10 Archives - SCAD Radio https://scadradio.org/tag/10/ More than Music Thu, 02 Jan 2020 15:30:59 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.2 https://scadradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/cropped-15844751_10157973088380282_1722021642859959004_o-32x32.png 10 Archives - SCAD Radio https://scadradio.org/tag/10/ 32 32 SCAD Radio’s Top 10 Songs of 2019 https://scadradio.org/2019/12/13/scad-radios-top-10-songs-of-2019/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=scad-radios-top-10-songs-of-2019&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=scad-radios-top-10-songs-of-2019 Fri, 13 Dec 2019 05:00:00 +0000 https://scadradio.org/?p=5526 In 2019, rapping cowboys reigned supreme, Kanye West was blond and gone, and an eccentric teenager had everyone yelling “duh.” Thanks to a carefully crafted bracket-style debate, SCAD Radio has banged out their 10 favorite songs released in the final year of the decade. Speaking of which, you damn well know we did a list […]

The post SCAD Radio’s Top 10 Songs of 2019 appeared first on SCAD Radio.

]]>
In 2019, rapping cowboys reigned supreme, Kanye West was blond and gone, and an eccentric teenager had everyone yelling “duh.” Thanks to a carefully crafted bracket-style debate, SCAD Radio has banged out their 10 favorite songs released in the final year of the decade. Speaking of which, you damn well know we did a list like this for the entirety of the 2010s.

#10 “Juice”- Lizzo

“Mirror, mirror on the wall/Don’t say it ’cause I know I’m cute.” Could there be a more on-brand way to begin a Lizzo song? Making self-appreciative quips while never sounding conceited is Lizzo’s strong suit, the Donna Summer of motivational speaking. You could witness a dog getting run over by a truck while walking out of your mom’s funeral and still be thrown into a good mood after “Juice.”  

#9 “All Mirrors”- Angel Olsen

The indie folk-rocker’s grand project thanks to an orchestra sidekick, the titular lead single for Angel Olsen’s fourth studio effort is her most bewitching and mysterious addition yet. Starting gently like the songwriter was in the days of her debut before diving headfirst into a titillating crescendo, it’s as coruscating as it is cryptic, giving just enough leeway for lyrical sleuths to toy with.

#8 “bad guy”- Billie Eilish

After removing her Invisalign, hushed vocals welcome us into Billie Eilish’s freak show on “bad guy,” a baroque pop gem bathed in badassery. Riddled with potentially naughty phrases brought down to Earth by her innocent whispers and bizarre but memorable chorus, it’s the perfect gateway into the 17-year-old’s unorthodox library.

#7 “Talk”- Khalid

Khalid Robinson’s second LP may have been a dud, but its lead single is certainly salvageable. Some luscious synths courtesy of Disclosure carry the Georgia native’s 21st-century shortcoming we all know too well- trying to work things out while they’re too busy watching Netflix to respond to your text. He’s definitely been left on read before, and the mundanity strikes Millennials and Gen Zers everywhere.

#6 “Hot Girl Summer”- Megan Thee Stallion feat. Nicki Minaj & Ty Dolla $ign

No Summer is complete without its seasonal jam, and 2019’s choice is a product of the increasingly mainstream hip-hop genre. It’s one clearly primed for Song of the Summer: multiple features and pool party value, to name a few. But while many SotS meet the same fate as the leaves when Fall comes around, Juicy J’s mix has kept the dog days alive well into the year’s conclusion.

#5 “Cellophane”- FKA twigs

The mystique behind Tahliah Barnett took a hiatus over health troubles, so when she dropped her most intimate and haunting piece of music yet, it proved the disappearing act had only sharpened her growth as an artist. “Cellophane” can serve as a quiet sneer at racist Twilight crazies or a cultural rewrite on how we perceive pole dancing in its tranquil and subversive music video. It’s a simple, yet complicated track- none of of twigs’ twingy background noises, just minimalistic perfection.

#4  “Borderline”- Tame Impala

Fans have been divisive over Kevin Parker’s ventures into new territory, though “Borderline” satisfies those unsure if 2015’s genre-flipping Currents should be canon. The spacey sounds feel right at home in a Tame Impala track, passing the stoner-approved test with flying colors. Dwelling on the nature of life in the lyrics, it may be his tightest trip yet.

