New Singles April 16 - May 8

Which of these recently released singles are everything bagels, plain bagels, and which are just stale?

I’m pretty late to the game on a lot of newly released music, specifically in the pop category. Clearly I don’t get out much these days, so it’s definitely time that I gave some of the most anticipated singles from the last month a listen and an honest review.

If we were pretending that these songs were bagels (which I do a lot, don’t worry about it), then some of these songs are deliciously fluffy, some of them are just a little dry, and a few of them are simply full of mold.

Let’s start with our stale and moldy bagels.

Sam Smith feat. Demi Lovato - “I’m ready” (Apr 16)

I was really excited to hear Sam Smith & Demi Lovato together, as they are both highly skilled singers and have churned out some good music in the past. Unfortunately, this song has got me both bummed and stressed out. While they are a good vocal match and Demi’s performance has great energy, this is a nauseatingly over-hyped arena pop song with unoriginal and melodramatic lyrics. The highlights of this track are Demi’s feature and the brief times when Demi and Sam sing together, but otherwise Smith’s vocals sound sterile and bored and get lost in the over-saturated production. With the verses being so stereotypically aggressive, this saccharine and sunshiny chorus comes out of nowhere, bringing out that cliche “motivational pop song formula” (ascending melody + 4-chord progression in piano + simulation of hand claps + gospel choir = we will change the world!! Give me your money!!). It’s very grating, disjointed, and lacking inspiration while still trying to be inspirational. I didn’t need this.

Alicia Keys - “Good Job” (Apr 24)

This is in the same formulaic inspirational category as the Sam Smith song, but in the context of a stripped down piano ballad. I often times don’t mind a repetitive chord progression, but there is nothing else going on in this song to make it interesting. There’s no production and the melody is the same predictable nothingness. Alicia has a couple of strong vocal moments but they are overshadowed by the multiple times where she is sounding so strained when trying to belt that it makes me question why they didn’t go for another take. I understand that the lyrics are supposed to be encouraging but they come across as patronizing- “You’re doing such a great job sweaty, keep it up!!” *inverted Paula Abdul clap* You could do a better job, Alicia!!!!

Norah Jones - “Tryin’ To Keep it Together” (Apr 29)

While the chord progression is somewhat less predictable than the past two mentioned songs, this is another stereotypical and melodramatic piano ballad with very little substance. Norah’s vocals and harmonies sound lovely, but the excessively root-oriented melody and harmonic motion sound more like a parody of an overtly sad song rather than a genuine one. While the repetitive lyrics could evict a cyclical emotion of trying to hold yourself together in troubled times, they ultimately lack weight.

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All three of these stale bagels on this list come from artists that I really admire and appreciate. It goes to show that setting out to write a motivational song about the woes of being in a global pandemic can be difficult and extremely unsuccessful when the content is too overused, obvious, and lazy.

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Thankfully, no other tracks I heard were incredibly stale. The rest were definitely edible! Here are some plain bagels from the past month: the tracks that I would totally eat, but are not necessarily my go-to order. That mainstream Einstein's Brothers shit that I will definitely eat, but it's not as good as the real New York thing.

Kehlani - “Everybody Business” (Apr 16) + “F&MU” (May 1)

I’ve been aware of the hype around Kehlani for awhile now, but these two singles of hers have been the first time I’ve checked her out. Her light, airy, and conversational voice fits in well with the twangy early 2000s R&B style of the two songs. The harmony in both of these tracks are colorful and stand out from your usual radio hits, but never in a flashy way. The reference to Pharell’s “Frontin’” in “Everybody Business” is fun, and the general vibe and sound of her music is both fresh and nostalgic. I also like the lyrics of the chorus in “F&MU," and the shout-out to the mediocre quality of Maybelline makeup products.

Other than that, neither of these tracks are particularly memorable to me in regards to the actual content of the song. I feel like these are both good tracks to chill out and do your online homework to, but from a purely listening standpoint, they unfortunately don’t reach the heights that they potentially could.

