April Weekend Flicks – What I’ve Watched Lately

We can all agree its a great time to sit around and watch a film or two. With all this extra indoor time on our hands. I was planning on hiking, but we got another 8in. of snow Thursday night in Maine – so, more movies for me. Here’s what I had watched in the past couple weeks:

  1. The Gentleman – Guy Ritchie (2019): I am a huge fan of Guy Ritchie’s work, particularly Snatch, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, and Sherlock Holmes (all top 20s for me). So, naturally when I see another new film by him, I jump on the opportunity – and I finally got around to seething this. I was very pleasantly surprised by this one. In brief summary, it follows the attempts of one man, Mickey, attempting to sell his business. Mickey is an American expatriate who became rich by building a highly profitable marijuana empire in London. When word gets out that he’s looking to cash out of the business, it soon triggers an array of plots and schemes to undermine his sale. It’s different from many of his previous works, in that the plot focuses on only a few characters at a time, but it still has those wonderful elements that make a GR film great: fantastic music, quick cuts, clever transitions, outstanding dialogue, all wrapped up in an engaging and fast-paced story led by the one-and-only Matt McConaughey. Matt leads a great cast here and is as cutthroat, believable and authentic as ever in his role as the classy drug “connoisseur” – he is always such a showman and I eat it right up. Packed with an excellent supporting performances with Collin Farrel and Charlie Hunnam leading the way, this fast-paced film keeps you interested, laughing, and generally intrigued the whole way through without being at all overbearing. Its a fun, easy-viewing experience and worth your time. Certainly one of the most unique and fun directors out there. 9/10
  2. Grave Encounters – Colin Minahan (2011): This Canadian film was brought to my attention last week when browsing r/moviesuggestions. With a budget of 120,000 – this is not a blockbuster, and really flew very under the radar in terms of a found-footage film which was very popular around the time of its release. I was actually very engaged the entire film and I think they did a fantastic job with the cast and setting. Best horror movie setting imaginable: an abandoned insane asylum. They chose well from a setting and atmosphere perspective, because inherently Asylums are frightening (Session 9, etc.), even without the need to dress anything up. But the film does an excellent job capturing the stress, fear, uncertainty and genuine horror the crew is feeling as their planned ghost-hunting excursion goes horribly wrong. The environment is dark, frightening, and authentic. Lead characters are nobodies – but everyone, particularly the lead, does an excellent job expressing emotion and showcasing genuine fear. This is a very important element in horror films for me. The panning of the camera to shots of dark rooms, long hallways, and creepy tunnels was impressively frightening even as it continued happening again and again. All-in-all, this is a fantastic piece of found-footage horror that deserves more recognition. 8.5/10
  3. JoJo Rabbit – Taika Waititi (2019): I had been meaning to get along to seeing this for awhile, and I finally sat down and gave it a go last week. This is as “dark comedy” as it gets. The film follows the path of a young German boy, JoJo, who is determined to be a successful Hitler Youth in 1945 Germany on the tail end of the conflict. JoJo’s imaginary friend, Adolph Hitler, provides hilarious insight and commentary along the way. Supporting cast members Scarlet Johanssen, Rebel Wilson Sam Rockwell and Thomasin McKensie give very solid performances. Sam Rockwell in particular is my favorite character – the drunken, disgraced German general who now spends his time humoring and training Hitler Youths. The movie had me laughing all the way, but also I found myself feeling a deep sense of sadness and empathy at many points (not for Nazis – you sort of have to watch for yourself to see what I mean). It captured a great range of emotions, social issues all the while providing a great parody of Nazism and the horrible ways it treated both Germans and Jews alike. This is a unique, fun film that is worth a view for its creative outlook on life, love and death alone. 8/10
  4. Snowpiercer – Bong Joon Ho (2013): This is a great film, and very unique. The plot is entirely based in a post-apocalyptic world where an eternal winter has forced some of the last remaining members of the human race to inhabit a futuristic train that is constantly moving (called the “Snowpiercer”). The train is complete with low,middle, and upper-class residents who all experience varying levels of comfort. Chris Evans’ character, who leads the low-class, back-of-the-train residents in a revolt, is excellent here. He is gritty, determined and actually believable despite the particularly far-fetched plot. But that plot is very creative and fun, and a unique take on class-struggles and how the poor are subjugated at the hands of the rich. I was many times reminded of 1984 and Brave New World, train version while seeing this movie. It brought up some interesting symbolism and societal questions while exploring what a class-based community looks like when confined to a train. In a nutshell: class struggles persist. Very cool and worth seeing; a solid action flick. 8.5/10
  5. The Banshee Chapter – Blair Erickson (2013): This sci-fi horror is based around a secret government DMT-injection project that unleashes horrors on its users. The first half of this film built and excellent atmosphere and plot, but I think it fell off a bit in the secondd half. The repeated high pitched screams with each jump scare got old fast. I was however pleasantly surprised with performances from Kaita Winter and Ted Levine. Despite some flaws, this movie had me laughing a handful of times, and definitely had an overarching darkness that had me freaked out repeatedly. Not bad, but not great either. 6/10
  6. Uncut Gems – Benny Safdie (2019): Another movie from 2019 I needed to get around to watching. This was a decent film, but far too anxiety-inducing for me. The story follows a seasoned jewel salesman, Adam Sandler’s character, who is a gambling addict and generally bold person with a hilarious Brooklyn accent. His trials and tribulations are documented as he navigates the shady jewel-market underworld and tries to win out on his bets. I thought Adam’s performance was great, actually. But supporting cast members were weak at best, and it was a very, very intense film that really didn’t give you enough release. This isn’t always a bad thing (think, Midsommar) – but the plot was much too weak here to make it exciting. I didn’t feel the excitement and intrigue, just the suspense and anxiety that lingered through the whole movie. Not an enjoyable watch for me, but an interesting film nonetheless. 5/10

Seen anything good lately? Send me some suggestions – they are always much appreciated. Take care.

