Joe Lington - Trust

Trust (LP) - Joe Lington (R&B) There is no question that Joe Lington is an artist with a vision. For the last two weeks we have reviewed one of his projects, first his latest EP “WTPA” and last week LP “Black Desire.” Singing in both French and English, this multi-hyphenate producer, mixer, mastering engineer, writer, singer and performer has impressed us with his retro R&B influences, beautifully sequenced collections and drive--having put out four major projects over the last five years, with another on the way next year. This week we go back in time to look at where it all started—his first LP “Trust”, released in 2018.

It’s a treat to have gotten the chance to review his recent albums first and then go back to the start, as it lets us see all of the seeds he planted that have flowered today, as well as map out how his musicality has grown, changed and evolved. With “Trust” we are reminded of the old adage “the more things change, the more they stay the same.” Which is why we said earlier that Joe Lington is a man of vision, because reviewing "Trust" tells us that for the last five years Joe has been carefully evolving a singular vision of his sound, continuing to hone and craft it but never veering from his roots.

Like his other projects, Joe’s voice is the star. A versatile instrument, the vocals shine throughout “Trust”, with the relatively sparse instrumental serving only to prop up meticulously crafted vocal stacks. As for the era, this one feels centered in the 00s as far as R&B style, with even a few taking us back to the 90s. Our favorite track in particular, “I Gotta Be With You“, has those synth strings that scream “No Scrubs” and all those R&B hits of the late 90s that used the same. Shout out to feature artist Bryan G, who gives us straight up Brian McKnight on the track.

Combined with following record “Ce Monde“, the intro to the album feels very much like Justin Timberlake’s first solo cut, “Justified.” We’ll also mention that we love his retro use of interludes to bridge his work together, making it, like his others, a cohesive and well plotted sequence of tracks.

He’s also not afraid to diversify his sounds, with “Africa” serving up some Lion King and both “Je Sais” and “Ce Soir” giving us a live band feel with Joe showcasing a baritone vocal unlike what we've become used to from him. We also call out “Yeah” for its 00s/10s Usher vibes and “Remember” with guests Tidou B and Otaku Black that had us thinking of a T.I. feature.

Ballad wise, we’re treated to the more classic variety with a beautiful ode in “My Mother” with a more '10s R&B one in “Elle” and a very Mary J Blige feel with “You Better Be Ready.” As always, genre specific while remaining eclectic, heartfelt and with solid productions all around.

We’re excited to dive into Joes sophomore album next to finally get the whole picture on this talent, as we await the “Pinkeen” album.

Kapture - Sailed

Sailed - Kapture (Rap) We welcome Kapture back to the blog for her third entry, “Sailed”, her most heartfelt effort to date. We were first introduced to Kapture’s flow with “New Beginnings”, a track we felt could have very much come from Nikki’s Pink Friday album, and were further impressed with “Compare To Me” which continued her streak of clever lyrics and clear point of view. It’s a hard turn in subject matter with “Sailed”, which sings like diary entry. In “Sailed”, Kapture pointedly addresses her abusive father with a specificity that bleeds vulnerability. Sonically, the Nikki influence is clear, specifically songs like “Fly” and other of that artist’s more vulnerable tracks. Kapture continues to prove that she is a well rounded artist dripping with talent and authenticity. After capturing our attention, Kapture has shown she can also hold it.

Best Lyric: “How so you sleep at night knowing I’m broken for life.”

Jake Stone - Late Nights

Late Nights - Jake Stone (Pop) Jake Stone serves pop perfection with latest track “Late Nights”. In this Top 40 sounding record, Jake relives the trauma of a breakup, analyzing the way it was done and the intentions of the person who broke his heart who framed him as the bad guy. The song is a driving midtempo, with a tribal feeling percussion and rousing choral backing that gave us a vibe similar to FUN’s “Some Nights” and other tracks of the genre—maybe some Harry Styles or a solo Jonas brother efforts. Jake’s vulnerable tenor slices through the beefy mix with a perfect pop vocal to deliver quite a relatable and sing-along-able track.

Best Lyric: “Cuz it’s not like my love was complacent, but you were looking for reasons to replace it.”

Draumr - Some Other Night

Some Other Night - Draumr (Retro Pop) It’s the right time of year for a spooky video, with a slamming track to match. In Draumr’s latest record, “Some Other Night,” the soundscape is the 80s, with a punchy production featuring a tight driving drum kit, some ear candy guitar riffs and those amazing splashy 80s synths. The vocal showcases a sparkling falsetto, with a synth processing and delay effect that give a distinct sound that feels like a burst of shimmering light, with the breakdown at the end giving us some serious Queen vibes. Despite the horror movie visual, the song is quite peppy and certainly danceable. We think this is one to cruise down the highway to.

