Tea Time

GENRE: math-rock Just what the hell is that title? It takes up nearly the entire length of the text bar that I write the titles in. Even then, I'm not even sure how that relates to the song itself, especially when there are no lyrics . Perhaps, this is the entrance theme for the Nicotine Vampire? Is it the maddening sound and rush of drug addiction? I couldn't tell you. What I can tell you is that this is the type of math-rock that I dig. It's got a much heavier, distorted sound. I abhor math rock that over-complicate songs for the sake of making it tough to replay or imitate. With When the Catholic Girls Go Camping, the Nicotine Vampires Rule Supreme , you get a much more coherent piece, with a contemplative, developing middle section that leads to a buildup into a climax. It really showcases their writing chops as well as their ability to play. Even more impressive, you don't really mind that it's just a two-piece band. Man, I'm just really digging their so...

GENRE: chill, R&B I've heard this name float around a lot, and today I decided to actually dig in. I just first want to say that the piece itself is quite simple, but that is part of its strength as a song. The singer legitimately has parts few and far between. The melody transfers between instruments, which I find gives a lot of depth to an otherwise mellow song. Even then, I think the harmonic content in some of the solos (especially the guitar) is catchy. Although, the cadence in the lyrics seem a little off sometimes, like an extra word needed to fit in there.  But, there's nothing to scoff at when it comes to the actual production. It's incredibly clean, and there's interesting bits and pieces here and there that I think is needed more in today's mainstream pop.  Rating: 7/10 

GENRE: psychedelic, dreamy pop Wow, I'm having a great first impression simply from their aesthetic. There's a weird nostalgic imprint on their brand, with a seemingly human-centric, minimalist take on their music as well. Lovers Rock  even samples a bit from what sounds like an older TV show from like the 50's (based on the accent in the sample). The haunting, yet comforting strings permeate the entire song, and really are the main harmonic anchor in the song. The singing performance is lulled, and perfectly fits the tone of the album cover. The drums are a bit too poppy and upbeat in my opinion, but are otherwise not too distracting. I like listening carefully to this piece, because there's a multitude of decorations that are trickling in and out throughout the whole song. They've certainly got a cool vibe to them. Rating: 7.5/10

GENRE: post-hardcore If you know me, you know I listen to Strawberry Girls. I've done my own research and found that the guitarist used to be a part of Dance Gavin Dance . Further research led me to find that the band itself changes its lineup pretty often. Nonetheless, I'm listening to one of their most popular songs as listed on Spotify. When it comes to this style of music, I'm a big fan of the instrumentals. I could never quite get hooked onto the emo lyrics and singing style adopted by most post-hardcore bands. Nonetheless, it's not ear-grating. The screamo doesn't bother me too much, but it does verge on the side of being excessive. All of this really boils down to me to musical preference. I can appreciate the technicality and energy injected into the music, but its execution and end product isn't something I can totally get behind. Rating: 6/10

GENRE: indie pop 85% dark chocolate While this chocolate may be bitter, the sounds of this little gem of a song provide a good counterbalance. Consisting of two people, the instrumentation can seem a bit lacking. The individual parts themselves are nothing more than simple riffs and beats that anchor the honey-drip melody and vocal performance. A number of filters have been applied to give the song a lo-fi, pseudo-nostalgic vibe. It's definitely the right way to go as well, considering the tone and timbre of the singer's voice. There's even a backing choir in there to solidify that fact. You could just imagine them dancing in the back or alongside the singer. Rating: 7/10

GENRE: math rock I was feeling particularly picky today. I wanted math rock, but a specific sound and timbre from it. I didn't want anything too soft or busy. Oftentimes, the sheer display of technical skill overshadows and buries the harmonic quality.  I eventually decided on this peculiar song. The title is odd, but that's besides the point because the lyrical content itself could apply to any mopey song about love. One thing that stands out is the sheer contrast between the busy math rock in the background behind the slower-paced vocal performances. The multitude of voices is an interesting element as well, but it doesn't seem like they are playing different characters. Overall, the song feels like it attacks too many things in the wrong direction. The composition just seems totally divided, but perhaps it fits better with the theme and the message they're trying to get across.  Rating: 6.5/10

