CUZ I LOVE YOU (!) ... : THE ALBUMS, 2019.

01/STELLA DONNELLY/BEWARE OF THE DOGS

Whenever some lowkey ridiculous action made by a man made me shout “WHY THE MEN?!” up in these streets (which happened quite often in 2019), I returned here to listen to her. I came here to listen to her put men being reckless and out of pocket in their place with her ferocious humor and stinging put downs. I returned here to her and this brash, sharp-witted album like they were friends I could lean on and count on to put a smile on my face.

Beware of the Dogs is the debut album from Welsh-Australian singer songwriter Stella Donnelly where toasts to the assholes will not be had. “You grab me with an open hand, the world is grabbing back at you”, she sings in the opening track’s hook (on the breezy yet pointed Old Man), and then proceeds to clap back sharply over the course of the album’s remaining 12 tracks. With Beware of the Dogs Stella stunts like a 90's alt-rock God, puts a middle finger to the face and a hand up to say “stop talking, you’ve had your say”. It’s calm and steady when the time calls for it (see Mosquito & You Owe Me); always direct and clear; and witty as all get out (see album highlights Season Greeting’s & Watching Telly - especially her sly delivery of the line "god loves his children... but god loves men... JESUS CHRIST(!)"). Strong-willed and in your face (see Boys Will Be Boys and the title track), Beware of the Dogs is a highly relatable, take no prisoners alt-rock gem that stings while giving you a smile (and there for you whenever you find yourself asking  "why the men?!").

KEY TRACKS:

SEASON'S GREETINGS



BOYS WILL BE BOYS







BEWARE OF THE DOGS 



02/SOLANGE/WHEN I GET HOME

03/VAMPIRE WEEKEND/FATHER OF THE BRIDE

04/ARIANA GRANDE/THANK U, NEXT 

05/CATE LE BON/REWARD

06/TORO Y MOI/OUTER PEACE

07/TYLER THE CREATOR/IGOR

08/HELADO NEGRO/THIS IS HOW YOU SMILE 

09/JUAN WAUTERS/LA ONDA DE JUAN PABLO

10/LANA DEL REY/NORMAN FUCKING ROCKWELL!

11/JENNY LEWIS/ON THE LINE

12/DANNY BROWN/UNKOWHATIMSAYIN?

13/CHARLI XCX/CHARLI

14/BILLIE EILISH/WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?

15/SHARON VAN ETTEN/REMIND ME TOMORROW 

16/BIG THIEF/TWO HANDS

17/JAIMIE BRANCH/FLY OR DIE II: BIRD DOGS OF PARADISE

18/FKA TWIGS/MAGDALENE

19/BRITTANY HOWARD/JAIME

20/JESSICA PRATT/QUIET SIGNS 

21/BAT FOR LASHES/LOST GIRLS

22/DEERHUNTER/WHY HASN'T EVERYTHING ALREADY DISAPPEARED?

23/ANGEL OLSEN/ALL MIRRORS

24/ADA LEA/WHAT WE SAY IN PRIVATE

25/BECK/HYPERSPACE

CUZ I LOVE YOU (!) ... : THE SONGS, 2019.

01/TORO Y MOI/FREELANCE 

Decked in Patagonia, head to toe, he’s not sure if he’s hip or if he's getting old. Meanwhile the music coloring these thoughts is busy giving you a definite answer: Tired? No. Still one of the suavest cats behind the boards? Yes. Freelance is a bubbling, groove laced disco funk track with an old soul and its eyes on the future that sets you in a trance instantly, arriving ready for the floor. “People tend to listen when they see your soul”. And when they hear it and feel it in their bones. And on Freelance Chaz gives it up and lets loose in order to provide a soulful groove for the masses that feels timeless.



