"So Good You’re Hurting My Groove"
New music this week from dvsn, Caroline Polachek, SZA, Kylie Minogue and more
Back this year with the 4th installment of New Music Monday. Going to catch up on the couple of weeks of break with a respectably sized collection of new tracks to recommend. Manifesting healing and enthralling music in 2021 and wishing you and your close ones a wonderful year ahead. OK, 2020’s last batch of great new music and 2021’s first batch of promising stuff!
--- Absolute Faves ---
Good Days - SZA
SZA really waited until we were all cozied up and locked down in the last days of the year to release one of best tracks of the year. After months (years?) of conflicts with her label (hi Top Dawg) and the delay of her much (much much) - awaited second album, the anticipation is sky-high for a follow-up to 2017’s astonishing Ctrl. If Good Days is any indication, Top Dawg is going to have a hell of a year ahead - I mean, a rumored new Kendrick album in 2021 is already sending shockwaves in my mind.
Real Groove (Studio 2054 Remix) - Kylie Minogue, Dua Lipa
Real Groove was already one of the finest cuts off Disco. The Studio 2054 Remix with Dua is all the more brilliant - although I’m not sure Dua’s contribution is all that noticeable. It’s more the re-writing, the new arrangements, the luxury of it all that makes it a hell of a ride - let’s pause and rewind that instrumental halfway through, pure ecstasy. Kylie is still riding that Disco wave, huh? And she should, Disco is barely two months old yet it feels more like a year.
So Cold You’re Hurting My Feelings - Caroline Polachek
From hot to cold, Caroline really invented temperature. Who knew former Chairlift half Miss Polachek was into thermodynamics? Jokes aside, Caroline has become a mainstay of this series and I’m not mad about it. Her new collab with A. G. Cook - keeping it in the PC family - makes for a wonderfully festive and catchy rework of So Hot You’re Hurting My Feelings - and a cutesy companion piece to the Danny L Harle-produced original. The zoom video is also so painfully 2020.
--- other great tracks ---
willow - (lonely witch version) - Taylor Swift
One of the thousand versions of willow Taytay released to get the original to reach the number one spot only to break records for fastest and steepest fall from it - ever - the next week. This version is the best of them all and I’ll fight you for it.
The Other Lover - Moses Sumney, Little Dragon
A sneaky little one that was offered to the world without great fanfare. Moses and Little Dragon created a layered fantasy that meets each artist’s world on a cliff overlooking their singularities. Words won’t do it justice so just listen. I promise you won’t regret it.
Thoughts - slowthai
A one-off single from slowthai that is not part of his current album cycle (bracing myself for the February release of TYRON). Tyron’s world is not painted in naivete. There’s a sense that when things are rough, they’ll get worse before they get better. If they get better. Tyron seems to suggest they will eventually.
Blessings - dvsn
Gospel meets R&B and both reminisce on a time when the distinction between the two wasn’t as marked as it can be today. It’s lovey-dovey and luscious. My heart goes out to the closing leg.
This Tribe - Demuja, Black Loops
House music needed its final bop of the year. Here it is.
let all the poisons that lurk in the mud seep out - Kelsey Lu, Yves Tumor (feat. Kelly Moran, Moses Boyd)
Before you go and comment on how dramatic the title of this track is, yes it is. The whole thing is pretty dramatic. We’ve had a pretty dramatic year too so what’s the problem? Kelsey is serving swamp Bjork and I’m here for it. The way the song picks up some percussion and a second life about halfway through is especially satisfying.
MODO TURBO - Luísa Sonza, Pabllo Vittar (feat. Anitta)
The ultimate Brazilian collaboration to also end the year with more exciting vibes than the usual Jingle bells. This track begs for a lip-sync performance - I’ll even watch it on zoom.
What Would You Call Unreasonable? - Boy George
Don’t count out Boy George yet. This track is a convergence of a couple of influences I wouldn’t expect to hear on the same track co-exist so seamlessly. It’s got a bit of a reggae flair, late 80s pop and hints of electronica the Strokes’ latest record was basking in. Don’t take my word for it though, listen for yourself!
Mercy Now - Boy George
A more straightforward acoustic Boy George one for the road. No less solid.
Potential Breakup Song (Explicit) - Aly & AJ
Aly & AJ really released a new explicit version of Potential Breakup Song to say ‘my fucking birthday’. It’s a bit like if iCarly’s Miranda Cosgrove appeared in Britney Spears’ Gimme More video. A bit of a surprise, but I’m down. This song was a bop. This song is a bop. A new Aly & AJ album on the horizon?
Anyone - Justin Bieber
The first track of 2021 to make it in this series. Surprised Justin Bieber takes the title home. But honestly this track slaps. Maybe it’s the Francis and the Lights style instrumental? It all just comes together beautifully ngl - ok maybe the final crescendo is a bit much, but I actually enjoy it a lot so nah it’s not too much. The consensus among popheads is that people have conflicting feelings on Justin Bieber and they’ll just stop short of saying what they are. I have conflicting feelings on Justin Bieber.
Wa’hum - IAMDDB
Short and not so sweet, IAMDDB really came for our throats with her 1:41 min final offering of the year. Just tell me where to drop the money and I’ll do it but leave my family out of it. Wish it was longer.
A Place We Know - RKCB
Somewhere only we know but less iconic. It’s got a bit of a Bon Iver twist if you see what I mean after hearing it. Lovely.
So Heavy I Fell Through the Earth - ANNA Remix - Grimes
I have conflicting feelings on Grimes. This techno remix from ANNA hits hard though. Incredibly hard. There’s a rave in my head and no one’s invited. This sounded very 2011 tumblr.
Need even more? Also check out (YouTube links):
Thanks for reading, happy listening!
Any and all feedback is greatly appreciated! Hope you enjoyed some of these! Any tracks/artists you think I’m definitely sleeping on? School me!
Twitter: @REDTAKES1
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