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The Ultimate playlist podcast full of Choice Trackz. Side A is the weekly theme of the episode and Side B is a full album review.
Dee (00:37)
Welcome back to the Ultimate Playlist podcast full of choice tracks. I'm Dietrich.
Damon (00:43)
and Damon.
Taj (00:44)
And I'm Taj.
Dee (00:48)
Yeah, just let that sink in for a minute. All right. So, hey everybody. Welcome back to the show. This is usually a music podcast where three guys get together and like to talk about our favorite music and shoot the shit and have some fun and hopefully add to a podcast playlist that you can download on Spotify, Pandora, on wherever you like to download your music from and...
Taj (00:49)
How's it? Gotcha.
Dee (01:16)
play it in your nearest party, gathering, get together, shindig, cult gathering, whatever you want to do. That being said, this episode is going to be a little different. Normally in the past we would have a side A and a side B. We're just going to break it down into the side B. And the side B is going to be actually talking about an album and an album review. This is an album that I particularly like listening to. It came out a little late in 2021.
But it's one of those feel good albums that you got pretty much anything and everything that you want on it. And then so it's a collaborative album coming from a producer slash songwriter slash artist by the any way in which you want to put it. And his name is Benny Blanco and the name of the album is friends keep secrets too. So getting into the actual logistics of the artists themselves. Let me just give you a little bit of background about.
First and foremost, yes, he's breaking everybody's hearts because he did propose to the fabulous, the lovely, what's her name, Taj?
Taj (02:22)
That's linear comments I think is what you said.
Dee (02:24)
Yes, yeah, I think I wanted you to say it because if I say it, I'm gonna start crying again, but it's all good. I'm gonna let it go. Damon, you can cry with me. It's understood. It's cylindrical, man. It's okay.
Taj (02:36)
Yeah.
Damon (02:37)
Yeah, I don't think I'm related either so it's all good
Dee (02:41)
that's better. Cool. All right. So on that note, so Benjamin Joseph Levin, he was born in Virginia. There's a lot of producers that come out of Virginia. Like once it comes to top of my head is Pharrell, Missy, and Timbaland. I know they all came up together and whatnot, but there's a slew of producers that literally came out of Virginia. So Virginia is a music hotspot.
Taj (02:42)
You
Dee (03:09)
but he's most notably known for producing, songs that top the charts. he's one BMI songwriter of the year. he's got five nonconsecutive times where he's a, I heart producer of the year awards. he's been nominated for a Grammy couple of times and whatnot. So he's actually up there when it comes to producing and songwriting. he used to work with two producers. He came up in his tutelage under one.
just go with D, which is out of Detroit, Michigan. And, he was, he was tootling up under him for a little bit, rest in peace to disco D died in 2007. the second one, a little bit more notable by the name of Dr. Luke. Dr. Luke has produced everything from Kelly Clarkson, since you've gone to, Kesha's TikTok to, he'd actually the one that got in a label dispute with Kesha, over releasing her.
And that was that was most notably in the news. But we're talking about all artists all over the place. Don't want to go into the litany of artists in which both of them were worked with. when Benny Blanco got out on his own, he started working with Maroon 5. He's the one who did Payphone. He started working with Calvin Harris. He started working with Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Rihanna, Sia, The Weeknd, Kanye West, Adam Lampert, Keith Urban, One Public.
The list goes on with Khalifa, J Balvin, anybody and everybody that you can think of, he's worked with under the sun, right? So he's definitely up there as far as producer credits go. This particular album, I came across it when it first came out, when the original came out, French Keep Secrets. This one is kind of like a deluxe version where you took six of those songs and added it onto this album, but then you brought in new
new different songs and remixes of songs and things of that nature. I do like a collaborative album. I like when producers can use different artists and either push them to the edge where they didn't think they could go or just make them sound so much better than their original structure of music is. And I think this is one of those albums as a testament to that. There are songs on here by different artists that you would not think would actually drop those type of songs. And
You know, just for the fact that he was able to pull that out of him, that's what a real producer does, especially a songwriter slash producer. Because not only do you know about structure of the song, how it's supposed to be laid out and how you want it to sound, but you also know how to get that sound out of somebody. A real producer will do that. Not just a soundboard engineer, but a real producer within itself. And he's been credited to do so. So with that being said, how about we dive into the album a little bit and then.
talk about, we're only going to talk about the songs or highlight some of the songs that we like. And then, you know, of course we can talk about the other songs as well. But in this particular situation, there are like what 14 songs on here that we want to talk about. And then from there, if y 'all have anything that y 'all want to chime in on, make sure y 'all hit us on Twitter, make sure y 'all hit us on our email, make sure you hit us on any kind of social media outlet. Let us know what you think about our actual podcast. Let us know what you think about the episode. Let us know what you think about the album in general.
If there's any albums that you want us to go ahead and talk about, please hit us with that as well. All right. So further without further ado, Taj, I think you had the first pick on here. Let me know what your song was.
Taj (06:49)
Yeah. So I'm picking the first track and there's a multitude of reasons for it, but we'll go ahead and play the sample here. But it's Lonely with Benny Blanco, but it's starring Justin Bieber.
So, yeah, what you have to know is I've kind of grown. I mean, I was introduced by a teeny teenager that really liked Justin Bieber a lot. Right. And so I've kind of secretly on the side followed his career, not like personally invested in, you know, like he hit a highlight and then like he kind of crashed. Then they got into trouble with some cars racing cars like.
He's had some stuff happen to him, right? And this song, it's just like it's him like talking about him. This is going to seem like we're to analogy. I think this is Justin Bieber's version of Johnny Cash is hurt. Like this is a masterpiece of him being older. Right. And I know that seems weird. What also is weird just as a weird aside. But you talked about how Selena
Dee (08:03)
I don't know anymore.
