I started working on my year-end note and did a bit of forward-looking daydreaming to next yearās year-end note where I - in theory - have about 51 weeks of individual notes to draw on instead of having to dig through iTunes stats and scrolling through Top Album lists from other music writers to remind myself of what I listened to this year. Hereās hoping I keep this up!
I considered having this note just be a listing of every single album and song that Iāve saved in my queue of potential things to write about but figured Iād just pull out a few of the best. Iām really going to lean in to the (ish) part of the new(ish) disclaimer.
š Goings On About Music
Let us take a look at some new(ish) albums and singlesā¦
šæ Albums
MONEYPHONE - Faith* MIXTAPE
Genres suck. They were a huge pain in the ass when I was trying to organize the ID3 tags in my iTunes library in the 2000s and they remain a problem now as I try to summarize music for these notes. Do MONEYPHONE make hip hop? Is it pop? Is it indie? I have no clue. Itās good, though, and that probably matters more. I fell in love with their 2018 EP, Athletes, but missed the handful of singles theyāve released in between that EP and this album. The Faith* MIXTAPE is all over the map in the best kind of way. Different musical stylings, different vocal effects, and a seemingly endless mix of other peopleās voices coming in and out of tracks throughout the album.
Delaney Jane - Somewhere Else EP
I almost started this review with, āIf Delaney Jane ever makes itā before realizing that sheās already toured the world and released an album along with several singles and EPs. I think this EP is a another step in her on-going transition away from being the female vocalist on EDM tracks to producing outright pop music - hopefully thereās more of this in the future. And when sheās topping charts, Iām going to be able to say that I played bass in a band that she recorded a few songs with. That will be my musical claim to fame. Donāt believe me? Go listen - itās on Apple Music. I promise.
Half Moon Run - Covideo Sessions
This album was released 37 months ago back in September and I keep going back to it. Fresh off their Juno win earlier this year, they released this collection of stripped-down versions of songs from their first three albums. Aside from the Billboard-topping artists, I have a hard time gauging how popular Canadian artists are on the international stage so I may by underestimating Half Moon Run, but I feel like they should be a lot more popular than they are.
šµ Tracks
Foxes - Hollywood
In spite of some of the albums and tracks Iāve selected over the last few weeks, I promise you that my bread and butter is indie, guitar-driven rock-ish music. Well that, and female-led pop music. Foxes had an album from a few years ago that I wore out. If it were a cassette, it would probably be unplayable at this point. After a few years of nothing, theyāve put out a few singles this year that are headed towards (I assume) a new albumā¦ and I canāt wait. This song isnāt as up-beat as some of her other songs that I really like it, but itās still a treat to listen to.
Sir Sly - Little Deaths
Still no new album until the new year, but there is another single. The previous single, Material Boy, is catchy. Itās a good song as well but itās super catchy. Little Deaths lacks the synths and drum beat but itās still a song you can tap your feet along with.
K.Flay - Self Esteem
I know I did my covers-themed note a couple weeks ago but I donāt think I mentioned that one of my favourite styles of covers is when artists take a harder song (could be metal or hard rock or punk, doesnāt matter) and play a soft version - not necessarily just acoustic, but a slowed-down version with softer vocals. Iām a sucker for that. Though not a cover, several years ago The Offspring released a video from one of their concerts of a version of Gone Away featuring the singer from the band they were touring with. I loved it. And I love this version of Self Esteem as well.
š§ In My Queue
Decent mix of different music. bulow (thereās an umlaut on the U but Iām afraid itāll break my CMS) caught my attention with a single called Not to a Love Song a few years back and Iāve been a fan since. When I included that Tokyo Police Club outtake last week I realized they also put out an EP with some new songs and some acoustic versions of old songs. I didnāt mind this Rubber Band track. The Ryan Adams song is a good one. Iām not sure if weāre supposed to like him anymore and I also didnāt have a chance to listen to his new album but I did enjoy this track.
bulow - Lost
Bright Eyes - Miracle of Life
Tokyo Police Club - Rubber Bands
Delaney Jane (feat. Virginia To Vegas) - Just as Much
DVBBS - Need U
K. Flay - Self Esteem
Foxes - Hollywood
Sir Sly - Little Deaths
Ryan Adams - Birmingham
Check out the playlist on Apple Music. Check out my profile on Apple Music.
And, I guess, check out the playlist on Spotify if you donāt like things like RSS feeds and the open internet.
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