New Music Friday (April 10th): Goose, Gorillaz and Anderson Paak

Hello my people. I’d imagine your week went as strange as mine given our current situation under quarantine. Thank god we still have good jams out there to keep us occupied and feeling good. To be honest, been completely slammed with work to the point where I had to delay this a day, but it’s Saturday (praise Jebus) and now I can actually dig in. Here’s a few I’ve been particularly enjoying this week:

1. NEW Alive and Well – Goose (2020) – What an incredibly pleasant surprise this was this week. New Goose Live album? Sure. These guys were introduced to me in late 2019 – a fresh face on the jam band scene, they incorporate a lot of elements of Lotus with upbeat drum tempos, fast-paced and intricate jamming, but they also have plenty of frequent Phish and Moe influences, most particularly in their slower and med-tempo pieces. On top of that, you can hear reggae, blues, jazz and funk influences at every turn. I love their funk sound, reliance on keyboard and drums with is an excellent complement to the vocals and guitar playing – they can capture such a great range of styles in very high quality. Essentially, they sound like they’ve been around and playing together much longer than they actually have been. Check out Arcadia, Tumble, Lead the Way, Hot Tea – and their older work. 9/10

Some pretty hot fire content right here from the young Goose.

2. NEW Song Machine Episode 2 – Gorillaz (2020) – If quarantine means some old artists coming out of the wood work, I’m all for it. The UK-based Gorillaz were on top of their game in the late 2000s and early 2010s, and I was never a massive fan but always loved their unique sound and cartoon likenesses. They’re different, which sometimes is enough. But they also have music chops, too – and were right there at the start of the electronic-music revolution, although they are not by any means completely “electronic” (also a mix of alternative and art-pop). Hits like Dirty Harry and Feel Good Inc. will live forever. While these aren’t necessarily in the same echelon, definitely worth a listen and I’m happy they are still influencing the music scene even in a small way. 7/10

3. NEW No Way, Get Real – Deadmaus + BSOD (2020) – New EP from Mr. Maus and Steve Dudas new project, pretty cool stuff. Steve Duda is the founder of XFer which is a software/instrument/effect plugin company – very interesting and cool dude if you are interested in learning more. I love this EP because you can tell these guys are just experimenting and enjoying the music-making process which each track. Not that it’s particularly groundbreaking stuff, but its certainly different and fun, and I think it speaks to Deadmau5’s continuing determination to push the genre further even as the years go on, which is more than admirable. Lots of high-tuned synths, Deadmau5’s familiar 808 kicks and a little something new with Duda’s influence makes this a collaboration I will be paying attention to moving forward. Afterburner and Fives are my favorites. 8/10

4. Ventura – Anderson Paak (2019) – I am a massive Paak fan. My buddy Elijah and I saw him live to close out the Montreal Jazz Festival with the Free Nationals back in 2014(?) before he had blown up, and we were completely floored by his talent. The guy is not only an excellent drummer, but a superb vocalist. He combines elements of hip-hop, jazz, funk and soul so seamlessly that he can create a perfectly unique sound that is truly “his”. While his earlier work is more hip-hop based, everything that has come since has been more upbeat and soul-funk focused. In Ventura, he brings together artists like Andre 3000, Lalah Hathaway and Nate Dogg – who I’d have to imagine are some of the artists lining out the door wanting to work with this guy right now – which are all excellent. Not only is he a good artist but hes a great dude as well. Super charitable and generous, and incredibly funny and fun. I follow him on Insta and am constantly checking his stories where he often teases new music. Hes happy, fun and dude has the best smile anywhere. If you’re looking for a mood boost, Anderson Paak is your mans. I’m expecting MASSIVE things from this guy later this year. Stay tuned. 9.5/10

5. nagutok – Flughand (2019) – I’ve found a lot of my favorite things to listen to during quarantine are mellow, down-tempo, trip-hop + hip-hop instrumentals. They’re relaxing, calming and still vibey enough to keep you interested. While there is certainly a ton of it out there, I’ve been enjoying Flughand lately, particularly his 2019 release here. His new (2020) track Geta is also great. His music puts you at ease and has a very reflective quality to it. Also check out mt. fujitive, Saib, Toshiki Hiyatashi, Feverkin, Mr. Carmack, etc. for a similar vibe. 8/10

6. Black Sands – Bonobo (2010) – Continuing with my theme of relaxing instrumental content, I have been enjoying (as always) my Bonobo this week. This was the album that got me into Bonobo who remains today one of my absolute favorite, and most listened-to artists. Bonobo is a UK-based songwriter who incorporates worldly beats, jazz, instrumentals and electronic sounds into artfully crafted masterpieces on a regular basis. He has this amazing ability to make great works from start to finish, but each song is very much its own adventure and element that can be enjoyed individually. You can tell the precision and care that goes into his work – just look at his live shows to get an idea for what I mean. This album will make you happy, excited, motivated, pensive and relaxed all at the same time. It’s best listeded to straight through: Prelude into Kiara is all time, Kong, Eyesdown, Stay the Same and Black Sands. A little something for everyone! Take a look at some of his other technically brilliant work (can you tell I like this dude): Dial (M) for Monkey, Migration, Days To Come. 10/10

Stay safe out there humans. Peace and love!

