365 – New Music Daily

Yeah yeah blah blah another delay. Look, I had COVID. And it wasn’t the fun COVID where you just hang out and have fun. I was tempted to blog but my brain had about 4-6 cells. Anyways, I’m going to aim for a blog post a day. We’ll see how long that lasts. But at least I put it out there, so you can hold me to it. Anyways.

MGMT and J Dilla. How many steps removed are they? Actually, only 2 in between!. MGMT –> Kid Cudi (that Pursuit of Happiness remix with Steve Aoki that most stoners know) –> Kanye (so many things) –> J Dilla (they did a song). Anyways they are pretty far apart.

Only feel like reading about music you think you might like? I get it. Use these links to jump to reviews on albums from MGMT (Rock? Pop? Psych Rock?),  J Dilla (Hip-hop hip-hop!)

MGMT – Oracular Spectacular (Rock? Yes.)

I said oooh giiirl, shock me like electric eel. There was a thing in college called a “party jam” which was, you guessed it, a party with a live band. In the grand scheme of Amherst-adjacent parties, a party-jam was top of the line man. And to be fair there were some fun ones that I went to.

There was a streak of three weekends in a row where there was a party jam (can you believe it!). And there was this one band that we continued to see, for what reason I have no idea. Dumb luck? Maybe Liam loved that band? Anyways, they played Electric Feel to close every. single. time. Without fail. And I couldn’t fucking place the song! I didn’t remember who did it. Shame on me!

Anyways, I kinda got into that song recently as well as Kids, arguably the last two rock songs that have been fucking massive in the landscape of music that, 2010 or so on, has been completely dominated by pop. Different variations of pop, yes, but pop. Not this. But even then – this is kinda pop, right?

No. Listen to this MGMT album and you will be totally surprised. They have psych rock cuts that sound like King Gizz or Unknown Moral Orchestra songs, acoustic songs, spacious rock songs, it’s totally not what you might imagine it as. Is it a great album? No. But it’s pretty good honestly, for something I went to thinking it would just be a two songer and filler. Good for MGMT.

Favorite songs: Weekend Wars, Electric Feel, Kids, The Handshake

J Dilla – Donuts (Hip Hop)

Unfortunately there will be some of you reading this that do not know who J Dilla is. That’s ok. I don’t know most things.

J Dilla is a legendary hip-hop producer from Detroit who got his start with a great group by the name of Slum Village (review on them coming soon, I promise). He is known for being one of the earliest masters of the sample, especially soul chops … you know what, I don’t need to do all that. J Dilla is a legend, if you want his bio check it out. Also a man who passed far too young. Donuts is arguably his most famous album, a collection of his beats that are just unbelievable. Check it out if you like rap instrumentals. Kapish?

Favorite songs: Doesn’t really exist as this is just a fantastic instrumental album. Check it out.