Noise Floor
Noise Floor is a monthly blog post for 88.7 the pulse, where I look into my favorite alternative albums and write about what makes me love them! Feel free to recommend your own directly to me at NoiseFloor4@gmail.com and you might just see your favorite get the attention it deserves. This is the first article in my second year of EVIT, and a 1 year anniversary of Noise Floor.
Album Overview
Distracted is an album by Thundercat, released in April, 2026. I had listened to one of its singles, No More Lies, years before the album released, and listened to the album the day it dropped. Its one of the cactchiest albums I’ve ever listened to and alteast one of its songs is stuck in my head at any moment.
The album encapsulates my favorite parts about Thundercat: Unique basslines, catchy songs, and a million collaborations and features.
The album reached 116 on the Billboard 200, and number one on the UK’s official Hip Hop and R&B albums chart. The albums to young for any RIAA certification, but I’ll be surprised if an album this good doesn’t hit at least gold.
No More Lies (feat. Tame Impala)
No More Lies is a single released 6 years before the full album, and has been on multiple of my playlists since as early as 2022. A song made by 2 of my favorite artists is hard to ignore. Tame Impalas section is so catchy it would get stuck in my head for even days or weeks after I had listened to it.
I love the intro, starting with just a piano, bass and oohs, before dropping you into the nastiest synth solo before the first minute. The drumming single-handedly provides so much grounding throughout the song. And Thundercats basslines are unsurprisingly super fun and groovy.
All of Tame Impalas lines are so good, starting with a little verse immediately trading off from Thundercat, before finally revealing the chorus. Its a catchy little loop, with thunder cat joining in every 4th bar. It reminds me a lot of another Tame Impala feature, New Gold by Gorillaz, released in 2023. He’s great at writing these very circular choruses that drill themselves into your mind like no other.
She Knows Too Much (feat. Mac Miller)
She Knows Too Much is by far one of my favorites on the album. Kicking you off straight with a really dry but bouncy bassline and drum loop. The staccato bass chords going up and down are just enough to keep you enthralled the whole song, without distracting from Mac Millers verses right above it.
Its such an upbeat song, and is a blast to listen to. If I need something to wake me up on the way to EVIT I’ll often throw this on. I love how Thundercat steps back as just a backup vocalist, just accenting the end of his lines and filling with adlibs throughout the song. I haven’t listened to Mac Millers stuff before, but this song is convincing me to get around to it.
Mac Miller has sadly passed several years before the song ever released. They had been great friends and frequent collaborators, and his impact on the music world will be remembered. The song has a music video featuring several different artists and styles, painting a surreal road trip between the duo.
Funny Friends (feat. A$AP Rocky)
If you want a fun, bite-sized song, Funny Friends is perfect for that. At only 2 and a half minutes, it just has a catchy chorus, a big synth drop, and a verse by A$AP Rocky. The song doesn’t need anything else and is a perfect break in the album.
What Is Left To Say (feat. The Lemon Twigs)
Another contender for favorite song, but for completely different reasons than She Knows Too Much. What is Left to Say is such a beautiful song. It has such a calming chorus, with surprising chord changes, a little synth, and minimal percussion. The instrumentation of the song is so subtle but perfect for each section.
I love how the song slowly builds, adding bits and pieces throughout. When the strings and horns come in on the second verse it provides such an orchestral feel I was not expecting out of a Thundercat album, but its very welcome.
My favorite line in the song is definitely “Feelings are like children in a car, you can’t put them in the trunk. But let them drive, you won’t go far.” it’s a very unique metaphor, with the perfect blend of humor and striking imagery to make you actually listen to the lyrics and message of the song.
Anakin Learns His Fate
Thundercat is a master of sound design, and Anakin Learns His Fate starts with such a strange synth that instantly catches my ear every time. The instrumentation is very bare, with just that synth, distorted kick, bass, and a very simple beat for most the song.
But it what it does with the instrumentation is whats so interesting. The melodies and chords seem to go all over the place but remain intertwined and interconnected. The song manages to both sound very jarring and awkward, but calm and grounded at the same time.
Pozole
A beautiful piano ballad by Thundercat: Pozole. The song reads one of the main themes of the album of the album plain and bare. That being self consciousness and feelings of not being enough in relationships. Musically, I find the song really showcases Thundercats voice and lyricism, which can often be overshadowed by his more well known bass skills.
Rewind and Review
Distracted is a great new album by Thundercat, with a wide range of genres and mood. From very upbeat dance songs, to reflective ballads, and heartfelt love songs, this album has a song for everyone. If you want a dozen songs stuck in your head at once there isn’t an album I’d recommend. To me, this is the best album that’s come out this year, and I will definitely come back to it time and time again.
Wild Card | ThunderWave (feat. WILLOW)
Todays wild card song is ThunderWave. It’s a simple, vocal-lead piece, with large, glittery pads, water sounds, and other simple elements. I find the song so beautiful, and unexpected all the same. The end of the album is much calmer than the front, with this song and the one after: Pozole, really outlining this.
Ribbon Bow
That’s all for the month! Check back in December 4th for the next issue. If you leave a recommendation at NoiseFloor4@gmail.com it might just be an album you love! Hope you enjoyed Halloween and have a great holiday season!
