#soundslikeinfinity

15. Nayana Iz

Murielle’s Cancer Moon Child is the layered, nuanced debut mixtape from Murielle. The singer, across the tape’s five tracks explains the complexities of love- especially the deepest feelings that come along the journey. It’s an exploration into when one loves more than the other person. But even in the hurt, there’s growth as one begins to learn more about themselves. This can be heard in the record’s choral arrangements, especially ‘SO MUCH!’ and ‘Ain’t No Love Lost’- Murielle plays with her vocals to use different voices that are all hers in their unique tones. “So baby when I get over ya/Oh when I get over ya/I’ll be able to breathe/Able to see/There ain’t no love lost then,” she sings. There’s a sureness in her lyrics that knowing despite the pain, she will grow and continue to flourish. Cancer Moon Childalso serves as a testament of her growth as a musician. All of it was self-produced and written by Murielle. In closing, it’s a soulful mixtape that only has us all awaiting more.

Slowthai & Kenny Beats, “MAGIC!”

10. Arctic Monkeys, Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino

6. Aminè

              Declan McKenna’s debut album, What Do You Think About the Car, is a polite and thoughtful introduction to the young artist’s style and message. McKenna, who hails from Hertfordshire, England, is only 18 years old, but has made a name for himself in the indie-alternative rock world with songs like ‘Brazil’, ‘Isombard’, and ‘Humongous’. ‘Humongous’ opens the album, with an audio clip of a younger Declan being asked the album’s title, ‘What Do You Think About the Car’. ‘Humongous’ is rather simple track, with acoustic styling and Declan nonchalantly singing ‘I swear you spend too much time on your phone and on your phone/Do you care?’. ‘Humongous’ is simple at first, but progresses into a much livelier sound as the acoustic guitar, bass, and drum instrumentation shift to a quicker, more electric melody that melt in synthesized sound. ‘Brazil,’ which is most likely one of McKenna’s best-known songs so far, is McKenna’s thoughtful commentary on the poverty in Brazil preceding the country’s preparation for the 2016 Olympics. It features almost falsetto-like vocals from McKenna, whose voice is joined by surf-rock like guitar instrumentation. ‘The Kids Don’t Wanna Come Home’ is McKenna’s honest youthful perspective portrayed in song. The song, though optimistic, discusses the exclusion of youth being able to voice their opinions on politics and current events. McKenna sings for them, using thoughtful lyrics and intentional songwriting to get this message across. ‘Mind’ is a Mac DeMarco-esque track, with McKenna singing a story of adolescence and life over solid guitar instrumentation. Perhaps the most memorable song on the album is ‘Isombard’, McKenna’s call to society to change, which was inspired by a Martin Luther King quote, an EE Cummings poem, and what McKenna was witnessing in the media. ‘If you can’t walk then run,’ McKenna sings, imploring society to move forward. ‘I Am Everyone Else’ is an everyman anthem, ‘Bethlehem’ tackles religion, tradition, and individuality, as McKenna sings in the chorus, ‘I can do as I want and you don't have the right to choose’. ‘Paracetamol’ is an appeal for better representation of trans teens in the media and suicide amongst LGBT+ youth. The album closes with ‘Listen To Your Friends’, is a soft yet rather upbeat but pointed song about the political climate in Britain and the effects of various laws and policies have on Britons. Declan McKenna’s debut LP is an intentional sampling of his music and it also shows that McKenna isn’t afraid to use his music to speak on the world around him and what he thinks should change.

When Grandson’s newest song, War, begins, it literally moves you. The Toronto native blends grunge and rock with trap and a myriad of other sounds to make music that speaks long after the song ends. ‘War’ opens with heavy electric guitar and drums, and then Grandson begins to sing. Before the lyrics even begin, the instrumentation itself is a call to action- which is quite timely, considering the political climate. Grandson is no stranger to addressing real topics in his music- singing about racism within the first lines of the song. The chorus itself is relevant to the United States and North Korea’s relationship and nuclear weapons, and could possibly be a reference to the events in Charlottesville. “And its war in the east/War in the west/war up north, war down south… everywhere is war,” Grandson sings. The song then launches into a blisteringly-good instrumental break filed with trap drums, guitar riffs, and vocal sampling so jam-packed it’s almost like musical fireworks.  Grandson, like many new artist like Lil Peep, are blending rock and rap, but Grandson has a different approach, using a more cohesive blend of heavy power chords and riffs blended with more subtle traces of trap rather than the mix being overt. In addition, his lyrics are more socially conscious and more passionate. ‘War’ is in-your-face rock ‘n’ roll that is pretty reminiscent of the unabashed attitudes of punk, and it is needed in this time- not just sonically but culturally as well.