Monday Mixtape, Vol. 157

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It’s Monday, and it’s music time.

Beach Bunny’s debut album gets better and better. There’s something raw but refreshing with this rock band.

Speaking of raw rock, Car Seat Headrest just released their new album, and it’s a hard left their standard fare, a bit less rock, a bit more electronic-y.

Perfume Genius has gotten a lot of press for quite some time, and I’ve usually enjoyed a few tracks from each of his albums. His latest album, the subtle titled, “Set My Heart on Fire Immediately,” is getting good reviews, but I haven’t sunk my teeth in yet.

One of the more underrated rappers of our day, Isaiah Rashad, a man who has been on the mixtape many times, finally released a new single! Hopefully, this means he’s got a record coming out, but who knows with him. The throwback sound of “Why Worry" juxtaposes with his flow and creates a song that very few in the rap world could make.

If you haven’t heard Beyonce rap on Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage” remix, do yourself a solid and give it a close listen. What a track.

I loved Faye Webster’s debut album from last year, the mellow but terribly and nonsensically titled, “Atlanta Millionaires Club.” The track on this week’s mixtape is more the same mellowness.

You probably didn’t know, but The Strokes released another album. Their first one in six years though it really doesn’t feel that long. I guess they still need dem checks. The album is decent and there’s some tracks I enjoy, but the songwriting feels tired, like “Ugh, I gotta write ANOTHER Strokes song, fine…” and out comes a number of songs that make this album. That sounds terrible, but let‘s remember, The Strokes can write amazing songs, but now it’s more or less recycled great songs. Take it or leave it.

Happy Monday all. Stay safe.

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 105

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It's about that time for a Monday Mixtape focused on rap! If you hadn't heard, Beyonce and Jay-Z made an album as The Carters, a decent album that incessantly talks about their wealth, their reborn love, and how much better their life is that you while yammering on about their kids ("WHAT UP BLU!" "She can't hear you, Jay, she's at daycare at the MOMA"). So it's basically everyones Facebook post in one way or another. Few good songs though!

Jay Rock gets my vote for best rap album of the year (so far, at least). Others may say Pusha-T - ***TANGENT ALERT***Pusha's album is a 6/10 from me and he probably got more point by releasing the best rap song of the year and possibly greatest diss track of all time, The Story of Adidon -

which KILLED Drake (we'll see about commercially) not only with the cover of the single of Drake wearing blackface (which in CONTEXT Drake explained later:

DrakeExplainsBlackface

but the damage was already done since the track circulated like a virus in hours as everyone had been awaiting Pusha's response) and Pusha exposed Drake had a boy from a pornstar (how had this not been uncovered?) that he was keeping hidden from the world until he could use (or maybe, in Drake's lame/terrible/child labor idea, "introduce") the kid to introduce an Adidas apparel line named Adidon!!!??? WHATT!??) ***TANGENT OVER***

- or J. Cole (No, sorry, I like J. Cole, but he's overrated). 

Which brings us back to Jay Rock - another member of TDE, the all powerful label with Kendrick, SZA, Schoolboy Q, and others - finally put it together as a rapper, combining his raw sound and street experiences into a powerful flow. There are some rappers that go on about the usual sex, drugs, and gangs, where it's hard to believe if their character is fiction or non-fiction. With Jay Rock, there's no guessing. This guy's rap alone makes me believe everything he's rapping. Please listen to "ES Tales" on blast because that bass ripples.

Freddie Gibbs is another one of those guys. From Gary, Indiana, he's one of the most underrated rappers alive some great previous albums like Shadow of a Doubt and the amazing Madlib produced Pinata. What a flow and vocals.

Anderson .Paak is still showing he can do no wrong. If you still haven't heard his album Malibu, do yourself a favor and get on it!

That's all I got. Happy listening.