Headphones: "Seven Songs" by piglet.
Album of the Week
Holly Whitaker
Seven Songs by piglet – Alternative music has been on the rise, especially since the dawn of the pandemic. There is a distinct sound associated with the genre, and it is often hard to steer away from it. Although modern-day music is about being able to use musical clichés creatively, many artists do not know how to experiment or branch out within the genre.
Piglet released his debut EP "Seven Tracks" this year. His audience was waiting to see if he would come out with something exceptional. Although many people would classify the album as good for what it is, it is not as impressive as it could be. The album does start on the right foot. The introductory track, "mill," is dark and experimental. The instrumentation is weird, and it is refreshing to hear how piglet can take the typical alternative elements and turn them into something different. One can tell that piglet gave this track a lot of attention and detail. Because this track is well-made, one would expect the rest of the album to be consistently good.
In the next track, "it isn't fair," piglet turns to a more classic alternative style composition. Although the idea of the track is okay, the way piglet executed it needed more attention and detail. The structure of the track is evident in the verses and choruses. The lyric writing is alright too, and piglet is a talented vocalist. There was a solid vision regarding this track, but the flaws lie within the production. There needs to be more dynamic. The instrumental overshadows the vocals, and at many points, it sounds muddy. The different instrumental sections are not distinct enough, and the instrumentals have not been appropriately leveled. Piglet does have a vision and needs to learn how to execute it properly.
The following track, "discreet," almost sounds the same as "it isn't fair." This is where the album becomes tiresome to listen to. Although it is okay to have two tracks that sound similar on a project, it is essential to space them out to minimize redundancy. The track starts pleasant and straightforward. The melody is nice, and the harmonies are melodic. However, when the track reaches its climax, it faces the same issues as "it isn't fair." The production of this track could be smoother. Certain elements that should be audible in an alternative track are barely audible in this track. An unnecessarily loud guitar overshadows everything.
In all honesty, the rest of the album sounds the same. There is not much variation in style, and there is a lot of repetition and redundancy. Yes, piglet did have a vision. The execution was insufficient, however. Piglet should take more time when it comes to his music. The audience gets glimpses of his vocal talents throughout the album. More can be done on piglet's end.
Single of the Week
Lana del rey by kurt iswarienko / new york times
"Did you know that there's a tunnel under Ocean Blvd" by Lana Del Rey – Lana Del Rey has always had a distinct sound and style. Rarely has she ever strayed away from it. She chose to stick with her style for the first single of her album. Although this can get boring for consumers, Lana has exhibited significant growth as an artist and, more importantly, as a vocalist. In this track, Del Rey seems a lot more relaxed and comfortable within her artistry. She delves into the deeper, more emotional parts of her voice.
Del Rey let herself go while recording this track. She is not trying to record a vocal that sounds perfect in pitch but rather a vocal that makes listeners feel something. Del Rey and co-writer Mike Hermosa hit the mark regarding lyric writing. The vocals are soft, eerie at times, and packed with sadness. The harmonies are well-arranged and well-produced. Hermosa also produced the track and crafted the instrumental around the vocals perfectly. The music feels classic and clean. There are beautiful strings, a light piano, and soft drums.
Del Rey has a lot of clarity in her voice on this track. She knows how to transition between ranges smoothly and even uses her belt in this track. It sounds more powerful and controlled here than it has in her previous discography. Although there are some parts in the track where the lyrics are difficult to discern, she delivers most of her lines more clearly than in her past tracks.
This track was a great release to show the world where Del Rey was going with her music. Although there might be nothing inherently "new" about how she approaches her art, she matures. Del Rey is past her point of heavy experimentation. Because she has found her style, she can focus on and find ways to perfect it. This track does sound like a dream and is a breath of fresh air. It is well-written and well-produced and will excite the world about what's coming next for Lana Del Rey.
Music Video of the Week
"The News" by Paramore – Paramore is known for their creativity, and they do not hold back in any aspect of its artistry. First and foremost, "The News" is a catchy and funky track. It is produced well and shows how Paramore keeps improving and unlocking new aspects of their artistry. The way they write their tracks leaves the meaning up to interpretation. They use this same principle for the music video.
This track pays homage to the toxicity of media. In the age of social media, information is wide spreading and repetitive. Social media allows for rapid information consumption, which makes it overwhelming to engage with. Along with this, it is addictive and hard to turn off. Paramore explores the idea of never being able to escape social media's negativity. Most news that is spread through social media is negative and heartbreaking. It is easy to keep up with, making it hard to separate yourself from negative information.
Social media can break a person down. Often it is used to attack and blackmail people. The music video has imagery on how the overconsumption of social media can kill one's mind and body. It can make people go crazy and do irrational things. Social media and the technology available can make it challenging to keep in touch with the world. It is easy to isolate, as shown in the music video. One's world can get entirely consumed by their device.
The music video tells the audience that the world has reached a low point. Everything seems fabricated and confusing. One cannot tell the difference between social media and real life. The glorification of modern-day technology and the world's obsession with it has made it dangerous. Social media and widespread rapid news affect young people's mental health. Paramore has been around since before the dawn of social media. They have grown up with it and are doing the right thing by speaking about it in their music. Many can relate to this, and their music does help people.
