Resolute-toned tracks led by bold guitar riffs and beckoning rhythms, that warn the underdog’s final move.
Read my track-by-track breakdown and learn about the artist to watch, BAILEN, below.
Track-By-Track Breakdown
1. BAILEN – “Your Love Is All I Know”
This song reminds me of “The Chain” by Fleetwood Mac, but with a fresher feel all around. From the guitar riff that cycles and climbs, to the various layers of steady drum beats, the verse and pre-chorus instrumentation create a captivating build-up. Then, the chorus takes the listener for a groovier detour that retains the track’s intensity. My favorite part is when an intense and distorted guitar riff comes in at the end. It feels like the final push to something. There’s also a synth-like ascension in that last chorus that reminds me of a video game victory sound effect.
2. Rhye – “Sinful”
Out of all the tracks in this playlist, this one gives me goosebumps the most. It’s fascinating how the softest sounds––airy vocals, acoustic guitar, cymbals/hi-hats––produce that much power in the first minute. As we progress through, layers of guitar riffs, bass notes, and violins are added in. One by one, these layers slowly expand the landscape of the song and build tension. The phrase “wonder and awe” comes to mind.
3. Black Pumas – “Confines – Live in Studio”
A slowed-down version of a song risks its original intensity, but Black Pumas utilize the extra space well. A new cycling guitar riff, slower drums, and soulful vocal delivery make for a mystical new sound. The sweeping crescendo of violins and piano at the end of each refrain elevates that mystical feeling.
4. Fleetwood Mac – “The Chain”
I consider this song the blueprint for the entire playlist. It has that beckoning guitar riff and Mick Fleetwood’s steadfast drumbeat. What makes it unique from the other songs in the playlist is its wild-west feel–– especially found in the guitar hammer-ons and Lindsay Buckingham’s vocal delivery. At the end, the bass and drums build up the inevitable release of tension created in the beginning.
5. JAY-Z, Kanye West, Frank Ocean – “No Church In The Wild”
I fell in love with this track twice. Once when I saw it in The Great Gatsby and a second time when JAY-Z put it back on Spotify. This guitar riff goes hard and I would probably listen to that stem alone on repeat. The drum pattern pulses along in 4/4 time, with two 8th notes in the third measure. It reminds me of someone tripping, taking an extra step, and getting right back up.
6. Bob Moses – “The Only Thing We Know”
Eerie guitars open the track and ring out through the end. A similar guitar riff from the previous track establishes an overwhelming feeling of anticipation and determination. “The Only Thing We Know” is the most meditative song on the playlist, as the lyrics repeat for over 10 verses. Although, the production is so dynamic that I genuinely had to check the lyrics. When I listen, cinematic images like a squad setting out for a mission or closing in on a target come to mind.
7. Glass Animals – “It’s All So Incredibly Loud”
Somber synths bounce around while a diligent marching band-like drum pattern revisits throughout. Dave Bayley’s ghostly falsetto adds a mesmerizing quality to the track. He described it as the deafening 3 seconds before you deliver devastating news to someone. That impending tension makes for a great closer.
// ARTIST TO WATCH: BAILEN
I’ve been a fan of BAILEN ever since I helped write their WXPN “Artist-To-Watch” press release while interning. I had written, “Sharing a love of language and inspiration from literature, [BAILEN] [makes] highly collaborative songs–filled with jazzy-flavored pop hooks, surreal harmonies, and a timeless, soulful feel.” Plus, there’s nothing like sibling harmonies.
Listen to BAILEN’s debut album Thrilled To Be Here:
