THE REPORT: 11/15/24
TWO YEARS OF JOHN’S MUSIC BLOG
It’s hard to believe that I’ve been doing this blog for two years now. Last year, I did a big anniversary post, but this year? I’m keeping my head down. I’m keeping the focus on the thing that really matters, the reason why we are all here: 100 percent pure, unadulterated music blogging. In that spirit, today I present an extra-stuffed new edition of The Report, presented by John’s Music Blog.
The blog has always been free and will remain free for the foreseeable future, but if you want to send me a little gift for my work, today would be the day to do it. Here is a link to my Venmo account, which can be found at john-chiaverina. Anything would be appreciated. I’m trying to take my girl out to Ruth's Chris in Jersey City. Heads who give 25 dollars or more will receive a custom song recommendation. For those feeling wild, gifts of 100 bucks or higher will get a 50-song playlist. Just tell me a bit about your taste and I’ll try to cook something up that surprises and delights in equal measure. Anyway… Here comes The Report…
A little bit of dubstep never hurt anyone! Out today on the excellent 99CTS imprint, which is run by the former John’s Music Blog interviewee Miley Serious, Birmingham bass goon Delta throws down some moody, face-scrunching wobble. The casual toasting goes a long way here. I’m lifted up on instant coffee and I can feel my mood slowly shifting.
When LUCY is rocking and Guy Kozak is behind the camera, life is good. In a world of shit, it’s a duo we can count on. Their newest doesn’t disappoint—not that I thought it would. Cooper is wearing a Cape Cod hockey jersey and the beat flips the Titanic theme. What more do you people want?
DJ Smokey (Feat. Varg2 and DJ Ess) “Evil Poison Terror Organization”
Phrases like “brainrot” and “the infinite scroll” are so loaded that it’s hard to refer to them without feeling like I am getting paid a very small amount of money to write a scathing essay for some sort of niche online publication. With that said, you listen to this track and try not to think about one or both of those cursed—there’s another one—terms. Proper internet music.
“Hop in the whip / Get nasty.” Made Men Mafia: Memphis crunk supergroup. With “Get Nasty,” Duke Deuce, Dubba G, and Turnt LilThadd caught a funky one. It’s more than the chorus. It’s the bass turnaround. It’s the timeless Memphis bounce, interjected with just enough drift-racing synth. It’s Duke Deuce’s voice breaking in the first verse.
Alexander Tominsky isn’t just the guy who ate all those rotisserie chickens in Philly. He’s also an East Coast underground music legend. I’ll never forget watching a performance by his solo project Spiritual Recess—on Vine, of all platforms. Tominsky was dressed up in a baseball uniform and screaming “put me in coach” while shaking a contact mic’d fence. Very good!
GloRilla (Feat. Latto) “Procedure”
It’s a Memphis rap two-for-one today. “Procedure” is the track off of the recent GloRilla record that I’ve been returning to the most. Just flawless back-to-back rapping action. Some producer needs to remix this shit and go double time: juke, jungle, whatever. I’m not precious. I’ll keep playing the original. I’ll keep basking in the smooth DX-fried magic.
Tim Reaper “Raw Energy Movements”
He’s spent years perfecting the language of classic jungle and breakbeat hardcore, so it’s only right that London’s Tim Reaper has started to expand his sonic parameters. Here he incorporates a bit of the old drill cha cha into his breakbeat workout routine. Those Amens twist like linguini on a fork. Two years of music blogging.
MIX OF THE WEEK: “Temporal Cove on NTS w/ Smilegoth 11/11/24”
Ariana Mamnoon is a member of untitled (halo), a breakbeat happy Los Angeles band that we have covered before on the blog. Her radio show presents a varied, contemporary-feeling mix of various indietronica styles. It’s nice to type out the word “indietronica” and feel the irony slowly slip away in real time. We call that the Millennial Hipster Circle of Life. Here, she is in London with her bandmates, playing an eclectic mix of leaf-raking headnodder shit. Have any of you been watching that game show The Floor? Sound off in the comments…