02/VAMPIRE WEEKEND & STEVE LACY/SUNFLOWER 

03/LANA DEL REY/NORMAN FUCKING ROCKWELL 

04/WEYES BLOOD/SOMETHING TO BELIEVE

05/JUAN WAUTERS/A VOLAR 

06/JENNY LEWIS/DOGWOOD 

07/ARIANA GRANDE/IMAGINE 

08/TAYLOR SWIFT/LOVER 

09/BEYONCE, WIZKID, SAINT JHN, & BLUE IVY CARTER/BROWN SKIN GIRL

10/TYLER THE CREATOR, SANTIGOLD, A$AP ROCKY, & JERROD CARMICHAEL/NEW MAGIC WAND

11/BILLIE EILISH/BAD GUY

12/ROSALIA, J BALVIN, & EL GUINCHO/CON ALTURA

13/STELLA DONNELLY/TRICKS

14/SHARON VAN ETTEN/SEVENTEEN

15/HELADO NEGRO/SEEN MY AURA

16/BRITTANY HOWARD/STAY HIGH

17/J BALVIN, BAD BUNNY, & MR. EAZI/COMO UN BEBE

18/BAT FOR LASHES/KIDS IN THE DARK 

19/JAIMIE BRANCH/SIMPLE SILVER SURFER

20/ESTHER ROSE/SEX AND MAGIC

21/DEERHUNTER/GREENPOINT GOTHIC

22/CATE LE BON/SAD NUDES

23/BECK/CHEMICAL

24/FKA TWIGS/HOME WITH YOU

25/BATTLES/FORT GREENE PARK

CUZ I LOVE YOU (!) ... : THE ALBUMS, 2019.

02/SOLANGE/WHEN I GET HOME

When I Get Home is Freedom.

It is serenity, and at peace.

When I Get Home is Black Excellence.

It can't be washed away.  

("Not even in that Florida water!")
 
It is American Beauty.

HOUSTON.
Chopped and Screwed.

When I Get Home is BLACK.

BROWN LIQUOR,
BROWN SUGAR, 
BROWN FACE. 

BLACK SKIN,
BLACK BRAIDS,
BLACK WAVES.
 
And down with ya. 

Things imagined made real.

It's hip hop;
Booming, cosmic
Rhythms and the blues.

When I Get Home simmers softly at a steady pace with words and melodies floating thru the air like blunt smoke, reaching high and filling the space all around you.

It's a stunning piece of art the stresses the importance of decompressing while celebrating the art of collaboration. Especially with those on the same wavelength as you.

It's a fresh press,
Smooth,
Shimmering,
And Luxurious.

When I Get Home is the vessel, free.
Encouraging us to shine bright. 

KEY TRACKS:

WAY TO THE SHOW



ALMEDA




BINZ



03/VAMPIRE WEEKEND/FATHER OF THE BRIDE

04/ARIANA GRANDE/THANK U, NEXT 

05/CATE LE BON/REWARD

06/TORO Y MOI/OUTER PEACE

07/TYLER THE CREATOR/IGOR

08/HELADO NEGRO/THIS IS HOW YOU SMILE 

09/JUAN WAUTERS/LA ONDA DE JUAN PABLO

10/LANA DEL REY/NORMAN FUCKING ROCKWELL!

11/JENNY LEWIS/ON THE LINE

12/DANNY BROWN/UNKOWHATIMSAYIN?

13/CHARLI XCX/CHARLI

14/BILLIE EILISH/WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?

15/SHARON VAN ETTEN/REMIND ME TOMORROW 

16/BIG THIEF/TWO HANDS

17/JAIMIE BRANCH/FLY OR DIE II: BIRD DOGS OF PARADISE

18/FKA TWIGS/MAGDALENE

19/BRITTANY HOWARD/JAIME

20/JESSICA PRATT/QUIET SIGNS 

21/BAT FOR LASHES/LOST GIRLS

22/DEERHUNTER/WHY HASN'T EVERYTHING ALREADY DISAPPEARED?

23/ANGEL OLSEN/ALL MIRRORS

24/ADA LEA/WHAT WE SAY IN PRIVATE

25/BECK/HYPERSPACE

CUZ I LOVE YOU (!) ... : THE SONGS, 2019.

02/VAMPIRE WEEKEND & STEVE LACY/SUNFLOWER

As Father of the Bride makes its descent into the final stretch, a ray of light appears. It appears briefly, for about two minutes and some change, here and then gone. While here it brightens the festivities and gently grabs you by the shoulders, asking you to loosen up a little and stand beneath its rays. Bathe in its magnificent glory: Steve's slinky guitar play; that whimsical backbeat and chorus of funky gibberish; the serene intertwining of voices; and that funky, sunlit groove. Sunflower is pure joy that comes through and enraptures you. Here and then gone, making a lasting impression.



