8 Tracks: Keep it real

8 Tracks: Keep it real Michael Knott, Rapsody and Tierra Whack offer mirrors to themselves and others Enlarge this image toggle caption Kate Gutwein Smith/Courtesy of the artist Kate Gutwein Smith/Courtesy of the artist 8 Tracks is your antidote to the algorithm. "Maker" is a propulsive piece of punk-ish indie rock, yet its guitar latticework girds the song's intricate message of comfort. SNL's Bowen Yang makes a compelling argument that "we can't be friends" is "about the way the media relates to her," but I keep coming back to one line, the two seconds of white noise that follow and her return: "Baby girl, it's just me and you." Ruination Record Co. YouTube Tierra Whack, "IMAGINARY FRIENDS" When one of my favorite artists puts out music that tickles my brain, I always want to get nerdy about it. Interscope YouTube Baby Rose, "One Last Dance" Admittedly, I've been iffy on BADBADNOTGOOD, a jazz-not-jazz band attuned to recreating crate-digger samples with live instruments.