Lav's Music Corner

I'm behind on everything so far this year let's face it. But while I try and catchy up on the biggest new records with full reviews I also want to clean up some releases worth getting my thoughts out on. These are three rap records that have turned enough heads so far in 2024.  I've Never Been Here Before  - Erick The Architect I was interested in this project for a few reasons. The first being that James Blake appears in the production credits. which is always a key to my heart. But more importantly, I've enjoyed Flatbush Zombies for a full decade now. Erick himself impressed me quite a bit as a solo artist with his 2021 Future Proof  EP. So even though the singles from this record didn't exactly floor me as a full bunch, I still wanted to give the record a fair shot.  Unfortunately, I was surprised by just how much of this record either glossed over me entirely or even hit sour notes on repeat listens. While much of Erick's topical focus is intact occasionally...

Getting back into a normal routine for 2024 this week we're actually going to look back at the best new songs released this week again. Though there were some high-profile drops, it's a surprising array of best tracks that result.  5.  Instincts  - Erick The Architect (feat. WESTSIDE BOOGIE) While I think I may prefer the previous Erick single more than this one I've always had a soft spot for when he strips things back to tell it like it is. There's one lyrical highlight after another on this song and I love how uncompromising he manages to keep the subject matter while curating such a gentle and touching vibe on the song.  Listen 4.  See you soon  - Wisp Wisp is an artist I've been hearing ABOUT a lot more recently than actually hearing from. That was sorted out quickly by this murmuring hazy shoegaze jam. From the eerie girlish vocals that seem like a midpoint between Nicole Dollanganger and Vyva Melinkolya to a bridge that manages to conjure a surprisin...

Last best new songs of October, here's hoping my year-end lists will come out on time.  5.  I Killed Captain Hook  - Unknown Mortal Orchestra I had a pretty negative reaction to this when I heard it for the first time as it very purposefully sounds like a demo but it seems like it's genuinely the next single of this UMO era. While it's nowhere near as good as last year's That Life  the presentation did grow on me, particularly after really digging into the song's instrumental bridge where every little nuance of guitar sound is put up front and center behind the thin crackling distortion.  Listen 4.  Feedback  - La Roux (Feat. Baby Tate) Yeah, I'm just as surprised as you are. La Roux is back and her new single is an R&B banger with a Baby Tate verse that honestly kinda rules. That sentence feels randomly generated. There certainly isn't any new territory broken on the song but I am genuinely shocked at how comfortable La Roux sounds on it. This is ...

The Extended Play is either a dying breed with too few songs to rack up meaningful streams or it's the only place where you can discover authentically good indie music anymore. Depending on who you ask. The reality of it is while the EP is mostly dead in popular music save for a few artists who could release literally anything and their fans would listen, it is a thriving medium in the underground. Part of me hates doing this list because 10 years from now we will know about some great EPs from artists who will break out in the next few years and this list will look completely different. But for now lets indulge with artists we know are good right now and count down the top 10 EPs of 2021.  10. Lil Mariko  - Lil Mariko Lil Mariko garnered quite a bit of attention with her appearance on Dorian Electra's My Agenda  last year, but she was really just getting started. Her debut EP is a hyperpop meets hip hop meets metal fusion sort of like Poppy but with more rapped verses. A...

The best tracks released this weekend below: 5.  Crutch  - Band Of Horses Nobody ever accused Band Of Horses of being TOO original, and the chorus of "I've got a crutch on you" is a real eye roller. But with all that being said the band clearly still knows how to make a bouncy indie pop song with pinpoint precision. The sweet melodies and wandering guitar leads are impossibly pleasant and make up for the familiarity of the song.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCzPIrvlGXs 4.  Self Made  - Erick The Architect After releasing an underrated EP earlier this year, Flatbush Zombies' Erick The Architect is back and with a beat that fits in really well with the reserved jazz rap stylings that have taken over his native New York. Over a beat that sounds like something the Armand Hammer boys would rap over Erick flexes his credentials as a rapper and the authentic following he built with his come-up.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNzHA3_hmEg 3.  Against The ...

Erick The Architect is a member of acclaimed hip hop trio Flatbush Zombies. He's served as producer for much of their material but his solo material since breaking out has been reserved to beat tapes. Coming off a pair of acclaimed singles last year Erick saw fit to drop his first collection of fully fleshed out songs on this 5 track EP. Review By Lav: Even though the Zombies studio material hasn't completely knocked me off my feet like some of their early mixtapes did the trio have consistently released plenty of quality tracks nearly every time they drop anything, which included a solid EP and pretty great single last year with James Blake on production. Erick has always been a prominent voice in their music as a rapper and as a producer so I was excited to hear what he had to offer as a solo artist especially after enjoying his singles last year. While nothing on the EP totally blew me away it is a solid set of tracks that manage to cover a variety of thematic topics with pi...