03/LANA DEL REY/NORMAN FUCKING ROCKWELL 

04/WEYES BLOOD/SOMETHING TO BELIEVE

05/JUAN WAUTERS/A VOLAR 

06/JENNY LEWIS/DOGWOOD 

07/ARIANA GRANDE/IMAGINE 

08/TAYLOR SWIFT/LOVER 

09/BEYONCE, WIZKID, SAINT JHN, & BLUE IVY CARTER/BROWN SKIN GIRL

10/TYLER THE CREATOR, SANTIGOLD, A$AP ROCKY, & JERROD CARMICHAEL/NEW MAGIC WAND

11/BILLIE EILISH/BAD GUY

12/ROSALIA, J BALVIN, & EL GUINCHO/CON ALTURA

13/STELLA DONNELLY/TRICKS

14/SHARON VAN ETTEN/SEVENTEEN

15/HELADO NEGRO/SEEN MY AURA

16/BRITTANY HOWARD/STAY HIGH

17/J BALVIN, BAD BUNNY, & MR. EAZI/COMO UN BEBE

18/BAT FOR LASHES/KIDS IN THE DARK 

19/JAIMIE BRANCH/SIMPLE SILVER SURFER

20/ESTHER ROSE/SEX AND MAGIC

21/DEERHUNTER/GREENPOINT GOTHIC

22/CATE LE BON/SAD NUDES

23/BECK/CHEMICAL

24/FKA TWIGS/HOME WITH YOU

25/BATTLES/FORT GREENE PARK

CUZ I LOVE YOU (!) ... : THE ALBUMS, 2019.

03/VAMPIRE WEEKEND/FATHER OF THE BRIDE

Father of the Bride is a splendid work of art that feels like returning to a good book whenever you press play. Each song here is a beautiful poetic statement. Each song here is a wonderfully written, vivid piece of prose set to music that is made all the more vibrant by the buoyancy of Ezra's narration and the band's flawless mixing of various musical sounds and influences. From the infinite grooves and shining Americana songbook feel to the funk like jam band flourishes. They come together like Keats & Yates to provide a pointed written statement on love, both its rise and its fall, with a stunning clarity and colorful mindset that leaps off the page and takes flight everytime.

KEY TRACKS: 

HARMONY HALL



UNBEARABLY WHITE



SYMPATHY 



04/ARIANA GRANDE/THANK U, NEXT 

05/CATE LE BON/REWARD

06/TORO Y MOI/OUTER PEACE

07/TYLER THE CREATOR/IGOR

08/HELADO NEGRO/THIS IS HOW YOU SMILE 

09/JUAN WAUTERS/LA ONDA DE JUAN PABLO

10/LANA DEL REY/NORMAN FUCKING ROCKWELL!

11/JENNY LEWIS/ON THE LINE

12/DANNY BROWN/UNKOWHATIMSAYIN?

13/CHARLI XCX/CHARLI

14/BILLIE EILISH/WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?

15/SHARON VAN ETTEN/REMIND ME TOMORROW 

16/BIG THIEF/TWO HANDS

17/JAIMIE BRANCH/FLY OR DIE II: BIRD DOGS OF PARADISE

18/FKA TWIGS/MAGDALENE

19/BRITTANY HOWARD/JAIME

20/JESSICA PRATT/QUIET SIGNS 

21/BAT FOR LASHES/LOST GIRLS

22/DEERHUNTER/WHY HASN'T EVERYTHING ALREADY DISAPPEARED?

23/ANGEL OLSEN/ALL MIRRORS

24/ADA LEA/WHAT WE SAY IN PRIVATE

25/BECK/HYPERSPACE

CUZ I LOVE YOU (!) ... : THE SONGS, 2019.

