"texting and driving down mulholland drive"


After the reinstatement of GOOD Fridays with the release of "Real Friends" and a snippet of "No More Parties in L.A." on Friday, January 8th, Kanye West fans all around the world (including me) set reminders to check Ye's SoundCloud the following Friday for our weekly present.

When the 15th rolled around and there was no new song, or any update as to when one would be out, many pointed fingers at the rapper's wife, Kim Kardashian West, who confirmed that GOOD Fridays would be returning ahead of the release of "Real Friends." Kardashian West took to Twitter to apologize and assured fans that there would soon be a finished version of "No More Parties in L.A." featuring Kendrick Lamar.


Monday morning, Kanye uploaded "No More Parties in L.A." to his SoundCloud. The six-minute track is notably more toned down, production wise, than most of the tracks from My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and Yeezus. Much like "Real Friends," "Parties" is reminiscent of the work of a younger, less experimental Kanye."Parties" sees the emphasis placed not on the beat or the samples (even though both are phenomenal) but on the bars that Kanye and Kendrick are spitting. This collaboration is one that many fans have been waiting on for years, and neither MC disappoints.



I will set a reminder to check Uncle Ye's SoundCloud on Friday, and hopefully I'll have something GOOD to bump all weekend.

Happy Listening,

Robert

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"my mama don't like you and she likes everyone"

photo by Zoey Grossman (@zoeygrossman on Instagram)

During 2015, many parents asked their teenagers what "Netflix and Chill" meant, the debate over whether or not the dress is black and blue or white and gold dominated social media for days, and Justin Bieber made a miraculous comeback by teaming up with Jack Ü for "Where Are Ü Now" and releasing dancehall and tropical house infused Purpose.

"Love Yourself," co-written by Ed Sheeran, explores Bieber's softer side as he sings about a girl who is self-absorbed, uses his name to build herself up, and most importantly, is not liked by his mother.


In addition to the universal critical acclaim and international success the song has been met with, singers all over the world have covered the song. After spending countless hours on YouTube (searching "love yourself cover" produces over 1.7 million results on the site) and questioning whether or not A&R executives (or their assistants) have the will power to actually sit and do this type of stuff, I made a list of six covers that really blew me away.

6. Jona Selle


On top of having an amazing voice, this German YouTuber incorporated his viola skills, which took the song to the next level and made the cover really unique.

5. Good Girl


This up-and-coming R&B girl group really serenaded their way into my heart. The group members, Megan Nicholle, JL, Bobbie, and Arielle sing in perfect harmony and even add their own spin to it by mixing in a few bars of Trey Songz's "About You."

4. Pia Mia


Just before performing her hit "Do It Again" at Pitbull's 2016 New Years Revolution, the platinum-blonde pop princess from Guam showcased her vocal talents by belting out a short rendition of Bieber's song.

3. William Singe


Australia-based singer, songwriter, and producer William Singe's covers have helped him amass over 640,000 subscribers on YouTube and over 1 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Singe adds some R&B flavor to "Love Yourself," making it entirely his own while still paying homage to the original. 

2. Alessia Cara


Bieber's fellow Canadian, Alessia Cara uploaded her cover shortly after the release of Purpose and while it may not be as polished as some of the others, it is amazing and one my personal favorites. You'll be singing along with her perfectly sweet voice from start to finish.

1. Craig David


Last September, British singer Craig David took over BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge to deliver an incredible mash-up of Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth's "See You Again" and Little Mix's "Black Magic." A few weeks ago, he returned to the Live Lounge and delivered yet again, another impressive cover. David takes "Love Yourself" to the next level by speeding it up a bit and inserting a rap breakdown. 

There were so many talented singers who covered the song and I unfortunately did not have time to watch every single one, so if you come across more amazing covers, send them to me! I would love to hear them.