Taj (08:15)
is Benny Blanco. Well, 2019, he did a song with Selena Gomez. And that song is super weird. I know we're talking about this album, but like if you see that song, it's like a huge bed and it's Selena Gomez like getting up out of the bed and walking on it. And then there's some Latino hip hoppers in there. But Benny Blanco comes out and he's just wearing a big fuzzy bear costume. But it's like it's like
Well, you know, I did a song with Selena. You know, I have Justin something, not necessarily, but, know, like it. So he does this song in like this is like. I don't know how to say it's a beautiful song that I don't think anyone else but Justin could have sung because it's about Justin being older, right?
Dee (09:04)
Hehehehehe
Taj (09:05)
So, but I like it. think, yeah. Whatever you think about him, like this song kind of talks about him at this moment. So, at this moment three years ago, I guess. Yeah. Yeah.
Dee (09:07)
in.
Right. At that moment in time when he would crash down, he's trying to make a comeback, not necessarily music comeback, but more so about regathering himself. And this definitely hit a high mark. I thought you were going to go left with it, which that's my thing. I like going to the messy side. I'm recording you. You were with.
Taj (09:28)
Right.
you
Dee (09:43)
my girlfriend or whatever, like that was your girlfriend. That was like the most toxic relationship. All of a sudden now I'm getting with your ex. Like, how does that work when I see you in passing? Like I did give you a hit song. Like you really can't be mad at me, but just know I'm screwing her, you know, and we're gonna get together and don't call her your leftovers because like Selena Gomez, like can't really call her leftovers like that. You know what I'm saying?
Taj (09:50)
Right. Right. Right. Especially after challengers, which I haven't seen, but I've seen enough clips of challengers to know, like, dang, like.
Dee (10:14)
Right.
One man's trash is not another man's treasure. It's just another man getting with something that you get with. So we ain't gonna call it trash by any means. It's just, it's a funny situation. Now back to the song ahead. This was a beautiful damn song. I wish that my only critique on the song itself was the piano playing in the background. I wish it was on an electronic piano. I wish it was a grand piano.
Taj (10:25)
Right.
Dee (10:48)
It could be a grand, a baby grand piano, whatever the case in point may be. wish it was a real piano playing in the background. So you can get that, that tone from it. That would have just added that deeper layer that should have been there. But outside of that, the song for what it was and the writing and, and, and Justin coming in and just really laying down his vocals on it and adding in his own touch to a story that really is relating to his life.
you to be so rich and be so lonely at the same time is like ridiculous. You're one of the most recognizable famous people in the world and yet you could still feel lonely. That in itself hurts. That's heartfelt. It's growth but it's also like a reminder that nobody out here is excused from having feelings and living life. Everybody's going through shit.
Taj (11:42)
Right. when plus it talked about like being a kid or a teenager coming up in fame, like like what do you really lose? And we know that, you know, unless you really have a stable life, like there's there's some stuff you lose.
Dee (11:50)
Mm
Yeah, you lose childhood, you lose experiences, you lose innocence real quick. That's the one common thing that I've heard from a lot of celebrities coming up in whatever business that they're in with entertainment -wise or other is you lose your innocence coming up in there. And I think that's exactly what he lost and missed out on.
You know, just growing up as a regular kid, like you did not have a regular kid life by any means. You know what your take on the situation?
Damon (12:31)
Yeah, it reminds me of the earlier years for Justin Bieber and then, like you said, when he had his fallout with his career and then he made a comeback. And yeah, that's that's that's what this album looks like to me is a way for each collaborator to tell their story with. Benny, so it's kind of. Diverse in that respect.
I guess I didn't know that you were so into Justin Bieber, but I didn't I didn't think for sure. I didn't know if you were going to pick this, but. Yeah, no, I think he's interesting. Like, I actually find myself like wondering why. Wow. Why do I why don't I like his stuff or why do I like it? Just I guess for the most part, I'm just kind of like indifferent, but he's on the radio all the time now. He's definitely.
Taj (13:02)
You know, from a distance, like, know, like, yeah.
Damon (13:25)
fixed the shit, but he was a kid. Like he started out so young and we talked about him in other episodes too, but, it just, you're, you're seeing it's like the, like actors, know, they on TV shows, they're different people. Obviously when you're, when you're a little kid, you're not the same person that you are when you're growing up or the, that you are when you're in high school or
Dee (13:29)
Mm -hmm.
Damon (13:51)
you know, the college years, whatever, like you go through all these stages and then he just happened to be broadcasted to the world going through his weird shit. you know.
Dee (13:59)
Right.
Taj (14:01)
What it in my thing is is weird is like it. It's a whole industry that like exists, but we don't necessarily pay attention to. like for a good like 20, 30 years, there's a whole industry on kid artists, kid music, musical artists. Right. And some of them make it skyrocket and some just like make it kid popular and then disappear. Right. And this is one of those things where like
There's an industry where they just turn out like who's the latest kid, teenager that we can make an artist, you know, and then they either age out or they make it big, you know, type of thing. mean, but that's what's interesting. But yeah.
Damon (14:45)
Right.
Dee (14:47)
Yeah, definitely. There are some good artists that are literally either hitting the charts right now or have hit the charts and then two years ago hit the charts and then now you don't hear nothing from them. You don't know what they're doing, you don't know where they're at, how they're making it amongst themselves, nothing. One of the most famous...
kid actors that turned into superstardom that kind of flamed out a little bit was Miley Cyrus. She kind of went through a Madonna of lifestyle changes. When I say Madonna, mean Madonna always like reinvented herself and what she wanted to do and how she wanted to do it. Miley tried to go down that road but just wasn't as successful in that aspect. But with that being said, she still made a lane for herself.
and was able to, you know, kind of figure out her way into adulthood. But even now, like she's still going through a situation of trying to figure out who she really is. And it's working for her now, as opposed to when it was when she was younger. But yeah, she has some she has some blowouts. And that type of situation, her family wasn't necessarily the normal family sitting in the background either.
