What I've Been Listening To (October 2024)

October was actually a busier month for music releases than I anticipated. So, it’s time for another What I’ve Been Listening To. 

Ache In My Tooth by Flowerovlove (October 11): I was first recommended Flowerovlove’s music by my co-blogger, Adri, and since then I’ve gone on to check out more of her music. Last month, she released an EP called Ache In My Tooth, which included the single Breaking News. It was an airy, sugary Pop EP about love and relationships with a bright aesthetic. I liked this one, and I look forward to seeing what Flowerovlove does next.

Clancy by Twenty One Pilots (May 24): Admittedly, it took me entirely too long to listen to Clancy, considering it was one of my more highly anticipated albums of 2024. But, anyway, it is what it is. Did I like Clancy? Yes, and by a lot, actually. I’ve been following along with the lore/story being told, since Blurryface, and this album felt like a nice wrap-up to the journey, and it was done in Twenty One Pilots usual style—a genre mashup. Some of my favorite songs included Overcompensate, Backslide, Next Semester, and At The Risk Of Feeling Dumb, just to name a few.

Symphony of Lungs (BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall) by Florence + The Machine with Jules Buckley (October 25): Symphony of Lungs is Florence + The Machine’s new live album with Jules Buckley and an orchestra. I wasn’t expecting it, but I love it! And, it was nice to revisit the band’s 2009 album, Lungs, with this performance.

Megan Act II by Megan Thee Stallion (October 25): Megan Thee Stallion released a deluxe edition of her album, Megan. Titled, Megan Act II, this version added an additional thirteen tacks to one of my favorite rep albums of the years. And, I had as much fun listening to this one as I did the original. I also liked the features too: Flo Milli on Roc Steady, a remix of Mamushi with Twice, another collaboration with Spiritbox on TYG, and Neva Play with BTS’s RM.

Brat and it’s completely different but also still Brat by Charli XCX (October 11): And, the Brat train continues. It’s not the deluxe, no, we already got that, instead Brat and it’s completely different but also still Brat it’s the remix album. And, for the most part, I enjoyed this version of it too. It’s Brat but a rework of the formula, which offered another way to experience the album as well as some great features. After all, Charli XCX worked with artists like Troye Sivan, Tinashe, Caroline Polachek, Kesha, Billie Eilish, Shygirl, Bladee, BB Trickz, and more.

New singles and songs on my playlist: On Your Knees and Don’t Mess With The Messer by Grace Jones, Supernatural by Frost Children featuring Haru Nemuri, Pull Up by Internet Girl Featuring Maglera Doe Boy, RIP by Qveen Herby, and Frankenstein by Qveen Herby featuring Tech N9ne.

I Listened to Alligator Bites Never Heal by Doechii

Doechii is one of my favorite rappers recently, alongside the likes of Megan Thee Stallion. 2024 has been a busy year, with numerous releases including standalone singles like Alter Ego featuring JT and Pacer, and a series called Swamp Sessions—which proceeded the release of this mixtape. Titled Alligator Bites Never Heal, Doechii’s latest was released on August twenty-third. And with that, welcome back to the music minded corner of Our Thoughts Precisely!

Doechii is a great rapper, as proven by her earlier work, and that trend continued with this mixtape. This is some of her best work and, honestly, it didn’t even feel like a mixtape while I was listening to it. If someone told me this was an album, I’d buy it—I had a similar opinion about FKA Twigs mixtape, Caprisongs.

Alligator Bites Never Heal is grungy, reflective, open, and defined by some incredible flows and production that tended to get creative (for example Boiled Peanuts, GTFO, and Skipp). It felt, at times, like hip-hop and rap from the early 2000s and 90s with a classic/timeless vibe. There was everything from the bite-size Swamp Sessions songs on the album (Bullfrog, Catfish, Nissan Altima, and Boom Bap), to the reflective intro Stankapoo, and the almost pop adjacent Beverly Hills where Doechii shows off her singing chops. There are plenty of other great songs on this one too like Fireflies, HUH, and Wait, just to name a few.

So, Alligator Bites Never Heal was a great collection of music from Doechii.     

