Blurryface – Twenty Øne Piløts
May 23, 2025
Please use discretion when you’re messing with the message, man.
Hiya all! To commemorate the 10 year anniversary of Blurryface by Twenty Øne Piløts, here is a recommendation of the album! Following Vessel, TøP was primed for success, and my did they deliver. This record boasts hits such as Stressed Out and Ride, but my favorite part is that Blurryface begins the story of Dema, a story that would continue in the following three albums. This album really branches out sonically from their earlier sound, incorporating more rock and reggae elements. TøP has never been afraid to experiment, and each track on Blurryface feels like its own little excursion into a different sound, all unified by Josh’s rocking drums and Tyler’s excellent voice. The songwriting is as on-point as aways, with a themes of fame and music joining mental health lyrics. Favorites for me include the subversive and beautiful Tear In My Heart, epic Fairly Local, tentative Doubt (which I loved before it got super popular with the demo version!), and absolutely fiery Heavydirtysoul. I have to give a special mention to Hometown, which is so thoughtful and is also a total jam. My favorite track, however, has to be Message Man. The spooky, off-balance atmosphere, hypnotic rhythm, and anthemic chorus make for a very unique song with great lyrics and a significant meaning. There is a good reason Blurryface has received the attention it has earned. Here’s to another 10 years! (Also, go listen to it.)
Take This To Your Grave – Fall Out Boy
May 30, 2025
There’s a light on, in Chicago, and I know I should be home…
Hiya all! This week, I am recommending an album I didn’t much like at first—and soon became one of my few go-to comfort records. It’s Take This to Your Grave by Fall Out Boy. I got into Fall Out Boy in their most recent works, and so I was at first less and less interested the earlier in the discography I explored. But after my first listen to TTTYG, I found each track, in succession, whispering in the back of my mind. This album is basically a million ultra-catchy hooks in a punk trench coat, and it works. The band flawlessly chronicles this sense of apathetic, sarcastic youth that belies a sincere longing for connection and stability. The instrumentals make complexity sound easy, and even in his earlier years Patrick’s vocals are on-point. My favorite songs include heavy The Pros and Cons of Breathing, sweet Homesick at Space Camp, and energetic Dead On Arrival. Calm Before the Storm is a climactic moment on the track listing, sporting a more resigned sound than the rest of the album. Tell That Mick He Just Made My List of Things to Do Today has grown on me a lot as well. My favorite of them all, however, is Chicago Is So Two Years Ago. The composition is excellent, the sound is lighthearted but meaningful, and the lyrics are so nostalgic. But there is a lot beyond nostalgia in this record. Whether you’re still in the adolescent phase or past it, don’t disregard the sarcastic emo lyrics and catchy instrumentals as “trash for teenagers”. Because honestly? The adult that pretends they’re not still the teenager they once were is no different from the teenager who pretends they’re not still a kid. You can’t grow out of everything—Some things just stick with you, and Take This To Your Grave has that sticky quality right at its core. Take a seat on the Take This To Your Grave couch and go give it a try!
Funhouse – P!nk
June 6, 2025
It’s all your fault!
Hello all! Today I am recommending an album I’ve enjoyed since I was very young—and listening to it again, now a little older, it totally holds up! The album is Funhouse by P!nk. It seems that because she’s still very relevant, people forget that P!nk’s career has spanned over two and a half decades. After several successful records, she released Funhouse in 2008. The album is imbued with the dizzying mania of a carnival ride, while bearing a softer introspective side. The calmer tracks are careful to never feel boring or slow, while the the more energetic tracks express a “loud” sound with a rather minimal arrangement. It’s clear that a lot of intentionality went into the choices of the production and arrangement. At times it feels that every instrument has been manipulated into a catchy hook. P!nk’s powerful voice ties everything together, filling ridiculously catchy melodies with heart and emotion. You may be familiar with hit singles like the anthemic So What, explosive Please Don’t Leave Me, and hard-hitting Sober. However, the rest of the album more than pulls its weight. Ave Marie A is practically apocalyptic track, while ballads I Don’t Believe You and Glitter in the Air beautifully express their palpable feelings. The title track Funhouse holds down the core of the album with its off-balance vibe. My favorite is doubtlessly It’s All Your Fault. The writing is so dynamic and the arrangement exudes such unstable energy, it’s always a joy to listen to. Go check out Funhouse, and enjoy!
Icon For Hire – Icon For Hire
June 13, 2025
I’m not scared to lose it all, when all I got is beautiful.
