LogFAQs > #887010022

Circa Survive - The Amulet
Wow yeah mcflubbin aint' lyin about the voice not matching the appearance. He sounds good though. Dig the guitar tone. I wish music videos would stop doing the slo-mo lipsync thing, it's a cool effect hypothetically but I feel like it never actually syncs up smoothly enough to convince the eye. Point is I got more into the song by not watching the video. It ended up having a nice atmosphere but I wish it had more bite or thickness to it. It's like the endless breadsticks of music - soft, zesty, a little moist, but ultimately not what I put on pants and drive to Olive Garden for.

Incubus - New Skin
Man I forgot how aggro they sounded on this album. I just saw them about a month ago and though they still knock out the heavier hits they don't play anything quite this frenzied anymore. This song is just a clear, cohesive blend of rap/funk/metal elements that sounds totally organic and I've always loved Brandon Boyd's weird voice. Solid pick.

Louis Cole - You Will See
This is the most bizarre, dissonant, dark shit I've heard out of Louis Cole and I love it. I couldn't help but be reminded of Venetian Snares, his drumming is always so intense and it contrasts so well with the narcotic nightmare lullaby vocals. There's a real sense of dread here, it's a very powerful two minutes.

Steve Lacy - Dark Red
I'm liking the vocal production here, the singer has this cool Damon Albarnish crooner intonation that really drives the vibe of the tune home and the swirl of voices around him add a lot of dynamics and texture to the progression. It actually manages a timeless quality without being in-your-face retro.

SZA - Drew Barrymore
You don't hear much rap using a drum kit like you would hear in a rock ballad, so this was a pleasant departure from the usual hi-hat drill trap beat. It really sells the intimate/vulnerable bent of the lyrics. She's got a decent flow to boot and I enjoyed all the playful processing on her vocal - but what's this got to do with Drew Barrymore?

Sampha - (No One Knows Me) Like the Piano
Honestly I thought he would be a more impressive pianist. Excellent singer and this is obviously a personal song for him but for a piano-based composition this just doesn't do it for me.