Tea Time

genre: doo wop banana How about a little oldies to break the trend? I've heard about Paul Anka, and know at most only one of his songs. So here's one of his most famous songs. I'm a sucker for oldies, and so even though this song is mindlessly simple, I remain mesmerized by its melody, its theme, and its idyllic message. It's such a classic song for teenage love, especially at a time where history was calming down. Hate it not, I can't lie to myself when I say that a song as pure as this strikes at the very core of my youth . I didn't even live during the 50's, but I can't attribute my fawning over this song to any other feeling than nostalgia. Sure, it may be rose-tinted glasses, there were other terrible things going on. Fortunately, Paul Anka's song takes you away from all the modern-day troubles, a tiny little microcosm. If you didn't know, Paul Anka is still alive and kicking about. Good on him! Rating: 8.5

genre: experimental, instrumental I wrote about this artist before, and I enjoyed their instrumental material. I dove further into what they have previously worked on, and this album is what I found, emphasis on album.  Each song is less than 2 minutes long, and each song elaborates and develops on a simple idea. And because of that, I decided why not, and added the whole album as an entry. It's a short, quick, and elevating listening experience. The instrumentation is pleasant and minimalist. Consisting of saxophones, fluttery trumpets, and sometimes a piano, there is something genuine about limiting yourself and working with what you've got. All the instruments speak to each other and build upon an initial, progressive musical idea. Usually, the musical ideas are comprised of runs with intricate harmonies. Fortunately, that's the type of stuff I love. Rating: 7.5/10

genre: chill, indie snack: mandarin I couldn't definitively tell you whether or not I'm cheating with this selection. I don't think I've listened to this song before, but I feel like I have. It feels incredibly familiar. In typical cynical fashion, I will go as far as to say that the songs are starting to blend together. This time though, it oddly doesn't feel like a bad thing. Because although the composition isn't particularly special, the subtlety and balance of vocals (and the harmony is beautiful as well!), instrumentation, and the chord progression is delightful. There's a slight jazz influence with the movement of the chords following chorus, which I can really appreciate. And really, that's enough of a sell for me to enjoy this song. My compliments to the artist! Rating: 8/10

genre: folk spaghetti It was difficult to find a song I wanted to write about, and so this is what I ended up with. Now, I thought I liked folk music, but I guess I only like a particular subset of folk, because this ain't it. Now, I don't know much about George Ezra , but from what I can gather, his voice is incredibly unique. He definitely puts it to good use. As for the song itself, it plays by the books. I don't know how to describe it, but it's got those typical empowered chords, and you've got those cliche horns in the background. The drums aren't anything new. It says something when my favorite part of the song is the articulate guitar chord in the beginning. In short, the song itself is uninspired, and just isn't for me. Rating: 4/10

genre : experimental rock snack: chocolate coconut frozen treat My experience with Radiohead is limited, but what I've listened so far has always caught my attention. Their production is masterful, and their use of synths and how they engineer their sounds is always innovative and incredibly interesting. In the broadest sense, they are a rock band, but their discography says differently. But we're not here to rave about all of Radiohead's  reputation and success. This relatively recent single, Ill Wind,  is what we're here to talk about. Overall, the formula and structure isn't new in the scope of things, it's really more like a new flavor. You get a syncopated, and tasteful drum beat that essentially loops. On top of that you get layers and melodies that grow and develop throughout the song. As always, Thom Yorke sings when he feels like it, with that unique ghostly and wispy voice of his. Has someone checked on him? Is he ok? Either way, the song itsel

genre: alternative rock, psychedelic We slow things down with this small gem from the 90's. One thing that stands out to me is its high quality and full range of sound. Just from the acoustic and bass guitars, the sound is complete and encompassing. It seems fleeting what with the timid slides and soft attacks from the electric guitar. There's a slight country vibe overall, but Mazzy Star's  voice is undoubtedly taken straight from the 90's. Her intonation and style of singing is so resonant with that era. Overall, there's not a lot of focus on the instruments themselves. In fact, the lyrical performance is quite subdued as well. No one piece of the song takes the spotlight. Instead, all the elements are quite blended and harmonious. It's a little too slow and steady for my taste, but I can see where it shines. Rating: 7/10

