Ugly Is Beatiful - Oliver Tree (2020)
A recommendation from my worthy colleague, Parker
OMG it’s really happening. 90s alt-rock revivalism is a thing now. I might actually be able to be cool again. OK, I was never cool… leave me alone.
There are a lot of references to 90s rock and hip hop here (Pavement, Weezer, Beck, Dre). It mixes and matches genres, flitting around between pop, rock, and rap without getting stuck in any of them. It’s so light on its feet that you never know what’s coming next.
It’s all got a very modern sheen to it, and modern production that makes it boom. Witty lyrics and a musical fearlessness make it really fun.
Tracks I Liked:
1993 - A lot of these songs sound like the 90s, but this one doesn’t, weirdly. But it’s got a great chugging beat and an excess of attitude.
Bury Me Alive - a wild amalgam of Cypress Hill and white kid ska that’s too good to turn off.
Joke’s On You! - is there such a thing as gangsta emo? Or a genre tag for “if Weezer could rap without making you cringe?” I’m here for it, tho
