Leak 04-13(Bait Ones) (2019) - Jai Paul.
In the early 2010s, Jai Paul was a rising star on the underground internet music scene, despite having only released a few tracks (namely jasmine and BTSTU) to the public. Fans were desperate for new music, and in 2013, Paul’s computer was hacked, and all of his songs were released online. After the leak, Paul completely disappeared from the public eye for six years, until last year when he officially released the leaked tracks in the form of this album. These often incomplete songs are ear candy, fusing together elements of R&B, electronic music, pop, Bollywood, and UK Grime. The fact that the tracks are unfinished does not take away their potency. The record feels strangely intimate, perhaps because the tracks were stolen from Paul’s computer while he was still crafting them.
Fav tracks: Crush (Unfinished), Str8 Outta Mumbai, Zion Wolf Theme (Unfinished), All Night (Unfinished).
Konnichiwa (2016) - Skepta
Skepta has cemented himself as one of the most prominent British rappers, and Konnichiwa certainly helped him attain this status. On this album, Skepta centers his sound around hard hitting beats, powerful bass, and raw talent. On this album, we see Skepta constantly fighting to prove himself, voicing his need to separate himself from others and get ahead. Skepta comes across as very self assured and egotistical, however, he seems to remain self aware despite this. Both of these qualities make the album a very engaging listen. And not to mention, the skits on this album are actually entertaining and often funny, a rarity for many other albums that attempt to do the same.
Fav tracks: Konnichiwa, Crime Riddim, Man
EL MAL QUERER (2018) - ROSALIA
The songs of EL MAL QUERER are rooted in Spanish Flamenco music from ROSALIA’s home country, but there is much more to this album than Flamenco. The album blends together Flamenco with experimental hip hop, pop, latin and electronic music, while the Arab influences of traditional Spanish music are also apparent. Much of this audacious fusion of genres can be credited to Spanish musician and producer El Guincho, who played an important role in the creative direction of the album. As a classically trained vocalist, ROSALIA’s vocal agility shines through bold songs with a heavy emphasis on call and response. Each song on the album represents a chapter from the 13th century novel, Flamenca, thought to be the first modern novel. Need I say more? Check it out.
Fav tracks: PIENSO EN TU MIRA, BAGDAD, DI MI NOMBRE
Goon (2015) - Tobias Jesso Jr.
Listening to Tobias Jesso Jr.’s debut album Goon was what inspired Adele to enlist him as a writer on her record breaking album 25, where he would collaborate on some of the album’s biggest hits. On Goon, Jesso Jr. pairs his brooding lyrics with 70s style songwriting. The songs on this album are stripped back, with the focus on Jesso Jr.’s writing and his undeniable knack for a classic melody. He recounts past loves and experiences in a way that feels simultaneously nostalgic, melodically fun, and delightful.
Fav tracks: Can’t Stop Thinking About You, Without You, Bad Words
When the pawn… (1999) - Fiona Apple
Fiona Apple’s new album Fetch the Bolt Cutters is now being hailed by many as her best, but her sophomore album, When the pawn… may be the most suitable introduction to her incredible songwriting talent. Apple was heavily influenced by jazz, and while this is by no means a jazz record (the album is also heavily influenced by pop and rock), the melodic freedom and complexity of the genre are evident in this album. With the help of production from musical mastermind Jon Brion, the arrangements feel lively and often graceful. The lyrics on this album pack a serious emotional punch, with lines as volatile as they are poignant, like the scathing “you fondle my trigger then you blame my gun” on the track Limp. Many of the album’s highlights come in the second half, as Apple becomes more vulnerable in her poetry. This body of work clearly explains the intense fascination that surrounded Fiona Apple in the late 90s.
