the-gc-record-club-blog

[the-gc-record-club-blog]

WHAT A DEVASTATING TURN OF EVENTS (RACHEL CHINOURIRI)

Selected by Vanessa

CALVIN'S TAKE

Favorite Song: What A Devastating Turn Of Events

Spit Yo' Game / Talk Yo' Shit: No notes, breathtaking. This album randomly reminded me of a Viola Davis IG post she captioned: "Until the lion learns how to write, every story will glorify the hunter.” Looking it up it turns out she was quoting Achebe. I would tweak it a little bit in this case to say "Until the lion gets the opportunity to...". Let's go. There are some narratives that need to die, and some people with them.

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

OBELLA'S TAKE

Favorite Song: Garden of Eden

Spit Yo' Game / Talk Yo' Shit: So first, I need to give an honorable mention to 'Never Need Me' which is a smash hit. Pop banger. Literally phenomenal. I chose Garden of Eden as my favorite, however, because I think it's maybe the most emblematic of the whole record. Rachel gives the quirky Black girls(/kids tbh) a coming of age album that talks poignantly about reclaiming your sense of self-worth through very vulnerable and honest storytelling via her songwriting. A well constructed project too without question, the flow is really nice, any songs I might have fallen off steam the slightest bit during my listen (sorry, 'My Blood' the writing is still great) were immediately met by the next track which would grab me again; and it's a solid 50 minutes which is within my certified perfect album timeframe (less than 53 (but I've recently extended to 55)). I should also note that I think Rachel has some high quality chops. I'd like to see her in concert to confirm this but I think she has showcased her range exceptionally throughout the album while still maintaining the uniqueness to her voice.

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 (and a half for good measure)

VANESSA'S TAKE

Favorite Song: So My Darling - Acoustic

Spit Yo' Game / Talk Yo' Shit: This was my pick, and I listened to it a few times at the start of this (very long) GCRC cycle, but a funny thing happened because of how long it took me to write a review - spinning it again to refresh my memory, I realized that my appreciation declined since that original run. I love Rachel Chinouriri's pop-rock sensibilities, and her music wakes up a lot of nostalgia for a certain era of my life when this sound was more prevalent, which is what drew me to the record after hearing a clip of "Never Need Me" on the bird app in early 2024. The instrumental compositions are great, but the vocal quality on some of the songs isn't really hitting for me anymore; I don't have the right terminology to explain it, but I connect more with the ones where the voice comes from the diaphragm rather than top of the throat and there were too many instances of the latter. Still, it is a nice project with some absolute gems. "So My Darling" is gorgeous and I almost didn't choose it as my favourite since it's an older song that was stripped down for the album, but it really did blow me away. Honourable mention for the title track to balance it out! Overall, despite a few cracks, this is an album to feel good about and I'm rooting for her specifically to carry the torch for this generation of rock n rollers. 

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥

OCHIENG'S TAKE

Favorite Song: 

What A Devastating Turn Of Events

Spit Yo' Game / Talk Yo' Shit: I read a quote once somewhere that said something along the lines of "A medium will ultimately be defined not by its strengths but by its idiosyncrasies." It's the reason why when we remember the classic video games of the PS2 era, the number one thing that comes to mind are the (now) wonky graphics and physics that we still remember fondly. To this point, I really feel like this album was able to accurately capture the feeling of the 2008-2011 pop-punk era. I found the instrumentation especially to be extremely enjoyable, which seems to be a consistent theme with a lot of the black London talent of today. I will say that some of the songs lost me for bits of the runtime but the ones that kept me in totality really transported me to another place. The title track especially I rinsed that one badly over the last year or so. I had fun with this one and I'm looking forward to when I can take some time to catch with what Rachel has dropped since this one.

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥 (and a half for good measure)

[the-gc-record-club-blog]

COULD WE BE MORE (KOKOROKO)

Selected by Chavo

OCHIENG'S TAKE

Favorite Song: We Give Thanks

Spit Yo' Game / Talk Yo' Shit: Every person is a unique blend of their personal influences, and mine give way to a love for all things jazz. It was almost an inevitability that I would, from my old man's undying love for the art form, to the ridiculous amount of jazz scores throughout 90's anime, to some of my favorite contemporary artists like Kendrick and Madlib incorporating jazz samples and stand-ins, to my own middle name being a homage to late-great Miles Davis. Anything even remotely jazzy is enough to tickle my fancy but projects like this are few and far between. An afro-jazz fusion that feels familiar with shades of Fela Kuti-esque sounds but simultaneously something completely new and enticing. I've been sold on Kokoroko for a long time but with this project I felt like I witnessed something legendary. Between Kokoroko, Ezra Collective, and Cosmo Pyke there's some incredible talent coming out South London and I'm nothing but excited for their future

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

VANESSA'S TAKE

Favorite Song: Ewà Inú

Spit Yo' Game / Talk Yo' Shit: Instinctively, I know that I like jazz — to echo what Chieng said, it filled the ambiance when I was growing up. My father in particular loves it (African jazz in general, South African jazz specifically) so it soundtracked many moments throughout my childhood and has always been familiar and comforting to me for that reason. Yet I lack the expertise to describe jazz on a technical level, and realise that as a listener and a critic, I'm more readily able to speak about the quality of music that has lyrics. There are of course famous and exceptionally talented jazz singers, and there is even singing on this album. But my favourite track "Ewà Inú", for example, is purely instrumental. It would fit perfectly over the end credits in a movie where I play the main character, and that description makes sense to probably me only! So this Kokoroko project added a new layer to my appreciation of music and I'm grateful for that. "Could We Be More" is fantastic, but I can say that based on how it makes me feel which is OK; it's bright, melodious and fun, it makes my heart and mind float in the best possible way. Something about it feels like home. 

