Best New Tracks Of The Week: January 22nd, 2023
5. Same Problems? - A$AP Rocky
While Rocky has been far from silent over the past few years. this song's live debut last month and the serious nature of its subject matter feels like the biggest sign of future endeavors since Rocky dropped 2018's Testing. That's exciting enough on its own, making the song's meditative style an interesting choice, but one that grew on me as the week went on. Ultimately, how much I enjoyed the messaging of the track and how well it fits the presentation won me over.
4. brrr - Kim Petras
Like a lot of recent Kim Petras singles there are things I don't like about the track, they're just overpowered by the things I do. The instrumental here is basically a "we have SOPHIE at home" type beat, though if I wasn't so familiar with Sophie's work I might be a bit more interested in the beat because it really does match the song's icy demeanor. What really sells me on the song as usual is Kim's confident delivery and memorable refrains, making for a short but pretty rewarding single.
3. $20 - boygenius
So the trio of sad girl indie folk heroes Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, and Julien Baker are back and on this song they deliver the thing I thought was most lacking from their original EP, muscle. The trio actually manage to dish out an intense and instantly attention-grabbing song that might be my favorite of the project to date. While my reaction to the full collection of material they released this week may be mixed, this one stands out in all the right ways.
2. Contact - Kelela
With the quality she delivers in single after single after single Kelela has become basically a cheat code for this list. Did she come out with new music this week? Then it's one of the best new tracks of the week. This song isn't quite as heavy-handed a fusion of R&B with D&B as Happy Ending which I adored last year, but it's every bit as good a song with a lively instrumental that demands you dance to it and a reflexive vocal performance that lulls you while you do.
1. For Granted - Yaeji
Yaeji is finally gearing up for her long-awaited debut album and the lead single feels like a purposeful reflection on the long journey she's taken to reach this point. While the song is certainly a gentle confession of her desire to not take her gifts for granted, it's also a housey bop packed front to back with infectious refrains and built around an entrancing beat. In the best of ways, it feels like a song only she could make.
