Tea Time

  GENRE: experimental, pop Ok, so this is one of Panda Bear 's projects, and I already know I feel about his work. Sometimes I feel that it can be reaching in terms of how approachable it is. With this one, however, I can sit back and almost zone out. The song is a multi-layered fusion of pop and experimental music. It begins with a ticking that anchors the entire piece, with a repetitive melodic line in the back. From the ethereal, the piano grounds you with its soft tones and clean chords. The vocals are really clean too, it feels like minimal effects have been added on to alter them. The message of environmentalism, and almost loosely documenting its history stands strong, and you can certainly hear the pain in his voice too. I think that's the most powerful component of the song. Rating: 7/10

GENRE: lo-fi hip hop We've circled back and hit the lo-fi hip hop stages. Although I generally stray away from lo-fi, I do have certain traits and characteristics that I much prefer they have if I am to properly enjoy them. This particular song achieves quite a bit of what I like to see. In addition to the choice of samples, the way you choose to use them is obviously important. Namely, I am not a fan of spamming samples. Rather, I enjoy hearing them as an anchor, or having their meaning be woven into the fabric of the piece. The selection of instruments are lovely to hear as well—soft and not so repetitive. Rating: 6.5/10

GENRE: pop Oh, I should've checked in more often. Kero Kero Bonito  snuck by and released a whole EP, even when I had caught their single when it first released. On this EP, they continue to innovate their sound, transforming it to be both more mature and more in line with their aesthetic and style. You get techno sounds with emotional synths, quirky samples, laden across like an intricate painting. They've done it again. Rating: 7/10

GENRE: rock Wow, I'm really impressed with this album so far. Their use of syncopated rhythms resonate so much with the kind of music and techniques I adore. They show a bit more of their technical chops in this song as well, incorporating pithy solos throughout the sweeping chord progressions. In this particular song, this is supported by the dominant chords in the chorus. One thing I've found that really evokes their style is their use of the synth. That sound is so prominent throughout, and is equally balanced across the rest of the instruments. What's more, they have amazing song structure! Around 3 minutes, the whole song has hushed away in anticipation of some kind of build up, some sort of rise to greatness that can be equivalently captured in their album art (which I found to be a consistent trend across all their albums). Rating: 8/10

GENRE: rock  Why is that I never recalled the name of this band? They have some interesting hits that I've heard before across various mediums. In particular, Only Time Will Tell , I believe I heard in MGSV. Today's song, I think I've heard from one of South Park's episodes. One of the funniest things to me is the album art. It's the 80's, and they decide to plaster a colossal oceanic dragon on their album. It's awesome. Their music however, does not reflect that aesthetic, in my opinion. I was expecting some epic, 80's power metal music, but what I got was some heartfelt, empowering rock pieces. To my surprise, the songs are actually quite enjoyable. As cheesy they are, they have a way about them that makes them so catchy and easy to return to. In fact, I think I'm going to take it a step further and listen to this whole album. As unintentional as it may be, I like the humor and juxtaposition between the music and the material. Rating: 8/10

GENRE: hip hop  Going further through the album, this was one of the songs I particularly enjoyed. It's quite pandering given the content, and given how manic Kanye is. Again, as ridiculous as he can be, he does produce great material. You've got that old school jazz style perpetuated throughout the song. I love those strings and how they play against the singer's voice in the intro. Kanye's voice is altered a little differently than in his previous songs. It sounds fatigued, strained, as if he's been singing for a long time before actually recording. I doubt that that's the case; it's probably just some effect. But nonetheless, it took a while to get used to, but I'm a fan of it. It's soft, and endearing in my opinion. Good stuff. Rating: 7.5/10

GENRE: gospel, hip hop It's always a day transformed when Kanye does something new. God (relevant), considering how crazy Kanye can be, it's amazing what he put out in his craft. Maybe that's what's needed. One of my favorite components of Kanye's previous works has been his incorporation of gospel choirs into his songs. This time, you've got a whole album centered around that. I haven't listened to the whole album yet, but I've decided to pick one of the songs that stood out to me so far. Both of the songs before this are heavily influenced with gospel music. The choir is so dominant in these songs. It's only until Follow God where you get some reminiscent of Kanye's older work. You get a cadence representative of his pre-Yeezy days. The worst thing is that it's so short. It sounds like an incomplete idea to me. I wish Kanye used more of his experimental tastes to really transcend a gospel album. I'm sure it's been done before.

