Best New Tracks Of The Week: September 17th, 2023
5. Gem & I - Animal Collective
This may be the simplest of AnCo's new singles yet. That isn't just due to its composition which certainly arrives more slimmed down than the 21 minute epic they led off their new era with. But even thematically and sonically what you see is what you get with the song. Thankfully, I find the refrains very compelling and the gentle indie folk flourishes are pretty satisfying even on repeat listens.
4. Motorbike - Poppy
Right out of the gate, I'll say I know that this song does have a kind of critical flaw, the lyrics. To call this clunky would be an insult to a lot of embarrassing songwriting I've described in those terms in the past. It's unfortunate because this song has a chorus that I find absolutely intoxicating and it's been stuck in my head since the moment I heard it. I also think the track has thematic elements that work really well. The sleek and sensual worship of motorcycle girls is pretty easy to get behind and the focus on straddling legs is a great lyrical detail to dig into. Unfortunately, the chorus doesn't dig into that at all and what it ends up replaced with is really silly even if the refrain itself sounds great.
3. Initiates Of The White Hart - Wolves In The Throne Room
The biggest surprise of a pretty stacked week of new releases was just how much I liked this new Wolves In The Throne Room song. The atmospheric black metal act has long felt pretty predictable to me but this new song finds a way to blend to styles together really effectively. It's capable of maintaining the chilling minimalist expanses of its ambient side while also managing to sound grueling and gritty in its harshest moments. It's a tightrope walk but they pull it off well on one of the best songs I've heard them release in years.
2. Slime You Out - Drake (Feat. SZA)
Maybe SZA really does just bring out the best in any artist she works with as this might be the best Drake single I've heard in years. It is FIRMLY rooted in Drake-isms throughout like the spoken word intro and how ubiquitous the use of the word "slime" is, but that's all sideline stuff. The best moments on the song come when both Drake and SZA get real and raw about with both their voices and their feelings. The two have both made careers out of exploring the intersection between sex and toxic emotions and this LONG awaited first collaboration is everything I hoped it would be.
1. Will Anybody Ever Love Me? - Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan is far from the first person to ever wish for unequivocal love in a song, but he might have done it in one of the most beautiful ways I've ever heard. The gentle riding instrumentation which runs slowly from a stark intro to a wonderfully filled mix around the songs finale is the perfectly subtle accompaniment to the touching but not anguished expression of emotions. The subject matter and presentation of this song both required the absolute gentlest of touches and that's exactly what they got with Sufjan sounding beautiful in a way he hasn't truly achieved in a while.