genre: hip hop Now that I think of it, I don't have any Post Malone in this growing playlist, and if you haven't been living under a rock he's one of the biggest artists on the market at the moment. I know maybe 2 of his songs, and so I went exploring a little to find 92 Explorer. As with most of his songs, you get a harmony in the background that repeats ad nauseam. The first few listens it was fine, but it really doesn't do much for me after that. What has caught my attention though, is his Post Malone's cadence and flow. He has a way with words, and the way by which he has that way is catchy and natural. It's difficult for me to describe, I can't really put it into words. Some artists just have trouble attaching rhythm to their lyrics in a way that flows naturally. Admittedly, he looks like a hobo, but a respected, talented hobo nonetheless. Rating: 5/10

genre: jazz, soul snack: Reese's puffs Nina Simone's huskier, deeper register never truly quite captured me, until this song. In this song, I can see why it works. It's quite a long song with what you could call a solo section. I would call it a dance section, with its frenzied rhythm and drums. Nina's voice powerful voice accompanies a profound musical theme. That piano riff, although not much, gives off such a powerful, energetic emotion. Just as profound is Nina's biblical lyrics. The tempo is just right, sitting at a pace a tad bit faster than what I'm used to. It's a fun listen, and should be given more appreciation than what I am giving it now. Rating: 8.5/10

genre: pop rock, experimental I haven't listened to the entirety of their new album yet. I mainly held off on it too because I got fatigued from their niche aesthetic. From the looks of it, this album dives into some weird territory, based off this first song. From a glimpse of the other songs, each one has their own weird identity, so much so that I would even add experimental  to the genres. For this song though, it starts off normally. You've got the catchy, infectious melodies that KKB is known for. Then, guitars and drums come in! I was genuinely surprised. KKB does not  do this, and it was a cool to see the group trying out new things. Although, as the song goes on, things seem to teeter off the edge, evidenced by distorted singing, jarring hits, and sometimes just emptiness. In video form, this may contribute to the overall theme and performance. In a song form though, I don't really see the point. This may be a stretch, but this reminds me of the shift in tone

genre: pop I picked this up from Netflix's Umbrella Academy , where the estranged siblings dance to the same beat, in their own individual rooms. The scene is beautifully done, and you should watch it if you're interested in X-Men or Watchmen. But, back to the song. This song is just straight-up addictive . It's hard to stay seated. The rhythm and cadence is spunky, upbeat, and uplifting. The material itself is so reminiscent of the teenagers back in the 80's. I can't say I relate, but to experience it vicariously has some merit in of itself. In short, this is the voice of a generation. Aside from the melody, my favorite elements are the synth-generated glockenspiels(?) that articulate the melody. They are well-placed, intentional, and fit so well with the song. As over-the-top the 80's can be, this song blends itself with the perfect balance of heartfelt passion. Quite honestly, it's quite endearing and takes you back to your younger days. This is on

genre: progressive metal Dream Theater this, Dream Theater that. I don't have a good reason as to why I never sat down to listen to them. They're obviously aligned with my musical tastes, especially when it comes to metal. They have a tinge of power metal cloaked over their core of progressive metal. This particular song dips into some heavier material with their guttural guitars. Perhaps my favorite part is the full band solo at 3:26. It's ambitious, dastardly, and by god it works so well. It reminds of the type of groovy and hard-as-balls material you'd find in a rudimentary drumline book, so that really says something about their writing and playing abilities. To add onto the list, the song itself develops the themes constantly . You can never get bored listening to this song. You're rather taken for a ride down an instant classic for progressive metal. Seriously, why haven't I looked into them more? The only qualm I have is about the singer. He possesses an

genre: indie  Probably one of the more weirder, more unconventional songs in the library. It begins in quite a minimalist fashion (just octave guitar and bass) before opening up to include isolated vocals. The drums are a blast to listen to, because you can really hear the nuances and individual accents of the musician. I am all for giving drummers more freedom to explore the space of the music. The lead guitar definitely takes the spotlight though, appearing all across the track. All in all, the song itself is a fun listen because of it's simple structure, it's quirky riffs. Short and sweet, and to the point. However, that is a double edged sword, because it isn't necessarily catchy, and has no staying power. Rating: 7/10

genre: indie Moving further along the lines of "cool" songs, we get a night-time hit with Hana Vu's Crying on the Subway . Right away, you notice a sleuth guitar riff that persists throughout the entire song. Something that surprised me as I listened was Hana's huskier voice, especially for her stature, perhaps even bolder than Adele's. Although Hana doesn't necessarily flexes her singing chops on this song, her calm demeanor permeates the song and gives its contemplative tone. The guitar work expands even further in the middle section, what with it's extreme delay and reverb. I guess I should say it's a proper solo section. The song itself is structured predictably, with your typical verses, choruses, interludes, solos and whatnot. There's definitely room to grow and experiment here. Nonetheless, unabashed, unapologetic swagger by which Hana holds herself is a testament to how much the character of an artist contributes to the song itself. Ra

