The Spins

I have found that we have entered a new era of mid underground rap. If you can remember the backpacking era of the 1990s and 2000s (Soundbombing, Rawkus Records, Home Field Advantage), some of those rappers spent entire albums talking about how dope they were. But if we were being fair about it, they weren’t dope. Juvenile was going harder. Jay-Z was slapping. UGK and Three 6 Mafia existed; Pimp C on a lazy track was going harder than Chali2Na in Jurassic 5. Also, never let us forget about this iconic moment.

We have returned to this moment again in the underground. It might be truly fair to say it never really stopped being the case. But, on a personal level, I have found myself listening to several underground rap albums recently where the content has been weak, the flows are the same throughout, and the production is play by numbers. I’m not going to name names, but if you’re listening, you’ll find them quickly. I just put this into the ether to let you know that if someone tells you an underground rapper is popping right now and you’re not feeling it, it’s not you—it’s the rapper.

On the real, this is going to be a long one. I had a really good listening week. And it was all over the place. Let’s begin. Also, a reminder: RIYL stands for Recommended If You Like. I was reminded this week that not everyone sits in my music-industry-addled mind.

Viagra Boys, viagr aboys

This group of Swedish boys has made an album that is an absolute riot. They eviscerate a specific type of man while also blasting out the punk fury. I do not lie to you when I say that this album is laugh-out-loud funny. Absolute delight of an album.

RIYL: Sleaford Mods, Bodega, political satire, hooks

Index For Working Musik, Which Direction Goes The Beam

An extremely hypnotic album. You listen to it and understand that the music is dark, but it has an alluring pull to it. I heard pieces of post-punk, Midwestern roots rock, straight ahead noise guitar, and folk music across the album. If you don’t mind getting a little weird, this will reward you for your time.

RIYL: Mekons, Happy Nightmare Baby, The Jesus Lizard, The Kills

Lola Kirke, Trailblazer

Kasey Musgraves has duly gotten her flowers for her music, which is great. (If you don’t listen to her already, you should.) The biggest thing that she has done is create a space for women making country music that is a bit more cosmopolitan. Enter Lola Kirke. Her music speaks with the country tradition while infusing it with rock and roll elements as well as a bit of city swagger (she is from New York after all). I was a huge fan of Lady for Sale, and I think that she builds on the charms of that album while also showing that she’s in this game for the long haul.

RIYL: Kasey Musgraves (duh), Lera Lynn, Rosanne Cash

ARTEMIS, ARBORESQUE

This is a supergroup of excellent jazz women headed by pianist Renee Rosnes. The quintet—Rosnes, Ingrid Jensen (trumpet), Nicole Glover (saxophone), Noriko Ueda (bass), and Allison Miller (drummer)—turns in another set of dynamic tunes that swing from modal jazz to fusion to waltz. They have yet to release a bad album.

RIYL: Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Blue Note Records

Maria Somerville, Luster

If someone told me that this album was a lost release from the 80s-90s catalog of 4AD, I might actually believe them. Although this album was created in our current times for 4AD, it has the same swirling guitars, spacey drum machines, and reverb-heavy whispered vocals as those classic albums. It’s gorgeous and it morphs those past sounds into something fresh. As a result, Maria sounds like Maria, not like Elizabeth Fraser.

RIYL: Cocteau Twins, Clinic Stars, The Cure’s goth era, Hope Sandoval

Cloth, Pink Silence

Continuing in the dreamy vibes of Maria Somerville, this release from the twin duo of Rachael and Paul Swinton is just as swirling, but it has more of a rocking edge. Some songs are actually midtempo! The instruments are dynamic, and the vocals are clear. Although it would seem like it would fade into the background, it did keep my attention all the way through.

RIYL: Memoryhouse, Wilsen, 90s alt rock, Mogwai

That Mexican OT & Sauce Walka, Chicken & Sauce

A collaborative album with two of the best rappers that Houston has to offer. They are going off, and they have very good chemistry. A perfect album for bumping in your slab while you’re off on that lean. If that sentence meant nothing to you, just keep scrolling.

RIYL: UGK, DJ Screw, Trae Da Truth

Natalia Lafourcade, Cancionera

In an absolute change of pace from the previous album, this album is stunning. On this album, which was recorded straight to tape in one take, Lafourcade blends orchestral arrangements, sounds from Spanish music, and traditional Mexican folk music into an absolutely phenomenal album. Her singing is poignant, and she is an amazing guitarist. Everything about this album worked for me, and she earned her extended runtime (this album goes for 76 minutes).

RIYL: Norteno music, Sureno music, beautiful duets, Antonio Carlos Jobim

Luke Titus, From What Was Will Grow A Flower

I had this album saved for listening, and I legitimately forgot what it was supposed to sound like. Much to my surprise when I turned it on, I found myself overwhelmed by the sheer number of ideas on display. There was some jazzy ideas, hip-hop style drums, fun synths, and some soul/R&B guitar combined with Titus’s smooth vocals. It is brief and action-packed. A very fun listening experience.

RIYL: James Pants, Stones Throw Records, Raphael Saadiq

Maria Usbeck, Naturaleza

I have been a fan of Ms. Usbeck since her 2019 release Amparo. Her mixture of soft rock and electronica always goes down extremely well, and this album is no different. She can just settle into your headphones and take you away from things for a while. A delightful listen for those relaxed afternoons.

RIYL: Cascine Records, Destroyer, Yumi Zouma, Neon Indian

See, I told you it was a long one. I’m going to write about Broadcast, Stereolab, and their children for the long post. I will see you all on Saturday. As always, take care of yourselves.