Music

AUGUST MUSIC REVIEWS

CHECK OUT CHECK OUT THESE HONEST THESE HONEST REVIEWS OF SOME REVIEWS OF SOME OF THE HOTTEST OF THE HOTTEST NEW ALBUMS INNEW ALBUMS IN MUSIC!MUSIC

DRAKE

Honestly, Nevermind

Ovo Sound/Republic Records

Drake surprise-released his seventh studio album to complaints from no one. The house beats pop and features keep on coming. He's not shy about dipping in and out of styles, from ballroom and techno to club. “Sticky,” “Massive” and “Jimmy Crooks” featuring 21 Savage are must-listens. Drizzy has delivered depressing love songs and ballads for years, so it’s a true joy to see him let his guard down and hear him tap into his dance side. Produced by South African powerhouse Black Coffee, we get to move and groove our feelings out. “Texts Go Green” is a universally relatable song with, “If I come around you, can I be myself?/ Wind up in the mirror just to see yourself/ If I was in your shoes, I would hate myself/ Left all this behind to be with someone else, oh/ Why should I fake it anymore?/ If I firm the thing and work that, can you take it anymore?/ This time I have left cannot be wasted anymore/ You realize it now and you miss it.” Baby it hurts to get blocked, but we’ve all been there; Drake lets us know it’s ok to feel hurt. Just dance out the pain. - Marisa Patwa

CHRIS BROWN

Breezy

RCA

Devolving from a heartthrob teenage rapper to a social pariah, Chris Brown has worked hard to win back the support of his fans, growing as a person in the process. He's got a ways to go, but there's no denying his insane musical genius. His hypnotic dancing and silky vocals have kept him on top for nearly two decades and his 10th studio album shows no signs of his talent diminishing. Brown needs no boost but still lines up an insane amount of features, including Bryson Tiller, Lil Wayne, Jack Harlow, Ella Mai, Yung Bleu, Wizkid, H.E.R., and Tory Lanez. Breezy is peppered with R&B songs meant to enrapture the soul - and rule the charts. Brown spent two years developing the perfect collection of songs, narrowing it down from hundreds to two dozen. My favorite, the sweet and simple “Luckiest Man,” hits home with lyrics like, “Woke up in the middle of you/ Feels just like the middle of spring/ Nothing left to do but a ring/ Lada, badaboom, badabing/ I hit the lows, yeah, high and low/ So hard to find that high to go.” - Marisa Patwa

IMAGINE DRAGONS

Mercury - Act 2

Kidinakorner/Interscope Records

Imagine Dragons is one of those alternative rock bands that will never stop creating hits. Their sixth studio album is the sequel to last year's Mercury - Act 1. Both were created during the pandemic and produced by genius Rick Rubin who infused them with a hip-hop flavor. Act 1 focuses on the pain and tragedy of death while the follow-up gives us time to process, heal and grieve. They are raw and vulnerable, but still catchy. Lead single “Bones” blew up after being promoted for the third season of the Amazon Prime dark superhero series The Boys. Other standouts include “Enemy,” “Higher Ground,” “Blur,” “Waves “and “Ferris Wheel.” “I Wish” is a guilt-wrecked ballad about the time lost when a friend passes too soon. With lyrics like, "I wasn't there when you said your goodbye, and I replay in my mind 'bout a thousand times/ I wasn't therе for those rivers you cried/ I was always too busy, no, I didn't makе the time/ So it rains every day, oh, it rains every day/ No, I haven't got the words to say,'' you feel deeply and empathetically. - Marisa Patwa

PORCUPINE TREE

Closure/Continuation

Sony Music Entertainment UK Ltd.

How does one describe British rock outfit Porcupine Tree? Are they prog metal? Psychedelic? Weird? Crazytalented? The best band you’ve never heard of? Guilty on all counts. Inspired by prog greats like Rush, Yes, Genesis and King Crimson, Porcupine Tree is helmed by founder/guitarist/ vocalist Steven Watson. PT cares little about popular acclaim or record sales, which elates their fanbase. This is a band that does whatever it wants with flair, artistry, and an ear for the eclectic. Just when you think you have a good sense of who they are musically, they throw in a new sound or rhythm, illustrating their impressive musical arsenal. The band’s 11th studio album is Closure/Continuation, released back in June. And what a tour de force it is! 10 tracks that are all over the map musically, yet the album has a sonic cohesion that defies explanation. Don’t sleep on this one! Standouts are “Rats Return,” “Herd Culling” and “Population Three.” - Matt Alschbach

GOD2

Unbelievable!

