Dua Lipa: Future Nostalgia (2020) (Pop)

Self-proclaimed female alpha, Dua Lipa's Future Nostalgia is a brightly produced, largely effective merger of disco and dance-pop. The production is often the best part of the album with funky basslines set to infect most hedonists. Dua's songwriting is usually quite safe and formulaic but she does hit some catchy groves (Don't Start Now and Levitating, Love Again) and the songwriting is a shade above the average top 40, with her singing about romance with a boss ass bitch air. However, there are also ear wrenching tunes like Physical and her vocals occasionally leave more to be desired. For the most part, Future Nostalgia is an enjoyable dance-pop album embracing disco and electro-pop, in a safe formulaic manner, maybe too safe to be truly groundbreaking.



Best Tracks: Future Nostalgia, Don't Start Now, Levitating, Love Again, Break My Heart 





B-

Dance-Pop/ Electro-Pop/ Nu-Disco

James Blake: Assume Form (2019) (Pop,R&B,Soul)

James Blake maintains his moody detached introspection with a large dose of sentimental, spacey tracks. The production and album's aesthetic are largely nocturnal but very modern with nods to trap, ambient and art-pop and very ponderous songwriting. There are also poppier tunes but where James really shines is in his subtle but emotively powerful songwriting as shown in songs Into The Red, I'll Come Too, and Don't Miss It. 

Best Tracks: Into The Red*, Barefoot In The Park*, Where's The Catch?*, I'll Come Too, Don't Miss It*

B+

Nocturnal Vibes/Ambient Soul/Art-Pop/R&B/

Childish Gambino: 3.15.20 (2020) (Experimental,Hip-hop,Pop,R&B,Soul)

In attempting to create an experimental record, Gambino sadly loses himself in the rubble. A lot of promise is in this record and it starts off well (Algorhythm being a highlight), however, the production is not as consistent and cutting edge as it may believe itself to be, and the Motown inspired gimmicks can seem forced and stale. It seems much of this album is filled with attempts to merger a profound message with futuristic, experimental sounds, many of which are nabbed from Yeezus. Gambino still has mellower tracks but these often feel breezy and inconsequential. Though you might find good moments, most of 3.15.20 is as bland as the cover art. 

Best Tracks: Algorhythm, 53.49

D-

Contemporary R&B/Experimental/ Hip-hop/ Neo-Soul/Pop

Brian Eno: Apollo (1983) (Ambient, Instrumental)

It's easy to see why Brian Eno is not only one of the most influential figures in ambient music but also music in general. The textures and soundscapes that he conjures are serene, meditative and ethereal keeping you in a hypnotic trance then bursting out in moments of subtle intensity when you least expect it, making it certain this album could not be dismissed as "just background music". This is largely due to the borrowed elements of sleepy country and classical music and the large, wonderous tone the album sets. Though an ambient album and much of it can be characterized as unintrusive, it was not long before I was taken in awe by creeping beauty and wonder that Brian Eno conjured on Apollo. 

Best Tracks: Under Stars, Signals, An Ending (Ascent)*, Under Stars II, Silver Morning, Deep Blue Day, Weightless*, Always Returning*, Stars

A+ Spacy Vibes/Ambient

The Weeknd: After Hours (2020) (Pop,R&B)

With a heavy drench of 80s new wave and synthpop sheen. The Weeknd rellies heavily on the merger of retro sounds and contemporary R&B, Trap. However, this focus on production does not impede the quality of the songs but rather makes them, for the most part, simpler and more digestible (not that the Weeknd ever was that Avantgarde in his song compositions). The songs are for the most part could be described as nocturnal synthpop, though The Weeknd still makes sure to include slower more airy R&B tracks that sometimes fall flat with the occasional, wispy, hushed vocals. I never found The Weeknd's voice to be the most compelling thing about him but with the support of the instrumentals and the simple, catchy song structures, After Hours succeeds the botched synth-pop attempt that was his previous album Starboy. A lot of worthwhile tracks.

