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(11/21/13 12:50am)
Blood Orange – Cupid Deluxe
After listening to the album’s first mysterious, yet embracing single “Chamakay,” I eagerly awaited the release of Blood Orange’s sophomore album. Dev Hynes, the man behind Blood Orange, has taken his experiences living in New York combined with a genre-crossing sense of creativity and created the groovy, soulful, fresh album that is Cupid Deluxe. The album borrows from the traditions of Soul, R&B, Hip-Hop, Funk, and decades of Pop in order to build a multi-faceted work. Throughout the album, passionate songs discuss love and the problems that can follow. A few such as “On the Line” and “Always Let U Down” feature a complimentary woman’s voice that wraps the listener in the artists’ qualms with beautiful harmonies. “Uncle Ace” and “You’re Not Good Enough” transport the listener back to the funky side of the ‘80s while tracks such as “Clipped On” and “High Street” are filled with immersive hip-hop beats and robust, relevant lyrics. What I’m trying to get at is that this album is crisp, heartfelt, and honest is definitely worth a listen, no matter what kind of music you gravitate towards.
RIYL: Solange, Toro y Moi, Rhye
-Jack Fitzpatrick, Soul Beat on Wednesday 8-10 a.m.
(11/14/13 1:29am)
Shy Girls – Timeshare EP
Shy Girls’ “Timeshare” EP is one of those happy accidents that comes along after some old-fashioned, feel good bump and grinding. This is no dream: Shy Girls (moniker for Dan Vidmar) is a real R&B artist with an attention to detail and a smooth touch of electronic, synthesized production. This EP easily sets the mood as “Without” warms us up with some softcore sensual vibes, followed by the slower “Still Not Falling” that reminds us that a little crooning behind the guitar never hurt nobody. The EP closes with “Under Attack,” a lush song with slow strumming guitars that whisk everyone away with a spell of all the feels. The appeal to Shy Girls is that all of the textured instrumentation is simple, but the lyrics dig deeper under the skin to reveal the turmoil of love (“I’ve got a clear vision, but visions don’t make up for love”). While some tracks like “Voyeur’s Gaze” drag on a little too long, Shy Girls has a lot to offer with this seductively sincere EP. Surely, the best is yet to come as Shy Girls invites everyone to be a part of the R&B revival with open arms.
RIYL: Rhye, Milosh, How To Dress Well, Basecamp, The Weeknd, Sampha, Cyril Hahn, Cashmere Cat – Sydney Gore, Artificial Sweetener on Wednesday at 12-2 p.m.
(10/31/13 5:20pm)
Innanetape – Vic Mensa
Vic Mensa’s debut album-length mixtape invites a few comparisons. The former Kids These Days frogman wields a stop-start sing-rap style that recalls fellow Chicagoan Chance the Rapper (featured on “Tweakin’”). Elsewhere, Mensa’s syllable-heavy delivery evokes Earl Sweatshirt, albeit with less detachment. These similarities aside, Mensa proves to be engaging while shuttling between a conventional rhyme style and a melodic flow that transforms into a full-on croon. The album’s sound is equally eclectic with touches of drum-heavy neo-soul (“Orange Soda”), upbeat jams (“Lovely Day”) and more straightforward hip-hop (“YNSP”). The furthest departure is “Run,” which sounds like an update of Prince’s high-paced 80’s rock. Soulful guest vocals from Jesse Boykins III on “Magic” and BJ The Chicago Kid on the spectacular “Holy Holy” complement Mensa’s own tuneful performances.
A variety of styles and tempos are juggled to great effect, making for one of the year’s better mixtapes.
RIYL: Chance the Rapper, The Internet, Earl Sweatshirt
-Rafael Smith, The Funk Box on Wednesday 4-5 p.m.
(10/23/13 10:39pm)
Kings of Leon – Mechanical Bull
I spent the better part of 2008 to 2011 telling everyone who would listen how Kings of Leon sold out by cutting their hair, shaving their beards and adopting a more mainstream sound, abandoning their Southern Strokes identity. I’ve mostly made peace with that era, regarding it as stylistic experimentation that just wasn’t for me (except for “Use Somebody,” seriously, screw that song), and I still hold out hope that Kings of Leon will return to form. They haven’t quite done that on “Mechanical Bull,” but it’s at least better than their previous album. The lead single, “Supersoaker,” isn’t all that bad, in fact, it’s probably one of the album highlights. On songs like “Rock City” and “Don’t Matter,” the Followills return to some of the hyped-up Southern rock they started out writing. Unfortunately, for every exciting flash of the past, there’s a “Beautiful War” or “Comeback Story,” pop-pandering ballads that contain such Shakespearean gems as “I walked a mile in your shoes/ Now I’m a mile away and I have your shoes.” “Mechanical Bull” isn’t the album KOL purists want, but it’s hard to imagine anything being much better, and it could be a lot worse.
RIYL: The Strokes, The National, Neon Trees
-Michael Lovito, Truth, Justice and the American Way on Wednesday 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
(10/18/13 7:38pm)
Many students are unaware a hip-hop scene exists at AU.
(10/02/13 2:57pm)
London Grammar – If You Wait
With a deep whisper and ice-cold falsetto, London Grammar’s Hannah Reid guides us on a magic carpet ride through bottomless oceans and dark caverns. The band’s debut album “If You Wait” is gravity-defying, epiphany-inducing and reality-resisting, leaving little to be desired. The British trio specializes in atmospheric and reflective tracks, creating an ambiance that is punctuated by the lead singer’s unique voice and the band’s attention to its craft. Most songs are slow and moody, but their pulses separate them from one another. “Metal and Dust” and “Strong” shine as representative tunes, but “Wasting My Young Years” paints a different, lighter picture when optimism rears its head. With a soulful and synthetic authenticity, London Grammar is making waves.
*Recommended If You Like: Florence Welch, Haim, BANKS
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– Mandi Ray, WVAU music staffer