DOMi & JD Beck - Not Tight
Genre: Jazz fusion
Quick Review
This album has been a long time coming. These two have been teasing songs for years, and some of which didn’t even make it onto this album. They brought on legends for this album, including everyone from Herbie Hancock to Snoop Dogg. It’s easy to see why, as they’re playing is incredible, even though they’re only 22 and 19 years old! This album is slightly different from what I thought, as the whole project isn’t frantic jazz tracks, but instead has some beautiful moments as well. They were able to compose actual melodies that aren’t just great for their age, but great for any musician. Their playing is as amazing as ever on here though, especially when it comes to the solos and drumming. There are definitely still some improvements to make, but for a debut by teenagers, this is a pretty great album. I’m excited to see their show in Madison next month!
Favorite Tracks: “Take a Chance” feat. Anderson .Paak; “Sniff”; “Not Tight” feat. Thundercat
If You Like: Thundercat; Anderson .Paak; new age jazz
Maggie Rogers - Surrender
Genre: Indie-pop; Alt-pop
Quick Review
It took me a month to even check out this album. I’m not entirely sure why I wasn’t that interested in this album, but it feels like the hype behind Maggie is all but gone. Surrender definitely doesn’t help that, as it is lacking the instantly catchy songs that were all over her debut album. The instrumentation here is technically better, and having collaborators like Jon Batiste and Pino Palladino on your album definitely helps it sound really good, but the songs themselves feel like they took a step back. I’m sure some people will really like this, but it just doesn’t work for me at this place and time.
Favorite Tracks: “Want Want”, “I’ve Got a Friend”, “Symphony”
If You Like: Maggie’s debut album; maximalist indie-pop
Zach Bryan - Summertime Blues
Genre: Country
Quick Review
I came across Zach Bryan at Lollapalooza this year, as his set was right where I was getting food, and I was surprised both by how much I enjoyed it and how many people seemed to know all his lyrics. After doing research, it looks like Zach is the biggest new country artist of the past year or two, and this newest 9-song EP comes a month after a mammoth 30-song album. As someone who’s not a big country fan, I still enjoyed this project. He’s got a nice voice, especially when he adds a bit of gruff to it, and the instrumentals are very full, in a timeless way. The songwriting and lyrics are definitely where he’s the strongest, even if the subject matter is fairly generic. I do feel like he has some potential that is yet to be fulfilled, but Summertime Blues shows that he’s got lots of talent and is bringing a timelessness to the current country music scene.
Favorite Tracks: “Oklahoma Smokeshow”, “All The Time”, “Summertime Blues”
If You Like: Classic country music, easy listening
Calvin Harris - Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 2
Genre: Disco-pop
Quick Review
This is the sequel to Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1, which has amassed both a cult following and has summer songs that will be played for decades to come. As much as that first project has been loved by fans, this sequel does not live up to the hype at all. Don’t get me wrong, some of the songs are enjoyable individually and in the background, but listening to the entire project makes it feel like one long song for the entire 40 minute runtime. It may be just because this album came out the week after Beyoncé’s really great dance album, but this album feels lifeless in comparison. I’m not even sure if I want there to be another installment after this project. Even though this isn’t awful, it still feels like a half-hearted swing and miss.
Favorite Tracks: “Stay With Me” feat. Halsey, Pharrell, & Justin Timberlake, “Live My Best Life” feat. Snoop Dogg & Latto, “New Money” feat. 21 Savage
If You Like: Beach music; summer background music; H&M music
Various Artists - Pigeons & Planes & Big.Ass.Kids Present: See You Next Year
Genre: Hip hop; pop; indie; R&B
Quick Review
This is a compilation album of new tracks from eleven up-and-coming artists, all curated by the music blog Pigeons & Plans, and mastered by producer icon Mike Dean. Because all the artists have their own unique sounds, this project is sonically a bit all over the place. It was nice to hear more songs from artists that I’m already fans of, like Terry Presume, Fana Hues, and especially Teezo Touchdown, who’s song is a finished version of a joke song he made for a Pigeons & Planes interview from 2020. But it also introduced me to new artists to keep track of, like Ekkstacy. This definitely won’t be anyone’s album of the year, but it will likely introduce many people to these new artists.
If You Like: Spotify’s Pollen playlist; any of the artists mentioned above; new indie-pop
Young Nudy - EA Monster
Genre: Trap; hip hop
Quick Review
You know exactly what you’re going to get with a Young Nudy album. The production will be aggressive with heavy 808s and his flows will fit perfectly over every beat. But, the same problems with his music still persist here, which is that everything ends up sounding the same by the end of the project and his lyrics are nothing special, even for this subject matter. What EA Monster does have going for it is that there was clearly thought put into making this album flow together from song to song, especially in the first half of this project. Young Nudy fans will probably love this, but it’s not much better than decent for the average hip hop fan. I also just wanted to review this album because this album cover is crazy!
Favorite Tracks: “KitKat”, “Nun To Do”, “Lunch Meat”
If You Like: 21 Savage; Atlanta trap; Gucci Mane
Danger Mouse & Black Thought - Cheat Codes
Genre: Hip hop
Quick Review
It shouldn’t be a surprise that this project is great. Black Thought is considered a legend in hip hop due to him being The Roots main rapper, and Danger Mouse is an iconic producer that’s made classics in many different genres, including everything from El Camino to Demon Days. It would have been shocking if this album ended up as less than great, so thankfully, it did live up to the hype. Danger Mouse’s production is soulful and somehow still features many different genres. Black Thought’s rapping is obviously really great, and having a bunch of amazing rappers also featured on the project was just a cherry on top! I shouldn’t have to tell hip hop fans to listen to this, you probably should’ve heard it already.
Favorite Tracks: “Saltwater” feat. Conway the Machine; “Cheat Codes”, “No Gold Teeth”
If You Like: Old-school hip hop; The Roots
Megan Thee Stallion - Traumazine
Genre: Hip hop
Quick Review
Traumazine is Megan’s second studio album, and it might be her most refined body of work so far! There are still the usual problems she has, which is tacking on the singles to the end of the album randomly, and her trying to make singles is always apparently obvious, as “Her” is clearly going to be the new single from this album. But, it does feel like she made improvements on just about every front! The subject matter is slightly more varied, and “Anxiety” and “Flip Flop” are genuinely introspective. The features here may not be huge names, but everyone from Rico Nasty to Key Glock deliver on their performances. Her singing has even improved a little bit, and her adding actual R&B singers to her slow songs is a plus. This is her last project on her current contract, which she has been vocal about how controlling it is. I wonder if that means that her upcoming projects will differ significantly, but either way, Traumazine is a step in the right direction.
Favorite Tracks: “Anxiety”, “Ungrateful” feat. Key Glock, “Scary” feat. Rico Nasty
If You Like: Previous Megan Thee Stallion material; aggressive and ratchet hip hop.
Destroy Lonely - No Stylist
Genre: Trap; hip hop
Quick Review
Destroy Lonely is a part of this trend of artists on Playboi Carti’s Opium label releasing their debut mainstream projects. They have been pretty polarizing so far, but No Stylist seems to be standing above the rest still. This clearly doesn’t live up to Playboi Carti’s music itself, but it’s still a unique and enjoyable listen. The production has some really hard beats, and Destroy Lonely’s flow is entertaining, even though it does become stale by the end of the 19-track album. Because of the length, this project doesn’t have a lot of personal replay value, but there are some songs that will likely stay in rotation for a while.
Favorite Tracks: “NOSTYLIST”, “VTMNTSCOAT”, “SOARIN”
If You Like: Whole Lotta Red; Soundcloud rap; rage beats
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