Lonnie harvis

Bigger Love

TLDR: Love and more love is the name of the game here. John Legend’s expectantly beautiful voice still stands out against varied, top-tier production informing us that love still makes the world go round.

Close your eyes.

Open them back up.

You’re now transported to an early 60’s diner, complete with red-capped barstools, checkerboard floors, and a flashing neon “JOHN’S” sign behind the counter. The silky smooth doo-wop vocals you hear have a strange, yet satisfying musical background. You turn towards the jukebox but are met by a down-South trap producer mixing the song.

This is the feeling one gets on John Legend’s opening track, Ooh Laa, where he croons of wanting that “ooh laa” at nearly every waking moment. Legend jumps forward a few decades to the year 2000 on the next song, Actions with a memorable sample of Dr. Dre’s “The Next Episode.” We get a reminder that even a great voice can only get you so far in a relationship.

After the wonderful Wild with Gary Clark Jr’s blues-rock guitar and background vocals, it’s time to go back to sexy as Legend tries to single-handedly start a new baby boom. (Granted, that could probably be said for the entire album.). He and Jhene Aiko are sensually sultry on U Move, I Move and we’re told it’s not a bad thing to take your time and be a Slow Cooker. The wait will be worth it.

Winding down, Rapsody adds her touch on Remember Us to share a story of young love while effortlessly weaving in hip-hop culture references.

There’s a reason that John Legend is one of the few EGOT winners. That immense talent is on full display on Bigger Love as he takes us on a journey to discover that love is deep as well.

Favorite tracks:

• Ooh Laa
• Wild
• U Move, I Move
• Favorite Place
• Slow Cooker

Sean rodgers

I Disagree

TLDR: Performance artist known as Poppy has released a hauntingly monumental Kawaii Metal album that takes influence and spectical and runs with it!

So, have you heard of... Poppy?

(SOFT DISEMBODIED VOICE)"Hi, I'm Poppy"

Once you hear the soft voice of the Persona, it will be hard to get her out of your head.

But I guess that's what she is going for.

Before we go any further, I want to remind you that Poppy (SOFT DISEMBODIED VOICE)"I'm Poppy" is a performance artist. Donning a persona and walking in the public as just that, a persona.

Context of the performance is important to discussing this album in any detail.

I'm not going to go through the entire history of her continuing performance since 2014, but I will provide further resources for the curious. Think of Poppy (SOFT DISEMBODIED VOICE)"I'm Poppy" as a modern day Ripley's Believe it or not exhibit.

The third album and a massive departure musically from what has come before, Poppy's (SOFT DISEMBODIED VOICE)"I'm Poppy" I Disagree has taken the same tone with her content adding in the some amazing Metal.

Starting off with a siren call as if you are about to walk into the town of Silent Hill, Concrete mirrors Konami's well beloved video game series. The song oscillates between a pop verse and the metal chorus just as one would in the titular Silent Hill. I Disagree has some great metal riffs that continue to drive the musics own message. So, understanding that Poppy (SOFT DISEMBODIED VOICE)"I'm Poppy"... is a performance, the vocals can't get lost inside the music. There is s story here. I'm not saying that it's a good story. It's pretty weird. But dear goodness is it entertaining. If you ever have an afternoon, go watch Film Theorists video on her, it's a wild ride.

Recently moving to Sumerian Records, Poppy (SOFT DISEMBODIED VOICE)"I'm Poppy" has made the transition to a typically Metal label amazingly well. It's weird seeing this little image flanked by bands like Asking Alexandria, The Faceless, and The Kindred.

The album and artist alike take hard looks at the culture surrounding breakout female artists and asks questions like "What do you believe when no one is watching?" This album would work without the massive amount of backlog material. Poppy (SOFT DISEMBODIED VOICE)"I'm Poppy" is more than a singer, she is an answer and an enigma. Reminding listeners to not be like her. Start peeling away that the layers and you start to understand that the music industry, or fame industry rather, isn't what it presents itself to be. These industries, are revealed most glaringly in the last few years, are sinister to their core. Poppy (SOFT DISEMBODIED VOICE)"I'm Poppy" let's one look at her art and look at the current state of affairs in the world.

This album is good. Whether you come for the enigma or the music itself, you won't be disappointed.

Keep it up Poppy.

(SOFT DISEMBODIED VOICE)"I'm Poppy"

Extra Material

Don't Hug Me I'm Scared

Don't Hug Me I'm Scared Explained - Film Theorists

Poppy Explained - Film Theorists

Adult Swim - Too Many Cooks

Decoding the Disturbing - Wisecrack Edition

Unedited Footage of a Bear

The Neon Demon - Amazon Prime

Bigger Love at home

Trevor Noah interview

Information

• Artist: John Legend
• Album: Bigger Love
• Release date: June 19th, 2020

Track List:

1. Ooh Laa
2. Actions
3. I Do
4. One Life
5. Wild (feat. Gary Clark Jr.)
6. Bigger Love
7. U Move, I Move (feat. Jhené Aiko)
8. Favorite Place
9. Slow Cooker
10. Focused
11. Conversations in the Dark
12. Don’t Walk Away (feat. Koffee)
13. Remember Us (feat. Rapsody)
14. I’m Ready (feat. Camper)
15. Always
16. Never Break

Information

• Artist: Poppy
• Album: I Disagree
• Release date: January 10, 2020

Track List:

1. Concrete
2. I Disagree
3. Bloodmoney
4. Anything Like Me
5. Fill the Crown
6. Nothing I Need
7. Sit/Stay
8. Bite Your Teeth
9. Sick of the Sun
10. Don't Go Outside