GENRE: soft rock It's not because of the most recent Elton John movie that I'm listening and writing about this. This song happened to show up in passing, and it turns out to be Sir Elton John. It's been a while since I've listened to anything new by him. Most people know the classics and greatest hits, but it's still mind-blowing to know that he's written so much material throughout his career. In this song, you've got a pretty monotonous lyric, b lue eyes... , that it kind of rubbed me the wrong way by the end of the song. The chord progression is interesting though, with ominous and haunting passing chords between the usual poppy chord progression. Since the 80's though, our sound and preference for music has grown. For me, this timbre just seems a bit stale to me. The plain drums, the piano, and synth sound is a little to thin for my tastes. It's somewhat similar to Lionel Richie's works. Rating: 5/10

GENRE: soul, funk I was surprised to find out this song came out in 1976, because the quality and makeup of the sound seems incredibly modern. I can't say for sure that that's the truth, but it kind of adds to the novelty and innovation of the song. While I admire the production, it's just the composition itself that strikes me as a little bland. It does seem like it'd be a really good piece to improvise and mess around with. The solo is sparse but remains interesting and a pleasure to listen to. Nonetheless, simple at heart, but a little too simple for my own tastes. It feels sterilized. It's incredibly relaxing though; you almost feel like you're at a beach. And frankly, that's all I'll really use it for.  Rating: 6/10

GENRE: electronic Why is it that, with a metalcore band, you have a random electronic piece in here that belongs on someone else's record? That's the question I asked myself as I began sampling through Attack Attack!  's discography. Their typical material, I'm not too big a fan of. I guess with a song title like Interlude , you'd expect something a little different from the rest of the album. However, something so bizarre like this feels completely out of place. Still, it's a pretty fun piece to listen to. Of course, it follows most general trends of contemporary electronic trance music and such. I do enjoy the keyboard run around the 1 minute mark that seemingly simulates a breakdown of sorts. Otherwise, it's pretty bland and run-of-the-mill. Rating: 4.5/10

GENRE: indie pop Wow, these guys sound like the perfect analog of a typical female-led indie band. Their sound is eerily familiar, with the exception of the deeper tones of their singers. Although on the moodier side of things, their laid-back tone is the perfect type to drive through town to. The guitar harmonies and even the solo's got a dream-like quality to it as well. There's a particular, near-unstable interval in there (dominant 7th?) that gives it this twangy and wacky vibe. Yet, on top of the backdrop of this synth-heavy riff, it makes for an odd-tasting, but not foul, timbre and style that I imagine is unique to Sports . However, this song has only cemented my specificity in distinguishing songs I like. There's just not enough momentum that drives this song, which I understand is really not the original intent. They seem like a fun group of guys. Rating: 6/10

GENRE: psychedelic, indie One of the smallest bands I've heard, Mini Blinds  seem like a fun little group with their own distinct charm. Dust  is currently their most popular song off their most recent, eponymous EP. The instrumentation itself consists of little more than a synth, a drumset, and some guitars. The vocal performance itself could be considered quite minimalist as well, offering very few lyrics and seemingly stagnant melodic lines. It's all supposed to be dreamy in the first place, so I can understand the musical rationale for putting forward this type of minimalism. I do appreciate the second voicing in the ending that at least builds upon the story being presented. Unfortunately, while I do know that it's supposed be quite subdued and low to the ground, there just isn't enough contextual relationships that keep it interesting for me. Rating: 5/10

GENRE: rap, country Well, I guess it was inevitable. When you first think of it as a fusion of rap and country, you probably wouldn't expect it to be one of the hottest hits of the year. More than that, Lil Nas has been riding this train and getting a lot of mileage out of it, quickly booming onto the mainstream. Regarding the quality of the song itself, there's no denying that it is catchy and gets stuck in your head so easily. One hypothesis I have is that the general lower register of the song is something that's ostensibly more uncommon in today's pop music. It's like finding a new favorite snack. Plus, the topic itself is unfamiliar territory, almost stereotypical, from most people's points of view. I think it all blends together to be both a funny and pleasurable hit piece. With the uncanny inclusion of Billy Ray, there's no doubt that you'd get an interesting song given that no one knows what he's been up to for the past decade. Rating: 8...

