https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7M1DPmfUi9g
"sugar" looks to be on its way to becoming brockhampton's first big hit single. are you mad about it? i'm not -- it's quite a nice, sincere-sounding song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAYG46w1SCA
soon to be graduating from tiktok vids to your 'local' top 40's playlist is "say so" from last year's doja cat album -- if the process happens slowly enough, maybe it'll be ringing out in public during the spring- or summertime that the song seems to embody. doja's "juicy" also just made minor inroads at pop stations and was quite a sizeable hit on the 'urban-leaning' ones. welcome back to radio, dr. luke
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izyZLKIWGiA
alicia keys's newest one, co-penned by ed sheeran and recently performed on the grammy broadcast w/ brittany howard, is getting a shot. you can almost imagine sheeran singing it, imagining himself to suitably represent the titular 'dog
if you all don't mind, i think 'll also post about some mainstream rap songs in here. tho the worlds of pop and rap were considered disparate and largely irreconcilable in the industry even recently, they're evidently on the collision course again, commingling, combining, turning it over. i didn't expect to hear "the box" getting played on my city's top 40 station until april or maybe late march, but here we are.
― dyl, Tuesday, 4 February 2020 05:18 (four years ago) link
pop songs that aren't charting or well known at all ofc also welcome
― dyl, Tuesday, 4 February 2020 05:34 (four years ago) link
still loving 'time machine' by Alicia. do not like this underdog song at all.
― Thybulle on the Dash (Spottie), Tuesday, 4 February 2020 06:00 (four years ago) link
Dang -- that "Sugar" video needs an NSFW or trigger warning or something!
I'm allergic to Doja cat. The Alicia tune is nice, but not really my thing.
― dad genes (morrisp), Tuesday, 4 February 2020 20:46 (four years ago) link
oops yeah, that one part is definitely a bit shocking/disturbing. presumably for that reason the video actually comes w/ the age-restriction warning on youtube but i guess that doesn't help when it's being accessed via embed. sorry!!
― dyl, Wednesday, 5 February 2020 04:40 (four years ago) link
It’s OK, I kept it on the dl*... I was just like, !!(*my phone initially autocorrected this to “dyl”)
― dad genes (morrisp), Wednesday, 5 February 2020 04:59 (four years ago) link
i've come back to this a few times now. i'm not sure if hailee steinfeld will ever develop a real musical identity, but she knows how to pull out a good song when she needs one. one of the more convincing among its kin of weepy ballads recently.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncV1TlNl9B8
― dyl, Wednesday, 5 February 2020 05:40 (four years ago) link
so happy 2020 has a pop thread!
― sean gramophone, Wednesday, 5 February 2020 18:45 (four years ago) link
enjoying j0rdan’s new column https://www.vice.com/amp/en_us/article/z3b353/tame-impala-has-pop-aspirations-that-dont-make-sense
― flopson, Sunday, 9 February 2020 04:54 (four years ago) link
yeah this one he wrote on today's shifting tides in pop was great too https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/7kz8xq/justin-biebers-yummy-struggle-to-hit-no-1-proves-roddy-ricch-is-a-new-kind-of-pop-star
― dyl, Sunday, 9 February 2020 17:18 (four years ago) link
thank u guys
― J0rdan S., Sunday, 9 February 2020 18:09 (four years ago) link
as far as tik tok crossover songs go, i think ant saunders "yellow hearts" is pretty dope. for the official single it looks like they've turned it into a duet but i think it's an improvement, the girl sounds rly good
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVKUW3cu_lY
― J0rdan S., Wednesday, 12 February 2020 18:12 (four years ago) link
or maybe this is just another version... anyway good track
― J0rdan S., Wednesday, 12 February 2020 18:14 (four years ago) link
definitely prefer that to arizona zervas or trevor daniel
― dyl, Thursday, 13 February 2020 04:09 (four years ago) link
I think this is a nice/interesting track (Madison Beer - "Selfish"):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzUbjigZTpM
― You have seen the heavy groups (morrisp), Tuesday, 18 February 2020 23:49 (four years ago) link
"Madison Beer" also an all-time great artist name, IMO
― You have seen the heavy groups (morrisp), Tuesday, 18 February 2020 23:53 (four years ago) link
she could earn 1000 nerd hit points by titling her second album More Beer
― You have seen the heavy groups (morrisp), Wednesday, 19 February 2020 00:00 (four years ago) link
whenever i see her name i think of the character from the bad-but-amusing teen thriller swimfan
― dyl, Wednesday, 19 February 2020 05:50 (four years ago) link
What do you guys think of "Stupid" by Tate McRae? I heard it on a top 40 station yesterday. Haven't really focused that much on the songwriting but the guitar line interested me enough to stop and listen. The sound itself reminded me a little of In Rainbows-era Radiohead and the overall production has an interesting atmospheric quality. Apparently, she's a teenager from Calgary who works with Billie Eilish?
