favorite tunes of 2011, part 1: a year with perhaps too many great albums (if that were ever possible)
Yeah, yeah, I know — we’re nearly two weeks and counting into 2012. Why even bother posting this list? Honestly, it just wouldn’t feel right. I struggled to keep the reviews short or include all my thoughts or keep it sounding original. Yet I’ve looked forward to writing about those albums that made an indelible mark in my life for the past six years. It’s a way to put a cap on last year and move on to the next year’s releases. And while I’m anticipating lots of albums from longtime favorites, 2011 as a music year was both taxing and worthwhile.
For some reason, I had the bright idea of trying to listen to a new album a day (old or new, something I’ve never heard before), and write a review for each one. Ha. That lasted about 130 albums, so roughly May or June. But it did make me appreciate music even more.
For some reason, I had the bright idea of trying to listen to a new album a day (old or new, something I’ve never heard before), and write a review for each one. Ha. That lasted about 130 albums, so roughly May or June. But it did make me appreciate music even more.
When you wear out an activity you love so much, it starts to feel like a job. As I get older, those instances of joy and euphoria from everyday events are harder to find than they were in my childhood. With that said, here are ten albums that rarely left my playlists, that got me through the early mornings and long days, and gave me that giddy feeling of unwrapping the plastic off my first CD.
(Note: my actual reviews are MUCH longer than intended, so if you’re looking for a “quick and dirty,” read the six-word mini reviews in bold located below the artist//album title and recommended tracks below the longer reviews.)
10. The Streets // Computers and Blues
9. Tennis // Cape Dory
8. Mariachi El Bronx // Mariachi El Bronx II
7. The Joy Formidable // The Big Roar
6. Explosions in the Sky // Take Care, Take Care, Take Care
5. Big Jesus // Big Jesus EP
4. The Head and the Heart // The Head and the Heart
3. Foo Fighters // Wasting Light
2. Jay-Z and Kanye West // Watch the Throne
1. Childish Gambino // Camp
(Note: my actual reviews are MUCH longer than intended, so if you’re looking for a “quick and dirty,” read the six-word mini reviews in bold located below the artist//album title and recommended tracks below the longer reviews.)
10. The Streets // Computers and Blues
9. Tennis // Cape Dory
8. Mariachi El Bronx // Mariachi El Bronx II
7. The Joy Formidable // The Big Roar
6. Explosions in the Sky // Take Care, Take Care, Take Care
5. Big Jesus // Big Jesus EP
4. The Head and the Heart // The Head and the Heart
3. Foo Fighters // Wasting Light
2. Jay-Z and Kanye West // Watch the Throne
1. Childish Gambino // Camp
10. The Streets // Computers and Blues
Mike Skinner’s thought-provoking, off-kilter swan songs.
Mike Skinner isn’t your typical rapper, if there ever were a standard definition. Let’s just say you wouldn’t find his face in the dictionary next to the word or in a quick Google search. He had his share of tough times growing up and maybe a had a run-in with the law. To say this man with a gift of gab is a British equivalent of Eminem would be blasphemy. The comparison is not even close. Skinner is the type of person who’s never forgotten where he comes from or who he is, because he’s quite spartan about it all.
There’s no need to tell you how big his house is or how many cars he owns. Through the use of spoken word, The Streets depicts his borderline self-deprecating everyday man approach to life on his fifth and final album. He discusses how our society functions when it comes to human interaction, loving one other, and makingthrough each day alive. His use of crossword puzzle clues as a metaphor for confusion on “Puzzled By People” is simply ingenious.
The whole album is quite bittersweet. Although The Streets made an indelible mark on the UK grime/hip-hop scene over the past ten years, some things aren’t meant to go on for too long. Skinner claims that he should’ve stopped this act about two albums ago. I can’t even begin to think of the fans (myself included) who would have been disappointed if Computers and Blues was never released. Long live the creative, unorthodox types in the world — long live The Streets.
Recommended tracks: Outside Inside, Going Through Hell, Puzzled By People, Trust Me
9. Tennis // Cape Dory
Surf rock for the open sea.
Thanks in part to how people use the Internet, bands that would have never seenthe light of day during MTV’s heyday can garner buzz with just a few quick endorsements from the right sources. In recent years, this was Vampire Weekend and Passion Pit, to name a few. One of 2011’s “it” indie bands according to some music bloggers was Tennis.