JoJo - “Lonely Hearts” (Apr 27)

JoJo’s back!!! I guess she’s been back for quite awhile now but I just wanted to generally celebrate this queen of my childhood. This song is what JoJo does best: an old-school early 2000s R&B throwback with embellished and tasteful vocals. Her vocals are always impressive, but in this track I feel like she sounds a bit more nasal than I remember. The production on this track is thin and far too mid-heavy. Despite the slight nasal quality, her voice still sounds great and this song definitely got me to wax nostalgia. I just wish there was some kind of a pay-off with the production or arrangement, but it never really went anywhere.

Edie Brickell & Willie Nelson - “Sing To Me, Willie” (Apr 27)

This is a sweet and sentimental tribute sung by two legendary country performers. Yes the lyrics are cheesy and syrupy, but there’s such a classic charm to them. Plus it’s Edie Brickell and Willie so I’m happy! Edie’s voice is somehow both gritty and angelic, and Willie Nelson is just Willie Nelson, with his immensely expressive and charming delivery. I was in love with the vocal performances and mellow beginning of this song, but not so much in love with the instrumental performances and arrangement. The band weakly transitions in and out of a bluesy country swing, with the stiff drumming much too high in the mix. Edie sounds amazing, and Willie sounds expressive and full of the world. I wish they would have kept it simple and slow like it was in the beginning, and didn’t add all the extra elements so that the emphasis would be on the charismatic vocals and the beautiful image-laden lyrics.

Benny Sings - “Sunny Afternoon” (Apr 29)

Benny Sings is a Dutch songwriter that draws many influences from jazz, R&B, and disco to create these sunshiny groove-based jams. “Sunny Afternoon” is obviously no exception! This song is an up-tempo backbeat jaunt. I love the lush acoustic piano chords juxtaposed amid the synth sounds. His songs lately have had such a BeeGees quality to them and I’m into it. However, I’m not a big fan of the drum-machine styled beat, and because I have come to expect such a high standard from Benny, this song doesn't strike me as much as some of his other work. I’m probably being harsh though. Regardless, it’s a fun and summery disco throwback song with a cute little string feature at the end. Benny Sings just radiates feel-good energy.

Gregory Porter - “Phoenix” (May 1)

I’ve missed Porter’s velvety voice and warmly crafted soul songs. His music had great influence over me when I was in high school and just starting to discover singing. I love the instrumentation- especially the bustling tambourine and the cheery yet mellow horn section. This song boasts a bouncy gospel-influenced melody and energetic chorus. That said, this song felt a little bit busy and frantic- I wish it was maybe just a bit slower, and although I liked the tambourine and rim clicks, they are too constant and definitely add to this slight anxiety that is created by this arrangement. Otherwise, this is a warm and emotive song with excellent performances. And when Porter sings that big “RAHHHISE” at the end... Get it, diphthong!!

Ariana Grande ft. Justin Bieber - “Stuck with U” (May 8)

While this song isn’t as laughingly awful as Sam Smith or Alicia Keys’ new releases, it’s just cliche and boring. It is a repetitive and uninspired soul-pop song with a very constricting and cheesy drum sound. Ariana’s vocal performance is top notch, and Justin sounds totally fine, but this song should just be so much better than it actually is. I get that having some of the two biggest names in pop music collaborating on a cutesy song about a couple being stuck together in a quarantine is an endearing idea, but I just don’t really care and am bored with it. That being said, this song doesn’t make me want to rip my hair out like the stale bagel songs did. Again, it lacks inspiration but it’s cute and I guess I can’t be too mad about it.

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It is finally time for the singles from this past month that are truly the tops! Our everything bagels. The stuff that you travel miles to get because it's just that good.

Endless Field - “Life on Earth” (Apr 20)

Endless Field is an acoustic new age duo featuring guitarist Jesse Lewis and bassist Ike Sturm. I got to see them perform last year with vocalist Theo Bleckmann at the Brooklyn public library on a dreary New York afternoon and it melted my soul so much. Their melodies are simultaneously lulling and soaring, and their songs always reach great peaks. This song does exactly that. I especially love when the bass plays the melody- his sound is so booming and rich. I highly recommend their music for when you are wanting to be meditative and relaxed.

