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!
Sunday, June 4, 2017
Friday, May 5, 2017
New Good Song: "Bloodstain," Wrabel 5.5.17
Here's a new good song: "Bloodstain" by Wrabel, the fellow who brought us "Ten Feet Tall," my 23rd favorite new good song of 2014. This track is a vulnerable, transparent, confessional, woe-is-me EDM-type Pop song, with compelling production flairs. Enjoy!
Sunday, April 23, 2017
New Good Song: "Leave The Light On," Overcoats 4.23.17
Here's a new good song: "Leave The Light On" by Overcoats. This is a very weird little track, but for some reason I'm drawn to it and find myself listening to it over and over again, and always bobbing my head and, now, singing along. I think it would work even as an instrumental. Overcoats' delivery makes it seem like these women are saying something important, but I'm not sure what that is. Enjoy!
New Good Song: "High Ticket Attractions," The New Pornographers 4.23.17
Here's a new good song: "High Ticket Attractions" by The New Pornographers. I remember the first time I was aware of this group was eons ago (2003), when a high school kid I judged at a speech and debate tournament told me to listen to the song "End Of Medicine." I did, and it was not my taste. So I've maintained not a grudge per se, but more like an assumption I wouldn't like their music. However, here's "High Ticket Attractions," a terrific piece of songwriting with a blast-of-air video that all works together nicely. Enjoy!
New Good Song: "I Feel It Coming," The Weeknd f/ Daft Punk 4.23.17
Here's a new good song: "I Feel It Coming" by The Weeknd f/ Daft Punk. I realize I'm quite late to the party on this one, but I'm compelled to include it because only recently did I actually listen to the whole thing from start to finish, and suddenly a track I'd been lukewarm about is now one of my favorite songs out at the moment. It's ever-so-Michael Jackson and, compared to The Weeknd's other output, relatively tasteful. Really beautiful songwriting here, and pitch-perfect production. And great vocal performance, I have to admit. He's starting to win my over. Enjoy!
New Good Song: "Trouble," The Knocks f/ Absofacto 4.23.17
Here's a new good song: "Trouble" by The Knocks f/ Absofacto. It's a happy-sounding ditty with dark content, addressing the struggles faced by someone trapped in a prison of his own making. The Knocks were responsible for my 13th favorite song of 2014, "Classic" f/ Powers, a song they still play all the time at my gym even though I never hear it anywhere else. Both tracks are great; "Trouble" is sparser in its production and very effective in its own way. Enjoy!
New Good Song: "December Nights," Saskwatch 4.23.17
Here's a new good song: "December Nights" by Saskwatch. There's something very '90s about it, which I love. Reminds me a bit of Sneaker Pimps meets Lucious Jackson, or something? Anyway, it's all very cool., and not structurally formulaic at all, so it's a fun ride that's full of surprises. Enjoy!
New Good Song: "Ultralife," Oh Wonder 4.23.17
Here's a new good song: "Ultralife" by Oh Wonder, a British duo. Man, I love this. It's so charming and affirming, but not corny at all. The richer instrumentals in the second verse are absolutely tremendous. The part of this track from 1:01 to 1:36 (the basketball sequence in the video, which also is lovely) is my favorite. This is easily one of the best songs I've heard so far this year. Also, here's a kind of cool drum cover. Enjoy!
New Good Song: "Mo Bounce," Iggy Azalea 4.23.17
Here's a new good song: "Mo Bounce" by Iggy Azalea. Sorry, I gotta call 'em like I see 'em. This track is hella catchy, a ton of fun and well-produced and delivered by Azalea. I absolutely love it. Enjoy!
New Good Song: "Halfway There," Sheryl Crow 4.23.17
Here's a new good song: "Halfway There" by Sheryl Crow. I love her, and this track hearkens back to her Tuesday Night Music Club days 20+ years ago. It has a timely message about creating open lines of communication and understanding between the Right and the Left. (Which will never, ever happen, because we're heading toward Civil War, but it's sweet that Crow thinks it's possible.) Enjoy!