GENRE: rock Ok, I seriously had the most misinformed opinion about Grateful Dead . I thought they were this intense, psychedelic, almost metal band. Little did I know they were just simple, honest, working men. And, when I think about it, I almost prefer it that way. That irony is tasty. They seem like a good group of folks. This song fits them so well too. It's got a mild energy, a laidback tone, and a folk hero as its inspiration. I can't imagine there being too many effects in their production. The drums, although not stadium-busting, sound tight and humble. I love that snare sound. It almost sounds makeshift. Goddamn, their lyrics are incredibly catchy too. This'll be stuck in my head for awhile. Simple as they may seem, I'm loving the take they have on their genre. Something about it is so comforting, like a hot cocoa. Rating: 8.5/10

GENRE: rock I don't remember the last time I've looked at such a long song. Sitting at 11 minutes, it's definitely the thiccest Rush song I know. At such a length, I expect a display of a mastered craft befitting of Rush's caliber. Just hearing the beginning, I can already expect as such. Whenever you hear a song that progressively builds off of ambient, nature-esque sounds, you really know you're on a journey. I'm loving that seemingly syncopated beat around the 3-minute song. I love it when I mistake something to be in irregular time when in fact it was 4/4 the whole time. After all, it's the creativity that makes them great, not their ostentatious use of irregular time signatures. Gosh, Geddy Lee's vocals don't enter until 5 minutes in. Under the guise of a fantasy setting, this song is inspired by one a particular poem, Kubla Khan . One critique I do have about the song is the seemingly disjointed segments. I feel like I hit a stop sign befo

GENRE: slow rock It's been long time since I've listened to something quite as grand as this. With the reverb, I can definitely tell that this was written for a gigantic crowd in a stadium arena. You can almost see the thousands of flickers of zippos and lighters across a raven black sea of bodies. Compared the previous song by Stevie Nicks, this has much more cheesy chords, riffs, and lyrics. But, they do it so well that it ends up in their favor. When you want to take a dive back into the 80's, I can't help but see this song taking its rightful place. You've got a sonic, tasteful solo befitting of its genre, Steve Perry (of course), and piercing synth sounds typical of the Journey style. Rating: 8/10

GENRE: rock I literally know one song by Stevie Nicks, and it's her most popular one ( Edge of Seventeen ). I was curious and dipped a toe into the water to find out what else she's done. Frankly, it's not much to look at. One of the songs that I listened to featured Tom Petty, which I do like. I was hoping that some of his style was rub off. Unfortunately that wasn't the case. My main criticism is the pace and timbre of the song. It just feels so flat. The dry, stagnant rhythm and melody really drag it through the mud. I just want it to pick up. Their voices are iconic, but this song does not do them any justice. There isn't any innovation to concurrent pieces; I don't want to listen to it again. It's not the worst thing there is—it's just disappointing. Rating: 3.5/10

GENRE: classical I love classical pieces that can seem to stand on their own. Today's piece has a complete idea, going so far as to even develop itself quite dramatically throughout. I feel like I got to know this person that's meditating for whatever. Although it was originally serving as an intermezzo during an opera, I find that it provides a really nice barrier of entry for those that want to get more from classical music. Of course, that's totally biased. I for one am a huge fan of the instrumentation. Solo violins behind a featured harp and orchestra are near the top of my book. The essence of beauty comes through naturally by virtue of the style alone. The harp serving as the percussion gives it this light, angelic touch, as with most pieces like this. But, the entrance of the orchestra, especially its abruptness, makes for a more human and grounded sound. Rating: 8/10

