This is weekly JAK, where I have to sit through hours of mediocre newly-released music and pick the 10 tracks that suck the least (or the most). In week 41, we've got hip-hop, pop, industrial, punk-rock, post-punk, and metal -- we never discriminate against any genres, as long as the music is good! Let's start with some catchy bops to bump in your car.
Unkle Runk - R0AD RAGE
Unkle Runk is a hyperpop artist from Portland. R0AD RAGE slaps. I love how the singing during the chorus turns into Phrygian mode - it's unexpected, unusual, but feels nice. The distorted bass also has a super energetic heavy tone to it, which immediately knocks your head off.
Flavanoidz - Scorzayzee
Flavanoidz is a mysterious experimental hip-hop group -- seriously, I could not find anything about them on the internet. "Scorzayzee" is such an impressive track. The rap flow keeps changing and blowing my mind, in fusion with the bizarre beat. The bass is too muddy and overwhelming, though, and I couldn't last the whole song in the car -- caused me a bad headache.
Frantik - ART OF NOT GIVING A
Frantik blends the worlds of hip-hop, RnB, alternative rock, emo and punk in a cohesive and exiting fashion. With vivid story telling, catchy melodies and dynamic use of music styles Frantik aspires to inspire. This new track was released in August, so not exactly a fresh release, but I don't give a fuck, because it's truly a bop that everyone should hear. Can't wait to hear more from that artist.
REDZED - NO MORE TEARS IN HEAVEN
This song has already become too popular to write about, but I will make an exception, because it's so bad, it's good. REDZED (born Zdenek Vesely) is a producer/songwriter from the Czech Republic. He sort of looks like Kurt Cobain, if you downloaded him from a torrent tracker with the wrong audio dub. "No More Tears in Heaven" shares a chord progression with one other favorite song of mine -- "We Can't Stop" by Miley Cyrus. It's cliche, but it works. It creates a nostalgic, melancholic atmosphere with hidden optimism. Redzed's version sounds well-produced and has nice guitars. The lyrics are poorly-written, but sincere. The singing is peculiar - the tone of Zdenek's voice is raspy and rich in high-formants, as if he just breathed in some helium -- I like it a lot. There's sort of a childish energy that I enjoy about the vocal delivery.
Tongueless - New Americana
Haunting industrial coming from Chicago (Illinois). Tongueless present themselves with the following bone-chilling line: "I am at once filled with sound and absolutely quiet. Just as it should be- the violent sound of the desperate; the utterance of the tongueless". "New Americana" is both aggressive and calm -- with a slow tempo, but lots of distortion and an unstable chord progression that keeps building tension up. The vocals rise and rise until they scream, reaching a catharsis, followed by an instrumental section with a more well-defined progression to enjoy the deliverance.
Against The Sun - Leaders
Against The Sun is an American band set to make waves as Orange County’s premier metalcore act. "Their unique blend of heavy instruments, clean yet intense vocals, and harsh honest lyrics creates a powerful listening experience", they say. I've only heard "Leaders" and agree -- the vocals are both melodic, mid-range, but without the annoying pathos that most metalcore singers fall victims to. The instrumental has odd time signatures to shake things up. The guitar riffs are both melodic and rhythmic - a rare combination in progressive music. Some parts sound like Dream Theater in their heavier period. The music video is also very well made, especially the make up department, making the lead singer project that intense Patrick Bateman energy.
Acid Twats - I Was A Teenage Masturbator
Out of the desolate, rural farmlands of Northeastern Louisiana came Acid Twats! Their bio says it all: Shit music that's dried out in the sun, fed through a prostitute, then soaked in her menstrual blood and served to you on a plate. And I find that plate delicious! "I Was A Teenage Masturbator" is a perfect old-school punk-rock song that sounds like a well-produced GG Allin band. Plus, the lyrics are funny and inclusive, just like masturbation.
Nervous Light Of Sunday - HOW IT OUGHT TO BE
Nervous Light Of Sunday is a Japanese post-hardcore band based in Tokyo. "How it ought to be" is a short, energetic and explosive track, perfect for moshing and breaking bones! The song structure is unconventional, with little repetition and great dynamics.
Outcaster - Morbid Wine
Outcaster is an American black metal band from Pennsylvania. Their bio, written in a difficult to read, gothic typeface, says "A raw baring of intention expressed through physical motion, radiating into the environment it's played in, staying in place like a residual haunting. A curse". The track "Morbid Wine" has intentionally raw production (the drums sound like carton boxes), but of course, as it is with "true" black metal -- this is intentional. And it's rare to hear a recording that captures the "Burzum" spirit accurately. I'm sure I'll get in trouble for comparing them to the "forbidden" band, but it is what it is.
Enzo Piero - Lejos de la ciudad
Let's end on a light note, with Enzo Piero -- a Chilean composer and instrumentalist from the city of San Javier (Spain). "Lejos de la ciudad" sounds naive enough to be mistaken for a Tim & Eric bit. As an enjoyer of cringey content, this caught my ear. After a few listens, I concluded that the music and composition was good. Enzo's vocals are pure and genuine. Some may say he sounds like an amateur and that's true, but here at FAK YER Reviews we are looking for good authentic music, and that's one element that makes a piece sound honest and special.
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