Patrick Riley and Alaina Moore’s story is pretty fascinating. While I’ve grown accustomed the expecting the whole “seclusion/hibernation from society” style from indie rockers (see: Bon Iver), this couple took to the open seas. On a sailboat. For seven months. And sold all of their possessions. And then started writing music. With a DIY approach to production and recording, nearly every song on this album has a natural “go with the flow” feel. It’s easy to lump them into the “lo-fi” category for this, or perhaps “surf rock,” a la Best Coast.
Still, their strengths are less about the sum and more about the parts: the vocals, storytelling, and lyrics. On “Pigeon,” I can help but feel mushy when I hear these lines with the sound of a keyboard lightly bouncing in the background (I’ll be holding you tight/let you sleep through the night/Oh, I will be there/I promise to take good care of you). Follow that up with a few “dooby-doo-wahs” and you’ve got yourself some feel-good summertime music.
Recommended tracks: Pigeon, South Carolina, Seafarer, Baltimore, Marathon
8. Mariachi El Bronx // Mariachi El Bronx II
Masterful mariachi tunes for any occasion.
I have the utmost respect for artists who attempt to put their own twist on a regional or indigenous. It’s been done with reggae, East African music, and , to name a few. Until recently, still relegated mariachi tunes to Mexican restaurants, because, well, that’s where many of us hear that kind of music. That all changed when a friend turned me on to Mariachi El Bronx.
Mind you, this isn’t some little band in matching three-piece outfits who have somehow made it big. This is a side project consisting of all five members of the SoCal*-based punk band The Bronx. And what they’ve created is something quite remarkable.
They make mariachi music that speaks to more than just one emotion (which seems to be joyful, especially if you’re entertaining customers at a restaurant) – pain, sorrow, regret – by varying tempos, singing in both English and Spanish, and paying proper attention to making sure all the instruments (acoustic guitars, trumpets, drums, violins, etc.) stand out in their own unique ways. II is the type of record you could just as easily blast at a Cinco de Mayo party or slip into a lazy day playlist.
Recommended tracks: Revolution Girls, Mariachi El Bronx, Map of the World
7. The Joy Formidable // The Big Roar
High-energy, aggressive, and powerful alternative rock.
The word “epic” flooded my vocabulary all too often in college. It was sort of ridiculous, really. Any band I deemed much better than average was also considered epic. But every once in a while, the four letter adjective is really the best way to describe some uplifting or game-changing music. Enter The Joy Formidable — a three-piece from Wales with a more epically huge sound than most rock bands I listened to this year.
The Big Roar is as breathtaking as an SS Camaro blazing through across Pacific Coast Highway. Much of this album is covered in high energy riffs and an aggressive rhythm section. Even “Austere,” which could double as a good track for Karen O of The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, reaches dizzying heights halfway through. Lead vocalist/guitarist Ritzy Bryan’s singing is an important asset to the group, but never overbearing. As a matter of fact, she reminds me of the female vocalist in Damone (what ever happened to them?).
For The Joy Formidable, the challenge may come in containing their act to smaller venues — production wise, they already sound capable of selling out venues Madison Square Garden.
Recommended tracks: The Everchanging Spectrum of a Lie, Whirring, The Greatest Light Is the Greatest Shade
6. Explosions in the Sky // Take Care, Take Care, Take Care
Instrumentals that speak louder than words.
Oftentimes, I wonder how awesome it would have a band follow me around to provide the soundtrack to my life. Then, I panic a bit, because there are too many options. Yet if I to choose one band to start it off, it would be Explosions in the Sky.
Each track — complete with distorted guitars, enthralling drumming, and a driving bass line — has the ability to take a listener to another world: one filled with wonder, passion, excitement, and tension. And for the first time, at least one track (“Trembling Hands) seems radio-friendly (in the sense that it’s under five minutes). There’s a reason why EITS provided a majority of the music for Friday Night Lights — the film and TV series — they understand how to translate human emotion into song without the use of vocals. If that’s not enough criteria to compose one’s life in the form of music, please let me know.
Recommended tracks: Last Known Surroundings, Trembling Hands, let Me Back In
5. Big Jesus // Big Jesus EP
Roaring grunge revival from the ATL.