― With considerable charm, you still have made a choice (Sund4r), Wednesday, 19 February 2020 14:11 (four years ago) link
"Selfish" was nice. The way the progression moves from the IV to the borrowed iv was interesting and reminded me a bit of some Beatles ballads. I like the ascending melody in the pre-chorus.
― With considerable charm, you still have made a choice (Sund4r), Wednesday, 19 February 2020 14:41 (four years ago) link
This song is somewhat of a trifle, but the beat/vibe are sticky... it's a real "turn it up immediately" track for me:
Josie Dunne - Back To It
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnqX4ZbjGuQ
― You have seen the heavy groups (morrisp), Wednesday, 19 February 2020 21:05 (four years ago) link
FYI, Josie's entire EP (where that track appears) has a similar sound, and is similarly good...
https://66.media.tumblr.com/1643d2639444771102422cdd0d82aeb8/b9d39cd930d41df4-9b/s500x750/e8380ec680d41e3717fe615200e8b39c548250cf.jpg
― You have seen the heavy groups (morrisp), Wednesday, 19 February 2020 21:53 (four years ago) link
Loving the new Allie X album, Cape God. Previous releases showed potential, but it's fully realised here. Her voice (and sometimes the songs) reminds me a lot of Inara George / the bird and the bee.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-R4BMBJCKw
― Jeff W, Friday, 21 February 2020 19:48 (four years ago) link
Sometimes I listen to that “Yellow Hearts” track posted above... the guy’s voice/“singing” is irritating to me (but I know it’s probably supposed to be). I like the part with the girl. It’s a nice, lightweight, pleasantly cheezy song for 15-yr-olds hanging at the mall, or whatever.
― Ticket Tout (morrisp), Sunday, 23 February 2020 21:18 (four years ago) link
Also, doubling down on my rec of that Josie Dunne EP... I’ve played it soooo much. The songs hit some kind of sweet spot for me, and I like her singing a lot (and I usually don’t get into artists in that “style”).
― Ticket Tout (morrisp), Sunday, 23 February 2020 21:23 (four years ago) link
Selena Gomez released a new single that doesn't appear on her (very) recent album(!) It's not great, but not bad:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Th0EwFmkLA
― Murdered-Out Highlander XLE (morrisp), Tuesday, 25 February 2020 19:41 (four years ago) link
Thanx to “Yellow Hearts,” YT is now serving me up new songs by this guy... gotta admit, I kinda like this, too:Ant Saunders - u know it’s realhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLHIVfVdKuI
― Murdered-Out Highlander XLE (morrisp), Saturday, 29 February 2020 06:02 (four years ago) link
apparently there’s a whole mini-genre of this stuff... I guess it’s like, extremely chill music for clean-cut college kids in a beach town? sort of a Jack Johnson function, plus lite beats and minus the soulful grit? tidal can hook u up
― Murdered-Out Highlander XLE (morrisp), Saturday, 29 February 2020 06:48 (four years ago) link
more like zoomers on tiktok
― like, I’m eating an elephant head (katherine), Saturday, 29 February 2020 07:38 (four years ago) link
that one is a bit dopey for me but i like him generally
― J0rdan S., Saturday, 29 February 2020 08:48 (four years ago) link
yeah the one rando i've seen irl queuing up "yellow hearts" et al does not fit that demographic description at all
― dyl, Saturday, 29 February 2020 17:19 (four years ago) link
Well, college kids are Zoomers!Admittedly my quick evaluation above may have been based more on “related” artists that Tidal was throwing up, such as “Ruel,” “Khai Dreams,” and “Thomas Headon.”
