This week, in honor of what would have been his 73rd birthday, Riffs & Rhymes is celebrating the musical legacy of country-rock pioneer Gram Parsons.
Week of Gram: Celebrating the Musical Legacy of Country-Rock Pioneer Gram Parsons
10 Years of Fashawn’s Magnificent Debut Album, ‘Boy Meets World’
Fashawn's 2009 debut is a gem in the canons of both West Coast and underground hip-hop. A decade later, it holds up as one of the compelling works from its era.
Holiday Sidewinder – Forever Or Whatever
In bold and bright colors over an electric pop sound, Holiday Sidewinder's debut albumĀ is the light-hearted, honest and unfiltered record the pop world needs right now.
Seasonal Playlist: Sounds of Autumn
Seep into the sounds of fall with this seasonal mix featuring various artists. Curated by music lovers for music lovers.
Classic Artist of the Week: Roberta Flack
Hailing from Black Mountain, North Carolina, this weekās Riffās & Rhymes Classic Artist is revered singer Roberta Flack.
Danny Brown – uknowhatimsayinĀæ
Danny Brown's latest is a celebration of longevity, artistic significance and an allegiance to the craft of being one of this decade's most dynamic rappers.
Lyric of the Week: Anderson .Paak – King James
Lyric:Ā What we built here is godly, you can't gentrify the heart of kings Song:Ā Anderson .Paak ā āKing Jamesā Album:Ā Ventura (2019) Background:Ā The lead single off of Anderson .Paakās 2019 album Ventura, āKing Jamesā is a smooth, funk filled track that pays homage to NBA superstar LeBron James, and touches on problematic social justice issues in the … Continue reading Lyric of the Week: Anderson .Paak – King James
New Music Roundup: September
New music roundups are a monthly recap dedicated to covering the latest music in a series of short, descriptive reviews. This monthās edition includes new releases from Brittany Howard, The Highwomen, Men I Trust and more. Adam Green - Engine of Paradise Adam Green's oddly charming poetry exudes of everything wonderful about the New York's … Continue reading New Music Roundup: September
Alex Cameron – Miami Memory
The third studio album from the Australian singer-songwriter is a declaration of love, laden with his signature wit and penchant for crafting an infectious pop song.
Reefcity – Current Times
The latest beach rock savants to burst onto the Santa Barbara scene have arrived with their full length debut album.
Imp and Daniel Saylor on Their Cannabis-Infused Beat Tape, Their Favorite Weed Strains and the Art of Collaboration
The Southern-based producers and songwriters have teamed up for a new instrumental project that explores and embraces the THC experience.
Charli XCX – Charli
Charli XCX's third studio album offers catharsis in a way few pop artists can achieve.
Classic Artist of the Week: Willie Nelson
Shotgun Willie! Weāve been going through a heavy outlaw phase as of late, including lots of records by this Texas Troubadour, legendary outlaw countryman and our latest classic artist this week, Willie Nelson. In the mid to late 1950s, Nelson saw little success with his music as he moved his career from city to city, … Continue reading Classic Artist of the Week: Willie Nelson
Paradox & ReFlex the Architect – “Persistence”
The tandem's new collaboration is a motivational boom-bap cut that seeks out growth amid struggle and hardship.
Lana Del Rey – Norman Fucking Rockwell!
Lana Del Rey interprets the American Dream on her latest record.
Danny Brown – “Best Life”
Hip-hop is full of colorful characters, but none quite like Danny Brown.
Whitney – Forever Turned Around
On their second LP, Whitney's sound is warm and carefully calculated.
Lyric of the Week: Blu & Faā e – Think
Lyric: I was always told think before you talk, I jogged alongside my train of thought Song: Blu & Faā e - āThinkā Album: Open Your Optics to Optimism (2016) Background: One of the most celebrated underground MCs of the new millennium, Blu has built an extensive discography of densely layered concept albums that pay homage … Continue reading Lyric of the Week: Blu & Faā e – Think
Acres Even – “Separate”
On their debut single, Los Angeles-based indie outfit Acres Even embrace the inevitability of change, while proudly flashing their alt-rock sensibilities.
New Music Roundup: August
New music roundups are a monthly recap dedicated to covering the latest music in a series of short, descriptive reviews. This monthās edition includes new releases from Leslie Stevens, Shura, Young Thug and more.
Classic Artist of the Week: Big L
One of the most inherently gifted MCs of all time, this weekās Riffs & Rhymes classic artist is legendary Harlem rapper Lamont Coleman, aka Big L. Emerging from Harlem, NY in the early 1990s, Coleman became well known in underground circles for his freestyling ability. He once showed off his rhyme skills for renown producer … Continue reading Classic Artist of the Week: Big L
Understanding the Immersive Soundscapes of Sonoda, Meditative Pop Extraordinaires
Inspired by the atmospheric soundscapes of modern indie pioneers, Lisa Sonodaās entrancing songs constantly reach for something out of the ordinary.
Midland – Let It Roll
Itās been just over a week since Midland released their sophomore album Let It Roll. The band themselves have called their journey in country music a gamble they have gone all in on and itās safe to say The Gator Boys are clearing house. From hard-hitting honky tonk jams and steel guitar to effortless heartbreak-laden … Continue reading Midland – Let It Roll
Haiva Ru – “Oh, but Lover”
"Oh, but Lover" is another lush mix of bedroom-flavored indie pop fueled by Allie Merrill's growing knack for penning sticky melodies.
Lyric of the Week: Gang Starr – Moment of Truth
Lyric: Looking at the situation plainly, will you remain G or will you be looked upon strangely? Song: Gang Starr - "Moment of Truth" Album: Moment of Truth (1998) Background: Often credited as the pioneers of jazz rap, Gang Starr originally started releasing demos in 1986 when Boston-born rapper Guru (then known as MC Keithy E), DJ 1, … Continue reading Lyric of the Week: Gang Starr – Moment of Truth
Classic Artist of the Week: Al Green
Often touted as one of the last of the great soul singers, this weekās Riffs & Rhymes classic artist is āThe Reverend,ā Al Green. During his upbringing, Green set a new standard for an entire genre that went far beyond his ability to top charts. His incomparable voice could be described as the perfect mix … Continue reading Classic Artist of the Week: Al Green
Bon Iver – i,i
These days, few singer-songwriters come as universally acclaimed as Wisconsin native Justin Vernon. Since debuting his now prodigious outfit Bon Iver over ten years ago with the indie folk classic For Emma, Forever Ago, Vernon has become a somewhat elusive yet widely admired figure, keen to avoid ever being in the public eye for too … Continue reading Bon Iver – i,i
Lyric of the Week: Marianne Faithfull – Guilt
A sought-after chanteuse out of the London scene during the 1960s, Marianne Faithfull is widely known for her romantic involvement with Mick Jagger and The Rolling Stones, but her career as a singer-songwriter is robust and worth its own recognition.
Chance the Rapper – The Big Day
After arriving earlier this decade with two stellar mixtapes and an unmistakably charismatic persona, Chance the Rapper seemed poised to be one of the most special hip-hop artists of the 2010s. He fulfilled that promise with 2016's Coloring Book, an album that furthered his unique style of gospel-infused pop-rap and polished it enough to blow up … Continue reading Chance the Rapper – The Big Day
New Music Roundup: July
New music roundups are a monthly recap dedicated to covering the latest music in a series of short, descriptive reviews. This monthās edition includes new releases from Big K.R.I.T., Blood Orange, Thom Yorke and more. Ada Lea - what we say in private Are there really still naysayers out there who claim the creative state … Continue reading New Music Roundup: July
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