I Listened to Paradise State of Mind by Foster the People

Now, I’m not as familiar with the indie pop band, Foster The People as I am with other artists I’ve mentioned for the music related posts on Our Thoughts Precisely. That can be explained by the seven year gap between their last and current major musical project. However, I was anticipating their fourth studio album anyway, Paradise State of Mind, after listening to the single, Lost in Space, in May of this year. And with that, welcome back to the music minded corner of Our Thoughts Precisely!

Released on August 16, 2024, Paradise State of Mind was preceded by three singles: Lost in Space, Chasing Low Vibrations, and Take Me Back. And it can be summed up as an infusion of genres—funk, some jazz, disco, and even some notes of gospel tossed in there—with quality production. It’s not the longest album I’ve listened to lately with just eleven songs, but it’s a cohesive listening experience that felt just right, in terms of length and substance. In some ways, it had a Very retro feel to it, particularly around the 1970s style of music, but it was a great combination that didn’t feel dated! For example: Glitchzig, the opening See You In The Afterlife, the titular Paradise State of Mind, and even the closing track A Diamond To Be Born.

So, Paradise State of Mind wasn’t an album I started the year anticipating, but as the singles were released, my hype only grew. And, ultimately, I ended up loving it.

 

I Listened to Imaginal Disk by Magdalena Bay

Magdalena Bay is one of my favorite music duos on the scene right now. I know their music best by their debut album, Murcurial World (2021), as well as their extended plays (EP)—Mini Mix volumes 1-3 (2019-2023), and A Little Rhythm and a Wicked Feeling (2020). Now, they’re back with their second studio album, Imaginal Disk. Released on August 23, 2024, this latest offering follows the same vein as a lot of their previous work, while also keeping it fresh and interesting. And with that, welcome back to the music minded corner of Our Thoughts Precisely!

Imaginal Disk falls right into synth/dance pop, and it’s done with Magdalena Bay’s usual flare. A little strange, completely fun, thematic, and with something a little dark but also light and dreamy to it (which was really sticking to the concept behind the album). (And if you have the chance, I recommend reading about it.) It also brought in some rock influences, such as on the single Tunnel Vision—one of my personal favorites off the album—That’s My Floor, and Love Is Everywhere. It also wasn’t afraid to slow the tempo down by a notch on tracks like Vampire in the Corner, Cry for Me, and Watching T.V., without losing the almost cinematic atmosphere that defines much of the album.

Magdalena Bay knocked it out of the park with Imaginal Disk. It was dramatic in all the right ways, and honestly, at the end of the day, just good music. So if you’ve enjoyed this duo’s music in the past, you’ll likely love Imaginal Disk too.

What I've Been Listening To

In the last two months, there was a flurry of new releases, including some of my most anticipated albums of 2024. So, in addition to the other music related posts scheduled for this month, it was time to do another What I’ve Been Listening To. And with that, welcome back to the music minded corner of Our Thoughts Precisely!

Big Ideas by Remi Wolf

Remi Wolf has a particular style to her music, which I appreciate as a listener. As such, she’s one of my favorite artists, and I was excited about her upcoming album, Big Ideas, since I first heard about it. Big Ideas is Wolf’s second album, and it was preceded by the singles: Cinderella, Toro, Alone In Miami, and Motorcycle. Released in July, the album is aptly named. It had big ideas, lots of them in fact, supported by Wolf’s vocal performance and creative direction with the production. It reminded me of her debut, Juno, with its splashy pop infused with other genres. And you’ll find a lot of that on Big Ideas as well. This was another good album from Remi Wolf.

Quantum Baby by Tinashe

Tinashe is back with her seventh studio album, the follow up to BB/ANG3L, Quantum Baby. This was my most anticipated August release, and also the shortest album I listened to last month, with just eight songs. It was another good one, though. The two singles, Nasty and Getting No Sleep, were pretty accurate, when it came to gaging what the album was going to be. Themes are carried over from BB/ANG3L, but where that was more R&B, Quantum Baby gets a little more experimental with its arrangements, and dips its toes into synth-pop—which almost had a futuristic vibe going on. Overall, I’m left in the same position as I was by the end of BB/ANG3L: I want more. Luckily, from what I’ve read, Quantum Baby is only the second release of a planned trilogy. So there’s more to look forward to.

