Houndmouth - From the Hills Below the City

Label: Rough Trade
Year: 2013
Genre: Alt Country, Americana, Folk Rock
Recommending Person: Todd Tompkins

I wish this was what country was all the time. It's a bit of southern rock, some folk rock, some kick ass guitar licks, and a story. 

It seems more of a testament to country than any of the current pop country phenomena going on throughout the scene currently. They still sing with the familiar country affectation, but it seems more natural and reminds me of the great The Band. Mighty praise for a band I hadn't yet heard before this journey. 

I hope they get huge. Bigger than big. Because then country will lean towards this fantastic sound and I want more of it.
 

Childish Gambino - Because the Internet

Label: Glassnote
Year: 2013
Genre: Hip Hop
Recommending Person: Daniel Gould

Watch out for 'dat gif'. I was a bit disappointed by this album. I'm a big fan of Donald Glover's earlier albums and I think he is a very talented lyricist, although a bit overhyped because white kids can understand all the lyrics and can somewhat relate to everything that is said by the middle class raised Glover.

I think is the issue because I loved Royalty. That album is a discussion of the first kids of Black Royalty. There is a great interview with Hot 97's Peter Rosenberg where he talks intelligently about what Royalty meant and his beefs within the business. I'll attach that video down below.

I didn't love the beats created for this album and it was a bit too experimental for me. It seemed to effect the flow that I usually love the most in Childish Gambino records.

The Lacs - Keep It Redneck

Label: Backroad Records
Year: 2013
Genre: Country Rap
Recommending Person: Wes Strange

I imagine this record was not put forth with the intention that it is Wes's favorite album. However, I imagine that the Lacs are just going to be the beginning of a trend that I will easily avoid in the future. 

I'm just wondering who they believe to be their inspiration. I have to imagine that some is Kid Rock, I hear a lot of it in the eponymous song "Keep It Redneck", and also some Bubba Sparxx. You may be wondering what a Lac is? According to the band members it stands for "Loud Ass Crackers". 

The most surprising thing is that there are actually a few ballad like songs on the album. I would never expect anything of the sort. Unfortunately, there are also skits. The skits on rap albums are rarely funny and The Lacs continue that hip-hop tradition. The album isn't that great, but I was expecting less than what I actually received. 

Fun Fact: Another name for Country Rap is Hick-Hop. 

Brett Eldredge - Bring You Back

Label: Atlantic Nashville
Year: 2013
Genre: Country
Recommending Person: Viki Arias

Country has been under attack recently for repeating the same song over and over again. I felt some of the same with Brett Eldredge's debut album. Now he isn't part of the current Frat Country of sitting on beaches and drinking beer, he is aiming directly at a young female market with about 11 of the 12 songs about how he is a big romantic, and he wants nothing more than just his lady. 

I was about to go out on a diatribe how every song seems to have an affectation into the singing, but that happens just as often in punk rock, indie, and every genre on the planet. To me this album lacked any sort of emotional core that was believable. Everything was face value, each emotion was one note, and every song felt contrived. I've never been big on Country to begin with, but nothing about this record made me feel differently about the genre in general. Everything seems like a put on, but unlike the current pop country it lacks any attempt at fun. It seems content with being chipper.  Even the label seems to be pandering, Atlantic Nashville?  The appeal is still lost on me for the most part, but I will keep trying.

The 20/20 Experience (1 of 2) - Justin Timberlake

Label: RCA
Year: 2013
Genre: Pop
Recommending Person: Chrissy Walker

Besides the song Strawberry Bubblegum this album isn't bad. It's not my favorite, but the songs at least are trying to do something. I wish they limited that attempt to less than 7 minutes a song or you know try more things in a single song, there was a lot of checking the time remaining on the track while I was listening. Also, JT you have a nice singing voice. Stop resorting to Falsetto all the time. It's not necessary.