RIP – John Prine:

Our Favorite Movie Soundtracks – Making top 10s can be hard

There is really nothing better than when a director’s music selection fits perfectly with the content on the screen. Music has a way of making normal scenes seem surreal, turning characters into rockstars, and turning simple moments into unforgettable ones. That is because music helps us associate emotion and mood with a particular scene – it resonates with the viewer in ways video itself cannot. A good soundtrack compliments a movie, but never takes over. Sound is a crucial element of so many great films, and the best (in my opinion, of course) have used soundtracks to create completely new worlds onscreen.

I think we can all look to films like Dazed and Confused and recall the banging 80’s rock that carried the students through their odyssey of partying on that fateful end-of-school night. The music is an essential element of the film – it drives the characters and helps carry scenes that otherwise would have lacked tension, excitement, mood and intensity. This is a prime example of what a good soundtrack provides for a film – a step up from goodness to greatness. We can see this also in Lost in Translation, where the music is soft-spoken and mellow, and it creates the most perfect atmosphere for an already very chill and almost relaxing movie. I’ll always associate the film with a feeling of melancholy that the OST helped create.

I’d like to provide some of my favorite movie soundtracks here – for discussion sake or just because I wanted to explore some of my favorites a little deeper. Here are Kurt and my lists:

Kinkead’s Picks

Kurt’s Picks

  1. Inception
  2. Dazed and Confused
  3. Star Wars
  4. Lord of the Rings
  5. Pulp Fiction
  6. Trainspotting
  7. Lost in Translation
  8. Almost Famous
  9. Batman Films
  10. Harry Potter films
  11. Sherlock Holmes
  12. Tron: Legacy
  1. Interstellar
  2. Tron: Legacy
  3. Baby Driver
  4. Reservoir Dogs
  5. Kill Bill Vol. 1

When I think of movies like LOTR, Star Wars, and Harry Potter, I can’t help but start hearing the soundtracks in my head. They are as memorable as the films themselves because the music is ingrained into everything these films are. In particular, being sequels, these films know how to put together a a consistent and mood-driven sound that can be carried from movie to movie to maintain the same mood and atmosphere the director is trying to create. Lord of the Rings is an epic on the largest of scales, and its impeccable score captures the raw emotion of Frodo and Sam, the battle scenes, and the more peaceful moments to both build intensity and create the land of Middle Earth for the viewer. The Duel of the Fates in the Phantom Menace is as iconic as anything in film – and was a huge part of my childhood.

In my opinion, Hans Zimmer is the greatest living creator of scores for films. Pirates of the Carribean, Insterstellar, Lion King, Gladiator – name a big movie since the 1980’s and Hans has probably been involved. He makes music you can listen to by itself. One of his works is Inception, which has one of my all-time favorite scores because it perfectly captures the continual intensity of the action in the film. It creates excitement, and epic feelings of success at the end of the film. IMO – the best song to close a film ever.

Trainspotting, Pulp Fiction, and Almost Famous have an incredible setlist of songs that add volumes to the films, and sometimes the choice to use pre-made songs rather than an original score is absolutely the right move depending on the mood that is desired. Non-original songs build an amazing connection with the movie. Tron is a mix – Daft Punk wrote the OST, but their songs stand by themselves and are fantastic in their own right.

There are hundreds of great soundtracks out there, far too many to list. But those are the best of the best for me.

New Music Friday (April 3rd): Mapache, Real Estate and Allmans

I wasn’t intending to make this on a Friday, but now that it has a title it will be a recurring thing! This will be an opportunity to point out some new albums that have come out in the past few weeks and dive into some things I have been listening to recently.

1. NEW Mapache – From Liberty Street

I’ve written about these guys before, but this album is a collection of some of their recently released singles mixed in with some new stuff. I was instantly hooked on these two when my friends showed me them a few months back, and I was able to see them live in 2019. I love their harmonies, and the dueling guitars are just phenomenal when played over each other with these syncopated rhythms. They have a southern-california vibe (and origin) and they channel the Spanish culture in many ways in their music (sometimes very Paco De Lucia-like in their strumming). They have a very relaxed vibe, but they can play the acoustic extremely well (solos are great) and their vocals are spot on. These are genuinely talented, original artists who deserve tons of recognition, but they haven’t gotten it yet. Give it a go, you wont be disappointed. 9.5/10

2. NEW Real Estate – The Real Thing

Real Estate has this particular sound that keeps me coming back when I’m in the right mindset/mood. Something along the lines of the tone on their guitar, and the almost dream-like quality of their music, complete with solid vocals and fun melodies. This new album is not necessarily my favorite, but its more of the same great content (IMO) that RE is known for. Was going to see them this month but now that is looking grim 😦 Definitely check these guys out if you are looking for a mellow but upbeat beach vibe with a touch of eclecticness, this is for you. 8/10

3. NEW Phish – Sigma Oasis

Wowza, a new Phish album. These are always fun to unpack – as we know, their studio stuff is usually very overshadowed by their live work. Phish has really been at the top of their game as a of late, beginning around the time of the Baker’s Dozen up until their most recent show (before Corona kicked in). Something that is very impressive for a band their age. Along the way, Phish continues to release content for their adoring fan-base (myself included), and this is no different. They had actually intended to release the album later in the year, but they said the timing “felt right” to surprise fans with given the current circumstances. Very cool. Everything’s Right, Mercury, Steam and Thread are excellent, and will be staples of live performances moving forward (whenever they return). The songs have a newness to them, which reminds me of TAB in many ways (you can definitely hear the influences of all of their other live work), but they also continuously go back to the funk-jamrock that made Phish Phish. Its fun, upbeat, funky and even dark at some times (which in their case is a great thing). They have actually been playing a lot of these tracks live over the course of the past few years, but this makes them a bit more tangible. A Phish studio album is really like looking through a strange box of nick-knacks above the garage, some of the things you find are fun and interesting, others are just plain weird. This has more of the fun and interesting than many other of their albums as of late. Songs are long and incorporate the jammy elements that make modern Phish so fun to listen to. Even if you aren’t a Phish fan, this is a bit more approachable than other albums. Give it a listen. 9/10

