Here's a new good song: "Stay" by Zedd f/ Alessia Cara. I hadn't yet cared for Cara's output and am still on the fence about whether I like her singing style, but this collaboration works well; I especially appreciate that Zedd keeps pushing his sound forward so that the audience gets something unexpected each time. Enjoy!
Sunday, June 4, 2017
New Good Song: "Ruin," So Below 6.4.17
Here's a new good song: "Ruin" by So Below. It's dark, emotional, look-over-your-shoulder Pop. Enjoy!
New Good Song: "Dancing With The Other Girls," Theme Park 6.4.17
Here's a new good song: "Dancing With The Other Girls" by Theme Park. It's got a nice Dance flavor that's blooming from Adult Alternative roots. Enjoy!
New Good Song: "Bread Alone," Lorne 6.4.17
Here's a new good song: "Bread Alone" by Lorne. This is an emotional ballad that lays it on pretty thick but is still very touching and beautifully written. As a pianist, I'm a sucker for piano in general, especially in this style. Great vocal here, too. Enjoy!
New Good Song: "Swalla," Jason Derulo f/ Nicki Minaj & Ty Dolla $ign 6.4.17
Here's a new good song: "Swalla" by Jason Derulo f/ Nicki Minaj & Ty Dolla $ign. I choose to pretend he's not referring to his semen. Enjoy!
New Good Song: "Heavy," Oh Wonder 6.4.17
Here's a new good song: "Heavy" by Oh Wonder. This duo was responsible for one of my favorite songs of the year thus far, "Ultralife." Both that song and this latest, "Heavy," have absolutely beautiful and unexpected chord progressions and melodic turns, and I really enjoy the use of the male and female vocals simultaneously. I think they've found themselves a new fan in me. Enjoy!
New Good Song: "All Day All Night," Sivik 6.4.17
New Good Song: "Want You Back," Haim 6.4.17
Here's a new good song: "Want You Back" by Haim. Reminds me of Muna, another all-girl group that I adore, but it's a little sunnier in its production, somewhat similar to Poema or even The Triplets from eons ago.
New Good Song: "Forget Me Not," Jennifer Paige 6.4.17
Here's a new good song: "Forget Me Not" by Jennifer Paige, the person who sang that great song "Crush" 20 years ago. I was surprised then that her career didn't take off because she's a talented vocalist. "Forget Me Not" is more Alternative and edgy than "Crush" but succeeds on its own terms. Enjoy!
New Good Song: "Cold Hard Truth," Nelly Furtado 6.4.17
Here's a new good song: "Cold Hard Truth" by Nelly Furtado. This track is off Furtado's latest ignored flop The Ride, which I eagerly mined trying to find anything to get excited about, and "Cold Hard Truth" is the best in the bunch. Furtado released two of my favorite songs of 2001, and one of my favorite of 2006 (playlists below), but also has, over the years, released some aggressively grating garbage. Her voice is an acquired taste; when used on a good track, it's pleasant enough, but when on a bad track (like "Big Hoops (Bigger The Better)", it's unbearable. "Cold Hard Truth" seems to exist outside time and place; it's not really retro, but it's not really futuristic, and it's certainly not very contemporary. But it's a nice effort. Enjoy!
New Good Song: "Moon," Krrum 6.4.17
Here's a new good song: "Moon" by Krrum. This one is a grower; it's been on my playlist for a couple months, sort of languishing in the latter half, but I've come to like it more and more. Enjoy!
New Good Song: "Despacito," Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee f/ Justin Bieber 6.4.17
Here's a new good song: "Despacito" by Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee f/ Justin Bieber. (The video below accompanies the original version of the song and doesn't feature Justin Bieber). I realize this isn't new; it's actually No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has been for a few weeks. But I wanted to acknowledge it anyway. My soulmate in Love of '90s Music, LuisMa, publishes a countdown video of his 100 favorite songs every week, and this track (the original) has been on there for about four months and is currently sitting at No. 1. When I first heard it, pre-Justin, I sort of dismissed it as sounding too similar to other Spanish-language tracks and moved on. But I noticed that each week, when I'd watch LuisMa's countdown video, I kind of dug this song more than I thought I should. Eventually I started listening to the whole track, and looking up the translated lyrics, and thought, "You know, I actually like this song," even though I don't speak Spanish. Two milliseconds later, they released the Justin Bieber remix, and now it's a smash in the U.S. So clearly there's something special about this track. Also, Luis Fonsi's arms are fun to look at in the video. Enjoy!
New Good Song: "Mic Jack," Big Boi f/ Adam Levine 6.4.17
Here's a new good song: "Mic Jack" by Big Boi f/ Adam Levine. Big Boi is half of Outkast, and on his own he had a great song a few years ago featuring Kelly Rowland called "Mama Told Me." This new one, "Mic Jack," is similar in its throwback vibe, which is to say it harkens to a time when Hip-Hop was catchy and comfortable with Pop influences, as opposed to now, when it's an unbearable auto-tuned mish-mash of drug references against unpleasant Trip-Hop instrumentals. "Mic Jack" is tremendously refreshing by comparison. Enjoy!
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