From G-funk through to 2012 emo rock greatness, we’ve got five albums from across the board to be getting amongst this week! Check out what our recommendations are for your playlist below…
G PERICO – All Blue (2017)
By Tobias Handke
Since dropping his debut mixtape Tha Innerprize in 2012, South Central rapper G Perico has been slowly building a following with his early 90s influenced hip-hop beats. After last year’s Shit Don’t Stop generated a significant buzz amongst the hip-hop community, Perico has kept the momentum rolling with his G-funk inspired major label debut All Blue.
Released through Priority Records (former home to N.W.A., Snoop Dogg, Ice-T and more) earlier this year, All Blue is a detailed 35-minute journey through Central Los Angeles and the trials and tribulations facing those caught in the crosshairs of life on the street. With only two features (Sonny Digital and Polyester) All Blue allows Perico to flex his lyrical muscles about a wide range of subject. From drugs (“Can’t Stop”) and grinding (“Right Now”) through to Trump (“Bacc Forth”) and a typical day in the hood (“Power”), Perico’s descriptive lyrics are backed by the hypnotic and menacing G-Funk productions, making All Blue one of the best West Coast-centric rap albums to drop in years.
SNAIL MAIL – Habit (2016)
By Freya Langley
Snail Mail is the dreamy, lo-fi bedroom-pop project from Baltimore singer/songwriter, Lindsey Jordan. The 2016, debut EP, Habit, combines thoughtful and emotional lyricism with twangy, lo-fi guitar tones. Jordan’s effortlessly melodic vocals meet with post-punky guitars and drums in a beautiful, organic six-track EP of heartfelt indie-folk songs. The opening track “Thinning” is a catchy tune, with contrasting sunny, hopeful instrumentals and lyrics dappled with hopelessness and boredom.
From the clumsy, jangly instrumental arrangement and slow, melancholic lyrics on “Habit” to the blissful drone of “Static Buzz”, the record is comparable to the likes of Girlpool, Chastity Belt and Waxahatchee – employing somewhat mundane lyrics and layers of fuzzy guitar to build a soaring chorus, jam-packed with feeling. The EP ebbs and flows through hopelessness and hopefulness to conclude with “Stick” – a five and a half minute, melancholic track. At the centre of Lindsey Jordan’s songwriting is her unique and insightful perspective – this, paired with her soothing vocals, make for a record to stare into space, fall apart and put yourself back together to.
SINCERELY, GRIZZLY – Halves (2014)
By Sosefina Fuamoli
The long awaited debut album from the Adelaide trio took the local scene by storm; the intricacies in the band’s work had been refined over countless shows during 2013 and 2014, with Halves being the culmination of many reworks, rediscovery and a refreshed appreciation for the music they were creating. The drama and crashing nature of tracks including “Catholic Guilt”, “Us; Or Optimism” and of course, the opus that is “Kafkaesque”, established Halves as one of the best local releases of 2014 and still stands up strong today. It revels in its complexities, refuses to wade through murky waters; instead, Sincerely, Grizzly crash through and leave a rippling effect long after any final guitar note fades.
THE STRESS OF LEISURE – Achievement (2015)
By Sally Browne
Brisbane’s the Stress of Leisure have a new album out soon so now is a fine time to remind you of this little gem. Imagine if Mark E. Smith of the Fall decided to leave the gloomy surrounds of Manchester and up and move to sunny Brisbane. We imagine he might be writing the same sort of tunes but with an extra spring in his step. The Stress of Leisure have a wonderful sense of irony and fun. The clue is in their name. They really get Brisbane. And by embracing its uncoolness, they make it a tiny bit cooler (if only literally).
The title of this record, Achievement, their fifth, is also beautifully loaded. The track “Aim High/Get High” neatly encapsulates the sentiment. Could it be an unofficial Aussie anthem? Other great tracks include “Girl on a Lilo”, “No Idea is the New Idea” and “Goodyear Blimp”. This is a clever and groovy album to add to your list. What is an achievement in modern-day Australia? Is it going to Bunnings and constructing the perfect reno? Or is it creating a beautiful record like this?
BASEMENT – Colourmeinkindness (2012)
By Margy Noble
For me, this will always be the best Basement album. There’s a certain emotional vulnerability throughout, an exploration of fragile self and relationships.
Yeah, it’s a bit emo, and yes, their other albums might be more loved by their fan base, but you can’t deny that this album is a glorious height in emo punk rock. Chorusing guitars reverberate behind iconic riffs, Andrew Fisher’s powerfully stirring voice serenading across the album. There’s a dynamic across the album too, straying from standard progressions with lulls, heavier breakdowns, and tension/release.
If you’re hesitant to delve into the realm of ’emo’, cast off your preconceptions and give this album a go. It’s the pinnacle for cathartic sing a longs.
———-
