I Shall Love 2 / Julia Holter
The lead single from the Baroque-pop artist’s newly announced album Aviary — coming this October — is a gorgeous and incredibly lathered song, pulsated by the ceaseless clacks of percussion hi-hats, building and building through the increasing sway of its oncoming instruments, from the strings to the slap of an acoustic bass, topped off by Holter’s swaying vocals. It starts slow and begins to swell into a loud but beautiful serenade as the singer refrains “I Shall Love”, over and over until the climax erupts into an abrupt silence that almost speaks for itself. Holter has stated that the new album reflects how one looks for love and for solace, and how one responds to the feeling of cacophony as a person — on I Shall Love 2 it reeks of it.
Mariners Apartment Complex / Lana Del Rey
Lana Del Rey’s lead single for her newly announced sixth album is possibly the best thing the singer has crafted yet, working alongside producer Jack Antonoff for a well rounded and subtly epic song. Everything sounds natural — her lyrics and her voice seem free, ” I ain’t no candle in the wind”, she states, and the next uses that strength as an usher when she guides another, “Don’t look too far, right where you are, that’s where I am.”
Bella Ciao (Goodbye Beautiful) / Marc Ribot & Tom Waits
This new collaboration between guitarist Marc Ribot and Tom Waits is a cover of an Italian folk song that was sung by Italian partisans during the Italian Civil War between 1943 and 1945. Waits’ vocals make his first appearance in two years, and hearing him against the slow jive that’s brought out from Ribot’s work on his guitar, paired next to the Italian flavor that springs from its other instruments, is both refreshing and poignant, especially when hearing the song’s English translation.
Make Believe / Kero Kero Bonito
It isn’t known when London band Kero Kero Bonito will return with their next album since 2016’s incredibly cute and catchy Bonito Generation, but their newest track Make Believe is a good enough reason to be extremely excited for when that day comes. It’s a light, feathery song — with more guitar and acoustic drums than any track that appeared on their last album. Imagine if Ariel Pink produced a KKB song and you’d probably get this. It’s thankfully catchy, upbeat, and maturer than anything they’ve done.
Ace / Noname (featuring Smino, Saba)
What’s probably the most funnest and upbeat track on Noname’s Room 25, released just last week, also features her most amusing verse, ending it with a certain nod to vegans who almost seem to get interrupted when trying to explain that vegan food is actually delicious. Saba then delivers an electrifying verse, and the entire song runs a lot more quicker than its three minute run-time by the time he closes. Smino drops the hook and a verse of his own, his the most soulful and charming out of the trio. The production is crisp and nothing abrasive when it comes to a three rapper collaboration like this. The expressive “ooohs” that hit in the background are what make the track even more passionate for a track as playful as this.
Black Lion / Makaya McCraven
Like his website says, drummer and producer Makaya McCraven is a beat scientist, and a very good one at being just that. His latest single for upcoming album Universal Beings (arriving October 26th) runs just under three minutes and barely finds more than two grooves, except for the exceptional ones that is has. McCraven’s drums move on top of a simple xylophone type melody — his rhythm pulling in the notable instruments that sing in the background — and by the end, it’s switched up and the drums are somewhat chaotic but harmless.
24k Gold/Sanctified / Joey Purp (featuring Ravyn Lenae and Jack Red)
The intro track on his recently released album QUARTERTHING does a lot to make listeners feel welcomed and excited for what the rest has to offer. Joey is loud and proud — he refrains “I’m still alive” more than once, followed by “I know we still alive but I wake up to bullets flying” as the rapper blends society’s dangers with hopes and dreams and the desire to live without knowing the endangerment that surrounds the world. The production is alive and lit, making way for Ravyn Lenae’s passionate verse — simply adding “all you need is love” in a sweet refrain that rather acts more than a simple hook.
Listen to a playlist of these songs below as well as other notable tracks of the week.
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