Lav's Music Corner

Review by Lavender: Lady Gaga is a caliber of pop star that really needs no introduction. Throughout the early 2010s, she was elevating to and then occupying a platform of pure superstardom scoring hit after hit after hit in the process. Though her previous record Chromatica  performed decently in 2021, it was a significant step down from expectations for her studio output that left me and many others wondering if her time in the brightest lights was over. It isn't. On the back of some of her biggest hits in years, Gaga returned triumphantly with a record that stylistically throws it back to her earliest days and is surprisingly rewarding doing it.  To say that this record started off on unsure footing would be an understatement. Last year Gaga shared "Disease," a single that didn't perform extraordinarily well. I think that's a shame cause the song is an absolute fucking jam with an utterly infectious hook and thumping dance beat that I think is great. On the opp...

Eggnog hangover, or something like that I'm writing this weeks in advance so who knows what will happen. Assuming the world continues spinning as usual yesterday was Christmas and I dropped my first of 7 year end lists, here is part 2. This one's great because I don't have to do anything but assemble it. If you're not a regular reader I reviewed over 200 projects this year and right at my side was my little baby boy and also professional photographer Tyler Judson, who pens brief reviews of the accompanying album covers for all of them.  These are Tyler's top 10 album/EP covers of 2021 and in my kingdom, his word is law. Enjoy <3 10. An Evening With Silk Sonic  - Silk Sonic This cover, like the record itself, is smart and effective. Rather than going for photography this illustration has a timeless quality. It sets a theme of for the album and has a classic and easily identifiable feel to it. I love the drawing, it captures the personality of both artists involved...

Silk Sonic is the dream combination of two of the music industries most charming voices. Proven hitmaker and pop superstar Bruno Mars alongside versatile R&B singer Anderson .Paak. Since we last heard from Bruno Mars with a handful of smash hits on his last album .Paak has emerged as a serious force in the music industry, but this is his most high profile crossover yet.  Review By Lav: This was one of my most anticipated records of the year just based on it's concept alone. Anderson .Paak has been on of my favorite artists in all of music over the past five years with the ability to deliver hilarious and charismatic performances over a variety of genres, it's no surprise at all that his versatility and charm have grabbed hold of so many within the music industry. While I've never been crazy for Bruno's music this is like a dream situation for him, playing off a very different kind of vocalist with even more prescence of personality over a set of 70's flavored se...

This weekend absolutely fucking ruled. I ended up with more then 15 songs just on the list for consideration for the best tracks of this week so please do yourself a favor and look around for all the great stuff that came out this weekend. The best new tracks of the week are below: 5.  Smokin Out The Window  - Silk Sonic This track relies on the one thing that Anderson Paak and Bruno Mars have in spades, charisma. On the surface it's a male music classic story of female money chasing and betrayal that comes from exactly as shallow a perspective as you'd expect. What makes it work is both their voices which can deliver narrative hooks and team up for beautiful harmonies on the hooks. If you can ignore the icky premise that the entire track is built on it's buttery smooth.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GG7fLOmlhYg 4.  This Side Of The Sun  - Shame Shame have never been a gentle band but on This Side Of The Sun  they dig in on some of the best lyricism yet....