Taj (15:58)
Right.
Dee (16:07)
So like she came up in all of this business and it's just crazy to think that you're being a kid and wanting to sing can turn into you being adult and damn near losing your life in certain situations because you're the riot is just too damn fast. So yeah, man, this was a hell of a pick, bro. And the fact that the matter that it started off the album like this, like that.
Taj (16:34)
Right.
Dee (16:36)
That was a bold ass move. This is one you find in the middle towards the end of the album and like trying to wrap everything up. This situation just made it that much better because now you're starting off the album with a certain tone and then you lighten everything else up from there.
Taj (16:50)
yeah, for sure. You come out of the darkness and then the rest of the album, it takes you. So, yeah.
Damon (16:55)
Yeah. It's like, guess how fucked up this is going to be. Ready, everybody? It's like, shit, Justin Bieber is crying. All right.
Dee (17:00)
Right? Like, that's my thing. Like, I would like to be in the studio at that time when you're trying to piece the album together and show the fluidity and you just say, you know what, I wonder what happened if I just fuck them up and put them on with a sass on right now. How that work? And so I know it happened.
Taj (17:03)
So.
you
Damon (17:25)
I it could be comical in a way too. I mean, there's so many things you could do with this, but yeah, what a connection this guy has. Holy shit.
Dee (17:32)
Definitely. All right, so then next we can talk about it. We don't necessarily have to go into it, but Lost by Six Dogs, Biddy Blanco, which is more of a tempo, a beat type of track, type of style, takes you out of the darkness a little bit. What did y 'all think about that one?
Damon (17:50)
I mean, I think the whole album to me was different. Every song was different on here, but like, I don't have a particular, I know it's hard to get like connected to stuff. Like, and when we go into my pick, it's because I knew the artists that it was, I knew, I know a few of these artists. Like I'd, I'd seen Marshmello at float fast, which is like a really good DJ.
Dee (18:02)
life.
Right.
Damon (18:15)
And like that's that's a good collaboration with Vinnie Blanco, of course. I think he's got I think he just knows everybody like he's like the cool kid, you know. And of course, Vance Joyous, I saw it You know, people like that, but I don't know six dogs. But I mean, sounds good. It sounds good in a way, or like the whole album.
Dee (18:23)
Mm -hmm.
Taj (18:35)
Yeah.
Damon (18:39)
I was chilling when I was listening to this, like playing video games, whatever, doing stuff around the house, mainly chilling. And that was a good chill vibe album and going out alone. This is like got the beats hitting right away and it's got the synth synthesize noise. So think that's pretty cool. Yeah.
Dee (19:00)
Hmm
Taj (19:01)
Yeah, what it in it, it kind of has a real it has a weird symmetry to the first one, because like, like the main catch about this song is like that he has the sauce now, but he's lost. And you're like, what were you trying to tell it? It's kind of like a weird like. So is this like a flashback? Like, hey, this, you know, like you start with the end, right? You start with like, you know how some people hate the movies that start with like, you know.
Damon (19:19)
You
Taj (19:31)
The end part, it's like, you probably wonder how I got here. You know, flashback to two weeks ago. Yeah, but that's kind of what this song is. I mean, it's it's kind of the flashback. It's kind of like, hey, you know, I'm coming up. I got the sauce, but I'm a little lost. then what I think is super interesting because this is on the new half, right? This is the first track that ends with a weird like audio clip of somebody talking at the end.
Dee (19:35)
Right?
Bye.
Taj (20:01)
And it's one of those things where it's like it stands out. sometimes I like that type of thing. Sometimes I don't. This actually kind of worked. It's kind of like, OK, like he purposely tries to switch your mindset by giving you some dialogue of spoken word stuff to listen to. And you're like, OK, I guess I hear where you're going. So, yeah. Yeah.
Damon (20:05)
Yeah.
Then you're like, really? Really? Really? Okay.
Dee (20:32)
Definitely trying to tell a story, that's for sure. All right, so then after that we had unlearn with Gracie Abrams. I'll tell you right now, I'm a Gracie Abrams fan, true and through. I think the sound is superb for this particular song. Wasn't my pick per se, but definitely went along with the cool vibes of what was going on. Like you said, David, this
Taj (20:34)
Yeah.
Dee (20:58)
This is the perfect example of what a cool kid can do when he knows everybody and puts everything together. yeah, what y 'all think?
Damon (21:03)
Yeah, this is like a like a fun project.
Taj (21:07)
Yeah.
Damon (21:08)
I mean, that's I actually like I didn't know what to pick for my picks. So going through the whole album, I like I changed my mind even when we were like chatting about it. But this this could have been one of my picks, but it wasn't because I liked another one better. I don't know why. I think they're kind of equally good, but.
Taj (21:26)
Right.
Damon (21:29)
Like the tone of a lot like it's it's up and down, up and down, up and down. It's like a roller coaster. It's like slow, fast, slow, fast. I mean, I tend to gravitate towards female vocalists. I don't know why. I just think it like really adds like I'm not saying it's all I like, but it adds sometimes to a to a song. think. Some songs can be like it could be seen by anybody and it sounds just as good. But yeah, this one.
Taj (21:36)
Right.
Damon (21:57)
I mean, definitely Gracie Abrams. She has a little auto tune going, but I mean, she takes it, you know, she takes the show, I think so.
Taj (22:05)
Right. What? And plus, like I really enjoyed the messaging on this song. This is this kind of sound weird, but I know I mentioned this before. This song feels like a like a Love Island song.
Dee (22:22)
Wow
Damon (22:23)
It's definitely a... it's a youthful album for sure.
Taj (22:27)
Right. But the thing I appreciate about this is it covers a it's not you, it's me, but I still want to be with you song. Right. Normally you have the like you have songs here like you're the problem or I'm the problem. Right. But this is kind of like a relationship building song where it's like it's not you, it's me. But I want you to stick around so I can fix my shit and we can be together like.
