Drake's unfortunate fall from grace (see "Views" and "More Life") was preceded by one last great album from the Torontonian superstar, If You're Reading This It's Too Late. Released as a $12.99 mixtape in 2015, If You're Reading This It's Too Late is probably Drake's most cohesive and inspired work to date. The album opens with excellent slow… Continue reading Drake – If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late ALBUM REVIEW
In Rainbows is famed English rockband Radiohead's seventh studio album. It was released via pay-what-you-want format in 2007, inciting a discussion about the future of music purchasing and business ethics. Unlike Kid A or OK Computer, the music on In Rainbows is generally sparse, with clean guitars playing over polyrhythmic drum beats and slinky bass lines. Thom's vocal performance… Continue reading Radiohead – In Rainbows ALBUM REVIEW
Aquemini is Atlanta rap duo OutKast's third album, following 1994's Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik and 1996's ATLiens. Each subsequent album proved to be better than the previous, and 1998's Aquemini is no exception. The album features the most lush, grandiose production ever heard in hip-hop at the time, and this golden standard of production would not be topped until Kanye West's Late Registration a full seven… Continue reading OutKast – Aquemini ALBUM REVIEW
Andrew Bird is a singer-songwriter hailing from Chicago who has been recording and releasing music since the mid-90s. In 2012, when Break It Yourself was released, his extensive discography included near-great albums such as Andrew Bird & The Mysterious Production of Eggs, Armchair Apocrypha, and Weather Systems. Here, Andrew Bird returns with another solid album full of chamber pop music.… Continue reading Andrew Bird – Break It Yourself ALBUM REVIEW
This album reminds me of a modern gangsta movie set in Compton, California. It has a long, cinematic feel to it with a script told through lyrics and short skits in the form of voicemails tacked on to the end of tracks. While the idea of voicemails in rap music is something of a trope,… Continue reading Kendrick Lamar – Good Kid, M.A.A.D City ALBUM REVIEW
Kanye West had big shoes to fill following his critically acclaimed modern masterpiece, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Virtually no one could imagine Kanye creating an album that was more grandiose, more musically stunning, or more emotionally charged than MBDTF. So, as Kanye had done in the past with albums like Graduation and 808s and Heartbreak, he didn't worry about building… Continue reading Kanye West – Yeezus ALBUM REVIEW
When I was a sophomore in high school, I stumbled upon this album at a local thrift store. I already knew who DJ Screw was, but had never heard any of his music besides his biggest songs such as "Pimp Tha Pen" from 3 'n the Morning (Part Two) and "June 27th" from June 27th. Little did… Continue reading DJ Screw – Bigtyme Vol II: All Screwed Up ALBUM REVIEW
Houston indie rock outfit Rome Hero Foxes released "Bad Thoughts" back in 2014, but it has been a song that I frequently return to. I have seen this band perform live a handful of times, and each time it is a real treat. Basically, "Bad Thoughts" is a perfect song. I do not believe in… Continue reading Rome Hero Foxes – Bad Thoughts SINGLE REVIEW
Noah Cyrus, the 17-year old sister of Miley Cyrus, released a new single with troubled Floridian rapper XXXTENTACION to promote her upcoming album, NC-17. XXXTENTACION, battling legal trouble, recently released his similarly-titled debut studio album, 17. It is worth nothing that I have not been impressed with XXXTENTACION's output thus far. He is praised by the… Continue reading Noah Cyrus – Again (feat. XXXTENTACION) SINGLE REVIEW