― Murdered-Out Highlander XLE (morrisp), Saturday, 29 February 2020 17:50 (four years ago) link
The general vibe I’m getting is — “friendly preppy guy in your high school chemistry class; captain of the soccer team; maybe you’re friends with his younger sister,” etc.
― Murdered-Out Highlander XLE (morrisp), Saturday, 29 February 2020 17:53 (four years ago) link
been digging this kid deaton chris anthony, this song "1999 she" is pretty hot rn... this is a goofy internet-y sorta track but if you peel it back a bit it's a dope play on 90s house
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9K6-M9gUjY
this rap song w/ clairo is also goofy but i find it charming
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMMshdy-0gw
― J0rdan S., Saturday, 29 February 2020 19:24 (four years ago) link
Well, college kids are Zoomers!
Admittedly my quick evaluation above may have been based more on “related” artists that Tidal was throwing up, such as “Ruel,” “Khai Dreams,” and “Thomas Headon.”
― Murdered-Out Highlander XLE (morrisp), Saturday, February 29, 2020 12:50 PM (two hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
right yeah, this is just my suggesting that tidal is not really the source of this
― like, I’m eating an elephant head (katherine), Saturday, 29 February 2020 19:54 (four years ago) link
hm i kinda like those two xp
― dyl, Saturday, 29 February 2020 23:06 (four years ago) link
I dig this soapy, soundtracky tune:
Charlotte Lawrence - Joke's On You
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=532k3IdHSZ8
― tamagotchi revival artist (morrisp), Thursday, 5 March 2020 00:33 (four years ago) link
^she is now one of several artists to announce a COVID-19 diagnosis :(
― morrisp, Sunday, 22 March 2020 20:59 (four years ago) link
oh no! i interviewed her last year and she was very sweet.
― maura, Wednesday, 25 March 2020 13:13 (four years ago) link
I confess I don't dislike this one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07RHI4MDQ-U
― Nourry, Wednesday, 1 April 2020 19:10 (four years ago) link
ugh that cover looks way too much like covid 19 stock art
― maura, Wednesday, 1 April 2020 23:49 (four years ago) link
not to judge a song by its etc but
The Ant Man released an EP:https://antsaunders.lnk.to/BUBBLE
― morrisp, Saturday, 4 April 2020 18:33 (four years ago) link
He’s a very interesting interview subject, lol: https://www.idolator.com/7906247/interview-ant-saunders-talks-yellow-hearts-future-plans
― morrisp, Saturday, 4 April 2020 18:36 (four years ago) link
i think it's fair to say that the tiktok hit pipeline is unrelenting at the moment
two of the earlier-breaking ones on the charts right now are lil mosey's "blueberry faygo" and surfaces' "sunday best." they're both trifles but the former has a pretty simple appeal to it imo -- and i can't help but appreciate the johnny gill "my, my, my" sample. the latter embodies the same energy as spring breakers in florida last month.
certainly the biggest of the most recent-to-break tiktok hits is megan thee stallion's "savage." while i'm glad to see her, talented as she is, scoring such a substantial success, i wish it had been with a different song -- like "b.i.t.c.h.", which is currently a hit at urban radio but running out of streaming steam. "savage" is not bad, but for me there's not a lot to it aside from the effortlessly catchy hook. i'm generally not one to be amused by dance challenges, but i did enjoy seeing a clip of the 'god warrior' dancing to it.
i appreciate that "supalonely" by new zealand singer benee at least sort of defies expectation as to what hits of this sort should sound like, but i'm not entirely won over by the song itself yet, and the dude on the track is nearly intolerable.