Damon (22:51)
Well, when are you going to be talking about turning your phone around in our generation when we that wouldn't be like lyrics, you know, like she's going to lose a damn shit. OK, look the fuck out. She sounds really calm, but she's not.
Dee (23:08)
Not by any means. that's, I think that's the scarier thing. Would you rather have somebody that's whiling out in your face or somebody that calm knowing good and well they're like a nuclear bomb behind that shit. I'll take you blowing up in my face. Like I get it out because you, you hiding behind that shit means you're going to do something diabolical. Like sleep with my best friend or something or my dad, some shit. And then next thing I know I'm like,
Taj (23:09)
Yeah.
Damon (23:19)
Yeah, that's the tone for sure.
Dee (23:36)
on Jerry Springer trying to figure out what the hell is going on. Yeah, no, we're not going on Jerry Springer, sorry.
Taj (23:42)
Yeah
Damon (23:45)
Yeah, I mean, that's like I saying this was my first initial pick and then I changed it. But same tone, I think similar tone, but like I think better tone in my pick that I actually picked.
Dee (24:01)
That's all good. So then number four. Yeah, Taj, then you have like another one on here too.
Damon (24:04)
So what are the other things?
Taj (24:09)
Yeah, I was being greedy. wanted another, I want two picks. So I picked the next track, which is real shit. And it's with Juicy Wild and that, Juicy World, sorry, Juicy World, yeah.
Damon (24:10)
haha
Dee (24:23)
Juice world. No, no, not juicy. Just juice world. All good.
Damon (24:25)
Gc1
Taj (24:28)
Juice world, sorry.
All right. So first of all, this song is kind of like reminiscing about high school life, which for me, like 20 years ago, I could totally relate to because I remember always obsessing on how like high school, you know, was dictated what my life was like. It's a weird thing, right? But what's weird about this or what I like is like he's talking about real shit. Never tell light. But then he does that weird
voice thing where it's like, what are you saying? Like it's a mumble. It kind of feels like he is telling a lie right after he says that. And it's just it's so catchy. But it's it it's interesting because it's like he's like, you know, we should be real, never tell a lie. But then he tells a lie. So it's kind of like a weird oxymoron type of thing. I don't know. Like it just spoke to me and I liked it like so.
But I think part of it is that like, if I say the right word, he's fronted because like it later on, he's talking about like, hey, I could've gotten this teacher. You're like, really? Are you for real? Like, I think you might be exaggerating.
Dee (25:58)
Nah, I'll put it like this. First and foremost, rest in peace to Juice World. Juice World passed in 2020, well excuse me, 2019. So this is actually, what do you call that? Post -humanist recorded? Yeah, was actually recorded before he passed and then they put it on the album.
Taj (26:10)
Okay.
posthumously.
Dee (26:24)
you know, getting it released to make sure that everything was good, but yeah, he put it on the album, like in order to, to celebrate Juice WRLD for who he was and what he brought to the world. and as far as like real shit, like he's one of those SoundCloud rappers that got popular real quick, because of the song, you know, that he put out, I'm not going to say the name because then everybody would start going down that tangent. And that's a whole other situation is lucid dreams. Buck it, I'll say it.
Taj (26:34)
Okay.
Okay.
Dee (26:54)
that was the one where you took the sting sample and, you know, sting wound up taking them for everything that they were getting off of that shit. then some, but still it was one of those songs that kind of set the world ablaze when it came to auto tune and, and how kids are using it now, as opposed to when T -Pain used it and other folks used it, you know, back in the day type stuff. he was the one that kind of brought in more of a melodic him and XXX brought in a more melodic slash mumble type of rap.
That no kind of got everybody's ear and for him to be on this song Talking his shit about you know what what he could do what he is doing You know how he used to live compared to what he's living now It really was a real testament to him because he was just saying he was all over the damn place If he he could have got somebody he probably could have because he was just that kind of fucking cool That being said, know drugs is a hell of a drug I say that because
Taj (27:46)
Okay
Dee (27:54)
You know, half of the time he was out of there. And then the other half when he was focused, he was laser focused. Like you couldn't get shit past him. So for him being on this song and on this album a couple of times, like that's just a testament to, you know, the type of music that he would have been kicking out. Had he still been around right now, I think he would be one of the top artists that are out here, honestly. Cause he was just that damn good. His freestyles.
were better than most people's written raps. And if you gave him like a week to come back with a rap, he could freestyle around their ass. That's how good he was as far as being musically inclined. So man, this was a great pick. This was definitely one of those playful vibes. It's youthful, yes, but there are some serious adult undertones in with the music. So I fuck with it.
Taj (28:30)
okay.
Right. Yeah. And then this is the second track that has the talking afterwards. It's two chicks talking about some girl that they're hated and then they drop the bomb. It's like, by the way, her boyfriend's cheating on her. OK. Yeah. Yeah.
Dee (28:57)
Yes.
Yeah, you see the running theme. Yes. Friends keep secrets. Even from best friends. It's like, that's fucked up. Damon, what you think, bro?
Taj (29:16)
Yeah.
Damon (29:21)
Yeah, I think yeah, it's it's definitely he's not talking about being like a good day I I don't think so. Anyway, I feel like he's Yeah, he's kind of Gloating I guess in a way
Dee (29:29)
Well.
Yeah, yes, there is a little gloating in there. There's a little shit talking. But hell, at the time when he dropped, he was 21. So, I mean, we're the most 21 young dude.
Damon (29:46)
Yeah. Right. This music represent him is every song he does like, you know, did that represent how he was in his life all the time? I mean, I don't know, probably a little bit, but I've never been famous or, know, I guess been been that confident. So maybe that's confidence talking.
Taj (29:48)
Right.