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

OBELLA'S TAKE

Favorite Song: Home

Spit Yo' Game / Talk Yo' Shit: Echoing my sibs above -- Jazz is a no-brainer hit genre for me. In general, this era of my audiophile habits rely pretty heavily on vibes and jazz is the music of vibes. I'm a choir kid also, so there's also the bit of the instrumentality in jazz that has always felt exceedingly close in proximity but never something that I had for myself which creates this experience of pining embedded in jazz for me (in a good way though). And then of course, much like Ochieng, jazz was a staple in our house. So was class african music (and I can be general this time because the sounds were country wide for the old man). So Kokoroko (no ruger) really made this album for the GC. It was hard not to love it and many of the songs have stuck with me. Particularly tracks 11-13 which string together an interlude, home (which I've stated as my fav), and then something's going on (which is an extension of home). A good 3 song stack that bangs is always going to get me (shout out to the opening 3 tracks on worldwide underground) and there are pockets of that kind of consecutive banger energy throughout the album. Overall this album just felt like a reminder of my roots. It's equivalent to eating at Swahili Village when I miss Asinge. Or smelling certain spices that remind me of when we land in Entebbe. Very nostalgic and warm. Highly recommended.

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

CALVIN'S TAKE

Favorite Song: War Dance

Today (November 17th, 2023) marks the one week anniversary of the release of the Could We Be More remix album — and the one month anniversary of everyone else in the record club besides me having submitted their review of the original 😬. What better time for me to chime in from summer school! Where I landed after listening to this excellent album is: Nigerians are running music globally, I fear. Whether it’s pop records (Burna, Tems, etc), offerings for the real music lovers (Simz, Obongjayar, etc), and now, as it turns out, something for the time-for-jazz set of all ages. These sounds are all linked in my mind by how these artists serve an updated menu, while reaching back for tried and tested recipes and ingredients (Black people respect their elders you know). What particularly gets me about Kokoroko’s version though is that it feels like they’ve cracked this code not just in vibe, but in musical choices and execution. That’s seriously impressive for a mostly instrumental album. (At least to me) the bass-lines and keys are mixed a little lower, while they thiccen up the drums and horns almost like they’re announcing themselves like Omar walking down the block as they march toward “War Dance” (my favorite song and where everything peaks for me). Could We Be More is giving “highlife-Afrobeat-jazz-funk…but it’s our time now.” I can cry for childhood nostalgia and missing home…in the club, if you feel me. Good for them, and great for us by extension.

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 (and a half for good measure)

[the-gc-record-club-blog]

SOME NIGHTS I DREAM OF DOORS (OBONGJAYAR)

Selected by Calvvy

OBELLA’S TAKE

Favorite Song: Sugar

Spit Yo' Game / Talk Yo' Shit: To me this album is a love letter to the next-gen African diaspora (be that ex-pat first-gen, 1.5, second-gen, or beyond). There were these beautiful flairs of driving in the car with the Old Man listening to Hugh Masekala, and Ladysmith... Miriam Makeba, and Awilo Logomba... This is also how I know that music genres are obsolete; It's labeled as R&B/Soul which isn't wrong but there were also these amazing alternative, and folk, and house(?) vibes mixed in. The blend and the energy of the sounds were so sonically stimulating I couldn't put it down from the first song on the first listen. I've since dug through a bit of his discography and that Neo-diasporic sound-blend is this man's MO and tbh it's giving - he shouldn't let up!

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

VANESSA’S TAKE

Favorite Song: Try

Spit Yo' Game / Talk Yo' Shit: It's a treat, maybe even a rare one, when your introduction to an artist is a project so thorough that you can't pick out a favourite song. In this case I think that's because in addition being to being an incredible singer and lyricist, Obongjayar comes across as many different artists rolled into one on Some Nights I Dream of Doors - but all of them are effective and they don't crowd each other out. I love how he seamlessly shifts between genres, intensity and even accents across the record. There are chords on the album that remind me of the Congolese lingala/rhumba albums that my dad used to play when I was a kid, while other songs make me think of Lagbaja and other contemporary Nigerian artists. So many songs tug at a familiarity for me that I really, really enjoy. It's pop, it's electro, it's Afrobeat to name just a few shades and he has the right to do all of it; I want to sing along, to dance, then I'm in my feelings, then it's over! In a tight 35 minutes? Love to see it and I love this album.

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

OCHIENG’S TAKE

Favorite Song: Tinko Tinko (Don’t Play Me for a Fool)

Spit Yo' Game / Talk Yo' Shit:  I don’t think its a particularly novel thing to say that I love different, more creative artistic endeavors. But this felt like an honest blend of all Obongjayar’s different influences that melded together into a genuinely unique body of work. An artist is only as good as his reference, and I feel like the well Obongjayar is drawing from has puzzle pieces that fit together in a strange but natural way. The uniqueness combined with his experience (this being his second full length project on streaming not counting EPs) led to the creation very solid project with a lot of replay value.

Lit-mus Test:  🔥🔥🔥

CALVIN’S TAKE

Favorite Song: Tinko Tinko (Don’t Play Me for a Fool)

Spit Yo' Game / Talk Yo' Shit: I'd heard so many Obongjayar features that it was a treat to finally dig into a dolo project. On Some Nights, Obong (can I call him that?) has so many musical references that he successfully gets on record -- while many times it also feels like a very confessional and cathartic album. Heartbreak, triumph, mantras, nostalgia, and flossing are all there, making for a very unique and replayable mix. As deep as his bag is, the moments where it truly reaches the astral plane for me are when all these influences combine rather than sit next to one another. There's the hook to "Sugar", but then the whole of "Tinko Tinko" which is my favourite. The duality of threatening "don't play me for a fool" but ultimately breaking down to a "please don't play with my head, don't keep fucking with my head" refrain a few seconds later -- real songwriting!!! With doom doom doom drums and Michael Jackson gasps for the razzle dazzle. If those same lines were sung into Burna Boy's mic, I could see it breaking a festival ground in half; I have high apple pie in the sky hopes and well wishes that that same reality lies in Obonjayar's future.

