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Wednesday, February 28, 2018

A.A.L.: 2012-2017. Review Sketch


year: 2018 

tones of: dj koze, moby, nico jaar, darkside, fuck buttons

genre samples: house, disco, soul, 
electronica, dance, funk

music: fun, danceable, glitchy, joyous, 
tricky, exhilarating, scratchy, warm, kinetic, technical, funky, energetic, precise, soulful, wild

favs: i never dream, you are going to love me and scream,
 now u got me hooked, flash in the pan, cityfade

notes: a.a.l. stands for against all logic which is apparently one of a handful of pseudonyms nicolas jaar operates under (he also does work as a member of darkside, just friends, bladerunner, and daftside). this seems to be a collection of his work under that moniker from 2012 to 2017.

score: 8/10


Thursday, February 22, 2018

Lil Wayne: Dedication 6 Reloaded. Review Sketch


year: 2018 

tones of: lil wayne (early dedication weezy)


genre: rap, trap rap, southern rap, mixtape rap


notable samples: kendrick (loyalty), lil pump (gucci gang), migos (slippery), makavelli (hail mary), jay-z (family feud), playboi carti (woke up like this)


lyrics: metaphorical, clever, graphic, egotistical, sophisticated, comical, layered, crazed, imaginative, irreverent, violent, structured, visual, disrespectful, complex, absurd

favs: bloody mary, for nothing, back from the 80's, 
big bad wolf, family feud, back to sleep

notes: the question and answer style responses from Weezy at the end of every track on here are priceless. this is also one of the better outings he has had in quite some time in terms of lyrical content, consistency, and delivery.

score: 7/10


Wednesday, February 21, 2018

SW.: The Album. Review Sketch.



year: 2017 (broader release)

tones of: floating points, todd terje, LNRDCROY, skee mask, shlohmoh


genre samples: jazz, techno, house, electronica, drum'n'bass, ambient


music: sonic, chaotic, impromptu, encircling, busy, layered, improvised, echoing, ecstatic, reverberating, drum saturated, off beat, lively, high frequency, colorful, crowded, energetic


favs: untitled a1, untitled b3, 
untitled d3, untitled a2, untitled c1, untitled d2

notes: apparently SW. never names anything, hence all the generics - from the album name, its tracks, and cover, down to his own moniker. i consider this just an unconventional but principled way of letting the music speak for itself.


score: 8/10


Friday, February 16, 2018

6lack: Free 6lack. Review Sketch.


year: 2016 

tones of: drake (esp noah "40" shebib's production style), kid cudi, chris brown, childish gambino (on the kauai mixtape)


genre samples: r&b, rap, hip hop


music: chill, dark, 
trippy, mature, spacious, sexy, moody, hazy, ominous

favs: prblms, never know, 
alone/ea6, ex callin (cover of Future's "perkys callin"), gettin' old, worst luck

notes: 6lack is pronounced: "black". this was one of 
my favorite low key artists back in 2016 (this is a long over due sketch!). looking forward to his next project.

score: 7.5/10


Thursday, February 15, 2018

Four Tet: New Energy. Review Sketch




year: 2017

tones of: caribou, four tet (from the "rounds" era), massive attack (on "planet")


genre samples: electronica, ambient techno, jazz, indian classical, downtempo

music: spacious, frenetic, light, simple, charming, circling, fresh, sparse, bright, quirky, 
airy, amorphous, expanding, clean, happy, dainty, soothing, textured

favs: lush, two thousand and seventeen,
daughter, planet, memories, you are loved, LA trance, the scientist

notes: beautiful enough at first listen but the intricacies really start to reveal themselves over time. keep listening until you get there. it's worth it.

score: 7.5/10



Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Big K.R.I.T.: 4Eva Is A Mighty Long Time. Review Sketch.


year: 2017

tones of: big boi, scarface, bone thugs-n-harmony (on "layup")
, UGK, outkast, nappy roots

genre samples: jazz, indie rap, gospel, hip hop, big brass brand, southern rap, blues

music: soulful, banging, joyous, big, rattling, bass filled, majestic, swaying, horn heavy, chill


lyrics: humble, political, realistic, 
conscientious, authentic, serious, personal, boisterous, intelligent, confessional, introspective

vocals: crisp, drawling, precise, athletic, rhythmic, dexterous, smooth

favs: big k.r.i.t., drinking sessions, 
confetti, bury me in gold, 1999, price of fame, get away, miss keep the devil off (production), georgia fornia, mixed messages (lyrics)

best guest: lloyd (on "1999")

notes: the split personality that is Big King Remembered In Time offers up a rare double disc rap album that delivers nearly its full record length in musical gold.

score: 8.5/10


Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Vagabon: Infinite Worlds. Review Sketch.



year: 2017

tones of: bright eyes, black keys, the flaming lips (on mal à l'aise)


genre samples: indie rock, punk pop, DIY rock, folk

music: jangly, marching, lofi, bright, jagged, melodic, soft, quick


lyrics: longing, regretful, reflective, abstract, nostalgic, insular, assured, cathartic 

vocals: scratchy, straining, blue, angst-ridden, delicate


favs: fear & force, 
cold apartment, the embers, alive and well, cleaning house

notes: this album only clocks in at 28mins but it takes every advantage of that limited time 

score: 8.5/10