By Ella Fortine and Jacob Flores, Staff Writers
With new releases from RAYE and old hits, read on to find some good music you will certainly enjoy.
On the heels of the roaring success of “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” RAYE (apparent fan of all-caps) has released her sophomore album, THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE. A beautiful blend of jazzy pop and orchestral arrangements fit for a romantic musical, this record showcases RAYE at her musical best. THIS MUSIC incorporates the perfect amount of cinematic elements to have the feel of an enticing storyline at the heart of the album, and RAYE has a voice perfect for the execution of said storyline. Demonstrating her vocal prowess with no fear, RAYE shifts effortlessly from powerful ballads like “Nightingale Lane.” to the sharp, rhythmic verses in “I Will Overcome.”, all while maintaining enough continuity to create a cohesive project. Of course, no project is perfect, and some shifts occur that seem a bit out of place (perhaps somewhere around track eight) but not enough to deride the rich, musicality driven set. RAYE’s stunning vocals are elevated and cushioned in instrument lineups that include at times an entire orchestra, making the album feel larger than life. This is a record to be enjoyed live in a concert hall, seeing the artistry, talent, and focus put into making each piece of the music fit and make perfect sense. This music may contain hope, and it definitely contains RAYE’s undeniable talent.
Old Releases from 1960’s – 2000
After the breakup in 1970 between Simon and Garfunkel, Art Garfunkel went on his own solo studio album career. With Fate For Breakfast being his fourth solo studio album, it was released on March 15th, 1979 under Columbia Records, the album heavily focuses on the genre of soft rock and an almost early R&B setting. In A Little While, begins the album with a soothing start and notably tells a story of separation and hope while having a jazzy and bebop like guitar to bring the instrumental side of the song together. The second track of the album Since I Don’t Have You, is most notably known for being a cover of the original song by The Skyliners from 1958, but has a distinctive difference in tone from the original, with the laid back instrumental and the angelic harmonies Art brings in the song. Other standout songs from the album include And I Know, Sail On A Rainbow, Miss You Nights, Bright Eyes, and Finally Found A Reason, with each song differing from one another by harmonies and tone, making each one unique on their own. Although Fate For Breakfast never made the top 40 billboard charts and didn’t get the popularity it deserved at the time it was released, Fate For Breakfast has made a comeback in recent years due to the high demand of its unique genre and sound that comes across the whole album. As time passed Fate For Breakfast has earned the title of a true hidden gem and continues to influence more and more artists in the up and coming years of the music industry. If you’re looking for a soothing album that does not have a single miss, Fate For Breakfast by Art Garfunkel is the album for you.
When going through America’s catalog of music, Hat Trick has always been the one to be overlooked. Released October 26, 1973 under Warner Bros records, Hat Trick switched the focus of the cordial folk rock melodies from the past two America releases and switched to a more mindful approach of songwriting that differed from their earlier albums. With the first track Muskrat Love being the albums most popular song, It showed the difference in sound for the band with a more melancholy take and simple instrumental. Muskrat Love was released as a separate single and went on to make only number 67 on the Billboard 100, but was later on overshadowed three years later by Captain & Tennille.With popularity over Captain & Tennille’s cover of the song, which reached number 2 on the billboard charts. The second track of the album Wind Wave, uses harmonies and a soothing guitar that builds up throughout the song for the main chorus, switching to bittersweet moments and varying to loud instrumental takes. Standout tracks from the album include Rainbow Song, Submarine Ladies, Hat Trick, Molten Love, and Goodbye, with each song having diversity and amazing production that appeases the listeners. Although Hat Trick was the only American album to never get a gold record, it failed to reach the popularity as the band’s past albums and was not critically acclaimed. Hat Trick will always be one of the most underrated albums of the 70’s and not only shows the growth of America as a band but the change of direction band members were going through. If you’re looking for an album that can lighten the mood, Hat Trick by America is the album that is definitely worth listening to.
When deciding which Stevie Wonder album is the best, Music Of My Mind is always argued to be number one. Released March 3rd, 1972 under Tamala Records it was the first Stevie Wonder record to utilize synthesizing as an instrument, which was later on used in almost all of his albums afterwards. With the first track Love Having You Around, just showing the vision Stevie was looking for, taking full advantage of the technology and making an almost funkadelic jam that grooves through the soul. The second track on the album Superwoman ( Where Were You When I Needed You), is an 8 minute track that truly takes the listener through a drastic setting of pure beauty, and absolute satisfaction. Released as a single just one month later, it hit number 33 on the US top billboard 100 and was marked number 13 for Best Selling Soul Singles of the decade. Other standout tracks from the album include I Love Every Little Thing About You, Happier Than The Morning Sun, Girl Blue, Seems So Long, and Evil, with each track having a different take on the soul genre making it worth the listen. Music Of My Mind was the first album where Stevie, who was only 22 years old at the time, took full control of the studio and played each instrument on the album himself. The album was a critically acclaimed success with both black and white audiences and topped the charts at number 6 for Billboard R&B, making the album Stevie’s final steps into artistic maturity. Although Stevie’s music journey was far from over, he not only proved he was mature, but that he was a self contained musical visionary that can take control and write studio pieces as a blind man with a disability. If you’re looking for an album that not only is a classic but shows a unique sounding variety of music, Music Of My Mind by Stevie Wonder is definitely the album for you.