Album Review: <COPING MECHANISM>

October 25, 2022

Since the iconic era that was her 2010 release of ‘Whip My Hair’, Willow Smith, now musically known as WILLOW, has been making massive waves in the music industry. From her first formal album release of ARDIPITHECUS, to the release of the popular hit ‘Meet me at Our Spot’ in collaboration with artist Tyler Cole, Willow never seems to miss.

Her most recent project, <COPING MECHANISM>, was released on October 7, 2022, and I have listened to it approximately (or not so approximately) 21 times. If you are looking for an alternative-rock-punk-slightly-indie-lyrically-beautiful-innovative-upbeat-but-still-chill-subtly-emotional-rollercoaster-y album, this is the one for you. Willow’s notoriety for genre-mixing is apparent in this release, and her execution is exceptional.

The album begins with the banger that is “<maybe> it’s my fault” (racking up the most streams on the album by 3 million); ruminating over a bitter, romantic falling out, Willow contemplates whether or not she played an active role in its demise. Something we can all relate to, I think– overthinking to the point where we can’t recall whether we’re placing the blame in the right place. This song gives the listener a winding-up for the rest of the album, and rightfully so, with “Falling Endlessly” and “curious/furious” in succession as the second and third tracks. These two carry the angst of the beginning of the album beautifully, further illustrating what it feels like to be young and lost and feeling angry that you feel that way (looking at you, fellow Undeclared’s).

The next tracks, “WHY?” and “<Coping Mechanism>”, move us forward in our story past melancholy self-rumination and into a brief, apprehensive, angry revenge era before swiftly switching to a regretful wallowing with “Split”. This is easily one of my favorite songs on the album - not only is it catchy, but it brings us back into the window of self-pity, which unironically happens to be one of my favorite musical subjects.

“hover like a GODDESS”, the next track, is definitely high up there for me lyrically. Opening up with a potential reference to the song “Meet Me in the Bathroom” by the Strokes (another one of my favorites!), the song continues:

You're like the ocean, comin' and goin'

I wanna surf your waves to the shore

And find what lies real deep inside

I'll be the moon to your high tide

You're addictive, so indicative of my inhibitions

So clear, you couldn't miss them

“<ur> a stranger” and “Perfectly Not Close to Me” featuring Yves Tumor are the perfect examples of Willow’s affinity for genre experimentation; with a mix of heavy bass and producer Chris Greatti’s underscoring riffs, both songs give insight to what I hope the future of music looks like– unrestrained, the artist free from the confines of traditional expectations dictating what genre-specific songs should sound like. We see this a lot with artists that have genre-hopped, such as Taylor Swift and Fleetwood Mac, where criticism from an early fanbase can inhibit the endeavors of artists looking to branch out; of course, these examples don’t exemplify failure in any sense, but I don’t think that the animosity that they met when they were first experimenting is justified or motivating either. That’s part of the reason I love Willow - she has been unapologetically experimental from the beginning.

The album closes out with the pensive “No Control” and the, well, batshit “BATSHIT!”, touching on substance dependency as a coping mechanism (*cough* *cough*).

This album receives a solid, and slightly reluctant 4.5 / 5 stars; although I am more than tempted to bestow a perfect score on this masterpiece, I do think that some of the tracks are repetitive to the extent that upon first listen they can blend together. I don’t find this unpleasant, but it is the one and only criticism I have, so out of objectivity I feel as though it’s fair to include it.

Although I haven’t been listening to Willow for all that long, she has quickly become one of my favorite artists: dynamic, trailblazing, and with a talent for catchy beats and lyrics, I think everyone should give her work a chance. Go listen to <COPING MECHANISM>!!!

Source: https://indigomusic.com/pop-cultures/willo...