GENRE: arena rock REO Speedwagon has one of the distinct styles I can think of. Their sound is characterized by maximum reverb, lengthy choruses, and overdramatic instrumentation. They have plenty of recognizable songs in their repertoire. Surprisingly, this one flew under my radar. I can't say much else about it other what you should already know. In the context of all their other hits, I feel like this one doesn't stand out quite as much. I would attribute this to the less satisfying chord progressions. They sit too close together to have a strong resolution. On the lyrical side, it's another love song. I guess that's to be expected on their part, given the time and audience. Rating: 4.5/10

GENRE: math rock What the hell is the combination? What is Cuco  doing on a Polyphia album? As weird as it may seem, it remains a thoroughly digestible song. I like that you can hear exactly where Cuco  placed his influence on this song. Just listen to those melancholic chords and max reverb vocals. I will say that a lot of the piece blurs together, as is my issue with a lot of math rock nowadays. But if it's your thing, fine. I can see why people like this stuff. It's like metal for people who like pop. Rating: 6.5/10

GENRE: indie I decided to give this band a fair chance, because I've purposefully avoided them in a past due to a distasteful experience with their most popular song. See, I figured they were just a lesser version of the some the typical indie bands I've been listening to. Turns out, they're a lot more experimental and interesting than I take them for. You get a melting pot of shoegaze, progressive, and indie in there. The song structure is a blur, what with the constant drum beat and rhythm guitars carrying the song. The lead guitars interact with each other and build over the course of the song. The vocals have their place, and it feels very genuine where they are. I feel like they really took their time crafting the pieces of this song, rather than it feeling like a jam session. Rating: 6.5/10

GENRE: skiffle Well, I had no idea what genre this was. But after listening to this, it makes a little more sense. It's so simple in instrumentation, yet contains so much heart and soul. I mean, there isn't even percussion in this piece. The instrumentation is just the condiments to this meaty sandwich. Mungo Jerry's  voice sounds exactly how he looks. The melody itself is quite catchy and carries the song. In particular, I'm a fan of the cadence of the song. Those consecutive sixteenth notes are punchy and make it a memorable phrase. The lyrics are great in that they relay a simple message, with a nice summer backdrop. With how dated the genre is, it almost feels like you've put yourself back in time. Rating 7.5/10

GENRE:   indie All right, now let's catch up with the  Daughter band I actually know. I've seen them in concert before, funnily enough. Although they are a female-led indie band (which has interested me in the past), they haven't ever really pulled me into their music. The production itself is great, but the vocals just fall flat for me. It's a little to plain and insubstantial. After listening to this song once, I feel like I don't have much I'd like to return to. They vocals feel a bit sluggish, which contrasts for a loss with the bombastic drums and guitar. If I were to listen to this song again, I imagine it would be in a hip, millennial commercial. Maybe like an iPhone commercial or something. Rating: 5/10

GENRE: rock All right, I wasn't really into the song at first. But now, after taking a moment to absorb all it has to offer, I can really see the merit behind this. The song feels like a really disjointed, torn apart interpretation of metal and rock. The singer has no want of a sensible melodic line. All the vocals consist of a frustrated outpouring of emotion and pain. You can really feel that in their voice and slow buildup of the backing tracks. Even with those dissonant and distortion, the song ends up being quite beautiful. The guitar that does shine through is all the more accentuated because of its contrast with the background noise. It's a good thing that the riff itself is quite simple and not overly complicated. That's not what this song is about. And surprisingly, even with it's 7 minutes of unabashed rambunctiousness, nothing seems to drag or get old. I feel like I've found a new favorite sweater. Rating: 8/10

