Best New Tracks Of The Week: March 12th, 2023

-
5. Talkback - 6lack
Even if using the same Sting sample as Lucid Dreams only a few years after it was a smash hit is a bold idea I also think this might be my favorite 6lack song in quite a while. All of his swagger as a performer and versatility between singing and rapping comes through to make the song pretty irresistible. You basically know what you're getting with this one but that's not a complaint. 

4. Failed At Math(s) - Panchiko
A few years ago I would have never believed we would get Panchiko reunited and recording new music but here it is. While their new single didn't exactly blow me away it did something just as important, maintained some of the stylistic motifs of the music that broke the band through in the first place even though it's been over 20 years since then. 

3. My Cosmos Is Mine - Depeche Mode
This might be the darkest new Depeche Mode song in a while at least in terms of soundplay and I actually like it quite a bit. The way it creeps through its progressions with those stuttering electronic drums and monotone refrains is both somewhat haunting but also pretty emotionally high impact in a way I really appreciate hearing from them. 

2. Nothing's Free - Angel Olsen
Angel Olsen is amazing. Even at her most sparse, she is such a gifted songwriter and capable vocalist that she can make these tracks soar. Even after the wonderful wandering bridge of this song she is still undeniably the center of the universe every time she opens her mouth. It's yet another impressive outing from one of my favorite songwriters around right now.

1. Don't Fade Away - Beach Fossils
After a long break that felt even longer than it was Beach Fossils are finally back and their first album in 6 years comes out in a few months. The first taste of it feels like we haven't missed a beat with sweet guitar tones, dreamy vocals, and irresistible gentle refrains. It's twinkly and adorable in the way that all their best ventures of bedroom pop and dream pop always have been and I really like it. 

Popular posts from this blog

The Top 100 Albums Of 2023

-
Image
Last list of the year before I can send 2023 off for good. Enjoy <3 100. Yeule - Softscars Yuele made a splash a few years ago with Glitch Princess  and had some promising singles leading up to this album. While a transition into the sounds of shoegaze doesn't go over quite as well as I hoped I think they still proved to be a unique force within the ever-expanding world of difficult-to-define internet music.  Listen To: dazies , inferno 99. Matmos - Return To Archive While I do feel like this effort is an improvement upon what Matmos did last year it once again feels like more impressive as a concept than in execution. At the very least this album manages to hit its stride right of the gate in a way that never failed to grab me quickly.  Listen To: Injection Basic Sound , Mud-Dauber Wasp 98. Slayyyter - STARFUCKER I think it's safe to say that Slayyyter hasn't quite found her footing yet as a conventional pop star. When this album tries to leave the club it typically stu
More Reviews

The Tortured Poets Department - Taylor Swift: Review

-
Image
Review by Lav:  The moment Taylor Swift's new album The Tortured Poets Department hit, it was lauded by numerous major critical outlets who, let's face it, got a copy in advance and likely wanted to maintain their positive relationship with Swift and her team going forward. Ever since then though, it's been an absolute barrage. Some of the nicer publications have pointed out that the record is a little on the long side and that Jack Antonoff's contributions continue to spark absolutely no joy. More honest critics have torn the album virtually to shreds for its awful lyrics and deeply formulaic melodies. So stepping into an album getting this much hate from all corners is a difficult position to be in and one I approach with trepidation.  That's why it might surprise you to know, there were some things I liked about The Tortured Poets Department .  Let's start with the title track. It was already burdened by a viral lyric about Charlie Puth that circulated from a
More Reviews

Rapid Fire Reviews: Weirdo Electronica With DJ Sabrina The Teenage DJ, SBTRKT, and George Clanton

-
Image
Destiny  - DJ Sabrina The Teenage DJ This album man. DJ Sabrina The Teenage DJ has never been a project to limit itself and in one of the most indulgent moves they've undertaken yet they dropped this 41-track, nearly 4 hour record. Normally I would take that as an over-indulgence and look the other way entirely like I did with Mac Demarco's 200-track nightmare earlier this year. The difference is unlike Mac, DJ Sabrina are used to long, winding projects and I've enjoyed their material a lot in recent years.  So when I try to justify skipping this album I can't help but think of moments I like so much in it. Fan-favorite singles like Doubts  and Something New  or personal highlights like the future funk-inspired anthem of self-empowerment Get Over It . Though the music on this album is not directly trance-inspired and generally takes a much less methodical and sunnier approach, it is still very easy to become entranced by it. The long compositions and absolute mountain o
More Reviews