An annoying/funny thing here is that some sort of update to YouTube or Blogger or my computer means that I can't get the dang YouTube videos to imbed anymore. And because I doubt the IT dudes here at the office want to hear me whine about a completely non-work-related issue with my computer, I have no clue how to fix it. Hopefully I can figure something else out soon, but for now you are going to mostly get the jenky text links you see below the top one below. I might have to publish things at home from here on. Sorry!
Alex G - Headlights. The opening guitar tone makes me think of early 90's Sting, and then it melts into a really lovely little indie rock album. I have to say that when this whole thing first played, I liked the obvious song ("Afterlife") and was kinda blah about the rest. But after repeated listens, I am realizing how good these songs are and how the whole disc just makes me feel nice. Even the electronica-tinged things like "Bounce Boy," it still fits in the midst of these otherwise ultra-indie tunes. As expected, "Afterlife" is the top tune with 7.7 million.
I feel like square dancing would make me dizzy as hell. But that little mandolin lick is really good - I like how it backs out and then re-asserts itself On the radio the other day it made me laugh when they let the after-bit pop back up and the DJ was like, "ooop, there's more!" I wonder what that kid wore on his back to not die during all of that dragging? Either way, a beautiful song. Varied album with lots of different sounds going on, but I have really enjoyed it.Freddie Gibbs - Alfredo 2. Another collaboration with The Alchemist, and another laid back collection of cool-ass raps. The sonics are impeccable, I mean, the lush smoothness of the "Mar-a-Lago" beat is ridiculous. Just so cool and chill. I feel like I need to dress up and lounge just to hear it. The Alchemist must have a really rad collection of old music to create all of these beats. "Ensalada," which features Anderson.Paak, is the top track with 19.2 million streams.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8XPg7qqYIg
It is weird that the cover is a bowl of ramen. When the name of the album references a different noodle dish? I like Paak - his voice is a cool mix of gravel and shine. Weird though, that they are using the word "ensalada" to mean "there's a lotta" in here. I was hoping for a tight ode to salad. It is a good rap album. I think Freddie Gibbs sound cool as hell, and mixing him into these old school sample-heavy beats is a win.
The Hives - The Hives Forever Forever The Hives. You know how sometimes you see a band live and it totally changes what you think about their album? That happened here for sure, as their live show was freaking fantastic, and all of a sudden I am digging this disc even more than I did before. Pretty basic disc of rip-roaring rock and roll energy, but hell yeah. The main riff in "Born a Rebel" make me think of Steve Miller's "Abracadabra." The opening chord of "They Can' Hear the Music" sounds just like The Killers' "When You Were Young." "Enough is Enough" has that raw riffage that made everyone fall for them in the first place... and so it is likely no surprise that is the top track with 3.8 million streams.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbxrfflmPRE
Great opening line - "everyone's a little fuckin' bitch!" You're not hearing anything new here, but what you hear is freaking fun. I like it.
Purity Ring - purity ring. I loved some of their older stuff, so I tossed this one into the queue. However, each and every time it pops back up now I want to turn it off. Not a ringing endorsement. Her voice is a little too whispery and cutesy, and the beats are no where as tight as on 2015's another eternity. Just so I can move along from it, here is the top streamer, "place of my own" with 1.1 million streams.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iv-zYMS0OnE
Is that Fortnight? And yes, this cements that I do not enjoy this music. Stop making those noises.
