The Upside Down

B.o.B

Dreamland 2021

Zhu

Hot off the press! Zhu is back and better than ever with a brand new electronic project Dreamland 2021. In his familiar style, he couples airy drifting falsetto with spooky synths and dark baselines that always pack a punch. At times Dreamland 2021 will lull you into a trance with smooth repetitive techno rhythms that seemingly never end. Other times, it swells into something more striking, definitely more emotional, and even … a little … sensual? You could certainly hear these tunes blaring through sub-woofers on a dance floor in a dark European club, but there’s a simplicity to Zhu’s style that makes it surprisingly easy to listen to on an average day as well. His songs feel intentional, clean, and devoid of excess and unnecessary elements - ultimately combining to make Dreamland 2021 a smooth listening experience for all. 

Bonus Content: What do an Audi S5, concrete and Sega have in common? These were just a few of the influences Zhu had for creating this project during the COVID pandemic. Read about this and more with the above recent article from Billboard!

Lazaretto

Jack White

This album sounds like it's covered in a half-inch of grease. And I mean that in the best way possible. It's grungy rock and roll at its finest. No one is going to be praising Jack White for his easy to listen to and gorgeous vocals but, just the same, we are going to praise his guitar playing, stage presence, bravado, clever song writing and melody composition. If you're a Jack White fan then you've undoubtedly heard his other main projects: The White Stripes and The Raconteurs. The influence of both of those groups is evident in White's solo project, Lazaretto. Also clear in the album are his forays into country music. There's a screeching violin on Lazaretto that gives White's screeching guitar on That Black Bat Licorice a run for its money and there are typical country female harmonies on Temporary Ground. Don't let this deceive you though, this is a rock record through and through. 

Want to learn about a feud between two very similar sounding bands? Check it out! We featured The Arcs just a couple of weeks ago on Album Daily. The Arcs front-man is Dan Auerbach who also heads up The Black Keys. Jack White has not shied away from expressing his disdain for The Keys. He's even gone as far as griping about the fact that their kids go to the same school. Who's in the right and who's in the wrong? We'll let you decide.

Suck on Light

Boy & Bear

Suck on Light is a pretty off the wall name for an album. This album by Boy & Bear is part folk, part indie-alt, and part rock. Suck on Light really feels like a live, meandering performance by this group. By live, we mean it feels as if they took a cut from a killer live show where they’ve set up a little 3 piece band, started playing, and their friends from other bands just kept joining in with a new instrument each time. The result is a variety of different sounds, all coming from different angles it seems. You’ll get your occasional breakdown with just a soft lyric over an acoustic guitar as well. Now go dive in and find yourself your new favorite song in this phenomenal 2019 album!

Why this album is awesome: Boy & Bear describe Suck on Light as “a celebration of challenge” in an interview with Atwood Magazine. What is that challenge you ask? Well, Boy & Bear’s front-man Dave Hosking suffered from a debilitating chronic illness for years that impacted his cognitive abilities. Hosking is quoted saying, “For years, I didn’t write a thing as my cognitive function was too impaired. I would pick up the guitar, play some chords and instantly forget what I was doing. It was an impossible task.” Suck on Light was Boy & Bear’s first album back from the hiatus, and we can’t be happier to have them back.

Galore

Oklou

This album is very ethereal and other-worldly. It sounds nostalgic and innocent with the light and airy vocals.  This album is the perfect introspective music to reflect on good memories at night. It almost feels and sounds like your parents singing you to sleep or a hug from a friend, very comforting and safe.

This review is from one of our very own subscribers, Veronika! Thanks so much for the suggestion Veronika- we loved the album! You can check out Veronika on Instagram at @vk.straka!

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