Tea Time

GENRE: acoustic, soft rock spaghetti I can't remember how I discovered this person, but I'm so glad I did. She's a Chinese artist that mainly sings in English. Even more, I just found out that she's the daughter of Faye Wong , which is even cooler considering that Faye is the premiere artist featured on Final Fantasy VIII's soundtrack. I've been listening to a lot  of Leah's work, and I have such a huge appreciation for how different her songs are from song to song. Sometimes, she incorporates a more funky and poppy influence, as seen in My Days, or a more experimental approach as seen in A swim in the love that you give me . Not only does that speak to the creative juices that flow in her head, but also serves as a testament of making music for music's sake. No matter the medium, her message can be disseminated. I'll admit, because with other artists I can get fatigued by just how their styles stagnate over the course of their career. David Bowi...

GENRE: rap, hip hop With Kanye slowly moving into a more electronic sound, it's nice to hear that some artists still produce the styles similar to College Dropout. I'm a big fan of that style of rap where the backing tracks consist of tried and true drumset grooves and darkly flamboyant, hip bass lines. You've even got that choir filling out the harmony that is otherwise absent in rap. As for the rappers themselves, I'm a big fan of MF Doom's style as well, so maybe I'll revisit him at a later date. I've always enjoyed the aesthetic that they've adopted: gritty comic book style characters with expressive lyricism. The lower vocal range is just a personal preference of mine as well; it adds just a bit more depth and meat to the spectrum. The ending section of the song, mimicking the aftermath of a bomb I guess(?), is a nice touch and further evidence of the creative and non-mainstream flexibility of these smaller rap artists. Luckily, CZARFACE just p...

GENRE: indie pop Following along the vein that is bedroom pop and atmospheric, nebulous indie singers, we find ourselves with Baybee. Compared to other songs that fall under this umbrella, the guitar work is more prevalent, which I can really appreciate. Otherwise, it's a by the books song consistent with the genre. There are a few cool elements here and there that involve the drums and guitars, but other than that, I don't foresee any particularly memorable phrases from this song. In short, it came and went. I enjoyed it though. Rating: 7/10

GENRE: folk gardettos  Sorry to break it to you, but I just can't not  write about the stuff I find from Phoebe Bridgers. Her stuff strikes an emotional core that doesn't get enough attention. Now, I don't know the entirety of the context behind the song, but you can tell that there's a shift in the warmth of the overall timbre of the song. From the instrumentation to the mixing, there's a homely feeling to the overall production. Again, Phoebe isn't too keen on making the backing tracks too complicated, usually consists of light, airy chords and melodies. It's really her voice that carries the bulk of her work. And that I can live with. I don't think I'd really have it any other way. Christmas Song  is just another example of the depth of her genre. Rating: 7.5/10

GENRE: jazz, big band Now, you may or may not get the reference here, and why I'm writing about this particular song on this particular day. But, the quality and integrity of the song itself remains the same. Written after the turmoil that was WWII, this song embraces a positive, optimistic, and romantic ending to what was one of the bleakest periods of time in our history. And frankly, I'm a huge sucker for this style of music, where a singer is backed up by a big band. The timbre and overall instrumentation gives me that feeling of that pseudo-nostalgia I've mentioned before. I guess the tone or style of music evokes that feeling of better times. Of course, it's disingenuous to think of it like that, because I imagine we only tend to remember the good times. Nonetheless, it's as real a feeling as any other. Whether or not it's a good thing is up to you. Back to the song though, the singer is perfectly fit within the time period.There's no better fitti...

GENRE: soul angry orchard I've always loved the vibe that Carole King gives off. It's one of the most comforting sounds and styles I can think of. I mean just look at the cat she has on her album cover. For decades now Carole King has been on the roll, putting out a ridiculous amount of albums. But of all of them, her most famous one is Tapestry. Frankly, I've only listened a few of the best songs on the album. I've decided today to tackle one of the other ones, namely You've Got a Friend . As usual, she features the piano as the main instrument. Where she truly shines is her ability to create this comforting and friendly atmosphere with her composition, her lyrics, and the general tone of voice that she takes. More than that, it's her ability to maintain a compelling story and message in her lyrics, almost motherly. Either way, even though this isn't the best piece on her album, it's still a nice song to drive by when doing so. Rating: 7.5/10 ...

