december 2022

Around the Fur

album by Deftones

year released: 1997

genre: nu-metal/alt-rock/alt-metal

I've recently been discovering nu-metal bands and this album really stood out to me. It's one of the albums I listen to whenever I need to get my energy up and fucking thrash around!! Chino Moreno is a vocal beast; I love the versatility of his voice. This is such a high-energy album that's definitely reminiscent of its time.

favorite songs: My Own Summer (Shove It), Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away), Dai the Flu, Lotion

Riot!

album by Paramore

year released: 2007

genre: pop-punk/alt-rock/emo

The different moods this album gets me in... just immaculate. Hayley Williams is a total pop-punk icon. I knew a handful of her most popular songs, but I recently went back and listened through Riot! and it's amazing. I kinda wish I listened to her work more when I was younger. I was kinda scene back then, and I know I woulda really loved this album. Takes me back to a happier time full of fringe bangs, checker print, squatting in Hot Topic, and fawning over emo boys who'd always skip school.

favorite songs: Hallelujah, Misery Business, When it Rains, We Are Broken

RENAISSANCE

album by Beyoncé

year released: 2022

genre: dance/r&b/disco/house/pop

BEYONCÉ??!!! This was my summer album! THE summer album, honestly. I LOVE LOVE to dance and this album really scratched some itches. I'm really impressed with the direction Beyoncé went with this album. This is such a fun, happy, groovy album that is guaranteed to get you moving. I also admire how Beyoncé gives recognition to ballroom culture, with the many samples, interpolations, and references that is integrated into this work. I won't even lie, this album had me in a chokehold for like a month LMAO. Additionally, this album is meant to be the first of three parts. I really wonder how she's gonna top Renaissance, but I trust her artistic vision.

favorite songs: COZY, ALIEN SUPERSTAR, CHURCH GIRL, VIRGO'S GROOVE, MOVE (feat. Grace Jones and Tems), HEATED, ALL UP IN YOUR MIND, AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM, girl damn near all of the songs okay??

AMERICAN GURL

album by Kilo Kish

year released: 2022

genre: pop

Kilo Kish seems like such a cool woman to be around. I really like how upbeat and experimental this album is; I can tell how much of her creative influence went into its production. This album got me through my final rotation before graduating (it was suuuuper brutal.) I'll choose to suffer through the war flashbacks in order to continue enjoying this album LOL. Kish is a true creative and I can't recommend her music enough. Her older work is outstanding!

favorite songs: NO APOLOGY!, ATTENTION POLITICIAN, ON THE OUTSIDE (JUSTIN'S SONG), SUPER KO LOVE, INTELLIGENT DESIGN

Do you miss me?

song by PinkPantheress

year released: 2022

genre: alt-r&b/deep house

Let me start by saying that I'm a huuuuuge fan of PinkPantheress. There's something so nostalgic and fresh about her sound. It makes me so happy to see her collabing with other artists and getting more popular. She recently released this track and it's such a "get-up-and-move" song. I'm not ashamed to say that it's on the top of my repeat playlist! She has a lot of unreleased songs floating around the web, and I try to keep tabs on them all because they're just that good. I believe she's releasing another album next year. Definitely looking forward to it!!

STRAWBERRY CREAM SODA POP DAYDREAM

album by Tommy february6

year released: 2009

genre: pop/jpop

This album is the definition of "cute." This is such a Valentine's day album; lots of cutesy lovey-dovey kawaii pop beats to enjoy. I'm a big fan of Tomoko in both Tommy february6 and Tommy heavenly6, the latter having more of a rock/pop-punk sound. Her music from Tommy heavenly6 was featured in the movie "Kamikaze Girls"; I became a fan of her soon after watching the movie. Her music videos are also super cute, featuring lots of kawaii, colorful aesthetics. I've seen someone compare her to Avril Lavigne, however Tomoko's been in the industry long before Avril! I can kinda see the correlation, though.

favorite songs: Kiss One More Time, Love is forever, Futari no Seaside, Sweet Dream, Strawberry Cream◯Soda Pop◯