Trouble In Paradise by Chloe

You might know Chloe better as half of the duo (and sisters) that made up the group Chloe X Halle, and for the past couple of years she’s been releasing music as a solo artist. Trouble In Paradise is her second studio album, which was supported by the singles Boy Bye—an upbeat pop track about breakups—and FYS. It was summery and fun with an island vibe, and I enjoyed my listening experience, simple as that. It also had some great features such as Might as Well featuring Ty Dolla Sign, Favorite featuring Anderson .Paak, YG Marley on Never Let You Go, Shake with Jeremih, and Want Me featuring Halle. All-in-all, Trouble in Paradise was a great album.

And last, but certainly not lost, here are the singles that made it to my playlist: The girl, so confusing version with Lorde by Charli XCX featuring Lorde, Back To You by Kimbra, and Demi God by Kimbra featuring Sahtyre.

I Listened to What Happened to the Heart? by Aurora

For the past few years I’ve been following Aurora’s music. Her last one, The Gods We Can Touch, was one of my favorite releases of 2022, so I was more than excited for what would come next. Aurora’s fifth studio album was released on June 7, 2024. Titled What Happened to the Heart?, it’s prefaced with a remark about a letter the artist read, which influenced the direction of this latest body of work, and it was to great effect. And with that, welcome back to the music minded corner of Our Thoughts Precisely!

What Happened to the Heart? was supported by a handful of singles—I mentioned a couple of them previously as my picks for different Music Monday posts. These include songs like Your Blood, Some Type of Skin, The Conflict of the Mind, To Be Alight, and Starvation. I already liked what I’d heard, and it built up a high expectation for the album, on my end.

And yet, in the end, I was still surprised, especially hearing the singles in the context of the album as a whole. It created a cohesive listening experience without being repetitive. Every song felt like its own self-contained chapter within the album. It was indie pop with some disco and techno influences, as well as dipping its toes into a folksy flare at times (for example A Soul With No King). It was grounded in the core theme surrounding the question posed by the title, delivered with Aurora’s distinctive vocals. As I mentioned above, everything was done to great effect.

I could go on and on all day about What Happened to the Heart?, but the best way to experience the album is by actually listening to it. This is one of Aurora's best. So, if you can’t tell, I highly recommend it.

I Listened to Megan by Megan Thee Stallion

Another June release I was waiting for was Megan Thee Stallion’s self-title third studio album, Megan. This is her first major release under her independent label (Hot Girl Productions), since leaving her old record label. It was supported by three singles, Boa, Hiss, and Cobra. And with that, welcome back to the music minded corner of Our thoughts Precisely!

If you’ve listened to any of Megan Thee Stallion’s music before, then you pretty much know what to expect. For me, though. Megan was like a palate cleanser after all the other music I listened to and wrote about in June. It was released on the twenty-eighth, so it capped off the month quite nicely. Its solid hip-hop and rap with Megan Thee Stallion’s lightning quick lyric delivery and a creative direction in terms of beats, samples, and pop culture references (for the latter look no further than Boa and it’s video game inspiration as well as and Otaku Hot Girl, which had lyrics about Naruto and Jujutsu Kaisen).

Some of it was introspective—such as the single Cobra, which on the album was preceded by Moody Girl (the two complimented each other tonally). On other avenues, parts of the album showcased Megan Thee Stallion’s interests (Boa and Otaku Hot Girl). Plus it had good mixture of features: Kyle Richh on B.A.S., Yuki Chiba on Mamushi, GloRilla on Accent, Victoria Monet on Spin, UGK on Paper Together, and Big K.R.I.T. with Buddah Bless on Miami Blue.

Megan Thee Stallion knocked it out of the park with Megan. It was creative and just enjoyable to listen to.