4. Allman Brothers – Live from A&R Studios (1971)

I am a huge Allman Bros fan, this much is true. I am always on the hunt for early 70s (Duane period) recordings, and I stumbled into this live album the other day from A&R studios. What a gem this is – such raw, powerful sound in what appears to be a small-sided studio in front of an audience. Perfect sound quality, amazing solos, Gregg sounds as good as ever, and the band is clicking perfectly. Don’t Keep Me Wondering, In Memory of Elizabeth Reed and Stormy Monday are highlights. One reviewer called it “the magnificence of the Allman Brothers Band in one of its finest hours of its finest year of 1971.” If you love Duane live recordings, this is as good as it gets. 10/10

5. NEW Marcus King – El Dorado

Marcus King is an up-and-coming blues-rock guitarist with a touch of soul power. He plays a mean guitar and has the pipes to belt out virtually any kind of music, from the slow somber stuff to power ballads. El Dorado is his fourth album, and its one of the best along with Carolina Confessions. Melty guitar licks and amazing vocals keep you going from song to song. He has a little something for everyone – slow, soul-driven ballads (usually incorporating solid back-up vocals) for the more faint of heart, and absolutely raucous jamming for the guitar enthusiasts. It’s a band, but Marcus is the star power. You wouldn’t know it by looking at him, but this man has talent coming out of his fingernails. I HIGHLY recommend this one – take a look at all his work before this guy blows up. 9/10

Reflecting on Our Current Situation

I wanted to comment briefly on COVID-19 and how it is affecting us. By this, I mean our new lifestyle: working remotely, living strictly at our own homes, and venturing into the outside world only every once in a great while. There is no doubt about it – it isn’t ideal. In fact, it honestly is terrible. I’m not going to sit here and lecture you about all of the positives you can take away from it, because really that would be downplaying the illness which has affected many of our friends and family, and will likely continue to do so for the foreseeable future. What I would like to do, however, is remind you of some strategies to deal with these challenges we are all facing.

I am used to seeing friends several times a week, so it is weird transitioning to a phone-only communication stream as I’m sure it is for many of you. But really, this isn’t too big of a deal. We have the technology to video chat with high quality service basically anywhere we are, and texting is the easiest thing ever. I can survive for a few months like this, although I definitely won’t enjoy it. I think we all recognize that it is 10x better to be psychically present with someone you want to connect with. So instead, we have to find other ways to get by, even if we feel much less social than our usual selves.

One way to cope with this situation is through sharing. Sharing can be anything – exchanging ideas, actual things, or knowledge to someone else without any expectation of something in return. It is a sign of generosity and a way to think beyond yourself. We don’t think about this in normal times because we share with our friends all day – anything from memes to news articles. But now, this is as important as ever.

I’d like to think about this in the context of music and film for a moment. While it might seem trivial, both can be a great reminder of the amazing stuff we have to enjoy, even when things don’t seem so great. I’m not trying to endorse a complete escape from the world around us, but a brief escape is exactly what movies and music can provide. And honestly, it’s probably exactly what we need right now. It’s a chance to change your mood, experience something different, or reflect on your life. Remind yourself of the good – make a playlist of your favorite songs, watch you favorite movies, and take a minute to yourself to enjoy them fully (I’m listening to some Stone Temple Pilots right now – which ironically is not for everyone). Self-care is essential right now. Then text your favorites to a friend. Let them experience the happiness you also get out of something. It’s a small way any of us can help make one another feel better.

Indulge me a philosophy segment. Marcus Aurelius in his Meditations said many great things, particularly on what it means to be a virtuous person. If you don’t know what this is or haven’t read it, it is a book the emperor of Rome, Marcus Aurelius, wrote for himself in reflecting on his life as a leader and lives of others. One of these great ideas was along the lines of how one shouldn’t complain about things we do not have control over. It is not worth debating or toiling over things in which we cannot effect or change by debate or discussion, or even action, he said. Stoic thought, of which Aurelius partook, poses several things, one of which is the unpredictability of nature is one of the only truths in this world. The other being that all we can really control in the face of nature its ourselves. We are in control of our own actions, and it is our moral responsibility to do so. We should think about this when we approach this COVID situation. It is both our moral duty to accept the nature of this situation and its unpredictability, even if we can’t fully understand it. It is our duty to be responsible as a society, or better said as individuals, in keeping others and ourselves safe during this time. Because it’s all not just about you, but your individual actions can help others live safer and better lives. I think this is important to remember.

This situation isn’t permanent, even though it might feel like it now. Remember the hundreds of years of human ingenuity that has survived Smallpox, Polio, the Black Plague, etc. and come out the other side alive and well. Furthermore, we are fortunate to live in a time that most of these diseases have been completely eradicated, to the point where it is a shock to see an outbreak like this happening in modern times. Our ancestors didn’t have that luxury. This is one of many things we take for granted.

Remember, we are all in this together. We live in a shared society, a shared world where our actions have an equal and opposite reaction (I suppose that’s physics in general). That means everything you do now and always will have an effect felt elsewhere. Maybe it is something small, but nonetheless it is an effect. While you might not think something is an issue, it could be a tremendous issue to another person. That’s not to say you shouldn’t do what you want and only worry about what others think. But in a time of crisis, like this, take a moment in your agony to think about how others are feeling right now. We may have it bad, but there are many out there who have it much, much worse. Compassion is key, and if anything comes out of this crisis, it is possible this is the most important for us as a global community.

