The Listening - July 2025, Week 4
Here’s what I listened to between July 27 - August 2
🏆 = Album of the week
Raekwon - The Emperor’s New Clothes
Only Built 4 Cuban Links came out 30 years ago this week. That album is a bonafide classic. 30 years later, Chef Rae has released a new project and he’s only that much more seasoned and sharp. The same can be said of the Wu-Tang compatriots that accompany Rae on this project, but he can also hang with the new MCs on this without being outshined.
Freddie Gibbs & Alchemist - Alfredo 2
Occasionally, there are MCs and producers who feel like they’re perfect compliments to each other. Nobody layers samples the way Alchemist does, and his beats fit Freddie Gibbs’ grimy flow. 
🏆 Cloud Nothings - Final Summer
I laid down on the couch thinking I would just listen to the new Cloud Nothings album. Except, they’ve apparently released three albums in about the past month. Little go getters they are. So, I’m listening to the first of those releases. Final Summer clocks in with 12 tracks in 36 minutes. But, they make great use of that 36 minutes, maintaining a constant energy throughout. It’s the kind of thing you hope for from a live performance, nonstop energy, little chance to recover, forcing you to enjoy every second. Great record!
Volbeat - God of Angels Trust
I enjoy Volbeat. They’ve patented this mix of Elvis, Metallica, blues, and rockabilly. So, if you also enjoy Volbeat, you’ll enjoy this album.
The Head and the Heart - Aperture
I saw The Head and The Heart at the Maha Festival in 2014. At this point, they were still relatively new, very much an intersection of indie rock and folk. Since, they’ve released some records that seemed to try to be more mainstream and I never felt like it quite worked for them, at least not all the time.
With Aperture, they’ve seemed to recapture what made me like them in the first place. But, they’ve introduced some new wrinkles, ideas, and even some new features vocals. I like what I’m hearing with this one.