  genre: country-ish, folk  snack: pineapples Lately I've been traversing an entirely different spectrum of music, as compared to what I have typically listened to. Not only has it expanded my music interests, but I've come to appreciate a wider scope of musical elements and nuances. Faye Webster is both a photographer and a musician. It's easier to just call her an artist. Her taste shines through in her unique blend of folk, jazz, and country. The tiny elements of country (i.e. the slides and instrumentation) give it a grounded, honest, feel. As for her singing, she's got an interesting tone and accent. Some singers' tones can really take some time to appreciate, but Faye's is easy to digest and listen to. Nothing intense about the background instruments other than room-filling chords and swells from the guitar. The synths add a little flair and accent to the mood. Again, saxophones have something to add without overpowering the sound. If you really listen

genre: indie rock Upon further investigation, it appears that this band is a bit more than I touted them for. With a blend of soft rock, funk, and jazz, this lo-fi tinted song has a variety of curiosities without being overbearing and disjointed (ala Sicko Mode ). I really dig the riff that anchors the song in between verses. I won't take the time to determine the particular mode, but it sounds familiar, and it's definitely a cool lick. Moreover, the new language is a nice touch, and something unique to them. It's got a mainstream sound and simultaneously holds onto a more antique atmosphere with its subtle lo-fi filters. I'm always down for saxophones, especially when they're used in interesting ways. Although they don't take the spotlight, they add a layer of contemplation and color to the overall painting. Rating: 8/10

genre: psychedelic  drink: water This song reminds me of the softer works of Fleetwood Mac, with a bit more funk and soul thrown in. Some people may be turned off by the high-pitched, serenading, but there are definitely people who find it tasteful. There aren't any grand, striking chords or powerful choruses. The drums are incredibly subdued, amounting to as little as a drum and bass beat. A majority of the guitar work is simple sustained, articulate chords. The tone is consistent across the instrumentation, which I can certainly appreciate. This is one of those rainy day songs, in my opinion, and that's probably where it'll sit for a while. Rating: 7/10

genre: indie pop snack: green tea mochi ice cream This song is as fleeting and relaxing as they come. It oozes an atmosphere similar Beach House , with its steady rhythm, laid-back vocals, and lo-fi synth. The chord progression is subtle, but makes its moves where it matters the most. It has such a strong song structure, owing in part to its simplistic, yet deep, lyrics. Not much else happens throughout the song in terms of composition. Realistically, the bulk of the content lies in its poetic lyrics. If you're expecting a transformative, innovative sound and style, look elsewhere. Lately though, I've grown fond to these kind of sounds that evoke a bit of lethargy, contemplation, and floating dreams. Rating: 7.5/10

  genre: pop rock drink: nuoc mat You should really watch the video for this. Hala is such a goofy, quirky, and charming person to see. He really knows how to have fun it seems, and it comes out in his music. The guitar riffs are light-hearded, and the vocal performance have a bouncy and carefree quality to them. Something about the way he carries himself is alluring. I'm glad the music has personal flair to it. Not only that, but the musical themes develop throughout in this jam-packed 4 minute song, which shows to me a mature grasp of musical technique and ability. At first, the guitar and synthetic drums can be a little off-putting, but I couldn't be more wrong through a further listen. The solo chords and riffs can be dissonant at times too, which only add tension and interesting sections to the song. If there's anything that this kind of rock should strive for, it's this. Let's see where this dude goes, because I'm definitely a fan. Rating: 8/10

genre: soul You may have been in my situation before, where you've heard  of this famous artist, but never took the time to sit down and listen. That was the case with Otis Redding. I decided to do the man justice and give my take on one of his biggest songs. Now, the instrumentation and composition isn't exactly the strong point, nor is it the intended highlight. If anything, I think it's the poetry in the lyrics and the message that gives the song its powerful gravity. The languid, relaxed, paradisaical impression given off by the lyrics is something I can get behind. As we all know though, the time that this was written in was filled to the brim with the tension of the concurrent social issues. Whether or not this juxtaposition was intended or not is left to further research. Nonetheless, there's something idyllic that takes you away. The soft, genuine tone in Otis's performance is more or less the culprit. Rating: 7.5/10