So if you know someone who is anxious or sad, sometimes the best thing you can do is to send them a song, share a movie – something that made you feel a certain way (it doesn’t matter what). Just share, be kind and be generous. Give others a little bit of something you have or enjoy. Accept the uncertainty as fact, and care for yourself. It’s all we’ve got as we get through this.

BEST OF MARCH: TOP 5 ALBUMS/EPs OF THE MONTH

5.) FORCES EP – Montell 2099

Where my bass trap heads at? Montell2099’s new EP is a treat for you then. Drawing from the music legend RL Grime (who even has feature on the album with the song RUSYNTH), Montell2099 proves he’s a force to be reckoned with by showcasing his talent with some stellar production work. It’s hard to showcase wide variety over just an EP usually, but Montell2099 proves that with just 4 tracks and an intro, he can reveal his production hand and create an impressive catalog. Bouncing from uplifting, to intense, to happy vibes over the course of just five songs, the FORCES EP is a great collection for anyone into the new wave of the Trap scene. Expect these songs to be dropped at festivals all summer long.

4.) Treehouse at Yuma Place – Aspetuck

Aspetuck may be a new name in electronic music, but he’s been directly surrounded by it for many many years. The older brother of one of my favorite producers, Pierce Fulton, Aspetuck saw a hole in the tech scene and felt it was his responsibility to fill it. We’re glad he did because the product we’re left with is tech house euphoria. Treehouse at Yuma Place seems to be only the beginning for Aspetuck as he’s been continuously pushing out songs and projects since he started last year in 2019. Put this record on driving, working out, or if you’re just vibing out and get taken away in the precise and beautiful sounds Aspetuck has created for us. Can’t wait to see what the future brings.

3.) RIPPLS – Medasin

Chill, hauntingly beautiful, exciting. Just a few words to describe the incredible RIPPLS album from Medasin. The Dallas born producer dropped jaws with his incredible album Irene in 2018 and after fans begged and pleaded for more, has finally delivered RIPPLS. The soothing sounds of the album almost evoke a lullaby vibe that will certainly be mellowing you out while still making you happy you didn’t take your dancing shoes off. Medasin’s sound design is very unique and specific to him that combines chillwave, hip-hop. future bass, and electronica all into one. I guarantee this album won’t disappoint your chill cravings.

2.) Sixteen Oceans – Four Tet

“Legend” would be a great word to describe Four Tet. The British DJ/Producer already has 9 studio albums under his belt, so might as well add Sixteen Oceans to that list to make it an even 10. Appropriately, this album also gets a 10 for its signature Four Tet experimental, chill house vibes. Four Tet has an incredible way of creating unique textures around the classic house music beat that gives him a very mysterious yet familiar sound that’ll have you both dancing and contemplating your entire life. Standout tracks Teenage Birdsong & Baby are great places to start for the uninitiated with their catchy melodies and breathtaking production. Have a go at the whole album while you’re out for a drive or stuck at a desk at work. The journey he takes you on is truly an artistic masterpiece.

1.) Live From Joshua Tree – Rüfüs Du Sol

Spotify / Apple Music

Easily in my top 5 artists of all time, the Australian music group Rüfüs Du Sol blesses us with a live performance of their album Solace out in the middle of Joshua Tree National Park. Having seen them live on their Solace Tour, I was originally excited to be getting the live edits in high quality. What I was not prepared for was a full length YouTube performance of their crowdless concert at Joshua Tree. The video in its own right is an artistic masterpiece with light beams atop rock structures, spread over the distance of football fields as the sun sets over the California desert. But visuals are only half the story. Rüfüs Du Sol’s live performances are absolutely incredible for the fact that their live performances sound almost exactly the same as their recorded songs. That just boils down to pure raw talent. Vocalist Tyrone Lindvist has the most hauntingly beautiful voice that will make you immediately register any Rüfüs song. I highly encourage watching the live performance on YouTube if you have the time. Fans will be be in love. Casuals will immediately become fans.

BEST OF MARCH: TOP 5 TRACKS OF THE MONTH

When it comes to my music, I don’t mess around. I contribute a bit of minor OCD to my obsession of keeping my music neat and organized, whether that be by mood, genre, or release date. For over a year now, I have been compiling the best songs from each month into Spotify playlists. I do this for a few reasons: 1.) It allows me to revisit the period of my life when those songs were dropped to get nostalgic and feel how I was feeling at that point in time. 2.) Because I’m usually bored at work on Fridays and listening/organizing new songs helps pass the time. What has resulted is over a dozen of these monthly playlists and many more to come (so follow my Spotify).

TOP 5 SONGS of MARCH

5.) Amaru – Yotto

Spotify / Apple Music

The Finnish producer Yotto has been smashing the club scene with his complex deep house tracks. Amaru is another weapon he’s added to his impressive arsenal earlier this month. With that signature “four-to-the-floor” beat combined with his eerie, 90s warehouse rave synths, the track oozes with intensity while retaining its danceability. Yotto and artists similar to him (Ben Bohmer, Lane 8, etc.) create these massive dance tracks that make you think and feel before you dance. Get lost in a trance with this one.

4.) Yoko – Rome in Silver

Spotify / Apple Music

I was first introduced to Rome in Silver about 5 years ago. Oddly enough, this was the first song I heard from him and since then, I have been a religious follower ever since. Now you may be wondering, if this song came out 5 years ago, why is it in the March 2020 list?! Well to answer that simply, Rome in Silver has been receiving the recognition he deserves recently and the song that was uploaded as a SoundCloud track 5 years ago has gotten a signed re-release by San Holo’s label bitbird. So now we can all enjoy it on a multitude of streaming services. Yoko hits you with some incredible production that personally brings me back to those summer days as a kid where all your problems and worries of the past now seem so insignificant and even almost welcoming. If you couldn’t tell, I’m a sucker for some nostalgia. I’m a massive fan of Rome in Silver and on top of being an elite producer, he’s also a genuinely great person. Go check out his discography and hop on board the Rome in Silver train before this guy blows up!

