★★★☆☆ = Good!
What’s it sound like?
Some of the best modern rap
Thoughts
A+ kanye production, like he’s somehow worked in all his best attributes (soul samples, modern industrial electro) and gave him to pusha t.
Pusha keeps getting better. Still talking a lot about drugs but it’s more approachable. Fewer choruses and more focus on the raps, great verses all around for him.
More Info
https://www.discogs.com/Pusha-T-Daytona/release/12284285
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Schema Info
★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine
What’s it sound like?
Big band with impressive trumpet
Thoughts
Just fine if big band is your thing
More Info
https://www.discogs.com/Maynard-Ferguson-Octet-Maynard-Ferguson-And-His-Octet/release/9193213
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★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine
What’s it sound like?
Jangly 80s college rock.
Thoughts
An extension of the feelies, it’s a bit more chilled out than the feelies records I’m familiar with. Enjoyable but not essential, fans of the genre would enjoy but otherwise stick to the feelies.
More Info
https://www.discogs.com/Yung-Wu-Shore-Leave/release/6843280
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Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XO8OzaGpYBg
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Schema Info
★★★☆☆ = Good!
What’s it sound like?
Future’s Atlanta stutter trap rap featuring young thug.
Thoughts
A solid outing, futures flow can get repetitive so it works well when he’s sharing a track with someone else. Young thug is going for it here, at times I feel he’s putting out too much material and wearing himself thin, preferring quantity to quality, but he clearly worked on these and the result pays off. I say it’s a future album cause the production is from futures usual stable.
More Info
https://www.discogs.com/Future-4-Young-Thug-Super-Slimey/release/11030623
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★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening
What’s it sound like?
Vicious militant protest raps
Thoughts
Skipp’s taking aim at inequality, both financial and racial. While his raps are good the beats are exceptional, some of my favorite recent productions.
The songs are on the shorter side but it works well as an album, making for concise poignant verses.
Impressive.
More Info
https://www.discogs.com/Skipp-Coon-Miles-Garvey/release/9841258
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#VALUE!
Spotify
★☆☆☆☆ = Bad
What’s it sound like?
New school rap, materialistic bravado
Thoughts
Derivative and uninteresting, skip this one
More Info
https://www.discogs.com/Allan-Kingdom-Lines/release/11273550
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⭐⭐⭐⭐
What’s it sound like?
‘ugly’ drug rap – raw and unflinching – featuring production from some of this generation best producers.
Thoughts
One of the best rap albums of the 2010s, Pusha T’s distinct aggressive style is in top form here. However it’s a love or hate kind of thing, so maybe not the best starting place for those unfamiliar with Clipse.
Given his relationship with both Pharrell and Kanye all of the Clipse albums are worth listening to. This is no exception and serves as a certain precursor to yeezus.
More Info
https://www.discogs.com/Pusha-T-My-Name-Is-My-Name/release/5029541
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More Info:
https://www.discogs.com/Pusha-T-My-Name-Is-My-Name/release/5029541
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⭐⭐⭐
What’s it sound like?
Truly soulful modern R&B
Thoughts
Face your fear is true r&b and an excellent example of how you can be a revivalist while taking a modern approach to make it new. The wa-wa guitar lines are done particularly well, creating a sultry sorta 70s feel.
Face your fear, on and on, dream girl are a few favorites.
More Info:
https://www.discogs.com/Curtis-Harding-Face-Your-Fear/release/11209112
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⭐⭐⭐
Guitar driven jazz with a strong blues lean. I like the blusier numbers like telegraph blues and the hernia but jazz tracks like love and innocence are also good.
Solid outing from the great guitarist Calvin Keys.
More Info:
https://www.discogs.com/Calvin-Keys-Electric-Keys/release/11110364
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⭐⭐
I enjoyed parts of this, and it turned me on to songs of theirs I hadn’t heard before, but I don’t see myself revisiting this album.
More Info:
https://www.discogs.com/Wild-Beasts-Last-Night-All-My-Dreams-Came-True/release/11575021
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#VALUE!