Tea Time

GENRE: j-rock Here's something new! Personally, I am of the opinion that it's very hard to penetrate and navigate this genre without first exploring anime. Today I found myself twisting that story, finding the music first before realizing it was for an anime. Upon listening through it, I could just tell  that it was made with an anime opening in mind. The various levels of energy (including one that would facilitate walking/running across a vista) make it quite fitting for anime tropes. However, I will concede that this particular artist is just incredibly good at her job/craft. By the way, the anime is Demon Slayer, which is relatively recent? Anyway, as for the song itself, it opens with that soft and hopeful piano riff before jumping right into a surprisingly heavy riff that's a bit unconventional I'd say. Structurally, it's still a spunky, dramatic j-rock song, but the composition and decision-making involved puts this song a bit higher in my books. J-rock ch...

GENRE: rock Well, writing about the Beatles on here would be a bit of a bore given how big they are. But alas, considering the breadth of their discography, there's no doubt there are songs out there that I don't know of. I swear I've heard this one before (especially the chorus), but I guess I never knew the actual name or words, so I'm going to let it slide. It's pretty catchy, and takes the form of some of their most popular rock songs. Instead of being about loving you, this time it's about surviving the meager life of a writer. Some things don't change, don't they? The best thing about this song is that it doesn't drag on more than it needs to. With tiny nuances here and there, it's a rock song that has the appearance of a song more complex than it really is. Beatles formula with a twist. Rating: 7/10

GENRE: indie rock Here we go with another rock song, this time from a lesser known band. Sporting what is probably one of my favorite band names, they've recently released an album this year. I quickly skimmed through most of their songs and went with a faster-paced choice. Quite frankly, their slower rock pieces don't quite have enough pull to keep me into it. This one is a little different though. Slide  has a quick and fun intro riff, utilizing suspended chords and seventh chords that are prominent in indie rock. I do like the cadence of the lyrics and the way it flows with the pace of the song. Nothing seems oddly glued together. In other words, I like to think that it's a pretty coherent piece. With that being said, it's unfortunate that the piece lacks a distinguishing quality. If I clicked into any part of the song, I would have no idea where I'd be. The intro riff kinda hangs on to the song and never lets its grip. I'm not even sure there's a trad...

GENRE: indie rock This band I would really  consider indie. All their songs are so short, like just a manifestation of a small idea. It's like their texting you on their albums. That is further perpetuated by their nondescript and subtle song titles. But what about the music itself? This particular song is quite rambunctious, it sounds like a constant wall of sound. The guitar rings so much and drowns out a lot of the other instruments. The song itself is a dialogue spoken from the perspective of a goldfish, whose entire life is just water, and it just seems normal. You're going to have to watch that video because it's pretty compelling and profound. I guess in that sense, the instrumentation is mixed in a way to seem like you're drowning in that sound? Everything sort of blends together, including the verses and choruses. And just like that, the song is ended. Rating: 5/10

GENRE: rock Man, when was the last time I listened to a rock song? Thrice  has blipped under my radar before, but I could not be bothered to dip my toes in. Today that changes, I guess. Now, I think I have some bias with regards to modern rock bands. They come across as cheesy to me because honestly, rock is an old man's genre (note: old being people who grew up in the 70's and whatnot). Hearing it in today's broad spectrum of rock, I realize that it's going to take a lot to stand out, especially now that metal is extremely popular and accessible. You've got your typical guitar intro, raspy vocals, and fat drum beat; nothing seems out of the ordinary. But, is it a good rock song? Meh, there's just not quite enough to swing me over. Nothing quite stands out to me besides the impressive depth and hulking presence of the singer. Rating: 4.5/10

GENRE: jazz, classical Ok, this took a while to get to, but I had to do some real digging. I recalled a Nirvana cover that used acoustic instruments and a jazz perspective, but I couldn't for the life of me remember the name of the band. So I had to find the exact Nirvana song in order to find the correct band. Who knew so many people covered Nirvana, huh? Anyway, The Bad Plus  is a jazz trio that likes to make covers of the most random things. My favorites of theirs were Lithium  and Comfortable Numb. Now that I've revisited them, who knew they made a cover of Stravinsky's   Rite of Spring ?! A bit daring, but fun and bold nonetheless. I decided to go with my favorite movement from the original. And quite frankly, reducing the instrumentation does not take away from the sheer cacophony that is this movement. The piano bears most of the burden, but having the drumset take on a new life of its own is captivating to listen to. You're trying to replace an entire orchest...