3.) Bummed (feat. Alison Wonderland) – Chet Porter

Spotify / Apple Music

The LA based producer Chet Porter is a fun goofy dude whose ability to beautifully convey his serious and melancholic emotions into all his songs is unmatched in the music world. Bummed is an indie-electronic track using the uniquely gorgeous voice of Australian producer Alison Wonderland that helps uplift you when you’re, appropriately, “bummed”. After a hiatus for about a year, Chet Porter has bounced back in the tail end of 2019 returning to his roots of hitting you right in the feels. Bummed feels like a breath of fresh air in the electronic scene usually dominated by booming 808s and transient heavy hi-hats. The track also credits the up-and-comer sensation Quiet Bison whose influence you can hear around the 1:50 mark in the song (seriously check out Quiet Bison if you haven’t already. Dude is absolutely lethal in the producer world). This mellowed out yet still exciting track makes you want to drive cross country with the windows down on some spiritual quest to find yourself. Excited for Chet Porter’s return and what more we’ll see from him this year.

2.) The Difference (feat. Toro y Moi) – Flume

Spotify / Apple Music

The Australian music scene might be on top of the world right now, but the Sydney born producer Flume is no stranger to the spotlight. In fact, he’s no stranger to being on top of the world. Perhaps one of the most recognizable names in the electronic music scene (and one of my personal favorite artists), Flume teams up with Toro y Moi to create The Difference, a short but very sweet DnB influenced track with some indie-electronic vibes to get you prepped and ready for summer. Since Flume’s return to the scene just over a year ago with his critically acclaimed mixtape Hi This Is Flume, we’ve seen an incredible amount of experimentation from the producer separating him from the future bass scene he helped create all those years ago. And this is not a bad thing. The quality and complexity in his productions are unrivaled by any producer in the game and he’s proven time and again to be a trailblazer to new and exciting genres and styles. Even Apple has taken notice to the legend by using the track in their new Air Pods Pro commercial. The Difference is yet another track to add to his already impressive resume which will be replayed on my Spotify for a very long time.

1.) Something Comforting – Porter Robinson

Spotify / Apple Music

For those who know me, there’s three things that matter most to me in my life; Dogs, the Green Bay Packers, and Porter Robinson. This Top Songs list is certainly intended to be unbias (and I still hold that it is) but I can’t NOT put the electronic music pioneer GOD at the top of the list. A six year hiatus after releasing arguably one the greatest electronic music albums of all time, Worlds, the North Carolina native is back in 2020 announcing his second album titled Nurture after dealing with a heavy bout of imposter syndrome. Something Comforting is the second released single from the Nurture album, and is Robinson’s explanation of feeling fake and phony trying to chase the success of his first album. “Cause getting made you want more and hoping made you hurt more oh there must be something wrong with me” . Robinson uses the track to show that even when he was ruling the world, it didn’t bring him the happiness he believed it would. Dealing with writer’s block and feeling fake, he shelved the Porter Robinson project for a bit, even briefly considering retirement. Well we’re glad he didn’t and the silver lining that comes with this all is new music with genuine meaning and emotions to back it up. I am ecstatic for the new album and upcoming singles ready to be released. I assure you, this is not the last time I will be writing about Porter.

If you need more songs, check out the entire Best of March 2020 Playlist by yours truly at the top of the page.

My 3 Favorite Apocalypse and Post-Apocalyptic Films: Coronavirus Edition

Hello fellow Coronavirus survivors. Has there been a better time to talk about the end of the world? In my life, I doubt it. So, as I figure many of you are home-locked and likely couch-locked, this is a great opportunity to share some of the more well- done and wonderfully created doomsday scenarios that have been portrayed in film. I’m not trying to play into the fear, just trying to show everyone how benign our situation is comparative to these movies. Not that COVID-19 is not incredibly serious. It’s just not a zombie apocalypse – yet. Fortunately, I don’t think the human race will meet the same fates as the characters in these movies.

These in particular did an incredible job creating the apocalyptic-style atmosphere – one of depravity, hopelessness, darkness, cold, and intensity. I think atmosphere and environment are the most important elements in building a proper doomsday setting. And while there have been plenty of films that touched on world-altering phenomenon (I think of Independence Day and 2012) – these films are actually of incredibly high quality from a viewing and rating perspective, for their emphasis on character development, ability to create genuine excitement and fear, and plot designs which bring you into their worlds and do not let go until the ending credits. These are less popcorn movies and more movies you will want to pay attention to, and will continue coming back to years later. At least, I do! Here is my list:

28 Days & 28 Weeks Later: These are the epitome of quality zombie movies for me, and they genuinely gave me nightmares for months. The idea of Rage zombies running at you at full speed constantly is frightening. But not only this, the film captures the feeling of hopelessness and desolation of the UK perfectly during a zombie apocalypse. Cillian Murphy (Inception, Peaky Blinders) stars brilliantly here, as do the supporting cast members. A differentiator for this film is you actually care about these characters throughout the movie. At times, you genuinely get fearful that you are going to catch the Rage disease portrayed in the film, almost in an ethereal way that transcends the screen. The fear of the characters is shown as true, uncompromising fear – and I think that made me connect strongly to the movie. As in, the reactions of the characters are exactly what I would have done (probably) in their situations. No cheesey lines, absurd action scenes – just genuine fear and a fight for survival. It is gritty, intense, eye-opening and actually intelligent – a deep look into the dangers of man and the lengths people will go to when depraved. 28 Days = 9/10, 28 weeks = 8/10

