There are all kinds of crazy concoctions taking place this
week.
THE BEST:
‘Trying’ – Luna Li
Luna Li is an indie rock singer and classically trained
violinist/pianist from Toronto - although she may well actually be an angel
that’s came to Earth from the clouds above. ‘Trying’ commences with dreamy music
box twinkles and seraphic vocal harmonies and then explodes with some soaring
strings. It’s heavenly stuff and not your usual dream pop affair.
‘Give Me Another Chance’ – Empress Of
Alright Lorely, I’m going to give you another chance. Your
last album back in 2018 was pretty weak, but this new glitzy vogue-worthy house
banger seems like a return to the off-kilter dance-pop you were giving us back
in 2015 (I doubt you’re even reading this so I’m going to stop writing in the
second person now…). Empress Of will be releasing a new album next month titled
I’m Your Empress Of. I’m hoping for more bubbly and creative tunes like
this.
‘Overdrive’ – Ferdous
I usually turn my nose up at any track with auto-tuned
vocals, but this is auto-tune done right. Combined with those deep synths in
the background, it results in a futuristic woozy aesthetic that I’d love to
hear more of. It helps that dude can also clearly sing and isn’t just using
auto-tune as a crutch like half of today’s mumble rappers (wow, I sound like a
right old boomer). ‘Overdrive’ is part of a new two track EP – you can check
out the other equally hypnotic single ‘Eventually’ here.
‘I Ain’t Going (Nowhere Fast)’ – The Goodbye Man
‘I am the Goodbye Man, I make music that falls out
of thin air into my lap or that I beat out of me, holding it at knifepoint until
it does what it’s told’. That’s one of the craziest openings to a music
pitch that I’ve ever received. Fortunately, the song itself is just as berserk.
The yelled singing sounds pained as if he’s shredding his vocal chords in the
process and growling tone of the guitars is equally raw and visceral. It’s emotionally-intense
heavy soul.
‘Rascal’ – RMR
The thumbnail had me bracing myself for some hyperviolent
trap rap. A sweet country piano ballad was the last thing I expected. Now I’m
not sure how to feel. For the very fact that it’s such a hilarious
juxtaposition, I’m featuring it here.
THE WORST:
‘That Way’ – Lil Uzi Vert
These 90s interpolations are getting out of hand. Lil Uzi
Vert is literally singing along to the Backstreet Boys. What will rappers be reinventing
next? Celine Dion’s ‘My Heart Will Go’? The Teletubbies theme song?