Good day all, and have a safe Friday the 13th! It’s time to recommend a great record by a great band, which coincidentally share a name: Icon For Hire by Icon For Hire. Following their blowup debut Scripted, Icon For Hire’s self-titled album takes the notes of metal and hip hop in their earlier sound and tone them up. This album also increases the frequency and complexity of their electronica elements. All of it is tied together by Ariel Bloomer’s thoughtful lyrics and hypnotizing voice. I cannot fail to mention Shawn’s shredding riffs and Adam’s energetic beats. The album is also dipped in a layer of sugary pop catchiness, at times to the point of satire. Songs like Think I’m Sick or Sugar and Spice are built around these addictive, almost nursery-like rhythmic chants. This mesmerizing quality reflects the record’s themes of pop culture and the music industry. Other songs, though, capture a gentler and more sincere quality. My favorites include motivating Watch Me, enchanting Think I’m Sick, beautiful Hope of Morning, and heart-melting Slow Down. Every great band has that fan-favorite anthem that was never a single, and I feel Icon For Hire’s is Rock and Roll Thugs, bearing likely the most touching lyrics on the record. However, my very favorite might just have to go to Pop Culture. The explosive beat, driving synths and melodies, and devastating guitars channel their energy into a properly iconic track. Check out the album now!
While they’ve stated they still love their first two records, all of the revenue from Icon For Hire’s first two records go directly to their old record label. If you’d like to support the band, please also check out their three excellent new albums: You Can’t Kill Us, Amorphous, and The Reckoning!
Radical Optimism – Dua Lipa
June 20, 2025
Can we keep falling forever?
Hiya all! This week, I am recommending a recent album I was rather transfixed by. It’s Radical Optimism by Dua Lipa. After the release of her blowup disco record Future Nostalgia, Dua Lipa cemented herself as a pop mainstay. The followup album, however, expresses something deeper. Radical Optimism is positively dripping with this sense of maturity and artistry. It feels like going a step beyond without abandoning the dance beats and pop hooks that catapulted Dua Lipa into the mainstream. The expressive vocals and creative, immersive instrumentals are highlights of the production, but the part that struck me most was the meaningful and introspective lyric writing. While confused angst makes for some great expression, this album leans into a calmer, more actualized understanding. As I said, it feels very mature compared to the rest of her more lighthearted catalog. Highlight songs include spooky Houdini, mesmerizing and energetic Illusion, and heartfelt album closer Happy For You. I’ve been particularly interested in Maria as of late. The lyrical topic isn’t something I’ve heard written about often, and the writing presents it well. Plus, the Spanish guitars and flute hook are epic. My favorite track has to be Falling Forever. It’s so driving and active without compromising the unsteadiness of its “how long can this last?” theme. The vocals are particularly powerful as well. Overall, Radical Optimism is a great listen. It feels ambitious, yet down to earth. At times the chords are unexpected and creative, while the instruments feel tactile. Go give it a listen!
I’d also like to recommend the extended version of Radical Optimism. If you’re looking for a longer listen, the more patient arrangements are very nice. If you’re a Daft Punk fan, this version might be right up your alley. Enjoy!
Charlie – Charlie Puth
June 27, 2025
Charlie be quiet!
Hello all! It’s time to recommend one of the best pop records of recent years. It’s Charlie by Charlie Puth. Sometimes it seems like Charlie Puth can’t escape gimmicks—he’s the guy dating the celebrity, he’s the guy with perfect pitch, he’s the guy who makes the songs out of random noises—which is a shame, since he’s also a really talented songwriter and producer. His third album Charlie is a culmination of funk, R&B, dance, and even some rock. Each track is built around these infectious hooks and dynamic instrumentals. The album works with this duality of explosive emotions and laid-back vibes, mixing punchy guitars with warm pads and groovy bass. Favorite tracks include rocking, anxious Charlie Be Quiet!, quick-paced There’s a First Time For Everything, funky Light Switch, and catchy Loser. My very favorite has to be Tears On My Piano. The mood is just flawless with the pulsing bass and nonstop beat. It carries this subtle but omnipresent weight that pushes the song forward and the album toward completion. Charlie feels like Charlie Puth at his best—Sincere, creative, and a little bit of a loser, because aren’t we all? Go listen to the album now, and remember to check back here July 1st for the first track of sound:concept III!
Samurai – Lupe Fiasco
July 4, 2025
I’ma be the one that you ba-ba-ba-bababa-baaa!
Hello all, and for those in the US, happy Independence Day! This week, it’s time for one of the most impeccable albums I’ve heard in a long time. It’s Samurai by Lupe Fiasco. The album consists of a skinny 8 tracks for a reason—Every single bit of extra material has been trimmed and disposed of, leaving only pure and inventive art in its wake. My favorite element of the album is the meticulous attention to the beats. Every song has its own beautiful hook and addictive instrumental. At no time on the album am I not sure which track is playing, yet the whole project feels undeniably committed to its cohesive jazz/R&B influence. However, the best part of the record has to be Lupe Fiasco’s genius lyricism. The stories he weaves appear so clearly while using such complex wording and metaphor, all with a groovy flow. I am tempted to dissect each track here, but I think you will be better off listening for yourself. It’s difficult to choose a favorite song off Samurai. The harp in Outside is heavenly. #1 Headband is such a great, confident track. Bigfoot has been growing on me. Til Eternity is a great closer. My favorite is probably Mumble Rap. The beat is so spooky and the lyrics are so imaginative and evocative. If you’re a fan of hip hop, this is a must-listen. If you’re a fan of music in general, I’d wager you’ll appreciate the greatness of Samurai. Please give it a listen, and check back this Tuesday for the next track of sound:concept III!
