What a week.
The 1975 – People
WELL. This is different. Just another pretentious pop band? Proved you wrong, mate. The 1975 go harder than ever before on this one: in-your-face thrashing rock to get the message across. I’m all for it.
BROCKHAMPTON – BOY BYE
There’s so much going on here – murder-mystery-esque string plucking, heavy rap and… light cha cha? Does it work… kind of? I feel confused.
Charli XCX ft. Sky Ferreira – Cross You Out
This metallic melody is a complete 180 from XCX’s usual bubblegum pop anthems. Screaming the chorus back in catharsis gets you on the road to recovery after a long day – this dark side of Charli needs to be unleashed more.
Death Cab for Cutie – To The Ground
Can imagine the intro for this absolutely rippling through a live audience: those drums, that opening riff… this is fantastic. Really, Death Cab are something special.
Girl Band – Going Norway
An ever-changing song that transforms many times throughout, beginning with mundane lyrical delivery and a crashing cymbal, speeding into tortured noise-rock before finishing as a a weird phase of electro-cum-punk. Hard to follow. Great to listen to.
Jorja Smith ft. Burna Boy – Be Honest
In her first solo single since her 2018 album, Jorja drops jaws with rich vocals and peachy lyrics, and honestly? Hot Girl Summer just wouldn’t be complete without this groovy, hip-shaking, R&B beauty.
Lana Del Rey – Fuck It I Love You / The Greatest
Yasss bitch. A double drop from our LA Queen. They’re both brilliant and the double video is frankly incredible. This is Lana’s world and we’re all living in it.
Miley Cyrus – Slide Away
Seemingly nostalgic for what might have been, this is actually a really sad song. Musically, though, it’s brilliantly put together: a simple but effective melody, backed by some superb production work. There’s a strings section at the end, too, just to top it all off. Ace.
Musa Masa ft. Clairo – I Don’t Think I Can Do This Again
I love Clairo. Mura Masa is pretty decent too. This is a low-fi rock-high song and it’s pure class.
Naomi Banks – Hearts
Hearts: pounding in the bass and aching in the lyrics. A positively poppy new track, in which Naomi Banks holds her head high – a promising addition to this new musician’s growing repertoire.
Polo – Hula
Polo have come through and saved the last sound of summer. Of course they have. This slaps of every party you missed because you were working – they’ve got the highlights and saved you a bev. This track is the mate you always want to see at afters. It’s. Bloody. Brilliant.
Sophie and the Giants – Break the Silence
GOD these guys are cool. Beautifully composed behind the scenes, but an absolute anthem at the chorus. I’m talking standing on chairs, fists in the air, screaming at the top of your lungs kind of empowerment. Fighting oppression and giving a voice to the masses: Sophie and the Giants have got you.
The Mezingers – America (You’re Freaking Me Out)
The second of the singles released so far from their new record show once again why The Menzingers are the undisputed champs of modern pop-punk. America, I love you but you’re freaking me out” – not much else you need to know about this one. The song, and equally fun video that accompanies it, hits the nail straight on the head.
Youth Group – Cusp
It’s been a long ten years since we last heard from these gents, and goddamn have I missed them. ‘Cusp’ is like a warm welcome home from a family member you haven’t seen in ages. The vocals are still buttery smooth and the musicianship tight as always.
