Monday Mixtape, Vol. 124

Where does Post Malone rank in terms of singing hooks right now? Does anyone do it better? Yeah, it’s easy to make fun of the face tattoos and dreads (which he’s now changed to a small 80s era small fro), but “all my friends” is pretty catchy, right? Can’t hate on catchy.

This is an all rap playlist, highlighted by both Future and 21 Savage’s new albums. I was impressed with 21’s album, it has a ton of features (J. Cole, Childish Gambino, Post Malone, Offset, and Schoolboy Q) which complement his monotone flow, and the production fits perfectly with so many tracks.

Future released another album that is just like most other Future albums. He has some alter ego (this time, “The WIZRD,” it all more or less sounds the same, and a few tracks really stand out. A couple of those are on this mixtape.

I also included some older JID, the rapper that blew me away with his mixtape, DiCaprio 2. This guy has something special, we will be hearing a lot more from him.

That’s it people! Hope you enjoyed the (4th Quarter) of the Super Bowl. My commercial MVP was either Stella Artois or the NFL one with all the players.

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 79

I recently published a poem I wrote, it's called Fixture. It's a poem on life, and I'm proud of it. I don't often feel proud of my writing because the majority of it is terrible, but sometimes, it feels good to write. This was one of those times.

It didn't take quite as long to get another Monday Mixtape out as it took to write another poem, but there's been a ton of music! All sorts of great albums have been released in the past couple weeks which I'll get to on this mixtape and the next one, but it includes Vince Staples, Haim, SZA, Washed Out, Poolside, Miami Horror, Dan Auerbach, and even Jeff Tweedy released a solo acoustic album of Wilco songs. Wow. Breathe. Listen. And enjoy!

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 75

Apologies for my absence, I've been traveling seeing friends and family, certainly a good excuse to abandon my musical duties. But I'm back, and my goodness, there's been some great music released in the past few weeks. 

Phoenix dropped their first single off their new album, and like their other unforgettable songs, most specifically:

This week's track from him, "Rollin," features Future, a man who continues to churn out great music at a prolific pace.

I really loved Childhood's first album, and their newest single shows some promise for what's ahead. "California Light" sounds retro with horns and Gibbs-brothers like falsettos. This song's played in the twilight of a roller disco. 

Finally, Foster the People released three tracks from their upcoming third album. Their second album was super out there, something I really respected from a band that took over the world with "Pumped Up Kicks," and decided to go in an alternate direction instead of taking over the pop world further. Mad respect! 

Have a good week all!

Monday Mixtape Vol. 69

"Slide," the new track from Calvin Harris, Frank Ocean, and Migos has to be an early contender for song of the year. I assume this is going to be a huge hit everywhere (if it isn't already) because HOW CAN YOU NOT LIKE THIS SONG?? 

Hippo Campus was a band I wrote about one whole year ago when they released a super catchy EP and compared them to Vampire Weekend and Local Natives. With the release of their debut album a week ago, the comparisons to Vampire Weekend will surely continue while the songs continue to keep me bopping my head. These guys just make you feel good listening to them. Their music puts a smile on your face and also plays as great background music with its balance of upbeat but chill vibes. Def start digging into this album if you like the two tracks from this week's mixtape!

John Mayer released part 2 of his EP, and I definitely enjoy it more than the first one. "Helpless" sounds like a b-side from his "Heavier Things" and "Continuum" era albums. This has that catchiness of a "Vultures" a similar little guitar lick. When he's on, Mayer makes some great pop music with a touch of blues.

I told you I would have another Future song on this mixtape! He released his second album in two weeks (and was rumored to be dropping in three albums in three weeks - but that didn't happen)   and I've been listening to it non-stop. I can't particularly describe why I like Future. I remember not liking his music when I first started listening to him, but as I began to accept his auto-tuned voice, I started to hear his different rhythms and flows and ability to ride with a song. "Incredible" is Future with a little reggae beat and a hook that keeps you coming back for more.

Circa Waves' 2015 album was a really fun uplifting album that always makes you feel like you're soaking in sun at the beach. See: T-Shirt Weather:

Their music is not particularly original or transformative, but it just feels good to listen to. They have a ton of energy, and this single from their upcoming album gives them a bit more grit and rock n' roll. Excited for the album. 

Have a good week! 

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 68

Hello, hello! Currently watching the Oscars where JT as usual put on quite the performance. Jimmy Kimmel sounds very tired, however, and most of his jokes have been pretty lame. So let's get on to the music!

I had to add more songs to this week's mixtape from the new albums from both Ryan Adams and Future. As Ryan Adams was once know to be a prolific young songwriter releasing many albums over a short span of time, Future has now taken that reign and released a new album ONE WEEK later after the release of his self-titled album. I have yet to even digest the new one, but I will probably add some new stuff in the coming weeks. And if you don't like Future, I understand, but I would also say give the guy a chance and embrace some different music.

I haven't ever listened to Laura Marling, but I have read some stuff on her new album and was intrigued. "Wild Fire" is a track off that new album, and she sounds like an artist I may have to dive into. 

