Music for listening: Album Reviews

For this week, I'm back to country music! I began this blog with my favorite artist, Zach Bryan. I followed up with a few more favorites from different genres. After running out of genres to go to, this band is next on my list for country music. I began listening to them early on in high school. Because of this, I have a special connection and nostalgia around some of their songs.  The album of theirs I chose to review this week is named "Humble Folks," an 11 song album released in April of 2016. It has a captivating blend of country, folk, and americana music. The lyrics explore the ups and downs (mostly downs) of life, love, and loss. I will give each song a listen, describe them briefly, and rate them out of 10. Then, give the album an overall rating.  1: "One I Want" A medium tempo, but upbeat song about loving someone. Fiddle is used quite a bit which I like. Rating: 8 2: "A Good Memory" A song about an ex-girlfriend, who is now just a good memory

For my fifth album review, I am incorporating a lesser known band. My friend introduced me to them a few weeks ago and I loved a song called "T-Love." Quarters of Change is a progressive rock band known for their experimental sound. Based in Los Angeles, California, their influencers include Pink Floyd, Tool, and many others.  Their latest (and only) album "Into The Rift" is a journey that takes listeners on a ride through different musical landscapes. With a blend of psychedelic and experimental rock, the album showcases the band's versatility and musical prowess. The band's unique sound and dynamic performance make this album a must-listen for fans of off-center, genre-defying music.  Again, I will listen to each song and rate/describe it. Then, give the album an overall score out of 10. 1: "T Love" This song utilizes amazing guitar and vocals, and incorporates a driving percussion from the drums that makes you move along to it. Rating: 10 2: &qu

I've hit a different genre every week thus far. This will not be the week I break the streak! The next logical step in my genre exploration is rap, obviously. The first rap album I could think of has less to do with the artist and more to do with my love for one of the songs on it. "Flashing Lights" by Kanye was a song that I sang in my organization's sing act, so I chose the album "Graduation" because of this.  This is West's third studio album and was released in 2007. It showcased Kanye's innovative production style and catchy hooks more than any his previous work had. With guest appearances from artists like T-Pain, Lil Wayne, and Mos Def, this album helped solidify Kanye's place as a boundary-pushing musician. A common theme of the albums and artists I am choosing for these blogs is just that: boundary pushing. Here are the song reviews, and overall rating! 1: "Good Morning" An upbeat and optimistic introduction to the album. Ratin