GENRE: indie With all the nice things I said about Crumb , it's  time I put my money in my mouth (is that how it goes?) and toss another one this way. Plants  is evidently their second-most popular song, and it consists of an intimate conversation between the listener and the song. An ephemeral, ever-changing song makes it such a cool piece to follow along with. It feels like a journey that slowly treks its way up a mountain before dropping and crashing. It's quite the ride, and the tools that Crumb  use to get there make it a multi-dimensional piece. Overall, just a cleverly written, coherent song with the unique flavor that is Crumb . Rating: 7/10

GENRE: pop I wanted to write about a recent pop song today, and it was originally going to be Elle Goulding's Hate Me . Very quick: I don't like it —it's incredibly repetitive and bland. Luckily, Spotify's recent promoted artist features an up and coming pop artist with a taste for the uncanny and experimental. My first thoughts are that she has a flair for creating catchy cadences that play off her background track. Although the beats are simple (anyone can really make these with a little bit of training), Lolo Zouai's personality really emanates from her vocals and makes her songs. And, I don't think I've heard anywhere yet, but she also alters her voice during one of the choruses to make it seem grittier. It caught me by surprise because I don't know how common it is among female artists, but it definitely works with her personage she is trying to carry. There isn't really a climax in this song I would say, everything kind of floats and chills ...

GENRE: indie, electronic Ok, this is blatant cheating in a way, but I couldn't resist putting up another ALASKALASKA  song, even from the same album. They're just so good  and creative and fresh, at least in my opinion. Again, off their latest album, this eponymous song features a different color palette from Monster . You get this wooden mallet arpeggio going throughout the song. Everything just builds up from there, with the ethereal, floaty vocals, and various synth effects that weave in and out through the verse. That's cool and all, but man that chorus is something else. It's a mirrored rhythmic pattern (2 half notes, 4 quart notes, 2 half notes), but it feels oddly syncopated due to the melodic steps taken throughout. I absolutely love the use of jazz influences in this song; the saxophones add a layer of warmth that just fits their more experimental style. They just know how to make a good song without sticking to what's currently out there. Just, quality ...

GENRE:indie You're not supposed to judge a book by its cover. But, am I allowed to judge a band by its name? Of course! ALASKALASKA  is ridiculously hilarious and quirky. I'm a fan. How about the music, though? Yes, it's good. Hailing from South London, they've got that underground, indie vibe. What makes them stand out to me though, is their appreciation for and usage of dissonance as a main part of their chorus. Subsequently, you get the idea that this contributes to the personage and characterization of the "monster". That, along with their rich sound, makes this a very likable, more contrarian piece. Synths plague the background; there's quite a few layers going on. Almost like a storybook, the song rises into a climactic clash before falling into the resolution that closely mirrors the introduction. Rating: 7.5/10

GENRE: metal You may have heard Chop Suey!,  but have you heard Sugar ? System of a Down is known for their unique style and approach to metal music. Serj Tankian has just a visceral, untamed personality when he performs his music. That's especially prevalent in Sugar; you get all types of ranges and voices that go into the song. You can have your manic rambling, yelling, rapping, singing, all in one package! The instrumentation changes so much in this piece too. The choruses give you a thrashing, while the verses give you the same harmonic riff but minimized to give a sort of dancing section. I personally like the dynamic changes, as it only contributes the jerking feeling you get when listening to System of a Down. You get pulled every which way when it comes to the energy and momentum of the song. And as always, you get a very politically charged message, a little cherry on top. Rating: 7/10

GENRE: indie Damn, sometimes you just stumble upon a song that catches you some type of way. As cliche as that sounds, I think it sums up my feelings. Even though on a surface, I've written it up as an indie rock song, I don't think I've attached myself like this. This one breaks away from the mold in that you get a male vocal performance in that gritty lower register. Plus, he really  takes it away with the laidback, slurring singing. I never found it off-putting. It gives so much more room to be expressive. There's no denying that the bass room is perfect in its tonality, it's rhythmic choices, and impact. That definitely takes center stage. I think the stars in this song are the singer, the synths, and the bass. Rating: 8.5/10

