Jeremy Zucker’s sixth EP is another step forward in his campaign to be the voice of college aged kids. Zucker finished his degree in molecular biology at Colorado College a few short months ago. On the record he addresses seeing his friends moving on and finding jobs while he spends his time alone, working on his art. He shared on twitter, “I wrote this song [comethru] about being bored n lonely in the summer, I hope u can’t relate.” Many of the lyrics on this EP revolve around the ideas of self-doubt and overthinking everything.

The production on the 18 minute project is simple, but well executed. Even on the track firefly, which has an electro-pop beat drop in the chorus, nothing is overdone. The young singer/producer seems to be taking inspiration from artists like Blackbear and Jon Bellion, while still carving out his own musical path.

Already having released a string of hits in his young career, I’m very excited to see what Jeremy Zucker has in store for us next.

 

 

Jon Bellion’s second studio album is a beautiful mix of pop and hip-hop. The production on the whole project is clean and allows the listener to be fully immersed in the digital world of Glory Sound Prep.

The American singer shows no limit to his repertoire. Upbeat hits like JT and The Internet are balanced by slower, more powerful songs such as Stupid Deep and Conversations with My Wife. The tracks Adult Swim and Let’s Begin (which features the Wu Tang Clan’s RZA) bring an element of hip-hop to the record. Bellion cannot be tied down to a single style of music.

The album’s eight minute finale is a bittersweet song about Jon’s grandmother losing her memory. In the song, he questions, “What’s the point in making memories, When you can’t even find ‘em when you’re 70?” To which his father responds that the memories will be “even better when we’re heavenly.” Despite addressing a sad topic, the end of the album is quite uplifting, featuring a long brass section and finally finishing with the digital production that the album started with.

My favourite songs on this album are Conversations with My Wife, followed by Stupid Deep and Adult Swim.

 

 

Ontario band Dizzy’s debut album, Baby Teeth, is a trip into the stars. Lead singer Katie Munshaw gives the band a very distinct sound – one reminiscent of adolescence. Munshaw sings, “I’m missing the way it was, We were wrapped up in a teenage buzz,” on the track In Time.

The band creates imagery for the listeners on a number of tracks including Swim, where they talk about “dancing outside in the purple dark.” This album truly makes me feel as though I’m floating through the night sky. The stand-out songs from this project are Bleachers, Joshua, and Pretty Thing.

Since the release of their album in August, they’ve recorded a live rendition of a number of songs. Below is the Communion + RAK session recording of Pretty Thing.

 

 

Earl Sweatshirt’s third album, Some Rap Songs, was quickly dropped after the release of the singles Nowhere2go and The Mint less than a month ago. The project is anything but conventional, and that is what makes it so attractive. Earl’s creativity shines on this album though a mess of 15 short songs, totalling 24 minutes.

All songs radiate the classic relaxed Sweatshirt tone. But don’t be fooled by the style because Earl speaks about his struggle with depression and anxiety, worsened by the loss of his father earlier this year. On Shattered Dreams the rapper asks “Why ain’t nobody tell me I was sinkin’?”

The standouts on this album are Ontheway!, Azucar, Nowhere2go and the bluesy closer, Riot!

 

 

Matty Healy and the 1975 released their third studio album, A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships, last week. In the 15-track hour-long record, the Manchester band manages to speak about politics, drug addiction, and love in the modern digital world.

This album cannot be tied down to one genre. Although it is still pop-rock at heart, the 1975 provide punk and jazz sounds on the songs Give Yourself a Try and Mine, respectively. There are even influences of hip-hop in the trap hi-hat on I Like America & America Likes Me.

My personal favourite songs on the album are Be My Mistake and Sincerity is Scary. In the stripped-down Be My Mistake, Healy contrasts a purely physical relationship to a deeper, emotional relationship. The slow tempo acoustic guitar makes the track quite moving. In juxtaposition, Sincerity is Scary is likely the most uplifting song on the album, mixing in a lead saxophone and a gospel choir.

I hope you enjoy this album as much as I do.