GENRE: heavy metal smoothie It's about time I get back into something that's on the opposite side of the spectrum. Something that's not sadboi or sadgirl music/aesthetic. But, thinking about it again, maybe this song could fall into the same category. Is it the lyrics or the style that makes it sadboi  music? Nonetheless, Trivium is a pretty popular metal band that grew throughout the early 2000's, and I've just never bothered to listen to their music. The only thing I knew is that their band leader is part-Japanese, which is pretty rad considering there's little Asian representation in the American metal scene. Regarding the song, the lyrics are a little cheesy, but the instrumentation is well-balanced, and the musical phrases blend well together to make a really coherent piece that flows well. The pacing that shifts from verse to chorus keeps things interesting. Matt Heafy's deeper voice is something I can really appreciate because it showcases an ex...

GENRE:   alternative rock This type of genre tends to draw a blank for me. Aside from the more popular bands (e.g. The Cure and the Smiths), I haven't really taken the dive to find more. Without a doubt, their songs are great; I wonder if it's universal. Anyway, here we are with a new exposure, at least to me. You get the uplifting drums and bluesy guitar riffs, with a dual paradigm going on with both a distorted guitar and a cleaner guitar. The singing style seems to skew into that certain style that's famous for the time. The style echoes the bands I mentioned previously, but there doesn't seem to be the energy or same emotional depth in the performance that grabs me like the others do. The singer's vocal performance almost verges on sounding lazy and exasperated. This may have sounded better if I grew up in the time, but it definitely seems B-tier material in context of the other titans in the genre. That, or this just isn't really my genre. Rating: 5/...

GENRE: J-rock spaghetti & edamame It's been so long since I've listened to SHISHAMO in a long time, and it's partly because their music on Spotify is literally is in Schrodinger's box because sometimes it's on there and sometimes it's not. Today I checked, this is literally their only song on Spotify, even though I know for a fact that they've had their whole discography on it at one point. Anyway, to the song. The reason why I said "partly" earlier is because there is a larger, more fleeting reason behind why I don't really follow them as much. Their songs, although enjoyable to come extent, seem like they are cut from the same cloth. If I were to run all their previous songs to train a model that would procedurally generate newer songs, it would generate something like this. It feels like there's no heart in these songs anymore, like their written by corporate puppet masters. Now, that's not to criticize the band members the...

GENRE: indie root beer Sometimes, Spotify just seems to know what exactly I want to hear. Their song recommendations, although often off the mark, can sometimes hit the bullseye. In what seems to be a shallow pool, the quality and cleanliness of the pool is worth taking a gander. Lunar Vacation's discography is humble, but their commitment to their style and sound makes them worth the listen. Of course, this is dependent on your tastes. For me personally, the level of their music theory, the lyrical content, and the overall mood is something that resonates with me. With respect to an earlier post about Babehoven's  "Out of this Country", it's a more colorful depiction in the same style. The title itself is fitting. The lethargic, clean guitar work makes you just want to drift around. The chords themselves could be described as contemplative as well. Seemingly on that same train of thought, the chord progression lends itself to that mindless wander as well, s...

GENRE: indie pop Back on track with entirely new artists, we have a dented gem in the sands. The production itself I can enjoy, even the melody provides us with a catchy tune to remember in our heads. Unfortunately, they run with a good idea and find themselves off course when adding a rap section to this otherwise decent song. What I think is most commendable is the guitar work, both bass and guitar. The rhythmic sections are sweet as nectar, and the accompaniment plays a huge role in that. I'm a big fan of just the overall beat of the song, but I can't wash out the taste that the rap section leaves. Rating: 6.5/10

GENRE: indie rock hot cheetos Piquing my curiosity, I wanted to take a closer look at KKB's new album, and my my my was it worth it. This is a case study on why you shouldn't always judge a single song by itself when it is a smaller part of the whole. Only Acting  is weird, yes, but in the context of the whole album it makes much more sense. Of all the songs, one of the ones I enjoyed the most was Flyaway , with a much heavier rock band presence throughout. Guitars and drums lace the instrumentation with a distorted, realistic, natural and grounded sound. KKB additionally does what they do best, and that's creating catchy pop melodies that bring out their specific, unique style. The song doesn't overstay its welcome either. Concluding in about 2 minutes, it gets the point across. Going by the density of satisfaction per unit of time, this really tops the charts. Rating: 8.5/10

GENRE: rock snack: Ore-O's are back baby To your surprise, I haven't ever listened to Tame Impala. I literally know nothing about them, other than that they are a pretty big group. Here it goes with one of their most famous songs. In fact, I actually recognize the riff, and without a doubt it's one of the coolest licks I've heard. So much so, that I think it's nearly impossible to follow up on it. In fact, I feel that the verses and vocal performances just don't do it quite the justice it deserves. Yet, I know that if I listen to the riff over and over I'll hate it eventually. So, let's just appreciate it for what it is now. What I like most about this song in general is its intentional and clever use of a wide spectrum of instruments and tones. There's plenty of small quips and phrases that make their appearance throughout. No matter what, the main riff stays present. At the surface, it appears to be pretty simple, but a deeper look is warra...

