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

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

Young Thug: No My Name Is Jeffery. Review Sketch

year: 2016

tones of: lil wayne (the "lean" version), travis scott, rich homie quan, mystical

genre samples: trap rap, southern rap

music: ecstatic, cool, chill, smoky, bouncy

lyrics: unwieldy, disrespectful, improvised, shocking, unpredictable, cubist, irreverent

vocals: stretched, bruised, scratchy, intense, flexible, floating, uninhibited  

favs: pick up the phone, swizz beatz, riri, guwop, harambe, kanye west

notes: don't mind the dress or the mumbling, thugger is the real deal 

score: 8/10

LNRDCROY: Much Less Normal. Album Sketch

year: 2014 (#latebutgreat)

tones of: shlohmoh, four tet, floating points

genre samples: electronica, house, ambient, 80s glam pop, techno

music: detailed, hopeful, intricate, scattered, light, slow, satisfying, airy, elaborate

favs: slam city jam, i met you on bc ferries, if sylvia built a house, telegraph my love

score: 8.5/10

Whitney: Light Upon The Lake. Album Sketch

year: 2016

tones of: local natives, iron & wine, modest mouse, the black keys (softer side of), the shins

genre samples: indie folk, country blues, indie rock, california rock

music: crooning, calming, weightless, beautiful, nostalgic, warm, soothing, shimmering

lyrics: longing, lost, confused, cathartic, contemplative, hopeful, reflective, mature

favs: no woman, light upon the lake, golden days, dave's song, red moon

notes: similar to Cardinal from Pinegrove this album only takes 30min to do what is does so well

bonus: lead singer is a former member of unknown mortal orchestra (a 2015 favorite, with a way overdue review)

score: 8/10

Frank Ocean: Blond. Album Sketch

year: 2016

tones of: prince, stevie wonder, youth lagoon, the beach boys

genre samples: electronica, r&b, psychedelic rock, world music, indie folk

music: experimental, sparse, warbled, robotic, stripped, futuristic, trippy, echoing

lyrics: introverted, honest, emotive, earnest, visual, experiential, realistic, authentic

best guest: andre 3k delivers yet again on another frank ocean track [solo (reprise)]

favs: self control, nikes, seigfried (lyrics), nights, futura free, be yourself

bonus: i was asked about it, and yes, i think this is def better than Channel Orange

score: 9/10

Pinegrove: Cardinal. Album Sketch

year: 2016

tones of: bright eyes, tonic, wilco

genre samples: rock n roll, emo, lo-fi rock, garage rock, college rock, grunge 

music: bare, simple, fuzzy, acoustic, detailed, jangly, distorted

lyrics: detached, somber, intellectual, dense, cynical, introspective

vocals: raspy, emotional, straining, punchy, urgent, distressed

favs: old friends, aphasia, size of the moon, cadmium, new friends

nb: this album only clocks in at half an hour, but really maximizes every minute

score: 8/10

Anderson .Paak: Malibu. Album Sketch

year: 2016

tones of: anthony hamilton, cody chestnutt, the roots, bruno mars (on heart don't stand a chance), d'angelo, james brown (come down)

genre samples: r&b, jazz, hip hop, soul, psychedelic rock

music: playful, artistic, rhythmic, bouncy, spacey, atmospheric, live, instrumental

lyrics: straightforward, story-telling, autobiographical, simple, realistic

vocals: smooth, crooning, raspy, emotional, earnest

favs: the season i carry me, the bird, put me through, the waters, heart don't stand a chance, without you, come down, silicon valley, the dreamer

score: 8/10

note:  in addition to being a singer and rapper, .Paak is also a talented producer - he actually produced six tracks on dr. dre's latest album.

FKA Twigs: LP1

year: 2014

tones of: janet jackson (voice), the weeknd, jesse lanza

genre samples: dubstep, indie-pop, r&b, drum and bass

music: cool, smooth, mechanical, sweeping 

vocals: cascading, sensual, manipulated, stretched, soft, pitched

lyrics: direct, vulnerable, sexual, longing, needy, sweet

favs: two weeks, pendulum, video girl, give up

score: 8/10

nb: i was looking forward to what fka twigs would do with her LP since "Water Me" ranked 4th on my top tracks of 2013 (http://simmserely.blogspot.ro/2014/01/top-albumstracks-of-2013.html). the production here is so fresh and the music so bold. i am not disappointed.