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥

[the-gc-record-club-blog]

MONTERO (LIL NAS X)

Selected by Taco

OCHIENG’S TAKE

Favorite Song: Scoop

Spit Yo' Game/Talk Yo' Shit: I recently watched a clip of Vince Staples where he talked about superstars in rap, and a lot of what he said boiled to the fact that artists nowadays more often than not are selling moments and moving product more than they are actually moving music. If you look at the newest generation of musical entertainers, there’s arguably no one better than this Lil Nas X. Now I say all this to say that I didn’t really vibe with this album unfortunately, I obviously don’t know his creative process and I’d hate to try and pigeonhole anybody especially since his claim to fame was a genre bending smash hit. But a lot of the songs in this album to me felt they were engineered to try and cover as many bases instead of catering to Nas’ strengths. The standout tracks to me felt like the tracks where Nas had the most fun, “DOLLA SIGN SLIME,” “SCOOP,” and “INDUSTRY BABY” fall into this category. But nonetheless I still respect Nas as an artist, provocateur, and entertainer immensely and can’t wait for his next moves.

Lit-mus Test: 🔥(and a half for good measure)

VANESSA’S TAKE

Favorite Song: Industry Baby (ft. Jack Harlow)

Spit Yo' Game/Talk Yo' Shit: The context for my review is that after the roaring success of Old Town Road, most of my engagement with Lil Nas X's stardom was via his star presence, rather than his music — he's cute, seems very interesting and approachable in interviews, he's hilarious on social media, and by the by he releases a lot of bops that I like. Despite this, I wasn't able to really get excited about a full album; those biases are mine to grapple with. In the spirit of record club, of course I listened to MONTERO in full many times over, but I couldn't get into it and had forgotten most of the songs when the time came to write this review. Undeniably Lil Nas X is a good singer and rapper; he hits some powerful notes on both MONTERO and SCOOP - which, of the songs I didn't know before spinning the full album, is my favourite and nearly took the crown as my favourite song. Yet, I do think this time around the best songs were in fact the singles and the rest left me feeling a bit underwhelmed. If HOLIDAY was on this album I would've added a full flame to my rating because I absolutely love that song. Also, give me a Deluxe Edition without Jack Harlow on INDUSTRY BABY!!!

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥(and a half for good measure)

OBELLA’S TAKE

Favorite Song: Scoop

Spit Yo' Game/Talk Yo' Shit: So I just gave this album a re-listen in the gym today before writing this here review. And there is actually something to the whole "voice of a generation" thing when you consider that this album is definitely made by a queer Black kid who was a teen in the 2010s and played Rock Band while keeping up with undergound rappers on Soundcloud. Yfm? And for that alone it cements Lil Nas X as a pop star and in fact, yes, an Industry Baby (zing!). It grabs from a lot of different genres and makes enjoyable bops in each space. It grounds Old Town Road as less of a genre-bender and more of a genre-lender, but still I feel it is representative of how young montero is taking on the music industry and pop culture scene as a talented and versatile artist. It speaks to my overall feelings on the album that even though I really enjoyed my re-listen it didn't result in any of the songs going back into the rinse & repeat playlist (though I considered Scoop again, alas I beat that song into the ground the first go around). It gets a solid rating but it's def not 5 stars imo. However I look forward to how Lil Nas X is gonna grow with time. An Industry Toddler might make something CRAZY who can say?

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥

CALVIN’S TAKE

Favorite Song: Dolla $ign Slime

Spit Yo' Game/Talk Yo' Shit: Lil Nas X might be one of the best people alive at generating a "let me stop and see what's going on over there" moment that I actually want to hear about -- at a popstar level (insane degree of difficulty IMO). Usually, they're media / pop-cultural, the type of things that make people say "they should teach this in schools!!!" lmao. But I think this "moment" approach applies to his music too, and that happens to be the subject of today's class. I enjoy X's music the most when he squeezes out those little moments of life on record. "I'm just trying to be the dailyyyy....SCOOP!" has me doing air basketball finger rolls at random. "He don't run from nothing dawgg, get your soldiers, tell em that the breaks is ovvvvveerrr" makes me feel like I'm trying to wrap my arms around a rocket that just launched from wherever the NASA folks go when they're not WFH. As much as I rooted for it, those bursts of energy are few and far between on this album, for me. I genuinely feel guilty about pigeonholeing a person and artist who is so full of creativity, fluidity, and the future -- but I want way more Nas X where he's rapping. GIVE ME A SONG WITH NICKI NOW, though I'm sure he could never have predicted how Onika would be moving in Big 2022. Because rap can be too confining, maybe just more instances where he's on a song that has the same kind of bite as the Daytrip produced records. One thing that unites the two songs I referenced (and my favorite, "Dolla Sign Slime") in my mind is that they KNOCK, and I personally feel that is a better representation of the urgency of the message that Nas has within him. Even if I never get what I want though, I'll still always have my ears open for whatever moment is next from him.

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥

[the-gc-record-club-blog]

HEAUX TALES (JAZMINE SULLIVAN)

Selected by V Nasty

OBELLA’S TAKE

Favorite Song: On It ft. Ari Lennox

Spit Yo' Game/Talk Yo' Shit: My honorable mention is Ari’s Tale because that skit is actually one of the funniest things I’ve ever heard. God, I would die for Ari Lennox. But that is neither here nor there. Jazmine did that with her brilliant display of the diversity of femininity and womanhood, powerful female vocalists behind the insane vocals Ms. Sullivan already has going for her, and a selection of songs that give us grief, confusion, insecurity, empowerment, and self-love all wrapped in one. It has bangers but also has ballads and it never felt like too much of either. A very well balanced R&B hit album if I do say so myself... and I do... say so myself that is

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

VANESSA’S TAKE

Favorite Song: Put It Down Spit Yo' Game/Talk Yo' Shit: I really enjoyed Reality Show, the album before this one (and I recently got the shock of my life in remembering that it came out in 2015!!), but somehow Heaux Tales is even better. Jazmine Sullivan has been a consistent presence for years but doesn't get nearly enough credit for being one of the greatest vocalists in the game - and improving on the model with each new release. "Put It Down" gives me everything I could want in an R&B song and she's singing/spittin from *within the gd fibres* of her bag; the call/response/harmony segment at 00:20-00:28 sounds so perfect to my ears that it literally gives me goosebumps. I'm weary of skits on albums as they rarely do enough to convince me that the album wouldn't be better without them, that's the only reason why this didn't get a 5-flame rating. But Jazmine is at her zenith on Heaux Tales - she found the perfect mix of bangers and ballads, and I'm struggling to find better words to describe this but her attitude/swagger on this album is off the charts. As such, I'd be remiss if I didn't write in an honourable mention for "Pick Up Your Feelings" because wheeeeew get out the way!

