July 2024 new EDM

  

Singles

🗑 TRASH 🗑

🗑 7/10 = Tisoki - TURN ME UP

MID


GREAT


🔥 FIRE 🔥 


Albums/EPs 


6/28 = Steve Aoki - Paragon
 - A surprisingly OK album here from Steve Aoki. He's known to promote junk and without that cake throwing identity he's very forgettable in edm-making and the community. In this album there's a lot of those filler house cuts, but there's also "Heavenly Hell" and "3 Days" which are surprisingly extremely catchy and have some neat grooves. "Heavenly Hell" landed on my 2024 standouts playlist and "3 Days" might also. However, the album as a whole doesn't have much exploration, movements, progressions, risk-taking (besides 3 Days). No song is over 4 minutes and there's like no elaborate midsections or bridges, which makes the bland even blander.
Rating = 6/10
Favorite Tracks = "Heavenly Hell", "3 Days"

6/29 = Neddie - Sleep Deprived
 - Exactly what you would expect from a 4-track Neddie EP. A lot of different soundscapes focused on the tenor range with mini-progressions, breaks, and a highlight on the production element. While I don't mind these tracks and there are some nice drops, the EP could definitely use some more contrast, grand-er finales, vocal chops, and vocals to take it to the next level. All of Neddie's standout tracks among his discography come with nice vocal chops and synth solo-ing, and his previous EP this year executed this better. 
Rating = 6/10
Favorite Tracks = "Lucid"

7/3 = THIRST - AFTER HOURS MIXTAPE
 - What a unique album here in terms of construction and length. We have 20 tracks in this album that seamlessly flow together to combine into a 35 minute mega-track. That averages to 1 minute and 45 average length. A big portion of these tracks are some drift phonk or downtempo drops but there's some trap, house, vocals, and even rapping ("ROLL IT UP", "TIMEOUT") throughout. I like this concept a lot, there's a lot of filler tracks but "DREAMING" and "STAY CLOSE" ended up making my rotation. This is great music and great production and mixing. 
Rating = 7.5/10
Favorite Tracks = "STAY CLOSE", "DREAMING", NEVER LEAVE U"

7/5 = Mazare - The Losers Club
 - A 4-track rock-EDM fusion EP with punk and drum&bass influences. Mazare has some really nice tracks with these soundscapes, but most of these tracks just have some weak vocals and melodies to me. "If I Died Today" is pretty sweet with the 6/8 too. Overall though, nothing hits, there's some cool progressions and drops and fakeouts but without a good melody it just doesn't hit. 
Rating = 5.5/10
Favorite Tracks = "If I Died Today", "Tidal Wave"

7/11 = Vylet Pony - Girls Who Are Wizards
 - Some truly effortful old-school skrillex brostep dubstep melodic dubstep digital synth dominant electro house fusion album from Vylet Pony that really goes all over the place with some of the craziest drops and sampling you'll ever hear but contrasted to some of the most soothing vocal-led midsections, best exemplified by title-track "Girls Who Are Wizards" which is my favorite out of the album. Lots of these tracks remind me of old-school virtual riot, skrillex, and sub.sound. What a chaotic and dense album full of so many sounds and samples along with some themes that recur through the album like "the music never stops no!" samples or just the recurring synth leads in the verses. There's also just some really impressive production like 7-minute adventure of a track "Facing Oblivion to Become the Lode Star", and "Creature City" with the jazz-inspired horns and slap bass line, along with interlude-esque tracks like "There's a Menu Theme Nestled Within Us All" and "Reflected in the Eyes of the Cavern Lurker". You know, a lot of these euphoric pre-drop and drop sections really remind me of being inspired from "Language" by Porter Robinson. 
Rating = 9/10
Favorite Tracks = "Facing Oblivion to Become the Lode Star", "Girls Who Are Wizards", "Sacred Dragon", "There's a Menu Theme Nestled Within Us All"

7/12 = Sabai - North Star
 - Sabai's debut album is here and it desperately calls for a remix album. There's some nice movements among the verses and vocal lines but the drops are so underwhelming, repetitive, and unexploratory. Similar to Dabin, these tracks and vocals are best executed when remixed with different drops and genres, and it's already evident through lead single title track "North Star" remixed by Spirit Link. Spirit Link really puts these vocals into their full potential. The album as a whole holistically isn't very exploratory too, it's the same type of vocals, song structure, leads, and genres among the entire album. There's little variation that makes the album refreshing in anyway. 
 - Also, the 'interlude' track is very cheesy, and I kind of like it but the voiceover and the cheesy piano finish just feels a bit childish. I'm sorry to say it, but I'm not a big fan of this Interlude, it's pretty unnecessary, especially cuz the narration is really generic it sounds like some chatGPT script. I do really like the "Intro" track where it has some nice themes and melodies from the album in a mini-mashup. It reminds me of the beginning of the Eras Tour before Taylor Swift comes out.
Rating = 6/10
Favorite Tracks = "Say It Like You Mean It", "My Heaven", "Harder to Breathe", "messy_2019"


