jim

incredibly jealous!

I got to see ekko astral open for pup/jeff rosenstock last year and I’ve never seen an opener just immediately mesmerize and command the crowd the way they did. if you get a chance go see them!

and you can really feel how tight they are together on this one. Dope beats, great scratches and timely vocal samples.

Favorite tracks:
Their Problem, Not Mine
Inamo, Customs Enforcement
Blood In The Maybach, Patay Sa Baha
Complicit, Repeat

and keeps you interested and entertained. I rewound and restarted a lot of the tracks.

The production is pretty stripped back but incredibly west coast. You can hear shades of everything from g funk era to Souls of Mischief. Longtime collaborator Fatgums did all the production

I think it’s hard for a rapper to balance heavy topics with not being overbearing and just wearing you down and he really does a great job at that. This album fucking goes there, he hits every thing you can think of that’s gone on in the last few years but he does it in a way that’s smart, funny

AOTD # 46
Bambu - They’re Burning The Boats (2025)

Bambu is a master at what he does. His flow is so casual and effortless sounding. Incredibly cool voice and he showcases a lot of different styles over a short track list.

American Century of Humiliation is manifesting in ways I did not predict.

this is the American way

I listened on headphones and shit comes from left to right and comes out of everywhere and tbh it was all cool as hell.

Favorite tracks:
Cuddle Fuddle
Live To Tell The Tale
Sleepyhead

There is so much going on. The lo-fi vocals add a dreamy feeling to the whole thing. The drum loops are simple and drive the thing and each song has a distinct melody but man there are just insane jump scares of sounds all over the place.

It’s music made by someone who isn’t afraid to make a wrong choice because they either don’t know it’s a “wrong” choice or they are too locked in to the vision to second guess anything. This is good.

It’s art school shit (compliment). I guarantee this was all made on a fucked up laptop that someone was clutching on to for dear life. I think you can hear it in some of the mix and sound choices.

AOTD #45
Passion Pit - Chunk of Change (2008)

This is an album that could only be made in 2008 (compliment). As someone who was in the trenches of hipster dive bar dance party nights in that time this is what the vibe of the whole scene was.

gotta be one of the worst crossover episodes of all time

After a brief memorial, laz lit the cigarette at 6:00am. The 2026 Barkley Marathons has begun. #BM100

Eminem stroking his jet black beard: y’all act like you’ve never seen a dyed person before

These are many questions that are going to go unanswered in my lifetime, I’m just happy to ask them.

Favorite tracks:
The Eternal Kansas City
Flamingos Fly
Cold Wind in August

All of the instrumentation is so good it almost takes away from the star of the show. Why is Van Morrison voice so fucking cool? How does that happen? How does a Northern Irishman sing with so much soul? Such commanding presence?

The band is in top form on these tracks. You could say there is too much horn section but the folks were cooking and I think it sounds good. The horns really are secondary to the piano playing which is some of the best I’ve ever heard.

AOTD # 44
Van Morrison - A Period of Transition (1977)

This album is incredibly funky. I did not expect horn-infused bluesy funk borderline R&B music when I put this Van Morrison album on this morning but life is full of funny surprises. I am happy that the path has lead me here.

YouTube video by Ekko Astral Ekko Astral - "lil xan goes to washington" [Official Music Video]

Today Ekko Astral is unveiling our second album “the beltway is burning” will be out on April 22 (earth day if you even care).

The lead single “lil xan goes to washington” is available on all platforms now. Watch the video to enter the world we’re building…

@topshelfrecords.com

The new Boldy James & Ransom project is too good. Nicholas Craven genius needs to be studied.

Favorite tracks:
Saran Wrapped Cash
Ladies Night
bedrot
MONET
TARAVISTA
Mary Kate & Ashley

Singing. Screaming. Atmospheric synths. Banging beats. Conceptual storytelling. Goth overtones. Sweet pop vocals. Catchy melodies. Deep bass. Riffs/shreds. If you like uhh let’s say any 3 of those things then I think this is worth your time.

The two things that kept popping in my head while was listening to this were the Blade movies and 2013-2015 Miley Cyrus when she was really in her GOAT era.

That’s what this album was for me.

I don’t know what genre to put it in. I guess it’s some kind of Metal? It’s dark and heavy and the vocals are both screaming and droning and hypnotic and then there is like club backbeats.

AOTD # 43
Crippling Alchoholism - Camgirl (2025)
Sometimes you come across something, some piece of art, and it completely expands your idea of what’s possible. Like you listen to an album or look at a painting and you’re just like “oh I didn’t know THAT was even an option”.

My goal this year has been to listen to a new (to me) album every day so I solicited recommendations on IG and got a 100+ albums so I’ve been listening to those and mixing in my own curiosities and posting little write-ups about my listening experience so I’m going to start posting them here too.

It’s time to dust off the shaming spirit that defeated google glass. If you see some dingus wearing sunglasses with a camera in them, then you are free to make cop jokes at them

Non-protesting dad just trying to hustle his kids, as young as 6mo, out of the neighborhood. ICE threw a flash-bang INTO HIS car, all 6 kids in the hospital now.

If anyone wondered how things turn against occupying armies there's a case study playing out in front of you.