2019 pt. 2

Better Oblivion Community Center - Better Oblivion Community Center

*******HIGHEST RECS*******

Stylistically sensible as a merger between Oberst and Bridgers may be, this debut doesn't really try to push it. A why-not try more than an astonishing bond, ten rather easy tunes in thirty-odd minutes, playing it safe vocally via stickin' to same-line superimpositions. But how reasonably and comfortably they rouse, mutual in their ache and anthemic aptitude and sharp lyrical stickiness. Consummate in the touching sparse and fuzz-outs and Digital Ash-esque electro, it reminds me that I'm a sucker for ballads and guy+girl vox; and how nice it is that that there bright-eyed old guy still stands seasoned and relevant -- some of best stuff he's been on in a while, no doubt. 8/10

DAWN - New Breed

Certainly more expressive-n-exciting than 2016's sloggy Redemption, but makes me yearn for the concise cohesion of her airtight Infrared EP. Stuffs so much into ten trax/just over a half-hour that it becomes a bit of a blur; such a brisk mix-bag it's tough to tell who she's trying to be: hard-nosed NOLA-born boundary buster, pop-crossover/club-hit hopeful, tribal signee, theatrical vocal soarer, artsy acapella applier, jealous Instagrammer, "the motherfucking king", Dawn Richard, DAWN, SZA. Does em all decently, though. 6.5/10

Malibu Ken - Malibu Ken

*******HIGHEST RECS*******

Sop's whirlwind wordplay and persistently static delivery are a combo bound to eventually go obnox, or at least become a big clever ball of mush you can't bother to chase. But they're HIS balls of mush, dammit. Gotta give it to him for accuracy and vocab, the ability to assemble assiduously then rap it intelligibly. Crucial tho is all the wit-n-weird wielded within, which Tobacco's warped minimal timbre and robot vox complement. Good at getting by on bemusement when it's kinda about nothin', better when there's a palpable point involved -- take the one where car fungus comes to symbolize his life, or the time a controversial eagle meal was caught on webcam. 7.5/10

Jay Mitta - Tatizo Pesa

*******HIGHEST RECS*******

///BRAV-FUCKING-O\\\

Doesn't reach Bamba Pana's immersive mind-fuck drilling or possess Katapila's playful squeaked/yelped charm, but I suspect when it comes to Singeli-on-steroids stuff maybe I'm simply a sucker. Constantly teetering on maddening but the cuckoo velocity and fun fused with force are always an appealing aesthetic -- painful repetition simultaneously bounces and stabs, funny meets assaultive, the irresistible mashup of primal/propulsive/polyrhythmic, the endless effulgent energy, vox nice when there but not necessary, blurring over-the-top and brilliant. Plus some cat meows never hurt. 7.5/10

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Croatian Amor - Isa 7/10

Default Genders - Main Pop Girl 2019 7/10

Lee Gamble - In a Paraventral Scale [EP] 5/10

Jessica Pratt - Quiet Signs 5.5/10

Soen - Lotus ~*~meh~*~

Two People - First Body 6.5/10