Lapenzi - Pretend

Pretend - Lapenzi (Pop) Lapenzi gives us a power pop ballad with latest track, “Pretend”, on which she begs a former love to give her the opportunity for one last moment, asking if they’ll at least pretend to still have feelings for her. It’s a bittersweet track, amplified by warbly piano and a dynamic production that slams hard into the chorus to mirror the desperation and outpouring of vulnerability in the vocal performance. Lapenzi delivers a strong pop vocal, punchy and focused, with a tonality reminding us a bit of Miley without all the recent husk and rasp—”Wrecking Ball” era. With a universal subject matter, evocative instrumental and heartstring pulling lyrics, you’ve got a new karaoke song in “Pretend.”

Best Lyric: “If you don’t love me could we just pretend you love me?”

Nadine Randle - K9 (Wide Awake)

K9 (Wide Awake) - Nadine Randle (HipHop/R&B)  Nadine Randle brings it back to the floor with latest track “K9 (Wide Awake)”. This is Nadine’s second time on the blog, with her previous track “Waterfalls” giving us a driving power ballad. This time, we’ve got a thumping R&B/Hiphop infused track with focused and strong vocals in the driver’s seat. Style wise, we feel like Nadine’s performance evokes a lot of Nicole Scherzinger in the sound, especially in the longer belts, and with a touch of Ariana Grande sensibility in the melody and verse delivery. Complimented by crispy trap percussion, a slippery synth lead and a rumbling synth bass, the track is a perfect sonic sandwich.

Best Lyric: “Doesn’t matter that you cause me a poser.”

Lukx - Let Me Believe

Let Me Believe - Lukx (R&B)  We’re on our seventh Lukx track and we continue to love his brand of fresh, feel-good funk. With latest single “Let Me Believe,” Lukx delivers another vibey track with that West Coast feeling we’ve come to expect from him. We’ve said it many times: Snoop Dogg flow and tone mixed with some Andre 3000. His layered vocals are a warm blanket, with a fuzzy whispery husk that slips right into your ear. You can feel your shoulders lower as the track chills you out. What we particularly liked about this (as always) impeccably produced track is the punchy and intricate percussion arrangement. Chill vibes and positivity, Lukx remains a ray of sunshine in the indie music scene and we’re ready for #8.

Best Lyric: “It’s never too late for a totally different life.”

Benedict Sinister - Only Sixteen

Only Sixteen - Benedict Sinister (Pop) Oh boy we were not expecting the turn of the chorus of this one. With “Only Sixteen”, Benedict Sinister reminisces on a love from his teens, reconciling the heartbreak he experienced with the fact that he, and his lover, were so young at the time. However, there is still pain here as this track is pure barbed wire, psychoanalyzing the ex to understand her motivations, but not excuse her for them or the hurt she caused. What’s surprising about this track are the way the sing-songy, warbly keys lull you into a cozy space before Benedict Sinister hits you with the sneak attack. His Johnny Cash style vocals also give him a unique identity in the genre, and his delivery proves that this track is personal.

Best Lyric: “Didn’t know you could be such a bitch, thought you didn’t mean to.“

Marina - Vindictive Bitch

Vindictive Bitch - Marina (Pop)  Marina doesn’t get mad, she gets even. In her latest track “Vindictive Bitch”, Marina pulls no punches, serving an in your face track that tells her ex lover that they are about to reap the seeds they’ve sown. The track feels like it might have a country influence in parts of the melody and storytelling, reminiscent of another vindictive bitch who took a baseball bat to someone’s car, but with the edge of a Pink track. Marina’s vocals are strong and emotive, it’s clearly a personal song as she sprays fire on the track like a dragon. Overall, this song is meant for the scorn lover, the recently single, and those wishing to jam out with the windows down while feeling their freedom.

Best Lyric: “I don’t think you’ve me yet.”

Juva - Sun's Out

Sun’s Out - Juva (R&B/Rap) The clouds have parted on Juva’s latest track “Sun’s Out”, a hazy ode to good weather and good vibes. The track is underlaid by a plucky synth lead and pads that bring a mystery and tension to the track, with featured steel drums to evoke that image of a sun drenched beach, sand between your toes and the smell of suntan lotion. The kick has the knock you want, with a slippery 808 bass and a lead vocal that slices through the percussion with a reedy timbre, accentuated by a light touch of intentional tuning for some sprinkling of ear candy. This is a windows down, cruising down the highway kinda track—a real vibe.

