Like they were
Sade for the
Odd Future crowd or
Amp Fiddler with more of an indie spin,
the Internet (vocalist Syd the Kyd and producer Matt Martians) coast and coo their way across a more mature batch of neo-soul on their sophomore album, the aptly titled
Feel Good. The music is an alluring mix of lazy and lush with just enough groove to keep things from fading into the background. Kyd is now undeniably the group's secret ingredient. She's able to keep her edgy stance when dipping into emotions and observations others aren't bold enough to tackle, while still playing it earnest when it comes to everyday woes, like how "Sunset" frets about what to wear on a sunny day. "I've got nothing to wear" might sound trite, but in Syd's hands, it's representative of a frustratingly unsettled life where nothing seems to sort; other highlights aren't so layered, though, as "You Don't Even Know" whispers sweet, simple nothings to its object of affection and comes off as entirely sincere. When coupled with releases from fellow crew member
Frank Ocean,
the Internet's true soul means OFWGKTA-associated releases can be seen as outlandish when it comes to hip-hop, and honest when it comes to R&B, so go ahead and give skateboarding Wolf Packers access to this one, because they might start asking questions about
Love Deluxe,
Massive Attack, and
Terry Callier while on a quest for music of equal cool and caliber. ~ David Jeffries