The Start of Your Ending” has a laid-back beat that definitely feels like New York. Havoc delivers one of his best verses on the song the Prodigy comes in and wrecks the track. Check it out.
Algiers has an uncanny knack for blending many different musical genres to create a splendid sound. The band’s new album “The Underside of Power” was released on Jun. 23 and the title track is a mix of post-punk and soul. Check it out.
Death Cab for Cutie’s Plans came at a pivotal point in my life. I had just graduated high school and I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I knew that I couldn’t remain in my hometown and that I wanted to do something with meaning.
Plans helped me try and figure out life and also reflect on what I had accomplished to that point in my life. Ben Gibbard’s lyrics were both searching and melancholy and kept me wondering on the many possibilities before me.
“Your Heart is an Empty Room” is one of my favorite tracks from the album with its simple guitar chords and Gibbard’s sad lyrics that somehow makes the song upbeat. Check it out below.
