Artist and album review of the month: Who is Steve Lacy? Why listen to “Gemini Rights”?
Steve Lacy is a master at creating experimental, funky beats, and combining rivetingly new combinations of tunes that will keep you hitting repeat. Lacy is a musician, singer and songwriter who has made a name for himself in the world of Alternative R&B as a wickedly talented guitarist. He grew in popularity for the skills he previously showcased with the Los Angeles based band, The Internet, and in recent years, Lacy has become a rising star. According to Rolling Stone, Lacy “… worked on Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Damn.,’ Solange’s ‘When I Get Home,’ and Vampire Weekend’s ‘Father of the Bride.’” Lacy’s full-length LP, “Apollo XXI,” followed by his first studio album, “The Lo-Fis,” have now been superseded by his newest project, “Gemini Rights,” delivered earlier this year in mid-July.
Lacy’s newest album is one of the best Alternative R&B records to be released so far in 2022, and for those who have listened to his older music in years past, “Gemini Rights” really encapsulates the artist’s talents and tenor, full-circle. In short, Lacy’s latest record does not undersell his capabilities — it contains some of the most creative jams he has released to date, and showcases not only his shared successes, but solo capabilities. The writing on this record is emotional, filled with pangs of love and heartbreak, back-dropped by the longing air of Gemini season. Lacy’s lyrics are playfully simple, but his messages are conveyed alongside lightly cacophonous instrumentals and intense vocal ranges communicating a sense of smooth storytelling that is out-of-this-world. “Gemini Rights” offers a song for every mood, containing a range of upbeat jams, to pensive tracks that turn a cold shoulder. I recommend listening to this album in one sitting, but a few introductory songs to start with are “Mercury,” “Give You the World” and “Bad Habit.”
Local live events schedule:
Sept. 8, 9: Bikini Kill, McMenamins Crystal Ballroom
Sept. 14: Gorillaz with Earthgang, Moda Center
Sept. 14: Cigarettes After Sex, McMenamins Crystal Ballroom
Sept. 15, 16: The Shins, Pioneer Courthouse Square
Sept. 21: Girl in Red, Roseland Theater
Sept. 25: Jack Harlow with City Girls and the Homies, Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Sept. 26: Arlo Parks with Puma Blue, McMenamins Crystal Ballroom
Like Steve Lacy? Check out our song recommendations from these other Alternative R&B artists:
MICHELLE: “Mess u Made,” “Pose” and “Syncopate”
Orion Sun: “Dirty Dancer,” “Concrete” and “Intro”
Omar Apollo: “Useless,” “Ugotme” and “Erase”
Boylife: “Amphetamine,” “Dio” and “Lush”
Talia Goddess: “Never Wanna Fall,” “Poster Girl” and “I’ll be Down”
UMI: “Remember Me,” “Butterfly” and “Say im ur Love”
Olivia is a senior studying English at WSU Vancouver.