Dee (30:10)
Yes, bravado.
Taj (30:10)
Yeah, for sure.
Damon (30:15)
Hopefully some real shit, some real good shit came out of it.
Dee (30:15)
Definitely.
Alright. It's in the eye of the beholder, but for us, it will say it's a good song. So yeah, we'll keep moving like that. That was the that was the real shit that came out of it. Pun intended. Yep. Lives. Next, speaking of lives, we have you with a marshmallow and fast joy, which this is a combo I did not see coming. It literally hit me out of left field.
Taj (30:21)
Yeah.
Yeah.
Right.
Damon (30:32)
Yeah, I was flowing with it. I was flowing with it. Viving with it for sure. Yeah.
Dee (30:49)
Marshmello within himself, you know, he's his own producer, songwriter slash DJ. He definitely hits all the elements, but putting him and Bass Joy together and with Benny Blanco, I did not see that coming. What do y 'all think about you?
Taj (31:08)
Well, my wife's a huge Fans Joy fan, like, I like the song for sure. It really works well. I mean, I enjoy it as a whole. I can kind of see why you're... and I'm probably getting this wrong because I always get confused of the two. Fans Joy was from fun, right? Or was that Georgia as well? One of the two was from fun and then went solo. I want to say it's Fans Joy.
Dee (31:37)
From Fun.
Damon (31:38)
No, Vance Joy's not fun.
Taj (31:39)
Or maybe, no, I'm thinking of Nate Roos. Nate Roos, never mind. Nate Roos was, yeah. So yeah, but.
Dee (31:42)
Okay, all right.
Damon (31:43)
Vince Joy is a solo artist. I saw him twice, I think.
Taj (31:50)
Yeah. So, but yeah, I mean, he just, yeah, VanJoy is always a good artist. And like, I think it's one of those like, he can sing in any genre. So I think that's why it seems like a weird pairing, but then like, he just a good, good musician. So it doesn't matter what the music is in the background. So, but yeah.
Dee (32:14)
Yeah, basically, you know, that's one of those good old Aussie boys, oy, oy, oy, from Australia and, you know, pick up a guitar and they say, you know, he's out here, you know, singing and doing his thing. And so I think my favorite song from him was Riptide some back in the day, but that's a whole other situation. you know, man, Marshmello together, it's like, that's crazy on the production side.
Taj (32:20)
You're right.
Right.
What in?
Damon (32:42)
It's kind of like Coldplay and I forgot the name of the band now, but something smoke. I don't know. can't think of a different bands like like he has that kind of happy sound like Coldplay with some of their songs like kaleidoscope and all that stuff. But yeah, that's why I like fans. Joy does a lot of acoustic and yeah, the Aussie boy.
Taj (32:59)
okay.
Damon (33:10)
Australian sound like that kind of happy colorful vibe
Dee (33:16)
Like a a Escher on kind of a just just literally little touch of it more so he got his own thing going on. But yeah, definitely Escher thing going on.
Damon (33:20)
Yeah.
Taj (33:27)
Yeah, for sure.
Damon (33:27)
Yeah, for sure.
Jinx, Taj. But, yeah.
Dee (33:32)
Okay.
Taj (33:32)
Yeah. Yeah, no, but I feel like he came on the scene a little bit before it's here. But yeah, no, but exactly.
Dee (33:40)
Yeah.
Damon (33:42)
All the fans go nuts over him. Yeah, he's got a big fan base. So I am a fan.
Dee (33:50)
Yeah, production of this was crazy. I admire when producers can come together and co -produce on some shit and make it its own baby out of two.
Damon (34:03)
This is like Benny's playground, dude. Benny Blanco. Yeah, did a good job with this whole one for sure.
Dee (34:05)
It is. Literally.
Taj (34:09)
If it's too much of a sidetrack, let me know. like, how does that work? Because isn't Marshmallow, isn't he like a, does he just spin tracks? So like, how do you produce?
Damon (34:22)
Well, he's he has a lot of collaborations like a lot of DJs. They work with a lot of different artists. So he's like. Well, what's your question, though? Other than that.
Taj (34:28)
Right, but okay.
Well, mean, so what because he's more a techno track DJ, right? Whereas a producer is, you know, saying like, bring this instrument in. Right. So, I mean, how do you collaborate with that? Like, is it that one person says this is the sample I want to use and then the producers like, well, I want to add these horns on top of it type of thing or. Yeah.
Damon (34:49)
Well, you can do like.
I mean, it's just like any, any song really, I think they get in a studio and they're like, they're making this, this music together. So he's probably been in a little bit for marshmallow bends a little bit for Vance joy, Vance joy bends a little bit for marshmallow. But I think it was mostly. Marshmallow took direction from Vance joy. And he was like, I'm going to do the sound in the back for you and give you the vibe that you're looking for. But you're like singing, know,
Dee (34:58)
Not really.
Taj (35:06)
Got you.
Dee (35:18)
WAH -OOF
Taj (35:22)
Gotcha.
Dee (35:25)
It's, yeah, so it's, it's funny when you're producing, right? Because, you're making beats and you come across somebody else that makes beats like y 'all can clean up on the track and then start making music together. next thing you know, you're like 12 tracks in like six hours later on some shit. And it was like craziness, but in all actuality, Benny came in, probably was in the studio with Marshmello working on something at the time.
They were trying to figure out who to put on advance, probably walked into the studio or a different kind of session and then kind of pulled them in and then became a jam session. And then from then turn into this type of situation that happens a lot when it's freshly like, if you don't call somebody directly to come in and try to be able to song that you could get into a studio with somebody and then studio two may have somebody that you know, and then you got to decide to work together to take up some of the time that was already paid for. so.
Taj (36:02)
Yeah.
Damon (36:08)
Right.