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

OCHIENG’S TAKE

Favorite Song: Bodies - Intro

Spit Yo' Game/Talk Yo' Shit: I thought Jazmine's career was much older than it actually was, seeing as though most of my experience with Jazmine is through her singles from her debut album. It's actually crazy to think about but Jazmine is actually younger than J Cole, who has been around for a while but I hardly consider him a veteran. I think the reason I thought Jazmine's career had a much longer run than it actually did is because her biggest hits are dated so clearly by their sound. This isn't a bad thing by any means, but it worried me going in. You often see when people relied on a certain sound during their prime they try to recreate that magic by using a completely different sound that's not suitable to their strengths in an attempt to adapt. I think Eminem and Nas are recent examples of this. However, Jazmine came through in full effect and delivered an amazing project. From the opening track she had me hooked and now I need to go through her discography in full! Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥(and a half for good measure)

CALVIN’S TAKE

Favorite Song: Girl Like Me (feat. H.E.R.)

Spit Yo' Game/Talk Yo' Shit: For better or worse, one of the first things I'll do these days when I look at any piece of content is: how long is this? In a noisy world (some of y'all need to pipe down for real), you kind of have no choice but to be good, be brief, and be gone if you're going to break through. Enter "Heauxtales" - thank you Jazmine Sullivan. What I love about this album so much is not just that it's 30 minutes long - it's the clarity of the concept, and how quickly Jazmine pulls us into it. By track four (seven minutes in) we know: Jazmine's grown. But she seems to be going through it. She needs to get it together. Is she too grown to be going through it and not have it together? Antoine is going through it too. Ari, we hear you. Men ain't shit but: can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em! It would seem that people (but Jazmine is specifically doing this one for the ladies)...have needs and contain multitudes.

None of this would have connected without the power of the vocal performances on the project. It's almost scary that the power to belt out a hook like on "Pick Up Your Feelings" can exist inside a human that isn't 50 feet tall or lives on top of a mountain ruling over their subjects. It's a vulnerable album that's presented very confidently, because Jazmine seems so accepting and present within herself, her feelings, and the contradictions within them. That willingness to lay it all out makes it (to me) sound fresh, without chasing trends.

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 (and a half for good measure)

[the-gc-record-club-blog]

TRADITION (MONSUNE)

Selected by Chavo

OCHIENG’S TAKE

Favorite Song: Cloud

Spit Yo' Game/ Talk Yo' Shit: “Choose Your Weapon” by Hiatus Kaiyote is probably my favorite album of all time, so around mid last year I decided that I needed more music like that in my inventory. Through some Spotify deep dives I came across a plethora of new and old age RnB and Neo-Soul artists and of that bunch was Monsune. “Cloud” had been a sleeper hit in my playlist, I only recently rediscovered it this year and it’s been on repeat ever since. “Tradition” is a excellent EP and I’m extremely impressed with Monsune’s talent. He seems to be very confident in his sound and he has some absolutely insane vocal runs that give me full body chills (the end of “Jade” is just *chefs kiss*). The fact I was able to find such a consistent and enjoyable project just fucking around on Spotify confirms my hypothesis that the talent pool in music is larger than ever.

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 

VANESSA’S TAKE

Favorite Song: CLOUD

Spit Yo’ Game/Talk Yo’ Shit: One of the main reasons this record club started was to help us break past what was familiar to us individually and seek out new sounds, artists, genres, whatever — I'm so glad it exists because Monsune is now on my radar. This EP is such a treat; barely 20 minutes of back to back gems. I listened to it on repeat during an especially long and winding drive recently and it got better each time. It was hard to pick one favourite but the chorus on "CLOUD" steals the show. Honourable mention for "MOUNTAIN" though because it's just so pretty. I'm quite sure this short and sweet EP will still in rotation for me this year and I'm already very happy about that.

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

OBELLA’S TAKE

Favorite Song: 1998 (honorable mentions to Cloud & Outta My Mind)

Spit Yo’ Game/Talk Yo’ Shit: Monsune does the thing I love most about an album is just when it starts off and completely grabs you. For me most albums and whether I enjoy them can be boiled down to the first three songs and Monsune brought the vibe front to byke so there was no option but for this to work. It also matches nearly any condition. A drive. A walk. A run. A kickback. A sunday cleaning. The versatility of the vibe is a reflection of the power Monsune is wielding!

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

CALVIN’S TAKE

Favorite Song: Outta My Mind

Spit Yo’ Game/Talk Yo’ Shit: True to his name and a man of his word, Monsune came through and truly rained torrentially on the shores of the GC Record Club — thanks to the storm warning of part-time meteorologist and full-time Club member Ochavious Bombastus Theophrastus. This record really washed over me, and your boy was singing in the rain. Especially nowadays, I praise things for being short but now realize that what I really mean and want is concise. Tradition has a clear concept, mood, style, and - I felt - recognizable influences. There’s still tons of personality on the record though: a little razzle here and dazzle there that make it so that not every song songs in the same way. My favorite of these was all the “ooh’s” in the “Outta My Mind” hook, I mean are you KIDDING me! He knew he had one. Little moments like that really push this project up to the mountain top for me. They’re short and savoured.  Just like this EP.

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[the-gc-record-club-blog]

HO, WHY IS YOU HERE? (FLO MILLI)

Selected by Calvvy

OCHIENG’S TAKE

Favorite Song: "Pockets Bigger"

Spit Yo' Game/ Talk Yo' Shit: I did not expect to love this album as much as I did. There's this weird thing among fans of hip hop that requires artist to have variance in their sound. I personally think variance is overrated, Flo stuck to her strengths throughout the album and her strengths were indeed strong. Her flow, cadence, and ESPECIALLY her delivery rocked me out my socks the whole way through. It was good fun and honestly one of my favorite projects this year.

