I know what you’re thinking. Where the hell have we been? Well, don’t you fret, the Blog team is back for the Spring semester and we’re super excited to share what we’ve been listening to this past month with you.
WC - The Shadiest One
Bragadocious, Goofy, Uncompromising
WC (pronounced ‘Dub Cee’) is a founding member of West Coast hip hop, but unless you’ve heard his music blowing out the speakers of the low-rider in the lane next to you in South Los Angeles, it's possible he’s never crossed your windshield. It’s time he gets his recognition. Known for his occasional features on Tupac and Ice Cube albums, his first solo album The Shadiest One is the moment this producer/artist stepped into the limelight. His production makes heavy use of textured bass tones and glossy synths that are uniquely recognizable as his own. His rapping isn’t the best, I’ll admit, but damn do his verses ooze with charisma. He toes the perfect line between goofy beats and deadly serious lyrics. Throw on “Fuckin’ Wit Uh Houseparty” during your next pre-game and I promise you’ll be hooked.
– Hayden Asiano
RePorpoised Phantasies - Machine Girl
Liminal, Electronic, Y2K
Machine Girl’s 2nd 2020 release, RePorpoised Phantasies, is a boisterous EP, dripping with Y2K samples and bright, bubbly instrumentals. “Cyan Hardcore” provides an energetic opening track with a steady kick drum and complex syncopated rhythmic and melodic elements. “Waited So Long” continues the syncopated groove but adds in vocal samples and a brighter instrumental. “Greaze”, a fast-paced house track, features Merky ACE rapping over the danceable instrumental. “The Storm” features lilting drums and liminal, Frutiger aero-esque melody elements. “Infinite Potentiality” wraps up the album neatly, remaining in the same sonic aesthetic while being high-energy and danceable.
– Jacob Leavey
Pass Out of Existence - Chimaira
Groovetastic, Programmed, Beep-boop noises
Break out your tripp pants and wallet chains cause we’re going back to 2001 and the golden age of nu-metal with this one. Yeah, you’ve got your KoRn and Slipknot and Limp Bizkit but there’s so much more lurking beneath the surface of the mainstream. Here comes Chimaira, a band formed right near here in Cleveland, OH. On their debut album, Pass Out of Existence, the band mixes a hellish y2k electronic atmosphere with pummeling drums and groovy guitars that serve as a perfect accompaniment to the vocalist Mark Hunter’s howls. Despite being lumped in with alternative metal-leaning bands at the time, Chimaira was always a bit heavier than the rest. Their sound is more reminiscent of groove metal bands like Machine Head and Fear Factory. They basically invented the idea of incorporating nu-metal riffs with metallic hardcore energy, something that has only become increasingly common in the past decade.
Despite the album’s length, clocking in at about an hour, it manages to cram in countless heartstopping breakdowns and catchy choruses to keep your attention. Some of my favorites include the iconic “Severed”, which features the classic bringing the same riff back but slower, a tried and true method of maximizing heaviness, and “Sphere”, which takes a mid-tempo approach to their sound. Don’t get me wrong, it might not be as breakneck in speed, but it still packs a mean punch with its intoxicating grooves. This is a record that was received poorly when it was released and completely fell through the cracks, but it deserves a reevaluation in our modern, Y2K aesthetic-obsessed times.
– Shaye Frenkel
These Sunny Days - Devilish Dear
Wall of sound, Head-banging, Ethereal
The album that takes the cake as my Fave of Feb is none other than Brazillian shoegazers Devilish Dears’ These Sunny Days. Described as “MBV meets 80s drum machine pop” by some guy online, DD is reminiscent of the past yet heavily influenced by developments in dream pop/gaze since the late 80s. The album’s stand-out track is mostly definitely “Face Without Eyes”. I want to crush it up and snort it. Not only is this ambient whammy wall of sound rhythmically complex and melodic, but the chord changes continue to take me by surprise. My second fave “3 Am” is a perfect blend of that sassy indie sleaze sound that came out of the late 2000s, mixed with head-banging riffs that get me grooving in my seat. At only ~8,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, this band deserves a serious listen by anyone who wants a refresh on the shoegaze genre and doesn’t know where to start.