GENRE: hip hop, rap I've always been a fan of Tyler's work; its unconventional quirks, its vulgarity, and its emotional depth. What a treat it was to see that he dropped a new album, of which today's song is the title track.  That beginning synth is so incredibly ominous and bold. I love that it just hangs there for the first 20 seconds of the song. People just don't do that in mainstream pop, and it says something about the monolith that is Tyler the Creator. He's always had an interesting way about his composition, and frankly he has a knack for innovating his sound.  The whole piece itself is quite experimental, with few verses, interjecting voices and instruments, and overall a loose song structure. Tyler doesn't even seem to be a prominent part of this song. I'm a big fan of the outro as well, as it provides great contrast to his previous work. The melodic lines are brooding and serve as a functional introduction to the tone of this album. I ...

GENRE: rap, hip hop I don't know how Youtube does it, but sometimes its recommendation algorithm spits out an incredibly delightful tune. The song itself reminds me of old school Kanye, incorporating a blend of oldies samples and rap. At least someone out there is putting out this kind of quality, because I really do miss the old Kanye.  I can't help but feel like this song belongs in a different generation though. If there's anything to nitpick though, it's that the entire song feels unoriginal. The sound is all too familiar with the past decade. However, that's not to say it didn't do it well. The production is certainly a plus, but I can't confidently say that it pushed a genre forward. But, I am definitely being pretty harsh and setting a high bar here, higher than with the other songs I've listened to.  Rating: 6.5/10 

GENRE: R&B A dominant force in the entertainment industry, Mary J. Blige has remained a driving force on music, movies, TV shows, etc. You get the point. She's kind of a big deal, has been for awhile now. Whether you enjoy any of her brand, that's up to you. I figured that it's only proper to give a listen to what she's most famous for.  She's so representative of the 90's style of hip hop and R&B. All the novel instruments are there: the bass, the synthetic pianos and strings, you get the picture. The groove itself is pretty solid too. What I'm noticing is a hint of artistic choice as well, seeing more experimental structures and chord progressions. The lyrics could use with a little more sophistication, but her vocal prowess shines through nonetheless. Overall, a solid jam. Rating: 7/10 

GENRE: funk Ah, so that's what this song is called. I swear I've heard it before in a commercial somewhere. Who knew that this was also the band that my jamming group is obsessed with. I just considered them to be a pretty standard funk group, but I admire the creativity and dynamics of this song. Everything's got a subdued, almost muted sound that makes it incredibly innovative and satisfying to listen to. I'm not familiar with the typical instruments that are used in this context either, so it's a fun to listen to a timbre that's relatively new to me. Case in point: the solo that takes this song out is delightful and spunky. In my opinion though, what really makes this song addictive is the staccato cadence in the vocal performance. It's quite energetic while at the same time not being too bombastic and overwhelming. Rating: 8/10

GENRE: classical It's definitely been a while since I've done a classical piece. Most of it stems from not being able to figure out proper search terms and such. I know of the name Rachmaninoff, and how much of a romantic he is. Personally that's my favorite style of classical music, which may come off as amateurish, but what can you do. The ears do me no wrong.  Overall, an incredibly relaxing and emotional piece, especially with the grand entrance of the entire orchestra. There's plenty of nuance, and the insight and swelling of the performers' passion is palpable. No wonder it's regarded as one of the more famous pieces.  Rating: 8.5/10

GENRE: electronic, hip hop Again, just one of the smaller artists that I think is important to support. She does it all, producing the beats, putting together a cultural blend of lyrics, and overall composing a coherent piece that would fit at a post-electronic club. This song in particular is pretty representative of the rest of her music, inducing dream-like stances and daygazing atmospheres. The somber piano riff loops without getting too repetitive, and usually I'm not a fan of that type of musical technique. It's the right amount of busy when it comes to listening on repeat. Her singing and rapping don't get in the way either, and really they don't get featured at all if anything. The entire piece feels like a melting pot of ideas and contemplative emotions. Overall, it's certainly not something to really dive into. It would likely fit in the "chill lo-fi beats to study/sleep to". Rating 6.5/10

