mxdwn Music • 16th December 2024

Top 40 Best Songs Of 2024 (Song Of The Year) -

mxdwn’s 40 best songs of 2024 was put together over numerous hours of thoughtful devotion to our readers and staff. Organizing this list is always a difficult feat due to the copious amount of notable music released, but the songs that are chosen and their ranking reflects this year’s energy and sonic ingenuity across genres. 2024 was a unique year with its share of turbulence and breakthroughs, but on this comprehensive list there is a song that each can relate to acting as a mirror for their o...

mxdwn Music • 16th December 2024

Top 40 Best Albums Of 2024 (Album Of The Year) -

As 2024 comes to a close, the mxdwn staff reflect yet again on the music that has shaped the past year. Regardless of genre, it has become even clearer that AI is no replacement for individual artistic expression. A bot can churn out song after song of meaningless drivel but cannot replace the soul of a passionate musician. The albums below, in one way or another, represent the turmoil, joy and chaos of the past twelve months. They are complex, lyrically, sonically and culturally. They tell stor...

mxdwn Music • 25th November 2024

Album Review: Leon Bridges - Leon -

Grammy Award winner R&B artist Leon Bridges emerged in the music scene 2015 by releasing his first single, a ballad about his mother. The listeners quickly grasped his sound, which fuses classic and contemporary R&B with soul. Signed to Columbia Records, he displayed his sound further in his debut album in 2015, Coming Home. Bridges also received two Grammy nominations as a follow-up to the album, “Best R&B Album” and “Best Music Video.”

In the following years, he released two albums, Good Thin...

mxdwn Music • 28th October 2024

Album Review: Ant - Collection of Sounds, Vol. 1 -

Ant, a name well-known in the underground hip-hop scene as part of the iconic duo Atmosphere, steps into the spotlight with his solo instrumental project, Collection of Sounds, Vol. 1. As its title suggests, this album is a sonic journey through a diverse landscape of beats, sounds, and textures. Throughout the album he crafts a unique narrative through the music, demonstrating his talent as a producer without the need for vocal accompaniment.

Collection of Sounds, Vol. 1 doesn’t rely on lyrics...

mxdwn Music • 26th October 2024

Album Review: Lyrics Born - Goodbye, Sticky Rice -

Lyrics Born has continuously reinvented his sound in a career spanning over two decades while staying true to his unique blend of funk, hip-hop and soulful grooves. The underground rap album, Goodbye, Sticky Rice is no exception, marking yet another bold chapter in his artistic evolution. The Bay Area legend dives deeper into personal and cultural reflections with this album, offering listeners a thoughtful and highly textured musical experience.

Goodbye, Sticky Rice delivers 10 tracks that are...

mxdwn Music • 23rd September 2024

Album Review: Killer Mike - Michael & The Mighty Midnight Revival, Songs For Sinners And Saints -

Making his debut on OutKast’s fourth album, Stankonia, was Killer Mike with his boisterous rhymes, which led the group to gain their second Grammy with his verse in 2001’s “The Whole World.” From there the rapper expanded his discography with his 2003 solo debut, Monster. He continued to develop his soul-rap style with the production duo Smiff & Cash. His hard work has made him a cross-generational Atlanta rap legend who contributed to several of the city’s games.

His recent work is a testament...

mxdwn Music • 23rd September 2024

Sea.Hear.Now 2024 Day Two Review: Joy Oldadokun, Kool & The Gang, Wilderado, Norah Jones and Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band -

On September 15 a sunny warm day welcomed day two of the Sea. Hear. Now festival in Asbury Park, New Jersey. The final day included headliners The Gaslight Anthem, Trey Anastasio Band, Norah Jones, Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band along with other multiple noble rock, country, and pop artists and bands.

The Nashville-based singer-songwriter, Joy Oldadokun’s soulful melodies serenaded the crowd to begin the festival’s musical activities. At the beginning of her set, she jokingly expressed...

mxdwn Music • 15th September 2024

Sea.Hear.Now 2024 Day One Review: Grace Potter, Noah Kahan & Sierra Ferrell Deliver Unforgettable Performances -

A sea of fans gathered to enjoy an eclectic mix of notable rock and country bands on day one of the Sea Hear Now festival in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Headlining the night were Noah Kahan, The Black Crowes, 311, The Revivalists, and many more artists and bands as well. Performances took place at three stages the Park Stage, Sand Stage and the main Surf Stage.

The country singer and songwriter, Sierra Ferrell, came on stage with a captivating, beautiful outfit while kicking off her set playing th...

mxdwn Music • 6th August 2024

Album Review: Childish Gambino - Bando Stone and The New World -

Donald Glover is a writer, actor, comedian and director best known for his work on the sitcom Community and his original series Atlanta which is a homage to his hometown. Glover’s talents expand throughout the entertainment industry beyond TV and film under his moniker, Childish Gambino, a Grammy-winning, multi-hyphenate musician and producer.

Gambino’s discography begins in the early 2000s. The early mixtapes reflected him culturally and showcase his desire to create on his terms. His versatil...

mxdwn Music • 13th July 2024

Album Review: RJD2 - Visions Out Of Limelight -

The Columbus, Ohio, forward-thinking musician and producer, RJD2, emerged into the music scene in 2002 with his debut album, Deadringer. It displayed his skills as a producer and also exhibited his fondness for cinematic atmosphere, jazz and his ties to the underground hip-hop scene. As of June 2024, he added an eighth studio album to his discography with his newest album release, Visions Out Of Limelight. The Hip-Hop album is filled with grooves, deep basslines and is structured around a melod...

mxdwn Music • 2nd July 2024

Album Review: The Brkn Record - The Architecture of Oppression Part 2

Jake Ferguson, the co-founder and bassist of the acclaimed music group, The Heliocentrics, made his debut as a solo artist under the moniker The Brkn Record in 2021 with the album, The Architecture of Oppression. The album perfectly used the power of music to make light of local and global issues including anti-black racism and state violence. The contemporary R&B album turned heads and made people think with the fusion of poetry, song and the sound of deep jazz. It also reflected Ferguson’s wor

mxdwn Music • 27th June 2024

Album Review: NAIMA - City Lights

The Brooklyn, New York native singer-songwriter, NAIMA, released her first EP, City Lights. She made her debut in the music scene in 2021 when she released her first two singles, “ThunderGO” and “City Lights.”

Both singles are featured on the R&B album, City Lights, with “ThunderGO” as track 5 and “City Lights,” featured as track 6. Listeners were instantly captivated by her tonality and ambiance in “City Lights” back in 2021 when the song was first released. The soft-spoken lyrics with Solange

mxdwn Music • 20th June 2024

Album Review: Potatohead People - Eat Your Heart Out

This album is a fusion of Jazz and Hip-Hop.

The Canadian rapper-producer duo, Potatohead People, includes members Nick Wisdom and AstroLogical. They began their journey together in 2008. When the two producers began working together they started their discography with forward-thinking instrumental music. Potatohead People fuse elements of hip-hop, R&B, jazz, and funk all into one.

In May 2024, they dropped their fourth studio album “Eat Your Heart Out.” The electronic album starts off with an