Frequencies of 2014: Chill
–Words and list by Kevin Madert
End of year “best-of” lists are a funny thing. First off, they’re entirely subjective – unless you rank based upon sales, which we all know is often the least relevant factor when considering a work’s merits. Second, they’re often far too ambitious and broad in scope. “The 50 Best Songs of The Year” looks good on the top of Rolling Stone‘s website, but what the fuck does that actually mean? The editors and content compilers didn’t listen to every single release from January 1 to December 31, and even if they had there’s no way they could sort through the sheer volume of material and pick the definitive top 50. (Side note: Rolling Stone‘s #2 song of the year was “Turn Down For What,” so their grasp on the definition of the word “best” is questionable.)
In my mind, a “best-of” list should mutually benefit the writer and the reader. Rather than futilely attempt to decide which songs or albums or artists were the indisputable winners, these lists should be cross-sections of the year in their respective musical spheres. I’m not here to be the pompous judge over some imagined contest that you signed yourself into appearing in solely by releasing music in the last calendar year. I’m just here – as always – to share the music I enjoyed too much to not talk about with anyone who’d like to hear it.
Read More
The AltFreq Guide To New Year’s Eve
–Written by Kevin Madert
The biggest – and last – night of the year is fast approaching, and in our (admittedly biased) opinion there’s nothing better to do on the 365th day of the year than take in a show. Whether you’ve already got plans, are still weighing your options, or haven’t given it a single thought, AltFreq is here to help.
Read More
Weekend Wind-Down No. 13: We (Still) Love The 90s
–Words and list by Kevin Madert
Did I not tell you we’d be taking more trips to the 90s in the near future? Admittedly many of us are better versed in the plaid-clad one-hit wonders than the more emotive and relaxed numbers, but I’d be surprised if you didn’t recognize at least a few of the songs included on this list. We start off with one of the best B-sides ever released in “Yellow Ledbetter” (your status as a great band is cemented when your outtake tracks outshine the entire catalogs of other groups) and hit a myriad of genre stops along the way. Enjoy, and we’ll surely meet you in the past again soon.
Read More
AltFreq Weekly Planner (12/21-12/24)
–Written by Kevin Madert
The impending holidays mean it’s a quiet week in the DMV – here’s to you and yours having nothing but the best season, no matter your celebration of choice.
Read More
Weekend Warm-Up No. 13: We Love The ’90s
–Words and list by Kevin Madert
Perhaps no decade in the last half-century is as nostalgized and obsessed over than the 1990s. Sure, we still enjoy many things from the ’50s, ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s, but the ’90s possess some inexplicable, unquantifiable hold over us. Nowhere is this more evident than in the decade’s contributions to the world of music. For me, that made constructing this playlist a hell of a task, so I made an executive decision. Rather than pick ten upbeat tunes to encapsulate my relationship with the entire decade, I picked the first ten tracks of what in my mind is a much larger list – one you’ll see more of if you continue tuning in for our Warm-Ups.
Read More