With the 20th anniversary of the release of Nevermind in 2011, nostalgia was on many people’s brains. Nearly every music site and musician spilled out words of emotion, covers as tributes, and stories about attending Nirvana shows. But would Kurt Cobain have wanted it to be this way? Who knows? As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and my guess is that Black Jesus took that quote into consideration on their self-titled EP.
The five piece from Atlanta play roaring, dark, and dismal grunge in a way that’s both a revivalist movement and a sound all their own. In fact, check out their cover of “Breed.” For a piece of work that clocks in at barely over 12 minutes, it packs a quick punch — just enough to make you miss the “unbuttoned flannel over ironic t-shirt wearing” days.
Recommended tracks: Ribs, Black Flies
4. The Head and the Heart // The Head and the Heart
Feel-good folk for campfire sing-alongs.
From the very beginning, the young, Seattle-based sextet blends folk and bluegrass twangs reminiscent of the campfire circles spent reflecting on the ups and downs of life. As the lead singers’ voices croon about reconnecting with families, downtrodden friends, and whiskey rivers, the piano plays a prominent role in keeping the mood jovial. The acoustic guitars are as pleasant as that cup of hot cocoa on a chilly night.
It’s easy to draw comparisons to the laid-back Pacific Northwest tempo of Fleet Foxes or the tranquility of a Ray LaMontagne ballad. Yet there has to be a reason the band even picked a name like The Head and the Heart; regardless of the reason, this album rarely left my playlists
Recommended tracks: Cats and Dogs, Coeur D’Alene, Rivers and Roads, Lost In My Mind
3. Foo Fighters // Wasting Light
Arena rock with a personal touch.
Dave Grohl is steadily on his way to becoming a rock god, in part to one technique: consistency. While he’s jumped from side projects to fill-in gigs, his band has kept integrity of creating relatable music for the masses — the stuff that keeps fans coming back.
So, after 15+ years of millions of record sold, Grammy nominated and winning albums, countless tours around the world, what’s there left to do? Go back to the basics. Recorded (IN ANALOG) entirely in Grohl’s garage, Foo Fighters’ latest collection of arena-ready alternative rock isn’t at all a reinvention — it’s more of a re-establishment of this whole of consistency.
And in a sense, Wasting Light works like a homecoming for Grohl, an episode of that classic TV show This Is Your Life told through music. Former lead guitarist Pat Smear has rejoined the band; Krist Novoselic — Grohl’s fellow bandmate from Nirvana — lays down the bass line on a track. The band couldn’t have found a better time to make their most memorable album in years. I could go on and on about Talyor Hawkins’ tight drum fills or Dave’s trademark howl. Really, all that matters is that Wasting Light is just LOUD in the best way possible.
Recommended tracks: Bridges Burning, White Limo, These Days, A Matter of Time
2. Jay-Z and Kanye West // Watch the Throne
Opulence meets substance & balls so hard.
What can be said about quite possibly the most anticipated rap album of 2011 that hasn’t already been said? A collaboration on this scale actually worked…to some extent. Many fans of Jay and ‘Ye respectively (including myself) probably expected something over the top After all, this is one of the most celebrated rappers working with one of the most celebrated hip-hop-producers/arrogant performers.
At first, I was disappointed by what I had built up as a complete alternative from the constant talk about really expensive material belongings. But after a few listens, I realized this is a compilation of what makes these two who they are: thought-provoking, strikingly different music made by guys who brag about their money cars and clothes because they can, yet are, cognizant of the problems that still exist in the communities they came from. When you can separate the ego from the product, things just seem a bit easier.
Recommended tracks: Ni**as in Paris, Made in America, That’s My B***h, Who Gon Stop Me
1. Childish Gambino // Camp
Intelligent hip-hop for suburban Black kids.
Every once in a while, we come across a life-affirming work of music. Whether you’re a ravenous listener, gobbling up new releases left and right, or simply a casual Top 40 listener, there’s a collection of songs that probably speak to nearly every fiber of your being. Because you can relate to the lyrics — these are your experiences, too. In my case, I found that in connection with Donald Glover and his latest release, Camp.
For at least six years now, I’ve been a huge fan of “all things Glover”— stand-up, sketch comedy, writing, and acting. But when it came to the music, I took what now seems like a cop-out: after one unfavorable listen, I said “Stick to what you’re good at already.” Glover’s flow isn’t exactly spot-on all the time. And his singing could use some work. What I admire most about him is that he took a risk when others told him not to. And from the first few mixtapes to his first album on a major label, it’s clear that Glover has worked hard to fine-tooled his craft.