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥 (and a half for good measure)

OBELLA’S TAKE

Favorite Song: Beef FloMix 

Spit Yo’ Game/Talk Yo’ Shit: Okayyyeeeee Flo. Imma be honest and say I heard ‘Like That Bitch’ and I must’ve been in a bad mood that day because I didn’t like it but it was in my top 3 during this listen so iono what I was on. Anyhow that was fantastic - the female rap game is on 100 this season and we stay blessed. I’m very glad I didn’t let that one listen define the record because I overwhelmingly enjoyed. Flo was in her bag top to bottom and it was a quick 30 min my preferred album run time.

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

CALVIN’S TAKE

Favorite Song: "Weak"

Spit Yo’ Game/Talk Yo’ Shit: Flo Milli loves herself, is hilarious, doesn't give a fuck, and is great at convicing you of that fact. That's what makes her cool and Ho, Why Is you Here? grab my attention when it does: the shit talking, the personality. When she said "how you gone cry in a foreign" I laughed out loud to the high heavens. In that way, the music feels secondary to me which means I'm reviewing Ho more as an experience than an album. Listening to this felt like watching a Reality TV show where someone decided to follow her around for a few days with a mobile studio and put beats underneath the shenanigans. A bunch of wild shit happened, but I'm not really sure how those events tie together, if they ever will, or whether that was ever the intention to begin with! That makes for fun, but also left me wanting a bit more in parts. I felt like whenever she strung a few bars together an alarm went off telling her to pause and remind us that she'd slap a bitch or doesn't fuck with these broke niggas. I picked "Weak" as my favorite song for this reason: it stood out in that it felt the most genuine attempt to make a full song [and also I couldn't show my obvious bias by picking the one where she rapped over a Soulja Boy beat :-)]. It's amazing that Flo exists, is taking up space in this industry, and can use the momentum of this project to keep developing her sound. Good luck to anyone trying to stop her. FLO MILLI SHIT.....HO!

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥 (and a half for good measure)

VANESSA’S TAKE

Favorite Song: "Beef FloMix"

Spit Yo’ Game/Talk Yo’ Shit: A few years ago, when my boo J Hus was in the clink, I remember seeing this tweet from this person who would randomly catch themselves yelling “Jae5″ and I really, really felt that. Back then it was a bit more solemn, and thankfully the Bouff Daddy is free now, but the 2020 version of this for me is definitely “FLO MILLI SHIT!” and it’s entirely joyful. What a calling card — it’s succinct and catchy, just like this album. The girlies are running rap this year! Flo Milli is only 20 and I wish I had a tenth of her swagger at that age; it’s bursting through on every track and makes me 20 feet tall just listening to it. More of this, please.

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥

[the-gc-record-club-blog]

INDUSTRY GAMES (CHIKA)

Selected by Taco

CALVIN’S TAKE

Favorite Song: “Designer”

Spit Yo’ Game / Talk Yo’ Shit: I saw Chika's NPR Tiny Desk concert some time back and immediately thought "yup, this chika (just go ahead and call the police on me, it's fine) is a star". The rest of the Internet seemed to think so too....she's a real experience. Which is why I wanted to like "Industry Games" more than I do, to keep it a thou. The songs are very literal and "written" for me; a lot of quote unquote BARS and affirmations. I feel like Chika does too much explaining on these records, for someone who otherwise is so good at justifying her cool by just being. When (not if, when) she works those things out, no one will be able to tell her shit. "Designer" was my favorite -- the production / pitching up and down of her voice helped show more of her colorful and dynamic personality. Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥 (and a half, for good measure)

OCHIENG’S TAKE

Favorite Song: “Designer”

Spit Yo’ Game / Talk Yo’ Shit: I feel like this album was good but it wasn't my cup of tea. The most apt comparison I can think of is a very well produced movie that has a lot of unnecessary exposition. I personally would've preferred if she had just let the music and her vocals breathe a bit more. Calvin put it perfectly that the songs felt a bit too literal and written out for me. However, there are times in the album where I feel like she hits her musical stride perfectly, the hook of "Songs About You," the end of "Industry Games," and especially the latter half of "Designer," which keeps me hopeful for the future of Chika.

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥

VANESSA’S TAKE

Favorite song: “Songs About You”

Spit Yo’ Game / Talk Yo’ Shit: A 20-minute, 7-track EP is like a sample of ice cream on one of those small spoons at a gelateria. I don’t feel sharp enough right now to really follow through with this analogy, so I’ll simply say that this was an enjoyable introductory listen and I’m very glad to have gotten a glimpse of Chika’s music. The tone of her voice is top tier, especially when she sings, which really brings “Songs For You” home. But I wasn’t left wanting more (something about buying a cup? A cone? Whatever). There’s nothing wrong with the craft or the production quality here but my interest tapered off fairly quickly. One of the major pitfalls of short albums — there’s no room for faff.

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥

OBELLA’S TAKE

Favorite song: “Songs About You”

Spit Yo’ Game / Talk Yo’ Shit: The energy and aesthetic did it for me more than the album itself if that makes sense. My introduction to Chikka was a clip on twitter where her flow and presentation looked absolutely untouchable. Oddly enough I didn’t get that same vibe from the EP which is not to say I didn’t have a good time. Chikka has swaggerrrrr this is undeniable and I’m excited to see her next projects but I was also looking for more. A special shout out to Designer as well my second favorite track. Between the two I’m hoping those are the signs of what future Chikka will sound like

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥

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UNGODLY HOUR (CHLOE X HALLE)

Selected by V Nasty

OBELLA’S TAKE

Favorite Song: “Ungodly Hour”

Spit Yo’ Game / Talk Yo’ Shit: Chloe x Halle’s harmony is nothing short of the work of The Holy Ghost. Genuine Witchcraft. It reminds me of Lucius in that I often can’t hear who is singing what when they are singing together and it makes them eternally enjoyable to listen together. There were the songs in the middle that seemed to be what I would imagine as more “industry planted” songs(?) - like this Mike Will joint - and those didn’t have the same authenticity of sound imo but the ones that were very much their *brand* were unbelievable.