Charli XCX - “claws” (Apr 24) + “i finally understand” (May 7)

Industrial pop diva Charli XCX released two textural yet glamorous bops that somehow both sound plastic and earthy at the same time.“I Finally Understand” is my favorite of the two. It makes me feel like I’m in an *insert retro racing video game here.* Both of these songs have catchy choruses and a glitchy and cool ambiance. I listened to her “Charli” album when it came out and for some reason I was a bit late to the hype-club. However I do like the direction that these songs are going in so I think I’m finally ready to join. Either way, I’m always really interested in seeing what she does next, so that’s a good thing. Similar to Kehlani’s singles, I’m looking forward to hearing more from her upcoming album and hope that I can find something more to latch onto.

James Blake - “You’re Too Precious” (Apr 24)

This is such an understated yet dynamic and interestingly textural track. Meditative, glitchy, soothing, romantic, warm, and nurturing. The song begins with a warbly and muffled whistle-like sample, accentuated with rhythmic clapping and mic hits. Blake’s raw and emotive voice opens up near the very end of the song and it’s such a sweet and cathartic pay off. James Blake is truly the master of elegant and patient pacing.

John Scofield - “Radio” (May 1)

This is a bright yet aloof swing tune by the diverse jazz guitarist John Scofield. Bassist Steve Swallow and drummer Bill Stewart make up Scofield’s trio on this record, and the chemistry is full of an amazing synergy and intimacy. The melody is both singable and just angular enough that it keeps you on your toes. This song is worth a listen just to hear the interaction between Scofield and his trio.

Gorillaz feat. Tony Allen and Skepta - “How Far?” (May 2)

This is an extremely cinematic rap track that features rapper Skepta, and legendary Nigerian drummer Tony Allen who has very recently passed away. Skepta’s verses carry a great energy and swagger, and the drumming is exceptionally stanky. This song could potentially have fallen into the stereotypical category of Eminem’s famous overly macho hype-up raps, but this song and arrangement is far more artful. The instrumentation is full of mysterious strings, an echoing trumpet, and a great synth recorder sound that reminds me of the classic theme song from the childrens’ science show, “EyeWitness.” This song is essentially an epic boss battle that I would probably lose.

Lianne La Havas - “Paper Thin” + “Bittersweet” (May 4)

Lianne is the current queen of intelligently crafted and heart-wrenchingly raw pop songs. These two singles are veering towards soul music in two different ways. Paper Thin is a very simple lo-fi acoustic song, with a repetitive and trance-like chord progression, contrasted by an almost stream-of-consciousness melody. There is so much beauty and pain in her voice as usual.

Bittersweet is a more arranged R&B slow jam, with a seedy yet gorgeous piano sound, and background vocals that are full of this crazy grandeur. There is an incredibly dramatic release of all the bottled up tension that is built up in this song, and the release is so breathtaking and euphoric. Lianne is back at it and I’m so excited!!

Weezer - “Hero” (May 6)

This song fuses early 2000s alt pop-rock (that Weezer pioneered in many ways) with glam arena rock. And while it’s not without its own sterility and cliches, it's a really fun track in my opinion. It’s tongue-in-cheek, nostalgic, and smartly/cohesively crafted. I don’t have too much to say about it, asides from the fact that the melding of these two hilarious but glorious styles of rock are really speaking to me and I’m honestly pretty excited for this Van Weezer album now.

Jessie Ware - “Save a Kiss” (May 7)

Ahhh I’m such a big fan of Jessie Ware’s breathy yet strong voice!! Her vocal harmonies in this song are reverborous and simply gorgeous. This song is a mellow and earthy dance club hit. Well, I don’t know if it’s statistically considered a dance club hit yet but it should be. The synth soundscape is meaty and dark, accentuated by bright and lush disco strings and a classic Euro-dance beat. Everything about this song is classic yet modern to me. An instant hit, in my humble opinion.

*************************************************************** Those are all of the bagels I can stomach for now. I could definitely eat/review some more but I should probably pace myself. Check out this Spotify playlist if you would like to give a listen to these new singles.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/38GTW3mwclwnBbVEYcf5Fg?si=EhfYzRiESSS7hb8vn0Soig

Let me know what albums or bagel topics you would like me to review next!