Jim James: I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times

My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James quite accurately taps into Brian Wilson’s vocal delivery for “I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times,” James’ new Beach Boys cover tune. There’s definitely an authenticity and respect within the track, but there’s more than an additional touch of psychedelia which yields to a glowing orchestration and ultimately a sonically-explosive development. James has his second album of cover songs, …

Saudi Arabia’s $500 Billion Renewable-Energy-Only Mega City

Announced at the Future Investment Initiative, NEOM might just represent the next generation of urban planning. This future Saudi Arabian mega-city will cost $500 billion to build, connect to Jordan and Egypt and be powered completely by renewable energy (making it one of the largest cities in the world to run without fossil fuel). The first section of the 10,230-square-mile city is slated to be …

Rhye: Taste

A third release, in theory, from a still unannounced follow-up album to 2013’s Woman, “Taste” by Rhye makes for a soulful, airy R&B number. Lead singer Milosh delights with a balance of warmth and wonder. The bassline might be the backbone to the track, but there’s magnificent orchestration throughout; it dances about, lending the track a certain brilliance.