Dee (36:21)
that in itself can happen at any point in time. So collaborations are not really hard to think of when it comes to the production. And Marshmello started off as the DJ. Like most producers, like music producers that you know of, start off with some type of element, whether they are a soundboard engineer, whether they're an assistant, whether they're an actual DJ, whether they play music.
Taj (36:29)
Okay.
Dee (36:48)
songwriter with themselves, whatever type of situation it is, and it just kind of develop into other things. Like Marsh produces his own music.
Taj (36:54)
Gotcha.
Okay, gotcha. Okay.
Dee (36:58)
So he's his own producer, he's his own songwriter. He collabs with a whole bunch of people himself. So the fact that the two of them were able to get together, same with Calvin Harris. Calvin Harris is his own producer. But the fact that these two were able to come together and come up with something, that was a beautiful thing.
Taj (37:14)
Gotcha. Okay.
Damon (37:15)
It works much better when you don't have a production company telling you how to do it. Or what you can and can't do.
Dee (37:19)
Exactly when you own your own production company, you are the controller of the shit. So that's the best way to do it
Damon (37:26)
Yeah.
Dee (37:28)
You graduate on to the next thing, which is whatever whatever and you'll make you more popular. Speaking of graduation, keep song. Bringing back juice world with the many Blanco. What y 'all think about graduation?
Taj (37:44)
So, so first of all, I have to admit something because I almost and I probably not, but like I am a, you know, I own and listen to it multiple times, the vitamin C album. And I know that's a weird thing, but that is, you know, 90s. And then it had the graduation song, which the same pomp and circumstance is. But, know, you kind of have like a rocky.
This was more it was it was nice to see because it's like a more updated version of that graduation. But, you know, it had some spit in on top of it and it's more truthful. Like it seemed like because, you know, especially the line like, you know, half of us were had gotten pregnant and we must have had that jungle fever. Like that was my high school because we started a class of like 400 and like two of a 200 of us graduated.
And our high school had like a daycare on site. like like that's a real thing, right? In some places. And I just kind of appreciate that, you know, it felt like a yeah, this is a graduation song, but I'm also going to keep it real. Like this is what this is what high school is like. Yeah, exactly.
Dee (39:00)
Yeah, fuck everybody.
Fuck the teachers, fuck the girls, they were so foul, they all on my dick now. Ha! I got the last laugh. I hate every single one of y 'all. I'm outta this bitch. Have a nice life.
Taj (39:09)
Yeah.
You
Damon (39:17)
Yeah, he looked disgruntled, dude. He's just like... But he said he didn't even know who he was, so...
Taj (39:19)
you
Dee (39:25)
Right. And at the end, you low -key miss walking around the halls because you realize how much fun school was at some point because once you grow up, that's it. You don't get to go back to those type of days. You're actually in real world shit. And so it sucks. But hey, guess what? I'm rich, bitch.
Taj (39:45)
There we go.
Damon (39:47)
I think it's weird because it sounds like it's going to be a much nicer song. And then the tone of it, they do a really good job of this album of disguising the emotion of what's coming out of the music here, what they're really trying to say. I mean, the first song, Lonely, was kind of representative of what he's talking about with the tone. But this is definitely...
Dee (39:51)
You right? It starts off like that.
Damon (40:16)
Not that way, because you think you definitely think graduation is going to be a little bit more like, I don't know. It's like the it's kind of like the graduation song. Right. Is that what they're doing with music?
Taj (40:28)
Which it's Pup in Circumstance is the classical piece. then, yeah. And then they flip it, yeah. Yeah.
Dee (40:28)
Yeah.
Damon (40:33)
Okay
Dee (40:33)
Then they flip it and...
Damon (40:35)
Mm -hmm. Yeah, no, it's good. I mean, it's well done. Yeah, it definitely like, it tells a funny story. And I think I knew people like him in high school too, so.
Maybe not exactly like him, but...
Taj (40:52)
right?
Dee (40:55)
All right. Next on the list, this is actually the song that I picked. It's God in there and dead in the heart. It's about feelings and whatnot, but it's with Billy Blocko and Omar Apolo, it's called Care.
Taj (41:32)
Yeah. I like this,
Dee (41:37)
Yeah, man, this one is definitely hit me. is what bringing bringing it back down a little bit. Tom Bob's. Yeah, Omar Apollo. Yeah, like slaking. Yeah. Henry Quapus and Jack Kieroszewski. And they made up this this this particular track. It's just like it's kind of hit me. One, it was the guitars when it started out.
And then afterwards, everything from there just kind of flowed into like a vibe situation. And you know, the tones and everything is definitely more of a grown up sound than some of the other tracks that you have on this particular album. With that being said, it just flowed right in place, especially after graduation. Like it's one of those like make you think type tracks, one of those that get you caught in your feels.
And I just love the production on this one, like all the way through. So, tell me what y 'all think about it.
Taj (42:42)
So this is yeah, it's total vibes. You're right. It's. You have, yeah, it's very much about relationship. But then what's interesting again, this is the third one that comes in at the spoken word at the end. And then in your like. And it kind of puts the hits the nail on the head, right? In case you missed the message of the song, like it tells you what it is at the end.
in a way like it that it could be something else, but it is kind of about, you know, relationship ending and divorce and stuff. And it kind of makes you like, well, maybe I should relist to that song. And it's like the two kind of feed off of each other. You kind of like, yes, this is a representation of that, but it also could be something else. But yeah, it's I don't know. I feel like the two have a weird symbolic symbol. Whatever that word is. Yeah.
Dee (43:41)
symbiotic like mesh together type situation yeah I can see that this is like to me this is like end of end of romance end of relationship end of of of feeling of love you know it's kind of like I I try to put in a simplistic view like you know I'm all about summer right this is like the end of summer
Taj (43:41)
Yeah, there you go.
Yeah.
yeah.