– Laura Weinstein
STARFUCKER (deluxe) - Slayyyter
Glamorous, Hot pink, Dominating
Slayyyter knew what we needed when she released STARFUCKER in December of 2023. The kind of confidence to release a pop album in the winter is warranted when the album is this good. This album is the perfect example of modern pop. The production stays interesting throughout the entire album but doesn’t sacrifice a catchy chorus. “My Body” is one of my favorite tracks off the album, and I could argue is one of the best pop songs currently precisely because of how simple the song is. The heavy-hitting synth bass is the perfect companion to Slayyyter’s highly autotuned voice. This album takes the basic beats of modern pop and forces its evolution by rounding the entire album out with unique production and cohesive sounds found in similar genres like hyperpop. There are clear inspirations from producers like SOPHIE in the songs Purr and Cobrah in Erotic Electronic. The first single released in the album's rollout was “Out of Time”, and it perfectly encapsulates the entire album: a simple but effective, 80s-reminiscent club hit. Pop princess Slayyyter, you will always be famous.
– Ru Alonso
Desire, I Want To Turn Into You: Everasking Edition - Caroline Polachek
This album is something else. The first version of this album, Desire, I Want To Turn Into You, sort of defined my sophomore year. How nice of her to release a new version to guide me through the trials of another February.
The music that Caroline creates resides in such an interesting and unique space that she has carved out just for herself. It often walks the line between pop, electronic, and drum and bass, seamlessly weaving those genres together to create a meticulously crafted, maximalist sonic experience that cannot really be compared. To make matters better, she is gifted with an amazing (classically trained) voice, which leaps and soars in daring and innovative ways throughout. Not only is her range fantastic (and very large), but the texture of her voice is something she uses consciously and consistently. One moment it will be thick and lush, the next it will be thin and smooth. She is aware and involved in every aspect of her music, no detail is unplanned. Not to mention, every song has little melodic motifs from other songs on that album, weaving them together into one big tropical fantasy. “Coma”, “Spring is Coming with a Strawberry In the Mouth”, and “Butterfly Net” (ft. Weyes Blood) are huge standouts from this new edition.
– Max Schiewe
Live at Electric LadyLand - Remi Wolf
Witty, Fun, Colorful
Remi Wolf delivers a fun and energetic rendition of some of her hit songs on her EP album Live at Electric LadyLand back in 2022. Remi Wolf has described her music as “funk soul pop” and I would say in this EP she adds some more jazzy elements than she typically does, as well as showcases just how insanely powerful her voice is. In each one of these songs, including her cover of the Frank Ocean song “Pink + White”, she does not shy away from using her voice to be playful, feisty, gruff. Remi expresses her mental battles of shame, loneliness, and overall chaos through witty and eccentric lyrics. Her ability in her lyrics to bring out the very real and raw parts of ourselves, even feelings of shame, while also being so silly and humourous makes us feel like normal humans with valid, chaotic, and sometimes irrational feelings. We are all silly little anxious humans in this world and Remi reminds us we need a little playfulness in our lives.
– Lily George
Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) - Wu-Tang Clan
I've been becoming a grilled cheese person for the first time in my adult life, and I don't know what took me so long. It's literally the easiest, lowest-effort food that you can reasonably say you cooked for yourself, and you can throw in any leftovers you have in the fridge and call it experimentation. Lately, I've been chucking asparagus and cheddar or occasionally provolone (overrated) between Aldi sourdough and calling it there. Maybe a little Cholula green drizzle, who knows? Anyways, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) is a no-skip experience, and that's all you really need to know.
