The past few months has yielded some of the year’s best music so far. March and April were full of front-to-back bangers from all genres. Pop, hip hop, rock, R&B and anything in between; it’s all been solid. There’s so much stuff coming out that I wanted to keep up by writing briefer reviews on these records. I’m still planning on putting out full-length reviews for other albums, but while the iron is hot, I wanted to strike on a few releases that have caught my eye. As always, there are local Miami pairings for all five of them.

In no particular order…

SAWAYAMA by Rina Sawayama

I am a very big Rina Sawayama fan. Her EP/mini album RINA came out in 2017 and it is fantastic. If you’re a fan of Britney Spears and ’00s pop music, that project does not disappoint at all. Though, what came next was the wait. After hearing that record, I was foaming at the mouth for more. The way she modernized and updated the sounds of the ’00s with her music was very appreciated and her performances and production left me mesmerized. So this three year wait was a long one for me, but now that SAWAYAMA is here, the wait is over. It’s kinda not what I expected and kinda was what I expected. Her songwriting has improved, the hooks are as catchy as they were on RINA, but what I didn’t expect was how she pulled from a much broader range of sounds. The lead single, “STFU”, is, without question, a nu-metal influenced banger, specifically citing Korn. She continues to be inspired by ’00s pop on songs like “XS” and “Paradisin'”. “Love Me 4 Me” would be right at home on Control by Janet Jackson. I even hear Alicia Keys on powerful LGBT ballad “Chosen Family”, giving us her best vocal performance yet. Though, as many different influences and other sounds as I do hear all over this album, Rina is able to be unapologetically her and make these instrumentals her own. Producer Clarence Clarity does his best to respect Rina’s influences and artistic vision and runs with them; playing to her strengths. This album may slip under your radar, but I’m here to tell you you shouldn’t. If you like good pop music from the ’90s, ’00s, and today, listen to SAWAYAMA. It’s great.

8/10

PAIRING: An album so in love with the ’00s should be paired with a food trend of the ’00s. My research led me to some odd websites, but a few of them had some points in common. Food blogs emerged from the ’00s, but so did the “Cupcake Craze”. Yes, anything that could be a cupcake would be made into a cupcake. Cupcake Wars (which is a fun watch) aired its first episode in the last few months of 2009 at the ‘so-called’ end of the trend, but I’m not convinced this trend is over. Cupcakes are delicious. A trend is here today, gone tomorrow. Sure, people aren’t just making anything into a cupcake these days, but that doesn’t mean people stopped eating cupcakes. Turn your attention to dbakers. They’re situated in Wynwood within walking distance of Lagniappe. I bought my first cake from Dbakers in February for my birthday and it blew me away. They make my favorite cake in Miami, whether it’s in a cup or a full-fledged cake. What flavor cupcake? Part of me wants to say Chocolate Dulce de Leche Flan, but my heart says Guava and Cream Cheese. It’s delicious. The texture of their cakes is the best part. They’re fluffy and moist and soft. Everything you fear about a cake that could go wrong; it doesn’t happen. Plus, the guava and cream cheese they use for the cupcake is top notch. If you’re going to order a cupcake from anywhere, definitely try the Guava and Cream Cheese from dbakers. If you’re not a guava person, they have five other flavors.

The team at dbakers delivers via Postmates.

Purple Moonlight Pages by R.A.P. Ferreira

Rory Allen Phillip Ferreira’s Purple Moonlight Pages is a complete excursion into the abstract; both in its jazzy, wonky, surreal production and his stream-of-consciousness rap style. The title takes its name from a line off of Beatnik poet Jack Kerouac’s improvised narration of the 1959 short film, Pull My Daisy, whose title is also taken from Kerouac’s poem, “The Beat Generation”. From Ferreira’s image packed verses to the many poetic passages of songs like “DUST UP” or “AN IDEA IS A WORK OF ART”, it’s hard to take a casual listen to Purple Moonlight Pages without a line or two lingering long after it stops playing. “I desperately need to be understood, I desperately need understanding” is one that stuck with me from late stand-out “RO TALK”. Not knowing any better, it’s easy to conclude Kerouac lends himself to Ferreira’s influences as a rapper due to his dry delivery and spoken word tendencies, but it is Ferreira and not Kerouac that makes Purple Moonlight Pages so entertaining from start to finish.