Luna Keller - Ocean Inside Of Me

Ocean Inside Of Me - Luna Keller (Indie Folk)  Nature stands front in center in Luna Keller’s latest track, “Ocean Inside Of Me”. References to rivers, stars, clouds, forests and of course the ocean are used as metaphors for the turbulent and at times overwhelming emotions sitting just below the surface. The track flows like water, beginning with a zen and soothing synth, adding a lilting guitar and warbled keys that, together with a patient percussion, give the feeling of a live performance at a jazz club. The vocal is mature and emotive, rising like the waves described from verses to a rousing chorus. Chock full of stunning lyrics and swelling chord progressions, this is a song you feel.

Best Lyric: “The ocean inside of me flooded my eyes.”

Maria Deirisarri - In The Beginning (LP)

In The Beginning (LP) - Maria Deirisarri (Pop) Holy shit. This album is beyond spectacular, showcasing a vocal talent and impeccable production, Maria Deirisarri blew us away with her latest LP “In The Beginning”, and if she doesn’t become a household name something is wrong with the universe. We don’t say this lightly. With a thoughtfully sequenced and diverse collection of timeless ballads and pop/R&B mainstream bangers, Maria stunned us with her talent, musicality and clearly painstaking and meticulous construction of one of our favorite albums of the year. Download this N O W. Let’s dig in.

Now this is the way you introduce your artistry to the world. With ethereal instruments, power driven themes and quirky use of spoken word punches, Maria self describes her work as “lyrical sentiments [that] span across love, fear, and resistance”, culminating in self-discovery. Based in Atlanta, the 17 year old dynamo showcases olympic level lyricism that defies her young age, already winning a Trailblazing Performer accolade from the International SingerSongwriters Association and a second-place finish in Omega’s Got Talent.

The production on “In The Beginning” is top notch, from the heartbreakingly beautiful piano ballads to the punchy pop-rock scorchers and fresh R&B cuts (she even spits some bars). Maria showcases a a versatility that proves that she is more than a pop singer—she is a musician in every sense of the word. One of the many qualities of “In The Beginning” that stood out to us are the surprising turns in instrumental production with specific songs, which made each track incredibly engaging. This is a listen straight through album.

But our favorites have to be the simple guitar numbers which let Maria show off her vocal prowess. With a sound that at times reminded us of Sara Bareilles, and others a touch of Fiona Apple, Maria’s serenades are beautiful, and we must specifically shout out her moments of duet with a male vocalist, whose rich baritone melds seamlessly with Maria’s alto to create honey for the ears.

It’s difficult to pick our favorite tracks because we cannot emphasize enough that they are all equally spectacular. “Te Necesito” is probably our favorite ballad on the album, with heartstring pulling guitar and strings met with Taylors strong and centered performance. We’d love to hear this one live. “Diamond” is also a standout, which feels like the most Top 40 of the tracks. We are particularly in love with the lush harmonies in the backgrounds which sing like a siren song—seductive earcandy. Album closer “Pieces” also shines as a perfect finale—resolute and heartfelt.

We should also point out tracks like “Blindfolded” and “Junctional Rhythm”, where Maria ventures into pop rock. The latter’s production makes this another Top 40 track, incorporating an almost country flavor, with a distorted delay on the vocal that elevates the track without overproducing Maria’s voice. Interlude (we assume) “Freedom” also stuck with us for its haunting beauty, reminding us a lot of Adele’s recent work (elements of this carry through to the aforementioned “Diamond”).

We celebrate Maria Deirisarri’s masterpiece that is “In The Beginning” and bow to an artist destined for stardom. Hats off to you, Maria, and we look forward to watching you ascend.

Grace & Moji - Sad Times

Monster - Grace & Moji (Pop) Following our reviews of previous tracks “Monster” and “Tipping Point”, Grace & Moji return for the third month in a row with “Sad Times”, a melancholy subject matter set to a poppy retro dance beat. While “Monster” gave us some 90s Smashing Pumpkins alt rock, and “Tipping Point” gave us anthemic folk, “Sad Times” gives us yet another side of Grace & Moji, conjuring those doo wop evocations of “Hey Yah” and “F*** You". But what all these tracks keep in common are those anthemic builds, with the song pivoting in the bridge to a rousing singalong. Of all the tracks we’ve had the pleasure of reviewing, this one is Grace & Moji’s most commercially appealing track, which we think you’ll be hearing in some ad placements very soon.