– Jonah Covell
Erotic Probiotic 2 - Nourished By Time
Casual, Tactile, Healing
When I first came across this project in the fall, it seemed unfinished. The vocals were off-the-cuff and messy, the mixing levels lopsided at times, the percussion bare-bones. But in the past few weeks, these imperfections have wormed their way into my heart, and I get a high from the album’s texture that I can’t get anywhere else. This guy’s velvety, wandering baritone guides the whole thing, playing perfectly off the ringing ride cymbals and immaculately-voiced R&B chords in the Rhodes, synth, and guitar. And he writes such catchy, consummately relatable choruses that they feel like part of your life after only a couple of spins. The title describes perfectly how it has enhanced my life; it’s sensual at times, but more than anything it has supported my health and well-being. A massage of an album.
– Jerry Achtermann
Halcyon Digest – Deerhunter
Atmospheric, Surreal, Hypnagogic
It’s impossible to get me to shut up about Deerhunter’s 2010 masterpiece Halcyon Digest year-round, but I’ve been thinking about it a lot this past month in particular. It’s a forty-six-minute fever dream covering a broad spectrum of experiences: the mysticism of getting into your local music scene (“Basement Scene”), the euphoria of a spiritual awakening (“Revival”), and the bittersweet melancholy of reflecting on your coming of age (“He Would Have Laughed”). The album’s highlight—and my favorite song of all time– if I had to choose just one– is the poignant and sonically stunning “Helicopter.” The track is based on a Dennis Cooper short story: a fictionalized biography of Dima, a young aspiring fashion designer turned horrifically exploited porn actor and prostitute. “Helicopter” already evokes a potent sense of loneliness, but coupled with the context of the short story, the lyrics are all the more devastating. Enigmatic frontman Bradford Cox’s aching vocals soar over hypnotic, splashing percussion and entrancing synthesizer riffs, enveloping the listener in a shimmering haze of sorrow. In other words, it’s the most beautiful song I’ve ever heard, and nothing has topped it since I first listened to Halcyon Digest three years ago. If nothing else, listen to “Helicopter.” It’s transcendental.
– Sloane DiBari
Bluestaeb and S. Fidelity Present Underground Canopy - Bluestaeb, S. Fidelity, Underground Canopy
Groovy, Effortless, Intimate
Spotify stepped up this February with their suggestion of Bluestaeb and S. Fidelity Present Underground Canopy — an album that is now taking over my life. As a jazz newbie, Underground Canopy’s ability to create a seamless hip-hop jazz fusion has been unbelievably soothing to my formerly swing-free soul. With pleasingly endless syncopation, heavenly trumpet solos, and the occasional addition of wah-wah, this collection gives you a touch of that trippy summer feel and makes you want to break out your picnic blanket. Catch me spending all of my upcoming free time sitting by the koi pond, writing in my journal, and allowing this masterpiece to ease me into tranquility.
– Eliana Simpson
The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess — Chappell Roan
Fun, Energizing, Whimsical
The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess by Chappell Roan is a fresh and queer take on mainstream pop that I cannot stop listening to. Roan’s theatrical and borderline camp aesthetic was what originally drew me to her, and her music pairs well with those visuals, which manifest wonderfully in the accompanying music videos. The album is mostly playful, but solemn when it needs to be. In my favorite track from it, “Casual”, Roan repeats a tragic chorus: “Knee deep in the passenger seat and you're eating me out / Is it casual now?” The album is Roan’s debut, and it has made me very excited to see what she does next.
– Edie Carey
I’m New Here - Gil Scott-Heron
Cracked, Bluesy, Ballsy
Making this the album of my month of February 2024 feels a little disingenuous. In truth, this album’s place for me is neatly tucked into my very first semester here. I had that lonesome freshman feeling and Gil Scott-Heron’s final solo release of his life was already on my list. I had never heard his other songs, albums, or music—yet I could already guess the weight this album came with. He’s an old man in a new place, and for all the curmudgeons in the world, I felt like I was too. And he sounded like it. Scott-Heron struck into a blues-inflected, industrial spoken-word niche that is so specific, that he’s basically a pioneer. I’m absolutely certain there is other music that sounds similar, but it would not be as compelling if it wasn’t Scott-Heron’s grayed and husky voice over everything.
