365 – New Music Daily

A group really grabs it’s hold on me, jazz, and a bit of a chaotic album.

Only feel like reading about music you think you might like? I get it. Use these links to jump to reviews on albums from Beach House (Dream Pop), BADBADNOTGOOD (Jazz) and Genesis Owusu (Alternative/Indie/R&B).

Once Twice Melody – Beach House (Dream Pop)

While I’ve always admired and appreciated Beach House, they’ve always plateau’d at being pretty good for my music taste – however on Once Twice Melody, I feel like I really got it for the first time.

The compositions are fucking gorgeous – interspersed beautiful guitar riffs, and of course synths. Lots and lots of synths. You ever wonder how they make their music sound so ethereal? It’s synths. Listen, then listen harder, then listen even harder, and you’ll come close to pinning down all of the synth melodies in an individual Beach House track.

The lead singer’s airy vocals match their tone perfectly on this one, and even though the album approaches 90 minutes, it’s an incredibly pleasant listen. I really liked this one.

Favorite songs: Once Twice Melody, Superstar, Pink Funeral, ESP, Only You Know, Another Go Round

III – BADBADNOTGOOD

Speaking of beautiful compositions, but in a totally different musical realm – III by BADBADNOTGOOD is much different from their (previously reviewed) following album IV – which featured lots of features and appeared more as a composition-esque album, where BADBADNOTGOOD was providing songs for others to hop on. AKA what DJ Khaled does, but with talent, not just God Did.

This album is basically a full on jazz album – and boy is it fucking good. I think there should be a distinction in the jazz genre that isn’t really fleshed out at the moment – but there’s a difference between upbeat jazz and slow jazz. I listened to that Miles Davis album and some parts of it were just crawling, whereas these songs really pull you in. No shade on Miles Davis … or maybe a bit? Not sure. Anyways, nice instrumental jazz album.

Favorite songs: Confessions, Kaleidoscope, Eyes Closed, Differently, Still

Struggler – Genesis Owusu (Alternative/Indie/R&B)

The opener; a wild, synth-bass heavy, almost house-esque song about survival, persistence, and the chaotic world we live in sets the tone for this album, which features themes of the difficulties of live, often framed through the main character of a roach. Thematically, this album is incredibly strong, and incredibly well written. It took me diving into this album to really get this – in a sense the messaging is a bit hidden amongst the music just because you typically don’t have depth on this level with how the music sounds. Does that make sense? I don’t know. You’ll have to listen to it.

The compositions are really nice as well – though a bit all over the place. There are the aforementioned songs that are like almost house level, or at least wild synth heavy, bouncy songs – then some seriously melancholic, somber R&B cuts, like my favorite from the album – Stuck to the Fan. Overall – it’s a really cool effort. I think I might see this dude live soon so I’ll report back on that.

Favorite songs: Leaving the Light, The Roach, See Ya There, That’s Life (A Swamp), Stuck to the Fan