Album Review: Childish Gambino, because the internet

Childish Gambino, aka Donald Glover (you know, that guy from Community) is an actor, writer, comedian, singer, rapper and producer from California. Because the internet is Gambino's second studio album, his first being Camp. It was released in the December of 2013 and yes, I know, all of my reviews are long overdue...

Gambino actually wrote a screenplay to accompany this album, which I think is quite a clever way to add more dimensions to his music. This album is very story driven, which means that each song of the album effortlessly flows into the next. This is done by repeated samples and a progressive story. I love how he chose to centre around a theme for this album, that is technology and how how it effects social interactions between people. He makes many references to technology in his lyrics such as "hashtag", "retweet" and "trolling". Similarly, an interpretation of the song 'II. Worldstar' is that it's depicting the internet as a sadistic place with attention seeking users, doing anything to gain "likes" or "hits". I think the fact that Gambino is actually writing about the topic of technology and the issues of it provides him with a niche in an otherwise saturated industry. He also had some very impressive artists feature on his album, names such as Chance the Rapper, Azealia Banks and Jhene Aiko.

The instrumental solos in some of Gambino's tracks are stunning. The end of the track "II. Worldstar" has a beautiful sax solo, which not only gives it a jazz feel but also adds to the hopelessness of the song (picture lone man playing in a window of a large apartment building in New York). Also the interlude 'playing around before the party starts' features a dark, descending piano solo with light chatter in the background, foreshadowing a somber ending.

Each track of the album seems to be influenced by a different genre, genres such as jazz (as previously mentioned), hip hop, Iranian even, pop and r n' b especially. Also many of the songs have ethereal and magical (for lack of a better word) sounding instrumentals, which provides an unworldly element to the track. For example "i. the worst guys", "i. pink toes" and "iii. life: the biggest troll". However I think that these ethereal sounds are used to echo the lyrics and the theme of the song. Take the track "i. pink toes" for example, the first line of this track is "rainbows, sunshine everywhere we go". These lyrics create images of a utopian world, which I believe Gambino is trying to reinforce with the use of his instrumentals, therefore reiterating to his audience that this perfect world is unrealistic.

Some highlights of this album for me are "i. pink toes", purely because of the stunning vocals and the melody line is catchy. Also "v. 3005" because I enjoy the rhythm of the song and how it moves (and probably because my friend and I know the whole rap - I'm not even going to pretend I'm not proud of that fact). Lastly "ii. shadows" because it was the first song I heard from Childish Gambino and I feel like it's a good place to start. However I always look back on my old reviews with different favourite songs, so it's probably going to change. All in all, it's a stellar album.

I give Childish Gambino's 'because the internet' a 4 out of 5 stars.

Album Review: Angus & Julia Stone (self-titled)

Angus & Julia Stone are a brother and sister duo (if you didn't already know), who were born and raised in good old Sydney. Fun fact, their parents played as a folk duo before they were born so it's obvious who was influential in their musical career. They have so far released three studio albums their third being their self-titled album that has already peaked at number one. When composing material each sibling writes their own stuff and then they continue by both working on the structure, the harmonies and the overall polishing of the song.

This self-titled album is the first of four years and was completely spontaneous and unplanned. The pair had been working singularly until Rick Rubin heard the pair play at a friend's party. He then went on to contact the brother-sister duo and voilà an album was born (and a pretty good one at that). If I'm going to be honest I was never really a true fan of Angus & Julia stone, their work had never really interested me. The stuff I had listened to of theirs previously was pretty but to me, it had no real substance. This album though, is definitely an improvement and really showcases the true potential the siblings have.

The album is made of 16 songs, of which Julia and Angus alternate taking the lead in. Although I must say that I enjoyed the first half of the album more than the back end of it, my favourites being A Heartbreak, My Word For It and Heart Beats Slow. Their sound remains pretty similar to how it has always been. Vocals are generally ambient, except for the songs Death Defying Acts and Main Street, which is quite comparable to something off of a Lana Del Rey album, perhaps it's a combination of the droning tone of Julia's vocals or the atmosphere of the song in general. The pair seem to have almost emerged from their folky roots and have created a new sound referencing a more pop rock vibe. Vocals are reverb-drenched in most, if not all, of the tracks and bass line is noticeably punchy. All in all a fairly good easy-listening album for a duo who had disappeared from us for a good while there.

I give Angus & Julia Stone's self-titled a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

*You can purchase this album from iTunes, and you can check out Angus & Julia Stone's website at: http://www.angusandjuliastone.com/ 

Album Review/Gig Review: Ball Park Music, Puddinghead

I attended Ball Park Music's album release for Puddinghead* on Saturday the 3rd of May at the Corner Hotel. It was the best gig/concert/music performance thing that I have ever been to. And that says a whole lot. Everything about it was perfect the support acts, the music, the crowd, the venue, the weather. I booked the tickets a while ago as I planned to go with some friends who went with me to the San Cisco performance around the same time last year. I saved the album to my Spotify and I couldn't stop playing it. So you could say I really liked the album as it stood. But as soon as I heard it live, along with many of my favourite Ball Park Music songs from previous albums, it turned to true love. (excuse my clicheness (it's a word)).