New Good Song: "Young Hearts," Bunt f/ Beginners 4.23.17
Here's a new good song: "Young Hearts" by Bunt, featuring Beginners. Bunt is a German duo specializing in what they call Folk House, an unlikely mix of Folk and EDM (electronic dance music). The unusual result of this blend hits you in the first few moments of "Young Hearts," which has a piano part reminiscent of a silent Western movie, a sax part that sounds like it belongs in Miami Vice, and a harmonica breaks fitting for a hoedown, all over a modern, pulsing beat. Bunt's collaborators here are an indie rock quartet called Beginners. This is a fun, somewhat wacky romp. And it's really grown on me over the past month or so. I love it. Enjoy!
Saturday, March 18, 2017
New Good Song: "Good Girls," Lany 3.18.17
Here's a new good song: "Good Girls" by Lany. I don't think these guys are capable of doing a bad song. They have mastered the art of stripped down synth-fueled throwback pop. "ILYSB" was my third-favorite song of 2014 (although they apparently just finally released a video for it a couple weeks ago. "Walk Away" was my 80th favorite song of that year (2014). "Someone Else" was my 13th favorite song of 2015. "Where The Hell Are My Friends" was my 42nd favorite song of 2016. So that's a great track record, considering I'm song loyal and not band loyal. "Good Girls" is another great offering. Enjoy!
New Good Song: "You Won't Know Where You Stand," Aquilo 3.18.17
Here's a new good song: "You Won't Know Where You Stand" by Aquilo. These guys are just incredible songwriters; I'm consistently amazed by how likable their releases are. They have an exceptional sense of what's beautiful and catchy. Their haunting ballad "I Gave It All" was my 17th favorite song of 2014. Their faster song "Good Girl" was my 28th favorite song of 2015. And I very much enjoyed "So Close To Magic" earlier this year. All those videos are great, too. They should be huge. Enjoy!
New Good Song: "Stay My Love," Una Healy f/ Sam Palladio
Here's a new good song: "Stay My Love" by Una Healy f/ Sam Palladio. It's a simple but touching and well-executed acoustic guitar duet. Thank you to LuisMa for exposing me to it. Enjoy!
New Good Song: "Love," Lana Del Rey 3.18.17
Here's a new good song: "Love" by Lana Del Rey. I liked her breakthrough single "Video Games," which was my 35th favorite song of 2012. I haven't cared for anything since then until now. This one is lovely, though. Enjoy!
New Good Song: "Green Light," Lorde 3.18.17
New Good Song: "Kids On The Street," Of Verona 3.18.17
Here's a new good song: "Kids On The Street" by Of Verona. It's very similar to "Cool Kids" by Echosmith, in both musical style and lyrical themes. It's good. Enjoy!
New Good Song: "I'm Betta," Bell Biv DeVoe 3.18.17
Here's a new good song: "I'm Betta" by Bell Biv DeVoe. This groundbreaking R&B trio resurfaced a few months ago with the decent "Run." I think "I'm Betta" is a little betta, but both are solid in a throwback kind of way. Whenever I see old-school R&B groups release new material, which happens quite a bit, I always wonder ... Why? There's a 0% chance these will be popular because the public's taste has changed. So I don't know why "I'm Betta" exists, but here it is. Enjoy!
New Good Song: "Some Kinda Wonderful," Betty Who 3.18.17
Here's a new good song: "Some Kinda Wonderful" by Betty Who. This Australian singer, who for some reason doesn't seem to have an Australian accent during the speaking part of this video, has had one of the most consistent marketing pushes on iTunes I can recall. And yet she remains obscure and unknown in the United States. Her 2014 song "All Of You," which originally was credited to Peter Thomas featuring Betty Who but later was credited solely to her, was one of my favorite tracks of the year (but certainly not one of my favorite videos; yeesh). I haven't been particularly fond of her subsequent output, but "Some Kinda Wonderful" is a fun track. Enjoy!
New Good Song: "Crying On The Bathroom Floor," Muna 3.18.17
Here's a new good song: "Crying On The Bathroom Floor" by Muna. This all-female "dark pop" trio is one of my favorite acts to emerge in the past 12 months. I loved their previous singles "Loudspeaker," "So Special" and "I Know A Place." This one is darker but also fantastic. Enjoy!
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