 

I Listened to Dopamine by Normani

Normani is one of those artists where you had to wait and then wait a little more for that album. Originally part of the girl group, Fifth Harmony, she branched out on her own after the group went on hiatus in 2018, with songs like Motivation (2019) and Diamonds (2020) featuring Megan Thee Stallion. Well, after a few years, Normani’s long awaited solo debut album, Dopamine, was finally released on the 14th of June 2024 with thirteen songs. And with that, welcome back to the music minded corner of Our Thoughts Precisely!

Dopamine pretty much met all of my expectations, especially based on the direction I assumed it was going in, which was hinted by the singles supporting its release (Wild Side featuring Cardi B, 1:59, and Candy Paint). I was, generally, pleased with it, because it’s the kind of fun music I can relax to or have on in the background while I read. 

It’s firmly planted in the R&B and pop sphere with some creative direction with its arrangements, particularly on some of my top-favorite tracks on the album—Insomnia, Lights Out, and Big Boy featuring Starrah. It also had some good features, including the aforementioned Starrah as well as Cardi B, Gunna, and James Blake.

Overall, Dopamine was a great album.

I Listened to Brat by Charli XCX

I’ve listened to Charli XCX’s music since the True Romance days in 2013. So, I was moderately looking forward to her sixth studio album, Brat, which was released on the seventh of June. And then on the tenth of the month, a deluxe version—Brat and It’s the Same But There’s Three More Songs So It’s Not—was released under a very ironic title. And with that, welcome back to the music minded corner of Our Thoughts Precisely!

Brat was bold, loud, and full of hyper and electronic pop club friendly beats—for example Von Dutch, 360, Apple, and Club Classics, among others. Those aspects of the album were fun and, essentially, the kind of music you can move to. They also showcased the inspiration behind the album, which I’d read previously was pulling from “London rave.” While songs like I Might Say Something Stupid and So I slowed it down by a notch, and they were among some of the most vulnerable tracks on Brat. 365 closes the initial album with lyrics and a beat recycled from 360, but remixes it enough so while it was a full circle moment, the track still stood on its own.

On the other hand, Brat and It’s the Same But There’s Three More Songs So It’s Not adds Hello Goodbye, Guess, and Spring Breakers to the original track list. The three songs were fine, and complemented the album.

All in all, Brat was a pretty solid album for me.

I Listened to Born in the Wild by Tems

Tems has steadily released music since 2018, including work with other artists and two extended plays—For Broken Ears (2020) and If Orange Was a Place (2021). And while I’m not as familiar with her discography as some of the other artists I’ve mentioned for this segment on Our Thoughts Precisely, I was still looking forward to her 2024 album after I watched the livestream of her performance at this year’s Coachella. Titled Born in the Wild, Tems’ debut was released on June seventh with eighteen songs, including the singles Love Me Je Je and Me & U. And with that, welcome back to the music minded corner of Our Thoughts Precisely!

I’ve loved a number of the R&B albums being released this year, and Born in the Wild is one of the best I’ve listened to so far in 2024. It sits solidly in its genre, but the quality and creativity of the lyrics and production made for an engrossing listening experience. And I have to praise Tems’ vocal performance. She has a very distinct voice, and the delivery across the track list was consistent. Born in the Wild also had two features, from the artists J. Cole and Asake, on Free Fall and Get It Right respectively.

At the end of the day, Born in the Wild was stylish and lyrically complex, and a great body of work showcasing Tems’ talent.

What I've Been Listening To + Upcoming Albums

So…it’s been a minute since I last did a “What I’m Listening To” blog post. I figured it was time to do another one since some of the albums I was waiting for released in April and May. There were some recent announcements I wanted to cover as well. And with that, welcome back to the music minded corner of Our Thoughts Precisely!

Radical Optimism, Dua Lipa’s third studio album, was one of my most anticipated releases for May, and it was ultimately one of the most mixed for me. While there were parts of it I absolutely adored—like the singles Houdini and Illusion as well as other tracks like End of an Era, French Exit, and Happy For You—there were some songs I felt lukewarm about and could skip entirely, particularly toward the back end of the album. The parts of it I liked most were the songs that were tonally in the same (or similar) vein as the singles. Those tended to bring in more of the retro influences I liked about Dua Lipa’s other album, Future Nostalgia.