Childish Gambino is vulnerable, honest, and accessible all at the same time. By talking about personal experiences of being bullied, having trouble fitting in, has hit at a two niches of listeners rarely discussed in music : the middle class Black kids and the nerds. When CG chooses to be a braggadocio, like on “You See Me” and “Backpackers,” he does it with finesse, stacking quips on top of jokes on top of pop culture references. He also raps about swooning ladies, perhaps more than you’d expect. But the four minute story on the last track, “That Power,” about spilling his heart to a young lady at the end of summer camp makes him seem like your goofy best friend from childhood.
Lyrics aside, CG has a knack for choosing unique instrumentals to rap over„ bouncing from club-ready hits (“Heartbeat”) to bass-heavy ghetto blaster-worthy beats (“Bonfire”).
Forget the DJ/emcee combo — his live shows are SHOWS, four piece band and all.
Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I anticipated the release of an album weeks months before its release date. Camp was far and away my favorite album of the year, but certainly not best one. Hell, who really does know the answer to that age old question anymore? At the end of the day, what truly matters is that we can all make a connection with music in a way that makes us take a step back and think about our lives in ways we never thought possible. And that, my friends, is why Camp is a winner in my book.
Recommended tracks: Firefly, Bonfire, All The Shine, Kids, That Power
Mike Skinner’s thought-provoking, off-kilter swan songs.
Mike Skinner isn’t your typical rapper, if there ever were a standard definition. Let’s just say you wouldn’t find his face in the dictionary next to the word or in a quick Google search. He had his share of tough times growing up and maybe a had a run-in with the law. To say this man with a gift of gab is a British equivalent of Eminem would be blasphemy. The comparison is not even close. Skinner is the type of person who’s never forgotten where he comes from or who he is, because he’s quite spartan about it all.
There’s no need to tell you how big his house is or how many cars he owns. Through the use of spoken word, The Streets depicts his borderline self-deprecating everyday man approach to life on his fifth and final album. He discusses how our society functions when it comes to human interaction, loving one other, and makingthrough each day alive. His use of crossword puzzle clues as a metaphor for confusion on “Puzzled By People” is simply ingenious.
The whole album is quite bittersweet. Although The Streets made an indelible mark on the UK grime/hip-hop scene over the past ten years, some things aren’t meant to go on for too long. Skinner claims that he should’ve stopped this act about two albums ago. I can’t even begin to think of the fans (myself included) who would have been disappointed if Computers and Blues was never released. Long live the creative, unorthodox types in the world — long live The Streets.
Recommended tracks: Outside Inside, Going Through Hell, Puzzled By People, Trust Me
9. Tennis // Cape Dory
Surf rock for the open sea.
Thanks in part to how people use the Internet, bands that would have never seenthe light of day during MTV’s heyday can garner buzz with just a few quick endorsements from the right sources. In recent years, this was Vampire Weekend and Passion Pit, to name a few. One of 2011’s “it” indie bands according to some music bloggers was Tennis.
Patrick Riley and Alaina Moore’s story is pretty fascinating. While I’ve grown accustomed the expecting the whole “seclusion/hibernation from society” style from indie rockers (see: Bon Iver), this couple took to the open seas. On a sailboat. For seven months. And sold all of their possessions. And then started writing music. With a DIY approach to production and recording, nearly every song on this album has a natural “go with the flow” feel. It’s easy to lump them into the “lo-fi” category for this, or perhaps “surf rock,” a la Best Coast.
Still, their strengths are less about the sum and more about the parts: the vocals, storytelling, and lyrics. On “Pigeon,” I can help but feel mushy when I hear these lines with the sound of a keyboard lightly bouncing in the background (I’ll be holding you tight/let you sleep through the night/Oh, I will be there/I promise to take good care of you). Follow that up with a few “dooby-doo-wahs” and you’ve got yourself some feel-good summertime music.
Recommended tracks: Pigeon, South Carolina, Seafarer, Baltimore, Marathon
8. Mariachi El Bronx // Mariachi El Bronx II
Masterful mariachi tunes for any occasion.
I have the utmost respect for artists who attempt to put their own twist on a regional or indigenous. It’s been done with reggae, East African music, and , to name a few. Until recently, still relegated mariachi tunes to Mexican restaurants, because, well, that’s where many of us hear that kind of music. That all changed when a friend turned me on to Mariachi El Bronx.
