In my writeup last week on BENEE, her sound had influences of the xx. Sure enough, one member of the xx, Romy, starts this week’s mixtape! “Lifetime” is a hell of an upbeat electro track. You’ll be nodding your head in no time.

Last week, you may have also noticed the name Gus Dapperton featured on the infectious “Supalonely” by BENEE (so much BENEE!!), and it just so happens Ol’ Gus released a new album in November as well. The bass line to “Bluebird” gets me every time.

PUP had my #1 album of 2019, and they’ve followed that amazeballsness with a lackluster EP (insert Price Is Right horn…), but “Nothing Changes” is certainly worth a listen. You know what? No. I’m not putting it on the mixtape. It didn’t make the cut. Sorry pooch!

I've listened to Chris Stapleton’s album a number of times, and I’m disappointed. It’s inconsistent. There are no bad songs per se, but for a guy with SO much talent, and one of the greatest voices of his generation (don’t you dare say no), I keep waiting for an oh my god this is a classic album. Some may argue his debut, Traveller, is a classic, but I think it’s a notch or two below that.

We still gifted beautiful songs (like “Joy Of My Life”) and kick-ass ones (like “Arkansas”).

I hadn’t heard of Marlowe until I asked a guy on Twitter what his fave albums this year were. Marlowe’s recent album - he also listed RTJ4, Aesop Rock’s new one, Alfredo (Freddie Gibbs and Alchemist), unlocked (Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats) Jay Electronica, Clams Casino’s instrumental, and Westside Gunn’s Pray for Paris - Marlowe 2, is very unique, in your face in a punkish way, and a blast to listen to. So far, my fave track is “Small Business,” so listen up!

Jonah Yano is this weird dude I stumbled upon, one of those Andrew Bird or Patrick Watson “out there” types whose music just sounds smart and ephemeral. “Anywhere” is a beautiful track, and you might get Jeff Buckley vibes.

Threw in a little more REASON for the rap heads out there.