Happy Listening (watching),

Robert


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"not in it for the fame, we do it for the thrill"


photo by Phil Smithies

Last summer, people from all over the United States began receiving packages with stuffed with cassette tapes that instructed the recipients to "just press play." For those without cassette players, there was a code that could be Shazam'ed in order to hear what was on the tape. To the surprise of many, this was not a prank or some sort of anthrax-fueled terrorist attack, but a unique marketing strategy employed by a new band and their label, Epic Records.

The song on the tape was Girls Your Age, the debut single of the Los Angeles-based quartet Transviolet. Since the release of their first single, the band has been making major waves, even garnering the attention of pop music juggernauts Katy Perry and Harry Styles.

The band followed up the success of Girls Your Age (it now has over twenty million streams on Spotify) with a self-titled EP that has been compared to the works of award-winning singer-songwriters Lorde and Lana Del Rey and newcomer Halsey.


Transviolet's four-song EP opens up with the lowkey synth-pop Girls Your Age, shifts to a darker and moody vibe with Bloodstream, reaches it climax with the light, fun, and pop-driven teenage misfit anthem New Bohemia, and closes with Night Vision, an eerie love song.

 Despite the comparisons, Transviolet is in a lane of their own, and their EP demonstrates the band's versatility and solidifies them as a force to be reckoned with in 2016.



Happy Listening,

Robert

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"i know your lungs need filling since your gums have their feeling"



In the last weeks of December as university students sobbed over final exams and parents flooded shopping malls in search of iPhone 6S' and "hoverboards," The 1975 unveiled the three minute visual explosion that is the music video for "UGH!," a non-single from their forthcoming album I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It.

"UGH!," a groovy and upbeat song about a boy who may or may not have had one too many lines, comes to life on a soundstage filled with LED screens as big as lead singer's Matty Healy's voice. The screens, similar to those used by the band on tour, project an array of colors and static images that overwhelm the viewer's eye in the best way possible. The video features a series of short, clipped scenes of Healy parading around the soundstage and hitting a 90s R&B two-step, drummer George Daniel doing his thing, and bassist and guitar players Ross MacDonald and Adam Hahn head bopping away.

The video is somehow simultaneously sleek and aesthetically pleasing and erratic and confusing. Thank you Adam Powell, director, and Tobias Rylander, lighting and production designer, I left "UGH!" feeling very confused, but also very excited about The 1975's sophomore release.


Happy Listening (watching),

Robert





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"you seem tired of my excuses, i'm so tired from all this losing"


photo by Geordie Wood

Leading up to their debut album, Don't You, the Brooklyn-based trio Wet has released a self-titled EP, toured with London Grammar and CHVRCHES, and signed a deal with Columbia Records. Over the past year, they've teased fans with five of the eleven songs from the album, including The Fader approved "It's All in Vain."

Their most recent release (and my personal favorite), "All the Ways" is an anthem for all of those people who enter new relationships with their guard up because of past experiences. In the second verse, the band's vocalist Kelly Zutrau laments about this struggle:
I know it's so unfair to you, I can't forget what I've been through/ How do you expect me to let you in but let you go?/ I feel myself closing up, they're haunting me they keep me down I brace myself another round/ No you're not the same as them, but I can't let you in
"Ways," like most of Wet's other songs, emerges somewhere between a synthpop bop and a R&B groove, making it the perfect song for you to add to the playlist for a night with your friends or for you to scream at the top of your lungs as you dance around your bedroom alone.

I know that I'll be using it for both.



Happy Listening,

Robert



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"if you say run, i'll run with you"


David Bowie (@davidbowie on Instagram)

Last night as the chatter from the 73rd Golden Globe Awards died down, an earth-shattering message was posted on all of the official social media accounts of the legendary singer, performer, musician, shapeshifter (the list could on forever), David Bowie.

January 10 2016 - David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18 month battle with...
Posted by David Bowie on Sunday, January 10, 2016


The news of Bowie's death sent shockwaves around the world, in fact many believed it was a hoax, assuming that his accounts had been hacked. When publications like The Hollywood Reporter and Rolling Stone confirmed the news, musicians, actors, models, and everyone in-between took to social media to share their condolences and messages about their admiration for the singer.




