Felt
Felt 4 U
Rhymesayers (2020)
I’ll admit I haven’t listened to much Atmosphere in recent years. But what I’ve heard of the new stuff, it’s more introspective and chill, as if Slug is content to ride in the passenger seat and look out the window instead of driving the car. It has a little less punch -– which is totally fine -– it’s his art to do as he pleases. But on Felt 4 U that’s not the case at all. Working with the other half of Atmosphere, Ant on production, and sharing the emcee spotlight with Murs, there’s a lot of swagger, pride and drive. This record’s got punch. When Murs kicks off opener “Never’s Enough,” the record feels like a breath of fresh air. When Slug jumps in at the 1:45 mark, he feels invigorated with new life. The record straddles many tones, from bangers like “Alexander F’Real” with big pounding beats and subtly uplifting bells (classic Ant) or it’s follow-up “Hologram,” or smooth, slow jam R&B like the soothing bass flow of “Through the Night” or the soft and sleek “Underwater” (which is a bit graphic, for lack of a better descriptor). Between Murs and Slug, it reminisces of gang culture, pop … Read more
Andrew Paley
Scattered Light
Highwires (2020)
"The world's on fire and I don't feel a thing at all." Sung with a breezy nonchalance, Andrew Paley's prescient … Read more
Alien Nosejob
Once Again The Present Becomes The Past
Iron Lung (2020)
Alien Nosejob is a one-person project by Jake Robertson. On Suddenly Everything Is Twice As Loud, released in January, it … Read more
Pity Party
Concrete
Independent (2020)
Hello 1990s. Pity Party, from Oakland, play fuzzed out drudgy punk. While most press I read about calls the band … Read more
