365 – New Music Daily

Genre: Soul

Recommended for: All

Sam Cooke is perhaps the most important soul artist in history, some deem to be the genre’s creator. Mr. Soul is a perfect illustration of his talent, the soul genre, and the foundation for what was to come in one of my personal favorite genres.

Favorite songs: Nothing Can Change This Love

My Ranking: Iconic

Genre: Smooth Soul

Recommended for: All

It’s Al Green again, with perhaps his best song being on this record. And it’s a great fucking album. Of course it is! He’s the king.

Favorite songs: I’m So Tired of Being Alone

My Ranking: Al MF Green

Genre: Rock

Recommended for: Lovers of 70’s rock

I’m realizing this collection is incredibly 70’s. Jesus. I didn’t think this Tom Petty album was anything special – more of a music history jaunt on this one. American Girl is an all time guilty pleasure song for me though.

Favorite songs: Rockin’ Around (With You), Breakdown, American Girl

My Ranking: Solid

Genre: Reggae

Recommended for: Everybody

It’s bob. Come on. Though not the best Bob, by any means. Kaya clears this.

Favorite songs: Buffalo Soldier

My Ranking: Solid

Genre: Indie Pop

Recommended for: The Alt folk

This is some indie that is firmly in the for me, maybe not for you category. TV Girl is a pretty well known mid 2010s Indie artist, who is known for poppier compositions, which appeal to me because of their fun harmonies, cool songwriting, and I really like the dudes voice. Nothing too crazy, but fun music.

Favorite songs: Louise, The Getaway, The Blonde, Lovers Rock, Anjela

My Ranking: Pretty Damn Good

Genre: Amy

Recommended for: Everybody

May be a surprising entry on this list, but I’ve always leaned more towards Frank, and thus have not listened to Back to Black in many, many years. Of course it’s legendary though! Almost no misses. But… frank still better.

Favorite songs: Pick whatever you want. I’ll put a more underrated one.

My Ranking: Legendary

Genre: R&B/Rock Fusion

Recommended for: Only the truest Lenny fans

Unlike 5, Are You Gonna Go My Way is much more concerted in its sound, delivering a consistent R&B/Rock Fusion sound, with the title track providing a fantastic Rock song and legendary riff. However, the general output on this is very average. I feel like Lenny’s talent showcased in some of his most popular songs is not often showcased in an entire album.

Favorite songs: Are You Gonna Go My Way, Sugar

My Ranking: Meh

Genre: 80’s R&B/Soul

Recommended for: Everybody

This one is so much better than the previously reviewed Sade album on this blog, with two absolutely legendary songs to kick off a fantastic run of spacious, smooth 80’s R&B and Soul. I get the hype now.

Favorite songs: Smooth Operator, Your Love Is King, Hang On To Your Love,

My Ranking: Pretty damn good

Genre: Alternative/Indie

Recommended for: Indie fans, fans of harmony

Angel’s Pulse is the most recent release from one of the most underrated artists in the 21st century, Blood Orange. While some of these songs are absolutely fantastic, there are a bunch of misses, mostly on the rap songs. I would highly recommend that everyone listen to his previous album, Negro Swan. This one does still have some very creative highlights.

Favorite songs: I Wanna C U, Dark & Handsome, Benzo, Good For You, Baby Florence, Tuesday Feeling (Choose to Stay)

My Ranking: I ❤ Dev Hynes

Genre: Underground Hip Hop

Recommended for: True underground scene lovers

Wiki is one of the true litmus tests for how much someone loves underground rap – he is an incredibly lyricist with a very abrasive voice and sound. Half God is probably not his most accessible project – but I really do love this man so for me, it’s fantastic. Wikset!

Favorite songs: Roof, Remarkably, Can’t Do This Alone, Wik the God, Ego Death, Gas Face, New Truths

My Ranking: When I make a remark remark remarkably

Genre: Rap

Recommended for: Rap lovas

Had been quite a long time since I listened to this in full, but this is one of my favorite mixtapes of the 2010s. Raw sound, great bars, catchy choruses make this an incredible start to the discography of many a rap fans favorite rapper.

Favorite songs: no skips! Pick ya favorite.

My Ranking: legendary

Genre: Rap, Instrumental

Recommended for: People who want to zone out to rap beats

You know Nujabes from my previous reviews – I’ll echo. RIP to a legend taken too early who makes incredible lo-fi hip-hop beats. Spiritual State is more of the same.

Favorite songs: Spiral

My Ranking: solid

Genre: Alternative

Recommended for: Sad people

Yes, Radiohead again. Moon Shaped Pool is the bands latest release, and god damn is it sad, melancholic, beautiful, ethereal and more. A massive pivot from previous Radiohead music – though that is very non standard to begin with – however the band really kills it on all fronts here. you do have to be sad to really enjoy it though, or at least, be ready to get sad.

Favorite songs: Decks Dark, Identikit, Present Tense

My Ranking: beautiful

Genre: Rap

Recommended for: Lovers of 90’s rap and Jay-z (duh)

In my opinion, this might be the most fun Jay-Z album. Some super iconic songs, very 90’s flows and features, and Jay-Z just talking hilariously on most tracks. The beats are so great, it’s not commercial – it’s just raw 90’s rap. It don’t get much better.

Favorite songs: Politics As Usual, Dead Presidents II, Cashmere Thoughts

My Ranking: hipppphoppp

Genre: Electric Blues

Recommended for: Everybody

This is that good shit. Stevie Ray absolutely destroying the blues guitar. Fantastic blues lyricism and tropes. A song with the lyrics to Mary Had a Little Lamb that’s incredible. 10/10.

Favorite songs: Pride and Joy, Texas Flood, Mary Had a Little LAmb, Dirty Pool, LEnny, Tin Pan Alley

My Ranking: shredding