Best Tracks: Too Late, Hardest To Love*, Scared To Live, Heartless*, Faith*, Blinding Lights*, In Your Eyes*, Save Your Tears, After Hours 





B+

Night Vibes/Alternative R&B/Synth-pop

D'eon: Music for Keyboards IV (2013) (Electronic,Folk,Instrumental)

Pleasant, minimalist, instrumental medieval Celtic tunes. The transitions from dreamy ambient to jumpy folk may seem jarring but the whole album embarks listeners on an earthy almost exalting journey, that manages to stay aesthetically consistent. Though very organic sounding, the melodies are executed in an electronic, poppy fashion by keyboard. At times the instrumental arrangments and patterns may feel a bit stiff, however, the instruments used and the simple approach allow for a fruitful listen. 

Best Tracks: Sewer Mine*, Blood Sport, Putrid Water, Seigneurial, Yout Father Used to See Airplanes in the Sky, Aviation Graveyard, Dread God*, The Birds Eat Our Corpses* 

B

Forest Vibes/ Folktronica/ Medieval Celtic 

Jeff Parker: Suite for Max Brown (2020) (Jazz)

A tight mix of experimental Jazz renditions. Mixes of samples, lo-fi aesthetics and sleepy Nu Jazz songs litter this short, eclectic project. Though the feel is ultimately one of a crisp morning, many songs are not as damp and dreamy, approaching chaotic giving a well-varied but intriguing listen. The variability in songs all still manages to tie to the overall experience in an unintrusive manner allowing for an enjoyable project for anyone looking for experimental Jazz. 

Best Tracks: Build a Nest, Fusion Swirl, After the Rain, Gnarciss*, Max Brown

B+

Morning Vibes/Experimental Jazz/ Jazz Fusion/ Nu Jazz

Don Toliver: Heaven Or Hell (2020) (Hip-hop,R&B,Trap)

Spacey and dreamy half and half doses of Trap and contemporary R&B. Though not groundbreaking, Mr.Tolliver is enough of an artist that has crafted style that blends both genres. The usual trap cliches remain but at this point, it's just a vibe. 






Best Tracks: After Party, Had Enough, No Idea

C-

Hip-hop/R&B/Trap

Shabaka and the Ancestors: We Are Sent Here By History (2020) (Jazz)

Murky, dark, ritualistic jazz numbers are conjured on We Are Sent Here By History. Occasionally spooky and slightly sinister, the instrumentation from Shabaka and his ensemble remains rustic and organic. Though many songs are captivating at first, they do become too drawn out and quickly can lose flavour. The peppered incantations and chants are a nice exotic touch but can be frivolously used.

Best Tracks: Go My Heart Go To Heaven*, The Coming Of The Strange Ones, Finally The Man Cried

C+

Spooky Vibes/ Afro-Jazz/ Spiritual Jazz

Caribou: Suddenly (2020) (Electronic,Pop)

Though the vocals may be very sugary and the production is occasionally too formulaic, Suddenly does manage to craft some easy-going, homey songs with enough quirks, introspective merit and diversity of sounds and styles to intrigue listeners. 




Best Tracks: You and I, Home, Like I Loved You*, Ravi

C+

Cloud Vibes/House/Indietronica/Pop

Lil Uzi Vert: Eternal Atake (2020) (Hip-hop,Trap)

Not as psychedelic or alien as the hype would lead it to be, though an ethereal, cloudy sound are sporadically attempted. The production, gets tiresome quickly and sounds basic and often poorly mixed. Uzi tries his best to show that he can adopt different flows and deliveries which is admirable, however, they are often through a sense of emulation or compensation. The last half of the album improves and a few songs have good moments, largely due to the more ethereal production and more compelling performances by Uzi, however, this album should be consumed in small doses and did not need to be this long.

