SOTD #20: Vince Staples - Yeah Right (2017) “Yeah Right” is a collaboration for the ages. With maximalist, metallic production from SOPHIE and Flume, along with an explosive rap verse from Kendrick Lamar, this Vince Staples track is a melding of Hyperpop and West Coast Hip Hop.

AOTD #20: FKA twigs - Eusexua (2025) FKA twig’s third studio LP - named after a word she invented to describe a "sensation of being so euphoric" that one could "transcend human form" - is inspired by her experience of falling in love with with European techno and trance music.

SOTD #19: Squarepusher - A Journey to Reedham (7AM Mix) (1997) The first track off of Squarepusher’s “Big Loada” EP is a playful and imaginative drill and bass track that builds with scattered drums and zany synth work.

AOTD #19: Björk - Vulnicura (2015) Released on this day 10 years ago, “Vulnicura” is a somber and sparse breakup album that reveals an unabashedly broken Björk, mourning the loss of her long-term partnership.

SOTD #18: Project Pat - Out There (1999) A Three 6 Mafia affiliate and brother to Juicy J, Project Pat became a Memphis rap legend through his hedonistic gangsta style. On “Out There”, Pat coasts over production from his brother and DJ Paul.

AOTD #18: Steve Reich - Music for 18 Musicians (1978) A pillar of the minimal music movement, this composition was first premiered live at The Town Hall in Midtown Manhattan in 1976. This debut recording of the composition was recorded soon after.

AOTD #18: Steve Reich - Music for 18 Musicians (1978) A pillar of the minimal music movement, this composition was first premiered live at The Town Hall in Midtown Manhattan in 1976. This debut recording of the composition was recorded soon after.

SOTD #17: Tantra - Hills of Katmandu (1979) This 16-minute Italo-Disco space epic is made for the dance floor. Taking from disco greats like Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder and ABBA, “Hills of Katmandu” captivates listeners with its hypnotic groove and adventurous progression.

AOTD #17: Curtis Mayfield - Curtis (1970) His debut album, released the year following his departure from The Impressions, is a towering masterclass of soul music.

Taking a little holiday break until the new year. For now, check out my Apple Music playlist of all of the songs I’ve posted about here that I compiled together

SOTD #16: Lily Allen - The Fear (2009) “The Fear” is modern electropop perfection. On this single, Lily Allen narrates from her personal perspective as a pop-star in the limelight during the beginning of the current modern Information Age.

AOTD #16: Earl Sweatshirt - Some Rap Songs (2018) On his fourth studio album, Odd Future alum Earl Sweatshirt reflects upon his transition into adulthood, the death of his poet father Keorapetse Kgositsile, and overcoming depression.

SOTD #15: Shygirl - Slime (2020) “Slime” is a slick and nocturnal UK Bass banger. Shygirl manages to effortlessly rap with a seductive, deadpan cadence over a futuristic club beat with contributions from SOPHIE, Sega Bodega and Kai Whiston.

AOTD #15: Daft Punk - Discovery (2001) Discovery is, in fact, very disco. The second LP from the renowned French house duo is nothing short of a divine gift to 21st century dance music that’s guaranteed to uplift partygoers.

SOTD #14: Underworld - Two Months Off (2002) This single from the UK-based progressive house group is an uplifting and anthemic dance track that’s full of hardgroove rhythms and glistening synth work.

AOTD #14: Frou Frou - Details (2002) On their only studio album, the duo made up of singer Imogen Heap and producer Guy Sigsworth package together fifty minutes of timeless indietronica. The album melts together chamber elements with electronic styles like glitch pop, drum and bass and downtempo.

SOTD #13: Steve Monite - Only You (1984) This boogie track from Nigerian singer Steve Monite is an infectious synth-funk love ballad. The track has garnered attention over the past decade. Frank Ocean covered the track with Alex G live, and Theophilus London and Tame Impala covered the track also.

AOTD #13: Madvillain - Madvillainy (2004) This cult classic album from the legendary duo - which consisted of the late iconic abstract rapper MF DOOM and sampling maestro Madlib - is a prime example of hip-hop craftsmanship.

SOTD #12: The Spinners - I’ll Be Around (1972) “I’ll Be Around” is a lushly produced breakup track that was recorded at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia. It grew to become one of the soul group’s most popular songs.

AOTD #12: Kraftwerk - Computerwelt (1981) Released as “Computer World” in English-speaking countries, the eighth studio album from the group of German electronic pioneers is a magnum opus of synthpop music. The album was released in two languages: German and English.

SOTD #11: Aphex Twin - 18 With My Family (2015) This uniquely mellow and melancholy demo track from Richard D. James was recorded in 1994 but left unreleased until 2015, when it was finally published under Aphex Twin’s SoundCloud account user18081971.

AOTD #11: The Clash - London Calling (1979) On their third studio album, punk outfit The Clash evolved their sound. A departure from the rawer punk sound of their previous albums, The Clash dip their toes into reggae, rockabilly, ska, new wave and post-punk over the course of this double LP.