#3 “Social Cues”- Cage the Elephant

You’re an acclaimed indie act selling out shows across the world, you should be happy, right? Not to Cage the Elephant’s Matt Schultz, who wrote “Social Cues” and its accompanying LP with personal struggles like his recent divorce in mind. Whether in 2019 or in the retro era the beat hails from, the theme of the tormented star is a timeless topic in an age where Avicii and David Berman have met the same heartbreaking fate as Kurt Cobain and Ian Curtis.

Check out our coverage of Cage the Elephant’s Shaky Knees Music Festival performance here.

#2 “Dylan Thomas”- Better Oblivion Community Center

Conor Oberst and Phoebe Bridgers have worked together before, but no one predicted their surprise collab album drop in January. At the crux was was “Dylan Thomas,” named for the famed poet who was pissed off with the world- much like the duo behind BOCC. The pair’s flow plays like a couple that’s too good at karaoke, structured with quirky lyrics referencing everything from Bridgers’ mascot to a Trump meme.

#1 “Old Town Road” (Remix)- Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus

It’s not like it was a “Stairway to Heaven” epic, the original didn’t even clock in at two minutes. It certainly didn’t have an Illmatic sense of depth, either. It was the seamless bridging of Lil Nas X’s self-described “country trap” setup that broke not only new ground in music, but Billboard’s chart record as well. While the original surged months after it was released, the cowboy struck real gold when the countless remixes poured in: throw in Hannah Montana’s dad, and they become Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

The post SCAD Radio’s Top 10 Songs of 2019 appeared first on SCAD Radio.

]]>
Top 10 Albums of 2018 https://scadradio.org/2018/12/22/top-10-albums-of-2018/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=top-10-albums-of-2018&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=top-10-albums-of-2018 Sat, 22 Dec 2018 06:00:42 +0000 https://scadradio.org/?p=4829 As 2018 comes to an end, SCAD Radio’s staff have put their heads together to whittle down the year’s best to 10 albums. The music year included remastered indie gems, some sweet anniversaries, and “scoopity poop”. It was these 10 records that got our attention, though. Also be sure to check out our Top 10 […]

The post Top 10 Albums of 2018 appeared first on SCAD Radio.

]]>
As 2018 comes to an end, SCAD Radio’s staff have put their heads together to whittle down the year’s best to 10 albums. The music year included remastered indie gems, some sweet anniversaries, and “scoopity poop”. It was these 10 records that got our attention, though.

Also be sure to check out our Top 10 Songs of 2018.

#10- Clean- Soccer Mommy

Move over, Lana- there’s a new sad queen in town. Sophie Allison’s official debut packs all one could want from a slowcore indie rock stance. Whether the woozying riffs of “Cool” & “Your Dog”, or the melancholy chants of “Still Clean” & “Last Girl”, Clean checks off all the boxes for an indie star on the rise.

#9- Invasion of Privacy- Cardi B

After making landfall in 2017 with “Bodak Yellow”, Belcalis Almánzar’s first full-length follows up on the boisterous nature of the single that made her famous. Aside from her signature swank, Invasion of Privacy keeps on giving thanks to a variety of crowd-pleasing sounds like the latin-infused “I Like It” and the trappy “Drip”. Throw in an A-list cast of features, and the whole thing catapults Bardi far past one-hit wonder status.

Read our review for the album here.

#8- Welcome to the Neighbourhood- Boston Manor

Arcade Fire’s Win Butler described their landmark The Suburbs as neither “a love letter to, nor indictment of”, but a letter from his hometown. Boston Manor, on the other hand, uses this album as a complete criticism of theirs. Henry Cox announces “Welcome To The Neighbourhood/If you could leave you would” on the titular track before the Blackpool-bashing delves into issues that’ve beset the English city, such as a newfound drug haven on “Halo”. The hard rockers pull no punches with harsh yet understandable words and consistently banging riffs.

