Come and Share This Jam with Me

While released last year, I have only recently discovered and developed an addiction for "Falling for U," imploring me to further share its aloof yet precise arrangements. Peachy! , with the vocal assistance of mxmtoon  was able to create a mystified landscape of awakening and sanguine but with an air of melancholia that culminates into a valid representation of love's discovery. The premise of "Falling for U" is just that, recognizing one's true feelings for someone without a true direction in which to take said discovery; and while foreboding notions are abound, the calm rhythm and lucid melodies creates a spacial vibe that permits soft sways, singing along and straight lounging. We are introduced to a quiet but increasing chord progression ringing in an ominous overture of what could be a storm or a gorgeous adventure. Its function may be of ambiguity, but it acts in creating the perception of lucidity and an entrance into the mind of mxmtoon w...

Released on June 7th, "girls" is a single by girl in red , a Norwegian Bedroom Pop star who in her songs unequivocally expresses the importance of being an individual, while accepting each other's foreign idiosyncrasies as something to celebrate rather than a reason to scrutinize. "Girls" is a subtle anthem about gay pride and not solely a song about accepting one's sexual orientation, but about the realistic and upsetting implications that still arise in the process of "coming out." The tune is a conflicting swell of emotions regarding her attraction for the same sex and the bemusement felt because of it. However tangled with this confusion, girl in red expresses the inescapable feeling of having to hide her true attractions "can I tell anyone?/Afraid of what they will say/So I push them away." The fear of being ostracized or seen as an assailant against society overtakes the inclination of being who she is; a detrimental and daun...

"How to Socialise & Make Friends" as a single and an  album is one of the best releases of 2018. The single feels like breath of fresh air; it's smooth, energetic, melodic and has an awesome narrative conducted through a vernacular that is appealing, relatable and comprehensive. As you follow along with the song, you are aware of the complications that Georgia Maq is professing and the story of independence and sanctuary that she feels when riding her handlebar-less bike in the dark.  The feeling you get when you listen to the song is this comfortable warmth just as soon as the initial riffs and steady beat are enacted. It's reminiscent of The Stroke's 12:51, in the consistency and steady pace of Moretti's drumming juxtaposed with the playful rhythm of Nick Valensi's licks.  Obviously, 12:51 is a calmer and more alluring track than the more upbeat and evocative "How to Socialise & Make Friends," but the similarities are ...

Two years after the release of their 2016 titular  EP , The Shacks are back with their first studio album,  Haze .  Rife with spacious harmonies and inventive melodies Haze  expands and improves on the EP with a more intricate effort creating seductive undertones that whispers translucent truths. "Texas" is one such breakthrough from the album about the Wild West genre that uses a semi-folk interplay of the beat, synthesizers, riffs and accompanying vocals. An indication that The Shacks are more than just an ambient group; they're a nuanced collective that pushes the boundaries of what is expected in music. Although, the tracks on both efforts sound similar, with Haze, The Shacks have found a congruent sound and it's addictive. "Texas" sticks out from the track listings due to its distinct sound and motif, but doesn't stray too far to seem out-of-place on Haze as the entirety of the album incorporates multiple elements and perceptions. However, the...

Probably one of my favorite songs of all-time, from one of my favorite albums of all-time, Farm   released in 2009 ,  "See You" is right at the beginning of Rock and Roll's movement to a more relaxed and vibe-oriented sound, essentially, the dream pop movement. Although not thought of as a calming and spacious group, on Farm Dinosaur Jr combined elements of skater-rock from the 90's with jam-band motifs to create an addictive sound that connected the bridge between indie rock and jam-band lovers. Although the song gained less notoriety than other pioneers of this sound such as  Mac DeMarco -who would release his launching-off Ep, Rock and Roll Night Club   the following year -" See You ,"  is the epitome of what dream pop would soon become, a focus on beautiful and lucid instrumentals, but with subtle vocals that emphasizes the central feeling or theme. To reiterate, "See You" and Farm in general doesn't adhere to a dream pop label but i...

Do you know that feeling you get when you're given the DJ role in the car? Not only are you ridden with anxiety but that first song you play is crucial and one of the biggest moments of your life. That song has to be perfect, it sets the mood for the drive, the rest of the day, and you are immediately judged by your supposed "buddy." Fortunately, you don't need to fret about that anymore because I have the perfect song for you to use, "Mokase."  Probably the coolest song of the year, Dream Coterie's "Mokase" is rife with what makes Dream Pop an incredibly lucid, evocative, chill and a badass genre. Taking a feeling and expanding on its facets allows for the genre to stand on its own and expand in popularity, and "Mokase" is a particular that follows this formula to an expert extent. Growing as a person while moving on from a relationship causes insecurities, mixed emotions and a general lack of consistency, which is a famili...