St. Vincent: St. Vincent. Album Sketch

year: 2014

tones of: tune-yards, madonna (voice), prince, the strokes (rifts)

genre samples: indie-pop, indie-rock, world music, electronica

music: vibrant, crunchy, fuzzy, buzzing, angular, crisp, distorted, fun, prancing

lyrics: irreverent, thoughtful, cynical, metaphorical, socially critical, intelligent, artful

favs: prince jhonny, birth in reverse, rattlesnake, severed crossed fingers, digital witness (lyrics)

score: 8.5/10

Lykke Li: I Never Learn. Album Sketch

year: 2014

tones of: madonna (vocals), sleigh bells (on gunshot)

genre samples: indie-pop, blues, emo, orchestra, indie-folk

music: smooth, flowing, haunting, beautiful, orchestral, thin, moody, sparing, atmospheric, thread bare, echoes, expanding

lyrics: brooding, melancholy, remorseful, forlorn, vulnerable, sorrowful, aching, regret, emptiness, poetic

vocals: earnest, breaking, honest, open, strong, soft, deep, emotional

favs: gunshot, i never learn (gorgeous lyrics and strings), love me like i'm not made of stone, no rest for the wicked, silver line

note: familiar artistic territory for lykke li, even though this is a more ballad oriented, less pop sounding (i.e. commercially risky) album than her previous effort: http://simmserely.blogspot.com/2012/10/lykke-li-wounded-rhymes-review-sketch.html

score: 7.5/10

Arctic Monkeys: AM. Review Sketch

year: 2013 

tones of: the black keys, red hot chili peppers, the beatles, the strokes, coldplay, the white stripes

genre samples: blues, rock n roll, soul, psychedelic rock, punk, lo-fi rock, garage rock

music: marching, bombastic, busy, drumming, big, winding, jangling, cruising, lazy, swirling, mellow 

favs: do you wanna know?, r u mine?, one for the road, arabella, no. 1 party anthem, why'd you only call me when you're high?, knee socks

nb: if you're anything like me, it's been a minute since you've really liked a rock album so give this a couple of spins. feels like a maturation of that early 2000s "post-punk/garage rock revival".

score: 8/10 (and the first half of this is just really on point)

Startup Standouts: Runnable

RUNNABLE

Runnable is attempting to create a one stop, searchable library of full stack code for discovering, running, editing, embedding, and sharing code blocks -  in any language, for any developer.

Location: Palo Alto

Website: http://runnable.com/

Size: < 10 people

Funding: $2M Seed

Founders: Yash Kumar (CEO/Founder) 

Why it stands out: 

- attempts to make modular / plug and play programming much more accessible and prevalent
- an organized, searchable, testable environment potentially makes programming faster for professionals, hackers, and possibly  even amateurs
- seems ideal for helping intermediate level programmers move beyond the entry level skills taught on most educational programming sites
- founder's experience in collaborative software and extensive background in all sides of web development bodes well for user experience and core product

Run The Jewels. Run The Jewels. Review Sketch

year: 2013 

tones of: outkast, el-p (his solo productions), fat joe (tell me he and el-p don't sound alike), goodie mob

genre samples: hip hop, trap rap, southern rap, electronica

music: dark, bouncy, menacing, alarming, fast, distorted, hard, mean, heavy, furious, rattling

lyrics: disrespectful, playful, random, improvisational, cartoonish, stylized, crazy, aggressive, bizarre, violent, braggadocious

favs: run the jewels, 36 chains, DDFH, sea legs, job well done, a christmas fucking miracle

nb: these dudes don't get the respect they deserve. Killer Mike is a supreme lyricist (see R.A.P. Music) and El-P has been pushing monstrous electro beats long before Yeezus (see Cancer 4 Cure). 