GENRE: classic rock I never knew how many of Fleetwood Mac's  songs I actually knew. It's the names that give me trouble. I had to do a bit more digging than I usually do in order to find a song I didn't already know. And, what do I arrive at? I find an acoustic, fingerpicking, hollering song with major vibes of the countryside. It's quite minimalist too. The solo guitar takes up a good chunk of the song. The lyrics? You might as well not have them when there are so few of them to begin with. It's a nice little ditty, but nothing special and worth staying for in my opinion. Just a rest stop. Rating: 5.5/10

GENRE: pop I'm assuming this is closer to the end of Sinatra's career. You can really hear it in the huskiness of his voice compared to his other more famous songs. What I really enjoy about this song is the strong influence of soul and almost gospel-like style of the song, in combination with Sinatra's charming voice. I would almost describe it as a Randy Newman song, what with those blaring songs throughout the entire song, and that jazzy ending. His singing takes on a more casual approach too, slurring a tiny bit. It really makes you want to swing, don't it? Rating: 7.5/10

GENRE: j-rock  This song is quite literally just the first ending from  Demon Slayer. A plus is that includes LiSa  too! I was mostly drawn to this piece not for its solid song structure, but its ending. Legitimately, I was drawn to the operatic, Japanese, traditional singing. Personally, it's incredibly naive because I really have no idea where it fits in the culture. But, I like what I like. Rating: 7/10

GENRE: R&B Stevie Wonder's  illustrious career never ceases to amaze me. His works are not only easily placed among the most catchy songs out there, but they are top-notch in their approach to musicianship. I've always adored and envied (honestly) how he incorporates jazzy influences into his songs, especially in this one. That small refrain with "Someone who needs me" is exactly what I'm talking about. You get the classic harmonica solo here too. That just can't be separated from his style. The way he writes his melodies are incredibly endearing as well. I can listen to this song on end, and that's what I'm going to do. Rating 8.5/10

GENRE: pop Wow this is like a mini-Avengers scenario for me. I only know Charli XCX through that one song with the guns. But, I legitimately know the other two. It's crazy; I don't think I've been able to accomplish that. But now, I'm in.  This is a pretty balanced piece when it comes to featuring all the artists. The production is incredibly representative of Yaeji 's work. Clairo 's voice sneaks in here and there, with robotic elements as dictated by Yaeji 's tastes. This song doesn't really play like a normal pop song either. There's actually a gradual buildup before an eventual, fading, closeout. The Korean is a nice touch too—really makes the piece stand out from Charli XCX 's usual work while still maintaining a semblance of her composition style. I'm quite surprised how well the song is mixed. Rating: 7/10

GENRE: classical French composers don't get the praise they deserve. Underrated is the word. Today, we have Gabriel Faure, represented by one of this most popular pieces. I've personally heard it before, but I never knew the name nor this particular arrangement. Across this whole album, the timbre and acoustics evoke a sense of peace and tranquility. This particular song incorporates a somber, hallowed flute melody. Now that I think about it, the flute melody is really the only thing to be listening to in this piece. The harp and any other existing pieces are serve only to support and provide depth to the piece. One of the more interesting features of this piece is the movement of the chords under the melody. I think it's memorable for that reason. Rating: 8/10

  GENRE: classical  With how little I know of classical music, I realistically only guide myself by what sounds good to me. This particular piece captured my attention. I believe it's part the Carmen opera, but the lesser known piece of the whole. Not quite as charged as the more popular prelude, this one seeks to calm you and evoke softer, more peaceful feelings. I honestly feel like I'm sitting on a cloud. Could it be the gentle, vibrant harp? Perhaps it's the tender flute? Well, combined, they're certainly a force to be reckoned with. The only way I can describe how I feel about it is that the composition was written to maximize the best features of the flute. And the harp complements that perfectly by providing the foundation with elegant arpeggios and countermelodies peppered in. Rating: 8/10

