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Music Quickspins

CupcakKe – Ephorize

CupcakKe – Ephorize (CupcakKe, 2018)

Rapper CupcakKe has come out with a steller third album, Ephorize, filled with exciting, vibrant wordplay and creative beats. CupcakKe covers a wide range of topics, from sex, acceptance and support for the LGBTQ+ community, to sexism and self-analysis—all with confidence and self-assurance. One of the best songs off the album is “Self Interview,” a reflective song about the double standard women face, played over a soft-sounding piano beat. Her commentary isn’t anything I haven’t heard, like: “Females have sex on the first night, they get called a hoe for that one-night stand / Men have sex on the first night, ‘Congratulations, you got around her bands.’” However, her performance really amplifies and enhances the lyrics. The album is lively yet sharply written, and mixed with danceable beats.

Sample track: “Self Interview”

Rating: 7.9/10

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Music Quickspins

Jeff Rosenstock – POST-

Jeff Rosenstock – POST- (Polyvinyl)

While most artists spent 2017 attempting to carve a sense of purpose into our socio-political landscape, few were able to sound legitimately conscious without coming off as indulgent or incredibly self-serving. The always-humble Jeff Rosenstock stands in stark contrast to this overly politicized era of music. Still, his nervy pop-punk revivalism rings with the confidence of a seasoned rock veteran armed to the teeth with power-pop riffs and enough frenzied bombast to promote communal delinquency and the sharing of cold brews. The Nov. 8 election was a calamitous accident to some, a curse that will afflict the mentality of hopeful Americans for years. You can sense that grief-stricken energy on Rosenstock’s POST-, an album that crashed into 2018 head-on with righteous conviction and clear-eyed intent.

Rating: 8.4/10

Trial Track: “USA”

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Music Quickspins

Brockhampton – Saturation III

Brockhampton – Saturation III (Empire)

Saturation III is the conclusion to Brockhampton’s Saturation trilogy. Starting in the summer of 2017, Brockhampton burst onto the scene with the first Saturation, a mix of R&B and rap that was exciting, fresh and filled with angst. The members of the group, of which there are more than 10, don’t consider themselves a rap group, but a boy band instead. Saturation II was a return to form and another great addition to the series. Saturation III is a solid end to the trilogy, however, it seems like more of an expansion of Saturation I and II than a new album. Much of the album has the same hard-hitting, jazzy, experimental vibes as the first two, with much of the same flows and lyrical themes as well. There are definitely stand-out tracks here. The opening song, “Boogie,” is a certified banger. The crazy, siren-like instrumental and spazzy flows are exactly what you’d want from Brockhampton. However, songs like “Stains,” “Alaska” and “Team” show that, while the album is good, you’ve heard it all before.

Trial Track: “Boogie”

Score: 7.5/10

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Music Quickspins

Travis Scott & Quavo – Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho

Travis Scott & Quavo – Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho (Quality Control)

The last quarter of 2017 was dominated by trap rap collaborative albums. In October, it was Future and Young Thug’s Super Slimey. In November, it was 21 Savage, Offset and Metro Boomin’s Without Warning. Now, Migos’s leader Quavo and Travis Scott are finally here with their long-awaited collaborative project, and they came to play. Unlike the projects listed above, Scott and Quavo have genuine chemistry. On the tape’s best track, “Modern Slavery,” they both trade verses effortlessly. Their melodic voices swap in and out with ease and sometimes they even share verses and hooks. While the album isn’t filled with lyrical genius, it doesn’t have to be. Quavo and Scott make each song interesting, while the lavish trap production makes up for any lyrical shortcomings. On songs like “Moon Rock” and “Saint Laurent Mask,” the production features subtle flourishes that take on a life of their own. Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho is easily the best collaborative tape of 2017.

Trial Track: “Motorcycle Patches”

Score: 9/10

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Music Quickspins

Björk – Utopia

Björk – Utopia (2017, One Little Indian)

Björk’s latest album is sublime, a collection of musically adventurous songs that ponder the apathy and joy of discovering love again. Utopia showcases Björk’s incredible breadth as a singer and an auteur of sound. Its production shines, with elements of birdsong gently meandering throughout the celestial “Arisen My Senses,” to the gorgeously enchanting title-track, “Utopia.” Tracks like these allow Björk to flourish her experimental leanings, while sharpening a newfound proclivity for ambient soundscape. The album is a personal manifesto about the gestational period of dating, progressing through moments of sheer ecstasy to fascination. The textures she tinkers with in these compositions both confuse and spark the audience’s curiosity, dissolving the lines between her soft-edged timbre and the lush orchestral arrangements behind her. The most gratifying melodies on the album surge with the ebb and flow of crashing waves. If Björk’s breathtaking octave range is any indication, the musicality displayed on Utopia is pure magic.

Rating: 8.8/10

Trial Track: “Utopia”

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Music Quickspins

88 Glam – 88 Glam

88 Glam – 88 Glam (2017, XO)

After recently signing to The Weeknd’s XO label, 88 Glam, a rap duo comprising Toronto artists 88 Camino and Derek Wise, released their debut project. The album is a buttery smooth mix of rap and R&B that sees Wise do the heavy lifting in terms of rap, while 88 Camino brings in the more melodic verses. The album’s breakout single, “Bali,” featuring fellow XO artist NAV, is a great party song which has a catchy-as-hell hook from 88 Camino and some pretty standout verses from Wise and NAV. However, while the album is smooth and has no real faults, none of these songs really stand out. “Ricardo” and “12,” the first two tracks on the album, reel you in. After “Bali,” the project sort of falls flat, leaving you wanting more. The dark and gloomy trap production does nothing to support Camino and Wise’s flows, making the album a little boring.