Best Tracks: Lo Mein, Chrome Heart Tags, Venetia, Futsal Shuffle 2020

D+

Cloud Rap/Hip-hop/Trap

King Krule: Man Alive! (2020) (Art-rock,Jazz-Punk,Post-Punk)

 Ballads of anguish and isolation. Haunting psychedelic attempts are woven in the songs whether it be the distorted, plucky, hellish guitars and the occasional saxophone usage or the ghoulish backing tracks and adlibs. Some songs are structured unique and memorable, while a few feel too wispy, wallowing in an excess of sadness and space. 

Best Tracks: Cellular, Stone Again*, Comet Face*, Perfecto Miserable, Alon Omen 3, Airport Antenatal Airplane 

B-

Art-Rock/ Jazz-Punk/ Post-Punk

3905G Chapter 3

Chapter 3 Physiologists of Mind

Franz Josef Gall (1758-1828)
- Built on earlier work of Thomas Willis
- Was one of the first scientists to look at the brain as a complex organ
- Willis Observed that brain 2 kinds of substances, gray matter (outer surfaces of the brain) and white matter.
- Willis believed that the white matter contained spirits generated in the gray matter and correctly described blood vessels in the brain.
-Gall correctly identified commissures, that the two halves of the brain are interconnected by white matter. This helped explain why damage to one side would lead to effects on the other.
These findings laid the groudwork for the later discovery that the brain and spinal cord are composed of neurons.
-Gall was also one of the first comparative brain anatomists and developed phrenology. Believing that parts of the skull could properly identify different faculties and traits.
Used empirical observations to make deductions and proposed 27 faculties called organs.

Pierre Flourens (1794-1867)
- Aimed to use more rigorous scientific methods to understand brain functions
Ablation (Removal part of brain or lesions), then studied functions and regeneration.
Found that ablation of cerebellum=motor loss, and cerebral cortex=lost will
-Proposed that the cortex and cerebellum had specific functions (action proper) but they interacted to function as a whole (action commune)
- The proposed idea of brain plasticity


Paul Broca (1824-1880)
- A patient of Broca's named Tan had a lesion on the left frontal hemisphere which caused a lack of speech production, although comprehension was intact. Later Tan began losing sense of his right arm and leg.

Broca's aphasia: Loss of proudction of speech caused by damage to the left frontal hemisphere (Broca's Area) also known as motor aphasia 

Gustav Fritsch (1837-1927) and Eduard Hitzing (1838-1907)
- Studied if brain responded to electrical stimulation i
- Shocking animals brains etc

David Ferrier 
- Stimulated occipital lobe and found loss of vision.
- Also located the temporal lobe and sensory strip
Ideas emerged such as interconnected (association) areas and importance of white matter.

Carl Wernicke (1848-1905)
Described sensory aphasia also known as Wernicke's aphasia
- The ability to produce speech but not understand (receptive) language.
- Will repeat and have issues with comprehension, paraphasias 


Shepard Ivory Franz (1874-1933)
- Found that cats that had previously solved a puzzle forgot the responses only when the frontal regions were ablated. Sometimes frontally ablated animals were able to relearn the escape response


Karl Lashley (1890-1958)
-Refuted localization and though that memories were contained within cortex widely.
-Said it was important the size of the ablation and the difficulty of the maze.
Built on Flourens's concept of action commune
Espoused Equipotentiality (Brain plasticity, neural regions take over)

Wilder Penfield (1891-1976)
- Located the region of the epileptic seizure through gentle stimulation and removed regions

Brenda Milner (1918-)
- Did work with HM
- HM had seizures and had medial temporal lobe severed and parts of hippocampus
- Seizures stopped but had severe anterograde amnesia (developing new memories)
- Had impared encoding and storage, declarative memory also impaired
- Findings showed that memory is a distinct cerebral function
- Showed that medial aspect of temporal lobe is important for memory
- Findings showed that hippocampus and temporal lobe stored memories.