Virtual Paradise by Starjunk 95 and BELELA 
I reserve 5/5 ratings for tracks that move me in a way that so radically shifts my perspective on music and feelings that I am forever marked.  Va 5/5 has truly earned its rating (and title). A virtual sonic smorgasborg bursting with splashes of detail and delight too fast, too complex, and too numerous to catch on just one listen through. Every 4 bar phrase brings new tones, new turnarounds, new effects and yet somehow each pass through feels familiar.  No one push is so far or so fast that it feels jarring but somehow by the end of the track you're in another world (and BPM).  Pay attention to every little moment.

Double-Barrel Prayer by Diamanda Galás
Found on the 3rd album in a trilogy about the AIDS epidemic, this track is full of meaning.  Galás, trained in classical and experimental music, brings incredible attention to the tones found in her music.  Her attention to tone in her voice is evident in line ranging from heavy chants to squeals and howls.  Layered vocals and reverb add an air of dimension.  The most noteworthy element of sound in this track is the out of tune piano. Somehow perfectly out of tune.

Full track list for this week:

• Virtual Paradise by Starjunk 95, BELELA
• Simply Irresistible by Robert Palmer
• Double-Barrel Prayer by Diamanda Galás
• Grenade by Bruno Mars
• 7 Rings by Ariana Grande
• Cold Blooded by Rick James
• Super Freaky Girl by Nicki Minaj

This week turned out to be a perfect mix of sonic delights, my mother's music, and a taste of what the youths are listening to.

Here are the takeaways:

Kites by Grynpyret
Truly a sound-lovers track. The master is clear, bright, and full without the wall-of-sound thickness that plagues so many modern tracks.  I'm usually one for faster and more complicated tracks, but the medium pace and balanced arrangement really allows the listener to indulge each perfectly selected tone.

Molasses by Hiatus Kaiyote
​Masterfuly, jazzy, funk.  On your next rainy day, ditch the tired lofi coffee shop ~vibes~ drivel and listen to this instead.

"Time Traveler" by Knower
Imagine if Skrillex was into Drum 'n Bass, was given music lessons by Adam Neely, and wasn't so worried about writing accessible music and you'll get .  Check your disdain for brostep at the door, because this one is worth your time.

"When I Grow Up" by Fever Ray
For for those moments when you want to explore an acoustic space that is sparse yet rich like the high desert.  Pay close attention to the panning on the guitar as it jumps from center to left.  

Here are the sonic standouts for this week:

Walk in the park by Session Victim
The snare really takes center stage here. The constant quarter-notes provide a drive and structure around which the other parts can remain ethereal and capricious.  The snare tone is rich and has a sense of depth without being loose or sloppy which is a hard balance to...strike. 

Tsugaru Jongara Bushi by KIKI
Described to me as Japanese banjo music. Highly worth a listen. Pay special attention when the plectrum is used rhythmically and when the notes are plucked without it.

Pony by Ginuwine
Somehow I'd gotten this far in life never having heard this track.  One listen spawned a significant set of additions to my music queue. Worth your time.

For the first official post of this series I'm going with 2 notables from this week's listening.

How the West was Won - Solar Woodroach
Found on an album entitled "7 Perversions on Pachelbel's Canon," this track can be described only as what it would sound like if a pretty good pops orchestra had their instruments tuned by 2nd graders.  Dissonant harmonies screech and give the impression of a haunted choir. I was able to find the creator's website (Tom Ellard) and I kinda want to have coffee with him.

The soundstage of the orchestra is surprisingly wide and has a sense of intimacy that I don't usually hear on orchestral recordings.  It does sound like a pretty small string orchestra so maybe it's a small studio recording. Or maybe they're synthesized.  At any rate, it's horrendous. I love it.

Hike - Rob Araujo
The very short release on the piano gives what is otherwise a reasonably thick tone a nice sense of clarity and stacatto-like abruptness to shorter notes. This quality provides a nice contrast to sustained notes and the other instruments.  The piano also sits considerably louder in the mix compared to the other instruments. There's really no question about what's being showcased.  Part of me wants to criticize the mix for being unbalanced but if the goal was to have the rest of the ensemble serve as support for the piano, then it does a fantastic job.

Have a recommendation for a track to listen to? For the love of sound let me know in the comments!​