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015): Without a doubt, one of the finest action films of the past decade. The plot focuses on Max, a wasteland drifter in a post nuclear-fallout world (very much Fallout:NV vibes here). It follows his exploits as he attempts to bring a group of maidens to safety while avoiding capture and certain death. The movie is filmed in such a fast-paced, energetic way that it is difficult to look away for even a moment. My friends and I are always glued to the film when it comes on. Tom Hardy’s character, Max, a man of few words, is a triumph of strength and perseverance. His counterpart, Furiosa (Charlize Theron) is a bad-ass protagonist who is equally as skilled and cunning. Even with very limited backstories, you are addicted to the plight of these characters and those around them. The villains are creepy and evil looking (looking at you, Papa Joe) and genuinely frightening at times. This is non stop action in a post-apocalyptic wasteland nightmare, and it is one of my favorite films of the 2010s. 10/10

Children of Men: A different take on the end of days – this film brilliantly focuses on a future with rampant infertility. The idea: women cannot give birth anymore, and newborns are incredibly rare. Society is collapsing as the population grows older and older, seemingly unable to procreate any longer. The sense of impending doom and devastation is palpable in this film, and the post-modern society it creates is one not drastically technologically different from our own, which hits home for me when I see it. It is a realistic look at how society reacts under intense pressure, particularly the mob mentality and ability for humans to both be incredibly resilient and incredibly evil. Clive Owen stars as the story’s protagonist, and is a fantastic casting in the setting of the UK. Through all this devastation, it grips you hard and makes you think – and ultimately leaves you with a strange sense of peace and hopefulness. Such a great range of emotions. Very underrated film – definitely check this one out. 9.25/10

Winter EDM Review: Deadmau5 and Madeon

While I have some extra time at home given the current situation with COVID-19, I find myself with some extra time to work on getting this blog started. A part of this is catching up on the recent shows I’ve seen and documenting them in some way. I’ve been wanting to recap the two of these shows for awhile now, as both were outstanding in their own ways. These were two artists’ shows I’ve been meaning to get to for quite some time – as both were actually two of my earliest idols in the EDM scene. In other words, it was really their music that formed my early love of the genre.

The first was Madeon in December. House of Blues, Boston – a cool Tuesday night outside Fenway. Madeon’s body of work is one I’ve been into for quite some time. In fact, it might have been my first introduction to EDM when my longtime friend and neighbor, Jesse, was fresh off a Camp Bisco survival story and was telling me all I needed to know about the EDM scene. He first showed me some of Madeon’s early stuff, “Pop Culture” and “Icarus” – and I was blown away by the fresh, funky-tech sound the young Frenchman had put together. What has happened since then is a full evolution into a EDM superstar: a technically skilled, imaginative and colorful DJ who appeals to longtime EDM heads and newcomers alike.

This show paid homage to both his older work and most recent album, Miracle. First off, the lighting and set design was fantastic – visuals were very reminiscent of Porter’s Worlds Tour I saw many years ago in the same venue, but they were still very unique and provided wonderful, vibrant backdrops to Madeon’s new age tech-funk (or whatever the hell you want to call it). He used a lot of animations that reminded me of Miyazaki, actually. His set up on stage was simple – he had one deck, two keyboards and some percussion, nothing too crazy. But the amount of sound he put together was phenominal.

Miracle really is a masterpiece, in my opinion. I will say, I tend to stray from the more pop-oriented EDM albums many evolving artists have been mass-producing as of late, but this is an exception. Madeon himself said this was his finest creation – the result of many, many years of work and dedication. And it shows. Each song is a wonderfully vibrant and fun joyride through Madeon’s world: clever melodies, use of heavy and light synth textures throughout, well-placed vocal chops (many of which were his own) (like in No Fear No More and Dream Dream Dream). It is a short album, but incredibly satisfying and I think it appeals to a lot of different tastes, whether you are new or familiar to the genre. Madeon has this amazing ability to capture beautify and almost joy in his pieces that make him stand out from most others, in that he really does create his own world with his music. When you are listening to Madeon, it really only sounds like Madeon. Although many have taken from his talents and learned his ways, he is always distinctly that funky Frenchman with the droning intensity of Imperium (this was a surprise cameo in the show) and the party-going fun of Cut the Kid.

He frequently addressed the crowd and expressed his continued thanks for their support, it was very satisfying actually. He was energetic, smiling and upbeat the whole show, and I think you could really tell he built everything just the way he wanted it. It was a man comfortable in his environment, which in most instances makes for a hell of a show. He incorporated some remixes, blends and chops into his Miracle album, transitioning back and forth between some of his more popular works and the new album seamlessly, as if it had all been built out of the same framework. He kept the energy impressively high in the HOB for a Tuesday, which sometimes is an issue with those midweek shows. My balcony view came me a direct line of site to the crowd, stage and visuals, and I loved every minute. His music makes me feel funky, fun, and calmed all at the same time – something I find incredibly appealing when listening to him play. Would definitely go again. Concert Score: 9/10

Deadmau5 (I’ll refer to him here as Joel) is a legend. Love him or hate him, Joel is an absolute superstar, and for very good reason. The man practically invented mainstream progressive house, or rather – was able to bring it into the limelight of EDM culture in a way that put him, at many times in his career, at the forefront of the electronic music scene. His trademark Mouse head he wears during shows is iconic, and his brand is this image. Joel is very much a brand, and I definitely buy into it. It;’s not for everyone, that is for sure, but it certainly hits me in the right way and I have been continuing to come back to his albums time and time again over the years. Again, he was one of the first artists I got into with Madeon when starting my EDM music exploration back in high school. So seeing him here was a real treat.