GENRE: prog rock In my jam sessions, it's been really neat to get a mixture of musical tastes as suggestions and recommendations. One song that stood out to me is this band, This Reign of Kindo , which seems like a hardcore, mysterious rock band that is equally as interesting as their name implies. Apparently there's like many musicians, and all their contributions to the song itself injects an infectious energy that carries the song forward. You've got a harmonious melding of pianos, guitars, basses, and various percussive instruments in addition to a drum set. They sound like Dave Mathews if they took some extra drugs. The singer himself is incredibly talented. His cleans are something to really envy. Still, my favorite part is the hyperactive percussion section. You've got congas, timbales, all the works. Even with the symphony of instruments, their sound is satisfyingly tight and focused. Rating: 8.5/10

GENRE: fado Exposure to a little culture is never a bad thing, which brings me to one of the smallest leads ever that I've followed. Fado is a Portuguese genre of music characterized by melancholic lyrics, folk instruments, and an oppressive loneliness.  I'm not going to take a deep dive into the lyrics, but the romanticism inherent in the language fits so perfectly with the stylistic choices and avenues of the music. I particularly enjoy the gypsy-like tones of the guitars. The singer herself is famous within the genre. All I can really say is that her voice has an incredible depth and warmth to it. The fact that the material is so poignant yet beautiful is jarring in a way that's tasteful and pleasant. It makes me wonder if I'd be able to learn some of these songs myself, because they definitely evoke a sense of companionship and comfort.  Rating: 8/10 

GENRE: indie pop This song has all the makings of a solid indie pop/rock fusion. You've got the dominant bass line, a melodic guitar riff, and the lead female singer. Whereas most of the songs I've been listening to have followed this formula, sometimes the formula falls flat depending on the quality of each individual component. Nothing seems to stand out and sticks to memory when listening to this song. It kind of drags its feet along a very structured pathway. It's definitely more relaxed piece--not quite as emotional as other songs. But perhaps this is what hurts the song most, from a personal perspective. It's a little more subdued, and as such feels like it's reaching me from an underwater crevasse.  Rating: 5.5/10 

GENRE: indie rock To be honest, I really liked what I listened to by Snail Mail . My favorite moments when listening to an album is finding a gem of a song that's one of the less popular ones, yet stands in the upper echelons relative to its peers. Full Control  is one of those songs. I can see why it doesn't seem to be the most popular ones, but that hook and chorus is just so catchy. In the moment, it really encapsulates the breadth and emotion of the album. With that being said, I feel like it's a great piece for representing the album alongside the other more popular ones. Rating: 8/10

GENRE:funk, pop, rap  I've heard this song before (maybe only like 5 seconds of it). But, it was catchy enough for me to do a deeper dive. Lizzo  has been growing quickly in the past year, and I can definitely see why. Her style and attitude is uniquely hers, and the instrumentation is catchy as can be. On top of being a eloquent rapper, her singing is tight, focused, and just fun to listen to. A lot more than just proper pitch and tone goes into a vocal performance. She certainly adds her own flair to the whole thing. The backing track itself incorporates the stereotypical elements of a funky pop hit, with that twangy guitar, a bumping bass line, and a choir to complete the piece. There's nothing wrong with it, but you've definitely heard this before. It's really Lizzo 's contributions that put it a cut above the rest. I will say that the break around 2:30 is incredibly stylish. Rating: 7.5/10

GENRE: indie fiber granola bar It's incredibly suspicious how this song came to appear in my recommended. I was jamming with some people last weekend, and one of them recommended we try out a song by this band, Rainbow Kitten Surprise . In now way, was this ever recommended to me before this incident. Now, it's all over my Youtube recommended. Is that not the creepiest thing? Is it just coincidence?  In no way will this affect my interpretation of these songs though. It's actually quite pleasant, and experimental in a way. There's more vocals than there are instruments, save for the ending section. It reads more like poetry than it does a piece of music. The cadence of the lyrics and rhythm is intuitive and catchy, with a fun story to boot. The composition feels professional, every note is incredibly intentional and within their style. I can't really find the right words to describe it.  Rating: 7/10 

