Morgan Wade – “Take Me Away” (79bpm A♯maj)
Morgan Wade is channeling her inner Dolly Parton on this country ballad. A well crafted song with a nice arrangement, performance, and recording.
[new] Luz – “The Author” (79bpm Cmaj)
Here’s a woman who is dripping with talent. She has excellent intonation, and expression. I couldn’t find out for sure whether she wrote this song, but if she did she’s got a tremendous ability there as well. If I had to offer her any advice, I would say be careful not to typecast yourself as an angsty teen. Relax, smile, and have a little fun once in a while. Hopefully we’ll hear more good stuff from her in the months and years ahead. You may like her cover of Dua Lipa’s “Don’t Start Now.”
[new] Anderson .Paak feat. Rick Ross – “Cut ‘Em In” (79bpm Dmin)
Wow… it’s so nice to hear someone actually rap again. Call me old school… whatever. This style is just flat-out better than the unintelligible and profoundly unoriginal rubbish that the music industry is churning out lately. Listen carefully and pay attention all you mumble-rap losers. This is how it’s done. Kudos to the producer for a great guitar riff and head-bobbing beat. I would like to request a 12″ version with a nice long break about two thirds of the way through. That reminds me… why don’t songs have breaks anymore? In the words of Afrika Bambaataa, “The break beat is that part you look for in a record that let’s your God-self just get wild.” The break what started the entire hip hop music genre. Who doesn’t like a good break? Whaddaya say Anderson .Paak?
[new] Joy Oladokun – “Bad Blood” (79bpm Amaj)
According to her website, when Joy Oladokun was 10 years old, she saw a video of Tracy Chapman singing and playing guitar and was inspired. She’s really created something beautiful with “Bad Blood.” It’s got a really pleasing blend of guitar, mandolin, piano and bass. Her voice is natural, soulful, full of dynamic range, enhanced by gorgeous multipart harmonies at just the right times, and not stepped on by excessive processing. She also doesn’t have one millisecond of vocal fry which is wonderful! I’m looking forward to hearing more from her.
Of course, when I saw the song’s title was “Bad Blood,” I couldn’t help but think of Taylor Swift’s Bad Blood. Oladokun’s is 79bpm in the key of A, and Taylor Swift’s is 85bpm in the key of G. Hmmm… that’s only a 6bpm and two semitone difference. I couldn’t help it; I fired up my DJ app and did a quick mashup. Enjoy. 🙂 (I hope Joy is not offended.)