His “Cube” tour is named as such because he literally sat within a gigantic, rotating cube pointed on its edge directly towards the crowd. The cube was covered with LED screens which coordinated to the music, and he had 10 or so large screens behind him on the stage as well. The visuals were outstanding and kept me moving – plenty of strobes, color, lazers and not any smoke. I hate smoke, honestly. It’s so corny.

One thing I love about Joel is his authenticity. The guy has been called a major dick, and he honestly can be sometimes. Guy has an ego larger than his Mouse head. But honestly, it’s deserved. He crushes everything he touches in the electronic world and otherwise. I think, like Madeon, I love him so much because he creates this incredible atmosphere with his music. Many artists have a great sound, but Joel has a great feel to it as well. His ability to create an emotional connection to his music, even with simple chord progressions and drawn-out buildups over the course of many minutes, he has the ability to make each song seem like a journey in itself. Almost like each tune transports you to some far away world in which you are suddenly the star of the movie, because these tracks create a whole plot in your head when you listen to them. His work is never too complex, but like an Italian mother’s cooking, Deadmau5 takes high quality ingredients, hand selected with upmost precision, and makes something beautifully simple yet wonderful with it. Every sample he chooses is incredible deliberate, and he enhances each note to the point where it couldn;’t have been produced any better – everything just works so well together in his songs. It’s like an Abelton orchestra, and he’s the conductor. He creates an incredible amount of intensity and tension with his music that hooks you like a good thriller – making you wait with bated breath for each oncoming progression, chord change and chorus. He’s not complicating things, and he honestly hasn’t changed his formula much since 2009, but it works. It works really damn well.

Take Strobe, for example, a classic of his (and maybe the best part of the show). This is a very etherial song, in that it uses long chord progressions and buildup to generate tension and a feeling of emotion that somehow touches your heartstrings in more ways than one. Two-thirds of the way through the song the synths come in and it really takes the whole thing home for me. It’s honestly an iconic piece of music. Or maybe a more recent piece, Saved, which is 8 minutes of what I would describe as calming adrenaline. While Ghosts n’ Stuff is one of his more famous pieces, he is also known for sure classics as Faxing Berlin, Raise Your Weapon, Some Chords, Sofi Needs a Ladder, and Avararita. I Remember and Beneath with Me are two pieces he did with Kaskade that are truly exceptional and emotionally charged, make sure to check them both out when you can. If you like Deadmau5 but can be turned off by his darker tones at times, Kaskade is much more mellow and vibey, in my opinion. Not better, just different.

The show itself was packed, and on a Friday no less (what could be better). The atmosphere was electric, Joel was jiving and pumping out new and old tracks, appealing to the young and old of the crowd – although you could tell the crowd was full of a bit older, more experienced EDM heads who have likely been following him for quite some time (that just seemed to be the vibe I got, still youthful, just slightly older than your average EDM show). Visuals were wild, he had me dancing the whole time, and everyone was happy. The man can move a crowd and get people INTO IT, and it really impressed me. When you’re in that environment, you are committed. And you want to commit, because other wise you’re missing something special. Deadmau5 creates special music. It’s simplicity paired with intricacy and deliberation, and it works. Concert Review: 8.5/10

Concert Review: Circles Around the Sun

I had the pleasure of attending a Circles show at the Sinclair in Cambridge, MA on Monday. I was definitely looking forward to this as I’ve been a big fan of their studio work and many of their songs have found their way onto my playlists. Started originally by the fantastic guitarist Neal Casal, who originally started the project during the Dead’s Fare Thee Well tour in 2015, actually spawned his project into a full-blown album producing and touring band. Casal passed away in 2019, and now the band is comprised of three core band members, Adam MacDougall, Mark Levy, and Dan Horne.

They have that sort of groovy, jazzy funk sound that brings in layers of Phish, the Dead, and Umphree’s McGee all at the same time. It was very fun to see this combination play out live in such an intimate venue. Thick, pounding bass lines carry most of their songs and get the whole crowd moving in unison, while subtle but prominent drumming keeps the jams afloat. I was really impressed by the keyboardist who was featured for solos on nearly every song, and utilized a synthesizer and multiple toned pianos in most jams. His sound was audible even when the rest of the band was in full cry, and the large majority of the time it was a welcome overtone to the jams.

They only played a handful of actual titled songs, but each song would carry on for 7-10 minutes at least, and they did a good job of quickly transitioning from one piece to the next so that one jam never felt dissociated from the show as a whole. They would occasionally get into spacey areas when the guitarist would hit his petals and add some reverb, the drums slowed and the bass lines lingered. At these times it definitely reminded me of Dead jams, particular with the Jerry-ish tone the guitarist was using – which I definitely think is part of their appeal. Thats when the keys would come in and sort of float you along through the jam. The lights were decent and added to the “jammy” vibe as I call it (you probably know what I mean), but nothing special on that side.

For $20 on a casual Monday, this was a lot of fun. Circles Around the Sun has some chops, and it showed with their ability to improvise and carry a steady, groovy, bass-heavy rhythm through their tunes without any vocals whatsoever. It was relaxing but funky, and definitely was reminiscent of some old jams I couldn’t exactly place. Gilbert’s Groove was a highlight. The Sinclair is an awesome, intimate venue that should be explored. Plus I think they have a nice bar attached to it. I really liked the setup on the balcony as well where we were situated (actually, directly centered facing the stage with no obstructions). Worth the price of admission, for sure. 8/10

Check em out:

I mean come on, this sounds exactly like Althea!