8/10

PAIRING: I asked my partner to tell me what came to their mind when they heard this album because imagining what I’d be eating with this record proved to be difficult. They mentioned a cafe and sandwiches. So, my mind wandered and, while I didn’t think sandwiches were in the cards, the concept of a cafe did linger. The jazz samples, the semi off-kilter delivery of Mr. Ferreira’s abstract verses, the subtle Kerouac reference in the title, I was teleported to a jazz club. The streets of Downtown Miami have a few secrets to tell. One of them is Le Chat Noir. Tucked away in the streets of Downtown Miami, you would miss the club if you weren’t paying attention. Le Chat Noir is the latest iteration of the world famous venue founded by Rodolphe Salis in Paris, known for being the first modern cabaret in the world. One of the founder’s descendents, Alexis Salis, opened Miami’s Le Chat Noir in 2011. Now, they don’t really serve food other than a few charcuterie boards, but if I may recommend a wine… The Beringer Quantum Red Blend 2017. It’s plum sweet and acidic, but not so much so that it’s overwhelming. It’s a bit juicy, a bit dry, a bit tannic, very velvety in mouthfeel, but it all comes together for a very smooth finish. They’re closed until further notice, unfortunately, but Le Chat Noir is an establishment with deep history in the world of entertainment that deserves your support. Unfortunately, with this virus going around, that’ll just have to wait.

Future Nostalgia by Dua Lipa

British-Albanian pop star Dua Lipa’s newest album is her best yet. The sound of this record is a hard left from that of her last, but it’s one that is welcome. Her voice on almost every song is captivating and crystal clear over the bright instrumentals that back her up. Within the genetic makeup of those instrumentals are an array of influences: disco, new wave, funk, house, but still present is a very poppy identity. The album doesn’t try to be anything it isn’t while also showing the world Dua Lipa has the range. It’s catchy, it’s fun, it’s well-paced, it’s influences pull from all sorts of genres, but the only negative aspect that can be tacked onto the record is how it loses its footing near the end. The hook to “Good in Bed” is annoying, repetitive, and it kind of blows my mind it made it onto the track list when the rest of the album is so much stronger. Even some of the weaker songs on the earlier end of the track list like “Hallucinate” or “Love Again” have solid melodies and hooks. Then there’s the closer, “Boys Will Be Boys”, which also has a bit of a repetitive hook, but the rest of the song just meanders and squanders the energy built from the first moments of Future Nostalgia’s opener title track. For what it’s worth, Future Nostalgia is one of the best pop records of the year so far.

7/10

PAIRING: This album is nostalgic for the past in all the best ways and I haven’t stopped listening to it since release. It makes me want to go to a dancefloor with flashing lights and sip on a malted chocolate milkshake, and while I can’t go anywhere right now, I can have a milkshake delivered to me and make my room a dancefloor. The best milkshakes I’ve ever had were at Vicky’s House in Coconut Grove. They’re right next to LoKal, but my favorite way to go into Vicky’s House is to enter LoKal, step into the phone booth on the right just as you’re coming in, and open the secret door. Once you’re inside, you’ll be transported to a different decade. Turn to your left, walk to the counter, and… Hm, they’re all really good, but I’d recommend the E.T Goes to the Movies to Watch the Goonies. Yes, that’s the name of the milkshake. Its base? Salted caramel ice cream. They coat the rim of the glass with chocolate frosting and use it as an adhesive to stick caramel popcorn around it like a golden halo. Then, they top it off with whipped cream, a drizzle of Hersey’s chocolate syrup, some Reese’s Pieces, and a Baby Ruth bar next to the straw. I am extremely allergic to most nuts, so I ask to remove the last two things. Creamy, sweet, salty, it’s perfect. So good. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna jam out to “Levitating” and place my order.

Vicky’s House delivers via Postmates.

Melee by Dogleg

This album is blistering with energy from one track to another. It’s unapologetic in its angst. It’s aggressive with it’s approach from start to finish, but it’s also not afraid to wear its heart on its sleeve. Detroit rock band Dogleg crafted one of the best rock records I’ve heard so far this year. Sounds of post-hardcore, emo, pop punk, and noise are blended together with singer Alex Stoitsiadis’ powerful growls and tender songwriting. While nothing about this album on a sonic level shows restraint, its lyrics reach an impressive level of maturity through its themes. Self-realization, self-worth, fighting back streams of tears or giving into the depression that fuels a lot of the music on Melee; Stoitsiadis proves he’s vulnerable, reflective, and explosive throughout songs like “Wartortle”, “Cannonball”, and “Hotlines”. The thundering distorted guitars roar like waves of amplified static. The drumming fills each song’s atmosphere like the rounds of a machine gun; it matches the emotion of the instruments around it as if it were effortless. Stoitsiadis’ performance as Dogleg’s vocalist is the shining star to this band’s meteor shower, showing how well he transitions from emotive vocals to monumental growls. If you’re a fan of aggressive rock music, Melee is a fantastic record. Definitely give this a try.