SOTD #10: Charli XCX - Forever (2020) The second track on “How I’m Feeling Now”, Charli’s “quarantine album,” is a glitchy and futuristic track where she sings about the end of her relationship.

AOTD #10: My Bloody Valentine - Loveless (1991) After extensive and expensive recording and engineering sessions at 19 different studios, the Irish shoegaze band completed their seminal second studio album “Loveless”.

SOTD #9: Brian Eno - Third Uncle (1974) This groundbreaking track from Eno’s album “Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)” is a cathartic song with raw guitar and thick bass that’s considered to be a godfather of the post-punk sound that’s seen later on in the late 70’s.

AOTD #9: The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967) The Velvet Underground & Nico, the debut album from both the Lou Reed-fronted band and German singer Nico, is widely considered to be an early art-rock masterpiece and the blueprint for future alternative music, indie rock, and punk music.

SOTD #8: Playboi Carti - Location (2017) The first song off his self-titled mixtape, “Location” is a psychedelic trap track that finds the halfway baby-voiced Playboi Carti levitating over a heavenly beat from Harry Fraud. Carti’s young and boastful energy is contagious and catchy.

AOTD #8: Sade - Promise (1985) Riding on the success of smash-hit “Smooth Operator” from their commercially successful debut album “Diamond Life”, the English band, fronted by the iconic Sade Adu, released their second studio album “Promise” the following year.

SOTD #7: Boards of Canada - Everything You Do Is A Balloon (1996) The final track on their “Hi Scores” EP, “Everything You Do Is A Balloon” is a definitive downtempo track. Despite not appearing on any of their full-length albums, the song is a fan favorite.

AOTD #7: Elliott Smith - Figure 8 (2000) The last album released in his lifetime, “Figure 8” is Elliott Smith’s most accessible album - and, simultaneously, his most abstract, in terms of lyrical and musical direction.

SOTD #6: Geto Boys - Mind Playing Tricks On Me (1991) Released on their third studio album “We Can’t Be Stopped”, this consequential hip-hop track from the Texas-based trio has been sampled and referenced countless times since its debut. It helped propel southern hip hop to the mainstream.

AOTD #6: Stereolab - Dots and Loops (1997) On their fifth studio album, Stereolab shifted their sound. Moving away from guitars, the Anglo-French band embraced textured electronica and tropical bossa nova timbres.

i’m thankful for 2024 being such an insane year for music.

SOTD #5: Magdalena Bay - Top Dog (2023) The standout song from their “mini mix vol. 3” mixtape, Top Dog is a concise pop bop with a sticky chorus from Mica Tenenbaum and slick, warm production from Matthew Levin.

Every single song on Kendrick’s new album is hitting 😭 HITTING

AOTD #5: Orbital - Orbital [Brown Album] (1993) The second album of Orbital’s career provides ethereal and ambient techno loops. Entrancing and mysterious, the duo’s music has a more soothing and hypnotic approach compared to most UK rave music from the 90s.

SOTD #4: Todd Terje - Inspector Norse (2012) Norwegian producer and DJ Todd Terje first released the shimmering space disco track on “Its the Arps EP” - a cosmic throwback to the retro-futuristic aesthetics of the late 70s euro-disco era.

AOTD #4: Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma (2010) FlyLo’s third studio album is a celestial offering of geometric electronica and jazz fusion. The 45-minute LP from the Los Angeles-based producer is the album that best showcases his psychedelic and soulful approach to electronic music.

Janet Jackson is and will forever be THAT bitch!

SOTD #3: Janet Jackson - Someone to Call My Lover (2001) This bubbly and innocent track from her seventh studio album “All For You” is an innovative sample of early 2000s r&b that is longing and uplifting.

AOTD #3: John Coltrane - A Love Supreme (1965) Often regarded as his magnum opus, “A Love Supreme” is an unparalleled dive into the spiritual mind of the great saxophone legend. Coltrane’s playing is expressive and emotive, a language of its own.

SOTD #2: Kelela - Contact (2023) The seventh track on her 2023 album, “Raven”, “Contact” is a sensual and atmospheric breakbeat track that’s perfect for the club - or the 2:00 AM after party.

AOTD #2: Kendrick Lamar - GNX (2024) Today, after achieving massive commercial success with a string of hard-hitting diss tracks earlier in 2024, Kendrick Lamar surprise-released his sixth studio album, “GNX”.

SOTD #1: SOPHIE - Hard (2014) While SOPHIE had already established herself online and attracted buzz in the music world with avant-pop singles like “Bipp”, it wasn’t until “Hard” that she flexed her production skills to the fullest.

AOTD #1: Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures (1979) The influential UK post-punk band’s debut record is renowned not just for its infamous cover, but for its flawless, palatable encapsulation of the goth ethos and sound.