It’s been five years since Laura Mvula released The Dreaming Room (2016). And out of all the music I’m waiting for this year, Mvula’s next project has been one of my most anticipated. For months now, I have been excited by all the hints and singles we got for Pink Noise. And after such a long wait, my hopes were very high leading up to Pink Noise’s July 2, 2021 release date. The album is finally here, and all I can say is that the wait was worth it.
Pink Noise was actually everything I was hoping it would be. From the early singles—Safe Passage, Church Girl, Got Me and What Matters featuring Simon Neil—Pink Noise promised to be a romp through pop inspired by the 80s. The early visuals and singles clearly went in that direction, and the rest of the album’s substance—ten total tracks—delivered a spectacular and cohesive body of work that was defined by a clear theme.
I can only describe Laura Mvula’s third studio album as great and stylish. And, if you know anything about 80s pop, you’ll find many familiar sounds here with everything from synth, drums, and guitar riffs just to name a few. These hallmarks of 80s music were on full display, and they were mixed in a way that felt like a fresh spin on something that was already tried and true.
Music Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Lauren Stoolfire at Always Me that asks you to share one or two songs that you've recently enjoyed. For the rules, visit the page HERE
Breana: It's been a long time since I listened to Ceremonials by Florence + The Machine. It's one of my favorite albums, and the opening track, Only If For A Night, is excellent.
Andrea: Hi all! This week I was searching for new music on YouTube and came across music by Dax. This artist is new to me. I watched several of his videos before selecting Self Proclaimed 3 & Self Proclaimed 4 due to the songs' messages.
I hope everyone has an amazing week! Stay safe!~~Andrea
It’s the twenty-ninth of July. So it’s time to talk about the short stories, miscellaneous posts, and podcast episodes I read or listened to in June. This post is going to be brief.
The only short story I read in June was The Life & Death of Mia Fremont: An Interview with a Killer by A.K. Hudson. This was an interesting story. It mostly felt like a character study mixed with a hefty dose of misogyny. It showed up in the form of the way society/family can treat and expect women to be and behave. This messaging is conveyed through what the main character records, while sitting down at an interview with someone who was initially said to be a literal criminal. But with this story, there’s a slight speculative angle. And the ending left off with an overall question, a “what if,” that isn’t quite answered by the time the story ended.
Hot Pink was a hit for me, and I liked how experimental the sound was throughout the entirety of the album. It had hits such as Say So, Streets, and Rules among others. So I’ve been waiting for the follow-up since then, and Planet Her is my top anticipated album of the year alongside Laura Mvula’s Pink Noise and Tkay Maidza’s Last Year Was Weird Vol. 3.
Planet Her has finally arrived, and Doja Cat delivers a pop and R&B album with style. I had a great time giving this one a listen. And while there was a much more cohesive feeling and sound to this album, it didn’t stray too far from the fun and experimental edge that exists within the same vein as Hot Pink. Planet Her plays off Doja Cat’s strong suits, and there was, overall, a really catchy and memorable sound as well as a sharp delivery of rap and other verses to all fourteen tracks.
Besides the singles (Kiss Me More, Need To Know, and You Right featuring The Weeknd), there were many other earworms to jam to as well. I liked the entire album. However, some of my top favorites included Get Into It (Yuh), Aint Sh*T, and Woman.
Planet Her was pretty great, and I’m left with a positive impression. This one is going on my playlist.
Music Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Lauren Stoolfire at Always Me that asks you to share one or two songs that you've recently enjoyed. For the rules, visit the page HERE
Breana: I've been listening to Kid Cudi's music, and one of my favorite songs so far is Mr. Rager.
Adri: This week I'm listening to Nobody's Business (extended radio) byBillie. I think it's both fun and too true.
Andrea: Hi all! This week I'm listening to Look Easy by Robin Thicke. Have an amazing week!