Mind you, this isn’t some little band in matching three-piece outfits who have somehow made it big. This is a side project consisting of all five members of the SoCal*-based punk band The Bronx. And what they’ve created is something quite remarkable.
They make mariachi music that speaks to more than just one emotion (which seems to be joyful, especially if you’re entertaining customers at a restaurant) – pain, sorrow, regret – by varying tempos, singing in both English and Spanish, and paying proper attention to making sure all the instruments (acoustic guitars, trumpets, drums, violins, etc.) stand out in their own unique ways. II is the type of record you could just as easily blast at a Cinco de Mayo party or slip into a lazy day playlist.
Recommended tracks: Revolution Girls, Mariachi El Bronx, Map of the World
7. The Joy Formidable // The Big Roar
High-energy, aggressive, and powerful alternative rock.
The word “epic” flooded my vocabulary all too often in college. It was sort of ridiculous, really. Any band I deemed much better than average was also considered epic. But every once in a while, the four letter adjective is really the best way to describe some uplifting or game-changing music. Enter The Joy Formidable — a three-piece from Wales with a more epically huge sound than most rock bands I listened to this year.
The Big Roar is as breathtaking as an SS Camaro blazing through across Pacific Coast Highway. Much of this album is covered in high energy riffs and an aggressive rhythm section. Even “Austere,” which could double as a good track for Karen O of The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, reaches dizzying heights halfway through. Lead vocalist/guitarist Ritzy Bryan’s singing is an important asset to the group, but never overbearing. As a matter of fact, she reminds me of the female vocalist in Damone (what ever happened to them?).
For The Joy Formidable, the challenge may come in containing their act to smaller venues — production wise, they already sound capable of selling out venues Madison Square Garden.
Recommended tracks: The Everchanging Spectrum of a Lie, Whirring, The Greatest Light Is the Greatest Shade
6. Explosions in the Sky // Take Care, Take Care, Take Care
Instrumentals that speak louder than words.
Oftentimes, I wonder how awesome it would have a band follow me around to provide the soundtrack to my life. Then, I panic a bit, because there are too many options. Yet if I to choose one band to start it off, it would be Explosions in the Sky.
Each track — complete with distorted guitars, enthralling drumming, and a driving bass line — has the ability to take a listener to another world: one filled with wonder, passion, excitement, and tension. And for the first time, at least one track (“Trembling Hands) seems radio-friendly (in the sense that it’s under five minutes). There’s a reason why EITS provided a majority of the music for Friday Night Lights — the film and TV series — they understand how to translate human emotion into song without the use of vocals. If that’s not enough criteria to compose one’s life in the form of music, please let me know.
Recommended tracks: Last Known Surroundings, Trembling Hands, let Me Back In
5. Big Jesus // Big Jesus EP
Roaring grunge revival from the ATL.
With the 20th anniversary of the release of Nevermind in 2011, nostalgia was on many people’s brains. Nearly every music site and musician spilled out words of emotion, covers as tributes, and stories about attending Nirvana shows. But would Kurt Cobain have wanted it to be this way? Who knows? As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and my guess is that Black Jesus took that quote into consideration on their self-titled EP.
The five piece from Atlanta play roaring, dark, and dismal grunge in a way that’s both a revivalist movement and a sound all their own. In fact, check out their cover of “Breed.” For a piece of work that clocks in at barely over 12 minutes, it packs a quick punch — just enough to make you miss the “unbuttoned flannel over ironic t-shirt wearing” days.
Recommended tracks: Ribs, Black Flies
4. The Head and the Heart // The Head and the Heart
Feel-good folk for campfire sing-alongs.
From the very beginning, the young, Seattle-based sextet blends folk and bluegrass twangs reminiscent of the campfire circles spent reflecting on the ups and downs of life. As the lead singers’ voices croon about reconnecting with families, downtrodden friends, and whiskey rivers, the piano plays a prominent role in keeping the mood jovial. The acoustic guitars are as pleasant as that cup of hot cocoa on a chilly night.
It’s easy to draw comparisons to the laid-back Pacific Northwest tempo of Fleet Foxes or the tranquility of a Ray LaMontagne ballad. Yet there has to be a reason the band even picked a name like The Head and the Heart; regardless of the reason, this album rarely left my playlists
Recommended tracks: Cats and Dogs, Coeur D’Alene, Rivers and Roads, Lost In My Mind
3. Foo Fighters // Wasting Light
Arena rock with a personal touch.
