Feb 11th: Selena Gomez - Calm Down
3/5
This is quite a turn into fully commercial pop music.
Well that’s all that is on the Billboard Top 10 of 2023 I’m afraid lol
I wanted to give my usual writing for each, I had extended weekend plans…
Feb. 12th: The Weeknd - Die for You
I’ve never been the biggest R&B fan but what is this. This ambles along with tacky lyrics and I’m begging for SOME kind of vocal range.
This song released in 2016 and only topped the charts last year. If there’s a contemporary reason why a song is rediscovered/highlighted from a previous year, its almost always Tik Tok. That remains true this time and now everything makes sense: this song is clipped and usually not used in its entirety
1.5/5
Feb. 13th: David Guetta and Bebe Rexha - I’m Good (Blue)
David Guetta’s “Get Up” was my ringtone for awhile in high school. I don’t know if I liked the song enough to make it my ringtone or was just trying to hate it but either way, David Guetta is fine.
I don’t listen to much electronic music anymore but I do like his originals. This is basically a remix of Eiffel 65’s “Blue (Da Ba Dee)” with new lyrics. Does that count as a remix? Heavily sampled rewrite? Re imagining?
Anyway, this song is actually pretty good. Very dancey and certainly a good Friday night anthem. Can’t knock it for that.
Its a little short for my tastes but someone will remix it and make it longer, I’m sure.
3/5
Feb 14th: Altin Gun - Halkali Seker
Sick on Valentines Day and still recovering so posting a day late.
Frontwoman Merve Dasdemir has decided to leave Altin Gun, so let’s enjoy a new (to me) goodie.
All their songs are beautiful, meandering, and funky. I recently learned that they mostly reimagine Turkish classics and this is no exception.
4/5
Feb. 15th: Esen Musik - Halkali Seker
While I’m here, might as well listen to the original.
This is certainly funky but I like the cover better in this instance. This happened to me once too when I learned “Maggie’s Farm” wasnt written by Rage Against the Machine.
3.5/5
Feb 16th: The Sisters and Whoopi Goldberg - Hail Holy Queen
Sitting on my couch still sick in a fever dream, I watched Sister Act for the first time.
The choir song is incredible classically but the reimagining after is defintely the star of the show. The feel good hit of 1992.
I’m going back to bed now.
4/5
Merve is leaving the band? Ouch.
Yeah, that sucks. They said they’ll be continuing as a 5 piece though so at least the band isn’t ending. Now I’m really glad I went to see them though.
Feb. 17th: Nick Shoulders - Appreciate’cha
This sickness just won’t quit…
Nick Shoulders is someone who has always appeared in my recommendeds but have just started listening to for a show in April.
Nothing like some true bluegrass to get you going. Punk as bluegrass gets. A tad repetitive but ultimately a winner
3.5/5
Punk as bluegrass gets
This is all I needed to know. Its more Country to my ear, but I’m so glad I checked it out. Feels like Country is really strong as a genre at the moment, so much real genuine talent is coming through, and so many blends with other styles. Not sure what will happen after Beyonce’s album, but I’m here to find out.
I think you’re right: I watched a quick live clip and if you listen, there is a drum kit and what looks like an electric guitar. So you’re right: Country. Although in his YouTube videos, his hastag is #yallternative…
Apart from that, his lyrics are on the nose but that’s what I like about him. Arkansas born and bred and a liberal fighter at heart.
Feb. 18th: Sturgill Simpson - It Ain’t All Flowers
Wow, what a song. This is an incredible blend of country, pyschedlic, and blues. Alternating between spacey pysch explorations and soulful country verses, this has an interesting tempo that varies throughout the song. Coupled with Simpson’s slightly distorted but still talented voice, this is an incredible composition.
I’m slapped with these guitar riffs out of nowhere that are just incredible and complement Simpson’s vocals so much.
For the last minute of the song, there’s a hip hop like outro that almost gives the impression of a recording repeating or scratching. Its interesting but I am glad it doesnt go on for too long and I would have preferred the tempo and riffs of the bridges here to end the song.
Still, I was listening to the rest of the album too and this one is definetely a winner. We might stay with Sturgill for awhile or at least keep on this country kick: who knows.
5/5
I’m sorry to break it to you like this.
Feb. 19th: Clown Core - Toilet
What the fuck.
This is my next rabbit hole.
I’m not usually one for calzone jokes but that one was so out of place and just perfectly timed.
Couple that with some solid jazz improv from only a two piece, and I’ve heard worse music from fully featured bands. I checked out a digital live show of theirs too and they perform very similarly to Death Grips. That’s the exact vibe I get with their music as well.
And I mean, what a power move just droning with your penis like that. Bravo.
I sent this to my surreal music friends and they said they’ve been trying to see these guys because they “tour less often than the cicada swarms”. I don’t believe that exactly but I’m trying to get them on my calendar now.
5/5
Feb. 20th: Khrungbian - May Ninth
Beautiful song. So so chill, even for Khrungbian. Laura rings out plenty clear in the mix like always, almost louder and more noticeable than Mark on lead guitar (at times).
But this “bass lead” results in such an incredibly smooth song, along with the quiet and dreamy vocals.
This is a Khrungbian song, through and through. I get mad at other bands for not innovating sometimes but how can I get mad when what these three keep pumping out is so damn good?
4.5/5
Feb. 21st: IDLES - Monolith
I finally got a chance to sit down and listen to TANGK.
This is a beautiful ending to the album. But I’m really going to have to give it some time and plays before I can review the whole album.
3.5/5
I don’t get the reaction to TANGK at all, as its the first IDLES record to really do it for me. Have since gone back through the rest and like all of them now that something clicked, but this one seems the most creative so far.