03/LANA DEL REY/NORMAN FUCKING ROCKWELL

In her amazing review of Lana Del Rey's latest album, Ann Powers notes how "the most straightforward songs on NFR! have that morning-light quality: a woman sitting at a keyboard, singing what she needs to say." And this is made evident immediately with the album's razor sharp yet warm opener and title track, Norman Fucking Rockwell. Like the album it leads, Norman Fucking Rockwell is a glorious piano ballad that is menacing and seductive, providing yet another straightforward portrait of life with them, the manchild. It's a funny conversation filled with hilarious observations sung beautifully, bringing to mind the calm, riveting fury of Fiona Apple or Tori Amos ("Goddamn it, manchild. You fucked me so good I almost said 'I love you...'" "Your poetry's bad and you blame the news." "Why wait for the best when I could have you?..."). Norman Fucking Rockwell is Lana at her best, sitting in that morning light, singing what needs to be said.



04/WEYES BLOOD/SOMETHING TO BELIEVE

05/JUAN WAUTERS/A VOLAR 

06/JENNY LEWIS/DOGWOOD 

07/ARIANA GRANDE/IMAGINE 

08/TAYLOR SWIFT/LOVER 

09/BEYONCE, WIZKID, SAINT JHN, & BLUE IVY CARTER/BROWN SKIN GIRL

10/TYLER THE CREATOR, SANTIGOLD, A$AP ROCKY, & JERROD CARMICHAEL/NEW MAGIC WAND

11/BILLIE EILISH/BAD GUY

12/ROSALIA, J BALVIN, & EL GUINCHO/CON ALTURA

13/STELLA DONNELLY/TRICKS

14/SHARON VAN ETTEN/SEVENTEEN

15/HELADO NEGRO/SEEN MY AURA

16/BRITTANY HOWARD/STAY HIGH

17/J BALVIN, BAD BUNNY, & MR. EAZI/COMO UN BEBE

18/BAT FOR LASHES/KIDS IN THE DARK 

19/JAIMIE BRANCH/SIMPLE SILVER SURFER

20/ESTHER ROSE/SEX AND MAGIC

21/DEERHUNTER/GREENPOINT GOTHIC

22/CATE LE BON/SAD NUDES

23/BECK/CHEMICAL

24/FKA TWIGS/HOME WITH YOU

25/BATTLES/FORT GREENE PARK
 

CUZ I LOVE YOU (!) ... : THE ALBUMS, 2019.

04/ARIANA GRANDE/THANK U, NEXT

So the last album just dropped in August 2018, and it was monumental. Huge singles with the tight deep cuts and everything. And she could have stewed with that for a year or two, gone on a tour and disappeared for a while. But why do that when you are sitting on the tracks that are housed within this album right here? So she didn't, and the following February we were given this, a tight 12 song collection to match the phenomenon that is the title track. On thank u, next, Ariana stunts like rappers and glides effortlessly between pop and breezy, often trap infused R&B tracks, going hard after providing us with a little sweetener late last year. She kept creating and kept it 100, and wound up with one of the year's smoothest (and best) pop records.

KEY TRACKS:

NASA



FAKE SMILE



BAD IDEA




05/CATE LE BON/REWARD

06/TORO Y MOI/OUTER PEACE

07/TYLER THE CREATOR/IGOR

08/HELADO NEGRO/THIS IS HOW YOU SMILE 

09/JUAN WAUTERS/LA ONDA DE JUAN PABLO

10/LANA DEL REY/NORMAN FUCKING ROCKWELL!

11/JENNY LEWIS/ON THE LINE

12/DANNY BROWN/UNKOWHATIMSAYIN?

13/CHARLI XCX/CHARLI

14/BILLIE EILISH/WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?

15/SHARON VAN ETTEN/REMIND ME TOMORROW 

16/BIG THIEF/TWO HANDS

17/JAIMIE BRANCH/FLY OR DIE II: BIRD DOGS OF PARADISE

18/FKA TWIGS/MAGDALENE

19/BRITTANY HOWARD/JAIME

20/JESSICA PRATT/QUIET SIGNS 

21/BAT FOR LASHES/LOST GIRLS

22/DEERHUNTER/WHY HASN'T EVERYTHING ALREADY DISAPPEARED?

23/ANGEL OLSEN/ALL MIRRORS

24/ADA LEA/WHAT WE SAY IN PRIVATE

25/BECK/HYPERSPACE

CUZ I LOVE YOU (!) ... : THE SONGS, 2019.