Speak For Yourself – Imogen Heap
July 11, 2025
It gets me every time!
Hello all! This week, I’m recommending an album that blew past the ranks of my queue thanks to how much it blew my mind. It’s Speak for Yourself by Imogen Heap. How would one describe this masterpiece of a record? Alt-pop falls flat for me. I prefer imagining if Alanis Morisette was the MC and C418 was the DJ. On Speak for Yourself, Imogen Heap sounds like someone described contemporary music to her secondhand and she ran with that description. It’s beautiful. Electronic drums, sonically-emulsified guitars, transcendent strings and synths, and my favorite—the weightless harp lines topping it off. Not to mention, the record was written, recorded, and produced 99% by Imogen Heap alone. The vocals are excellent and the lyrics are colorful and expressive. The track listing is one of the most consistent I’ve heard—All of the album tracks belong right up there with hit singles Headlock, Goodnight and Go, and Hide and Seek. Dramatic Headlock is a personal favorite and deserving album opener, while groovy Clear the Area, tense The Walk (what a bridge!), and moody penultimate track Closing In are other absolute highlights. My favorite is surely Daylight Robbery. The electric energy is undeniable and infectious, one of the few moments on the album that lets go a bit on its artful restraint in favor of indulging in some insane rock guitars. Not only is it a great song, but it serves to contextualize the tracks before and after. Go give Speak for Yourself a listen, and tune in Tuesday for the next track off sound:concept III. Actually, maybe listen to my new song first…Speak for Yourself is a tough act to follow. Haha!
Death of a Bachelor – Panic! at the Disco
July 18, 2025
If you wanna start a fight, you better throw the first punch, make it a good one!
Hiya all! It’s time to recommend one of my favorite pop records of the past decade or so. I’m talking about Death of a Bachelor by Panic! at the Disco. It’s as if they wrote two albums worth of single material and thought “Let’s go with this!”. Besides singles like Victorious, LA Devotee, Emperor’s New Clothes, Don’t Threaten Me With a Good Time, Hallelujah, and Death of a Bachelor, this record also contains the unexpected but not undeserved hit House of Memories. The album feels like a non-stop party (up until the mournful closing track) that’s gone on so long, its patrons are growing delirious—Yet the heart and dynamic of each track provides the necessary momentum without dampening the vibe. Blending pop rock with electronic elements, Death of a Bachelor turns away a bit from Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die’s synthy elements in favor of more classic big band and jazz influences. For me, the highlight is the instrumentals, which always feel large and energetic without sacrificing dynamics or intention. Add in Brendon rocking his signature acrobatic vocals, and you have an admirably strong project. My favorite tracks are explosive LA Devotee (seriously, one of the catchiest songs I’ve heard), epic fight song The Good, the Bad, and the Dirty, and deliciously sinister Emperor’s New Clothes. My favorite track is actually Golden Days, a woefully overlooked track mixing the throes of nostalgia with a powerful instrumental and soaring vocal. If you’re looking for something fun to listen to, I can basically guarantee you can find it on Death of a Bachelor. Go give it a try, and check in Tuesday for the next track on my album sound:concept III!
Duality – Lindsey Stirling
July 25, 2025
Take a bow, one step is all you need to do!
This album recommendation is a milestone—big number 50! Few people are more deserving of it than my first favorite artist, Lindsey Stirling. This week, I am recommending her latest album, Duality. Following her darker, more electronic release Artemis (and holiday album Snow Waltz), Lindsey leaned into a really beautiful, natural sound that emphasizes a lot of the dramatic tension at the heart of her writing. The focus on orchestra and vocals blends excellently with the soaring voice of her violin. While her arrangements have always been engaging, there is a clear development on this album into more ambitious writing. Lindsey has found her audience. She’s become not just the girl with the violin, but the composer with the violin. Tracks like Surrender are imbued with rock energy, while others like Evil Twin evoke a more mysterious sound. There is also a great balance of calmer songs such as Serenity Found. The drums all over the album are particularly impressive—controlled but hard-hitting at just the right moments. And as always, the massive violin melodies absolutely crush. My favorites include rocking Surrender, epic Eye of the Untold Her, groovy La Fees, moving Purpose, and enchanting Firefly Alley. My very favorite track is Kintsugi. The mixture of the vocal with the chorus melody sits just right, bringing a climactic lightness. Even beyond the tracks, there are just so many great moments on the album. The flavorful loan chord in La Fees, the enormous drums in the chorus of Eye of the Untold Her, the sinister harmonies in The Scarlett Queen. There is a lot to love about this record. Go give it a listen, and check back this Tuesday for the final track on sound:concept III!