Tuesday, January 7, 2020

First Listen: Clearing the 2019 Decks

There may be one early 2020 in here, but these are some of the ones we missed over 2019 that we've discovered.


Artist: Cowgirl Clue
Album: Icebreaker
Quick Description: Some solid and accessible alt-pop.
Why You Should Listen: This is like the PC Music craze, but one your significant other might not hate you for.
Overall Thoughts: In my “year of glitchpop” diversion, this one slipped through the cracks until recently. Not really glitchy, but definitely the sort of off-brand indie pop I’ve been loving, there’s a lot to enjoy here for an album that presents itself as a very light effort.
Recommendation: One I'm glad I didn't miss out on.


Artist: Your Old Droog
Album: Jewelry
Quick Description: Third release in 2019 from the rapper.
Why You Should Listen: Come for the rap music, stay for the songs about modern Judiasm?
Overall Thoughts: Another surprise release here, this one a holiday release that celebrates Droog’s Jewish heritage with a ton of solid collaborators. Everything about this is great, as far as I’m concerned, and it’s almost too bad that this came out so late in the year because you have to wonder...
Recommendation: Either way, a great listen.


Artist: I Monster
Album: I Monster Presents People Soup
Quick Description: Crazy genre-bending pop music.
Why You Should Listen: This is a ton of fun.
Overall Thoughts: A madcap genre mashup affair if I’ve ever heard one, it’s equal parts odd indie, fun electronica, and 80s pop to create something that both feels wonderful and populist while simultaneously being incomprehensible. I don’t really know where to start with this, but I absolutely enjoyed the listen and found songs like “Black Cat Bamboozle” and “Dumb Head” to be addictive in many ways. You almost certainly missed this apparent rerelease/stateside release/digital release last year, so this is a good opportunity to correct that.
Recommendation: Give it a listen.

Of note:

* Inkraktare - We Are Not Really Here (This is really solid.)
* Nora Brown - Cinnamon Tree (If you listen to this, there's no way you'll believe she's only 14.)
* Crow vs Lion - The Heart, The Time, The Pen (Feels like an old radio station in a lot of ways.)
* Carissa Johnson - A Hundred Restless Thoughts
* Sorcha Richardson - First Prize Bravery
* Akrobatik and LX-BEATS - AKLX
* Boy Scouts - Free Company
* Sammi Lanzetta - Ceiling Mirror
* Ky Voss - Space Cadet
* Automatic - Signal
* KABLAM - Confusia
* Young Deuces - Son of a Soldier


EPs:

* Madison Cunningham - For the Sake of the Rhyme
* Baylies Band - Freudian Ears
* Magdalena Bay - Oh Hell
* Magdalena Bay - mini mix vol. 1
* Tigerman Woah! - Up South Vol. III
* Tiffany Day - I'M ALIVE
* Mourn and Chastity - Sun
* Stabbing Westward - Dead and Gone
* BEA1991 - The Lost Demo
* Julianna Barwick - Circumstance Synthesis
* Chromatics - The Sound of Silence
* Keane - Retroactive - EP3
* Poppy Jean Crawford - JEANJEANIE
* Donatachi - Taste
* Osian Rhys - Autumn Shades of Gold
* COBRAH - Icon
* Sondre Lerche - Britney
* Foo Fighters - 00959525
* Coucou Chloe - NAUGHTY DOG
* The Pats Pats and Peach Kelli Pop - The Pats Pats x Peach Kelli Pop
* NVDES - High Frequency Vibrations

Also out:

* Brushy One String - All You Need is One, Vol. 1
* Sunday Service Choir - Jesus is Born
* Kool Keith - Saks 5th Ave

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