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47. Noise vs. Beauty - Bassnectar (2014)

Dubstep

With Noise vs. Beauty, a title that perfectly encapsulates the fervent debate around dubstep, Bassnectar’s eighth album continues to reinforce his dominance in a genre he helped pioneer. His influence within dubstep is immense, so much so that his name is essentially synonymous with the genre itself. Though he would certainly be an unwavering proponent of the “beauty” argument, this album is his admission that there’s some legitimacy to the “noise” camp and that the two sides need not be at odds when noise can be made beautifully. Tracks like “Loco Ono” bridge the gap, being at once a notch or two below obnoxious yet somehow also undeniably entrancing. Others, like “You & Me” and “Flashback” are relaxing and uplifting tracks that can’t help but make you feel warm and fuzzy.

Unlike many of his contemporaries, Bassnectar’s music has always straddled the line between dubstep’s at times oppressive glitchiness and its more ambient, soothing qualities. Much of his greatness has stemmed from his ability to seamlessly meld these two sides of the EDM coin together, creating both the rushing swell of energy as well as the peaceful, hypnotic qualities, offering listeners the best of both worlds. In reality, he makes music that should really only ever be listened to in a live setting, because, as anyone who’s seen him live can tell you, MUCH is lost in translation. But, if you can’t be there, his albums bump pretty hard on their own.

*image; cover art for the album Noise vs. Beauty by the artist Bassnectar