Lil Wayne is out of jail in less than a month and has been presumably been away from codeine cough syrup and auto-tune for nearly a year. This *is* a fun record, but Lil Wayne at his peak was a world-beater. It would feel great to welcome that version of Wayne home again.
ReviewsAuthor Tyler Boehm
Gucci Mane – The Appeal: Georgia’s Most Wanted
Gucci is, simply put, the best rapper working today, and The Appeal just confirms this, according to Tyler Boehm.
Gucci Mane – Mr. Zone 6
In 2010 when, for better or worse, Drake is the biggest new star in hip-hop and Eminem gets back on top by collaborating with Rihanna, Gucci Mane sticks with releasing bangers with limited guest lists.
Drake – Thank Me Later
Despite his background, Tyler Boehm finds Drake’s debut as personal and authentic as any other major rap release in recent memory.
The Gaslight Anthem – American Slang
There’s not much bad to say about American Slang except that it doesn’t sound as inspired as their previous album according to Tyler Bohem.
Robyn – Body Talk (Part 1)
Robyn Carlsson continues to be as adventurous, original and personal as anyone working in pop music today. ‘Body Talk’ pairs those winning qualities with an album’s worth of pretty melodies. In this singles-dominated era more than ever, that makes it an album worth owning.
TLOBF Interview // Free Energy
Tyler Boehm gets a chance to fire some questions at DFA’s latest darlings, Free Energy.
The Hold Steady – Heaven is Whenever
At this point, no matter the small shifts in sound, we know what we’re getting from The Hold Steady. And, likewise, the band knows who they are. This is no longer an experiment in repurposing some of the most outre moments of pop rock; it’s an institution and each album’s success rests on its songs. Rejoice: Heaven is Whenever delivers.
Free Energy – Stuck on Nothing
Free Energy play music that is wonderfully innocent and guileless, when it knows the world is not. Their debut is a perfect distillation of this according to Tyler Boehm.
Andrew W.K. - Close Calls with Brick Walls / Mother of Mankind
Ultimately it seems like in creating the ingeniously iconoclastic I Get Wet, which was rightfully celebrated for its monomaniacal uniformity of sound and theme, Andrew W.K. left himself nowhere to go.
Vampire Weekend – Contra
Like it (and you should) or not, Contra proves all over again that Vampire Weekend is one of the most original and enjoyable acts of recent years.
Real Estate – Real Estate
Real Estate has made an album full of dusty, comfortable music that still somehow sounds new. The sound of the morning after a great night, and a thoroughly enjoyable debut from a band with surely more great music yet to come.