'in these uncertain times' (to use a phrase currently favored by advertising copywriters) it seems tiktok users are connecting with powfu's "death bed," a rap-ballad fantasy about dying young. the sample that comprises the hook is definitely the focal point: pitched up, distant-sounding, like a fading memory replayed in one's head. the song it's derived from, beabadoobee's "coffee," has been out since 2017 but now has a new music video -- perhaps someone is hoping it can be the "thank you" to powfu's "stan."
of course drake had to swoop in with his own. i'll be honest: i was fully prepared to be among the apparently many online bemoaning its crass cynicism, its lack of justification for existing beyond the potential to inspire predictable social media activity -- but oops, i actually like it, certainly more than some of the drake singles that critics have deemed classics, and more than any of the other songs i've mentioned in this post. i have a strange affinity for putatively upbeat 'party' records that have a touch of moroseness to them, and the sustained tones in this one's backing track push it into that territory for me. the synth noodling also has an inexact, uncertain quality that i find vaguely intoxicating; even paying the lyrics little attention, it's a track i can find myself lost in. those particular lines meant to inspire the inevitable dance videos are so brief and inconsequential, but i wouldn't consider myself above trying the steps if i found myself at a gathering, were it advisable for me to gather anywhere. it will probably crash in at #1 on the week after next's billboard charts and may remain there a while.
― dyl, Sunday, 5 April 2020 03:27 (four years ago) link
Great post, dyl. I agree the Drake song is catchy (when I let him borrow my house to shot the video, I made him promise it would be a hit).
― morrisp, Sunday, 5 April 2020 04:32 (four years ago) link
I remember that Surfaces video from the “Worst Music of 2019” thread. So it finally “broke through,” huh?The “Supalonely” song has a nice sound, but the lyrics stink...
― morrisp, Sunday, 5 April 2020 05:00 (four years ago) link
Several of the songs dyl mentioned are name-checked here (plus “our own” Glenn McD.): https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2020-04-07/benee-supalonely-powfu-deathbed-pop-songs-coronavirus
― morrisp, Wednesday, 8 April 2020 01:45 (four years ago) link
it's a good song, but for all its idiosyncrasies it seems like a calculated attempt to create a meme: goofy adlibs, OTT autotune, self-deprecating sadboi-isms, prominent curse word in the hook to make the 12-year-olds feel edgy, trigger words (thinkin 🤔, drinkin 🍻) that lend themselves to tiktok hand gestures/dance moves. it reminds me of Superorganism in that respect even though they don't have much in common musically. I prefer Benee's first EP to her second because the novelty factor is a little less pronounced. Gus Dapperton's verse is awful and I really wish there was a version without it
― anatomy of a buttless wonder (unregistered), Sunday, 12 April 2020 20:44 (four years ago) link
― With considerable charm, you still have made a choice (Sund4r), Wednesday, February 19, 2020 9:11 AM (one month ago)
her 'I Wrote a Song' video and Clairo's 'Pretty Girl' refused to leave my youtube sidebar for what seemed like a month toward the end of 2017. Billie and Finneas wrote one of her songs ('Tear Myself Apart') but they haven't worked together directly, and Tate's own songwriting style owes more to Alessia Cara than to Billie. I like that song and 'Stupid' and 'Happy Face', but as a whole her EP is a little awkward: the production is all sparse reverby beats and ominous bass drops, which doesn't really suit all her artless confessions about crushes and backstabbing friends. but of course it's 2020 and teenpop is expected to be grimdark rather than just plain moody. fwiw she's probably one of the best competitive dancers in the world, so this is sorta the equivalent of Shaq having a music career on the side
― anatomy of a buttless wonder (unregistered), Sunday, 12 April 2020 21:07 (four years ago) link
"Be Happy" just came up on a playlist for me. It's very well-recorded, I'll give it that (if only that)...
― Scam Likely (morrisp), Wednesday, 23 September 2020 21:28 (three years ago) link
So much of this playlist pop is thin, twee, singsongy stuff involving positive affirmations, partying to escape depression/anxiety, etc.