score: 8/10

Chance The Rapper: Acid Rap. Review Sketch

year: 2013 

tones of: lil wayne, anthony hamilton, kanye west, eminem, wyclef jean, the streets, musiq soulchild, john legend, madlib, kid cudi

genre samples: hip hop, jazz, soul, electronica, r&b, gospel

music: warm, chill, smooth, light, relaxed, bouncy, joyous, summerish

lyrics: humorous, fun, light, thoughtful, quirky, therapeutic, playful, witty, real, drug infused

flow: sporadic, versatile, unmetered, spoken word poet, stream of consciousness, scraggly

favs: good ass intro, pusha man, cocoa butter kisses, juice, lost, interlude, acid rap

best guest: noname gypsy (on "lost")

nb: this is one of the most refreshingly varied and non-stereotypical rap offerings of the year (hence the many artists he reminds me of). simply a great mixtape. you can find it on soundcloud here.

score: 8/10

Pusha T: My Name Is My Name. Review Sketch

year: 2013

tones of:  kanye west, clipse, cruel summer, ma$e (on let me love you)

genre samples:  hip hop, trap rap, electronica, boom bap, gangsta rap

music: minimalist, bare bones, direct, maniacal, driving, dark, sparse

lyrics: intricate, street, multilayered, hard, focused, gritty, real, dense, druggy

flow: consistent, menacing, wordsmith, versatile, smooth, new god flow

favs: king push, numbers on the board, sweet serenade (whoo!), suicide (that beat), 40 acres (poetry), nosetalgia (real talk), pain

nb: this is essentially an "anti-Drake" album full of hard beats and hard talk. get your duffle bag boy on.

score: 8/10 (in pusha's own words #mydopedontspoil)

Drake: Nothing Was The Same. Review Sketch

year: 2013

tones of: shlohmo, kanye west, kid cudi

genre samples: r&b, electronica, hip hop, jazz, pop

music: moody, dark, cloudy, ominous, smoky, serious, bass ridden, spiraling, murky, mysterious

lyrics:  intimate, honest, thoughtful, anxious, female-obsessed, longing, regretful, personal, cerebral, shallow

flow: fluid, flexible, experimental

favs: tuscan leather (so focused and technical), furthest thing, worst behaviour (bananas), from time, hold on we're going home (pure pop craftiness), too much, pound cake/paris morton music, the motion

nb: be warned. this album is heavily r&b drake. it is also strongly elevated by producer, noah shabib. in fact, if i were 40, i would have pulled what ryan lewis did to macklemore on the heist: "put my name on the cover!"

score: 7.5/10 (no classic, but solid addition to the discography)

Disclosure: Settle. Review Sketch

year: 2013

tones of: sbtrkt, jessie ware, burial

genre samples: house, disco, electronica, dance, r&b, garage, pop

music: warm, rippling, sprightly, playful, emotive, fluid, high energy, sparkling, dance infused, charismatic, bright, bouncing, infectious, wavvy

favs: when a fire starts to burn, latch, white noise, stimulation, you & me, january, help me lose my mind

nb: this is very much a pop album (vocals, lyrics, song structure) as it is an electronic one

score: 8/10

Jay-Z: Magna Carta Holy Grail. Review Sketch

year: 2013

tones of: jay-z, kayne west, kid cudi

genre samples: hip hop, trap music, r&b, dubstep, rock n roll 

music: spacious, modern, sparse, detailed, futuristic, unpredictable, artistic, banging, up tempo

lyrics: serious, focused, ambitious, professional, measured, luxurious, all business, solid

favs: picasso baby, f*kwithmeyouknowigotit (straight up banger), f.u.t.w. (lyrical quality), somewhereinamerica, jay z blue, nickels and dimes

note: this reminds me of the black album. solid lyrics and elite, forward thinking beats. arguably not as compelling overall as kanye's yeezus, but nearly as good.

score: 7.5/10

Kanye West: Yeezus. Review Sketch

year: 2013

tones of: crystal castles, death grips, kid cudi

genre samples: glitch hop, minimal techno, indie electronica, gary glitter (on black skinhead), hip hop

music: jarring, spacious, moody, stark, minimalist, ominous, forward, pounding, dark, soulful, rhythmic

lyrics: scattered, unfiltered, careless, frustrated, honest, disrespectful, defiant, poignant, nostalgic, self centered, weak, blunt, flippant, exhausted

favs: i am a god (minus the croissants), new slaves, hold my liquor, blood on the leaves, bound 2

note: yeezy had another classic on his hands here. RIDICULOUS production, but the overall lyrical content is underwhelming. still a very solid album though.

score: 8/10