#track365

Diana Ross - Upside Down

More often than not, Fireball and Fernet would not be a good idea on a Tuesday night. Yesterday was not one of those nights (shout out to Christmas break). Holding down the dance floor with metaphorical makeshift caution tape constructed out of unpolished dance moves was an essential ingredient to the night’s recipe. and it would definitely not have been possible without the excellent selections that the mid-40s-something DJ was making all night long. I didn’t know this one when I heard it, and without hesitation immediately Shazam’d that shit. Yes you can still Shazam things. If someone tries to tell you to remember a lyric and look it up later, tell them to go hail down a cab instead of ordering their 4th Uber of the night. 

Vulfpeck - Conscious Club

If you dig bands with a definitively unique vibe, you should really check out Vulfpeck. Earlier in the summer, a friend and I were debating about which day we were going to go to Pitchfork. I wanted to see The Revivalists on Saturday, but she was adamant that Vulfpeck on Sunday was easily the show to see. I didn’t end up going to either day  (sad face) but after hearing their new album The Beautiful Game, I’d be hard pressed to say she was wrong. Weaving a wide variety a styles, instruments, and lyrical themes, it’s easily been one of themy most fun listens of the year.

“Conscious Club” puts this into perspective nicely, complete with skit intro, multiple funky bass breaks, and a chorus that would get the flattest of feet steppin like like someone put Molly in the punch.

The Weeknd - Sidewalks (feat. Kendrick Lamar)

With his latest release Starboy, Abel Tesfaye has  - for better or worse - said goodbye to the previous iteration of The Weeknd. He’s done this in a few ways, both shaving off the arachnid that used to live on top of his head as well as actually killing himself in the opening scene title track’s music video. However, what’s most noticeable in the album is the lack of experimental flourishes that were hallmarks of his style throughout the Trilogy era. 

While some of his earliest fans might lament this fact, I would argue he’s better for it. The album’s production has a better pace and the beats allow him use that sent-from-above voice to belt out great chorus after chorus. My favorite song off the album, though, has to be “Sidewalks” where they deftly trade the 808s for an classic drum and guitar rhythm section ala “Tell Your Friends” on The Beauty Behind the Madness.

The guitar lick is memorable, the verse is one of Abel’s best verses on the album (double props for The Untouchables reference), Kendrick  delivers another great feature, and in the context of an 18(!) song album, is a nice reprieve from the rest of the well-done but similar sounding production. 

Robin Thicke - Blurred Lines (feat. T.I. & Pharrell)

Between the Buried and Me - Shevanel (Take 2)

I'll be honest, it was weird hearing from a doctor that I have severe hypertension at 21, but such is life. I stewed for a while in my bed thinking about what could possibly contribute to blood pressure readings higher than both my +60 year-old parents, but I guess sometimes just the fact that you know about a problem and how you can go about making it better should be comforting. Reminders of our shared mortality can go a long way towards making us realize what we really feel is important and worth caring for, and that's a silver lining unto itself.

Zeds Dead - By Your Side

Always nice to get some new Zeds. They've always been able to make slow dubstep enjoyable. Check it out.

Tayyib Ali & Cisco Adler - Way Back When

Joey Bada$$ - Word Is Bond (Prod. by Statik Selektah)