A$AP Rocky – Don’t Be DumbRight off the bat, the songs seem mediocre, but the production and arrangements seem fantastic. The lyrics to “PLAYA” aren’t stupid, but they are weak from a rhyme perspective. Over the course of the album, I waffle on the lyrics, find the music to be mundane, and the production very good.Listen: Maybe just a few… Read more »
Xiu Xiu – Xiu Mutha Fuckin’ Xiu, Vol. 1: The instrumentation on “Psycho Killer” adds an unhinged energy that surpasses the original, and “I Put a Spell on You” builds on the frenzied insanity of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ version. I’m not sure if I like the cover of Robyn’s “Dancing on My Own” but it brings a different perspective to… Read more »
Jana Horn – Jana Horn: Horn could be the heir to one of my favorite singer/songwriters, Mary Margaret O’Hara. I am rarely enraptured by an artist like this within 30 seconds of the opening, but the strings behind Horn’s voice on “Go On, Move Your Body” got me. Those strings, like all the performances and arrangements on the record, pack… Read more »
Effie – Pullup to Busan 4 More Hyper Summer It’s Gonna Be a Fuckin Movie: I listened to this so much at the end of December that Pullup to Busan became my fourth-most streamed album for the month. Effie is pushing hyperpop to its limits while giving a middle finger to K-pop. I don’t particularly care about either genre, but… Read more »