#7- Bark Your Head Off, Dog- Hop Along

Frances Quinlan’s ever-shifting voice leads the way on the Philadelphia band’s fourth album. Earworm moments like the finale of “How Simple” to the biblical imagery of “Not Abel” weaves variety into the record, but it’s clear the vocal performance makes Bark Your Head Off, Dog the best it can be.

#6- Golden Hour- Kacey Musgraves

For those of you about to skip on this one due to it being a “country” album, let it be known that much of Golden Hour is anything but. What makes Kacey Musgrave’s music so listenable is her ability to appeal to those who’ve never worn a cowboy hat. Her loveable lyrics are often cute in their wordplay, while the production strays from the southern sounds that would otherwise be a turnoff to country-haters.

#5- Sex & Food- Unknown Mortal Orchestra

The New Zealand band dives into a delicate mix of sounds on their fourth LP. The ripping riffs of songs like “Major League Chemicals” and groovy basslines of “Hunnybee” provide something for every listener.

#4- How to Socialize and Make Friends- Camp Cope

2018 introduced a wave of female indie rock with artists like Soccer Mommy and Snail Mail, but it was Australian girl group Camp Cope that won us over with their second LP. The trio tackled subjects like sexism in the music world, entranced with the raging vocals and often sarcastic wit of lead singer Georgia “Maq” McDonald.

#3- Black Panther: The Album- Various Artists

Since DAMN came out last year, it seemed we weren’t getting another Kendrick Lamar album soon. However, we got the next best thing- a giant collaborative release with Kung-Fu Kenny and his friends to pair with the Marvel blockbuster. Blending sounds like African tribal drums with today’s hip-hop and R&B worked like a charm. The soundtrack is just as much of an ode to the continent as its movie, even with that…interesting (and meme-worthy)…Future verse on “King’s Dead”.

#2- Be the Cowboy- Mitski

Zany instrumentation accompanies witty writing on the songwriter’s most recent offering. Most of the tracks don’t reach the 3-minute mark, staging Be the Cowboy more as a collection of anecdotes from Mitski’s mind. Some songs are won over by the exuberant sounds, others by the poetic lyrics. Though anchored by the pounding “Nobody”, the album contains plenty of treats like the melancholy “Lonesome Love” and the flamboyant “Why Didn’t You Stop Me?”

#1- Dirty Computer- Janelle Monáe

A “visual album” that packs a 46-minute short film for good measure is still a fantastic listen by itself. The robotic flow of the ingenious artist (and now pansexual icon) dishes out identity, feminism, and lust all in one dazzling LP. Politically intelligent on “Screwed” and “Django Jane”, while shamelessly craving same-sex love on “Make Me Feel” and “PYNK”, Dirty Computer is a relevant plea for a better tomorrow, as well as an LGBT pride album for a generation.

SCAD Radio has to choose it as the best album of 2018.

Read our review for the album here.

The post Top 10 Albums of 2018 appeared first on SCAD Radio.

]]>
Top 10 Songs of 2018 https://scadradio.org/2018/12/18/top-10-songs-of-2018/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=top-10-songs-of-2018&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=top-10-songs-of-2018 Tue, 18 Dec 2018 08:00:59 +0000 https://scadradio.org/?p=4823 2018 was full of head-turning happenings, especially in the realm of music. Industry headlines ranged from intelligent music videos, movie soundtrack chart battles, and whatever the hell 6ix9ine was doing. As with the conclusion of any Earth cycle, it’s time for SCAD Radio’s favorite tracks that made 2018 suck less. After rigorous debate and a […]

The post Top 10 Songs of 2018 appeared first on SCAD Radio.

]]>
2018 was full of head-turning happenings, especially in the realm of music. Industry headlines ranged from intelligent music videos, movie soundtrack chart battles, and whatever the hell 6ix9ine was doing.

As with the conclusion of any Earth cycle, it’s time for SCAD Radio’s favorite tracks that made 2018 suck less. After rigorous debate and a sophisticated voting process, we have rounded out our overall choices for the 10 best songs of the year.

Also be sure to check out our top 10 albums of 2018.

#10- Nice for What- Drake

For the most part, it seemed fans loved Scorpion “only partly”. While much of the LP fell flat, “Nice For What” brought more of the upbeat and fun music Drake has become a household name for. Taking a bite from Lauryn Hill’s “Ex-Factor”, the Canadian rapper constructs a women’s empowerment tune complete with a star-studded music video of famous females.

