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Tag: Hip-hop

  • Death of the Heart By JER

    Death of the Heart By JER

    Album: Death of the Heart 

    Artist: JER

    Released: August 15, 2025; Bad Time Records 

    If you are a casual ska enjoyer you might know Jeremy Hunter as the person behind the wildly popular ska cover themed YouTube channel, Skatune Network. Or perhaps you know them as the Trombonist from the band, We are the Union. However, if you are a serious ska enthusiast, you know them from their first solo album released under the band name of JER. It was called, “Bothered/Unbothered” and it was exceptionally good, so much so that I have waited ever since for a new JER record to be released so that I could do a proper and timely review. 

    “I’M STILL BOTHERED” starts the album out with what I like to call a call back song. It’s a little self referential Easter Egg for the fans that were along for the ride since the first album. Which is something I greatly enjoy. The song is about the emotions you feel, fighting just to feel ‘ok’ in a world that is tearing itself apart and the alienation that it breeds when the majority of everyone else is blind to that fact. It makes you doubt yourself. The track is a rollercoaster ride that captures what it’s like to be awake today. All while being set to an incredibly energetic arrangement of horns and guitar.  

    While I am not at all surprised, I can’t say that I was personally expecting for JER to deliver a deep meditation on toxic masculinity, but with “Claim Yr True Feelings, Wounded Child” that is exactly what you get. The horn and melody really do work to saturate the track with a soulful sadness that seeps into you. The lyrics honestly melt my heart. It’s a great reminder to any father/parent that the best thing you can be is softer to your kids. Sometimes, I know I need to be reminded of that. I am sure everyone else does as well. 

    I think that one of the best things that this album brings to the table is the strength of the featured artists. While I would listen to a JER album endlessly without them, making the world a better place is a group activity. Making the world better, being a theme of the album. It’s great to see JER put their money where their mouth is. I think the best example of this is “Capitalism Breeds Devastation”. The blending of Hip-hop and Ska brings two genres historically known for speaking truth to power together for a team up that rips into the system and those that perpetuate it. Chanting greed through the last half song all the way to screaming it as the song fades out at the end is just inspired. 

      “Death of the Heart” much like their first album wears it’s politics not only on it’s sleeve but as a badge of honor and challenges you to want better, not just for yourself, but for everyone around you. JER has done it once more, and I, for one, can’t wait for them to do it again on their next album.  

    If you like the album I reviewed here and want to support the artist as well as this blog please consider picking up the album via this affiliate link—> Purchase Death of the Heart by JER digitally via Amazon Music

  • Live Free DIY Hard: The Next Generation

    Live Free DIY Hard: The Next Generation

    Playlist: LFDH- The Next Generation

    Featured Artists:

    Rainbow Kitten Surprise

    Jeff Buckley

    Robbie Williams

    Car Seat Headrest

    Eminem

    Nicky Youre & Hey Daisy

    There is a common trope among older music enjoyers that kids these days don’t know what good music is or that music isn’t “what it used to be”. I have a whole mess of kids and a curious mind so lets put this belief to the test. Here are the terms for our little “experiment”: I ask each one of my kids (the ones old enough to participate) to recommend me a song. It has to be one they enjoy and it can’t be a song that they like because I showed it to them. They had to discover it themselves. The majority of my brood agreed to this. The only hold out was my 16 year old who claimed “I don’t like music” to which his siblings replied. “You listen to it all the time!” He then went on the assert that while what they said was true he doesn’t like any of the music he listens to. I feel like he missed out on an opportunity to at the very least troll me by making me listen to some random meme song. We are probably better for that not crossing his mind. What I did get was 6 recommendations that I have listed here in order of oldest kid’s suggestion to youngest.

    “It’s Called: Freefall” by Rainbow Kitten Surprise. First off. Rainbow Kitten Surprise is an absolute boss of a name. I really enjoy the cadence and smoothness of the vocal performance. While I called it smooth. My son who suggested it said he’s never heard anyone describe it that way. We both decided that mellow works as well. I feel the song is about the anxiety of dealing with relationships. Not wanting to be a burden on friends and the intention behind your interactions with them. I think it is a pretty deep song with quite a few layers.

    Next on the playlist is “Lover, You Should’ve Come Over” by Jeff Buckley. This is a love song. It’s about the pining after a lost lover. I think the tempo and melody do a good job at conveying a sense of longing. The lyrics are very sorrowful. Seriously, this dude is working through some shit. Hopefully he becomes a better person when he comes through it all. This is definitely the kind of song I could see someone putting on after a break up when they need a good cry.

    The next song on the playlist is “Rock DJ” by Robbie Williams. I really don’t have much to say about this song, it is an upbeat party/dance song. Its good for what it is.

    “Fill in the Blank” by Car seat Headrest is probably the song that is most similar to my musical taste. Its got a really nice indie rock vibe. The lyrics are very sarcastic and talk about dealing with depression and life. Its tempo is upbeat which I obviously like and it really adds to the tongue and cheek nature of the song.

    When I ask my kids for suggestions, I guessed I was going to get an Eminem song. I find it endlessly amusing that my 12 year old kid discovered Eminem on his own and now a few times a week I get slim shady ‘factoids’ that are highly mythologized. Like he tells me stories about things I remember happening but with a highly fantastical and dramatic slant to them. It’s really great. Anyway, his song suggestion is “Lose Yourself” by Eminem. It’s originally from the movie 8 mile. I think most people know about it. If you like Eminem, you like this song if you don’t? Well nothing I say is going to change that.

    The last song is “Sunroof” by Nicky Youre and Hey Daisy. This is another song I think most people know about. It has gotten a lot of radio play. This is a upbeat pop song. When I listen to it I get the vibes of cruising around in my car with the windows down on a warm summer day.

    I think the propensity to believe that the youth don’t have good music tastes is really just a show case of some people’s refusal to discover new music after they graduate from high school or college. I think the kids are doing just fine. I really enjoyed this playlist and talking to my kids about the music they like. I think it is cool how the song each of them suggested seemed to fit their personality really well. I hope y’all enjoyed it as well.