7/12 = Emei - Scatterbrain (Deluxe)
 - Emei added on two tracks and a demo to create the deluxe: Scatterbrain (Deluxe) and that concept itself is kind of weak, especially since there was like a 1 year gap between the original. However, these are some neat tracks, with "Agree to Disagree" having a catchy pulse and "You Are Bad" being as iconic it is. Emei's style resembles Olivia Rodrigo a lot, with the flashy vocals, progressions, lyrics, and processed vocals. These tracks are also very short, but when the production hits, it hits. I love the pause in the second verse of "You Are Bad" it's so comical.
Rating = 7.5/10
Favorite Tracks = "Agree to Disagree", "You Are Bad"

7/12 = Stessie - Luminance EP
 - After Stessie took a step back from music production in 2022, he announced his 2024 comeback kickstarting with the Luminance EP and it features very reminiscent hooks, bright guitars and production, playful vocals, and just everything that makes Stessie music what it is. Classic Stessie sound design and classic drops, I'm a big fan of the samples and fills thrown in "Memories" along with the guitar lead in "Because of You" and then THE MIDSECTION in "Because of You" is sooo amazing. 
Rating = 7.8/10
Favorite Tracks = "Because of You"

7/19 = Arya - Lost In Paranoia
 - A calm little 2-track debut EP from Arya with some nice production and design. Very "airy" atmosphere with solid vocal chops and vocals, it's some great production and I think there's some great potential but it just doesn't completely strike or fit me. A collaboration with some melodic dubstep producers could elevate this, or maybe it's fine the way it is. 
Rating = 7/10
Favorite Tracks = "HAUNT ME"

7/19 = Snakehips, EARTHGANG, SNAKEGANG - SNAKEGANG EP Volume 1
 - A neat duo album from two duos of Snakehips and Earthgang, two DJs and two hip-hop artists. The production features some bright house with repetitive hooks, chord progressions, and soothing midi runs. None of these tracks standout to me however, though I think that for some audiences these tracks will hit. 
Rating = 6/10
Favorite Tracks = "Been A Minute..."

7/26 = Porter Robinson - Smile :D
 - Porter Robinson's 3rd studio album has arrived and it has initiated a new era, a new sound, and a new type of carelessness. There's a lot of pop-punk influence in these tracks along with a purer vocal processing and lyricism, along with a collection of unexpected lower-energy ballads. There's so much to talk about in this album...let's talk about the lyrics first. From "Cheerleader" to "Mona Lisa" to "Knock Yourself Out XD" there's such a storyline about the fan-to-celebrity relationship and the double-edged sword that Porter needs the fans and he can't live without them. It's really quite sophisticated and just the way Porter always crafts his lyrical lines and his word choices (even if there were so many teeth references) are really just so special, not as special as some lyrics and deliveries in Madeon's Good Faith but Porter's songwriting is really characteristic. For example I tie it back to just the track title "Something Comforting" from Nurture, like maybe I'm overreacting but that track title really STRIKES like Something Comforting man like just reading it out to yourself it's really a brilliant concept and title within itself I love those two words man like it's so comforting like idk how to describe it. 
 - Anyway this album sonically leans into the pop sphere a lot more with less reliance on synth countermelodies, synth breaks, and vocaloids or altering his voice. A lot of these tracks I could see as more commercial and hitting a broader audience, with the synths only really taking thematic purposes like in "Is There Really No Happiness" and "Knock Yourself Out XD" and "Russian Roulette" with the vocals and purer, more mature, less flashy production carrying most of the melodic weight. It really feels like a more mature record in this sense, and even though I love Nurture and love it more than Smile XD, Porter Robinson's transition to this more pop-centered era whilst maintaining many of his synth leads and catchy vocal chops is truly sensational and didn't miss in any aspect. This record really exceeded my expectations. Even though I anticipated some bright, energetic tunes similar to "Cheerleader" in the non-singles like the album title implies and when the album came out most of the non-single tracks were drawn out ballad-like tracks, I learned to appreciate these tracks with time. My first listen was honestly kind of underwhelming, as I was always searching and waiting for the "Cheerleader" replica to come out, only to be somewhat satisfied with the hook in "Is There Really No Happiness?"
 - Even the nicher more dynamic tracks like "Mona Lisa" and "Kitsune Maison Freestyle" were so fire, I truly don't know how to paint such a unique soundscape to go along with such otherwise incomplete vocal melodies. Just the pure execution is so amazing, it makes you wonder what other types of remixes and genres you can create with these vocals and how they sound because the way Porter executes it is just so unique and authentic it's so amazing, like where does he find the inspiration to choose these movements and progressions.
 - With every listen through these tracks really build more and more. It's so amazing how Porter can just enter these totally different genres and soundscapes whilst maintaining his core identity and tendencies. In Smile :D it's evident that his synths serve as themes and fills, whilst before, especially in Worlds, it was the other way around: vocals serving as themes and fills. And that's to mention that I haven't even fully looked into all the lyrics and internal messages, as I'm sure these vocals have grown to become more relevant and purposeful. 
Rating = 9/10
Favorite Tracks = "Russian Roulette", "Cheerleader", "Is There Really No Happiness?", "Mona Lisa", "Kitsune Maison Freestyle", "Easier to Love You", "Knock Yourself Out XD", "Perfect Pinterest Garden"