GENRE: psychedelic, rock Although they bear the face of a foreign band, they certainly don't sound like it. With some subtle funky grooves, falsetto vocal sections, and clean guitars, they give off a soul vibe with a tinge of that dad rock influence. However, that's not what I like most about this song. The first half is ok, nothing you wouldn't hear that's out of the ordinary by now. The second half though, has loads of potential for improvising, and a tough one to follow at that due to its constantly moving chord progressions. The jazzy changes in what's considered "home" makes it all so much more intriguing to listen to on repeat. All the while, the synth and drums keep building and building the momentum. I can dig this more unconventional structure, something we don't really get nowadays. Rating: 6.5/10

GENRE: indie I've had this song recommended to me for so long, but today I'm taking the bait. Of course, I find myself putting another indie song with a female vocal performance at the forefront of my playlist. I wonder if by now I'm feeling the fatigue from it all. On the surface, the song itself has gotten all the elements to make it a perfect fit into the genre. However, I can't help but shake the feeling that there's something different and missing about this one. Maybe it sounds a bit too poppy? Too optimistic and uplifting? I think it's that guitar counter melody that bothers me.  Something about those intervals and rhythms rubs me the wrong way. All the components come off as a bit too cliche for my tastes. Imagine a roller coaster without any hills or dips. Just flat. And honestly, even though this is their most popular song, I feel that they have a better, more nuanced stuff in their discography. Rating: 4/10

GENRE: indie How did I not follow this line of logic before? I was listening to a really good song by Mellow Fellow that featured an artist, Clairo . It's funny because I actually really liked both singers, but never bothered to take a deeper look into Clairo . Now that I have, I've dug up a tiny nugget of gold to add into my growing playlist. To be accurate, I went goldpanning and filtered out nuggets, but you know what I mean. Bags  falls under that new favorite category of mine of indie songs featuring a female vocal performance, and it fits in just right. With songs that have simple instrumental parts (exhibit A: the steady guitar chords), I believe it's crucial that the melody is strong enough in terms of being interesting in both rhythm and harmony. Luckily, Clairo  adds a synth to accompany the chorus, adding some color to the mix. It even gets its own solo. There aren't really any strong climaxes in terms of the melody, but I think there are themes througho...

GENRE: classical Here's a genre we haven't tapped in awhile. I'm a fan of what little I've heard of Debussy's work, but this one is quite the stunner. I'm only going to talk about the first piece in particular, but this happens to be the book cover of a 3-piece symphonic "sketch". Mimicking the calm open ocean, the piece opens with a droning bass and harp. Overall, the tone is quite sinister as trumpets and strings enter. The interval of interest is the root and immediate semitone following it. As the piece picks up, you get a flighty, playful strings and flutes, almost as if the sun has peeked over the horizon. The other instruments poke their head in trying to gain attention. A conversation begins between the strings and the woodwinds. About 4:30 minutes in, you can tell that Debussy is utilizing some pentatonic scale, which really brings in a foreign vibe to the whole piece. Could that be a particular character? In particular, instruments like ...

GENRE: rap, hip hop Ok, it's a little too soon to be writing about Earl Sweatshirt again; but honestly, this piece was just enthralling to me. I knew  someone sounded familiar on this track. Of course, it had to be Tyler, The Creator featured on this piece. His particular contribution to the song is so catchy. The "G O L F W A N G"  line has been stuck in my head recently because it's so fun to say. It seems like Tyler's style seeped its way into this song as well. The eerie synth cuts through the grungy, make-shift drums. The piano that follows Tyler is at the same time dissonant and beautiful, polytonic maybe? I honestly think Tyler takes the show here. Again, here's the instrumental. Rating: 7/10

GENRE: hip-hop With a fresh sound, it's nice to incorporate a variety of styles in the rap genre into my playlist. I don't know much about the artist himself, but he comes off to me as sort of goofy and zany. What does the name Zelooperz  even mean? That's especially true when you have a listen to this song off his most recent album. The instruments that are thrown in have a quirky quality to them. Not only that, but the harmonic movement of the bass line contributes to that too by amusingly spacing out its notes. Now, with the lyrics themselves, I don't know if I'm interpreting them wrong. The song itself is supposed to be sort of uplifting, but the lyrics that accompany it make me laugh in a good way. The enunciation is hilarious to me, and I seriously can't tell if that's the intention or not. I only got the instrumental but you know how to use the internet right? Rating: 6.5/10

GENRE: indie  Is driving to Hawaii supposed to be a rhetorical situation? Metaphorically, I guess it represents a paradise you may never reach. I get a sort of Beach Boys vibe from them seeing as how the vocal performance dips into the upper falsetto registers. I guess it fits just fine with the soothing ocean waves etching itself into the background effects. Instrumentation is altogether pretty standard, and that's really all it needs to be. Given the context of the song, making it relaxed and breezy is the right approach and for the better. To me, it's a little weird that there's no solo or anything though. Could you imagine a steel guitar solo fitting perfectly into this? The potential! Overall though, it's chill enough. Rating: 5/10

GENRE: rap, chill I can really get into this. I'm partial towards rapping voices in the lower register. But in addition to that, Earl Sweatshirt raps with a lethargic intonation, as if his tongue never lifts from the bottom of his mouth. Being quite a minimal song, his voice and words serve as the crux. So if you don't like the way he raps, I'm not sure you'll find anything else in this. Even as I say that, there's almost a complete turnaround near the end of the song. I thought I was listening to something completely different. No words, just an outro. He comes off kind of closeted, but I think that fits in with the message imparted by the lyrics, which are themselves quite complex in rhythm, diction, and flow. Rating: 6.5/10

GENRE: rock A friendly recommendation from a combination of friends, I understand that this is one of of their older albums. As far as I know it, their sound was really different back then. As you can see or hear, it's a rock-heavy song with an a near-experimental sound I would say. It's a tough pill to swallow because I feel like this particular sound is a product of its times. It sounds like it was dug up from the early 2000's. There definitely interesting tidbits to it though. I think there's an accordion in there...? Brendon Urie does have really nice pipes too. Great control and incredibly clean. I do like how it doesn't follow a typical structure though. Every verse throws something different into the mix, and makes for a song that deserves repeated listens. And man, that singer just does not give it a rest. Although I'm not a big fan of the style of rock, I can say that there's a level of respect for the ability to perform something like this. Ra...

GENRE: rap I was initially looking for a ScHoolboy Q song to write about because I only literally know one song of his. But, as I was listening through some of his more popular songs, I found one collab with Kendrick (and many more apparently) that just really caught my attention. Kendrick's verse is so catchy. His intonation and ability to modulate his pitch is incredibly satisfying to listen to. Being on the Black Panther album, the choice of instruments is particularly interesting. The bulk of any rap song being the snare and bass, you still get a melody played out by an interesting flute-thing(?) I think the song suffers a little in that it's just a bunch of different verses by different artists interspersed by Kendrick's chorus. The pace of the song and the backing beat don't change much if at all. Consequently, the song takes a ride on a roller coaster in terms of my enjoyment. Some verses I do enjoy, some I don't. One good example of a great collaboratio...

GENRE: indie One of the reasons why I like this song? It's a certain mood, and it's in E major, which is definitely may favorite key to jam in at the moment. I will say that it's a bit on the slower side. The singer's voice is meant to be performed in a sort of laid-back and almost lethargic manner. Even the solo matches this energy with a soft touch. With this piece, I think less is more. I think the message pretty meaningful and sincere too. Even though I prefer more complicated songs, sometimes it's the gaps in between and the silence that adds more value. Rating: 7/10

GENRE: indie rock boy pablo  has crossed my radar more than once. It's just today I felt like writing about it. Maybe fittingly, his songs were getting recommended when I was listening to a lot of Phum Viphurit . Frankly, there styles can be pretty similar, especially today's song. Incredibly poppy, a funky beat, and a clean sound really bring out the brightness of the song, especially with that descending guitar riff. I particularly like the mixing of the instruments. It feels like each instrument is balanced just right. The bass has a great sound and doesn't dominate the other instruments. My only nitpick is that there aren't really any dynamics to this song. It's kind of just loud . Changing up things would really add an interesting element to this otherwise good song. Rating: 7/10

GENRE: hip hop, rap J. Cole is one of the most popular artists right now on the scene, and I've never taken the dive. That sound familiar? Yes, it's me. I do that all the time. But honestly, who doesn't do that? Anyway, the subject of today is J. Cole. This is legitimately one of the first songs I've listened to by him (unless he was featured on another song). KOD is one of his more recent albums, and I intend on listening to its in its entirety. From my own research though. This seems to be one of the bigger pieces on that album. There's a clear, dominant rhythmic motif throughout the piece. Personally, I think it drags a bit too long though. Between these "choruses", you get verses performed with a spectrum of intensity and momentum, which I can certainly respect. In terms of instruments, it's considerably sparse. Basically, you got snare, bass, hi-hat, and the occasional synth melodic line. However, you'd come to expect that with hip-hop ...