GENRE: indie We have another one of those artists where super short bangs are the style of choice. I wonder if that has any correlation to the genre. She's got like a modern  Janis Joplin vibe. She's got a hardcore punk-ish aesthetic going on, except she's doing indie music. Shut Up Kiss Me  is a little more distorted and driven than the usual cleaner sounds associated with the genre. Although it has the inklings of a typical rock song, the extra tidbits that extend beyond a typical intro, verse, chorus, repeat structure is I believe to be the determinant of its indie status. I do enjoy the weird effects thrown onto all the guitars. I particularly like the energy of the chorus. It's one of my favorite rhythms to incorporate. They're certainly doing it justice in this one. Rating: 6.5/10

GENRE: k-pop I've been avoiding BLACKPINK  for the longest time because I already know how I'm going to feel about them. From the aesthetic, from the strong personality of the fan base, and the general state of k-pop. After listening one of their latest releases, my thoughts unsurprisingly remain the same. As you can see, they're quite aggressive. It's in all caps the entire time. Their music is in all caps too. It's just so loud, no dynamics, no nuance at all. I could maybe brush that off to pop songs in general. It's not supposed to be intimate. I just have a hard time assessing what makes this song so popular besides its booming bass, blaring horns, and dancing idols. Appealing the masses is the way to do it. Also, I abhor rapping in k-pop. It doesn't make sense to me with regards to the whole point and history of the art. Video's cool I guess. Rating: 3/10

GENRE: hip hop Something I recall about Lil Nas X  is how far he's come since he began. I've heard stuff about how he's surfed around on couches at his lowest. Seriously though, look how far he's come though. Luckily, his music is at least slightly representative of his starpower. The quality of the production is top-notch, but isn't anything you'd find out of the ordinary in the realm of hip hop. He's not a bad artist by any means, but I think his strength lies in his quirky songs. His regular music falls a bit flat for me. I can truly respect the person himself; he has quite the online personality. But, it's a special type of pop music that falls a bit outside of what I generally am interested in. Rating: 5/10

GENRE: indie Hell yeah I'm going to write about another one of her songs. At the slight inconvenience of having to figure out the spelling of her name again, I will gladly write about this song that seems to be on par with her other songs. I especially like this one because of how effective it is with its length. And really, I want to take a moment to praise the album in general. It's really a coherent and great album overall, with inklings of folk and indie all throughout. This song in particular progresses and develops really well. You get strong themes through guitar riffs, parallel melodies in Haley's voice, and her knack for songwriting. I am also partial to the pace aroudn 2 minutes in, which I've been waiting to her from her. Yes, she's usually a more somber and mellow indie artist, but the rugged sections are what make this song special. Breaks in between really give you time to absorb and think. Rating: 8/10

GENRE: indie I'm revisiting this particular artist (I'm going to limit my attempts at spelling her name because of how complicated it is) because I really the timbre of her voice. It's got such clarity and sits at the right register in terms of depth, and bass. It's not too breathy, and oozes conviction. I'm also a fan of her choice of instrumentation. It convinces me of her careful and meaningful approach to composition This one maintains a pretty mellow, more relaxed tone throughout. Supported by what I think is a nylon stringed guitar, and a french horn (?) here and there. The beginning riffs remind me of early Simon & Garfunkel songs, especially with that descending bass note and dominant chords. Nevertheless, you never really get any buildups. It's a like a smooth ride on a highway in Kentucky. No bumps, just road. Rating: 6.5/10

GENRE: indie, psychedelic  Although a bit off-putting at first, I think I feel better about this song when I describe it as a bit of a trip. Those descending chords are not nice to the soul, and truly transport you somewhere else. There's lots of detuning accents among the instruments that add to this ethereal soundscape. Alex G  has the astonishing ability to sing incredibly inaudibly while knowingly singing in English. I don't understand what is being said half the time. In between developing experimental sections, you reach some sort of harmony that fails to impress me. I can respect the effects and the instrumentation, but altogether it's just not pleasant, catchy, or memorable. I liked the tone with the beginning guitar riff; I just wish it kept going down that path. Rating: 4/10