Half of the tracks are interludes: fractured ruminations on home, or what was his home, or what could be his home. And half of the tracks that aren’t interludes are covers. But the title track stands above without even trying. Scott-Heron and the song’s origin, Bill Callahan (f.k.a. Smog), have a lot in common. Their rich baritones, and similar predilection with America and America’s long, often dark shadow. But “I’m New Here” isn’t about that. Scott-Heron says plainly, sadly, hopefully: “But I’m new here/Will you show me around?”, over a loping, simple chord progression. Always new, always the same.
– Sebastian Cruz
To Be a Fly in the Rain - Wince
Heavy, Immersive, Dreamy
It’s almost halfway through March but I’m sure you’ve all been dying to know what the heck Blog has been listening to last month. Well, you’re in luck because the Blog is back for the Spring semester and we’re super excited to share all the awesome albums and EPs we enjoyed in February.
One of the most exciting rock bands in the New York City underground, Cropsey Records’ Wince released their debut album right before the New Year. Formed out of the ashes of Brooklyn trio Big Pity, Dave Hernandez (guitar, vocals) and the band have created a record that is sleeker and more focused than his studio effort with Big Pity, while still delivering unrelenting psychedelic haziness, soothing slowcore soundscapes, and classically-influenced metal riffs, all with a mind-bending tightness.
The album is a full sonic journey, from the first pummeling wave of distortion on the opening track “Sleepy”. The immaculate arrangements of songs like “Spring Rounds”, “TVHO2000MWOFL”, and “A Shuddering Sight!” highlight the talents of drummer Ryan Palmer, laying down thunderous drum fills and jumping through different time signatures with ease, while also showcasing the dynamic shifts in the band’s music. Hernandez and lead guitarist/cellist Will Ren trade-off fuzzed-out guitar licks in a way that immerses the listener in a sprawling storm of noise. Softer tracks like “Hikikomori” and “Parting Party” place more emphasis on Hernandez’s whispered, yet compelling vocal delivery, and feature ethereal arrangements (mixed by Ren). The album represents a promising start for the Brooklyn band and I’ll have this one on repeat for quite a while.
– Owen Neaman
Belly Brain - Inner Ear Brigade
Groovy, Adventurous
I actually first listened to this EP in the fall of my first year working in the Vault workgroup. We were filing away some jazz CDs and I, always one for a cool cover, found this one online after filing it away and have yet to get enough of it since. This jazz work is super playful; listening to one track will take you through at least three different worlds. A favorite track of mine, “Baby Wants To Play”, at one point takes me from a cruising tune to an almost western adventure to a video game back to cruising. Highly recommend, go run up their monthly listeners.
Favorites on the EP: “Baby Wants To Play”, “Itchy”
– Finn Sipes
Health - Medium Build
Passionate, Double-Edged, Magnetic
(Yes I know this is an EP, not an album, don't come for me) I have had Health on an endless loop since this year started. Nick Carpenter’s solo project, Medium Build, captures all the appeal of the alt-pop-Americana sound-making waves in the industry right now. His sound has an outdoorsy feel that booms with aggression at times— but is wistful at others. It always makes me happy to see queer artists building a space in modern country-rooted music scenes. Songs like “Never Learned to Dance” hit concerningly close to home — even with the humorous tone in the verses. “Day Forgives” is a simplistic ballad with a beautiful message. It’s a perfect transition between Carpenter’s stories of his most surreal life experiences. Also, the way they pronounce words is just so fun to listen to and scream along with. His charismatic personality resonates extremely well through these six songs. As I wait for their newest full-length record, Country, to release on April 5th — Health has something for every season.
– Sophie Montague