Dee (44:11)
Gotta go back to real world, not being in a relationship anymore with this person that you spent all this time with. I gotta separate going to different schools, whatever the case may be. Yes, you can talk about divorce, you can talk about breakups, you can talk about the whole nine, but it's still, it catches and absorbs your feelings in that moment. It expresses them in a particular song. And it's very hard to do in certain situations.
I applaud him for putting in this type of effort to get it to that point.
Taj (44:44)
Yeah. And plus, I mean, one last thing, because I just realized, you know, listening to it, it's like it's kind of like a weird like. It's a musical version of what headache is, right? It's not that the music gives you a headache, but the ambient noise of it is it just kind of feel like in a fog in the music. And yes, it's a good vibe. But then when you think it's like, you know, this is what headache is like. And then the song ends and you're like.
Dee (44:56)
Yes.
Taj (45:11)
Headache's gone. You're like, OK. I know that's a weird analogy.
Dee (45:17)
Nah, it works. It works. D, what do you think about it, What's your...
Damon (45:22)
It's like all the other songs on this album. They just kind of like when I'm listening to the album, I'm just like chilling with it. You know what mean? So I didn't get real deep into it. But like every artist, though, they have their own message. And this is like about family and divorce and stuff. I grew up with that. So I kind of know like the sorrows and the sad.
Dee (45:24)
Thanks.
Damon (45:44)
The sadness that a little kid could have and like even an adult, know, just being surrounded by all this weird shit.
Dee (45:53)
right so yeah that's that definitely hit it is it is well that's so sad david i think you had a song to pick right on there that you actually liked what a song was that
Damon (45:56)
Yeah, that's a sad song, Sad song. Yeah.
Taj (46:04)
Yeah.
Damon (46:08)
Yeah, so I. All right, yeah, so I've gone through like the album and I mean, I. Like I like I was saying, like I did like a lot of the music on the album for sure. And then I picked, think, a couple different songs. Unlearn was like, I think the first. When I was when I was listening, I was going to pick that.
I don't I'm not really familiar with Gracie Abrams, but I liked her sound. But then like her tone and like all that, this wasn't really like I wasn't vibing with it as much. But I know Halsey and I know that Halsey, she has a couple, I think two or three albums out right now, and she's a little bit younger than she's like 29. So like generationally not too far away from.
our age, but I think she's about 15 years or so younger. So like, can't, I'm not saying we can't relate to people that are like 30, but, I feel like there's definitely like a little bit of a disconnect. Like for me with like, just like how people grew up with technology or whatever, because they're singing about that stuff and their thoughts. and I'm not saying that that's what she's singing about, but with, yeah. So with, with the song that I picked, it's a
This is called East Side.
Yeah. So I think like they're, talking about like relationships when you're younger and how it can change when you get older. it seemed like a little bit more of a positive relationship, song that unlearned it to me, but they both kind of are like, like the whole, the whole album has a chill vibe to it, but there's definitely like with music, there's like, you're talking about love or talk about like,
Taj (47:54)
Yeah.
Damon (48:20)
Like good shit or bad shit. You know, it's like, there's always something going on, but, I feel like most of this album is a relationship based album. And then a lot of it goes back to like when they were kids. So that's, it's definitely what Eastside did, but I like healthy. So that was part of it. And then the rest was just, you know, it a good song.
Dee (48:44)
Yeah, definitely. Shout out Halsey and shout out Khaled. Not DJ Khaled, just Khaled the singer. it definitely was one of those catchy notes. was a single release from the album. It definitely made its way up the chart to do what it was supposed to do. Yeah, it's about reminiscing on the love that she used to catch up with.
Damon (48:45)
Well produced for sure.
Dee (49:13)
and have good times with the things that are natural. Tell us what's your take on it.
Taj (49:18)
So my take on it is so I like the song. I've heard it before. Like it's in my circles. Like it's popular. Like I know I've heard a ton of times, especially on the radio. Yeah.
Damon (49:29)
Let's top the charts for sure. 100 chart. Not just America either. Yeah.
Taj (49:33)
Yeah.
Dee (49:35)
Right. Several different countries.
Taj (49:39)
This, I mean, this won't sound too crazy, but like my take is it's like a modern day diamond on the soles of her shoes type of thing like it. But it's from both sides perspective. Like that's why I think. That the tale of love that that crosses, you know, a divide, you know, it's a Romeo and Juliet story, basically, you know. And, know, he lives on the East Side and, know.
Damon (49:44)
Okay.
Dee (50:03)
Yes, yes.
Taj (50:08)
Daddy saying she shouldn't go over there, but she's like, hell, I'm going over there. He's like, all right. So it. Yes, yeah, but that's what I'm saying. It's like a cultural crossing, you know, boundary crossing. Yeah, it's sneaking out the house type of song. So.
Damon (50:14)
Yeah, she doesn't give a shit.
I guess the east side is always like the shitty side of the city. So it seems like it. Yeah.
Taj (50:35)
Well, it depends on which town you're in. It's yeah. I mean, where I'm at, it's the West Side, but that's because the East Side to the newer built side side of the town. So but that's what I'm saying. Like every town is different. Like, you know, it depends on what the older part is like. And I figure in most towns is probably is the East Side because that's the older part of the town. Yeah.
Damon (50:48)
Yeah.
Dee (50:50)
Alright.
Yeah, it used to be Austin it used to be the east side nice because it is central Austin They just took the east right out of it. It's like, okay, so now y 'all trying to make this area better now for decades You know, I cared to come walk over here and that's two o 'clock in the morning. You're running your dogs. Okay, we got gotcha. Okay Pretty much pretty much Dallas is still the south side
Damon (51:03)
Now it's like nowhere. Yeah.
Taj (51:03)
Yeah
Damon (51:16)
Yeah, exactly. The whole, the whole city has been gentrified for sure. Starbucks.
