Sensational Sunset

1. Neon Knights - Black Sabbath: Fuck yeah it’s a new week baby lets get this shit going quick as. This track is the opener off Sabbath’s first record with Ronnie James Dio at the helm, 1980’s Heaven and Hell. It’s immediately apparent that Dio brings a certain power and range that Ozzy didn’t. As the band responded to the changing landscape of Metal at the time, their sound mirrored that change, focusing more on cleaner vocals and chugging, screeching riffs. This whole album is gold, and Dio is one of the best vocalists of all time. Rest in power!

2. Roam the Room - Citizen: I used to drive around town listening to this album and feeling like the coolest mother fucker to ever live. I wasn’t, obviously, but something about Citizen makes me feel cool as shit when I listen to them. I think it’s something about the rawness and the contrast between the growled pre-chorus inlaid over the clean vocals

3. Frazier Blues - Frank Fairfield: Being an American is kind of a double edged sword, right? Like yeah, we’re a joke on the world stage and our healthcare system is dog shit and most people who don’t live here think we’re all obese, gun loving cousin fuckers. This shit right here though, this Frank joint, this shit makes me proud to be an American

4. Who Am I - Beenie Man: So I been hitting up the 6:30AM Executive jiu jitsu class recently (shoutout Alliance Orlando, shoutout the GOAT Malfa) and this ripper was first on the warm up playlist a few weeks ago. I’ve been holding on to it but I think it’s time to unleash this beast. Sim simma!

5. The Best Rapper Alive - DJ Streaks: Funny enough this song has zero raps on it. Not much to say about this one other than make sure you re-light your dart, sit back, relax, and enjoy the tune

6. Hood Billionaire - Rick Ross: Now this shit right here man, this shit is why Ross is one of the best to ever do it. Recently, Ross has become your favorite rappers favorite feature, and for good reason. The story of Freddie Gibbs and Alchemist sending the Scottie Beam beat to Ross before a trans-continental flight, only to touch down with a finished verse waiting in the inbox is the hallmark of a consummate professional.
   
   I’ve been listening to this song since it came out, and every time I hear it I find something new to sink my teeth into. The beat is raucous and unapologetic, and feels almost like a hurricane with all the scratches and spins. Ross’ voice beats down the block, in typical fashion. It constantly feels like this track is about to teeter over the edge and rip apart at the seams but Rozay holds the rope, maintaining tight control of the expansive sonic landscape.
   
   Ross makes time to shout out a few of the more culturally important hoods in Florida before comparing himself to Don Shula in his attempts to purchase a stake in the Miami Dolphins. And then, in one of the most disrespectful segments in the history of rap music, the beat falls away and Ross is left standing center stage with a lone spotlight. “I went and bought your bitch a washer and a dryer/seen it in your sons face I’m who he admires.” God damn Rick, you ain’t have to do em like that. If you were unsure whether or not this would be the Car Track of the Week, let me assuage those worries. Crank this one high, go a few MPH over the speed limit, and hit your best Rozay bark

7. Feeling Yourself Disintegrate - The Flaming Lips: It’s time to bring that heart rate down. The Lips are a band that have an absolute shit ton of music which makes it very daunting for new listeners to break in. Upon doing extensive research, I found this order of consumption. Now, admittedly, I’ve still only listened to the number 1 album on the list, The Soft Bulletin, but I like this record a lot, this song in particular. Go ahead and listen to them in any order you want though man, who is anyone to tell you what to do?

8. Evening Sun - The Strokes: Closing out this week with a quality deep cut off of First Impressions of Earth. I can’t quite put a finger on why this song hits me so hard but something about it makes me emotional in a nostalgic way. I reminisce, I regret, I realize that things are always changing and that all things must pass. “I love you more than being 17…”

I think that there are two kinds of people in this world; those that don’t give a shit about the sunset, and those willing to kick their feet up on the cooler, lay down on the grass with beer in hand, and admire the little bit of beauty that we have left. I’d like to think that I’m the latter. See you next week

Sleepybear

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