genre: pop I struggled today to figure out what I wanted to write about. As a last resort, I clicked into a random piece on one of Spotify's curated lists. Sometimes, after enough digging, you come upon tiny little gems in the sand. What dragged me in was the honey-drip, synth mix that Atelier Blue put together as the core of their sound. The vocals, eh. I'm not a big fan of the high-pitched, indecipherable accents to the song. It veers on the edge of uncomfortable to me, but that's just my opinion. The beat itself is appreciable, but I wish they dove into that idea a lot more, instead of converging on a typical formulaic song structure. Now that I think about it, this song just may not have a lot going for it aside from the satisfying synth production. Oh well, it does have its merits, and bodes promise. Rating: 6/10

genre: rap, hip-hop Holy, when I first heard this song I knew I had to write about it. It's the one meme song . I only found out about Denzel Curry from his cover of RATM's  Bulls on Parade, which is a piece of work in of itself. Exploring the slightest bit, I come upon his most famous song, Ultimate . Upon a further listen, I realize it's that one song I never found the name of. It's one of, if not, the most hype song I can think of within it's genre. The hard party beat is top-notch, but the reason why I want to highlight Denzel is his lyrical finesse. With songs like these, the lyrics tend to be on the simpler, unintelligent side of things. Denzel seeks a level beyond that, incorporating passionate and meaningful, mature lyrics into what would be played at a club. That sheer juxtaposition is the stuff I crave in an artist. I'm going to be on the lookout for more. Rating: 8.5/10

genre: experimental snack: popcorn Finding myself on an emotional branch of music, today's going to be a short listen and a short write-up. This experimental piece is anchored by large, encompassing, dominant piano chords. Although it's labeled experimental, the chords themselves aren't groundbreaking. I guess in its simplicity, the chords hold that much more meaning. The swelling bass notes and the trickling notes in the higher registers evoke this "drifting" feeling. To that end, I guess it achieves what it set out to do. This would work well in movie, to be honest. Other than that, it is incredibly contemplative and uplifting in a subtle, and appreciative way. It feels comforting, and homely. Less is more I guess. Rating: 7.5/10

genre: hip-hop, rap snack: hershey's cookies and cream This name has been popping up on my feed from time to time, and I finally bit the bullet to figure out what was up. As what is possibly his most popular song, I'm hoping to see what the hype is all about. First thoughts: his intonation and rapping aren't the most attractive... They seem over-exaggerated, "oversung" I guess. I'm a big fan of Kendrick's many voices, so I'm probably coming from an incredibly biased point of view. It may be rap, but the way Juice WRLD enunciates the beats are almost too  conversational, and as a result stunt the emotional weight behind his lyrics. Speaking of lyrics, the content refers to a person being haunted by a loved one who has been separated from him. It's quite poetic, and the guitar-like synth emphasizes this aspect of the song. However, I am not a fan of the sheer contrast between the cleaner guitar and the emphatic bass beats typical of the hip-hop g

genre: instrumental rock snack: chao ga I really try not to write about the same band more than once unless I really have to. With Maggie Rogers and Agalloch, their impressive pieces convinced me to write multiple posts. If you've been following, Tang  is one of the first bands I wrote about. Being extremely new to the music scene, Tang  has just put out a new set of songs, with Swan Gang being one of them. Now, I really enjoyed their single Moon Sugar , but wow was I surprised with the quality and consistency of Swan Gang . Not only does it uphold the same style and flair that I've come to really enjoy from Tang's sound and style, it raises the bar. With even more juicy riffs and rhythms, Swan Song sounds like it could be their best song for the times to come. Opening with a poppy, spunky guitar riff, the lead melody guitar plays along with voluptuous bends. I love  the lead guitar in this, because it tells me that they know how to have fun with their sound. But lo a

genre: indie rock snack: gardettos  "Who the fuck is Phoebe Bridgers?" is right. She's apparently immensely popular, but I have no idea who she is. And off of that, here's my take. From a first listen, the composition in general is pretty plain and vanilla. Elements of soft rock, a simplistic drum beat, nothing out of the ordinary. It took me a bit to really appreciate the song for what it is. Phoebe's voice, although it seems muddled, is unique and grows on you. Besides the slight accent (is it even an accent?), her soft-spoken voice and the way her emotions come through the microphone is pleasant. Personally it's the best component of the song, as the other instruments are a bit lackluster to be honest. All the instruments seem to have been filtered through the exact same filter with their slight fuzzy lo-fi tone. Nonetheless, the song is really catchy! The backup harmonics come in at the exact right time and supplement her soothing voice. Rating: 8.5/