Taj (51:16)
you
Dee (51:25)
South side and west side, you don't want to fuck with them too much. Houston is the east side. It's north of the south, but it's all over. Everybody's got an east side. It's kind of like the wrong side of the tracks. You're not supposed to cross over. Yes, this is a west side story. Yes, this is a Romeo and Juliet forbidden love type situation, but it's in a pop funky kind of way and it works, know, what it is.
Taj (51:51)
Right.
Dee (51:52)
I would never see the two artists together as an actual couple. It's just interesting to see how they perform the lyrics. I would have actually loved to see Eshron and Halsey on this one. That would have been a different take for it, like all together. Like for real, for real.
Taj (51:56)
Yeah.
Damon (52:10)
Well, she does change her tone for this song, too. Like we're talking about how these artists are kind of changing their tones. It's not impossible. I mean, in fact, they probably like, you know, they a lot of artists have different styles, but they stick to their main styles, you know, to keep their to keep their fans happy and whatnot. It's what I what they identify with, you know, as an artist. But like out of all the songs on here, like, there is there like one more song?
Dee (52:13)
Yes.
Damon (52:40)
maybe that you wanted to spotlight before we.
Dee (52:40)
Absolutely. No, I think we pretty good. mean, after that album pretty much rose within itself. You got your third feature with Juice WRLD, Roses and and Brendan Urie. Join us, join for us, just for us too is, you know what saying? A nice little, little song. You got Kickin' and I Found You. That was a big, yeah, I Found You was a good one.
Taj (53:02)
Yeah, that's that was a big hit. I found you.
Yeah.
Dee (53:07)
That's what I was talking about with when two producers come together, you make magic. That's right. Better to lie with Jesse and Sway Lee was kind of if there was one song that I just didn't really vibe with on this one, it was this one. But outside of that, then you have more Diamond Ring with Ty Dolla Sign and that that in itself was like. And who else is on there?
Taj (53:11)
You're good.
Damon (53:12)
Yeah.
Taj (53:36)
It's $2 sign and sick. Well, is it black? It's six with the lack to black black. Yeah.
Dee (53:42)
Yeah, it's black. Yeah, black. Okay. So it's a tie dollar sign and black. It definitely was, was one of those, you know, another one of those flossing type situations. Both of them have their own followings and their own things going on. And then you got, last one was Break My Heart with Ryan Beatty. And that was, that was a good way to end off the album, so to speak. So if y 'all want to listen to them, go listen to the whole damn album. It's all good when you go play every song for you.
Taj (54:08)
Yeah.
Dee (54:11)
We just highlighted the songs that we liked on the particular album. And then, yeah, that's pretty much it for what I got for you.
Taj (54:19)
But overall, in closing arguments, I enjoyed the whole album. I liked it. It's modern, had some different takes. But yeah, I would listen to it again, the whole album. So yeah.
Dee (54:35)
Nice.
Damon (54:36)
think it's definitely like the other album picks that you bring to the table, Dietrich, which are always fantastic as far as, yeah, of course. I'm just going to feed you compliments. but, there's great, great picks because there are, there's always variety and you always seem to pick a really good album that has like collaborations on it and like new artists and stuff. And I'm always just blown away. Like this one was just.
Dee (54:45)
Thank you. you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you
Taj (54:47)
you
Yeah
Damon (55:05)
like really cool because of the collaboration. And I don't know much about Penny Blocko, but I mean, I didn't know that, you know, I know that Selena Gomez is like on like TV shows and stuff. She's a really good actress. So, yeah, props, props to them. Hopefully that works out. But.
Dee (55:27)
Right? Like all Hollywood marriages do. Yeah.
Taj (55:30)
All right.
Damon (55:31)
Yeah, is it gonna, is it gonna follow the footsteps of all the songs on this album? I don't know. Hopefully it's a little different, but, yeah, yeah, this is definitely, it's like a love story to this whole, this whole album was like a modern day younger person's love story. And, you know, it just reminds me, there's a whole world out there of, of cool shit that I'm not a part of. so that's, that's what, that's pretty much my take on it. I mean,
Dee (55:38)
Yeah.
Damon (56:00)
That's how it made me feel when I was listening to it for sure. So, and it's not a bad album, so good pick. So I appreciate you sharing that with us.
Dee (56:05)
That's what's up.
Okay, cool.
Taj (56:12)
Yeah. And we, we asked that you don't keep it a secret.
Dee (56:13)
Yes sir, very much so.
Damon (56:19)
Yeah, a third time. Not a third time.
Dee (56:20)
I mean, do keep secrets. we'll see if there's some tea that we can spill for the next situation. Speaking of tea to spill, hey, Taj, tell us what that next week is going to look like.
Taj (56:34)
Yeah.
Well, mean, next week's going to be a surprise. We're going to do one of our, so we're doing four different types of episodes. So we ask that you listen in next week, and it'll be a little bit of a surprise. I think you guys will like it. And then we'll recycle, not recycle, but we'll restart the cycle again, which I guess is recycled. Yeah. Yeah.
Damon (57:05)
Yeah, yeah, we touched it.
Taj (57:08)
Yeah, I said, you know, English first language. But yeah, I'm going to go ahead and is there anything else? I'm going to go and sign out. All right. right. Well, this. more secrets. All right. Well, this been that choice tracks. You can find this on our website of Trace tracks dot com or email us at Trace tracks at gmail dot com. Both of those end with a Z.
Dee (57:20)
Let's go ahead and sign out.
Damon (57:21)
No more secrets, guys. No more secrets.
Dee (57:24)
No more secrets.
Taj (57:35)
We ask that you please subscribe and listen to all past and future episodes. Let's go and sign out. I've been Taj.
Damon (57:43)
I'm Damon.
Dee (57:45)
And I'm Dietrich and we're going to pick up the needle, but y 'all keep spinning those choice tracks.
Taj (57:52)
This is real shit.
Damon (57:55)
It's really, really real.