An Exhibition Of Sound: A Genre-Bending Joyride That Hits All The Right Notes
Alright, let’s talk about An Exhibition Of Sound, the 2016 release by Various Artists under Alternative Distribution Alliance. This album is like a musical buffet—Rock, Hip Hop, Reggae, Funk/Soul—all crammed into one place for your listening pleasure. It’s not perfect, but it sure knows how to keep things interesting.
First off, this record has some serious star power with tracks from big names and cult faves alike. You’ve got Arctic Monkeys’ sultry “Do I Wanna Know?” rubbing shoulders with TV On The Radio’s explosive “Wake Up.” And then there are tunes like OutKast’s “Hey Ya!” (well, okay, technically it isn’t here, but you get my drift)… oh wait, nope, wrong playlist. Anyway, point is, it’s a wild mix that somehow works most of the time.
Let me zoom in on two tracks that stuck with me. First up: “Skinny Love” by Bon Iver. Man, this song feels like an emotional gut punch every single time. The rawness of Justin Vernon’s voice paired with those sparse acoustic guitar plucks? Yeah, that’ll break your heart if you’re not careful. I remember hearing it while driving late at night once, and suddenly all the streetlights seemed dimmer, ya know? Like reality had blurred just enough for me to feel something real. It’s haunting, beautiful, and kinda messy in the best way possible.
Then there’s “Can’t Hold Us” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Ray Dalton. Talk about flipping the mood! If “Skinny Love” is introspective raincloud energy, this track is straight-up fireworks going off in your brain. From the opening horn blast to the relentless beat drops, it’s impossible not to move when this comes on. Every lyric hits like a shot of adrenaline, especially Ray Dalton belting out that chorus. Honestly, I think I might’ve pulled a muscle trying to dance along during one particularly enthusiastic listen. Worth it though.
The rest of the album keeps swinging between vibes like a music genre pendulum. You’ve got Nirvana’s grunge anthem “About A Girl,” Major Lazer/DJ Snake’s tropical banger “Lean On,” and even Lynyrd Skynyrd’s southern rock classic “Call Me The Breeze.” Some transitions work better than others, but hey, variety’s the spice of life, right?
Here’s the thing: An Exhibition Of Sound doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t need to. What it does do is remind us why these genres matter so much. Whether you’re vibing to old-school soul or head-nodding to modern hip-hop beats, each track brings its own flavor to the table. Sure, it can feel scattered at times, but isn’t that what makes mixtapes—or albums like this—one of the coolest ways to discover new favorites?
Oh, and fun fact: listening to this album made me realize how many songs I already knew without realizing they were part of this collection. Kinda weird, kinda cool. Like running into old friends at a party where you didn’t expect them. So yeah, give it a spin. Just don’t blame me if you end up dancing awkwardly in your kitchen.
