March (and February) in Review

The month of fools and full bloom, April is closing out on its first week and I am tasked once again with the task of looking back on this past month of releases and taking you through my favorites in my longest playlist to date.

The cover of March was a still image from the movie I would've voted for if I was an Oscar voter. I had the pleasure of watching "I'm Still Here" in theaters for an Oscar marathon this past month which was nearly 12 hours of popcorn, soda, and staring at a screen. I loved it. But I started the day watching "I'm Still Here" and no other movie I watched that day topped it for me.

The beginning of this month was also rediscovering a couple of favorites. Namely, "Boomerang," "Ocean Eyes," a couple of SZA songs, and a random Tyler Childers song. Like I said in my last post, there is no theme to what I listen to.

Without further adieu, let's get into my top five artists of this past month:

5. Macabre Plaza

   You may be wondering to yourself one of two things: what is this and why does this artist's name sound like a Mariokart map? While I can't answer the latter, Macabre Plaza is an instrumental artist that I dove into at the beginning of this month. I got inspired by the TikTok trend of people doing "album walks" going on mental health walks while listening to an album they've never listened to and I figured I would give it a try. I had listened to a few of Macabre's songs but decided to listen to "An Old Smile" from start to finish while I went on a mental health walk. Despite getting lost on that walk and accidentally walking onto Howard's campus instead of toward my apartment (they are not close by if you're wondering) I did really love this album and it's a very fun style of music to listen to if you're doing work or just want some upbeat background music to accompany you throughout the day, Macabre Plaza would be my recommendation.

4. Balu Brigada

   It isn't even that I was listening to a wide variety of Balu Brigada songs, it was that I was listening to the select few that I discovered this month in such a high volume that put them on this list. They're a New Zealand duo that evokes the same vibes as Djo and Royal Otis but specifically, if they were to make club-adjacent music. The reason I say club-adjacent is that I would not put this on the same level as the music you would hear in the club, the Troye Sivan's, the Charlie XCX's, and the house music of the world, but if there was a more laid back club, I would put Balu Brigada on the setlist. I don't know what is so addictive about their music but their EP "Find a Way" and specifically "Find a Way" on this album is easily one of my favorite discoveries of this month, I have been loving what these guys have been doing and I am anxiously awaiting their new album, they've had two recent releases "The Question" and "So Cold" but no definitive date has been released for their next album.

3. Japanese Breakfast

   This has been the month of Japanese Breakfast. From their album release of "For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women)" to having a song featured on the soundtrack of the upcoming Celine Song movie "The Materialists," Japanese Breakfast has had a legendary month of notoriety that most artists can only dream of. This latest album is the perfect serving of melancholy (get it) with the producer on the album also having worked on Bob Dylan's music and Fiona Apple's and you can hear the inspiration with the prominent guitar and the folk-inspired vocals. The album itself has also been compared to a gothic novel which you can hear on the darker songs of the album but if I can recommend one new album release of this past month, it would be this one it's surreal and yet grounded. My personal favorite is "Orlando in Love," it's a perfect song for when you want to escape your reality.

   
   

2. Vulfpeck

   In a complete shift in musical genres and vibes, Vulfpeck's latest album "Clarity of Cal" is the perfect album when you're feeling like the underdog in your own story and need a motivational collection of tunes to get you feeling like you can achieve anything you put your mind to. Vulfpeck in general has been innovating what can be considered nuevo-funk and is consistently innovating upon that idea. ALSO if you like Vulfpeck I would suggest you check out Theo Katzman, he was one of the founding members of Vulfpeck a fun fact about that and he has his solo career that is additionally wonderful and another artist I love listening to when I can. But give "Clarity of Cal" a listen if you're a fan of funk/soul music and I should say that in big quotes. If you're expecting a Stevie Wonder/Earth, Wind, and Fire moment when you listen in you will be a little disappointed but it gives the general air of funk music while building off of it.

   
   

1. Olivia Dean

   Number one is drumroll, please... Olivia Dean! So fun fact, she has only released one song this past month and it was for the Bridget Jones movie. But please I beg, do not judge this song by its themed song cover. "It Isn't Perfect But It Might Be" might be the perfect painting of a flawed relationship that you fight for anyway despite the imperfections. I listened to this song more than the average person and fell in love with Dean's voice I started taking a deep dive into her discography. I had previously only known her for "Dive" which is a fantastic song but if you like her voice, you will like all of her music she has such a unique sound that is so refreshing to listen to and I wouldn't be surprised if she makes an appearance on next months wrapped review either. If you take nothing else away from this post, listen to Olivia Dean. Please :)

   
   

Top songs from this past month:

1. "It Isn't Perfect But It Might Be," Olivia Dean

2. "Delete Ya," DJO

3. "Find a Way," Balu Brigada

4. "Il Volo," Capinera (I've been on a big Italian yacht rock kick recently)

5. "The Giver," Chappell Roan (I would be remiss if I didn't mention the solid week this song had a chokehold on me)

6. "Actress," Maya Delilah (The chorus to this song is like a siren song to me it's beautiful)

7. "Boomerang," Yebba (I've listened to this song for a while but recently rediscovered just how perfect it is)

8. "Animal Instinct," The Cranberries (every month I listen to a little more of the Cranberries and I never regret it)

9. "Any Day Now," Trousdale (saw them open for Sammy Rae and have been listening since, I love everything they've created)

10. "Relationships," HAIM (love this song and I love that they're recreating the Nicole Kidman meme in their single cover)

    
    
    
    

Before I go, I also want to acknowledge the elephant in the room. Yes, I forgot to do a review of February in music. I'd like to extend my deepest apologies the month went by way too quickly and I was on vacation for a third of the month so I was not prepared for the inevitable introduction of March but I will give you my top five artists here, I hope you all will forgive my absolute folly and if you refuse to read on, I will see you all in May for a review of April in music.

Album cover is a recent favorite movie "Chunking Express" if you haven't seen it, it's the perfect movie to watch in April, I would highly recommend if you like oddball rom-coms.

Anyhow, here are my five favorite artists of February:

1. Doechii -- with the Grammy's and with Doechii's skyrocketing success, I started listening a lot more to "Aligator Bites Never Heal" and I did not regret it, truly a no-skips album.

2. Ryan Beatty -- speaking of the Grammy's, did you know Ryan Beatty wrote four songs on "Cowboy Carter" with the one and only miss Beyonce? Yep, he wrote "PROTECTOR," "BODYGUARD," "JUST FOR FUN," and "II HANDS II HEAVEN." and they're all fantastic but do you know what's just as fantastic if not more? His solo music, my personal favorite album is "Boy in Jeans" but he's worth a listen in general his music is a raw depiction of who he is and is just gorgeous.

3. Kendrick Lamar -- I feel like this doesn't need much elaboration but with GNX and the halftime show, this was the month of Lamar.

4. Hope Tala -- all the songs on "Phoenix" just were on loop the whole month I love Hope's voice and her acoustics are chefs kiss perfection.

5. Maya Delilah -- "Squeeze" was a surprise for me. I was expecting Maya's typical acoustic sound, similar to Hope's but instead, I got some funky tunes and some just fun new hits.