Best New Songs Of The Week: September 12th, 2021
The best new tracks to drop this weekend:
5. Pressure - Ari Lennox
We will get the obvious one out of the way real quick. The biggest reason anyone is talking about this song is that literally everything about it sounds almost identical to Beyonce. While being influenced by Queen B is certainly nothing to fault an artist for, an entire album full of this much worship could come out intolerable. Thankfully as a single the track manages to be enjoyable and never quite step into complete complete sonic thievery.
4. Blackest Crow - The Body & BIGBRAVE
One of the stranger collaborations of the year has already proven interesting on prior singles and has even more intrigue on Blackest Crow. The expanded composition sees both metal bands continuing to reel it in and cover more folk influenced territory with a great degree of success. The track is surprisingly agreeable given the names involved but everything about it works in its favor.
3. Cimmerian Shade - Sufjan Stevens & Angelo De Augustine
Another week and another hit, in fact another pair of hits leading up to the new Sufjan Stevens album. His return to the simple reserved indie folk stylings of his early output has been an extremely welcome one with fans and critics alike coming out of the woodwork to compliment his soft touching vocals and interesting lyricism. Once again Sufjan proves why he deserves to be among the indie greats.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EAEcqehEYg
2. Beside April - BADBADNOTGOOD
The new album from esteemed jazz trio BBNG is one of many critics most anticipated new releases of 2021 and with yet another teaser they prove why. Explosive guest drumming from Karriem Wiggins pairs with a driving and technical composition that breezes through its five minute runtime with exciting fun.
1. Arcadia - Lana Del Rey
The most prolific period of Lana's career thus far continues with the announcement of a new album, her second of 2021 as well as this single. The song is a heartfelt ballad that hits on a familiar Lana formula but sees her continuing to write increasingly evocative lyricism and deliver it with touching vocal prowess. Her cries of "Arcadia" serenade the soft but impactful piano instrumental transforming the songs simple presentation into a grander and more thematic package successfully.