Lil Yachty "Breathes Deeper" in Tame Impala Remix

October 20, 2021

one of the most unexpected collabs we’ve ever gotten,

this gives me waking up at 3am in 2007 [to watch] Adult Swim vibes,

and

I couldn’t stop laughing at first but it’s actually kinda fire

…are just a few of the top comments beneath the music video for Tame Impala’s latest release. While traversing hallucinogenic landscapes, frontman Kevin Parker and feature artist Lil Yachty rework “Breathe Deeper,” a sleeper hit from Parker’s fourth studio album The Slow Rush. Decked out in his finest Sun Ra threads, Yachty grooves to a technicolor bass line, carving out new dimensions in the subsphere of psychedelic rap.

It’s an odd pairing – Yachty’s “bubblegum trap” layered over Parker’s shoegaze synth riffs. But an alt-rocker and a rap legend find common ground in the disco stylings of Breathe Deeper’s production: ascendant piano chords that conjure Sunday mornings and 70s nostalgia.

In both sound and form, the duo embraces old-school tradition. Parker’s vocals are all but absent from the track, relegated to pre-chorus echoes as Yachty freestyles for three verses. Over buoyant melodies, he mines city skylines for psychedelic visuals; “Lookin' in her eyes, see the meadow // Lookin' at her lips, pillow kiss, it's the wet throat…She say she never been to the ghetto// Put her on the tab, turn thе hood to a disco.”

A haze of SoundCloud funk reverberates through “rooftop parties” and fleeting moments of vulnerability. “I hope when you said you love me, that you mean it,” Yachty intones as the outro swallows the last micrograms of his acid tab.

Lil Yachty’s “Breathe Deeper” remix is the lead track from The Slow Rush B-Sides, dropping in 2022. The tracklist features remixes from Blood Orange, Maurice Fulton, and Four Tet - along with new tracks “No Choice” and “Boat I Row.”

Underrated Artist Spotlight

March 9, 2021

Searching for unique music to listen to so you can fuel your individuality complex? Or just looking for something new to spice up your music taste? Today, we’re highlighting some underrated artists* that will have you feeling like the main character in your own indie coming-of-age movie.

*Underrated can be an incredibly contentious term when discussing music, so for all intents and purposes, we’ll consider underrated to refer to artists with less than 100,000 monthly listeners on Spotify.

HumorUs

Based in Nashville, HumorUs produces vibrant, energetic music that provides an instant boost of serotonin. If you enjoy bands such as Passion Pit, Phoenix, and Grouplove, you’ll enjoy the feel-good sounds of HumorUs.

Songs to check out: “Labyrinth,” “Paranormal,” “Road Trip”

Florence Rose

With sounds inspired by Cage the Elephant, Declan Mckenna, Gus Dapperton, and The Neighborhood, it’s no surprise that Florence Rose’s music is indie rock perfection. Heartfelt lyrics combined with danceable melodies make for a necessary addition to any indie rock lover’s playlist.

Songs to check out: “Boyfriend,” “Growing Pains,” “The Day We Met”

Sizzy Rocket

If you’re a fan of Dua Lipa, Rina Sawayama, and Charli XCX, make sure to check out the electropop sounds of Sizzy Rocket. She describes herself as “the cool best friend you wish you had growing up - the one who doused herself in glitter and moved to New York to start a punk band,” a sentiment that is certainly echoed in her music. Sizzy Rocket has also written music for recognizable pop artists such as Noah Cyrus, Bea Miller, and Hey Violet.

Songs to check out: “Rollerskating,” “Bestie,” “I KNOW WHAT U LIKE”

Cannibal Kids

Indie-surf pop-rock band Cannibal Kids creates relaxing yet melodically joyful music that will appeal to lovers of groups like LANY and Cigarettes After Sex. If you want to feel like you’re lounging at the beach, Cannibal Kids is the band for you.

Songs to check out: “Falling in Love at Wii Sports Resort,” “My Boy / My Girl,'“ “Save Me The Time”

Bien

Indie pop trio Bien produces music that will leave you in a dreamlike haze. Their music is peaceful but fresh, and fans of EXES or VÉRITE will appreciate their eclectic sound.

