Music Spotlight – Favorite Music of 2012: Part 2

Crystal Castles – Wrath of God

Wrath of God is off Crystal Castles’ album Crystal Castles (III). The electronic track engages the listener enchanting them with its great driving danceable beat, courtesy of Ethan Kath. Alice Glass’s vocals also have a bewitching siren-like quality. Her lyrics carry a strong political message of cruelty in the world. Yet, even with bleak tone, the song is still beautiful as well. Available for download: here

Danny Brown – Grown Up

Grown Up is a non-album single. Danny Brown had a great 2012, appearing on a ton of other people’s albums (plus his album XXX has really started to catch on). He could very well be one of the top hip hop artists of 2013. Party Supplies provides the track with a fantastic beat that is very catchy and fun. In addition to the beat, Brown’s lyrics are strong as he raps about his youth in a very relatable manner (the song also has a brilliant music video, see above). Available for download: here

Dusted – Pale Light

Pale Light is off Dusted’s debut album Total Dust. The Canadian duo of songwriter Brian Borcherdt and producer Leon Taheny capture a wonderful sound with the track. It has a folk sensibility but played through an electronic echoy reverb that gives it a uniqueness and great aesthetic quality. Its soft manner seems to momentarily disguise its power and allure. Available for download: here

Ellie Goulding – Anything Could Happen

Anything Could Happen is off Ellie Goulding’s album Halcyon. Like a number of artists on this list, Goulding had a breakthrough year in 2012 – both with her new material and her chart climbing single Lights. Anything Could Happen (produced by Goulding and Jim Eliot), the lead single of Halcyon, is probably the best pop song of the year. It just grabs the listener right away, and Goulding’s singular voice just soars. Available for download: here

Family Band – Rest

Rest is off Family Band’s debut album Grace & Lies. The Brooklyn duo of visual artist Kim Krans and metal/thrash guitarist Jonny Ollsin make an unlikely pairing for such a sad, dark slow song. While Night Song is a better single, Rest just has a foreboding power to it that seems to entrance the listener. Krans’s voice is transfixing while Ollsin’s guitar is sheer and grim (and quiet). It is the kind of folk music that one might play after the world has ended – looking out across the wasteland. Available for download: here

Essential Songs of 2012: Part 9 – Music Spotlight – October 2012

Artist: Alicia Keys Song: Girl on Fire (Inferno Remix) Producer(s):  Jeff Bhasker and Salaam Remi Featuring: Nicki Minaj Album: Girl on Fire

Artist: Atoms for Peace Song: Default Producer(s): Thom Yorke Featuring: N/A Album: N/A

Artist: Ben Folds Five Song: Do It Anyway Producer(s): Joe Pisapia Featuring: N/A Album: The Sound of the Life of the Mind

Artist: Big Sean Song: 100 Producer(s): Don Cannon Featuring: Kendrick Lamar, Royce da 5’9” and James Fauntleroy Album: Detroit Mixtape

Artist: Calvin Harris Song: Sweet Nothing Producer(s): Calvin Harris Featuring: Florence Welch Album: 18 Months

Artist: Cassie Song: Balcony Producer(s): Rico Love Featuring: Young Jeezy Album: King of Hearts

Artist: Danny Brown Song: Grown Up Producer(s): Party Supplies Featuring: N/A Album: N/A

Artist: Kanye West Song: To the World Producer(s): Pop Wansel Featuring: R. Kelly Album: Cruel Summer

Artist: Mount Eerie Song: I Walked Home Beholding Producer(s): Phil Elverum Featuring: N/A Album: Ocean Roar

Artist: Rick Ross Song: 3 Kings Producer(s): Jake One Featuring: Dr. Dre and Jay Z Album: God Forgives, I Don’t

Childish Gambino – Royalty Mixtape (2012) – Review

Review: Following up Childish Gambino’s first commercial LP Camp (which is fantastic), Royalty seems to signify a change in style for Gambino. It sounds much more like a typical hip hop release than Camp, his 2011 EP or Culdesac musically and lyrically. Royalty has a ton of features, when past Gambino albums did not, including ScHoolboy Q, Ab-Soul, Bun B, Nipsey Hussle, RZA, Danny Brown, and Ghostface Killah. A more interesting and off-beat feature is Beck, who features and co-produces on Silk Pillow, while producing another track. The production is good with Gambino handling most of it himself (while production partner Ludwig Goransson, who co-produced all of Camp and EP, only co-produces two songs). SKYWLKR and Boi-1da each add two tracks as well. Lyrically, Donald Glover seems more interested in more clichéd hip hop topics like being rich, having money and wealth (which seems to be the main theme on this mixtape) than his usual self-reflexive and witty pop culture infused wordplay. There is still some of that too, but there is certainly a noticeable switch in lyrical focus. This seems to be a more self-assured MC, with the success of Camp, who now feels comfortable boasting not just about his skills on the mic but also about fame, money, girls, cars, cloths, and all the stuff that hip hop is oversaturated with. As with most mixtapes, there are probably six to eight tracks that are forgettable. However, there are eight or so tracks that are fantastic, making this mixtape well worth checking out for fans of Childish Gambino and newcomers alike. 3/5

Essential Tracks:

1)      Unnecessary – Featuring ScHoolboy Q & Ab-Soul, produced by Donald Glover

2)      Shoulda Known – Produced by Donald Glover

3)      We Ain't Them – Produced by Donald Glover & Ludwig Goransson

Available on Digital Download

Ab-Soul – Control System (2012) – Review

Review: Ab-Soul is probably the least known member of the Black Hippy crew (Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q, and Jay Rock), but like the other members is a very talented MC. His second album features an eclectic mix of musical styles, all of which Ab-Soul rhymes over very effectively. The record is peppered with supporting guests from his Black Hippy crew to Jhene Aiko, Danny Brown, BJ the Chicago Kid, and Alori Joh. Though, I would say that he is at his best when sharing a track with a member of his crew. TDE’s usual group of producers also feature heavily on the album, and provide excellent beats as usual. Control System is a good album, musically different than most things out right now and well worth hip hop fans’ time (the song ILLuminate is worth getting for sure if nothing else), but Ab-Soul is still not quite on the same level as Kendrick, Q and Rock (who have all put out better albums in the last year). 3/5

Editor’s Essential Tracks:

1)      ILLuminate – Produced by Skhye Hutch, featuring Kendrick Lamar

2)      Black Lip Bastard (Remix) – Produced by Willie B, featuring Black Hippy

3)      SOPA – Produced by Nez & Rio, featuring ScHoolboy Q

Available on Digital Download