Best Lyric: “Cuz days are growing darker I need to open my heart yeah.”

Lew McKenzie - Alone

Alone - Lew McKenzie (R&B) Lew McKenzie brings some classic R&B with latest single, “Alone”. With Ginuwine vibes abound, Lew explains that his track contemplates residing in two worlds, outside with the people and then inside the mind, and Lew hopes to explain that the division isn’t that straightforward. The sound is certainly R&B with with a very unique instrumentation, matching lilting keys with a fuzzy synth lead that reminds us of Timbaland’s productions for Justin Timberlake in the 00s. Lew’s voice is honey, giving us a strong baritone and even a little rap sampling, beautifully performed and exquisitely layered as earcandy. But what stuck out to us the most are those Janet-level chord progressions which seem to have been abandoned in recent music, taking us in different and unexpected directions that make the track very engaging.

Best Lyric: “Up all night inside my nightmares.”

Joe Lington - Black Desire (LP)

Black Desire (LP) - Joe Lington (R&B) Last week, we got to listen to Joe Lington’s latest EP, “WTPA”, a trio of R&B tracks that we said was a solid preview of his upcoming EP. This week, we go back to last year and review his most recent LP, “Black Desire” (his fourth), another R&B gem tinged in retro with a sprinkling of 90s dance influences as well.

Again, Joe shows off his bilingual skills by bouncing between French and English, showcasing his crystal clear instrumental mixing. The production is much less minimalist than WTPA, providing a multi-layered, rich sound with clear instrument separation in the mix, which is a tribute to his production abilities (he does this all himself y’all). With a background in gospel choir, Joe is trained music producer in both mixing and mastering, and claims both Sisqo and Keith Sweat as his influences, with favorite albums by Mary J, Toni Braxton and Usher. We can certainly hear these references all over “Black Desire”, along with some other influences.

The LP kicks off with the title track, almost an introduction of sorts as it rests in a spoken word poetry style, explaining that the title of the album describes the pervasiveness of the need for black people to implement code switching, as their ambition and drive will not be viewed the same as that of another race. “It’s Gonna Be Alright - Remix” kicks off the suite of tracks with straight Usher vibes, as if lifted from the “Confessions” album. "Mamacita" places a latin flare on top of a gritty 90s synth bass lead to make a real hip winder, while "Je Pleure" takes a surprising turn into 90s house for the most Top 40 friendly number of the bunch. We even get some fun spoken features by a gaggle of girls that made us think of the intro to Sir Mix-a-lot's "Baby Got Back" or Kanye's intro to "Work Out Plan".

A taste of "Marshmallow" follows with a quiet storm R&B vibe underlying a rock guitar riff, making us crave a longer version of the track. "Ce Soir" slows things down even further with a beautiful 90s Toni Braxton-like ballad, layered with rich vocal chorals like a 112 track. "I Can't See You" takes us back to Usher territory where Joe dusts off his falsetto to show you he has range not just as a producer/artist, but also as a vocalist, before the "On se complete - Remix" sees the return of the rock guitar, which quickly gives way to a TLC sounding bass bop. This track is one of our favorites on the album.

The final suite of songs are introduced with "Pretty Girl", with "Because Of You" giving another twinkling ballad before ending with dance floor spinner "On Dance", rounding out the LP with an eclectic mix of instrumentation, styles and tempos that show the full breadth of Joe's talent. It's refreshing to have a cohesive, well plotted and thoughtfully sequenced album that has genre exploration centered on core sound.

An impressive, multi-talented one man band, Joe Lington does his inspirations proud on “Black Desire”.

Arden Alexa - Petty Bitch

Petty Bitch - Arden Alexa (Pop) Oh do we love a “Petty Bitch”, which is the mantle Arden Alexa has claimed with her latest track, all to go toe to toe with a shitty ex lover. After 10 years, the former object of Arden’s affection is being petty and so our vocalist has decided to take the low road and beat them at their own game. The track is classic Top 40 with a driving rock guitar leading the record as it duets with Arden’s powerful and emotive pop vocal. Overall, the track gives us a “The Truth About Love” era Pink vibe with a dash of Kelly Clarkson, with lyrics just as clever and memorable as you want from a breakup song. And this is just for you Arden—”oh by the way, we love you.” ;)

Best Lyric: “We were thrown out the window.”