GENRE: rap For my 100th effort, I wanted to do something a bit more personal. Rage Against The Machine is one of , if not, my favorite artists. Their passion and vigor for their art is real and almost tangible in their music and performance. However, they've been broken up for a long time now, and each individual piece has been on their own. Zack De La Rocha himself has been featured on other stuff, but this song in particular is a piece of his own.  Of course, without the musical input of Tom Morello, Zack's composition can be a bit dull and flat sometimes. Nonetheless, he's known for his lyrical content and performance more than anything. With that said, you can really hear the differences here. Instrumentation is minimal, with little development over the course of the song. However, the message itself speaks to the Zack's notorious, violent anger towards an oppressive system. Obviously, I can't relate, and I can't say I agree to all the nuances. So yes, ...

  GENRE: hip hop smoothie I've always enjoyed how Anderson Paak can span a broad spectrum of vocal ranges, atmospheres, and emotions. In a collaboration  that caught my eye, Smokey Robinson joins in to enhance the already colorful mind of Anderson Paak. This song is a bit slower than most of his more famous stuff, but that only creates a greater, more enticing allure for me. Overall, this album takes on a slower, more slow jazz approach, with a soft, warm synth outlining the harmony. The melody is subtle, showing little movement over the course of the verse. However, when the chorus arrives, it's rewarding and feels like home. It's more likely a symptom of his foundation as a rapper. It's always nice to have an inexplicit song to break up the pace too. Smokey Robinson doesn't take over the song, but contributes his unique style on this fitting song. Overall, a very chill piece of work. with a somber and empowering message. Rating: 7.5/10

GENRE: pop Now, when I said "Bette Davis Eyes" was one of the quintessential 80's songs, I was slightly fibbing. This  is what the 80's sounds like. To be honest, I might find an even more fitting song in the future. The similarities are apparent. The synth plays an integral part is defining the identity of the song. At first, it sounds a bit off too. The riff is in Eb major, but there's nothing off-kilter here. Perhaps it's the vibratory, phaser effect being added that makes it seem a little weird. That's definitely not a bad thing either, because it really adds to the charm of the piece. I'm also a fan of key changes, which occurs a little more than halfway through the song. When done right, they add a lot to the theatrical and thematic message of the song. Now, if it wasn't convincing enough, it's one of the themes for Top Gun. I can't say much more to make the case. It may not mirror the love songs of today, but that's what mak...

GENRE: indie  green tea Wow, I can't remember the last time I've actually had tea while writing these posts. But, that's besides the point. Today, we have yet again another indie song with a heavy emphasis on the clean guitars, the female voice, and jazzy chords. Unlike the more recent songs, both singers have a lo-fi tinge, adding a fuzzy, charming, faux-nostalgic tone to the song. The various effects and instruments laden throughout the piece are pleasantly used, without being too overbearing. The lyrics aren't anything groundbreaking, but instead are endearing and considering the topic, it's appropriate. In the mixing, the drums are extremely prevalent, but they don't quite add as much as I think they should. Must percussion always be so neglected? Rating: 7.5/10

GENRE: acoustic, folk Slowing it down a bit, we take a look at a more soft-spoken, humbling artist. A voice matching his composure and outward appearance, his songs bring upon a warm feeling of home, even if it's not in your home language. In fact, I'm not even sure what language it is. Gimme a second. Okay, it's Indonesian, so that's definitely new. In reality there's not much going here, a simple singer and his acoustic guitar showcasing a personal message. All I can really say is that the singer's voice fits and projects the language in a very beautiful manner. I wonder what Indonesian traditional music is like. One day we'll see and compare. Perhaps it's akin to Indonesia urbanizing and coming upon it's own identity. Rating: 7/10 

GENRE: kpop water Heard it on a radio, where my Uber drive was catering to the youth. So why not? I've listened to some BTS by osmosis. My sister is a fanatic, probably the biggest one I know. This song features Halsey, but honestly I don't think I've ever listened to Halsey, so I'm not even entirely sure where she is featured. Either way, as with most kpop, you get catchy melodies present in the accompanying instruments. With modern pop, you get a very common rhythmic theme. The double consecutive sixteenth note hits have shown up everywhere. Just look up Adam Neely's video on it (no link provided). And for that, it makes me think that their music is as manufactured as ever. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Their music is catchy and a good listen, but it's more their personality that sells. It's perhaps this common structure of BTS's music that has desensitized me to this style of music. For better or worse, it will still grab a hold on young...

