Music to close out your Summer

Will Love’s Music Memo

Post Malone

Post Malone’s highly anticipated fourth studio album, Twelve Carat Toothache, comes across as a strong mature effort. The nine-time Grammy® nominee is set to kick off his North American tour, the Twelve Carat Tour, on September 10^th to run through November 15^th. Local dates include Wells Fargo Center (Philadelphia, PA) on October 6^th, Prudential Center (Newark, NJ) on October 7^th, and Madison Square Garden (New York, NY) on October 12^th.

This new album is more cohesive and streamlined. At the same time, it’s less vulgar and lacks edge, which runs the risk of coming across too commercial at times. This is seemingly a crossroads for artists when they become more mainstream which is particularly applicable as Post Malone is experiencing more success and notoriety now than ever before. Lyrically, the content on this effort juxtaposes between pain (“Lemon Tree,” “Love/Hate Letter to Alcohol”) and pleasure (“Wrapped Around Your Finger,” “I Like You”). Overall, this is a solid effort, with many of the songs seemingly crafted to be performed live. Recommended: “I Like You (A Happier Song)”.

Conan Gray

Superache is the sophomore album from YouTube star turned pop star, Conan Gray. Gray has built a fan base by being vulnerable and always putting his raw emotions on display. Highly relatable, this new album showcases maturity and more emotional depth. Superache manages to be highly poetic and admirable lyrically whilst still being extremely catchy production wise. Dating in the digital age is highly dysfunctional, especially with social media giving you all the wrong advice, such as to avoid dating your friends who you already have a connection with or to act like you are not interested in someone when you truly are.

All in all, society today sets you up for failure in relationships. Fortunately, Conan Gray sings all about this, making for a very cathartic effort for Gray and listeners alike. “Footnote” is about being mistaken for being a couple with someone you yearn to be with yet can’t openly express it. “Family Line” is about growing up with a hostile father and a mother who is in denial. “The Exit” is about dealing with negative emotions towards self ala self-loathing and jealousy. Recommended: “Best Friend”.

Calum Scott

Bridges marks the highly anticipated sophomore album by UK import, Calum Scott. In 2015 after appearing on Britain’s Got Talent, Calum went viral for his cover of Robyn’s “Dancing on My Own,” and scored a record deal with Capital Records despite not winning the competition. In 2018, Calum released his debut album Only Human, which was certified silver in the UK and gold in US and Australia. In 2018 Calum opened for Pentatonix and earlier this year The Script, arguably a much larger tour to be a part of.

Today, right off the heels of the release of Bridges, Calum is setting out on his own headlining tour which includes local show at Warsaw (Brooklyn, NY) on September 1^st. Calum Scott sounds his best belting out ballads and this new effort brings out his best while still integrating solid up-tempo tracks. “Biblical” and moreover “If You Ever Change Your Mind” do an amazing job at showcasing Calum’s skills as a vocalist, which have only improved since his last album. “The Way You Loved Me” is one of the best if not the best track on the album. Lyrically, the song addresses a lover falling out of love and coldly moving on, and from the lyrics to the vocals to the production listeners can feel the emotions beautifully. “Cross Your Mind” questions if a former lover still thinks of him while “I’ll Be There” takes pride in being there for someone unconditionally. Overall, this is one of the most quality albums available today. Recommended: “Boys in the Street”.

Alanis Morissette

The Storm Before the Calm is the tenth studio album by Alanis Morissette and a unique effort at that as it is deemed a meditation album. The album is available on streaming services as well as the meditation and mental health app, Calm. In a day where attention span is increasingly becoming shorter, with the average length of songs decreasing to accompany this, it’s refreshing that each song on this album ranges from five to twelve minutes.

Currently Alanis is embarking on the Jagged Little Pill Anniversary Tour which included a recent stop at Holmdel’s PNC Bank Arts Center. Recommended: “heart – power of a soft heart”.

Will Love’s Top 5

1. Post Malone & Doja Cat – I like You (A Happier Song)
2. Jack Harlow – First Class
3. Lizzo – About Damn Time
4. Nicky Youre & Dazy – Sunroof
5. Calvin Harris with Dua Lipa & Young Thug – Potion

Concerts Coming to Prudential Center

Seventeen: September 6th
Daddy Yankee: September 8th
Karol G: September 10th
Wu-Tang Clan & Nas: September 13th
Carlos Vives: September 17th
My Chemical Romance: September 20th – 21st
Post Malone: October 7th