Lately EP

Still Woozy

Lost On The River

The New Basement Tapes

This album has an incredible story. Even if you don't like the genre, the music or the artists, you can hopefully at least appreciate the story behind the album. Oh, and the music and artists are pretty good so you should probably like those too. 
In 2013, T Bone Burnett, who was a guitarist in Bob Dylan's band, discovered some unrecorded lyrics that Dylan had written in 1967. He then went to work recruiting a "studio musical supergroup" to make the lyrics come to life. The cast? Marcus Mumford, the front-man of Mumford and Sons. Elvis Costello, the renowned British singer-songwriter. Jim James of My Morning Jacket. And Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes (who we featured right here on Album Daily). The all-star cast took two weeks to record the album and the entire thing was recorded for a Showtime show. 

Okay so now that the story is out of the way, how about the tunes? It's definitely a bit scattered as it's not clear if the tracks were ever supposed to be a cohesive album. What is clear is that the artists involved were constantly switching their roles, instruments and vocals back and forth on each track which probably means you might love one song and hate the next. It's most easily described as rock but there's folk and even more eclectic instrumentation than a traditional folk band. it's really fun to envision Dylan having written the songs in the 60s but having the artists from the 2010s interpret and perform them. 

I feel like this entire description is Bonus Content but if you want just a little bit more… how about Johnny Debb playing guitar with Marcus Mumford, Taylor Goldsmith and the Haim sisters on the song Kansas City. Made you look, right? Here's the video.

Collapsed In Sunbeams

Arlo Parks

Described by The Guardian as “a diaristic, near-perfect debut,” Collapsed In Sunbeams is delightful. This new 2021 album peaked at #3 on the charts in the UK and Arlo Parks is merely 20 years young. Arlo Parks is also a poet and it shows in this album as she speaks directly to the listener’s heart and uses aspects of spoken word in the intro song and mingled a little bit throughout. It feels as if she pulled this hit album off without an abundance of intricate production or even one song that gives the sense that she was selling out to land a hit on the radio. Where she does step out of her comfort zone is in the lyrics. Listen closely for pure, unfiltered commentaries on sexual identity, queer desire, mental health, body image and more. Oh, great, another pop album trying to tackle the world’s anxieties, right? Arlo Parks brings a different viewpoint on Collapsed In Sunbeams. The Guardian writes, “Parks writes with a diaristic tone that suggests lived experience rather than a self-conscious desire to tackle the burning issues of the day.” Enjoy the vulnerability and mastery of Arlo Parks on her new, debut album.

Arlo Park’s superpower: Parks has been dubbed a variety of things including a “cinematic storyteller, the “euphonious voice” of Generation Z.” She would brush aside all of that hype. In this Guardian article she states, “I’m just saying what I’m saying and I happen to be 20. Maybe people my age gravitate towards my songs because they can relate to them, but I’m definitely not speaking for anyone.” But what does Arlo Park’s claim? Empathy. She titles herself an “empath” or “someone deeply attuned to other people’s feelings” and that is her super power that results in an album like Collapsed In Sunbeams and as much acclaim as she’s received so early in her career. Go Arlo!

How to: Friend, Love, Freefall

Rainbow Kitten Surprise

How many band names can you think of that could double as an ice cream flavor? I’ve done some research and right now, Rainbow Kitten Surprise takes the proverbial cake, but let us know if you can find one better. How To: Friend, Love, Freefall is the third album from the uniquely name indie-rock quintet, and is chock full of swanky melodies RKS fans have come to know and love. They continue to explore somber topics in a way that certainly makes you reflect but also feels approachable. Take one of their more popular tunes, Hide, in which the group highlights common struggles LGBTQ individuals face while coming out to their families. The song builds to a peak when lead singer Sam Melo finally reveals a familiar emotion and belts out “I hate you more than I miss you. That's not true, I'd hate to miss you.” My personal favorite aspect of RKS’s sound is their approach to instrumentation. It’s never overwhelming, but almost feels elemental, like they are showing off the brilliance of each instrument through relatively simple melodies and an empty room sound. This is on full display in How To: Friend, Love, Freefall, making it a truly masterful work. 

Bonus Content: Check out this awesome review from The Red and Black that breaks down each song and also provides links to each music video on the album. Don’t miss the video for Hide and when you do, make sure to bring along the tissues.

Play & Play: B Sides

Moby

"Honey" by Moby has got to be up there with some of the most iconic intro songs to an album of all time. And then for the next 28 songs this album just keeps getting better and better. That's right, that's not a typo. This album has 29 total tracks. And it's not like there are any slouchers either- it's hit after hit. Take "Flower" for example. This heavy hitting track fits firmly…. In the middle of like 5 genres. Who does that?!? Probably an artist who himself is difficult to put into a box. Moby is a devout Christian, vegan and environmental activist who, at his peak fame in the late 90s, was sleeping nightly in abandoned buildings in the middle of New York city-- fully immersing himself in the rave culture at the time. 

This album is as much punk-rock as it is electronic as it is ambient music. It's accessible for everyone and doesn't fit neatly into one genre. It's definitely electronic music as its fraught with synthesizers and large bass kicks but also pulls from loads of other genres. Listen to this one while you're drinking on a Saturday evening then finish tracks 15-29 as you're walking through the airport on Sunday.

Did you know Album Daily also doubles as a fitness media company? Well if not- buckle up! One of the first time's I heard a song off of this album as with my 8th grade soccer coach screaming in my ear. The song Flower that we mentioned earlier just continuously repeats the sample "bring sally up, bring sally down" which means that it's perfect for doing push-ups to. Throw on this video and give it a whirl if you're up for a challenge! Every time the sample says "up" you push yourself up. Every time it says "down" go down and hold the push up position until it says "up" again. You can try it with squats too. Good luck!

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