I'm devastated.David Bowie changed the course of my life forever. I never felt like I fit in growing up in Michigan....
Posted by Madonna on Monday, January 11, 2016

When a hero dies, everyone wants a quote. I woke up this morning with a tender head from tears and that big red cup of...
Posted by Lorde on Monday, January 11, 2016

DAVID BOWIEJohn and David respected each other. They were well matched in intellect and talent. As John and I had very...
Posted by Yoko Ono on Monday, January 11, 2016




Though she did not tweet herself, Lady Gaga, who has frequently cited Bowie as one of her biggest inspirations, retweeted this fan.
Bowie's death comes just days after his 69th birthday and the release of his twenty-sixth and final album, Blackstar.

 Unfortunately, unlike many of those who took to Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram last night, I did not grow up listening to David Bowie and my knowledge of his music is very limited. However, "Let's Dance" has been a prominent feature in my life's soundtrack for the past two years. From crowded dorm parties and surprise birthday bashes to dancing in kitchens and long drives in my car, the song reminds me of some really great times.

Here's to an icon, innovator, and inspiration.


Happy Listening,

Robert
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"hey baby you forgot your ray-bans"



On January 8th, 2016 at 1:58 AM, Kim Kardashian West, wife of rapper/every's favorite musical uncle Kanye West, sent out this tweet:
Kanye fans all over the world stared at their screens in shock. Was she hinting at the return of a GOOD Fridays after almost six years?!

For those who are unfamiliar with GOOD Fridays, during the months preceding the release of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Kanye released free songs every Friday on his website. He was even so kind as to continue GOOD Fridays through the end of the year despite having released the album in late November.

Roughly twelve hours later, Kanye dropped "Real Friends" and a snippet of Kendrick Lamar assisted "No More Parties in LA," and in true Kanye fashion, pulled it down less than twenty minutes later, sending out this tweet:
Uncle Ye is a perfectionist after all, and what he delivered was perfect. "Real Friends" and "No More Parties in LA" are fresh, authentic, and undeniably Kanye. In fact, both tracks are reminiscent of his work during the The College Dropout era.


Hopefully these two tracks are evidence that Kanye is going back his roots for upcoming album, SWISH, slated to be released in February.

Honestly though, I'm excited for this album regardless of what direction Kanye ends up taking. I'm also looking forward to receiving a GOOD gift every Friday until then.

Happy Listening,

Robert



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“when december comes i bet you want to...”



At the beginning of every month I embark on the emotional journey that is creating a playlist that will become my soundtrack for the next 30 (or 29/31) days. The content and length of these playlists varies from month to month, but they are often an accurate representation of my mood at the time.

Simply stated, December was rough. Between final papers, final exams, my on-campus job, moving out of my dorm, Christmas shopping, and making New Years Eve plans, I was exhausted all 31 days. Thankfully, I had my December playlist to help me get through it all.
December may be one of my favorite playlists and it has everything from upbeat party records to ambient chill records. Oddly enough, I didn't have any holiday related songs until Ariana Grande dropped the Christmas & Chill EP. 
Below are the fifteen songs that were constantly blared through my headphones during December. 
"Queen’s Speech 4" by Lady Leshurr 
"Antidote" by Travi$ Scott
"The Feeling" (feat. Halsey) by Justin Bieber 
"Daddy Issues" by The Neighbourhood
"19 in Mexico" by Sofi de la Torre
"UGH!" by The 1975
"December" by Ariana Grande 
"SUBURBIA" by Troye Sivan
"Lush Life" by Zara Larsson
"LA Devotee" by Panic! At The Disco
"It's All in Vain" by Wet
"True Love" by Ariana Grande
"I Can Only Give You What I Have" by 1ST VOWS
"Good Vibes" by Rebel Rae
"Stressed Out" by Twenty One Pilots


Happy Listening,

Robert
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