From Koffee’s infectious optimism to Ethel Cain’s eerie vision of Americana, these are the records that are getting us through the season.
, has a unique gift for capturing the unfulfilled promise of life in the US, doing so in a way that feels both ultra-modern and timeless.
about his long-anticipated debut album, which has no features and is truly singular in its vision. Lots of artists say things like that, but few make a body of work that lives up to such a statement. WithChugging percussion creates an underlying sense of urgency on “Message in a Hammer,” one of several incisive tracks where Obongjayar opens up about the social unrest in his native Nigeria through his lyrics and the way he delivers them, first in a throaty growl, and later a frenetic falsetto.
’s “Gr8 Timing!” Like Snail Mail mixed with Hellogoodbye, the song has indie power chords and pounding uptempo percussion. It would almost veer too much towards maximalism if it wasn’t for Hannah Judge’s expertly controlled vocals.