Listen here.

#9- Tints- Anderson .Paak feat. Kendrick Lamar

The funkiest man in music right now teams up with rap’s reigning king for a nostalgic bop. Fans anticipating the lead single for .Paak’s third album, Oxnard, got what they wanted. “Tints” begins with a delicious ‘70s-centric disco beat as the Dr. Dre. prodigy and Lamar dive into their distaste for the paparazzi. Channeling his inner James Brown, Anderson .Paak summons perhaps his flashiest tune to date.

Listen here.

#8- Make Me Feel- Janelle Monáe

Bubbly, catchy, and clearly Prince-inspired, the single to Dirty Computer warps the pop & R&B styles the electric lady is known for mixing. With that finger-snap bassline to the “bass drop” chorus of sorts, “Make Me Feel” made us feel “so f*ckin’ real”.

Listen here.

#7- Fists of Fury- Kamasi Washington

Clocking in at nearly 10 minutes, the opening to Kamasi Washington’s Heaven and Earth is nothing short of epic. A fight song at heart, but a jazzy ballad for the ages nonetheless, the saxophonist’s combination of roaring brass and racing drums ensure that listening to “Fists of Fury” only through headphones limits the thunderous experience.

The full track isn’t available on YouTube, but you can listen to a live version here.

#6- Cool- Soccer Mommy

A ringing yet soft guitar carries us into the underdog world of one of indie rock’s most promising stars. “Cool” details the girl who’s too good for you through the eyes of the girl on the sidelines, Soccer Mommy. Capitalized with a simple chorus that’ll have you belting out “you-ou-ou-ou”s of your own, one of 2018’s best breakouts finishes the track with a nicely done slow fade-out.

Listen here.

#5- High Horse- Kacey Musgraves

The disco-pop glitz of “High Horse” would never leave a first-time listener to guess Musgraves is a country artist. The songwriter ventures further and further away from the genre she once called home, and in all the right ways. The danciest track from the terrific Golden Hour wonderfully displays the Texan evolving far beyond her comfort zone.

Listen here.

#4- All the Stars- Kendrick Lamar & SZA

The end-credit tune from Marvel’s groundbreaking Black Panther movie shines thanks to two of Top Dawg Entertainment’s finest hitmakers. Kendrick Lamar’s motivational verses in the guise of T’Challa complement the superhero’s story, and SZA’s powerful vocals anchor the uplifting chorus. Wakanda forever indeed.

Listen here.

#3- This Is America- Childish Gambino

When Donald Glover and his stage name Childish Gambino were announced to be the host and musical guest for Saturday Night Live, it served as a conformation of new music. The same night Gambino performed at the New York venue, the music video for the America-criticizing song was unleashed for the internet to interpret. He surprised everyone with the psychedelic shift in genre on songs like “Redbone”, but Glover made an even bigger splash with this instant classic and it’s mind-boggling video.

Read our review for the iconic music video here.

Watch the music video here.

#2- Nobody- Mitski

Everyone experiences loneliness at some point in their lives, even if you’re an indie giant like Mitski Miyawaki. Starting with a light percussion tap and concluding with a roof-raising chant of the track’s title, the Japanese-born singer/songwriter pairs feelings of isolation with a bouncy riff that launched her from underground to indie fame.

Listen here.

#1- Feels Like Summer- Childish Gambino

If you haven’t realized by now, it was a big year for Donald Glover. Following the cultural phenomenon “This Is America”, the music world couldn’t expect what the multi-talent would do next. In sync with the “jigsaw-puzzle” vibe of the former, “Feels Like Summer” tactically misled viewers on a seemingly relaxing animated bit with various rappers and public figures from J. Cole to Michelle Obama. Even the video’s finale of Gambino entering his house as the sun sets is thought to reference the rumors his upcoming fourth album will be his last. Nevertheless, for those of you who didn’t know, the song is actually about climate change and global warming. Yeah.

Listen here.

The post Top 10 Songs of 2018 appeared first on SCAD Radio.

]]>