JPEGMAFIA, Charli XCX, Alex G: One Year Album Anniversary

September 13, 2019 has gone down in my life’s history as one of my favorite days for album releases. Three of my favorite artists, Charli XCX, JPEGMAFIA, and Alex G (FKA (Sandy) Alex G), all released brilliant albums on this day. Since then, all of which have become a part of my unordered list of favorite albums of all time! Today marks one year since these albums have been released; thus, let’s explore each one’s sound, impact, and brilliance. 

Charli XCX'‘s “Charli” (Alternate Cover)

To start, Charli XCX released her album “Charli”. This album, to me, is a career compilation. This album was her first official studio album since 2015’s “Sucker”, both “Pop 2” and “Number 1 Angel” being mixtapes. This album’s release digressed from the norm, with repeated singles (almost the entire album) being released before the entire project was dropped. The album also contains over 14 features, not including producer credits, which is a norm for XCX. Names like Clairo, Sky Ferreira, HAIM, Lizzo, Kim Petras, and CupcakKe (and many more) all star-stud the album to infamy. The collaborative element on top of the versatility of the album’s sounds makes this project as innovative and futuristic as Charli’s mixtapes. Charli has been known to teter the line between underground, experimental songstress and top 40 pop star, and this album brilliantly combines both sides of her career. The album even takes already beloved XCX songs and either re-releases them, remixes them, or even creates sequels to them. Both “Click” and “Shake It” are respective “sequels” to “Delicious” and “I Got It”, “1999” and “Blame It On Your Love” have been released before, with “Blame It On Your Love” being a bubblegum remix of the brooding “Track 10” off “Pop 2”, and “2099” being a sequel to “1999”! Overall, this album is one to behold off Charli’s discography, and this release will always mean so much to me. The singles colored the Summer of 2019 for me, and the album as a whole is beautifully composed and an easy one to enjoy. I would even go as far as saying that this release, in many ways, propelled her even more into mainstream appreciation in this new era of trending futurepop (Spotify/TikTok users may call it “Hyperpop”).

Favorite tracks: Click, Official, Gone, Shake It, Next Level Charli

Alex G’s “House of Sugar”

If there’s anything Alex G has mastered, it’s making a cohesive, entrancing album that can be enjoyed whether the listener is in an excited or comatose state, in this case, that album being “House of Sugar”. Thus, Alex G is an ambiance guru, capable of creating an all encompassing sonic experience via layered guitars, altered, eerie, or crooning vocals, and timeless, narrative-building lyricism. The twangy elements of this album seemed to have evolved and been refined since his 2017 album, “Rocket”. Overall, “House of Sugar” takes similar melodic passages and instrumentals from “Rocket” and 2015’s “Beach Music” and other past projects, building onto this collage of a musical universe he’s so seamlessly created over the course of his discography. I could listen to Alex G’s music, and “House of Sugar” in particular over and over again and indubitably enjoy it each time. Great release!

Favorite tracks: Bad Man, Cow, Southern Sky, Taking, In My Arms, Hope. 

JPEGMAFIA’s “All My Heroes Are Cornballs”

Now, for one of my favorite albums of all time from one of my favorite artists of all time: JPEGMAFIA’s “All My Heroes Are Cornballs”. Written directly after Peggy’s 2018 album “Veteran”, “Cornballs” explores the current state of the world, the internet’s global village, and how it feels to gain traction in the music industry, among other things. Honestly, I don’t even know what I could say that may do this album justice. JPEGMAFIA’s music has always been intricately produced, vehemently tongue in cheek/cynical of the world, and brilliantly crafted. Seriously, he has a way of creating music that is impactful, emotionally charged, chaotic, and collaged, all the while being enjoyable to listen to. This album has been (and will continue to be) the soundtrack of many of my visceral memories and emotional connections I have made within the past year. From sitting at an abandoned farmhouse during the Summer, to driving late at night through suburban sprawl, to walking alone in NYC, clutching my Halal Guys in the December weather, this album has provided me with a wide array of beautiful experiences. I would say more about the artful nuances of this album, but in fear of not being able to put my positive emotions into words, I strongly suggest that you just listen (or relisten) to the album right now, start to finish. You’ll get what I mean. 

Favorite tracks: Jesus Forgive Me, I Am A Thot, Kenan Vs. Kel, Beta Male Strategies, All My Heroes Are Cornballs, BBW, Free The Frail, Grimy Waifu…….. Might I name all the tracks???