Hoopla is only 5 days away from launching here at the DFL
and I’m already planning my first checkouts.
Last week I highlighted some of the great films Hoopla has in their ever
expanding catalog and today, I’ll pick out five albums currently available in
their massive music library. While the
albums I’ve chosen today are all new, one of the best aspects of Hoopla is
their back catalog. There are some truly
unique, bizarre, and hard to find albums available on the streaming service and
while the albums below are fantastic, definitely take advantage of the long
list of older albums as they would be hard to find anywhere else.
Honeymoon – Lana Del
Rey (2015)
The latest from moody, ethereal alterna-pop star Lana Del
Rey, Honeymoon is a tad more uplifting
than here previous efforts drawing influences from an eclectic range of genres
including jazz and hip hop. While coming
under fire for some controversial comments about suicide earlier this year, the
singer is no doubt a talented force in the diluted pop landscape of the 2010’s.
Dodge and Burn –
The Dead Weather (2015)
Everyone has heard of Jack White, and the majority are
familiar with his most successful foray into the world of rock music as half of
the powerful duo The White Stipes in the early aughts. Fewer people are familiar with some of his
side projects, including the roots rock fueled Dead Weather whose third
album Dodge and Burn was finally
released this year. White takes a back
seat to the other three members and takes on multiple duties playing both guitar
and drums as well as providing vocals on some tracks. If you’ve ever questioned White’s musical
flexibility and prowess, look no further than The Dead Weather.
23 Live Sex Acts –
Against Me! (2015)
Against Me! is no doubt one of my favorite “modern” punk bands. They’ve never sacrificed their genuine love
and appreciation for the genre while still taking classic sounds and transforming
them for a new generation of punks. This
album which compiles live tracks that span the bands career and were recorded
at a variety of venues is a MUST LISTEN for fans of the band, or punk music in
general. After coming out as
transgender, singer Laura Jane Grace (formerly Tom Gable) defied the musical
landscape of which she was a part and became a beacon of hope for women and
LGBTQ supporters in a scene which has been largely unaccepting in the
past. In that way, she reminded us all
of what the genre is really about.
1989 – Ryan Adams
(2015)
Ryan Adams is certainly an anomaly. Having performed songs which span a wide
array of genres, the singer songwriter decided to descend into the world of pop
music for his latest release. The album
is a track by track cover of Taylor Swifts critically acclaimed album “1989”,
albeit with a much harsher tone. The country
fueled alternative rock interpretations of Swifts songs highlight almost every
genre Adam’s has been associated with in the past and in that sense, covering
Swifts songs seems almost too easy for the 40 year old rocker. Released to widely positive reviews, this is
an album for fans of so many kinds of music and may be just what Swift haters
need to acknowledge the young songwriters talents.
Beyond the Pale –
Jim Gaffigan (2006)
While not a music album, I felt it important to highlight
Hoopla’s variety of comedy albums which are interfiled with their music
selection. Nearly a decade old, Jim
Gaffigan’s Beyond the Pale was the
comedians sixth to date and certainly one of his funniest. In the dry, soft, often sarcastic tone which
has come to define the comedian’s sets, Gaffigan offers insights into a wide
array of topics including hot pockets, vegetarians, and heaven. If you’re not familiar with him, this is a
fantastic intro to his catalog.
