Most Anticipated Sets of NYE: Decadence Arizona
December 20, 2024
December 20, 2024
GHENGAR Releases Banger 'ADHD' EP
GRiZ‘s last curated festival before his indefinite hiatus, Ursa Major, will be held in Flagstaff from September 22nd to 24th. Since he is my all-time favorite artist, I wanted to write a series of articles highlighting GRiZ’s albums and his remarkable musical journey. His unwavering commitment to love and inclusivity shines brightly even in the darkest times, and his ascent up the festival ladder has been nothing short of meteoric. GRiZ captivates audiences with his unparalleled live show, featuring live instruments and vocals that add a unique dimension to his performances. His shows blend funk, bass, and house, which is evident in the diversity of his music throughout the years. In this article, I am thrilled to explore his four Chasing The Golden Hour albums.
The Chasing The Golden Hour album series is a reflection of GRiZ’s more melodic, chill side. While his other albums are fit for a festival stage or house party alike, the songs in any Chasing The Golden Hour album are perfect to play in the background while reading or walking along the beach (my favorite way of listening). With four different albums in this series, fans can rest assured that GRiZ is always in the lab making a wide range of beats to add to his catalog. A live performance of Chasing The Golden Hour is few and far between, with the last one blessing Bonnaroo 2023, which you can watch here.
Chasing The Golden Hour, Pt. 1 – As the name implies, this first installment of the series was released in 2015 and set the tone for the series. This album is a great mix of upbeat tracks that have the same level of production that you can expect from a GRiZ song, with beautiful live instruments and vocals throughout the album. “Sometimes the Truth Don’t Rhyme,” my favorite track on the album, takes the listener on an audio journey filled with a beautiful melody that is addicting.
Chasing The Golden Hour, Pt 2 – Released in 2017, this album continues the vibe from the first installment, with beautiful instruments and vocals throughout the album. This is a perfect album to listen to while driving at night with the windows open. Some highlights include “Smoke That” featuring Jaye Prime and long-time friend and collaborator Probcause, and my personal favorite, “Come Too Far,” which is a perfect outro track with a little of GRiZ’s funk-style dub.
Chasing The Golden Hour, Pt 3 – Released in the second half of 2020, this album arrived at the perfect time. With the quality on par with any GRiZ release, the songs especially moved me with their beautiful saxophone melodies and lyrics. Starting off with a classic Chasing The Golden Hour song, “No Time Like the Present,” GRiZ himself provides the vocals, carrying us into the album with a positive message. “Solo” and “Sweet” have an infectious beat and are my favorites from the album.
Chasing The Golden Hour, Pt 4 – The most recent album of the series was released in 2022 and is my favorite album in the series. “Airplane Mode” with long-time friends ProbCause and Chrishira Perrier is a classic GRiZ Chasing The Golden Hour song, and one that was on repeat when the album dropped. A perfect album for a chill day.
GRiZ will be missed during his hiatus, but we are looking forward to his last hoorah at Ursa Major this September! Tickets are currently sold out, but you can get more info about the festival here.
Connect with GRiZ: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify | SoundCloud
