Murielle’s Cancer Moon Child is the layered, nuanced debut mixtape from Murielle. The singer, across the tape’s five tracks explains the complexities of love- especially the deepest feelings that come along the journey. It’s an exploration into when one loves more than the other person. But even in the hurt, there’s growth as one begins to learn more about themselves. This can be heard in the record’s choral arrangements, especially ‘SO MUCH!’ and ‘Ain’t No Love Lost’- Murielle plays with her vocals to use different voices that are all hers in their unique tones. “So baby when I get over ya/Oh when I get over ya/I’ll be able to breathe/Able to see/There ain’t no love lost then,” she sings. There’s a sureness in her lyrics that knowing despite the pain, she will grow and continue to flourish. Cancer Moon Childalso serves as a testament of her growth as a musician. All of it was self-produced and written by Murielle. In closing, it’s a soulful mixtape that only has us all awaiting more.
100 gecs has returned with a remix for their track ‘ringtone,’ this time with help from Rico Nasty, Charli XCX, and Kero Kero Bonito. The track feels less instrumentally packed than the original, and has an airier, fun beat. It also adds three verses for all the artists featured on it, paired with the original hook. The four are the perfect group for this remix, and all use their unique voices to bring something new to the track. Charli brings more electro-pop, Kero Kero Bonito blends everyone really well with a verse that’s peppy and fun, Rico Nasty brings her classic rage but with a hyped-up twist and clever flow. Overall, it’s a fun track that makes for easy moshing and dancing.
James Blake’s new album sounds like being in love. And to further that point, it sounds like being in love, savoring it, and being aware of how far one has come in loving themselves. Each song is tender, intricate, and sonically complex.
2. Injury Reserve, Injury Reserve
Injury Reserve’s project is severely underrated. It has such a depth of pent-up energy mixed with reflection. It’s wonderfully produced, with some great features that add to its great lyricism and beats.
3. Slowthai, Nothing Great About Britain
Slowthai’s album was one that displayed his love for his city of Northampton, while also displaying his versatility as a rapper and showman. From fun track like ‘Inglorious,’ to ‘Gorgeous,’ and ‘Northampton’s Child,’ he’s shown that he’s here to stay.
4. Brockhampton, GINGER
The fact that Brockhampton has released another album not even a full year after “iridescence” is stunning. There were some repeated sonic themes that did get a little tiring through my first listen, but some tracks definitely grew on me, like ‘ST.PERCY.’ This album sound great live, and Brockhampton has done it again.
5. Solange, When I Get Home
This album is a piece of modern art. Though its lyrics can sometimes be abstract, Solange paired the record with a film that is visually stunning as it is layered with symobolism and metaphor. Her voice drifts from songbird to warrior, and storyteller as well.
6. Rico Nasty & Kenny Beats, Anger Management
The raw energy of this EP is what put it on the list. Rico and Kenny are the perfect artist and producer match. Honestly, the features weren’t needed in my opinion because Rico is a heavy-hitting rapper on her own already.
7. Bethel Music, Victory
This album is a powerful one, and is also brilliant live. (I had the chance to see Bethel on their Victory Tour with Phil Wickham in New York- a sold out show, at that.) It’s a blend of tried-and-true Bethel moments musically, while also existing as a perfect example of where contemporary worship music is today.
8. Deb Never, House on Wheels
My only remark is that I wish this record was longer. Deb Never is truly set to blow up soon, because she truly is a great lyricist and instrumentalist. Every solo and lyric was executed precisely, while still not losing that homey, fun, rock vibe.
9. JPEGMAFIA, All My Heroes are Cornballs
JPEGMAFIA is unmatched in his ability to make songs that make one do a double take. “Grimy Waifu” and “Kenan and Kel” were standout favorites. I still prefer Veteran over this record but liked it nonetheless.
10. Stormzy, Heavy is the Head
This is a record that has depth and new details with each listen. Stormzy is energetic, fun, and reflective on this record. If anyone is looking to get into grime, at least from this past year or so, this record is a great starting point.
IN MY DRAFTS: CHILDISH GAMBINO, THIS IS AMERICA TRACK REVIEW
Rating: 7/10
If Childish Gambino wishes for this persona and his music to end, ‘This is America,’ his newest single, doesn’t sound like it. ‘This is America,’ much like Donald Glover’s other work, like his FX dramedy Atlanta, is social and political commentary blended with masterful adlibs, instrumentation, and empowerment. Much like Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly, or even the track ‘XXX’ from last year’s DAMN, it’s an analysis of the current state of Black America, and the current political climate, a point further punctuated by the song’s accompanying video.
What's interesting about the song and its video is how it drifts between the pleasant and the chaotic. In the video we see that the schoolchildren that Gambino is dancing with know all of the popular dances and trends-which they’ve most likely contributed to or made-yet they're surrounded by violence from their own, gangs, or the police. Gambino is asking the Black man, the youth, and Black America in general to reclaim what's theirs, get back their money in a sense, even in this America that's a mix of joy and painful realities. The video itself questions what reward is given to the Black community, even after they’ve built so much of the culture- the answer seems to be that no reward is given in the America that Gambino describes- if you slip up, even after doing your best, it doesn’t exactly matter. Nevertheless, the Black man is still told to persist, take what’s his, and tell someone else to do the same.
hi everyone! this is going to be a great year for music! as part of my goal to roll out some new content, today’s post will be part of a new series called ‘In My Drafts,’ where I post a review that never made it to the blog. This week, it’s Childish Gambino’s “This is America”. It’ll be posted a little later today.
hi everyone! i’m currently starting up my end-of-year content. thank you so much for all your support. this year was an amazing year for music and for this blog. thank you for all your likes, reblogs, and comments. last year’s ‘Artists to Look Out for in 2018′ passed 1K notes, which is mind-blowing, and it means so much that you all care about this blog and all the artists i’ve been able to write about. as a bit of a life update, school definitely conflicted with my upload schedule. next year, that won’t happen. i’ll be continuing my Heard It Here First series, as well as some other new things. i’m hoping to write more features, and i’ll make a post of some of my favorite things- don’t forget to check out @reflektormag, who let me grow so much this year! also, as usual, my ask box is open for review requests!
have an amazing new year filled with more of your favorite music!
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