An addictive slice of ultra-lo-fi soul-folk from this mysterious Chicago-based singer-songwriter, who’s a self-styled outsider in the spirit of Wesley Willis and Daniel Johnston. "I’m still disillusioned and cool catatonic/Always in a daze without smoking that chronic," Beal rhymes over spare acoustic guitar, sounding more like Cat Power than Snoop Dogg. Welcome to the new normal. 

Listen To Willis Earl Beal's "Evening's Kiss":

Related
• Photos: Random Notes

“Youth Knows No Pain”

“Like on 'Youth Knows No Pain' — we are the ones that should demonstrate, because we can take it,” Likke Li said. “We can pierce ourselves, take Ecstasy, dance all night and still go to work at our McDonald's jobs.” Despite the hedonistic sentiment in the song, the Swedish singer also admitted in hindsight her youth had repercussions. “I remember when I was 18-19 and feeling that I know it all,” Li said. “I always feel that I know it all. But that song is about realizing you don’t, and reflecting, ‘Boy, if I only knew what would follow.’”