The next one I checked out was Billie Eilish’s third studio album, Hit Me Hard and Soft, which released on May 17, 2024. I’m a very casual listener when it comes to Eilish and, over the years, I’ve had more than one favorite song. However, I was a big fan of Hit Me Hard and Soft. There are only ten songs on it, but I loved the moodiness as well as the quality of the production.

Another one of my most anticipated albums of May was Willow’s Empathogen. Released on May 3rd, I have to say that I loved this one. It’s features included Jon Batiste and St. Vincent. Where Empathogen shined was where, like its singles (Symptom of Life and Big Feelings), it delved into the nitty gritty when it came to complicated emotions and experiences. And it did so with a stylish mix of influences, including jazz and rock among others. My only gripe is how I wish some of the songs were longer. For example, one of my favorite songs, I Know That Face, was only a minute and fifty-one seconds long; the same applied to Ancient Girl (only a minute and thirty-one seconds long). Otherwise, I had a great listening experience with Empathogen.

Singles...

Some of the singles that made it to my playlist include: Love Me JeJe by Tems, Bet by Mette, Boy Bye by Chloe, In Your Hands by Halle, Light Again & Right There by Lil Nas X.

Upcoming Music I’m Waiting For...

• Big Ideas by Remi Wolf (July12, 2024)
• Quantum Baby by Tinashe, follow-up to BB/ANG3L
• Trouble In Paradise by Chloe

Releasing This Month...

• Born in the Wild by Tems (June 7, 2024)
• What Happened to the Heart? by Aurora (June 7, 2024)
• Dopamine by Normani (June 14, 2024)

I Listened to Found Heaven by Conan Gray

I’ve heard of Conan Gray off and on since his 2020 album Kid Krow. It wasn’t until more recently, when he started releasing singles for his new album—such as Never Ending Song—that I finally decided to pay more attention to this artist. On April fifth, Conan Gray released his third studio album, Found Heaven. It was supported with five singles: Never Ending Song, Winner, Killing Me, Lonely Dances, and Alley Rose. And with that, welcome back to the music minded corner of Our Thoughts Precisely!

Honestly, Found Heaven is a vibe. And I can best describe it as retro with a 80s aesthetic, especially in terms of the background arrangement and the visuals—for the music videos accompanying Never Ending Song and Lonely Dancers as well as the lyric visualizers (invoking the grainy images of old camcorder footage). It doesn’t stick too hard and fast to its influences that it becomes redundant. Instead, Conan Gray’s modern interpretation of these familiar aspects unabashedly invokes a feeling of nostalgia, which was complimented by his dynamic vocal performance across the album’s thirteen tracks.

Found Heaven is a cohesive album and just a lot of fun to listen to. This is easily one of my favorites of the year so far.

I Listened to What Now by Brittany Howard

Do you ever, on occasion, suddenly think about a band you haven’t listened to in what feels like ages? That’s my story here.

Early in March, I was cleaning up an old playlist, when I revisited my favorite tracks from Alabama Shake’s Sound & Color (2015). There was the vague expectation of more albums, other music, but the band is on indefinite hiatus since 2018. That, however, has spawned projects from its members like the group Sun On Shade and Brittany Howard’s solo career—beginning with Jamie (2019).

What Now, released on February 9, 2024, is Brittany Howard’s sophomore solo album and is also my reintroduction to her music. It was also the release I was least expecting and the one I was most surprised by; I’ve been missing out, because it’s one of the most creative bodies of work I’ve listened to so far this year. There is an infusion of everything from rock, R&B, soul, funk, synth, house, jazz, and electronic. Howard makes it work, and makes it seem effortless while creating a sonically interesting listening experience that showcases her vocals and creativity.

Some of my favorite tracks include Another Day, the titular What Now, Red Flags, and Power To Undo—which instantly made me think of Prince’s music—among others.

What Now is memorable and an absolute delight, and it’s going to stick with me for a while.

What I've Been Listening To

There has been so much music lately and, between backlist albums and releases from last year I missed, I’m here again with another “What I’ve Been Listening To.” And with that, welcome back to the music minded corner of Our Thoughts Precisely!