Released on March 1st of this year, "All I've Got" is a groovy, future summer-banger track with production elements not too common with new-era-jive such as samples of distorted dialogue and reversed guitar loops. However, what is consistent and attainable from this song is the need to groove! Published on March 19th of yesterday on the ever so wonderful YouTube channel, TheLazylazyme , I found this track after being exposed to redundant songs for a week. Songs that just go through one ear and out the other without any distinction; just the common dreamy licks and soft vocals of the dream pop genre. It's not to say that it is really a bad thing, but so many bands and artists are using this formula which comes off as a copy rather than inspiration. I will say the new Courtney Barnett song, " Need a Little Time " is another interesting song to come from the upcoming Tell Me How You Really Feel. Much like her " Nameless/Faceless ," the song is ...

Clairo has just released her first official music video for "Flaming Hot Cheetos" with help from YouTube Music and Fader Label . Clairo had released solely the audio for "Flaming Hot Cheetos" on her YouTube  channel  roughly 9 months ago, but its growing popularity, and Clairo's personal popularity as an artist, has prompted an accompanying video. A niche burger joint, anthropomorphized Cheetos, a cool, diverse looking crew, subtle hip-shaking and an overall feeling free expression...yeah, pretty much what one would think a Clairo music video would look like.  The song in question is an adolescent and innocent look of love and the romantic longing for companionship and feeling wanted or loved by the person you love as a bare essential. Unrequited love, but with a low-fi mix works not only as a poignant and evocative song but a song to really sit back and marinate to. What we see in the music video is the notion of innocence, or at the very least subtly...

We're changing the dream-pop style for some funk-inspired soul. "25" is a single from the 22-year-old  Fieh , the head of a nine-piece band, that offers a jazz, funk-infused groove that gives off that finger-snapping, slight hip shake feel, while singing about being a boss-ass-bitch. Her song " Glu " is a similar 'bout regarding independence and not needing no man, but something more high-paced and to dance to, but "25" is a great track to kick it back to.  What about being a boss-ass-bitch? The lyrics to "25" is definitely few and far in-between but it is very efficient in the message it is evoking: concentrating on oneself to reach desired goals, and the person she's with has to either keep up or get out, "So don't come around try'na to tell me shit/You don't know shit 'bout how I am on it." The later repetition of "And you know" is to reiterate this strength of independence, and I think...

Boy pablo  , really made a name for himself in 2017, and although " Everytime " was one dope song ( a contender for my best songs of 2017 ) I think "Ready / Problems," deserves some recognition. Off the ep, Roy Pablo, " Ready / Problems" is an emotional track about unrequited love; a love who doesn't put the same effort for him as he does for him or her. A very simplistic song, the lyrics reading like expressionistic poetry, evokes feeling and emotion rather than a narrative (dream-pop 101), "lately you say you're not ready/but will you ever be ready?" My man is caught in confusion of what to do, and is perplexed as to why the person will not even try. The last verse, the reprise of the chorus, emphasizes this notion, as he passionately sings the remaining verses--something rather uncustomary for boy pablo who sings in a low cadence--showing his frustration as if he's yelling at the person to answer, to give him some sort of re...

If you see Bootsy Collins featured on a track, I don't care who's song it is, it is a must-listen. "After the Storm" is a recent release from Kali Uchis that features another collaboration with the flower boy himself Tyler, the creator, and friggin' Bootsy Collins , and what a tune we have here. Clearly the dream pop deal, or just vibe culture seems to be an influence for Kali because "After the Storm" is such a soothing and spacious song, and like many of the songs attributed to dream pop, its lotus effect wraps you into the spell-binding-nature to deliver a cool message. Moving on from a relationship is hard, but it's harder not to have resentment for the other person and really come right out of it optimistically. This notion is pretty much the idea that surrounds the dimensions of the song and is a call to be strong; the hurt will pass, and if this relationship didn't work out, there's always more to be had, and eventually, the r...

Long time no see! I apologize for my absence it was as if the universe did not want me to contribute to the blog anymore. Finals came around and turned me into a zombie, my laptop suddenly stopped working, which took about two weeks to fix, but the icing on the cake was the concussion I suffered over the holiday season when a puck struck me in the head during practice. So, to make up for lost time, I thought do a post that is just fun for the whole family; a barrel of monkeys if you will. I decided to cover the ten undercover best songs of 2017 that you may have overlooked or had just gone unnoticed due to that damn top 40. You may also notice that most of these entries I had not even posted about, which is not to say that the songs I have been discussing have been bad, but they may been released prior to my blog's inception (and I try to keep these songs as recent as possible) or have slipped under my radar.  10. Ruru - There You Go           ...

One of my favorite groups entrenched in the dream pop genre, and steadily growing in quiet popularity (even with their year-long hiatus), No Vacation, has just released their latest five-song album, Intermission , on November 17th, 2017,   and is another impressive effort by the chill group. The second single from Intermission, " You're Not With Me," is a calmer No Vacation song with less influence of guitar riffs for what I believe is to emphasize the theme of loneliness and isolation, as the guitar has been softened and replaced by a wavering synthesizer. My first experience with No Vacation was with their single in 2015, " Draem Girl ," which had ultimately put them on the map as it has grossed to almost 1.5 million views on YouTube, through my most endeared channel, The Lazylazyme . "Draem Girl," is a guitar-driven track that takes the listener on a journey through romance and longing, with its genius transition from quick riffs to meticulous ...