 04/WEYES BLOOD/SOMETHING TO BELIEVE

At some point in this year you too might have caught a case of the empties, and the light inside you was suddenly extinguished as exhaustion reigned supreme. Maybe on more than one occasion. Know that you are not alone. She understands and stands there with you, looking into the great unknown with this majestic gift of a song. Something to Believe is a tremendous baroque pop highlight from Weyes Blood's equally stunning LP Titanic Rising that moves like Joni Mitchell and soars, resting beautifully among the stars. The immaculate vocal, her thrilling conviction, that slide guitar, and the riveting production are all sublime, working in perfect harmony to keep us away from the quicksand.



05/JUAN WAUTERS/A VOLAR 

06/JENNY LEWIS/DOGWOOD 

07/ARIANA GRANDE/IMAGINE 

08/TAYLOR SWIFT/LOVER 

09/BEYONCE, WIZKID, SAINT JHN, & BLUE IVY CARTER/BROWN SKIN GIRL

10/TYLER THE CREATOR, SANTIGOLD, A$AP ROCKY, & JERROD CARMICHAEL/NEW MAGIC WAND

11/BILLIE EILISH/BAD GUY

12/ROSALIA, J BALVIN, & EL GUINCHO/CON ALTURA

13/STELLA DONNELLY/TRICKS

14/SHARON VAN ETTEN/SEVENTEEN

15/HELADO NEGRO/SEEN MY AURA

16/BRITTANY HOWARD/STAY HIGH

17/J BALVIN, BAD BUNNY, & MR. EAZI/COMO UN BEBE

18/BAT FOR LASHES/KIDS IN THE DARK 

19/JAIMIE BRANCH/SIMPLE SILVER SURFER

20/ESTHER ROSE/SEX AND MAGIC

21/DEERHUNTER/GREENPOINT GOTHIC

22/CATE LE BON/SAD NUDES

23/BECK/CHEMICAL

24/FKA TWIGS/HOME WITH YOU

25/BATTLES/FORT GREENE PARK
 

CUZ I LOVE YOU (!) ... : THE ALBUMS, 2019.

05/CATE LE BON/REWARD

When we last spoke with Cate Le Bon, she and Tim Presley were busy taking us away to intimate art rock wonderlands where jaunty, and often times chaotic and ramshackle ditties bumped up against sparse and gorgeous bare bones instrumental compositions magnificently. Skip ahead to today and she's done it again with an imaginative art-rock album that reaches once again into the inner depths of her creative and whimsical abilities musically to create something stellar. Whether she's singing atop keys and arrangements that sound as if it they are coming from a room lit only by fire (the excellent Sad Nudes and the captivating album closer Meet the Man), or dabbling in triumphant art-punk and new wave excursions (see Mother's Mother's Magazines and Magnificent Gestures), Cate's music box remains colorful and vibrant, giving us a rewarding listening experience in return.

KEY TRACKS:

DAYLIGHT MATTERS



HOME TO YOU



MOTHER'S MOTHER'S MAGAZINES



06/TORO Y MOI/OUTER PEACE

07/TYLER THE CREATOR/IGOR

08/HELADO NEGRO/THIS IS HOW YOU SMILE 

09/JUAN WAUTERS/LA ONDA DE JUAN PABLO

10/LANA DEL REY/NORMAN FUCKING ROCKWELL!

11/JENNY LEWIS/ON THE LINE

12/DANNY BROWN/UNKOWHATIMSAYIN?

13/CHARLI XCX/CHARLI

14/BILLIE EILISH/WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?

15/SHARON VAN ETTEN/REMIND ME TOMORROW 

16/BIG THIEF/TWO HANDS

17/JAIMIE BRANCH/FLY OR DIE II: BIRD DOGS OF PARADISE

18/FKA TWIGS/MAGDALENE

19/BRITTANY HOWARD/JAIME

20/JESSICA PRATT/QUIET SIGNS 

21/BAT FOR LASHES/LOST GIRLS

22/DEERHUNTER/WHY HASN'T EVERYTHING ALREADY DISAPPEARED?

