Weekly Music Roundup 5/7/24 :D
Hey! I hope y'all had a great week. I've been super busy as of late since I'm packing and preparing for a long trip, but I still managed to squeeze some listening into my miserable daily Walmart visits. I didn't keep with the daily schedule, but I have many albums to get through on the 12-hour drive that I will probably be on when this is posted. Good times!
This week, I listened to:
underscores - Wallsocket (Director's cut)
Everyone Asked About You - Everyone Asked About You - EP
English Teacher - This Could Be Texas
Syzy - The weight of the world
underscores - Wallsocket (Director's cut) (2024)
I started my Friday out by listening to the new Wallsocket deluxe “Director’s cut” tracks. Holy shit holy shit holy shit holy shit. These new tracks, albeit mostly familiar to me ("My guy (Corporate shuffle)" and "Northwest zombie girl" can both be found on Wallsocket ARG websites, and April teased "Stupid (Can't run from the urge)" on Tiktok), are absolutely breathtaking. "My guy (Corporate Shuffle)" is a wonderful throwback pop song that has a simple shuffling beat, but by the end of the song it goes absolutely insane. "Northwest zombie girl" is super fun as well, but not my favourite upon first listen. I think i need a little more time with "CCTV" to really get it - these are my initial thoughts and not full reviews, and I still need to deep dive into this one's lyrics. However, the standout has GOT to be "Stupid (Can't run from the urge)." "Stupid" is a cute glitch-pop track with the punchiest percussion I've ever heard in a song. This might sound kind of weird, but each time I hear the kick I feel a kick in my chest. It's epic. The melodies are incredibly earwormy and I haven't been able to get the song out of my head. Overall, this new "Director's cut" builds upon an already incredible record (SERIOUSLY. Listen to Wallsocket if you haven't already. It's insane) with even more well-produced, well-written, well-sung, bangers. I wish anyone listening to Wallsocket for the first time "Good Luck!"
Everyone Asked About You - Everyone Asked About You - EP (1997)
We love a 4-track EP moment. I saw one of my AOTY mutuals give this a 100 so I listened to it because I had a free moment, and 4-track EPs are, like, my favourite thing ever. This is a cute set of twee / emo love songs with sugary melodies and adorable lyrics. It’s wholesome and loving and absolutely gorgeous throughout!
I can't recall a time I've ever been this excited about an artist as I have since I heard my first Tinashe song. Her artistry is unmatched and I seriously admire her refusal to adhere to basic cookie-cutter r&b, instead embracing a really unique and eclectic style. She’s been so consistently making some of the most innovative music in the industry, so it’s no surprise that 333 is as excellent as it is. This is a really solid addition to her discography, and while I think BB/ANG3L is a stronger record, 333 still shines. There's so many moments on this album that set it apart from other albums from similar artists. She explores so many different sounds and vibes on here - everything from breakbeats on "Shy Guy" to dance-pop on "The Chase." I'm so happy Nashe is getting more recognition these days; she really deserves all her flowers!!
English Teacher - This Could Be Texas (2024)
I first discovered English Teacher in August or September of last year, when their song "The World's Biggest Paving Slab" appeared on my Youtube recommended. I had that song on LOOP for months after that - it was just so damn good. I didn't really keep up with ET as a band in the months between "Paving Slab" and This Could Be Texas, their debut record. I saw it on AOTY when it first came out and was strangely, really scared to give it a listen. So I put it off way more than I should've. I guess a part of me was afraid that this album wouldn't live up to my expectations only hearing "Paving Slab.' But god damn did they deliver. Suffice to say this very much DOES live up to my expectations. There are so many diverse sounds and themes being explored here, all while going incredibly hard. The vocals are excellent, and the melodies are all so memorable. It's an ambitious album and it's clear that they've mastered their craft already, one album in. Ughhh it's so good. There's more exciting moments like the aforementioned "The World's Biggest Paving Slab" and "R&B," slower and gentler cuts like "Sideboob" (my FAV!!), and really fun synthy cuts like "Not Everybody Gets to Go to Space," which while being my least favourite, still sticks out to me! If that's the lowest point on your album, you have a damn good album. I'm so glad I mustered up the courage to finally listen to this, and I will eagerly await what other lessons my English Teachers will teach on their next record.
Syzy - The weight of the world (2024)
I want to start this blurb out by saying that riddim is NOT my forté. I am totally unfamiliar with the conventions of the genre and how this holds up compared to Syzy's contemporaries. That being said, this shit is heavy as fuck. I went into TWOTW totally blind, with no prior knowledge of what kind of music Syzy makes. All I knew was that there was a kmoe feature.
Each track is so intricately put together, with really delicate nuances and details hidden beneath the layers. This is an album that demands every ounce of your attention. I tried listening to this while reading a book (usually goes well, even with really loud shit) and I could not focus on the book at all. There is no way to tune this out. That being said, you won't want to tune this out. You will sit down and listen to TWOTW and you WILL enjoy it. There's something to like about this record for everyone - not just those who normally jive with this type of music. The melodies are incredible and the buildups and drops are immaculate. The production is so detailed, with flourishes here and there that keep you engaged. Not to mention the kmoe feature is phenomenal.
"HEART123" features a gorgeous, euphoric melody, and great vocals from Kale. The first drop took my breath away (as many moments on this project did...I need an inhaler), and the energy was infectious. Same goes for "Take my energy!", an obvious standout and definitely one of the best tracks I've heard this year. What the fuck? I'm headbanging so damn hard. The outro is one of the gentler passages on the record, giving you some breathing room before you're thrown back into the fun with "Caught up (in circles)" - a track that sounds like exactly that: spinning rapidly in a circle. That's my favourite 3-track run on the record, but I could go on and on about the track continuity like this. TWOTW manages to find a wonderful balance between soft, ambient sections and visceral yet euphoric drops. There's buildup and release. Inhales and exhales. Ups and downs.
This is starting to exceed my usual "short review" length and I'd really rather not make this a wall of text. I'll probably write a longer review for this record because HOLY SHIT??!?!??!!? But all in all, I think The weight of the world sees Syzy making some of the best electronic music out there. It's explosive and euphoric, with passages that both take your breath away and breathe life back into you. It's an insane effort and I'm definitely going to delve into more of their discography in the future. Wow, I love dubstep.
Okay! And that concludes my weekly first listens. I may or may not post next week - I'm going to be really busy and might not have time to write these. Nonetheless I'll try my best. See you soon and I hope you all have a great week :]
