WIBLT: Dog Days of Summer
WIBLT: Dog Days of Summer
What I've Been Listening To, 7/7/21
Today’s post is dedicated to the beautiful union of Claudia and John O’Connor I witnessed this weekend.
And they would be furious if they knew you weren’t subscribed to the ‘What I’ve Been Listening To’ playlist. It’s always updated with the eight standout tracks from all of these posts in 2021.
Off Summer - Garren Sean
10 tracks, 35 minutes
Released: June 25th, 2021
From: Bay Area, CA
Genres: Funky, R&B
Recommended For Fans Of: Prince, Leven Kali, Aaron Childs
I first heard of Garren Sean after he produced the track Smoke Break with Future off of Chance the Rapper’s Coloring Book (at the time, he just went by GARREN). Since then, Sean released his debut album in 2017, opened for Clairo on tour, and released his 2018 EP SUNDRIP. After that, with the exception of a single or two, he went radio silent until the release of this project. Off Summer shows he’s used that time off wisely, as he keeps getting better and better with each release. He says the way he uses synth bass is heavily influenced by Mobb Music and G-Funk. Those funky bass lines, along with synthetic vocal harmonies, and Prince-esque guitar licks highlight the project that provides a groovy soundtrack for any occasion this summer. A multi-instrumental talent, all songs on the project were written, produced, and mixed by Garren Sean.
Standout Track: Paranoia
The Beautiful Hour - Reek & Sage
11 tracks, 34 minutes
Released: September 16th, 2020
From: San Antonio, TX
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
Recommended For Fans Of: Pharrell, Curren$y, Odd Future
Coming out at the tail end of last summer, I’m a bit late on listening to The Beautiful Hour, but I’m real glad it eventually found its way onto my Soundcloud feed. This is the third album from Reek & Sage as a duo with Reek providing the raps and Sage handling production. Together they show incredible chemistry. Some songs on here sound like if Curren$y made a tape over Neptunes beats, while the entire tape is reminiscent of some real blog era rap. Sage creates lush and layered soundscapes that are always engaging without doing too much, leaving the perfect platform for Reek to lay his smooth flows over. Somehow this project sounds fresh and like a trip down memory lane at the same time. In addition to Reek’s vocals there are multiple appearances from Niko2k and Malcolm Jakob.
Standout Track: Need It
Pictures of Your Pets - Newgrounds Death Rugby
10 tracks, 32 minutes
Released: June 24th, 2021
From: Charleston, SC
Genres: Emo, Punk, Rock, DIY
Recommended For Fans Of: Stars Hollow, Guitar Fight from Fooly Cooly
“To my depressive nerd brethren, burying their sorrows in JRPG binges, old-school anime, and kawaii critters: I’m thrilled to report that we finally have an album for us, by us, and it’s absolutely stellar.” - Zoe Camp writing on the album for Bandcamp.
If that blurb, along with song names like D&D Is Gay (But So Am I So This Tracks), speaks to you in any way, then this is the album for you. Newgrounds Death Rugby follow up their 2019 debut album with the roaring Pictures of Your Pets. The five piece emo group is from South Carolina, though for this album they went down to Tallahasse Florida to record with Lon Beshiri. The result is a boisterous LP full of heartfelt lyrics and thunderous production. In the spirit of the album’s title, the project is dedicated to “Sgt. Purr Purr.”
Standout Track: Pipeline Punch
Mt. Pleasant - Cosha
8 tracks, 31 minutes
Released: July 2nd, 2021
From: Wicklow, Ireland
Genres: R&B, Dance
Recommended For Fans Of: Dizzy Fae, Kelela, Empress Of
Following up the 2018 EP R.I.P Bonzai, the singer formally known as Bonzai returns with their debut album as Cosha, Mt. Pleasant. The former Nao backup vocalist and Mura Masa front person uses this project to continue the evolution of her solo sound. The music under her old alias saw a lot more dance and edm influence in the production, but her work as Cosha dials that back a bit. There’s still plenty of dance influence (like on the aptly titled Do You Wanna Dance), but it’s more sophisticated now. Like something you might hear at a cocktail bar rather than a rave. While tapping into that sound, Cosha created a sleek, sexy identity for listeners to call home.
“When I think about what I love about the music I love, I realise that a lot of those songs make me feel like I have company, made me feel more at home. I wanted this album to be somewhere you can retreat to for companionship, something that leaves you feeling light and liberated. It’s called ‘Mt. Pleasant’ because that was my home. Maybe this album can be a home for someone else now.” - Cosha for DIY Mag.