  GENRE: jazz Oh man, finally we've found some real jazz, the type that really gets you thinking and going. This is a bit of an older album, but that doesn't really matter here. It only means that this man has put out more material since then. Utilizing spicy chords progressions, mind-bending rhythmic structures, and the simple sounds of a piano, guitar, and drums, there's nothing quite so pure and explorative. This style and timbre reminds me of Stimpy Lockjaw, but without the distortion. There's just so much to unpack, and within each phrase there's so much material to digest, it's really quite the opposite of a puzzle. Imagine trying to break apart a puzzle inverse of the way it was put together. That'd be quite something. And it was a real task to put it together in the first place. Following the frenzy of unison hits and guitar and piano solos, you get a complete silent transition, almost as if you are given time to ponder what exactly you just hea...

GENRE: jazz pop pita chips and hummus I'll be frank, this was just in my Youtube recommendations. Honestly, sometimes they just give us the right kind of content. Now that I've been doing this for awhile now, I'm starting to figure out what kind of sound and style I like. Starting off, there's that warm, soft synth. Articulate, drawn out chords open up the song, before tightening up to function as a simple chord progression along with the bass guitar. If only the drums were a bit more lively and interactive with the other instruments. The lyrics themselves are simple and easy to listen to. The interlude around 2:40 is the kind of material I would like to see more of in this song. In other words, the verse and chorus are just...ok. Not exactly gripping or catchy, but harmonious enough to give a coherent song. It's a nice little diddy, or a background song if anything. Rating: 6.5/10

GENRE: pop SNACK: tacos Something about this song seems extremely  familiar, which makes me think I've listened to it before. I wasn't able to find where I may have heard it, but man does it give off the 80's vibe. The synth is classic . I love that particular sound, and that shaker is just the cherry on top. What's most interesting to me is Kim Carnes's lower register and huskier, raspier tone. She makes the most of it and that's really a defining trait of the song. Not many people can really make that work. Upon further research, it turns out the Bette Davis is one of the greatest actresses in Hollywood history, and she's definitely a peculiar look on her face (below). Other than that, I don't know really know it might mean. Apparently Bette Davis was famous for playing cynical characters. Perhaps that's what the song is hinting at. Nonetheless, the song describes the opposite. The girl that's the subject of the song is beautiful, talente...

GENRE: indie folk I recognize this guy's face, and the music seems fitting I guess. I know next to nothing, and so here I go judging the whole man's discography based on one of his most popular songs. Simple as it can be, just a man's voice and his guitar. And this is where it kind of teeters on line of boring and gripping. The lyrics themselves have a lot of depth, but the medium by which they are conveyed are a bit too bare for my tastes; I guess you could say it's "skinny". This song is extremely popular too, but it doesn't seem to be doing it for me... Personally, I think the melody has way too much movement, it all kind of blends together, with nothing really standing out in terms of musical themes or ideas. I want to like this song, but at my core I find it difficult. Rating: 4/10

GENRE: folk It's been difficult to follow up on artists, given that I try to highlight a different artist everyday. But, Phoebe Bridgers is too hard to pass up on. I wrote about Motion Sickness  previously, and I went on to listen to the rest of the album. You Missed My Heart  is all about the lyrics. The instrumentation is extremely minimal, with a majority of the accompaniment being humming guitar arpeggios. The song tells a painful story, with a beautifully dark symbolism regarding what "missing" the heart really means. Her ability to write and layer the meanings is why I keep coming back for another listen. I'll keep it short, mainly because the song plays more like a narrative. Of course, the melody and verses are just as memorable and well-written. Simplistic in nature, profound in spirit, Phoebe Bridgers shows me again why I'm a natural fan of her music. Rating: 8.5/10