― Scam Likely (morrisp), Wednesday, 23 September 2020 21:33 (three years ago) link
I don't mind Bea Miller - she's sort of a less distinctive / more beat-forward Billie Eilish (this song is pretty, though somewhat old & being repackaged now):
Bea Miller - feel something
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysNPk-qeesk
― Scam Likely (morrisp), Wednesday, 23 September 2020 21:48 (three years ago) link
i feel like the last time i heard a bea miller song she wasn't singing quite like that :\
partying to escape depression/anxiety
there's a clunky but i guess sort of #relatable line in "mood" that aims right at this idea: "we play games of love to avoid the depression" etc.
i've gone back and listened to the original "be happy" and it's uneven as a song; they definitely retained all the best parts/lines for the remix, which is overall an improvement. mosey's verse is also cute and while blackbear's contribution just kind of takes up space, it's at least ignorable.
― dyl, Thursday, 24 September 2020 04:21 (three years ago) link
love Bea miller's chorus on k/da's 'the baddest'.
― oscar bravo, Thursday, 24 September 2020 05:36 (three years ago) link
"thin" is the best descriptor for a lot of the folksy-electronic self-affirmation whining I'm finding on exploring "Billboard/NOW THAT'S what the kids are listening to" playlists. Feels like a throwback to 70's mainstream AM US pop, all buttermilk flavor.
― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Thursday, 24 September 2020 17:57 (three years ago) link
Nice song & performance, IMO:
Charlotte Lawrence - Slow Motion (Johan Lenox Version)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCLBQCGf9xQ
― I Hate the Aedes (morrisp), Friday, 2 October 2020 22:54 (three years ago) link
Not even sure where this new Beabadoobee album goes, here or indie pop or what, but it's good!
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Friday, 16 October 2020 16:57 (three years ago) link
If only we had a category for "Not Pop"/"Not Indie". Something starting with the letter S.
― MarkoP, Friday, 16 October 2020 17:43 (three years ago) link
She’s legit pop, in terms of streaming/TikTok success, but for my money her lyrics keep her in the “Rolling Worst Music” threads.
― Guitar Dick (morrisp), Friday, 16 October 2020 20:55 (three years ago) link
i like her song "care" that i guess is on the album
― dyl, Saturday, 17 October 2020 03:33 (three years ago) link
I think this is a nice, sophisticated track (I particularly like the little horn stabs):
Rudimental - Come Over (feat. Anne-Marie & Tion Wayne)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iN0iPfZUkUA
― bagel in the streets, donut in the sheets (morrisp), Monday, 19 October 2020 22:17 (three years ago) link
I don't know who this zoomer doofus is, but his stuff is pretty catchy:
Role Model - Going Out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufoLLZN-hZw
Role Model - Blind
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uh2b-17zhp8
― bagel in the streets, donut in the sheets (morrisp), Monday, 19 October 2020 22:49 (three years ago) link
No 2021 huh?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQ7hdZZw7aE
― G.A.G.S. (Gophers Against Getting Stuffed) (forksclovetofu), Monday, 29 March 2021 15:59 (three years ago) link
and as long as i'm herehttps://dirt.substack.com/p/dirt-does-pop-music-still-exist
― G.A.G.S. (Gophers Against Getting Stuffed) (forksclovetofu), Monday, 29 March 2021 16:04 (three years ago) link
dissing Gibbs and Eilish as "zero calorie" not helping make a very compelling case there (second link)
― intern at pepe le pew research (Simon H.), Monday, 29 March 2021 16:36 (three years ago) link
I...hadn't checked the first link yet obviously
― intern at pepe le pew research (Simon H.), Monday, 29 March 2021 16:37 (three years ago) link
I’ve tried to keep my ears open, but the most notable pop song I’ve heard so far this year (“Driver’s License”) already has its own thread. Would be great to get tipped to some other good ones, though.
