Welcome to Jam Sesh! This series is a bi-weekly celebration of good music (or just my guilty pleasures). For those who don’t know me, my name is Teddy and I’m a Junior at Carleton. I’m not a music major or someone who knows every album ever. I just have listened to music since I was little and wanted to share some of my favorites with the world. I’ve previously written music reviews for my high school newspaper (The Willistonian).
Each segment is a different album/song. The first paragraph is a summary of my thoughts. Below is a larger write-up. After that, I compare the album or song to a type of jam or condiment. Finally, for the albums, I’ll state three prominent tracks to listen to if you are pressed for time, and the overall runtime of the album.
Country Driving
Golden Hour is a relaxing album to listen to while joyriding. If I had to compare Golden Hour to something, I’d say it is reminiscent of the Dixie Chicks in terms of tone, but with more experimentation in terms of synths and lyrical themes.
Kacey Musgraves released Golden Hour last year, and it blew up. The album has been nominated for both best country album and album of the year at this year’s Grammy Awards, and won album of the year at this year’s Country Music Awards. Golden Hour is one the only country albums that I enjoy listening to. The willingness to address drug use frankly and not just talk about partying all night with girls (like many country hits) is refreshing. The music is also really relaxing, with songs like “Slow Burn” acting lyrically and sonically as a nonchalant, deep breath in to start off the album. Additionally, some songs, like “Wonder Woman,” almost sound like a more country version of Taylor Swift, with its reflections on Kacey Musgraves’ expectations for herself and her lover. It is definitely one of my albums of the year. Possibly more to come on that front soon….
Summary: A savory flavor of peach jam
Saving Time: “Slow Burn”, “Butterflies”, “Space Cowboy”
Runtime: 13 songs, 46 minutes.
California Dreaming
Malibu by Anderson .Paak was one of my favorite albums from 2016. It is reminiscent of Chance the Rapper with good, snappy beats and abstract lyrics that flow nicely throughout the album.
Anderson .Paak is a California-based rapper. I say that because he named his past three albums for cities in the state– Venice, Malibu, and Oxnard. Malibu was his first breakout hit, peaking at #79 on the US Billboard Top 200 despite having no hits from the album chart themselves. Some of the reason that the album failed to have one or two hits on the charts is that it sounds good as a whole. Why listen to one when you can listen to them all? Malibu is perfect for a slow Sunday or a nice night with a loved one. Lyrically, a lot of the focus is on romance, religion, or dissing others. The only tracks that don’t go down smoothly are “Come Down,” “The Dreamer,” and “Without You”—which all use electronic percussion to create something slightly more lively.
Summary: A smooth peanut butter with a few peanut chunks
Saving Time: “Am I Wrong”, “Heart Don’t Stand a Chance”, “Come Down”
Runtime: 16 songs, 1 hour and 1 minute
Late Night Thoughts
Bloodshot Tokyo by The Dig is a smooth collection of synth-rock/dance songs about love. If I had to compare it to something, I would say the album sounds like a combination of Vampire Weekend and Tame Impala with darker undertones.
The Dig is a New York City band that has often played second fiddle to the bands around them. They started their career rehearsing next door to The Strokes, and have toured with bands like The Lumineers and Portugal. The Man. In spite of this, they have managed to find their own unique sound by mixing two distinctly different sounds– the bubbly pop of Vampire Weekend and the moody psychedelic rock of Tame Impala– to create something wholly melancholy. Nothing is ever truly positive, as even the somewhat upbeat “Jet Black Hair” reminisces about better times in the past. Overall, the album is a great mix of indie rock, pop, and electronic music. I highly recommend.
Summary: A zesty lemon-blueberry jam
Saving Time: “Jet Black Hair”, “Tired of Love”, “Let Your Lover Know”
Runtime: 11 songs, 37 minutes