No Passion, All Technique
June 24th — June 30th, 2025
Back again!
What a week! Highlights include:
Spending over seven hours driving from SE Michigan to Milwaukee via I-90 through Chicago whilst sweating profusely in the heat (more on that later)
Bossman Dlow turning up the city of Milwaukee with an impressively small number of words uttered and twosome of on-stage dancers (more on that later!)
YTB Fatt operating similarly to Dlow, but with more rapping and less on-stage ass-shaking (more on that later, too!)
Chuckyy putting on a disaster class that featured him flexing a set of AirPod Max headphones, plus a shocking mass exodus (MORE on THAT later)
The start of a two-week men’s cycling retreat in Marquette, Michigan featuring two guys working their asses off whilst I do me (
morenothing on that later)
Whereas my week was fast, the music week was a bit slow, at least on my end, so I’d like to take this opportunity (for the second week in a row!) to speak on some recent heat not from this week.
Talk soon!
REQUIRED LISTENING
TAPES
Real Shit EP by Texako
If this is the shape of plugg to come, then plugg is in the best shape of its life. Texako, the Charlotte, North Carolina via Newark, New Jersey rap impressionist, is far from new to the game, and his most recent EP, Real Shit, is indicative of that. Plugg, unlike its relative dark plugg, chronicles a lackadaisical lifestyle that everybody decries yet secretly desires, and on this tape, Texako has elevated the form from low-ish entertainment to high art. Paired with brightly moody instrumentals from the artist himself and a cartoonish, foul cover, Real Shit shakes out to be a seriously potent mix.
*Note: I normally find slowed + reverb mixes of songs to be bullshit to the highest degree, but this one of “Southern Cali” has me tickled.
Made in Paris by Pi’erre Bourne
All you need to know about Made in Paris is that P finally dropped “Temps de Chasse” — one of the most anticipated snippets of all time — and it nearly lived up to the hype, which is more than most snippet guys can claim. Plus, the rest of the tape is quite pleasant as well. Standouts include the closing two minutes of “Façade,” the aforementioned “Temps de Chasse,” and the MASSIVE transition between “L’amore” and “Sait,” among many others.
the lady in the sky by dream fatigue
This crud is not new, but it is new to me! Inspired by Fleshwater, Massachusett’s dream fatigue puts out a spin on nü-grunge, blending it with whatever they feel like throwing into the fold. Back in December of 2024, the band released the lady in the sky, on which they mix the grunge with the lite drum ‘n’ bass and the shoegaze with the trip-hop, uniquely freaking the now-overwrought micro-genre. That said, they went a touch overboard with the lowpass filter. Other than that? It’s lit!
Love Songs EP by Big Boy
Similarly, this is not new in the slightest (it came out in April). I simply forgot to write about it last week, and I need to speak my piece! This EP, while not their best, presents a hardcore band that is moments away from breaking out of the scene and entering the alternative rock universe. That’s an exciting prospect if they manage to maintain their edge in the process of appealing to the masses, and it’s looking like they’re about to pull it off. In short, Love Songs is butt hardcore in the best way. The vocals are yelped passionately, and the instruments are played with a simple sort of heft. A body doesn’t need much more than that. Plus, “Other Side of the River” is an undeniable cover of a heavy hitter from Life of Agony, the pre-eminent butt hardcore band!
TRACKS
“I’LL ALWAYS” by Burnside
This revival of “elevated” 2000s coworker metal made by hardcore kids has nearly run its course, but I’m glad that Burnside was able to sneak an album in before the reckoning arrives. This shit really rocks, especially their utilization of the infamous baseball snare. I’m a sucker for that crap. Plus, their use gameplay footage from the Playstation’s ATV Offroad Fury as a visual representation of their sound nails the vibe that they’re shooting for.
“Where To Look” by Nilüfer Yanya
Yanya’s brand of trip-hoppy alternative will never go out of style. “Where To Look” makes that much clear.
“Quay & Donnie” by Nofacerd
You gotta love to hear a guy from Flint make some shit that doesn’t bite Rio and company’s swag. I know I do!
“SAMSON” by Glokk40Spaz
After a lackluster 2024, Glokk40Spaz has used 2025 to once again change the dark plugg game, demonstrating his style on “SAMSON” with impunity.
“Suge“ by GettemGone
GettemGone’s new EP, RainyDays, is perhaps mistakenly categorized as inspirational music, but who am I to question this?? I feel like I can do anything when I listen to this shit.
Made in Paris would blow my friend Davis’ mind. Maybe you could show him?