ÔÇ£The Far FieldÔÇØ, Future IslandÔÇÖs fifth studio album was released at the beginning of April. Every time a band I like announces an upcoming new album, I try not to get too excited: IÔÇÖd rather have low expectations and then be positively corrected than the other way around. With this perspective in mind I heard the album for the first time while I was still … Continue reading Musical Advent Calendar #23 Future Islands – The Far Field

Following JonwayneÔÇÖs first full length rap effort, ÔÇÿRap Album OneÔÇÖ, the producer-rapper-poet extraordinaireÔÇÖs future was somewhat ambiguous. Dropping from his label, cancelling tour dates and distancing himself from the scene completely all stemmed from the rapperÔÇÖs battle with alcoholism, worsened by the harshness of his new lifestyle and complemented further by a limiting fear of flying. Fast forward to February 2017, ÔÇ£Rap Album TwoÔÇØ, JonwayneÔÇÖs … Continue reading Musical Advent Calendar #22 Jonwayne – Rap Album Two

KasabianÔÇÖs sixth studio album, written in a short six weeks by the bandÔÇÖs iconic guitarist Sergio Pizzorno, comes after a three year album absence. ÔÇÿFor Crying Out LoudÔÇÖ is KasabianÔÇÖs fourth album to top the UK charts and it is the album which finally, and to the relief of many including myself, put an end to Ed SheeranÔÇÖs domination in the number one position with … Continue reading Musical Advent Calendar #21 Kasabian – For Crying Loud

RightÔǪ Awaken, My LoveÔǪ Where to start?… A general umbrella opinion of this quite musically controversial album is that itÔÇÖs great; the album envelopes so many genres and styles and uses so many techniques that you wouldnÔÇÖt expect an R&B artist to use. But itÔÇÖs very easy to argue that Childish Gambino isnÔÇÖt your bog-standard R&B artist. Donald Glover has released 4 projects under his … Continue reading Musical Advent Calendar #20 Childish Gambino – Awaken, My Love

Originally coming to prominence and critical acclaim in 2009 through their effortless yet, expertly crafted departure from dubstep, Dominic Maker and Kai Campos have surpassed their post-dubstep label into a genre interestingly challenging to define. Mount KimbieÔÇÖs third studio album Love What Survives was released in September by Warp Records, arriving alongside two new members of the groupÔÇÖs live performance, drummer Marc Pell and Andrea … Continue reading Musical Advent Calendar #19 Mount Kimbie – Love What Survives

Earlier this year when Kendrick Lamar dropped ‘The Heart Part IV’ (the 4th instalment of The Heart series), his ever growing loyal fan base and the world went into pandemonium. The Heart preluded Overly Dedicated (a brilliant EP, check it out) whilst The Heart Part 2 featured on the tape itself. In The Heart Part 3 – a pre-release single for KendrickÔÇÖs second album Good … Continue reading Musical Advent Calendar #18 Kendrick Lamar – DAMN.

Lust for Life, Lana Del ReyÔÇÖs 5th studio album was released after much anticipation from fans on July 21st this year. This album is a whopping 16 tracks long; thatÔÇÖs nearly 72 whole minutes of Lana-goodness. The album has been featured on┬áNME┬áand┬áRolling StoneÔÇÖs┬ábest albums of 2017 and has received much positive feedback from fans. The first track┬áÔÇÿLoveÔÇÖ┬áfeatures Del ReyÔÇÖs typical vintage pop sound over grand … Continue reading Musical Advent Calendar #17 Lana Del Rey – Lust For Life

Just like back in the nineties, the Britpop feud has somewhat taken over once again here in 2017, although this time the rivalry has taken place between Noel Gallagher and his mighty army of High Flying Birds, and newly solo brother Liam. For many avid Oasis fans, the latter tends to get far more credit; perhaps due to the sound being extremely similar to that … Continue reading Musical Advent Calendar #16 Noel Gallagher – Who Built The Moon?

At just 21 J Hus has firmly positioned himself as one of (if not the) most versatile rappers in the UK. ThereÔÇÖs no guessing which version of the Londoner youÔÇÖll hear as you work your way through his incredible debut album, Common Sense.┬áHus, real name Momodou Jallow, switches feverously from the grit and power of London slang to the infectious sounds of Jamaican dancehall and … Continue reading Musical Advent Calendar #15 J Hus – Common Sense

ItÔÇÖs without doubt that this has been a considerably accomplished year for the up and coming New Jersey native SZA. To mention the most, 2017 has been the year of the release of her debut album Ctrl,┬áwhich has thrived significantly within the current music scene. To add on to that, SZA has officially qualified as a platinum-selling artist for the highly acclaimed singles ÔÇ£Love GaloreÔÇØ … Continue reading Musical Advent Calendar #14 SZA – Ctrl

ÔÇ£Being larger than life in a smaller worldÔÇØ That was Vince Staples telling Complex in an interview about the meaning behind his latest album: Big Fish Theory. The long beach 24 year old has been a close friend of the group Odd Future, working with Earl Sweatshirt and touring this year with Tyler, the creator. His second studio album only 36 minutes long, under Def … Continue reading Musical Advent Calendar #13 Vince Staples – Big Fish Theory

As far as collaborations in the world of music go, which can range from the predictable to the unexpected to the downright zany, Courtney Barnett and Kurt VileÔÇÖs debut combined effort Lotta Sea Lice rests somewhere between the former two. Sonically, their previous solo releases are distinct from each other, but borrow from the same worlds; while VileÔÇÖs back catalogue is fixated on the languid … Continue reading Musical Advent Calendar #12 Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile – Lotta Sea Lice

A development from their 2015 album ÔÇÿMy Love is CoolÔÇÖ, Wolf Alice stick to their folksy- punk, hypnotic sound. The masters of juxtapositions, in this new album they use their mash-up of genres to their advantage to create this uniquely beautiful sound. The album artwork for ÔÇÿVisions of LifeÔÇÖ pictures a young, angelic girl dancing in a garden, looking as if she could be playing … Continue reading Musical Advent Calendar #11 Wolf Alice – Visions Of A Life

To capture both the elation and anxiety of an entire generation with a single album is no simple feat. Lorde, however, is no simple artist. After bursting onto the scene with her teenaged debut ÔÇÿPure HeroineÔÇÖ, she then proceeded to leave us hanging for what seemed like an unimaginable amount of time. Four years later, she has finally returned to us,and what a statement she … Continue reading Musical Advent Calendar #10 Lorde – Melodrama

Three years after his last album, ÔÇÿÔÇÖMultiplyÔÇÖÔÇÖ, Grammy winning artist Ed Sheeran is back with a bang with his much awaited third studio album Divide. The album consists of a collection of upbeat songs as well as ballads. The overall feel of the album is a very easy-going ÔÇô ÔÇÿÔÇÖman in loveÔÇÖÔÇÖ sort of vibe. Songs like ÔÇÿÔÇÖWhat do I know?ÔÇÖÔÇÖ talk about simple gifts … Continue reading Musical Advent Calendar #9 Ed Sheeran – Divide

I havenÔÇÖt always been a fan of Harry Styles, but ever since the launch of his solo career, this ÔÇ£Sweet CreatureÔÇØ has surely made me one. The Directioner fangirl culture has always been something I found cringe-worthy and irritating; young girls screaming and crying at a bunch of young men who had songs handed to them on a plate by producers. So, naturally, when I … Continue reading Musical Advent Calendar #8 Harry Styles – Self Titled