Song of the Day #6, July 3

Ecco2k: Calcium

It's so hard to find but so easy to find 

(Lost my shine, I star and cross my eyes)

And my heart is blind, I star and cross my eyes

(Lost my shine, I star and cross my eyes)

Art Pop/Cloud Rap/R&B

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfx106XZsN0&pp=ygUOY2FsY2l1bSBlY2NvMms%3D

billy woods, Kenny Segal: Hiding Places (2019) (Hip-hop)

Grimy vagabond rhymes with his usual cryptic lyrics and quotable punchlines. Beats are disorienting dark canvases for his esoteric ramblings which often start subtly only to add instrumental complexity. Woods is a captivating rapper even if his bars may need more attention than warranted, his flows are captivating and versatile, the nihilism and despondency of his bars reaks of booze. 

Best Tracks: Spongebob*, Steak Knives, Checkpoints, Spider Hole*, A Day in a Week in a Year, Crawlspace*

Abstract Hip-hop

Ahmedou Ahmed Lowla: Terrouzi (2019) (Electronic,Instrumental)

The occasional trap drums can be stale but the Moorish instrumentation can often be worthwhile and some melodies are catchy. The album is, for the most part, mellow and warm, well fit for summer listening.





Best Tracks: Khal Kar, Kar, Lestkal, Niamey*, Mentou*


B


Electronic/ Ethnic Psybient/ Moorish Instrumental


Buy Here

Charli XCX: Charli (2019) (Pop)

A shiny cyborg of an album, half human from the energetic, innocent nature of many songs, half steel and sheen from the futuristic but bright production, drawing heavily from bubblegum bass and dance-pop, much like her previous project, Pop 2, this time with subtler more introspective songs. However, in consequence, many of these do not develop fruitfully (Warm, I Don't Wanna Know, Official). Plenty of excellent production choices, earworm choruses and vocal performances allow for this album to become an intriguing listen for pop fans.

Best Tracks: Next Level Charli, Gone, 1999*, Thoughts, Blame It on Your Love, White Mercedes*, Silver Cross*, February 2017

A-

Avant-pop/Bubblegum Bass/Dance-pop/Electropop

Ecco2k: E (2019) (Pop,R&B)

Unorthodox in style, Drain Gang member Ecco2k succeeds in challenging perceptions of cloud rap and ambient pop with vague yet personal songs. Plenty of interesting eclectic ideas and tricks litter the 30-minute project, expect ethereal production with splashes of glitch and trap with Ecco's heavily corrected boyish vocals. Though the ethos remains consistent on the album Ecco will change his style and angel enough to give well-ranged snippets of his inner spirit, ranging from coyish songs (Sugar and Diesel, Don't Ask) to more confrontational and angsty cloud rap tracks (Cc, Time). Typically songs rely heavily on hooks and refrains, which Ecco executes in an intense melodic fashion, however, this may lead to some songs feeling underbaked.

Best Tracks: AAA Powerline, Peroxide, Cc, Calcium*, Sugar and Diesel, Security!*, Time




B+

Alternative R&B/Ambient Pop/ Art-Pop/ Cloud Rap/ Electronic 

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/

100 gecs: 1000 gecs (2019) (Electronic, Pop)

A Frankenstein of millennial music trends that is sure to take even the most eclectic listeners by surprise, but not so much in their innovation but rather how they cram genres into songs. Gloves are off as 100 gecs throw dubstep, rock, pop, rap, ska, punk, metal and all kinds of other genre cliches in the same songs. Failing to fully focus on one concept, the strength and weakness of gecs is their willingness to divert music trends by cobbling songs through different genres. This is admirable but at times it just feels like they don't know how to end their songs or feel compelled to challenge the listener in a very tacky, unfocused, forced way, resulting in dubstep swamps and black metal diversions (745 sticky, 800db cloud) which are cool sometimes, I guess. Many of the hooks are extremely catchy and the production is very quirky and as diverse as can be for a homemade studio. A clear ethos of chaos and angst, not unfamiliar to the target audience, is clearly shown in the short 23 minute run time. Though many songs are very entertaining and the nostalgia and novelty of 1000 gecs may be enticing, the album can seem like a collection of concepts blended together with little purpose other than the rebellious envelope-pushing message their music gives, without fully directing these concepts in fully potentiated directions.

Best Tracks: 745 sticky*, money machine*, stupid horse, ringtone*

B-

Bubblegum bass/Experimental Pop 

JACKBOYS: Self Titled (2019) (Hip-hop,Trap)

JACKBOYS is one of many nonessential compilation albums. Travis and Co. give mild performances with an air of unearned pompous as the responsibility and authenticity of the record are diffused through members of the Cactus Jack Records. 



Best Tracks: OUT WEST, WHAT TO DO?, GATTI

D+



Hip-hop/Trap

Kanye West: Jesus is King (2019) (Hip-hop)

An album from a man struggling with faith, and stardom even though stardom always takes centre stage. More about Kanye than anything else, this album has its moments Follow God, Use this Gospel , interesting production choices (Hands On) but ultimately the final product is lacking in quality and feels incredibly rushed. The lyrics, occasionally approaching Alex Jones levels are absurd enough that he might soon start rapping about reptilian overlords and gay frogs. Not that conspiracy rap is subpar, but its forceful merger with Christianity is almost always a butchery, too rough yet superficial.  None of the Songs on JIK come even close to Kanye's past Christian related songs (Jesus Walks, Ultralight Beam). 

Best Tracks: Follow God, Use this Gospel, On God (if you want a laugh)

D-


Christian Rap/Gospel Rap

FKA twigs: Magdalene (2019) (Electronic,Pop,R&B)

Like much of Twig's usual work expect her wispy singing on top of airy instrumentals. Sometimes her songwriting is a hit (mirrored heart, home with you, mary magdalene) and Twig's manages to sing emotively to themes that I find pertinent and relatable, sometimes not to the best effect(daybed). The poppier tunes are a good mix, songs like sad day and fallen alien are some of the best pop songs of the year. The choruses of these songs get bigger and bigger, buffered by excellent industrial instrumentals from producers Nicolas Jaar, Benny Blanco, Skrillex among others. Many good songs, some sleepers, but overall decent listen. 

Best Tracks: home with you, sad day*, mary magdalene, fallen alien*

B-


Art Pop/Electronic/Industrial Pop/R&B