― beer drops on my keytar (morrisp), Monday, 29 March 2021 16:54 (three years ago) link
lol yeah it's almost april and i still haven't heard any pop songs that i found particularly good or noteworthy that didn't already have their own thread ;_; 'pop' music truly is dead y'all
i'm currently fairly obsessed w/ kali uchis "telepatía" -- the tik tok kids are right sometimes! lil nas x song also pretty good but obviously that's already generating abundant discussion on his thread
but yeah anyone pls feel free to start a thread for 2021 and/or share some good stuff! or we can just keep talking here about how slim the pickings are recently lol
― dyl, Monday, 29 March 2021 17:50 (three years ago) link
if I may be so bold to recommend: Eurovision 2020 (now featuring Eurovision 2021)
the yearly fix for my sweet pop tooth
― Blick, Bils & Blinky • Let's Skip The Shaker Intros (breastcrawl), Monday, 29 March 2021 20:32 (three years ago) link
kinda into this?
The Kid Laroi, Justin Bieber - "Stay"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTJczUoc26U
― sean gramophone, Tuesday, 13 July 2021 03:00 (two years ago) link
desperately needs a garage remix?
― ufo, Tuesday, 13 July 2021 03:15 (two years ago) link
charlie puth & cashmere cat co prod/wrote so it had a chance at being good. i like it ok but it left me a bit cold, idk could be more dynamic melodically or something
― J0rdan S., Tuesday, 13 July 2021 18:35 (two years ago) link
^ the chorus is SO puthy
i actually would kinda like it but it's too short and ends so abruptly!
― dyl, Sunday, 12 September 2021 02:18 (two years ago) link
Josie Dunne, a singer/songwriter I’m into (someone on here described her song Back to It as “if Meghan Trainor were good”), has been rolling a new project called Tennis — each track is released monthly as an Episode. It’s good stuff, if you’re into her sound.
― tumblin’ dice outro (morrisp), Sunday, 12 September 2021 02:56 (two years ago) link
^the new one she just dropped ("Episode 3: Cooped Up") is particularly nice:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtYqiFVXC5s
― juristic person (morrisp), Friday, 17 September 2021 22:33 (two years ago) link
New Foxes single is great
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cqddw9iUDE
― groovypanda, Saturday, 18 September 2021 14:51 (two years ago) link
that's good but that lyric is ridiculous
― ufo, Sunday, 19 September 2021 00:49 (two years ago) link
really into the josie dunn, thank you! gettin CRJ energy myself
― sean gramophone, Monday, 20 September 2021 14:00 (two years ago) link
The entirety of that Josie Dunne album (Tennis) is now out – it's nice, sort of "experimental," in that some of the tracks are more sketches than fully fleshed-out songs (by design).
― Bob Dylan's iconic Ray Ban sunglasses (morrisp), Friday, 20 May 2022 21:10 (one year ago) link
thanks for the bump, i really liked what i heard before!
― sean gramophone, Saturday, 21 May 2022 02:31 (one year ago) link
lol this thread's title should just be updated to rolling pop 2020s
― dyl, Saturday, 21 May 2022 22:01 (one year ago) link
^I may make that mod request, lol
Has anyone heard A-N-Y good stuff lately? I'm in the mood for something new, but the usual playlists have pretty dire stuff – fake Olivia, fake Billie (...and that's the better slice of it).
Here's a gem for y'all:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPe9MJMn7i4
― “Lawman,” Slick (Grunt) (morrisp), Tuesday, 12 July 2022 16:53 (one year ago) link
Have had this on heavy rotation the couple of months
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMfIuOooDIc
― groovypanda, Wednesday, 13 July 2022 07:59 (one year ago) link
Great song! Her voice is raspy in almost a Kim Shattuck kinda way.
― peace, man, Thursday, 14 July 2022 13:04 (one year ago) link
I like this new song by NIKI, an artist on 88rising... it's sort of literate, emo-ish, singer-songwriter pop:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMqcb16umH0
(the whole album is nice, though it's mellow... this is probably the poppiest track)
― Panda bear, my gentle friend (morrisp), Monday, 15 August 2022 17:16 (one year ago) link
A little more on Niki, as I'm really digging this Nicole album (btw, I mischaracterized it above... all of the first four songs are really poppy).
