The new Kanye West album, Donda, was interesting in it’s own taste. There were many songs to listen to but only a couple really stood out to me, (then got added to my playlist called fresh songs). The songs that stood out were, “Hurricane,” “Off the Grid,” “No Child Left Behind,” and “Jail.” There was a rumor that “Donda Chant,” was matched up to the beats of Kanye’s mother’s heart as she was passing away. That gave me the chills when I heard, but his music always has a deeper meaning in the end, which I kinda like!

Indie band Glass Animals recently released their single “I Don’t Wanna Talk (I Just Wanna Dance)”, which concluded their 2020 album, Dreamland. Compared to their earlier two albums, this release focuses on both relationships as a general concept, as opposed to the people-centered focuses in How To Be a Human Being, or the fantastical sound of Zaba. Although the “Heat Waves” has gone viral since its release, many of the other songs are just as captivating as that one (though it is my personal favorite). The entire album tells a circular story, beginning first with the titular track and into the original final track, “Helium”. My top picks from this album are “Heat Waves”, “Helium,” and “Waterfalls Coming Out Your Mouth”. But each song tells the story of love that feels fleeting and unreal, and each moment that passes in it really feels like a dream you can’t quite place. It’s the kind of music that transports you right back to summer. Dreamland has to be my favorite work from Glass Animals. and I’m so excited to see what they do next.

Clairo’s Sling is both an objective and subjective masterpiece. In a word, it is authentic. The album is dreamy; it’s quiet and intimate and crafted with care and delicacy. It incorporates elements of 70s folk and pairs them with touches of a baroque style, with flowing melodies, hushed harmonies, and compositional texture. It’s nostalgic and personal; each song is a work of art, beautiful in both composition and lyric. She shares a part of her soul and dwells on the reality of having to grow up, while representing those ideas and feelings with mellow acoustics and warm piano. My personal favorites on the album are Wade, Reaper, and Little Changes. Wade is enchanting, moving in waves rather than verses. It takes you on a journey of the unexpected, with wistful piano, gentle acoustics, flowing vocals and dreamy saxophone. Sling is definitely one of my favorite albums of all time. It’s magical and timeless and illustrates Clairo’s progression as an artist.