GENRE: electronic, dance This is way out of my comfort zone, because I'm not familiar at all with what's objectively good within the realm of electronic music. Something that I've come to terms with though is the idea that your ears are your best tool. If it sounds good to you then what does it matter what is conventionally tasteful in the current industry. With that said, I think this song isn't bad, but it's not necessarily stimulating. I've liked some of the stuff Tove Lo put out before, but she's not quite featured as prominently as I thought she'd be. Even if the song was written to be repetitive, it doesn't hurt to highlight the talent you bring in. Even then, the song itself is ok. I don't see anything wrong with it. That's more because of how little it does wrong, than how much it does right. That's a good trade-off, I guess. Rating: 4.5/10

GENRE: progressive, instrumental  I've actually seen this band recommended to me, but I just brushed it off because I was a bit tired of the timbre associated with progressive rock and such. Now's a good time as any to revisit the genre, and I can't describe how I feel as anything but poignant. I've heard great things about this band, and this is one of their more popular songs, but I can't help but feel a certain staleness to the musical depth of the piece. I can certainly understand the complexity inherent in the individual instruments, especially the drums. The guitar parts themselves play off each other quite a bit, which makes for interesting listens, but the constant barrage of arpeggios certainly gets tiring after awhile, making for a rather amorphous blob of chords and melodic lines, with no distinguishable features. I could say that I'm just not in the mood, because I can definitely see this as more of a background song, but that would be disingenuou...

GENRE: rock After jamming today, I started to ponder what songs would make for a do-able and exciting cover to play and perform. One of the people at this jam session suggested this song, and man does it have such a remarkable sense of energy and momentum behind it. The drum groove itself turns out to be pretty popular, but I myself never listened to the Arctic Monkeys enough to find this small gem. Thinking of it now, I really enjoyed the songs that I've listened by them so far. It only makes sense for me to find more about them really. The rest of the vocals are your usual Arctic Monkeys. I have no strong feelings one way or the other, but that's probably because of how much attention the drum and guitar parts themselves attract. And that's perfectly fine with me. Rating: 8/10

GENRE: indie rock gardettos I've been craving more guitar work lately in the chill indie rock that I've been listening to, and Day Wave seems to be one good example of that. I can recognize and appreciate that the there is a lot of care put into the composition, the balance between the singer and instrumentation. However, something about the general rhythms and verses falls flat for me. Although, the message itself is somewhat relatable and impactful considering the audience and the age range. Nonetheless, there's something monotonous about the piece, both in its lack of chord depth and its fuzzed out production Rating: 5/10

GENRE: hip hop greek yogurt and oatmeal clusters I've been slowly waiting for the next big Kendrick album to come out. DAMN  was cool and all (nothing like To Pimp A Butterfly  though), but I'm curious to see what the man has in store. In the meantime, I took a quick glance at his work in between the two, which I never really spent time on because it just seemed to be demos. I don't have much, so I'll try to hit the bigger points. I love this style of Kendrick, where you've got the cool drum and bass lines supported by a jazzy singer. To Pimp A Butterfly  had a bunch of this, and I'm always glad to see more of it. On this particular piece though, I'm not a big fan of the production. The constant cymbal crash is a bit nauseating after a while, and overall, the structure of the song seems haphazard and all over the place. It definitely comes off as improvisational, and perhaps that's why it was written off to a side project. Rating: 6.5

GENRE: pop, oldies I've only ever heard of Dionne Warwick from her feature on Michael Jackson's We Are The World , and I guess now I kind of understand the rationale for her addition. The song itself isn't particularly grandiose or overly romantic as some of its contemporary pieces. However, it makes up for it (maybe it doesn't have to compensate at all) by its charming, gentler rhythm and composition, with a boppy vocal performance by hers truly. It's just a fun, short, and quick piece with a lot of pep. I would consider it an appetizer, and man does it serve its purpose. Rating: 8.5/10

GENRE: indie rock I had my doubts when I literally started listening, chocking it up to be just another one of those typical, smarmy, sadgirl rock pieces. It sounds harsh, but that's the impression I got from the seemingly monotonous guitar riff and laidback vocal performance. But to be honest, the song actually grew on me as I listened to it more. The structure of the piece actually flows really nicely, and the lyrics and cadence fit really well to the rhythm of the music. I will say that it drags a bit in between verses, especially when it's just the instrumentals being featured. But, this is fine. Contrary to what Spotify thinks, I believe that this is not her best song, but by far it is not a bad song.  Rating: 7.5/10