Her previous LP, 2020's Moonchild, is an exercise in basic trend-hopping: there's a Reputation-era–Taylor style song; an Ariana clone (complete with "yuh"s); a tasteful nu-disco tune; a Billie Eilish ripoff... etc. (these are all in a row, btw). The songs aren't bad, but they're obv. not distinctive, and Niki's voice isn't strong enough to create interest ("Plot Twist," another Taylor soundalike, is pretty good IMO).
She also had an earlier single, "Lowkey," which people seem to know (it has 237mm plays on Spotify). It's fine, but fairly generic pop/r&b.
So it's fascinating how Nicole suddenly features a "voice" (both literal and metaphorical) – the songs are personal, specific, compelling, and don't really sound like anyone else in particular. Turns out that many of these are re-recordings/recreations of old songs she released online... she cites the "Taylor's Version" projects as a comparison, but it sounds more like a Car Seat Headrest–type thing to me.
It's really cool to hear an artist evolve like this, even if the "evolution" actually involves circling back to an earlier approach (which clearly plays to her strengths more than simply aping chart-toppers).
― Porcine-lina of the Pig Oceans (morrisp), Thursday, 25 August 2022 16:58 (one year ago) link
Sorry to triple-dip on this... but after listening to Nicole a few dozen times, I'm convinced it's a truly top-tier album. Her songwriting is really strong, the production is on point, and every song is good. Anyone who's into Taylor, post-Taylor (or, heck, pre-Taylor) personal singer-songwriter pop really should check it out.
I think it's hard to write a big, emo-y ballad like "Oceans & Engines," and stay on the right side of corny (...tho I may have an atypical tolerance for corn):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQ0pazUc3ZA
― mosh pit insurance agent (morrisp), Tuesday, 13 September 2022 18:15 (one year ago) link
It's a good album!
― i cannot help if you made yourself not funny (forksclovetofu), Tuesday, 13 September 2022 20:29 (one year ago) link
I like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPgN4EfzUrU
Rema & Selena Gomez - Calm Down
― Obviously Five Beliebers (morrisp), Wednesday, 21 September 2022 22:02 (one year ago) link
REMA : days of Rave & Roses (& of course Bangers)
there is a rema thread
"calm down" rules but gomez was not a good fit at all
― ufo, Wednesday, 21 September 2022 22:08 (one year ago) link
Thx
― Obviously Five Beliebers (morrisp), Wednesday, 21 September 2022 22:21 (one year ago) link
Heard this playing in a coffee shop... I dig it. Sorta nü-Sheryl Crow:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_miaFW4nRYk
(Ashe - Another Man's Jeans)
― Wet Legume (morrisp), Wednesday, 14 December 2022 18:35 (one year ago) link
Here's a really nice ballad ("Love Is Letting Go") from the same album – featuring Diane Keaton, of all people:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBqh2CiDPyM
― Wet Legume (morrisp), Wednesday, 14 December 2022 19:06 (one year ago) link
Feel like this year was kinda… good??Hottest Record Of The Year 2022 - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001fv8t
― Tracer Hand, Friday, 16 December 2022 07:46 (one year ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MUPTcjjiCAKlara Keller - Sad Thinking of You
― Nabozo, Wednesday, 18 January 2023 21:39 (one year ago) link
I guess this is Bebe doing Miley, but I like it:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrGhXL9zCPQBebe Rexha • Heart Wants What It Wants
― at bottom, wrapping my arms around some tripe called "Quest" (breastcrawl), Saturday, 11 March 2023 18:12 (one year ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSMryyB315A
not totally sure where to post this incredible jam with all of 9k views but an early soty for me
― ivy., Sunday, 24 March 2024 18:24 (three weeks ago) link
This is a good place for it! I like to see this thread revived… :)
― let’s get intertwined (morrisp), Sunday, 24 March 2024 18:35 (three weeks ago) link
I've got this vibey jam on repeat:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYBlOxyB3sU
Audrey Nuna ft. Teezo Touchdown - Starving
― Malicious Complier (morrisp), Saturday, 6 April 2024 00:04 (two weeks ago) link