 

If there has been one group that’s come up in my recommendations multiple times in the past, it would be Måneskin, an Italian rock band. Originally released on January 20, 2023, their album Rush! was reissued in a deluxe version in November last year, called Rush! (Are U Coming?), adding five additional songs. I haven’t explored much of their discography yet, but I listened to this one. I love a good rock album and, when it comes to what I was looking for, Rush! (Are U Coming) ticked a lot of boxes. The guitar solos were fun, and there wasn’t a single point where it felt repetitive. Each song had its own thing going for it, and that’s what I loved most about it. I also like the songs added with the deluxe version, so it opens with Honey (Are U Coming?)—one of my favorites—instead of Own My Mind. But it also added Valentine, a soulful rock ballad accompanied by a black and white music video, and Trastevere, an acoustic track that’s in the same vein as the former. All in all, Rush! (Are U Coming?) was an excellent album.

Moving on, I also checked out Qveen Herby’s most recent EP (extended play). To date, Housewife is one of my favorite bodies of work by Herby, on the same level as Halloqveen (2021). It’s still in her usual style of music, a blend of singing and rapping, but I enjoyed the production—how the beats were arranged—as well as the feature by Oli VVV (which added another layer to the track.) Housewife was another strong EP release from Qveen Herby!

Last but not least, is the BB/ANG3L Experience by Tinashe. This one isn’t a new release per say, since, after all, it is a dance performance that goes with BB/ANG3L. It is a nice way to experience the album outside of its music videos, and it does play around with some of the beats, for example the one for Needs.

Some singles that have made it to my playlist include: In Your Hands by Halle, Overcompensate by Twenty One Pilots, Some Type of Skin by Aurora, Made For Me by Muni Long, Next Semester by Twenty One Pilots, and Saturn by SZA.

That’s all from me for today!

I Listened to World Wide Whack by Tierra Whack

 
Tierra Whack is one of my favorite artists. She is creative and unafraid to experiment and take risks with her music—i.e. her debut album, Whack World (2018), had fifteen songs and none of them were longer than one minute in length. So, when Tierra Whack is involved, I’ve come to expect the unexpected. And with that, welcome back to the music minded corner of Our Thoughts Precisely!

Don’t let the cheery, quirky, and colorful imagery—or its most lighthearted tracks like Shower Song and Moovies—fool you. Tierra Whack’s new album, World Wide Whack, released on March fifteenth, is a deep, contemplative body of work that often approaches (and examines) darker topics—think depression and so forth. It opens with Mood Swing, setting the tone for what’s next. And then it transitions into tracks like Ms Behave, Difficult, and Numb, before ending with 27 Club—which really drove home the themes and statements present on the album.

Tierra Whack’s production is always quite interesting to take a look at, and it’s a highlight of the album. She can catch a beat when rapping (Ms Behave, Snake Eyes, and X), and the background music perfectly meshed with her vocals and, ultimately, suited the tone of any given track, even if it didn’t seem like it would work.

As far as second albums go, World Wide Whack is an excellent one.

I Listened to Act ii: Cowboy Carter by Beyoncé

I’ve been anticipating the next part of Beyoncé’s trilogy project, which began with Renaissance’s release in 2022. Now, about two years later, she’s returned with Act ii: Cowboy Carter, which was supported by two singles (16 Carriages, Texas Hold ‘Em) released on February 11th, after a commercial that aired during this year’s Super Bowl. And with that, welcome back to the music minded corner of Our Thoughts Precisely!

When Beyoncé said Cowboy Carter was a Beyoncé album, rather than just a country one, she was telling the truth. There are hallmarks of the genre present throughout, but it’s a Beyoncé album: pitch switches, harmonies, and superb production with incredibly smooth transitions. As a follow up to Renaissance—one of my favorite albums—Cowboy Carter, with twenty-seven tracks, exceeded my expectations. From the artists she collaborated with, to covering classics— with Jolene and BlackBiird—with minimal (but meaningful) changes, to a wealth of original material, Cowboy Carter is an experience. It’s one that’s almost cinematic in the way it handles its concept and themes as well as smaller details—like having a full circle moment between the opening (Ameriican Requiem) and the closing track (Amen).

