Mount Hood

Turn up the volume on these albums in May

Upgrade your summer playlist with these artists 

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌ ‌

Summer is all about taking a load off and relaxing with a playlist that sets the mood, which is why it’s so important to find the latest jams. New music is released constantly on multiple platforms, and it can be difficult to stay up to date with all of the latest up-and-coming artists. Ranging from old favorites like Aly & AJ, twenty one pilots and St. Vincent, there’s more than one artist to add to the summertime playlist. Between Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube, music lovers everywhere can enjoy these albums released in May. 

May 6: 

  • “Convocations” — Sufjan Stevens 

May 7:

  • “Ashlyn” — Ashe
  • “a touch of the beat gets you up on your feet gets you out and then into the sun” — Aly & AJ
  • “Better Mistakes” — Bebe Rexha
  • “Blood Bunny” — Chloe Moriondo
  • “Here And Now” — Kenny Chesney
  • “Latest Record Project: Volume 1” — Van Morrison
  • “The Marfa Tapes” — Miranda Lambert, Jack Ingram, Jon Randall
  • “Tuck Me In EP” — boy pablo  
  • “Van Weezer” — Weezer

May 14: 

  • “Be Right Back” — Jorja Smith 
  • “Daddy’s Home” — St. Vincent 
  • “Delta Kream” — The Black Keys
  • “High Dive” — Shaed 
  • “The Off-Season” — J. Cole 
  • “parallel universe pt.1” — Alania Castillo
  • “Unbothered” — Lil Skies 
  • “Why No Why” — Mob Rich 

May 21:

  • “All I Know So Far: Setlist” — P!nk
  • “Amidst the Chaos: Live at the Hollywood Bowl” — Sara Bareilles
  • “Body Language” — Blake Shelton 
  • “Circle of Days” — Hippy Death Cult
  • “Harmony House” — Dayglow
  • “Long Lost” — Lord Huron  
  • “Nightmare on Elmfield Road” — CLOVES
  • “Scaled and Icy” — twenty one pilots  
  • “Sour” — Olivia Rodrigo 
  • “WINK” — CHAI 

May 28:

  • “Are You Kidding?” — Nicole Millar 
  • “Bloom EP” — Of Mice and Men 
  • “Cavalcade” — black midi
  • “Drinking With My Smoking Friends” — Allday
  • “Hi” — Texas 
  • “Reprise” — Moby 
  • “The Resurrection” — Bugzy Malone 
  • “The Voice of the Heroes” — Lil Baby and Lil Durk 
  • “You Hear Georgia” — Blackberry Smoke

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

Trip out over Brent Faiyaz’s latest single, “Gravity”

Trippy visuals and bass guitars come together 

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌ ‌

Music artist Brent Faiyaz has gained traction for his talents and recognition in the music industry following the huge response from his album, “F–k the World,” which was released in February 2020. Fans have been long anticipating another album or single, and when the time finally came, Faiyaz didn’t disappoint. Released on Jan. 27, Faiyaz’s latest hit, “Gravity,” comes stacked with vocals and lines from DJ Dali and Tyler, the Creator, and has Steve Lacey on the guitar and bass. 

Through the song, both Faiyaz and Tyler describe their lifestyle on the road and the way it impacted their relationships. Both artists experience a type of “gravity” from their partners, who try to pull them back home from the rush of a luxe lifestyle, and the amount of energy it takes to maintain that balance. 

Faiyaz boasts a bit about his fame in the chorus with, “I’m on (Don’t act like I’m average)/ But you want me home (Home)/ I’d get you what you want (Superstar status)/ But you want me alone (I’m gone, baby, I’m active).” And Tyler, the Creator echos the message of finding a balance between here and there in the third verse, “Now when I’m gone, and I roam ’round the globe for three months/ That’s too long without somethin’ that’s sweet/ So I phone, little treats, that’s a snack, not a feast/ They don’t mean much to me/ ‘Cause I know that I have a bakery back at home.” 

There are effortless transitions between verses paired with strong vocals and unique melodies, which all together form a trippy auditory time-warping experience. Following this theme, the album cover includes fluorescent colors that look like a psychedelic oil spill, resulting in a warbling and eye-catching artwork. 

The melodies, layers of instruments and laid back vocals create a pop song that will hit the top of the music charts and stay there. As of right now, fans wait to hear if an official music video will be released within the coming months. While they wait,  a video of the audio alongside engaging visuals is currently on YouTube. 

Find Brent Faiyaz’s ⏤ and other accompanying artists’ ⏤ latest music on Spotify and other streaming platforms.

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu