Dis Fig tossed every other release aside this week with her debut full-length, PURGE. Her blend of industrial electronic, tormented, strained vocals and orchestral composition combine in an absolutely gripping solo effort. Intense, harsh moments give way to quiet, creeping melodies, only to be launched back into an emotionally laden, chaotic, noise-filled soundscape. The ebb and flow of this album is pure perfection.
The banjo-wielding quartet of Rhiannon Giddens, Amythyst Kiah, Allison Russell, and Leyla McCalla made selecting my favorite album a breeze this week, with Songs of Our Native Daughters. The album is absolutely phenomenal and brings four supremely talented musicians together, who pull inspiration from sources ranging from the 17th to 19th centuries in a musical exploration of struggle, resistance, and hope from a black female perspective. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings has made the extensive ... read more
After her 2016 masterpiece, Stillness In Wonderland, Little Simz had a lot to live up to with her next full-length release. With GREY Area, she’s somehow managed to live up to my highest expectations. The phenomenal beats, strong writing, and relentless delivery easily make this my favorite hip-hop album of the year so far.
Dakota deliver a thoughtful, melancholic debut effort on Here’s The 101 On How To Disappear. Highly relatable and honest observations are delivered through clever writing, all atop a pleasant medley of dream pop instrumentals.