Weekly Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7i4BjIvAKbB58yg4zfCsbq 

Jacob’s picks

1. Sanguisugabogg – “Tortured Whole” 
2. Young Thug – “Lil Baby” 
3. Undeath – “Lesions of a Different Kind” 
4. Gunna – “I’M ON SOME”

Brutal death metal outfit Sanguisugabogg really showed off its evolution as a band on its newest album’s title track “Tortured Whole.” The mid-paced track repeatedly hammers the listener’s ears with spectacular drum work and intriguing guitar riffs. 

Rapper Young Thug borrows Future’s flow off the track “First Off” and makes an equally great track. “Lil Baby” may not be as much of a hard-hitter as “First Off,” but Young Thug’s lyricism and quotables go the distance. 

Another death metal band impressing fans of the modern take on the genre alongside Sanguisugabogg is Undeath. “Lesions of a Different Kind” has fast-attacking and fun guitar riffs that fit tightly alongside the nasty gutturals. 

Gunna’s “I’M ON SOME” features spotless and spacey production from both producers Turbo and Wheezy. Gunna floats across the track as each hit of bass catches the listener’s ears.  

Jamie’s picks

1. Kenny Hoopla – “hollywood sucks//”
2. Anson Seabra – “Walked Through Hell”
3. Counting Crows – “Accidentally in Love”
4. G-Eazy – “Tumblr Girls”

Kenny Hoopla has been making moves in the rock music industry for the past two years. As a newer artist he collaborated with the drummer of Blink-182, Travis Barker, for this one and songs prior, which is a major accomplishment. Hoopla brings a refreshing voice to the rock scene. 

Anson Seabra sings about walking through hell for someone he loved in this song, and maybe even, possibly, still loves. Although love songs never seem to get old, this one is soft in all the right ways and faces the unfortunate reality of having to walk away from someone. 

Who knew “Shrek,” a movie about a green ogre, could have such a great soundtrack that some of the songs translate into adult life. “Accidentally in Love” is the complete opposite of “Walked Through Hell” and is a very uplifting song about falling in love by complete accident. 

“Tumblr Girls” was toxic in 2014 and is toxic today, yet very nostalgic, especially around summer. Perhaps everyone knows one of G-Eazy’s notorious albums, “These Things Happen,” but this song is one of 16 from an all around great album. It’s good to listen to years later, or maybe even for the first time today. 

Brandon’s picks

1. Pouya, Lu Baby – “Walk In”
2. Soccer Mommy – “circle the drain – demo”
3. Seer Believer – “Hard” 
4. Jets to Brazil – “Chinatown”

Miami rapper Pouya released his latest single in collaboration with Lu Baby coming in the track “Walk In.” This song is extremely lyrical and expands upon the more interpersonal direction that Pouya has been taking his music. Both artists really bring the heat on this track from the Outkast inspired beat to both the rappers’ verses. Lu Baby really shines on this track, with his singing and rapping, switching between flows perfectly. 

Both iterations of Swiss-born singer and songwriter, Soccer Mommy’s, “circle the drain” are fantastic, with the studio version quickly climbing to the top of the artist’s discography. However, the demo version offers a more intimate recording, as it picks up the whistle the strings make when shifting chords and the buzzing of a strum and really captures all the nuance in the warm acoustic guitar. The vocals on this version sound less produced and make for a more delicate and emotional performance.

“Hard” by Denver slowcore band, Seer Believer, is a melancholic listen that drags the listener through the feelings of heartbreak. Lyrics like, “But if I could stop time drop a line just to say I’m in love with you, / I would” really emphasize the feelings of letting someone slip away. This track will no doubt have the listener staring out the window on a rainy day.

Throwing it back now to American indie-rock band, Jets to Brazil, and their 1998 track “Chinatown.” Coming off its album “Orange Rhyming Dictionary,” the song is thought to be a take on the 1974 film of the same name. The track is a head-bobbing alternative listen that dives into themes of large-scale corruption, whether corporate or governmental, and the inability of common people to correct it.