8.5/10

PAIRING: Punk and its subgenres (except straight edge, which was staunchly vegan) love pizza. I’m sure you do, too, but it’s a legitimate stereotype among fans of pop punk and no one knows why. What I do know is that Miami has some great pizza. Frankie’s and Steve’s are classics, no doubt about it. Gramp’s has Pizza Tropical and they make some of the best pizza in Wynwood. However, if you want a more creative brick oven pie, you go to Andiamo in MiMo. They’re a little far and a bit pricier than Dominoes, but they’re so worth it. My personal favorite is their Godfather. Juicy Italian sausage, pepperoni, meatballs, onions, peppers, mushrooms, olives, tomato sauce, and topped with a blend of mozzarella & parmesan. Now, that’s a damn pizza. Let’s say you don’t like a bunch of stuff on your pizza or you don’t like meat. Andiamo will happily build you your own pizza. Their pizzas go crust for crust with any other joint in the city and they’ve been running the show for 19 years now. That’s amore.

Andiamo delivers via Postmates, Grubhub, and DoorDash.

It Is What It Is by Thundercat

Stephen Bruner, known to most as Thundercat, is an oddball and it translates into his music. Not only do we learn that through his eccentric skills as a bass player, but also from his silly lyrics and eclectic song structure. His last record, 2017’s Drunk, sounded, well, like the best kind of drunken experience, and much of that had to do with the album’s structure/flow as much as it did its content. 2020’s It Is What It Is is a more cohesive sounding project while still retaining the level of spontaneity Thundercat is known for. His skill is undeniable, but he’s taking himself less seriously here. He wears his P-Funk influences on his sleeve with songs like “Interstellar Love” and “Black Qualls” featuring Steve Lacy, Steve Arrington, and Childish Gambino. The latter song doesn’t stray very far from the music he was channeling, but his pronounced bass lines and subtle falsetto singing voice give it that Thundercat feel. Some of the odder suites are hidden away within the album’s deeper cuts. For one, there’s “Fair Chance” with Lil B the Based God and Ty Dolla $ign and it’s epic. Need I say more? “I Love Louis Cole” may sound like too left a turn with its very obvious punk influence, but a little known fact is that he used to play for crossover thrash band, Suicidal Tendencies. Comedian Zack Fox appears at the end of “Overseas” as a flight attendant noticing Thundercat wearing a durag, transitioning to the next song, “Dragonball Durag”. It’s about a durag and its wearer’s ‘Saiyan-like’ abilities, but I won’t spoil any more. I encourage you all to check out the music video, too. Elements of R&B make their way into the instrumental of “Unrequited Love” and the vocals of the aforementioned “Dragonball Durag”; like a way funkier version of Color Me Badd and nowhere as corny. It Is What It Is may not be as wild as Drunk was, but it’s still a good Thundercat album with tons of great performances.

7.5/10

PAIRING: El Bagel’s internet presence may be silly sometimes, like Thundercat, but there is a lot of heart and talent that goes into these sandwiches. It’s something you can tell from just looking at them. Seriously, check out their IG page, go look at some of these bagel sandwiches. They serve the classics: Bacon Egg and Cheese, Lox Supreme, and a simple slab of cream cheese. They also serve some original Miami creations like the King Guava, a take on a guava pastelito with locally sourced Florida guava, cream cheese, a fried egg, and crispy potato sticks. I can only imagine the taste and I say that because I simply haven’t had the chance to try one yet. These sandwiches fly when his shop on opens up every Thursday-Sunday. Scroll down their IG page and you’ll see many “SOLD OUT” posts. Whoever told you about El Bagel might be onto something and I intend on finding out this week when I procure a King Guava bagel sandwich. They’re situated on 6910 Biscayne Blvd, but remember: early bird catches the worm with this one. If you’re too late and they sell out, it is what it is. There’s always the next morning.

El Bagel is ONLY accepting orders online through their website.