Score: 5/10

Trial Track: “Bali” ft. NAV

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Music Quickspins

Jaden Smith – Syre

Jaden Smith – Syre (2017, Roc Nation/MSFTS Music)

Social media icon and child of the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Jaden Smith, released an album—and oh my God, sound the alarms, it’s actually good. The album’s epic opening, “B,” comes in with beautiful vocals sung by Princess Pia Mia, which then transition into hard-hitting vocals sung by Smith. The album is a mixed bag of trap, rock and jazzy, progressive instrumentals that appeal to every musical palette. Even Smith himself is impressive, riding each beat to perfection and delivering thought-provoking and introspective lyrics. Smith’s past antics on social media and in the public eye might turn you away from this project, but don’t let them. Syre is surprisingly one of the best rap albums released this year and shatters every expectation. While the album’s second half lacks in hard-hitting tracks compared to the first, Syre is a satisfying listen with plenty of style for everyone to enjoy.

Score: 8.5/10

Trial Track: “Batman”

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Music Quickspins

Odonis Odonis – No Pop

Odonis Odonis – No Pop (Felte/Telephone Explosion, 2017)

On their fourth album, Toronto trio Odonis Odonis shift gears to minimal electronic pop, meshed with an acute industrial sensibility. Odonis Odonis have developed their skill for creating a universe of sound with a booming range of darkwave-style synths and stone-cold industrial sonics. The music on No Pop establishes a stress-inducing taste of despair, using recurring bass patterns, high-frequency synth lines and tinges of psychedelia. This is all held in tandem by razor-sharp keyboard melodies immersed in robotic sound textures. These tracks are ominous. The trio work like puppet masters, pulling on the strings of assorted sounds to create something truly sinister.  It’s unclear what’s motivating these sound architects, but one thing is certain—they’re intent on dragging you down with them.

Rating: 7.4/10

Trial Track: “Check My Profile”

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Music Quickspins

Converge – The Dusk In Us

Converge – The Dusk In Us (Epitaph, 2017)

The ninth album from the metalcore pioneers is their most halting and claustrophobic record in years. The band’s knack for sharp hooks comes through as they reject internal conflict to challenge an unknown entity larger and more muscular than the scale of their songs. They’ve consistently altered their blueprint into something more expansive and evocative—an artful mix of hardcore punk kinetics and screeching, distortion-ridden excursions. It’s all present and in boundless quantity on The Dusk in Us, from the feedback-laden dirge of “Murk & Marrow” to Nate Newton’s thunderous basswork at the nervous system of “Trigger.” But as the urgency of the album climaxes, the band’s exploratory impulses emerge like never before. The Dusk in Us is quintessentially Converge, finding catharsis in eccentric theatrics and blissful anger.

Rating: 8.3/10

Trial Track: “Arkhipov Calm”

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Music Quickspins

Yaeji – EP2

Yaeji – EP2 (Godmode, 2017)

New York producer Yaeji spins an entire history’s worth of club music under the hypnotic disco ball of her second EP of the year. Yaeji flexes her vocal chops here as well, but doesn’t come across as out of place when you hear the subtle tones of house music and British IDM bleeding throughout these tracks. The club and, by extension, club music are often looked to as an escapist’s genre; as a wall to be torn down by fast beats and deep bass. What’s important are that the bass, the beat and the lyrics Yaeji sprinkles into the framework of the music to remind you of her crucial toehold in the club scene. Her ability to transcend the energy levels of a dancefloor transforms into a strange world of music you fall into when you just want to get loose and have fun.

Trial Track: “raingurl”

Rating: 7.6/10

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Music Quickspins

Call Super – Apro

Call Super – Apro (Houndstooth, 2017)

Electronic artist Call Super has come out with a stellar sophomore album, Apro, which mixes ambient electronic textures and creative beats. The album exudes love and joy, making it a relaxing listen. Tracks are layered with dense sounds, from bells to white noise. “Music Stand” sounds uniquely upbeat, combining several disparate sounds to compose a surprisingly cohesive track. “Trockel” features a driving beat while echoed synths wail in the background, creating emotionally resonant sounds. At certain points, some of the sounds reminiscent of Aphex Twin and composer Nobukazu Takemura. Nonetheless, Call Super retains a unique sound throughout. This album is definitely a worthwhile listen for electronic music fans.

Sample track: “Music Stand”

Rating: 7.7/10

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Music Quickspins

Fever Ray – Plunge

Fever Ray – Plunge (Rabid/Mute, 2017)

Plunge sees Karin Elisabeth Dreijer stretching the contours of her elastic voice in unpredictable ways. More than in her past efforts with The Knife, there is something aggressively experimental, perplexing and equally thrilling that bubbles underneath these electro-pop tunes. Her voice no longer depends on the alien pitch-shifting she established with The Knife; instead, she utilizes her affinity for transporting dissonant dance sounds into bulletproof, club-ready pop. Her voice burns like fire as it explores the electrifying and varied field of electronic music that defines her stylistic palette. With the romping rave jolt of “Wanna Sip” and the sharp violin screeches in “Red Trail,” Plunge is an uptempo mesh of shimmering sounds that crushes notions of classification. More fundamentally, it exemplifies a continuation of the chilling, progressive and cutting-edge pop The Knife achieved on their 2006 opus, Silent Shout. And, on this recent effort, Dreijer is profoundly and unabashedly herself.

Rating: 8.2/10

Trial Track: “Wanna Sip”

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