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥 (and a half for good measure)

OCHIENG’S TAKE

Favorite Song: “Baby Girl”

Spit Yo’ Game / Talk Yo’ Shit: I had heard the “Do It” song (probably through a YouTube ad or a Tik Tok) but I didn’t know it was a Chloe x Halle song. So I saw the Mike Will feature on the track list and was kinda expecting one song with the boom baps and then a bunch of slow songs á la Miley Cyrus (ew). However, I’m glad to say I was proven wrong and the production throughout the album was very enjoyable and catering to Chloe x Halle’s strengths as artists. The middle part was a little weak to me but the album opened and finished strong.

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥

CALVIN’S TAKE

Favorite song: “Forgive Me”

Spit Yo’ Game / Talk Yo’ Shit: I really mess with how confident and present in themselves Chloe x Halle (Chloe & Halle?) sound. Hearing a warning and assertion like "you must got me fucked up", from young women, on an R&B song makes my back straighten. Especially when I've been trained to hear about the damage done by dudes that may have nice cologne and a clean shave, but bad credit and even worse morals. Their vocals and harmonies lift the production too -- they're the meal instead of just the seasoning, and it makes me believe them. I got lost in the middle where the songs felt a bit more traditional and familiar; but even there, they have enough tricks up their sleeve to feel like the future is very bright for them.

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥 (and a half for good measure!)

VANESSA’S TAKE

Favorite Song: “Forgive Me”

Spit Yo’ Game / Talk Yo’ Shit: Ungodly Hour was my selection for this round but, despite knowing who they were, I had no references for Chloe x Halle’s music. A few years back I saw them live when they opened for Beyoncé, and I never really followed up. They are obviously talented musicians and play off each other well — they aren’t battling for space on any of the tracks and the production is top-shelf. I think there are quite a few weak spots lyrically, and the second half of the album loses a bit of momentum, but I checked the liner notes and I wouldn’t necessarily place the songwriting issues at the feet of these two wonderful sisters. After this official introduction to C x H, I'm left with a very positive first impression.

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥 (special mention: “Tipsy” for being such a fun song)

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Reintroducing The Congregation

Ochieng aka Shorty aka Ochavious Obonclavious Montavious Theophrastus von Obbohenheim (Chavo, for short)

Vanessa aka V Nasty aka Loch Ness aka Swizz Braidz aka Chef BoyarVee

Obella aka Obellimus aka Taco(bella) aka Tacolito

Calvin aka Killacal aka the man formerly known as the Philly Phoreigner aka Calvvy

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LOST ONES

Here’s a recap of all the albums we listened to in The GC Record Club, but never finished reviewing:

ROUND 2

CHAPTERS (YUNA)

Selected by Taco

BLKSWN (SMINO)

Selected by Calvvy

ROUND 3:

KITES (ANIK KHAN)

Selected by Chavo

MELODRAMA (LORDE)

Selected by V Nasty

H.E.R. (H.E.R.)

Selected by Taco

(SANDY ALEX G)

Selected by Calvvy

ROUND 4

THE HEALING COMPONENT (MICK JENKINS)

Selected by Chavo

CHRONOLOGY (CHRONIXX)

Selected by V Nasty

99.9% (KAYTRANADA)

Selected by Taco

STEVE LACY’S DEMO (STEVE LACY)

Selected by Calvvy

ROUND 5

LOOSE THOUGHTS (MASEGO)

Selected by Chavo

ASH (IBEYI)

Selected by V Nasty

SIRE (JADEN SMITH)

Selected by Taco

CURRENTS (TAME IMPALA)

Selected by Calvvy

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Blowing Dust Off the Blog

Hello! How have you been since... *checks watch*... January 2018? Only asking because that’s the last time this blog was active.

“If you don't know where you've come from, you don't know where you're going”, so, for posterity, here’s a brief history of The GC Record Club:

“The Congregation” is a group of four smart, talented, wonderful individuals — two pairs of siblings, and four pairs of cousins or however that math works. We’ve been in an iMessage group chat since 2015. Initially the group chat was started for a punctual, one-off purpose; but it quickly evolved into a ritual when we realized were texting every day. The GC players are all related, but we didn’t all grow up in the same country or even on the same continent; when we were younger we used to see each other once every few years and communicate. Technology brought us closer together and through this group chat, we got to know each other better and build friendships that go beyond family bonds.

Music is by far one of the most popular topics in the chat, and often where we find common ground. While our tastes are similar in many ways, we also found that we were just as often into different artists, genres and even preferred platforms (Spotify, Apple Music and Soundcloud are the main ones).

In the streaming age, it’s really to listen to music in silos — the existence of so much new music at all times can occasionally push you to stick to artists and genres that you’re already familiar with to keep from getting inundated. The consequence, of course, is that you miss out on a lot. We decided to try a system between us to help each other break past our usual habits and discover new things.

The original concept of the record club was simple — every week, one of the players would recommend a new album for everyone. At the end of that week we would each write a short and sweet review and put the album through a Lit-Mus Test, with a score depicted graphically by 1-5 flame emoji. Five-flame records are the most lit, hence “Lit” mus (don’t overthink it). We started a Tumblr devoted to The GC Record Club, to keep a record of our thoughts on each album and document the process for ourselves.

The concept worked well for a while, you can scroll back for some our early reviews. But then life happened; first we stopped getting the reviews in on time, then we caught up with a few in bulk and never got around to posting them. In between, one of the players forgot the password to our original Tumblr and also to the gmail account that we used to login; we won’t dwell too much on who was responsible and how it happened as we have since forgiven Calvvy.