Self-released

Unbelievable!, the debut studio EP from Evansville punks God2, opens with “Nasty,” a fiery, goofy song about being gross. This initial statement sets the tone for the entire six-song project - God2 doesn’t take themselves too seriously, but will kick your ass while doing it. Though the band is comprised of Evansville scene-veterans who have continually pushed the boundaries with more experimental groups like Stella, 3D33P, and Dragon Guyz, Unbelievable! is a throwback hardcore punk album that recalls the best of 1980s punk music like Minor Threat and Black Flag. It's a fun, energetic, humorous collection of songs that God2 blasts through in a quick 10 minutes. If you have any sort of allegiance to Evansville punk at all, God2 is the band 4U. - Russ Finn

NEGRO JUSTICE

Chosen Family

Self-released

Since 2018, Nashville rapper Christin Brown, who performs and records music under the moniker Negro Justice, has been honing his craft. With each single, collaboration, guest feature, and EP he’s released, Brown has proven time after time that he's one of the city’s best underground rappers. After four years of propping himself up in Music City, and becoming one of the most notable acts of the Six One Tribe collective, Brown delivers his debut full-length, Chosen Family. Stylistically, Negro Justice leans into the nerd-rap realm with many video game and Ninja Turtle references, perhaps most similar to Wu-Tang’s obsession with kung fu films. But don’t pigeonhole Brown as a nerd rapper. Chosen Family is a remarkable release, full of wit, charm, and character.- Russ Finn

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Ramonesesque

Holy Crap Records

Holy Crap Records, a label and weekly podcast that releases punk compilation albums, brings us Ramonesesque - a 47-track compilation album featuring songs that are, well, Ramones-esque. Punk bands were asked to submit original songs stylistically similar to the Ramones. The resulting album certainly lives up to its name. But, in the end, there’s little more here than just a collection of 47 bands doing their best Ramones impressions. All proceeds from Ramonesesque are being donated to the organization Musicians for Overdose Prevention (MOP), whose goal is to supply bands and venues around the world with Narcan. If you'd like to support a good cause while also receiving a cool comp of 47 underground punk bands, please consider adding this unique release to your collection. - Russ Finn

50 FOOT WAVE

Black Pearl

Fire Records

Taking a break from both her position as leader of legendary alt-rock trio Throwing Muses and fascinating solo excursions, guitar goddess Kristin Hersh returns with another bracing chapter of the 50 Foot Wave saga. This visceral side project - featuring Muses bassist Bernard Georges and drummer Rob Ahlers - has produced some of Hersh's most emphatic musical statements to date and Black Pearl is no exception. All seven tracks here are built on a foundation of raw, punk-adjacent guitar work playing off of the Wave's enviably heavy rhythm section - a combination that drives the likes of slow-rolling opener "Staring into the Sun" and gnarly "Blush" to perfection. Over top, Hersh's distinctive vocals - at times calming, other times full-throated and fiery - ultimately serve as the glue that holds this wonderfully ragged EP together, reminding everyone why she remains an undeniable force in music today, some 35-plus years after the Muses' landmark debut. - Johnny Fletcher

BLUES WITH BRAGIN

THE SULLY BAND

Let’s Straighten It Out

Blue Elan Records

Voted Best Live Band at the San Diego Music Awards, the Sully Band is proudly leading the "new R&B groovement" as heard on their latest offering, Let's Straighten It Out. The album opens with “When the Battle is Over,” a song with a funky bass line that sets the tone for this soulful collection. A cover of Ray Charles' “Hallelujah, I Love Her So” boasts a 1950s jazz feel and vocals from "Sully" Sullivan reminiscent of Ray to complement Anthony Cullins’ masterful guitar solo. “Ice Cold Daydream” features a horn section that will get your body moving. The mellow rocking sound on “I Wish It Would Rain” offers a chance for thoughtful reflection. A cover of the Billy Preston classic “Nothing from Nothing” allows Mark Charles Hattersley to shine on organ.

“If I Could Only Be Sure” features lyrics about wanting to fall in love and turning bad situations into good ones. A cover of the classic “Gimme Little Sign” features a 1970s psychedelic tone and great trumpet playing from Steve Dillard. The drumming from Ignacio Sobers on “If You Love Me Like You Say” truly showcases his talents. The title track seems like the perfect song to listen to in your favorite chair with a glass of something strong to go along with the horn section. The album closes with a slowed-down cover of the Jackie Wilson classic “Higher and Higher” that wraps things up perfectly. For more info, visit blueelan.com. - Paul Bragin