Never before has music been a bigger part of my life. Without the ability to socialize, I have been in my bedroom with nothing to do for far too long. Instead of bettering myself in any way or networking on LinkedIn, I have been consuming hours of music.
Quickly bored by my past go-to’s (Drake and Fleetwood Mac) I sought to derive the impossible: raising my dopamine and serotonin levels by trying out new music. These albums are currently aiding me in my quest.
Run The Jewels: Run The Jewels 3
Rap duo Run The Jewels’ third album Run The Jewels 3 is unapologetically political and catchy. Incredible beats and the political messaging of the album make listening to this a powerful experience. With lyrics addressing racial inequality, economic disparity and mass incarceration, the album is a very important part of the current zeitgeist. With its punchy attitude and addicting flow, Run The Jewels 3 is a stellar album and a great introduction to the band.
Key Tracks: “Stay Gold,” “Everybody Stay Calm”
100 gecs: 1000 gecs
1000 gecs by 100 gecs is an absolute genre-bending tour de force. Shattering conceptions of music, this album takes listeners from track to track with a smile — confused as to why the raging industrial bass works so well with velvety pop lyrics. This is what Mozart’s symphonies must have felt to the people of Vienna in 1781 — just sublime, cutting-edge art. This album is an excellent way to start your day — an album that will make you smile even if you woke up on the wrong side of the bed.
Key Tracks: “Stupid Horse,” “Hand Crushed by Mallet”
Vampire Weekend: Father of the Bride
Vampire Weekend’s album Father of the Bride is a summery, indie rock album that is the perfect soundtrack to listen to while I watch the sunset. The loose narrative of the album matches our current times with themes of political division, uncertainty, and existentialism. Thankfully, the album does have a cautiously optimistic outlook on this uncertainty. The production on this album is also incredibly lush and the lyrics poetic, making it an excellent album to unwind to.
Key Tracks: “How Long,” “This Life,” “Flower Moon”
Charli XCX: how i’m feeling now
how i’m feeling now by Charli XCX is an album born out of our COVID-19 reality. It features hyper-pop elements and lyrics detailing the in’s and out’s of love and loneliness during a pandemic. The album will hold up in 10 years as a cultural touchstone of how we felt in this time of isolation, as it sounds very claustrophobic and the repetition seems to match the isolating feeling of quarantine. This is my go-to album for late-night existentialism.
Key Tracks: “Claws,” “Pink Diamond”
Featured image provided by Run The Jewels, 100 gecs, Vampire Weekend and Charli XCX on Spotify.