GENRE: motown, soul I'm a sucker for that Motown feel. It doesn't matter how basic or poppy the song is, there's nothing like that wholesome, uplifting feeling you get from listening to this type of music. I wonder if it could be considered a type of nostalgia. I can't remember if I've listened to the Four Tops before, but you get the basic elements of a classic Motown song here: a riveting bass line, a charming percussion section, meaningful string sections, all accompanied by a choir of upstanding men. Although not as catchy as some of the other classics, I can see that it stands well on its own and has its own place in my playlist. Rating: 7.5/10

GENRE: kpop Follow with me here. Take The Wheel  is the solo debut for Lana, a newly established kpop star. But get this, she's not ethnically Korean at all. She's legitimately 100% Russian. However, there's quite a few nuances in there. She's spent a large portion of her career and adult life in Korea (e.g. being a part of TV shows, being fluent in Korea). I don't think you'd be able to tell that she wasn't from Korea if someone didn't tell you. I guess it helps that she has a Eurasian look to her. Either way, none of this matters, because she released a kpop song after training in a camp for 2 years(?) So, she's definitely put in the work. The song itself comes off as any other simple pop song. I don't mean to offend, but the cleaner English is a welcoming feature. Her ability to sing in Korean, at least to my pedestrian ears, seems laudable. I just really don't have much else to say other than the synth being pleasing to the ears. Hones...

GENRE: progressive  Ok, I had my doubts when I first started listening to this song. It seemed a bit cheesy at first? However, it's definitely grown on me. There's a gradual progression throughout the piece, with various sections incorporating a range of momentum and tempos and time signatures, especially the section about 3 minutes in. This song has quite a bit going for it. The 7/8 is a nice feature as well. I love drumming to this piece because of that. The drummer plays out of their mind to begin with. The composition has a solid theme going throughout the piece that serves as the glue to the song. That chromatic interval appears quite a bit throughout the song. Again, that's grown on me. Rating: 8/10

GENRE: jazz After watching a bunch of videos on American history, I felt like listening to an American cultural icon. With George Gershwin, I literally only know one piece, and that's I've Got Rhythm . But today, I've Summertime , which is perfect considering that it's summertime and it's oppressively hot today. I'm not going to break it down in-depth, but describe the overall picture. The quality says a lot about when this was recorded. It seriously reminds me of an old Tom and Jerry segment. You don't even have a traditional drum set on this track. The band seems to be made up of a clarinet, a trumpet, a bass, a piano, perhaps a guitar, and a female singer. A verse, a few solos here and there, and that's basically the song. With a myriad of solo instruments, you get a lot of embellishments throughout the piece. It's a nice piece, and reeks of smoking jazz bar. Mood. Rating: 7/10

  GENRE: rock After watching Spiderman: Far From Home , I'm coming off a high that I'll be chasing for a while. I'll try to keep spoilers to a minimum, but this song is in there. If you didn't know already, the movie is heavily centered around Peter's romance with MJ. Of course, Marvel always seems to know the right songs to put in a movie. Charming as ever, the Ramones are included in the movie to punctuate a montage in the movie, and I think it's disgustingly cute. It makes you reminisce of that unstoppable feeling of teenage romance. Of course, wanting to relive it is just looking at the past with rose-tinted glasses. That's why we have movies instead of actually emulating that past. The song is simple. A few basic chords here and there, chorus, bridge, you get the deal. The lyrics aren't too compelling either, but sometimes less is more. The message is clear-cut. It helps that the melody is catchy and easy to follow along with. Unlike most of thei...

GENRE: indie  You wouldn't get "no" for answer if you asked me whether I was getting tired of the indie genre archetype of "mellow female vocals" and "backing band". But, I stand corrected (by myself actually), because Crumb is something special. At first glance, I took it for another one of those types of songs. But, after a swelling intro, you get something more experimental, something spacey and thematic. The chords aren't meant to be wholesome and easily resolved. The chromaticism is personally pleasing, especially when juxtaposed with the actual prettier chorus. Those creeping chords always manage to appear, and it gives the song a slightly unstable feeling. I love this song all the more for it. The off-beat phrasing is a fun addition too. Each phrase is distinct from one another too, indicated by the individuality of each instrument. Finally, the bassist gets an interesting part instead of just mirroring the root note. Mirroring the int...