In No Particular Order: Must-Hear Albums Of the Week (Feb 12, 2021)

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This week’s In No Particular Order has three must-hear albums from across genres, including the sophomore-slump-dodging slowthai release, the latest from SWITCHFOOT frontman Jon Foreman, and UK alt-rock trio Mush.

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slowthai – TYRON

Method / AWGE / Interscope Records

Hip-hop/Rap

7/10

UK rapper slowthai has had his share of controversial moments as a performer – mostly during award shows (an altercation at the 2020 NME awards was his most recent). Theatrics aside, the stirring energy and resisting attitude has always been a characteristic of hip-hop; rebelling against the prim and proper could almost be a rite of passage. For slowthai, real name Tyron Frampton, his new “self-titled” album TYRON is self-examination of his true identity against the those expectations, splashed against the wall of 2020’s “cancel culture”.

Split into two halves, the first is the boisterous, familiar rap side, as slowthai self-proclaims his greatness over quality production and with the help of some friends, like Skepta (who basically runs the show on “CANCELLED”) and A$AP Rocky. Primarily standard boasts and fast-quipping lyrics about his bravado and clashing confidence as a rapper, there’s limited depth to his work, other than the rich and catchy production.

But the second half is where slowthai begins to branch out as an artist, expanding his musical palette with the likes of James Blake and Mount Kimbie on “feel away”, and singer-songwriter Deb Never for the slow-burning “push”. There’s a serenity and humbleness that takes shape for Frampton on his Side 2, from being unsure about his romantic feelings on “feel away” or struggling with mental health on “adhd”.

While the first half of TYRON is ear-pleasing, standard Northampton hip-hop, the second half is what shows slowthai‘s ability to be taken more seriously as a stand-out artist. His debut album Nothing Great About Britain was a stellar introduction, and TYRON is best perceived as a continuation into his identity.

Notable tracks: “CANCELLED” // “feel away” // “adhd”

Mush – Lines Redacted

Memphis Industries

Post-punk/Alternative rock

8.5/10

If there’s one thing that humans are the best at, it’s finding the worst in something. Whether it be something small like the worst cup of coffee or something big, like the worst leader to run a country, if it’s out there, we will find it.

And even more so, if there’s one thing that post-punk and punk bands are great at it, it’s poking fun at those that take the title of “worst” with a sarcastic flare. On UK trio Mush‘s latest record Lines Redacted, they’ve but a quirky, Brit-punk spin on the quasi-dystopian world that is slowly taking shape.

While most of the album was written before March 2020 and revolved mostly around the UK government, there was an uncanny premonition of sorts that occurred as the pandemic brought out the worst (and best) of people, elections, and climate change, all topics explored in Lines Redacted.

At the forefront, lead singer Dan Hyndman’s off-beat vocal style sets the tone for the album’s critical and sarcastic intentions. Even if he was singing intently about something, it would be nearly impossible to take him seriously. Plus, the zig-zag instrumentation and jazz-infused guitar riffs come across as playful and disorienting – so facetious is definitely the way to go.

Predecessors, such as Pavement, Television, and even the Clash come to mind with the British ’70s punk scene in tow for Mush, especially on tracks like “Dusting For Prints”, “Clean Living”, and “B2BCDA”. And while the revolution of Brit alt-rock and post-punk is on a clear incline alongside bands such as Home Counties, Sports Team, and Squid, Mush are still able to stand out on their own pedestal with their prog-infused sound and tongue-in-cheek lyricism.

What’s most clear on Lines Redacted is that nobody is safe from being on the opposite end of a lighthearted chuckle as the world burns.

Notable tracks: “Drink the Bleach” // “Hazmat Suits” //

Jon Foreman – Departures

RE:THINK

Singer-songwriter/Alternative

7/10

Best known as the frontman of alternative rock group SWITCHFOOT, San Diego-based artist Jon Foreman has returned with his first solo effort in five years, Departures.

As a way to make sense of the chaos of last year, Departures is a triumphant and dense release that embodies the strength found at the end of a dark tunnel. There’s a sense of relief with Foreman’s rugged voice and anthemic instrumentation throughout the record as he covers spiritual, natural, and interpersonal coping mechanisms for tough times.

From the orchestral introduction “The Ocean Beyond The Sea”, Foreman builds a larger-than-life musicality throughout the record with string arrangements, percussion instruments, and ambient-style detailing to soften the edges. The spirited lead single “Education”, “Side By Side”, and “Love Is A Rebel Song” provide an uplifting quality to the album, while the remainder of Departures is held together through poignant lyricism and cinematic production, creating a range of emotions that pass from optimism to cathartic acceptance.

While there is nothing pioneering or overly compelling about the record, Foreman’s naturally charming disposition and familiar songwriting style is a welcomed blanket as the world continues to shift in exponentially unpredictable directions.

Notable tracks: “Education” // “Weight of the World” // “Love Is A Rebel Song”