#3 ALBUM:

Danny Brown, Old

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Danny Brown has always been a contradictory being, simultaneously rapping about his hedonistic party lifestyle while at the same time dredging the horrifying bottom of his experiences growing up poor in Detroit for inspiration. On Old, Danny takes this form to its absolute apex, creating an album that serves as a bleak portrait of urban decay and the effects of mindless drug use, while at the same time being my absolute favorite party record of the year. From its dizzying lyricism, to its crisp and consistently inventive production, to its sky-high ambition, Old is a beast that will take absolutely no prisoners. Simply try to resist the riotous attraction of tracks like “Dope Song‰Û, “Smokin‰’ and Drinkin‰’‰” and “Dip‰Û, or try to deny the gritty realism of “Wonderbread‰” and “Torture‰Û. It is the fulfillment of what Danny has been working towards for his whole career, so let it serve as the soundtrack to your next disorderly social gathering, but don‰’t think about it too hard: you just might get Danny‰’s point.
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By Richard Murphy

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#3 SONG:

James Blake, “Retrograde”

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“Retrograde” is perfect. Introing with a stunning looping line from James Blake’s soulful tenor, a simple boom-bap beat, and electric piano chords, the track sets itself up to consume you. As he overdubs powerful vocals, in both delivery and lyrical content, Blake’s complex arrangement continues to make you long for more. At the climax, you’re hit. A huge wave of synth rises and crashes into the intricate construction built before your eyes. And it is glorious.

Culminating in the lyrics “we’re alone now”, “is this darkness or the dawn”, and “show me where you fit”, “Retrograde” explores the obsession to discover the true nature of another human being. We’ve all felt the longing to understand someone to their core, whether that person is a friend, a lover, or even a total stranger. Yet, even when you’re alone together, that person remains a mystery. All you have is a haunting theme hinting at their soul.

“Retrograde” is perfect because it explores emotional territory that most of us never want to acknowledge: we will seek to understand the people in our lives, but we can never fully succeed. James Blake made something captivatingly painful when he crafted “Retrograde”. As soon as you realize that, it’s even more difficult to turn off the loop the song is set on.
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By Spencer Swan