Songs to check out: “Times Like This,” “Spinning on Blue,” “Stars Across the Sky”

Black Pontiac

Perhaps what is so special about Black Pontiac’s music is its ability to remain ever-so-energetic while still invoking a sense of nostalgia for nights long gone. I would especially recommend their music to fans of Ricky Montgomery and Ryan Beatty.

Songs to check out: “Kate Rambo,” “November State of Mind,” “School Girls”

Juco

Juco’s music does an excellent job at capturing the feeling of youth. It’s perfect for both dance parties in your room and lying on your bed contemplating your life - that’s versatility!

Songs to check out: “Dance With Me,” “We Were Young,” “Take Me to Your House”

Dom Fera

Dom Fera’s music immediately feels vivid and refreshing. Perfect for lovers of Declan Mckenna and Kid Bloom, it’s sure to make you feel like you’re transcending.

Songs to check out: “Breathe,” “Mothers and Fathers,” “Easy Thing”

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SZA & The Album That Never Was

February 11, 2021

For a glorious moment in 2016, SZA’s self-titled LP was available for streaming on Tidal and Spotify. Dropped without warning, the 15-track set relayed the first signs of life from the sleeper sensation since her debut EP Z. Songs like “Castles” and “Terror Dome” layered sultry bouts of introspection over new waves of glossy synths. “Ice Moon” grasped at something more than the familiar soundscapes of post-aughts R&B.

At the time, a modest but devoted circle of fans (myself included) became deeply invested in new music from a notoriously elusive artist. 2 weeks later, however, the tape was taken down without comment. Besides a handful of Tweets and the cult chattering of hip-hop subreddits, the internet has been scrubbed clean of any trace of SZA’s 2016 release. What, then, should fans make of this curious incident? And more importantly, do we have any chance of recovering this fleeting slice of synth wonder?

Below you’ll find a series of questions (some answered, some not) I’ve compiled in my 5 years of intense sleuthing.

You’re telling me no one batted an eye when the album of a multi-platinum artist vanished into thin air?

Yes and no. The SZA of 2016 was not yet the musical icon we know and love today. This was before CTRL, before Grammy nominations, top ten features, and unrivaled stardom in the R&B multi-verse. Like the Mahalia or Arlo Parks of 2021, SZA was a revered name in underground circles, respected enough to command features from Kendrick, but a long ways away from mainstream radio success. Relative anonymity is the most plausible reason for her surprise LP’s lack of press coverage. If this happened today, the internet would implode.

Can we still listen to the album tracks anywhere?

Fortunately, yes. What fans initially believed was new music from the R&B singer was actually an amalgamation of tracks from previously self-released EPs. Though the 15-track unit has been removed from streaming services, most of its demos can still be found on producer cuts of EPs S and See.SZA.Run uploaded to Soundcloud. Though it’s unconfirmed, these are likely the tracks that caught the attention of rap legend Terrence “Punch” Henderson, who secured SZA’s contract with Top Dawg Entertainment.

So…was this all just a really elaborate leak?

Definitely no. The set was released on SZA’s official streaming platforms and bore her trademark. She even expressed excitement about the LP a few days after the drop on her Twitter.

If this wasn’t a leak, why was the album pulled?

While no one really knows, speculation runs rampant. The songstress has never been shy about her struggles with anxiety or her tumultuous relationship with the music industry. In a 2017 interview with the Guardian, she revealed how her record label TDE forced her to hand over the hard drive for CTRL while she was still agonizing over song selection. “[If they gave] me another month, it would have been something completely different,” she claims. A similar battle with her record label or, perhaps, sampling disputes may be responsible for the LP’s sudden disappearance.

While this lost album remains somewhat of a mystery, fans can at least take comfort in its robust Soundcloud documentation and SZA’s promise of new music sometime in 2021.