Reading 📚 | 3BOPS

1. Lucky Daye & Tiana Major9, “On Read”

💿 Table for Two • 🏷 Keep Cool / RCA • 📅 2021

On follow up 🎵 “On Read” (which features some genius ‘message’ sound effects), 🎙 Lucky Daye and 🎙 Tiana Major9 are considered equal partners – co-lead artists.  On this standout from the 🏆 Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter’s 2021 EP, 💿 Table for Two, Daye takes first blood, over a backdrop that does a fabulous job of balancing old- and new school. On the one hand, we have soulful guitar and backing vocals, while on the other hand, we’ve got some trunk-rattling sub bass.  Similarly, Daye fits in with the contemporary breed of R&B singer while keeping that foot in the door of the past.

Tiana Major9 also puts in work, providing the response with that charming British accent.  They join forces on the chorus following Major9’s verse, before we get another spoken word outro from Daye.

2. Alec Benjamin, “The Book of You & I”

💿 These Two Windows • 📅 2020

“Don’t tell me that it’s over, the book of you and I / Now you’ve scribbled out my name / And you’ve erased my favorite lines…” 🎵 “The Book of You & I” is a surefire highlight 💿These Two Windows, the debut album by 🎙 Alec Benjamin. Benjamin reminisces on a relationship from his past, one that was quite difficult to move beyond.  Poetic throughout the course of the record, he best sums up his feelings when the end came (aforementioned and continuing as): “There were so many chapters that we never got to write / Like cereal for dinner and staying up all night…”

Is it a bit schmaltzy? Perhaps, but at the same time, I like the vulnerability that Alec exhibits.  There’s a degree of sensitivity, something that’s refreshing to hear men discuss.

3. Death from Above 1979, “Holy Brooks”

💿 Outrage! Is Now • 🏷 Warner • 📅 2017

🎵 “Holy Books” definitely stands out from 💿 Outrage! Is Now, the third studio album by Canadian punk-rock duo 🎙 Death from Above 1979 (🎙 Jesse F. Keeler and 🎙 Sebastien Grainger). “Holy Books” is souped-up from the jump. The guitars sound menacing, rather hellish.  Grainger delivers aggressive and passionate vocals.  Lyrically, it’s clear that he’s not onboard with the whole God-fearing, Christian thing, best summarized by the chorus: “I don’t go for no holy books / Those ancient rhymes they ain’t got no hooks.” The tempo remains quick for nearly the first two minutes.  A change of pace arrives at around the 1:55 mark.  The tone changes along with the tempo – the exuberant rebelliousness fades.   This is an unexpected, but brilliant instrumental shift.

The original scheme returns right before the three-minute mark, reviving a sense of familiarity.  Here, Death from Above 1979 return to the infectious, atheistic chorus.  Ultimately, “Holy Books” is captivating to the nth degree. The music is energetic, and the vocals are filled with passion and angst.

Also Appears On 🔽:

🔗 🎧 13 Holy Songs That Are Holy in Name Only