may mementos
it’s about that time for the monthly recap!
here’s a roundup of what’s been on my mind this month while i’ve been away:
new releases
79.5 — 79.5
target audience = me because i think 79.5 nails it every single time. for years, i’ve enjoyed both the sincerity and the cheekiness of their lyrics. and the genres they blend typically check the boxes of sounds i want to hear together.
Q — WELCOME TO SOUL,PRESENT
a 1980s power pop/R&B revival moment. wish i was going to see him and Baby Rose live this weekend.
Madison McFerrin — I Hope You Can Forgive Me
lush and sensual; an album as pretty and hopeful as its cover.
Rahill — Flowers At Your Feet
a commendable, autobiographical debut from the lead singer of Habibi that peaked my curiosity to want to hear more.
Emily King — Special Occasion
a premium, lovelorn R&B record through and through. i wouldn’t expect anything less from King.
SBTRKT — THE RAT ROAD
i didn’t have the return of SBTRKT on my hypothetical 2023 bingo card, but i am grateful for the new release. i haven’t had much time to sit with the record yet, yet it’s full of featured artists i love. so i am excited to dig in more.
Tora-i — & what else?
this one is lovely and expansive in its essence. lengthwise, it’s almost over before it really begins! may require repeat listening.
KAYTRAMINÉ — KAYTRAMINÉ
on one hand, this collaborative project is a fun, summer-ready ode to brotherhood, gallivanting, and showboating. the album cover for KAYTRAMINÉ is one of my favorites of the year so far.
on the other hand, my personal bias is that i’m a fan of both artists individually. so i had higher expectations for the collab and i’m reluctant to admit that it feels like they kinda phoned it in. it’s also telling how critics don’t really know what exact genre to situate the album into1. i’m not writing it off per se, but i’m also in no rush to come back to this.
Salami Rose Joe Louis — Akousmatikous
Salami Rose Joe Louis’ prior work has often reminded me of collages, with a general glitchiness and the reprisal of minor ideas that come into better scope from a macro perspective. that quality remains on Akousmatikous, but what’s offered feels even more polished and complete this time around, as songs flow seamlessly between one another.
Arlo Parks — My Soft Machine
Parks’ debut record Collapsed in Sunbeams set a precedent for her poetic, confessional writing style. this sophomore album offers us the same tone, plus the type of gradual maturity that naturally occurs between releases. it’s quite beautiful how Parks is able to provide such contemplative lyrics over some of the most jovial and sunny beats.
Kari Faux - Real Bitches Don’t Die
a swaggy Southern rap vibe right on time for Gemini season. no complaints here!
Kassa Overall - Animals
this was a good theatrical listen. the single “Ready to Ball” has been in my head for the last few weeks and it was cool to hear it better within the context of the album. the content matter of Animals is fittingly raw and genuine; the instrumentation is jazzy and borders on fanciful. plus, great features from Danny Brown, Wiki, Nick Hakim, Theo Croker, Laura Mvula and more.
Saya Gray - QWERTY
Saya Gray remains one to watch with such avant-garde offerings like her latest conceptual project QWERTY.
Jesse Boykins III - “No Love Without You”
the visual for Boykins’ latest single *almost* inspired me to want to grow my hair back out.
next month, i plan on sharing my list of favorite albums from the year thus far. i also plan on making space for the albums from 2023 that i missed within their respective release months.
back down memory lane
i watched the following video on the history of prom dresses while visiting my grandma, who happened to have my senior prom pic (pictured further below) displayed on her wall.
on rituals
Hoodoo is a closed spiritual practice for Black folks who are descendants of racialized chattel slavery in America. the Ritual video series on PBS, hosted by Tarriona “Tank” Ball, does a good job of introducing the topic for those who may be unfamiliar. Ball speaks with scholars and practitioners to address the oft-misunderstood concept of ancestral veneration (i personally prefer this phrase to “ancestral worship” like they use in the video, but the implication is synonymous).
RIP to the Queen of Rock & Roll, Ms. Tina Turner
if you’ve followed this newsletter (or my online presence) long enough, then you’ve likely gauged that one of my forever icons has always been Tina Turner. i spent sometime last week revisting her vinyls in my collection (one of them being a live performance at Carnegie Hall) and it’s amazing how much pure energy she put into her art. her story of resilience (and willingness to share what she triumphed over) has inspired survivors everywhere. the way she came into her own in her 40s is a testament that it’s never too late to start over and to emerge as the one you’ve always meant to be. may she rest in peace and power.
without any further ado, here’s the may mementos playlist.
the notes: forget-me-nots, playfulness, not crying over spilled milk, komorebi, frozen passionfruit, sage, and a whiff of lemongrass.
like apple says hip-hop free spirits? NPR says R&B vanguard duo? both are not necessarily inaccurate, but it seems like they also missed the mark. maybe it’s a “both and” situation? Kaytranada is also an electronic musician at the core and i feel that has been left out of the conversation.