Image by Eyebodega
With July comes the unwitting fact that we are halfway through our musical year, a year in which trend has seemed to whip by our ears faster than ever. Do we even remember our favorite records from January, or are they old news? The media cycle has turned the volume up to 11 and everything cycles by at an unreasonable pace. However, every once in a while, something breaks the cycle and burrows deep into the nation's psyche. Thank goodness, because all of this head-whipping was hurting our necks.
The best album of July 2012
Frank Ocean, Channel Orange (Def Jam)
Look, we didn't review it, because sometimes we just give up when faced with the cacophony of music critics and people who instantly decide to become music critics weighing in with their extremely "important" opinions. And also because all we have to say is this: Frank Ocean changed the game. These songs are barely songs; they follow a new kind of narrative structure that gives us just enough verse to sing along to while never detracting from the story. The music behind him, whether beat or orchestra, is low in the mix but high enough to pump a fist to, if necessary. People will cry to this record; people will fuck for the first time to this record; you can send it to your parents even though it has songs about crack and gay stuff. This record has changed and will continue to change the lives of many of the people that listen to it. The end. That's all we have to say about Frankie.
Honorable Mention on account of the fact that giving the aforementioned honor to Frank Ocean is like giving money to Mitt Romney
Deep Time, self-titled (Hardly Art)
Yellow Fever will from now on be known as Deep Time but while the name has changed, Jennifer Moore continues to tear up the mic, guitars, organ, etc with Adam Jones keeping the backbeat in steady working order. Their self-titled finds the duo making some of their finest indie pop to date with singles like "Clouds," "Homebody" with the backdrop of Austin's musical hot bed of hungry and wide eyed believers in musical independence.
Head over to Impose to find out what other albums made the cut.
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Ace of Base's Secret Nazi Past
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Parquet Courts - "Light Up Gold Road Trip" (Full Documentary)
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Yung Lean Doer Is the Weirdest 16-Year-Old White Swedish Rapper You'll Hear This Week
Yung Lean raps over pillow-fluffy beats and raps about glory holes and Arizona Iced Tea. Who the fuck is this kid? And why is he like this?
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Adam Ant - The British Masters, Chapter 6
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Photos: Taking Acid at Coachella
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R.I.P. Storm Thorgerson (1944-2013)
On Thursday, the hyper-talented graphic designer, artist, and famed album cover creator Storm Thorgerson passed away after a battle with cancer. He was 69 years old.
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The Internet Is Scary
As of six months ago, my Facebook fanpage is like a dojo where hormonal teenagers hone their technique. Here is a heartfelt poem from some kid who wants to rape, kill, and marry me.
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I Accidentally Touched Little Richard's Butt One Time
It was in the Detroit airport. After it happened Little Richard said, "He graze my derriere."
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Listen to St. Lucia's Remix of The Colourist's "Little Games"
Last month, Cali quartet the Colourist released "Little Games," and St. Lucia just pulled a warm Balearic blanket over the whole thing, sanding away its rough edges with bright synths and lightly gated percussion.
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Aaron Montaigne, Godfather of Screamo, is More Interesting Than You Can Ever Hope to Be - Part Two
On surviving combat in Iraq and Afghanistan with the help of magic, 'Bladerunner,' and everything in between.
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