BONUS EP (from April that I forgot to review):

4/26 = Pauline Herr, Jon Casey - Collision
 - We have a duo-EP here with Pauline Herr and Jon Casey. Lots of skrillex-inspired grooves, progressions, and kits. Vocals are slower and more solid, but overall this 5-track EP just lacks any melodic themes as the drops are very minimal and laid back. Not a big fan of this genre of these darker house drops similar to REZZ.
Rating = 4/10
Favorite Tracks = None in particular

Conclusion

July has ended and with it came probably the biggest EDM record of the year: Smile :D from Porter Robinson. When we look back on 2024, we'll heavily associate it with Smile :D, and that is FOR THE GOOD BECAUSE WHAT AN AMAZING RECORD. I wrote it about it so much in my review. I mean other than that it was a pretty average month... JK other than Vylet Pony RANDOMLY DROPPING A SENSATIONAL ALBUM?? IVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS ARTIST UNTIL BOWTIED MEDIA POSTED ABOUT IT AND WOW WHAT AM I LISTENING TO?? Other than, Jeonghyeon's new track, an edm remake "Time Of Our Lives" is SO LIT I had to blast it on my speaker when I first listened to it. Also a Chime and Skybreak collab which will never miss and it's some of the most unique dubstep I've ever heard, they used a Pakistani string instrument 'Sitar' and processed it or something. My Skybreak rankings this year goes "Out of Frame" then "Comet" then "Mothman" then "Pyroclastic" then "Epic Octopus Song". "Pyroclastic" is definitely the most dynamic with all the microdrops and instrumentation, but man Skybreak IS ON A HEATER PLEASE KEEP ON RELEASING NEW MUSIC I BEG YOU. Anyway Knock2 and Isoxo finally did a collab album they were due for one they always collab and I haven't gotten time to listen to it so Imma move it to the August post despite being released in late-July.

Updated Rankings

As of the end of June, here were the top 10 tracks of the year:
  1. Teminite - Yours [March]
  2. Skybreak, Sharks & LÚTHIEN - Out of Frame [May]
  3. Skybreak & Keepsake - Comet [May]
  4. YOUNG MIKO || BZRP Music Sessions #58 [Jan]
  5. Porter Robinson - Is There Really No Happiness? [July]
  6. Vylet Pony - Facing Oblivion to Become the Lode Star [July]
  7. Taylor Swift - I Can Do It With a Broken Heart [April]
  8. STAR SEED, Catlea & Suave - ANGEL | Ophelia Records [July]
  9. DVRKCLOUD & Vaance - Forever Now feat. Ines Rae (Lyrics) [Feb]
  10. Paper Skies - I Let Go (ft. Danyka Nadeau) [April]
This is getting super hard to rank I'm not gonna lie... like I'm still processing the big albums of the Vylet Pony and Porter Album records and it's hard to place things, I may end up tweaking some of these placements later. What I've learned from this first year of formal EDM reviews and rankings is that it's so hard to rank tracks when this pool of tracks is just so stacked. Like at this point every song is just amazing and sensational but I have to put some above others and it's so hard because some I feel like should make the list but they don't but yeah. Ok anyway albums:

Top 5 albums as of end of June:
  1. 4/12 = Mechanomorphic - Mr. Bill
  2. 4/5 = Wireframe - Paper Skies
  3. 2/2 = Get Off The Internet - Eliminate
  4. 5/21 = A Little Something - Nigel Good
  5. 3/15 = Simulation - The DLC - Virtual Riot
Now updated:
  1. 7/11 = Girls Who Are Wizards - Vylet Pony
  2. 7/26 = Smile :D - Porter Robinson
  3. 4/12 = Mechanomorphic - Mr. Bill
  4. 4/19 = The Third Kind - Dyatic
  5. 4/5 = Wireframe - Paper Skies
Now visualized:


Beautiful. May end up swapping the #1 and #2 slot with more listens but we'll see. 


And that concludes a busy July of EDM! I really pour so many hours and this month's edition particularly. 

Lyric(s) of the Post: 
"
You know, Porter
Some people die of nostalgia
So you better look out
Just kidding, ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha
Good one
"
Porter Robinson - Is There Really No Happiness?

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