20-year-old singer-songwriter and poet Arlo Parks has been attracting critical attention in her home country of the UK for a couple years now, and she’s managed to bring that energy across the Atlantic just in time for her debut studio album. With a deeply soulful sound drawing influences from funk and jazz yet recorded in … Continue reading Arlo Parks – Collapsed In Sunbeams
Funk Reviews
Jacob Collier – Djesse Vol. 3
A musical prodigy and the disciple of both Quincy Jones and Herbie Hancock, multi-instrumentalist Jacob Collier has made a lasting impression on many musicians due to his unparalleled technical skill and understanding of music theory. The third installment in his Djesse series comes loaded with quite a few interesting guests, but not even they can … Continue reading Jacob Collier – Djesse Vol. 3
Thundercat – It Is What It Is
I’m glad that enough people have delayed their albums that I actually get to talk about someone like Thundercat on this blog – the jazz bass virtuoso is one of the most incredible musicians working right now on a technical level and has done more than his fair share of taking good albums and making … Continue reading Thundercat – It Is What It Is
Childish Gambino – 3.15.20
After a somewhat confusing rollout involving a mysterious website that could only have come from the mind of the eccentric and boundlessly creative Renaissance man that is Childish Gambino, the “single-track opus” 3.15.20 has finally arrived on streaming services and it’s just as weird as you might expect – though not always in the best of ways. … Continue reading Childish Gambino – 3.15.20
Rapid Fire Reviews (Anderson .Paak, 6ix9ine, Mariah Carey)
Anderson .Paak - Oxnard Anderson .Paak’s highly anticipated third studio album Oxnard, executive produced by Dr. Dre himself, sees the James Brown-esque rising funk star continue to exude charisma and mic presence like no other, even if his style is a little less immediately unique and personal. Dre spins the album more towards his own … Continue reading Rapid Fire Reviews (Anderson .Paak, 6ix9ine, Mariah Carey)
Blood Orange – Negro Swan
British producer and psychedelic pop/R&B artist Dev Hynes, better known by his alias Blood Orange, releases his fourth studio album which offers both his most accessible music yet and his most powerful message. Negro Swan is mostly inspired by tales of discrimination against Hynes, an LGBT black man, in his youth, as multiple spoken word … Continue reading Blood Orange – Negro Swan
Mac Miller – Swimming
After taking a complete stylistic left turn on his previous album The Divine Feminine, Mac Miller returns two years later with a similar jazz-rap and funk sound that sees him singing more and taking the style even further into neo-soul territory. Dedicated to then-girlfriend Ariana Grande, Miller’s sudden metamorphosis from the goofy frat-rap persona into … Continue reading Mac Miller – Swimming
The Internet – Hive Mind
R&B/funk collective The Internet, now on its 4th studio album after the disbanding of parent group Odd Future, unleashes the collection of subdued, effortlessly cool tracks Hive Mind. Their young producer Steve Lacy, already making hits with other big name artists like Kendrick Lamar, brings his multi-instrumentalist skill to the complex jazz-funk instrumentals here, while … Continue reading The Internet – Hive Mind
Rapid Fire Reviews (Eminem, N.E.R.D., Charli XCX)
We've finally reached the last review post of the year, which means it's time for Year-End Lists! My top 50 songs and top 25 albums of the year should be out before the new year, stay tuned. Eminem - Revival Best-selling hip-hop artist of all time Eminem returns after a 4-year break with his ninth … Continue reading Rapid Fire Reviews (Eminem, N.E.R.D., Charli XCX)
Calvin Harris – Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1
Versatile DJ and frequent hitmaker Calvin Harris’ 5th studio album is a reinvention of sorts. While he has frequently incorporated some aspects of funk and hip-hop into his music in the past, he has never attempted to make this much of a fully-focused and cohesive project. Harris abandons the formulaic dance drops here, instead turning … Continue reading Calvin Harris – Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1
Ben's Beat - Music Reviews 