genre: psychedelic, pop  snack: orville redenbacher popcorn As the name implies, the general tone of the song evokes elevated feelings of contemplation, wonder, and profundity. Really, you're just floating around in space, hypnotized by pearlescent rays of light. Accompanied by a subtle, droning, background synth, the relaxed, mesmerized vocals blend to form a cohesive reflection of the lyrics. You can almost hear the pain in the singer's voice when he accentuates those breathy high notes. Those give me goosebumps, but the remaining vocal parts don't have quite the same impact. There aren't really any surprises with song though. I guess that may just be their style.  A theme is thrown down, and is minimally developed so as to invoke a sort of trance. The drunken, aquatic drip of the guitar solos further enhance this hypnotic effect. I don't know really know if this song stands out on its own. Sure, it encourages creative, personal imagery, but there isn't en

genre: indie pop, Japanese I forgot how I arrived to this point, but it was a lot of branching out with international bands I've listened to before. Lamp is a nice little piece of work that resulted from this digging around. Their stuff in general varies quite a bit, but this song in particular reminds me of some of the funky stuff that Sheena Ringo makes. I don't even know how to say the name of the song anyway. Overall, the chord progressions are spicier than what I am used to nowadays. Granted, this is probably more commonly found in the jazzy rock funk type of bands that you see here. What I like the most about this song though is its playfulness with rhythm and syncopation. It's never a dull day for me whenever I try to figure out the underlying structure of the song. It's difficult to define a verse, as the singing itself flows very naturally and freely. I can't comment on the material of the lyrics, but the aesthetic as a whole is incredibly pleasing, es

genre: hard rock  snack: pineapple These guys sound straight off a 70's rock and roll record. The bombastic drum beat, the raspy, grungy singing, and the particular distortion of the guitar. Not to mention, I haven't listened to a song quite this uptempo in a while, so it's a fresh listen. This band is definitely energetic, and it shows in their music. I would hope that when they play this song live, it's even faster . The song's only two minutes anyway, but the blistering speeds would make it an instant crowd shaker. I can only imagine the kind of energy they bring to their type of audience. Knowing the past and current state of rock, I personally think it's incredibly difficult to stand out among the well-established canon of the genre. Criminal Hygiene  have the attitude, and it's infectious. But, they're going to need a bit more oomph  to really make the impact I want them to have. Let's wait and see if they can ride this train even further.

genre: country Delving further into the small puddle that is my knowledge of old, classic country music, we arrive at Emmylou Harris, close colleague to the equally famous, if not more, Dolly Parton. The subtleties between their voices are many, but for the most part, the sentiments are the same. Of all the kinds of country songs, it's the heartfelt, sorrowful ones that are the most striking and captivating. Lucky me, because Emmylou has plenty of those. Boulder to Birmingham  serves an additional entry to that, what with its soothing vocals, gentle electric guitars, and the particular, and delightful shrill/vibrato of the Emmylou on top of that. Rating: 7/10

genre: metal snack: hershey's cookies and cream  This song suggestion was derived from Spotify's algorithms, from which the input songs were the slew of daily posts on this blog. Evidently, I've been a little too focused on the metal side of things, but it's not like I ever made a restriction in the first place. Either way, this seems like your run-of-the-mill black metal song, in song structure and instrumentation. I may be experiencing fatigue, but I'm pretty much over this genre of music. I need a little bit more life in my music, more variation, more development of themes without extending the song longer than it needs to be. Unless it expands beyond the norms of the genre, I sleep. It's also possible I'm just spoiled by what could be the best bands of the genre, and I don't have a proper understanding of what the genre truly is. I call it how I see it though, and this song just doesn't do much for me. It's atmospheric and melancholic, an

genre: psychedelic pop snack: chao ga Wow, these guys are quite a package.It's almost like a continuation of late era Beatles when they got incredibly experimental with their music. The tone and playful style of bass guitar that goes on throughout Homage  is extremely reminiscent of the Beatles work. The swells of the strings and sliding guitars only make a stronger case for this analysis. Luckily, that's not all they are. They add a bunch of quirky instruments, techniques that color their distinct musical style. One of my favorite tidbits in this song is the faux-baroque run by what sounds like a harpsichord. The journey starts and ends with this specific run, and I think it makes for a more complete and composed song. Overall, this is quaint song that incorporates interesting, tasteful elements without being too cheesy and imitative of the source of inspiration.  Rating: 8/10