Standout Track: Do You Wanna Dance
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Ep2 - Worlds Worst
6 tracks, 18 minutes
Released: June 25th, 2021
From: Salt Lake City, UT
Genres: Garage, Rock, Shoegaze, Grunge
Recommended For Fans Of: Yuck, Toner
Based off the title, you’d be correct to assume that this is the band’s second EP, but don’t believe it when they say they’re the world’s worst. Forming just before the pandemic (the aptly titled debut ep ‘EP’ came out last April), Worlds Worst has been able to create a great buzz and and incredible sound in a short amount of time. The pacing on this one is excellent, as the band knows exactly when to go all in, and when to pull back. Combining all the best parts of garage rock, emo, shoe gaze, and grunge, Worlds Worst makes music that’s familiar, but unique. The first EP was entirely self-made (unless you count some mixing help from guitarist Max Schoenfeld’s dad), but for this one they enlisted Jack Shirley for mixing and mastering. Avid readers of this blog will recognize the name from mixing the Pardoner record I covered in May, and may also know him from his work with Joyce Manor and Jeff Rosenstock.
Standout Track: Balloons
PRADO MONROE - Prado
6 tracks, 15 minutes
Released: June 18th, 2021
From: Vancouver, CA
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap, Pop
Recommended For Fans Of: Doja Cat, Santigold, M.I.A.
The years in the making debut EP from Prado has finally arrived, and it’s worth the wait. It all started with Soundcloud uploads that made waves with fans and underground venues/promoters alike (earning her a songwriter job with Skrillex’s OWSLA label) before trickling onto streaming services and eventually forming this six song project. Prado pairs stellar songwriting with braggadocios and often humorous bars that you’d expect from a Lizzo or Doja Cat track. Take the way she flattens the melody for a very matter-of-fact and condescending delivery of the line “I don’t give a fuck if you like me, Stephen” on the opening track, before jumping right back into singing. In the context of that song, Stephen is used to represent both Stephen Harper, the former conservative prime minister of Canada, as well as any oppressive male figure (“it’s always a fucking Stephen” Prado told Apple Music). The whole EP is a means of fighting back by simply existing. “My whole life you weren’t really given the chance to make whatever you want. They’re like, ‘Oh, you’re Indigenous, you’ve got to do Indigenous stuff,’ or, ‘If you do activism your songs should mean this or that,’ but I think that’s just missing the whole point,” Prado told Underground Underdogs.
Standout Track: Men In Black
Dreaming Life - Kekko
4 tracks, 17 minutes
Released: June 11th, 2021
From: Singapore
Genres: Dream Pop, Shoegaze, Alternative
Recommended For Fans Of: Beach House, Melody’s Echo Chamber, Chromatics
Tim Kek and Cherie Ko make up the husband-wife duo Kekko (see where the name comes from?). Tim handles the production while Cherie does vocals and lyric writing. The production is washed out and vibrant like floating through a dream, while the vocals bring to mind Victoria Legrand of Beach House or Ruth Radelet of Chromatics. Speaking on the project, Cherie says it, “conveys the cosmic connection that Tim and I share, about how a force like Love can transcend time and space, and even span across lifetimes.” This debut EP was released on Spirit Goth records, also home to Cathedral Bells who I featured earlier this year.
Standout Track: Past Lives
What We Lost - Janette King
12 tracks, 43 minutes
Released: June 25th, 2021
From: Montreal, Québec
Genres: R&B, Electronic, Neo-Soul, House
Recommended For Fans Of: Rochelle Jordan, Kelela
Following two EPs dating back to 2015, Janette King delivers her stellar debut album, What We Lost. King’s background as a DJ is apparent in the production choices on this that jump around from classic R&B, to Neo-Soul, and even more House influenced tracks. “DJing has helped me to understand BPMs better,” King told AudioFemme. She wrote most of the project in her bedroom with her piano and guitar, and would start with the bpm, deciding what kind of tempo the song should be based on the energy of the lyrics, and would build the track from there. This first full-length release came together last summer as King tackled loss from all angles, juggling “the near loss of a family member, the end of a deep relationship, and ultimately the loss of her sense of self.”
Standout Track: Airplane
A Song
Post Its - Scorpio
I’ve been listening to Scorpio since before they even officially released music, so trust me when I say this is probably their best song to date.
A Video
Jealous - EYEDRESS
Based on the numbers it looks like I’m pretty late to hearing Eyedress, but yeah I just heard Eyedress, you should too.
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