Now, on the epic closer "America" off his record The Ascension, he's singing, "Don't do to me what you did to America," as if it's a plea to the heavens above. Indie savior Sufjan Stevens once told stories entrenched in Americana with records like his breakthrough Illinois (although, we are still waiting on those promised records for 48 more states). Each bar is more impressive than the next ("My ancestors took old food, made soul food / Jim Crow's a troll too, he stole the soul music / That's the blood that goes through me, so you assumin' / I could never sell my soul, they sold they soul to me") as the two rappers illustrate their lexical deftness and depth of soul. One of the album's most impeccable songs, "Ghosts of Soulja Slim," is a joint with JAY and explores the relationship between Electronica's identity and Islam. It makes sense that fans would hold out for Electronica since he's proven to be one of rap's most overlooked greats, but it's funny that they kept their faith considering much of his record is powered by rhymes about his own religion. The New Orleans-based MC and J Dilla collaborator has been abuzz and supported by JAY-Z ever since he dropped a mixtape on MySpace in 2007, but never got around to releasing an official record until this year's A Written Testimony. His voice and the acoustic guitars feel warm like a crepuscular setting sun, and that chorus ("I'm gonna swim for a week in Warm American Water with dear friends / swimming high on a lea in Eden / Running all of the leads you've been leaving") inevitably churns up your own memories of spending time with your own favorite records with friends.įew fans are as faithful as Jay Electronica's. It's an homage that gleams on its own, though (even if Pecknold feels he'd be remiss if he didn't apologize to Hendrix for falling flat). "Sunblind" is the center of the album-literally being its works cited page as songwriter Robin Pecknold lists his influences, from late icons like Elliot Smith to recently lost artists including David Berman and Richard Swift, that helped influence this song and others.
This year, they gave people exactly what they wanted, dropping a wonderful, autumnal record right on the fall equinox.
It's something of an inspiration.Īs an essential indie folk band, Fleet Foxes have become coded as woodsy music to cozy up to once the weather gets crisp, you throw on a sweater, and have an itch to go leaf peeping. The sparse yet resounding percussion makes the song itself feel weighted, and, boy, does she sound angry when she sings, "I spread like strawberries / I climb like peas and beans / I've been sucking it in so long / That I'm bursting at the seams," but only because she's still willing to face those set backs head on. One of its stand-out tracks, "Heavy Balloon," is about battling depression and how unyielding it can feel to try to lift yourself up while feeling pushed down time and time again. Over 20 years later, and after an eight-year hiatus, the famed singer-songwriter still sees the toughness of life and womanhood, and the way she sings about them on her acclaimed Fetch the Bolt Cuttersis as raw as ever. The memorable rant shook audiences at the time, but it turns out that she wasn't totally wrong it just took time for everybody else to face that realization. When Fiona Apple won the VMA for Best New Artist in 1997, she declared the world was bullshit in her acceptance speech.
You can picture her monologuing these words to herself in the mirror, and losing herself to a fit of rage as the song ends in a raucous bout of exuberance. (That catch in her voice when she sings, "You loved me / I love you / You don't love me anymore / I still do," is too damn much!). It's as if she's regretfully realizing her heart is still in it-and the way she delivers these words in mourning nearly destroys you. Their debut album Honeymoon dropped this year, and while it's mostly pure, assured love songs, one of its best tracks is the stripped back "Rearview." Over a guitar that flutters like heart palpitations, Trifilio reflects on how she was made to feel less than in a now defunct relationship.
CAR SEAT HEADREST BEACH LIFE IN DEATH LYRICS FULL
Chicago band Beach Bunny is the former bedroom project of frontwoman Lili Trifilio, and recently they blew up, finding success on TikTok. If you're familiar with the group, this shouldn't come as a surprise because their emo power pop is full of exhilarating melodies and lyrics that examine the pressures of girlhood.