Like The Weeknd’s Dawn FM (2022), Cowboy Carter is structured like a radio broadcast complete with DJ interludes featuring artists like Linda Martell, Dolly Parton, and Willie Nelson (for example: Dolly P, Smoke Hour Willie Nelson, and The Linda Martell Show). But those weren’t the only artists featured on Cowboy Carter. There was Beyoncé’s duet with Miley Cyrus (II Most Wanted), her collaborations with Post Malone (Levii’s Jeans), Just For Fun with Willie Jones, and Sweet Honey Buckin’ with Shaboozey.

Cowboy Carter has Beyoncé’s vocal capacity and creativity on full display. As a sequel to Renaissance, it works. As a country album, it experiments, effectively creating a long but memorable listening experience. This is one of my favorite albums to come out in the first half of the year, and it set the bar high.

I Listened to Girl With No Face by Allie X

Before February was over, there was one last music release I was waiting on: Allie X’s highly anticipated third studio album, Girl With No Face. For context, it’s been four years since Cape God (2020)—and three from the release of its deluxe edition with five additional songs (Cape God Theme, Milk, Limited Love, Anchor, and Rising Tide). There was plenty of time to build anticipation for Allie X’s next project, and, going into 2024, Girl With No Face was at the top of my list for albums releasing in the first quarter of the year.

On February 23, Girl With No Face arrived. Before then, the direction of the sound, aesthetic, and themes were teased for months with the release singles like Black Eye and the titular Girl With No Face. This album is a blend of pop, synth, and a little bit of glam rock. It feels very retro, especially in terms of how the beats are arranged. But Allie X manages to set her music apart with her vocals and lyrical depth, which keeps the album from feeling redundant.

Some of my favorite tracks (not including the singles) were Galina, You Slept On Me, Staying Power, and even the closing song, Truly Dreams. Another good one is Hardware/software, which sounds, honestly, like a soundtrack you would find in a video game from the eighties.

 
Girl With No Face was another excellent project by Allie X. Even the most upbeat track on the album—in terms of sound anyway—deserves more than a passing listen. There’s so much to sit with and chew on, and I know I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time. For today, however, I’ll leave it here. Just know: I enjoyed every second of my listening experience.   

What I've Been Listening To

We’re already three months into 2024. It feels weird to write that, because, every time I glance at a calendar—whether digital or on paper—I realize how much it feels like the year is flying by. But I digress, because the point of today’s blog post is music, specifically everything I’ve been meaning to write about—even from last year—that I never go around to writing about. 

Albums

The last quarter of 2023 was actually pretty busy in terms of music releases—and specifically there was new stuff from some of my favorite artists.

On November 3, 2023, Tkay Maidza returned two years after 2021’s Last Year Was Weird (Vol. 3) with her second studio album: Sweet Justice. Part R&B, pop, and rap, Maidza delivers a stylish offering. Sitting at fourteen songs, Sweet Justice leans into what this artist is good at: vocals, lyrics, and production. There’s never a dull moment (no skips) on Sweet Justice, and it’s, hands down, one of my favorite albums of 2023.

On that note, I came away with a similar view of Tinashe’s sixth album, BB/ANG3L. Released on September 8, 2023, this was a shorter body of work with just seven songs, but every second of it was enjoyable. She’s singing about the many faces of relationships, good, bad, and everything in between. But, despite the tried and true subject, Tinashe always excels at giving it a spin, which makes BB/ANG3L straight to the point and perfect at its length. Her approach to R&B remains as one of my favorites.

There was also Victoria Monet’s debut studio album Jaguar II (August, 25 2023). As a long time listener of Monet, I was beyond pleased with this release. Supported by the singles Smoke featuring Lucky Daye, Party Girls featuring Buju Banton, and On My Mama, this was an air-tight and enjoyable listening experience.

As for 2024, so far I’ve listened to ORQUIDEAS, Kali Uchis’s fourth studio album, the deluxe edition of Carolina Polachek’s Desire, I Want to Turn Into You, and Girl With No Face, Allie X’s third studio release.

Kali Uchis has a style and she knows how to utilize it to its fullest potential. The deluxe edition of Desire, I Want to Turn Into You was a happy surprise and added a handful of songs to an album that was already quite good—with another version of Butterfly Net (featuring Weyes Blood) and the single, Dang, among others.

Singles

Beyoncé is back! I feel like I had to start with that, because I have been waiting for the follow up to Renaissance. The wait isn’t too long, because Act ii will be dropping later this month, on the twenty-ninth. Until then, there are two singles to listen to: Texas Hold ‘Em and 16 Carriages.

Some of the other singles that have made it to one playlist or another of mine include: Oh No :: He Said What? By Nothing But Thieves; Hunned Racks by The Whales featuring Tkay Maidza, Never Ending Song by Conan Gray, Overcompensate by Twenty One Pilots, and Your Blood by Aurora.

Honestly, the year is off to a strong start, and I’m looking forward to what the rest of 2024 has to offer. What about you, have you listened to any good music lately?

What I've Been Listening To Lately...

It’s been a while since I last wrote at length about music on the blog. So I figured it was time for another “What I’ve Been Listening To” post.

A recent addition to my playlist is The Family Jewels (Deluxe edition) by Marina, formerly known as Marina and the Diamonds. This is an album from 2010, but I didn’t listen to it during its release year. I happened to finally give Oh No! a try while I was on break from the blog last month, and I went on to check out the rest of the album. It’s one of my favorites of the year so far. I really like Marina’s vocals, as well as the alternative pop and the undeniable style of the album. Also, I’m a fan of the deluxe edition specifically. There were remixes that reworked the songs Hollywood, Obsession, and I Am Not a Robot, with different melodies. Overall, I know I’ll end up eventually listening to more music by Marina.

For this next one I’m simply putting Wednesday Campanella, because I would be here all day listing what I enjoyed about each album. I like their new stuff with more of a bright bubblegum pop/electronic sound, as well as their older releases before the singer changed—i.e. songs like Bamboo Princess, Zeami, Yeti, Sakamoto Ryoma, and many-many others.

From the track names to lyrics, Forever or Whatever by Holiday Sidewinder is just plain fun to listen to! The style can feel a little nostalgic since, from what I can tell, there are synth as well as disco influences. I like the mixture, and each song was interesting. Overall, Forever or Whatever is another favorite.

Singles…

Of course I have to mention Halle's Angel again. It plays into her vocal capacity and is, generally, interesting to listen to. I really love the song, and I’m looking forward to whatever solo music she release next.

On My Mama by Victoria Monét has a strong R&B sound, and I absolutely love it for how much it felt like something from the 90s or the early 2000s.

The only reason why I’m including Caroline Polachek in this section is because I’ve only listened to two of her songs so far. They’re Welcome To My Island and Bunny Is A Rider. They’re both on my playlist and are among my top-favorite songs.

So that’s pretty much what I’ve been listening to recently. The year isn’t over yet, and there are still a couple of albums that I’m waiting on. Until next time, thanks for stopping by, and happy listening!

I Listened to So Much (For) Stardust by Fall Out Boy

Fall Out Boy was one of the bands that got me into rock music—particularly the rock/pop/punk scene—and their albums have been a staple on my playlists since the 2000s. It’s been about five years since the band’s last album. And among the big releases on my radar for March 2023—supported by singles such as Love On The Other Side and Heartbreak Feels So Good—Fall Out Boy’s eighth studio album, So Much (For) Stardust, was very anticipated on my end.

So Much (For) Stardust really felt like a return to some of Fall Out Boy’s earlier music. It had less of the style and sounds that dominated Mania (2018), and it went heavier on the aspects that really made me love the band’s music. It was nostalgic in the right ways but doesn’t lean too much on what they’ve already done. Instead it offered a sort of sequel—especially with the visuals for Hold Me Like a Grudge (a continuation of the music video for This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race)—by delivering songs that felt refreshing.

As a longtime fan of Fall Out Boy, I’m so happy with this album!