The thing I loved most about Ball Park Music's performance was the fact that they really put on a show, they entertained and I think that's the thing that has started to lack from performances lately. Artists tend to just play their songs exactly as they are on their albums, without changing a thing and with as little interaction as possible. But both Ball Park Music, Papa vs Pretty and Holy Holy (the support acts), really talked to the people who had paid to see them. Ball Park Music, especially, changed their songs up a little with longer guitar/drum solos and I remember during one of their songs (I can't remember which one) they had a massive break in which Sam changed into a leopard print dressing gown, leaving the audience in suspense, before they went on to completing the song.

Anyway onto the actual album. Ball Park Music are a band from Brisbane, Australia made up of frontman Sam Cromack (guitar/vocals), Jennifer Boyce (bass/backing vocals), Paul Furness (keys/trombone), and twins Dean Hanson (guitar/backing vocals) and Daniel Hanson (drums/backing vocals). They released they're first EP back in the April of 2009 which was titled Rolling on the Floor, Laughing Ourselves to Sleep. They have released three full albums in total which include; Happiness and Surrounding Suburbs, Museum and now Puddinghead. Puddinghead managed to reach number 2 on the Australian iTunes Chart, which is a massive achievement for the band. The most popular songs on the record was the leading single She Only Loves Me When I'm There, as well as Trippin' the Light Fantastic and Everything is Shit Except My Friendship With You. 

She Only Loves Me When I'm There:
This was the first song that really caught my attention and separated itself from the others. It starts off slowly with merely a synth accompanying Cromack's amazing voice. Then it breaks out into a strong drum beat and a fab electric guitar riff. The song continues to build before exploding into the lyric the song is titled after, 'SHE ONLY LOVES ME WHEN I'M THERE'. The song concludes by bringing you right back to where you started, slow, with a synth and ending on a high note (literally: ba doom tsh).

Trippin' the Light Fantastic:
Again this song starts off slow with a synth accompanying the fast-paced and well written lyrics. This proceeds into a voice-altered/electro-feeling 'trippin' the lights fantastic' to act as a hook-line and to assist with the transition from verse to chorus. This song is very energetic and I love the mix of the horns and electric guitars. A high-light on the album and amazing live.

Everything is Shit Except My Friendship With You: 
This track begins with a really lovely and easy-listening guitar riff which is carried throughout the first  verse. After the short verse there are a few bars which consist solely of drums and electric guitars which really helps to bring the energy levels up in the song and assists in preparing you for the chorus. The chorus itself is incredibly fun with a simple harmony just to bring something extra.

I give Puddinghead a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

*You can purchase this album from iTunes, and you can check out Ball Park Music's website at: http://www.ballparkmusic.com/home

Album Review: Caress Your Soul

Yes, I know I am undeniably late to hop on this bandwagon (get it?! BANDwagon hahaha), a whole 11 months late in fact but I have only recently discovered this master piece of an album from the Sydney based 5-piece band, 'Sticky Fingers. This album (which is their first, may I add) has been on replay for about two weeks now and is still just as amazing as when I first heard it.  This easy-listening album was released in March back in 2013, and their single, 'Caress Your Soul' placed at number 61 in Triple J's Hottest 100 of that very year, which is a fair effort for a debut album.*

Each song melts into the next, beginning with 'How to Fly', in which psychedelic influences are evident and a reggae rhythm keeps it moving. 'Caress Your Soul' contains 11 well-executed songs which, on average, last about 3 minutes. My favourites from this album include 'Australia Street', 'These Girls' and  of course 'Caress Your Soul'.

Australia Street:
This was the first tune that caught my attention and even the first listen had me dancing along to it's addictive beat. The intro, although kinda cheesy leads into a really rad song with a sway-worthy chorus. This song flows really well and the transition from verse to chorus is very smooth and natural. All in all a fantastic song. 

These Girls:
This song is much more relaxed and 'chilled' (I feel much too lame to use that word), again their are very psychedelic influences and a stripped back rock vibe. The vocals are on point and the repetitiveness of the song proves to be hard to forget. 

Caress Your Soul:
I had actually heard this song a while back on Triple J without realising it. Like all the other tracks, it moves really well and I absolutely love the piano in the intro as it sets the song up perfectly and proves to be a great foundation for the rest of the track. 

I give 'Caress Your Soul' a well-deserved 4 out of 5 stars and I look forward to what's to come next from Sticky Fingers. 

*You can purchase this album from iTunes, and you can check out Sticky Finger's website at: http://www.stickyfingerstheband.com