This Tumblr is the second iteration of the GC Record club, and it was last updated over 2.5 years ago. We never stopped sharing recommendations with each other or talking about music in the group chat, but we couldn’t keep up with the activity in its old form. The original Tumblr is lost to the sands of time (RIP).

 Recently, we decided to revive the record club with almost all of the same rules, except this time we will sit with each album for a month, to give ourselves more time to take them in and also to pace ourselves with the reviews.

It’s now August 2020. This year has shown us, perhaps more than ever, how hectic life can get. We’re in the middle of a pandemic, which has had major implications at both the macro and micro levels, and none of us has been spared from the impact. As we live through it, we continue looking for ways to support one another and to seek comfort in activities that give us a break from punishing schedules. Music is a familiar friend and a familiar source of happiness.

We’ve made peace with the fact that the blog may not always be updated on time, and we may not always be able to stick with our listening schedule. But the motivations behind the GC Record Club will always be the same — we care about each other’s interests and perspectives, and find great joy in our love of music and respect for one another.

The group chat itself started out as a quick solution to send the same information to multiple people at the same time has evolved into a regular feature of our every day lives. It has brought us closer together, even though neither of us currently lives under the same roof and we aren’t all even in the same country (or state). We joke, we argue, we laugh, we big each other up, we commiserate. We celebrate each other’s victories and support each other through the Ls. The GC Record Club is the public version that gives a glimpse of that experience. Long may it continue!

[the-gc-record-club-blog]

PLEASURE (FEIST)

Selected by V Nasty

CALVIN’S TAKE

Favorite Song: “Get Not High, Get Not Low”

Spit Yo’ Game / Talk Yo’ Shit: When Feist gets to the chorus of “Get Not High, Get Not Low” I feel truly free:

For her voice alone, she should be on par with Justin Trudeau as a Canadian treasure. I found that the strong instrumentation and songwriting kinda trailed off towards the back end of this one, to be honest. If someone’s voice sounded like the harmonies on this record however, I would do anything for them (seriously, I would get them a drink from the fridge without even complaining once).

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥

OCHIENG’S TAKE

Favorite Song: “Century”

Spit Yo’ Game / Talk Yo’ Shit: I can sense some real hurt in those vocal chords my g. But on the really her vocals sound very eastern. Like some of these songs could fit perfectly in some Hayao Miyazaki movie, something like “Howl’s Moving Castle” or “Spirited Away” (fun fact “Laputa” is a song based off of the Miyazuki movie “Castle In the Sky”) But yeah she is able to hit them falsetto notes like it’s nothing. A very solemn and depressing album almost this is definitely some wintertime snowy vibes when you’re staring out of a train window thinking about your life decisions

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥 (and a half, for good measure)

OBELLA’S TAKE

Favorite Song: “I Wish I Didn’t Miss You”

Spit Yo’ Game / Talk Yo’ Shit: Feist is like this moonlight faerie spirit who like maybe has chains around her wrists and ankles for reasons that only the hermit on a lake on the eastern shore knows why and she sings songs that suck in everyone’s nightmares and you only know she’s visited because you wake up feeling rejuvenated the morning after her irregular jaunt through your town.

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

VANESSA’S TAKE

Favorite Song: “Get Not High, Get Not Low”

Spit Yo’ Game / Talk Yo’ Shit: So glad that Feist is back, she sounds otherworldly on this record. There’s something sad but beautiful about the album, but I love that she manages not to let it get too heavy or melancholy at any point. It’s also great that she makes room for harmonies, one of my favourite features in any piece of music.

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

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CHOOSE YOUR WEAPON (HIATUS KAIYOTE)

Selected by Chavo

VANESSA’S TAKE

Favorite Song: “Breathing Underwater”

Spit Yo’ Game / Talk Yo’ Shit: What kind of intergalactic, atmospheric sounds??? Love this album, I’m so sad that it was never on my radar but thankfully Chavo saved me from missing out on the experience. The instrumentation here is really daring and fun, plus Nai Palm’s voice is fantastic and soulful.

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

CALVIN’S TAKE

Favorite Song: “The Lung”

Spit Yo’ Game / Talk Yo’ Shit: I could listen to lead singer Nai Palm’s voice all day, she really casts a spell; especially on one of my favorites “Laputa” where she enunciates every syllable LAH-PYOO-TAH lol WTF that shit is crazy! It was weird how after I finished listening to this for the first time I’d suddenly gone from a fade to having grown dreads (the Jamaican / white people who go to festivals and wear ponchos and sandals kind of dreads). Alice In Wonderland for the 2010′s.

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥🔥  (and a half, for good measure)

OBELLA’S TAKE

Favorite Song: “Shoalin Monk Motherfunk”

Spit Yo’ Game / Talk Yo’ Shit: Acid Jazz that almost exists in another dimension - when I listen I’m like

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥  (and a half, for good measure)

OCHIENG’S TAKE

Favorite Song: “By Fire”

Spit Yo’ Game / Talk Yo’ Shit: You guys already know how I feel about this shit right here, top five albums I have ever heard in my life and I will stand by this forever. This shit is truly beautiful and is able to bring out raw emotions in me just through the sounds. Nai Palms connection with nature must play a part with this album because this is some otherworldy mother nature type music. Like the beat switches in the songs are entirely wild and the effects on Nai Palm’s voice be it by her doing naturally or through editing are bone chilling to say the least. Sometimes with things I love little things that people don’t really find impressive or noteworthy I tend to love, like in “Laputa” when Palm says “I’ve been running running but the riot hunts for you you you you” the second time and the beat chops up and her lyrics are slightly delayed I am in love with that stuff man. Anyways I’m dragging on, this shit is mindblowing

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥  (Ed Note: Chavo tried to give this album a 7 out of 5 which we can’t allow, but his words definitely make up the difference)

[the-gc-record-club-blog]

AT WHAT COST (GOLDLINK)

Selected by Calvvy

OBELLA’S TAKE

Favorite Song: “Crew”

Spit Yo’ Game / Talk Yo’ Shit: Casually Unique is how I can best explain Goldlink and his music and his aesthetic. He is the literal representation of “Coolin’ it”

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥

VANESSA’S TAKE

Favorite Song: “Meditation” ft. Jazmine Sullivan & KAYTRANADA

Spit Yo’ Game / Talk Yo’ Shit: I first heard GoldLink on the Insecure soundtrack and immediately loved his sound - the blend of rapping and singing that he matches with really danceable beats. I also really appreciate the tone/timbre of his voice. Unfortunately, the misogynist thread running through this album was hard for me to overlook and dampened my enjoyment, even on “Meditation” which is otherwise a perfect song (big up Jazmine Sullivan, she’s so underrated.)