Dave Grohl is steadily on his way to becoming a rock god, in part to one technique: consistency. While he’s jumped from side projects to fill-in gigs, his band has kept integrity of creating relatable music for the masses — the stuff that keeps fans coming back.
So, after 15+ years of millions of record sold, Grammy nominated and winning albums, countless tours around the world, what’s there left to do? Go back to the basics. Recorded (IN ANALOG) entirely in Grohl’s garage, Foo Fighters’ latest collection of arena-ready alternative rock isn’t at all a reinvention — it’s more of a re-establishment of this whole of consistency.
And in a sense, Wasting Light works like a homecoming for Grohl, an episode of that classic TV show This Is Your Life told through music. Former lead guitarist Pat Smear has rejoined the band; Krist Novoselic — Grohl’s fellow bandmate from Nirvana — lays down the bass line on a track. The band couldn’t have found a better time to make their most memorable album in years. I could go on and on about Talyor Hawkins’ tight drum fills or Dave’s trademark howl. Really, all that matters is that Wasting Light is just LOUD in the best way possible.
Recommended tracks: Bridges Burning, White Limo, These Days, A Matter of Time
2. Jay-Z and Kanye West // Watch the Throne
Opulence meets substance & balls so hard.
What can be said about quite possibly the most anticipated rap album of 2011 that hasn’t already been said? A collaboration on this scale actually worked…to some extent. Many fans of Jay and ‘Ye respectively (including myself) probably expected something over the top After all, this is one of the most celebrated rappers working with one of the most celebrated hip-hop-producers/arrogant performers.
At first, I was disappointed by what I had built up as a complete alternative from the constant talk about really expensive material belongings. But after a few listens, I realized this is a compilation of what makes these two who they are: thought-provoking, strikingly different music made by guys who brag about their money cars and clothes because they can, yet are, cognizant of the problems that still exist in the communities they came from. When you can separate the ego from the product, things just seem a bit easier.
Recommended tracks: Ni**as in Paris, Made in America, That’s My B***h, Who Gon Stop Me
1. Childish Gambino // Camp
Intelligent hip-hop for suburban Black kids.
Every once in a while, we come across a life-affirming work of music. Whether you’re a ravenous listener, gobbling up new releases left and right, or simply a casual Top 40 listener, there’s a collection of songs that probably speak to nearly every fiber of your being. Because you can relate to the lyrics — these are your experiences, too. In my case, I found that in connection with Donald Glover and his latest release, Camp.
For at least six years now, I’ve been a huge fan of “all things Glover”— stand-up, sketch comedy, writing, and acting. But when it came to the music, I took what now seems like a cop-out: after one unfavorable listen, I said “Stick to what you’re good at already.” Glover’s flow isn’t exactly spot-on all the time. And his singing could use some work. What I admire most about him is that he took a risk when others told him not to. And from the first few mixtapes to his first album on a major label, it’s clear that Glover has worked hard to fine-tooled his craft.
Childish Gambino is vulnerable, honest, and accessible all at the same time. By talking about personal experiences of being bullied, having trouble fitting in, has hit at a two niches of listeners rarely discussed in music : the middle class Black kids and the nerds. When CG chooses to be a braggadocio, like on “You See Me” and “Backpackers,” he does it with finesse, stacking quips on top of jokes on top of pop culture references. He also raps about swooning ladies, perhaps more than you’d expect. But the four minute story on the last track, “That Power,” about spilling his heart to a young lady at the end of summer camp makes him seem like your goofy best friend from childhood.
Lyrics aside, CG has a knack for choosing unique instrumentals to rap over„ bouncing from club-ready hits (“Heartbeat”) to bass-heavy ghetto blaster-worthy beats (“Bonfire”).
Forget the DJ/emcee combo — his live shows are SHOWS, four piece band and all.
Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I anticipated the release of an album weeks months before its release date. Camp was far and away my favorite album of the year, but certainly not best one. Hell, who really does know the answer to that age old question anymore? At the end of the day, what truly matters is that we can all make a connection with music in a way that makes us take a step back and think about our lives in ways we never thought possible. And that, my friends, is why Camp is a winner in my book.
Recommended tracks: Firefly, Bonfire, All The Shine, Kids, That Power
