album reviews
Reviews of albums old and new from iconic artists and up and coming musicians alike.
My Name Don't Exist
I recently saw Noname in concert in Chicago when she opened for Anderson .Paak (I’ll be talking about .Paak’s performance more in depth at another time). Noname is, of course, incredibly talented, but also incredibly charismatic, and full of energy while on stage. It was whimsical to see her kinky straight wig blow in the wind as she performed some of her hits. The feeling I felt after the concert inspired me to dive into my hard drive and pull out a song analysis I did for Noname when Room 25 first dropped. Here is that analysis.
By Azaria Brown7 years ago in Beat
Jay Park - ‘Nothing Matters’ EP Review
Just under four weeks ago, Jay Park released The Road Less Traveled, his first studio album since 2016. It was an inconsistent-yet-intriguing offering; a record that offered up some staggering highs, but matched them with excruciating lows. Songs like “Feng Shui,” a lyrically humorous, vibrantly produced number provided ample amounts of enjoyment, and tracks like “Legacy” showcased Park’s ability to still strike a poignant note with his lyricism, as well as it shone a light on his versatile abilities as an artist. But, with “Ben Baller,” amongst others, lacking the depth that the Korean Hip-Hop staple has had a reputation for upholding, the album still felt like it was missing something.
By Nathan Sartain7 years ago in Beat
Lizzo | 'Cuz I Love You' | Album Review
Lizzo, born Melissa Viviane Jefferson in Detroit (Michigan), is a 31 year old singer and rapper. In April 2019 she released her third studio album Cuz I Love You, her first major studio label released with Atlantic Records. Now I started to take notice of this album when the first single, "Juice," was announced as Annie Mac’s ‘Hottest Record in the World’ for Monday 7th January 2019. At first I wasn’t sure what to think about this song, but it definitely paved the way to finding more of her songs and developing a quick love for this extremely talented artist.
By Joe Harris7 years ago in Beat
Eryn Allen Kane: 'A Tree Planted By Water'
Chicago-based artist, Eryn Allen Kane, is a vocal powerhouse. Her voice yields incredibly jazzy and soulful music with an incredibly vulnerable tone. Also, she’s worked with Prince for goodness sake. Eryn is a native of Detroit, but she’s lived in a number of places including Australia, and now she lives in Chicago. She has been involved with projects by many other Chicago-based artists including Chance the rapper, Noname, Saba, and Donnie Trumpet, and the Social Experiment. As of June of 2019, she’s dropped three singles, and three full projects, including her latest project a tree planted by water. Her music video for “Have Mercy” shows some contemporary dance moves, and really creates that “oh so you an artist artist” type of feel, and it looks like her new music will be in the same vain.
By Azaria Brown7 years ago in Beat
Eun Jiwon—‘G1’ Album Review
It has been four years since Eun Jiwon released TRAUMA, a four song, self-produced EP that showcased the mature and developed sound the artist has honed over his lengthy career. It was packed full of old school hip-hop instrumentation, clever collaborations, and a sense of artistry that is hard to find in the music industry these days. There is no denying the extended play’s quality, and it is something that has left fans yearning for more ever since.
By Nathan Sartain7 years ago in Beat
'Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe' Album Review
Those familiar with the progressive rock band Yes know of the many twists and turns throughout that band's history. One such turn involved lead singer Jon Anderson bringing together Yes alumni to record an album together while Yes was still somewhat active. This new band included drummer Bill Bruford, keyboardist Rick Wakeman, and guitarist Steve Howe. Under the name Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe, they recorded a 59-minute album, which was released 30 years ago. Additional musicians included bassist and Chapman stick player Tony Levin (who had worked with Bruford in King Crimson), keyboardist Matt Clifford, and rhythm guitarist Milton McDonald.
By Steven Shinder7 years ago in Beat
Mokyo - ‘Hold’ EP Review
It’s no secret that Mokyo is one of the most interesting and exciting artists to emerge in recent times. Through provocative, introspective music that pairs mellow, haunting instrumentation with rough-around-the-edges vocal delivery, each track feels like a well fleshed out story. As a result, the soundscapes always remain fascinating, and with room for experimental shifts, there’s no predicting what can come next.
By Nathan Sartain7 years ago in Beat
Bastille-'Doom Days'
If you’re a fan like I am, then you know Bastille launched their new album Doom Days last Friday. If you have no idea who they are, Bastille is a British band formed in 2010. They launched their first EP, Haunt, in 2013 and their debut album, Bad Blood, shortly after. For those still unsure if you know them or not. The song called "Pompeii" launched them into the spotlight. My personal opinion, in this case, they have better songs, but it’s obvious why this one became a hit. It’s fun, upbeat, and the lyrics are something that everyone can relate to. While performing a lot of these songs live, it is understandable how they have developed a great fan base with their upbeat music, but Dan Smith's voice is something to be admired heard in person.
By Alex Bonilla7 years ago in Beat
Madonna Is…’Madame X’
First, let me preface this review by stating I’ve long been a Madonna fan since I bought her first 12-inch single “Everybody” in the fall of 1982, which felt like discovering a hidden treasure at the time. So, whether you agree or disagree with my following assessment of Madame X, just know I’m well versed in the subject of Madonna and her iconic catalog.
By Eric Allen7 years ago in Beat
Album Review: Motionless In White - 'Disguise'
The Motionless In White we've been familiar with up until now has been a band known for looking outwards. Frontman Chris Motionless has crafted his lyrics mostly around his opinions on the society around him, and recent songs have seen him examine its treatment of the outsider, its attitudes towards sex, and the growing oversensitiveness of Internet culture, to name a few examples. This time around, however, his tune is changing. This time, he is looking inwards, immortalising the struggles of his recent personal battles with his constructed identity across the goth metallers' fifth opus.
By E.W Hemmings7 years ago in Beat