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥

OCHIENG’S TAKE

Favorite Song: “Have You Seen That Girl”

Spit Yo’ Game / Talk Yo’ Shit: I honestly don’t have much to say, I’ve been a fan of Goldlink for a while now and this album was Link doing what he’s been doing. What I will say though is that Goldlink was making this album to bring light to the DMV area. He’s trying to be to the DMV what Wale couldn’t be, which I can truly appreciate, because Gold is definitely better than Wale. While I don’t think this album is better than his previous effort, this was still some amazing shit and it was Link flexing his muscles and one of the most musically inclined newcomers in the rap game.

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

CALVIN’S TAKE

Favorite Song: “Some Girl” feat. Stave Lacy

Spit Yo’ Game / Talk Yo’ Shit: This record is regionally specific without being literal, moe. It’s a D.C. record without having to spell it out with a fan-service Go-Go song (like Aubrey tried to do one time for the one time and embarrassed himself). If Wale’s first album had sounded like this instead, he’d probably get roasted a lot less on Twitter and Instagram. Honorable mention: “Pray Everyday”

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[the-gc-record-club-blog]

THUNDERBITCH (THUNDERBITCH)

Selected by Taco

VANESSA’S TAKE

Favorite Song: “Very Best Friend”

Spit Yo’ Game / Talk Yo’ Shit: This album was unlike anything I’ve listened to in a long time, which was welcome and refreshing, but the best part was knowing that it’s exactly the type of album that Obella would be into—and imagining him getting his whole life to it. Ultimately I wasn’t able to connect with it as much as I would’ve liked, probably because my ear isn’t trained for rock anymore, but I’m now aware that it’s something I need to work on.

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥

CALVIN’S TAKE

Favorite Song: “Very Best Friend”

Spit Yo’ Game / Talk Yo’ Shit: When I think about how much less rock music I listen to these days, it’s tempting for me to pour out a little liquor for a dearly departed homie lost to the game of popular taste. When I heard this Thunderbitch record though, I decided to pour myself a glass instead (…of someone’s else alcohol btw, because to round off this analogy I streamed this shit for free 99). Britney Howard’s yells rise up from the bottom of her gut like lava exploding from a volcano ready to flambee some ear drum.

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥 (and a half, for good measure)

OCHIENG’S TAKE

Favorite Song: “I Just Wanna Rock n Roll”

Spit Yo’ Game / Talk Yo’ Shit: LOUD, this shit is loud as fuck. Which is cool, from Ms. Howard’s voice to the instruments this album was made to make a lasting impression. Which again I can appreciate, because it’s fire. This is like some “Stuck in the middle with you” Reservoir Dogs, jean jackets and leather pants type shit. And I’m not mad at all. I definitely could hear this shit in some retro diner especially songs like “Eastside Party.” Now this was another album that was quite foreign to my current musical palette but not entirely, because as Obella knows a lot of my very early musical interest resided within a punk rock, heavy metal scheme. Shit like Chop Suey, Disturbed, Metallica, Papa Roach, Linkin Park and whole lot of shit like that. So songs like “Closer” didn’t sound entirely to foreign.

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

OBELLA’S TAKE

Favorite Song: “Leather Jacket”

Spit Yo’ Game / Talk Yo’ Shit: Britney Howard’s singing voice is what I imagine Mother Earth recalls hearing in her dreams from God’s womb before She birthed the universe. Round, full, all encompassing, unrestrained, passionate, powerful, well-seasoned but also tender, controlled, wired, and soft. Honestly, everything she produces I love almost compulsively but on the same end this record is not Sound & Color which to me is almost a perfect construction of music.

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 (and a half, for good measure)

[the-gc-record-club-blog]

THE ORDER OF TIME (VALERIE JUNE)

Selected by V Nasty

OBELLA’S TAKE

Favorite Song: “Astral Plane” or “Slip Slide On By”

Spit Yo’ Game / Talk Yo’ Shit: Her own explanation of it being “organic moonshine roots music” I think says it all. It’s almost otherworldly while also being incredibly original in the truest sense. Really loved this album!

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

OCHIENG’S TAKE

Favorite Song: “Shakedown”

Spit Yo’ Game / Talk Yo’ Shit: The songs on this album were quite foreign to me, in fact I honestly didn’t know this kind of music existed to be quite honest. You guys talked about it as falling into the category of country music which was quite hard for me to grasp because this isn’t what I envisioned as country. I’m quite picky with my music and certain melodies can easily turn me off and on to a song. I never ever have liked one country song and to go from that to loving a whole album that is supposedly country is quite difficult to grasp. Anyways this album was different in a way that truly excited me, I honestly think a lot of this shit would sound marvelous live. Also Shakedown might be a cookout song, from the catchy hook to the nigga drums I am truly mesmerized,

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

CALVIN’S TAKE

Favorite Song: “Love You Once Made”

Spit Yo’ Game / Talk Yo’ Shit: It never sounds like Valerie is explicitly going for it, but her voice still hangs in the air after every line. She’s so good at making restraint sound like indulgence.

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

VANESSA’S TAKE

Favorite Song: “Shakedown”

Spit Yo’ Game / Talk Yo’ Shit: It was hard to pick just one song as my favourite, because this album works for me on so many different levels: instrumentation, lyrics, genre and style. It’s rare for me to come to an album with no a priori whatsoever, so I really enjoyed listening to an album with no expectations. Valerie June’s command of her voice, her storytelling, and the arrangements on this record are incredible.

Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥🔥