Top Albums of 2021

Honestly, I’m pretty over lists at this point. They’re arbitrary and don’t really reflect anything but someone’s tastes, except here where they reflect the tastes of three individuals…because that’s how we roll. So, take this list with a grain of salt. These are the records we thought were the best, which mostly just means these are the ones we listened to on repeat throughout the year! Feel free to leave a comment on what you think we missed, or why we’re dumb; we love good comment trolls.

Also, because this list is really about crediting the art that made us happy, we wanted it to make you happy too, so we included purchasing links where we could. Read more

Last Week’s Jams, Today (September 20 – 24)

Here we are kicking off another great week in life, am I right? We wanted to start your Monday with a glance over our shoulders at last week’s hits. I think we covered some pretty great stuff last week, some of which you might have only been able to find through us, some of it you just need to be sure you check out. Love the new Ovlov track, and can’t stop playing this Smallgoods album; you’d also do well to visit that Japan Review tune too! Tons of different vibes, which is always our vibe. Have a good week loves.

Black Marble Share Preoccupation Video

So I missed running this tune yesterday, so I figured I’d remedy my mistake by running it now. I’ve made clear my adoration with Black Marble, and this track is no different from those moments. I think Chris Stewart has really worked hard here to toy with his vocal delivery; he’s drawing you in, giving rise to little subtle bits of melody from the dark confines of his electronic work. Honestly, I haven’t heard anything from this record that I don’t like, so you can bet I’ll be grabbing a copy of Fast Idol, out on October 22nd via Sacred Bones Records.

Last Week’s Jams, Today (August 23 -27)

Happy Monday everyone! Hope you’re doing alright, physically and emotionally. We’re here to wrap up last week’s hits, or at least what we loved. This collection has a bunch of songs included from some albums that dropped on Friday, as well as new tunes from Gustaf, Dinner and the new collaboration from Living Hour + Peel Dream Magazine. Start your week off right by reviewing what we loved last week. Have a good day!

Black Marble Share Ceiling Video

Usually when a band like Black Marble gets four albums deep into their career, you sort of think you know what you’re getting when you unpack that new LP. For me, I think Chris Stewart has continued to let his electronic soundscapes evolve with each album. Bigger Than Life felt bolder and punchier, if you can say that; it just had this overt pop nature to it. That still seems present as we listen to “Ceiling,” another tune from the forthcoming Fast Idol. You can still hear the accessibility in the beats; they carry this generally pleasant feel to them, something that’s super difficult to replicate. Still, Stewart’s vocal have this faint hint of darkness, creating this bit of anxiety within the tune that ties into some of the thematic elements being put forth. The new LP is out on October 22nd via Sacred Bones Records.

Jams From Last Week 7/27-7/31

It was a bit of a slower week for us on the new music side of things, but we still had a few jams for from the last week of July. You’ll see some recurring artists here like Tummyache and Meatbodies but also new to us music like The Enigmatic Foe or Treeboy & Arc. It’s a shorter one this week so it should be great for your Monday morning or afternoon commute. Stay dry!

Black Marble Announces Fast Idol

I’ve been jamming to Black Marble for a hot minute now, and while I’m partial to the earlier work of Chris Stewart, he’s definitely hitting a more accessible pop stride with his latest works…and looks like that continues with the new record Fast Idol. Our first listen is accompanied by this incredible video from Theo Sixou, following around an exuberant pair through the streets of Paris; they seem to be searching for that unidentifiable “somewhere” of the song’s title. Both the song and the video are worth your while today, and we’ll keep you posted as more singles drop from the forthcoming Fast Idol, which is out on October 22nd via Sacred Bones Records.

Top 25 Albums of 2019

This is the list you’ve all been waiting for, well, sort of. This is my Top 20 LPs of the year. Admittedly, there’s none of the high profile hitmakers on here, but that’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy those albums. I loved Purple Mountains just as much as the next person, same with Weyes Blood, but in a pickle, would I choose it over that Martha LP? Uh, absolutely not. Plus, I ran a lot this year because I got tired of being fat, so the majority of this stuff is pretty upbeat and “runnable.” There’s no order because all are equal under my ears.

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Black Marble Drop Private Show Video

Can I not just have this whole Black Marble LP already? This is the third single from the forthcoming Bigger Than Life LP, and again, it’s sure-fire gem. I’m actually really drawn to the beats on this one; they have this energetic pulse faintly tinged with a darkness that seems to match the fogginess of the vocal delivery. It’s probably cliche at this point, but balancing of the light and dark is so well executed that you can’t help but be caught up in your own emotions. But, perhaps the most striking moment comes just before the 4 minute mark, when the song seems to be stripped of its energy, leaving you with heavy vocals draped across minimal notes; it’s a pretty special twist. This new LP drops on October 25th via Sacred Bones Records. Don’t forget the band will be in Austin for Levitation!

Black Marble Shares Feels

As I was sitting down to listen to this song, I was imagining myself dancing around my living room, entertaining the wee 1 year old that crawls about our house; it has an energetic uptick in the sample percussion. But, when Chris Stewart’s vocals come into play, they’re heavy and dark; they almost evaporate that pop sensibility in the best possible sense. It creates this great juxtaposition that definitely lands well on my end, straddling the highs and lows of music, much like we do in life. To me, this feels like the most intimate Black Marble album to date, so it’s not surprise that it is being handled by Sacred Bones Records; they’ll release Bigger Than Life on October 25th.

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