GENRE: pop HERSHEY'S COOKIES AND CREAM I've seen this name pop up everywhere, and I refused to click until recently. He's put out an album recently, and I might go through it eventually. Consider this my first impression/reaction. The synth riff, particularly its production, is delightful. Other than that, nothing too gripping. His vocal range is a nice feature, especially when the airy falsettos are mixed in with the more grounded emotional vocals. Unfortunately, that's where the positives end. I'm having trouble finding other pieces of the song that I enjoy. That's not necessarily bad, but it defines an upper limit for the song. I'm not being a hater though, because I really  enjoy his other song/collab lovely   (with Khalid).  As such... Rating; 6.5/10

GENRE: indie frosted flakes It's always nice to see a bit more representation out there in the lineup of popular artists nowadays. But really, let's go into the breakdown of this more recent song.  The guitar work itself is upstanding and puts itself above many other contemporaries. I can really dig the interesting, blips of the synth, which tells me that they have an ear for playful, catchier tunes. The composition gives me vibes of Daft Punk's  "Fragments of Time", offering a funky, jumpy beat, especially with the bass line. The singing may take a little to get used to. Phoebe Bridgers' voice took a bit for me, so maybe this'll grow on me. It just seems kind of inarticulate and muffled. No doubt, it's soft to the ears, but I'm left wanting more out of it as a result. Realistically, this doesn't detract from the overall quality of the song. It's written and structured well, with a memorable melody to boot. I'm hoping the l...

GENRE: kpop HOT CHEETOS Ooooo now we're delving somewhere we're I have not trod yet. I would put myself as below average when it comes to knowing kpop, but my little swathe of knowledge isn't nothing. I didn't want to write about too big of an artist, and so I stuck with f(x) . I also chose f(x) because it looked like a mathematical function. Anyway, the song itself takes a slightly different route in its approach to kpop, evoking a more dance-oriented vibe. The chord progression is also interesting, incorporating a slight dissonance, but a resolution noethe less. I can really appreciate that, especially in the Korean pop industry. Something I can never get over though is Korean rapping. No matter what, it just feels so out of place sometimes. Different strokes for different folks, I guess, because it has definitely  not  fallen out of popularity. Otherwise, the singing isn't anything too extraordinary, and falls into the usual gamut of Korean singers. Don...

GENRE: indie rock It's always nice to take a peek into a smaller artist. So today, we're taking a look at Babehoven, a small band based in LA. First things first, the stylistic choices in this song have been done before; it oozes the essence of early 2000's indie music. In my head, the way to stand out is to belt out a memorable melody, in tandem with fitting lyrics. With Out of This Country , it's all very relatable and touches upon a simplistic, if not overdone concept. Nonetheless, I have a soft spot for these types of songs. It's that - sitting in the back seat watching the buildings go by- kind of mood. I hope they see more success and grow to have a larger fanbase, because they certainly deserve more hits. Rating: 7.5/10

GENRE: progressive, metal Plini is another artist that has flown under my radar for awhile, but not today. His touch and approach to creating music aligns so well with what envision to be my choice and taste in music. Selenium Forest is a clinic  on how to write and perform articulate, harmonic, emotional music with masks of metal and instrumental styles. The introduction is particularly mesmerizing, but the song only picks up from there. Odd time signatures are the norm here, but nothing too mind-bending on the level of Meshuggah. You almost never really notice anymore considering how persistent it is throughout the song, which is the sign of an artist that composes through the music, instead of filling some kind of imaginary quota for progressive rock. Aside from the technical prowess, the structure of the song kind of all blends, and seems more like one big solo. That's not in of itself a bad thing, but it's hard to pick out particularly memorable parts of the song as a...

GENRE: electronic SNACK: chocolate dipped coconut frozen bar Well, I guess this is a two-for, because I didn't realize this was a remix of an already-existing song by Drake. So, to get some context and give the current song the proper respect, I listened to both. In my opinion, Yaeji's version takes a more minimalist, timid approach with its softer synths and percussion. I don't quite agree with the artistic choice of changing the underlying harmony. For that matter, I enjoy Drake's beat a bit more. In general, Drake has a more coherent structure, with intermissions by other artists to break up the song and create a narrative. Yaeji takes all the juicy parts of the song, dials it down, and really only preserves the verses and melody. Even then, the melody isn't quite particularly interesting. Unfortunately, it then repeats ad libitum. Not quite compelling, but it's easy on the ears and definitely something to pass the time in the background. Rating: 5/10...