Had to add a little dance music so I included an AlunaGeorge remix to get those hips moving. 

Have a good week all!

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 67

I gotta start this mixtape with Lupe. The first track off his new album, "Dopamine Lit (Intro)" is a banger. Lupe attacks the track "Mural" style with wordplay and words stacking on each other like a Jenga tower. He also gives a shout out to Frank Ocean with a line. "Jump" is another banger like an old school Lil' Wayne track with storytelling.

Lupe's new album, however, is a total mess. There is absolutely no continuity when a song like "Jump" is accompanied by poppy rap-r&B slow jams that sound like a duet with Ed Sheeran and Milli Vanilli. Half the album is awesome and half sounds like a record label required Lupe to have eight shitty pop-rap songs. If this album only included the great rap, it would have been quite the follow-up to his amazing last album, Tetsuo & Youth. Alas, that did not happen. 

Ryan Adams just release this new album! And it's great, I have really been enjoying it and still need to listen to it much more. I think the first track from the album, "Do You Still Love Me?" is the best song on the album. That's why it is on the mixtape. But it's worth some listens. 

Future decided to drop a surprise album, and I gotta say, the album sounds different than his other stuff. He's moved to some different beats and quicker flows, sounding a little less codeine-influenced and more of some sort of upper drugs that he may enjoy. "Draco" is my favorite song, an upbeat thumper. 

Real Estate has a new album coming out. They lost guitarist Matt Mondanile to his great solo project Ducktails, but it's still sounding like they haven't missed a beat. Their last two albums have been really fantastic and complete, the total opposite to Lupe, their albums flow like packed rivers. 

This song from London Grammar sounds a bit like Temper Trap and a bit like them. Her vocal chops are legit.

To end the mixtape, I'm leaving you with Charlotte Day Wilson, a sultry singer I first heard on Badbadnotgood's album then heard on a Local Native's remix of my favorite song from their new album, "Dark Days." This song is sexy.

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 34

Music is like so many other things in life - it’s cyclical. Sometimes we have a decade or more of great music, and other times it’s a stagnant regurgitation of better music.

Rap right now is on the upswing. Everyone will always be nostalgic of 90s rap, and I can thank A Tribe Called Quest, Biggie, Nas, Dr. Dre, Snoop, Tupac, Wu-Tang Clan, Mos Def and Taleb Kweli, Big L, Naughty by Nature, Big Pun, OutKast, Eminem, DMX, Little Brother, The Pharcyde, Jurassic 5, Gang Starr, and many, many more I’ve failed to mention.

But in the past five years we have had Kanye’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d city, Frank Ocean’s Channel Orange, Drake’s Nothing Was The Same, Kanye’s Yeezus, Run the Jewels Run The Jewels 2, and then in 2015 alone: Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly, Lupe Fiasco’s Tetsuo & Youth, Drake’s If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late, and Future’s DS2.

The last time I was listening to this much rap was back in college when I completely immersed myself in the world of 90s rap (since I spent most of my life in the 90s as a chubby kid rocking out to grunge music wearing No Fear t-shirts with a bowl cut).

I’m immersed now and as a byproduct, I’m immersing you.

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 25

This week's mixtape has got to start with Deerhunter. In anticipation of their new album released last Friday, I wrote them up in my 5 Faves a couple months ago. Their new album, Fading Frontiers, is fantastic.

I think it's their second best album behind Halcyon Digest, and the two tracks on this mixtape represent what is probably my two favorite tracks on the album. How good is the chorus in "Breaker" and the echoing interstellar keys in "Duplex Planet"? 

The second the drums come in on "Get To You," you have to be thinking one band: The Pixies. A band that is easily one of the most influential bands since the 1980s. Love the pace and guitar of this track.

I also wrote a 5 Faves on The Underachievers months and months ago. These two play off each other very well and choose psychedelia over whatever "hot" rap sound is taking over radio at the moment. I've followed these guys for a while now, and they just released a new album which I've been enjoying but still need to dissect further.

Julia Holter is a 30 year-old singer/songwriter who floats over orchestras and strings. She has a great voice, and I can't stop listening to "Feel You." She reminds me of Andrew Bird.

"Cuz I got a really big team, and they need some really big rings!"  

Kacy Hill. Check her out.

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 23

This is a Mixtape of all sorts of sizes and flavors:

• There's a rap track from Mac Miller's new album (which is really good and may be reviewed this week!). 
• There's an electro-pop track from the remix kings RAC.
• There's indie-pop from Family of the Year,
• There's electronic wildness from Empress Of (an artist who wrote, recorded, produced, and mixed her entire debut album),
• There's more abstract rap from Flight Facilities, K-OS, and Future.

Speaking of Future, I had to listen to his critically acclaimed DS2 a number of times before I began to appreciate it. I'm still hot and cold with him as his auto-tuned voice is hard to love, but I his sound is dark and eerie, something that sticks with you.

Speaking of Future, he and Drake just dropped a mixtape on the world which will be blowing up the interwebs this week - I'll listen and get back to ya!