23/ANGEL OLSEN/ALL MIRRORS

24/ADA LEA/WHAT WE SAY IN PRIVATE

25/BECK/HYPERSPACE

CUZ I LOVE YOU (!) ... : THE SONGS, 2019.

05/JUAN WAUTERS/A VOLAR

Juan's La Onda de Juan Pablo has been in heavy rotation from the jump. And each and every track is a winner, but my favorite song is second to last, number nine out of ten. Sometimes I returned to the album just to hear it specifically. The idyllic arrangement, his calming vocal, and the lovely instrumentation that all comes together to create some kind of wonderful. And A Volar is here for all of those reasons, of course. But A Volar is here mainly because A Volar is home. It's a city and memories, comfort and warmth. I was told by Spotify that this was one of my top 5 most played songs this year and yes, it's true. From the idyllic arrangement to his calming vocal, A Volar is love and a delightful comfort that warms the heart, and will forever hold a place in mine.



06/JENNY LEWIS/DOGWOOD 

07/ARIANA GRANDE/IMAGINE 

08/TAYLOR SWIFT/LOVER 

09/BEYONCE, WIZKID, SAINT JHN, & BLUE IVY CARTER/BROWN SKIN GIRL

10/TYLER THE CREATOR, SANTIGOLD, A$AP ROCKY, & JERROD CARMICHAEL/NEW MAGIC WAND

11/BILLIE EILISH/BAD GUY

12/ROSALIA, J BALVIN, & EL GUINCHO/CON ALTURA

13/STELLA DONNELLY/TRICKS

14/SHARON VAN ETTEN/SEVENTEEN

15/HELADO NEGRO/SEEN MY AURA

16/BRITTANY HOWARD/STAY HIGH

17/J BALVIN, BAD BUNNY, & MR. EAZI/COMO UN BEBE

18/BAT FOR LASHES/KIDS IN THE DARK 

19/JAIMIE BRANCH/SIMPLE SILVER SURFER

20/ESTHER ROSE/SEX AND MAGIC

21/DEERHUNTER/GREENPOINT GOTHIC

22/CATE LE BON/SAD NUDES

23/BECK/CHEMICAL

24/FKA TWIGS/HOME WITH YOU

25/BATTLES/FORT GREENE PARK

CUZ I LOVE YOU (!) ... : THE ALBUMS, 2019.

06/TORO Y MOI/OUTER PEACE


"Maximize all this pleasure, even with all this weather. Nothing can make it better. Maximize all the pleasure." A hook, repeated early on. And as the music plays and the records spin you realize that on Outer Peace, it's a lifestyle as well. Outer Peace is a highly refined thirty minute set from Chaz that aims to bring peace by helping you get down. It mixes Latin & African rhythms, R&B slow jams, some House and a little bit of Funk elements together seamlessly in order to keep you moving. And if ever you need to get a party started, return to him and this set of ready for the floor club joints. They will come to your rescue, with pleasure. 

KEY TRACKS:

ORDINARY PLEASURE



LAWS OF THE UNIVERSE



BABY DRIVE IT DOWN



07/TYLER THE CREATOR/IGOR

08/HELADO NEGRO/THIS IS HOW YOU SMILE 

09/JUAN WAUTERS/LA ONDA DE JUAN PABLO

10/LANA DEL REY/NORMAN FUCKING ROCKWELL!

11/JENNY LEWIS/ON THE LINE

12/DANNY BROWN/UNKOWHATIMSAYIN?

13/CHARLI XCX/CHARLI

14/BILLIE EILISH/WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?

15/SHARON VAN ETTEN/REMIND ME TOMORROW 

16/BIG THIEF/TWO HANDS

17/JAIMIE BRANCH/FLY OR DIE II: BIRD DOGS OF PARADISE

18/FKA TWIGS/MAGDALENE

19/BRITTANY HOWARD/JAIME

20/JESSICA PRATT/QUIET SIGNS 

21/BAT FOR LASHES/LOST GIRLS

22/DEERHUNTER/WHY HASN'T EVERYTHING ALREADY DISAPPEARED?

23/ANGEL OLSEN/ALL MIRRORS

24/ADA LEA/WHAT WE SAY IN PRIVATE

25/BECK/HYPERSPACE