New Music Round-Up (Father John Misty, Drake, And More)
As you know by now, I enjoy writing about music very much. Whether I’m reviewing a new release, discussing my favorite albums of all-time, or talking about which artists I think you should look out for moving forward, music has become one of the central topics for this blog. In the past weeks, my schedule has been turned upside down as I’ve been packing for and moving into my apartment as my senior year of college nears. During this time, there have been some noteworthy releases which I’ve wanted to comment on but just haven’t had the time. Until today, that is. Let’s talk about some of the best and worst singles which have released recently.
Father John Misty - “To S.” and “To. R”
Since the release of God’s Favorite Customer in 2018, Josh Tillman’s fans have been desperately awaiting a new release from their favorite cynical indie folk artist. His live collection Off-Key in Hamburg and his covers EP Anthem +3 held me over slightly, but I was still looking forward to original work from Tillman. To contribute to the Sub Pop Singles Club, Tillman released two mysteriously titled singles which live up to his sound which we’ve come to know and love. “To S.” offers an empathetic message backed by a gentle string arrangement, and “To R.” mirrors this track in many ways. The lyrics on this track are slightly more ambiguous than is to my liking, but overall, these are satisfactory tracks from Mr. Tillman which will continue to hold me over until his next LP, which is hopefully coming sooner rather than later. SCORE: 7/10
Drake - “Laugh Now, Cry Later (feat. Lil Durk)”
It’s hard not to like Drake. While I’ve been very critical of his few most recent full-length album releases, it’s almost impossible to imagine the hip-hop and pop genres without Drake’s presence. Known for being able to release hit after hit, Drake has ascended to a level of popularity rivaled by very few in today’s musical scene, and it feels like he’s starting to grasp that fact. The accompanying music video for this single made me laugh out loud when I first watched it. Drake seems fully aware of his meme status, providing a solid single riddled with parody-like moments throughout. The Lil Durk feature here is brief and forgettable, but overall, I just have to respect Drake’s ability to continue his lore as an artist. SCORE: 5/10
Cardi B. & Megan Thee Stallion - “WAP”
When Nicki Minaj released her single and music video “Anaconda” in 2014, the internet went wild. While many of Minaj’s fans applauded her confidence and female empowerment perspective, others condemned her behavior despite their inability to criticize male artists who discuss the same subject matter regularly with little backlash. Unfortunately, six years later in 2020, not much has changed, and the reactionary gatekeepers of the internet are just as present and vocal as they were years ago. Here’s the deal: “WAP” is a fantastic track. Despite the fact that its clean version is still likely too dirty to be played on the radio, the unabashed feminist confidence from both Cardi B. and Megan Thee Stallion is simply inspiring. The track is a fun and memorable listen, and the music video released alongside this smash hit only emphasizes the statement of empowerment it makes. Great stuff. SCORE: 8/10
Billie Eilish - “my future”
It’s hard to believe that Billie Eilish nearly swept the Grammys following her 2019 release WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? earlier this year. The singles she has released since then have been massive hits which I’ve enjoyed thoroughly, particularly “everything i wanted”. On “my future”, we find Eilish singing from a more positive and optimistic perspective than ever before. After the reflections on such dark topics from her first album, its nice to hear Eilish sing from a better place over such an uplifting and catchy single. To add to this song, Billie’s performance at the DNC earlier this week was fantastic. Can’t help but continue to fanboy over Billie Eilish. SCORE: 7/10
Miley Cyrus - “Midnight Sky”
It’s unfortunate that Miley Cyrus has become such a polarizing figure and artist, particularly on the internet. While I haven’t enjoyed much of the music she’s released recently, I respect her artistic vision and willingness to discuss sometimes taboo topics so openly and honestly. Luckily, this 80s throwback “Midnight Sky” instills confidence in me that Cyrus will continue to develop personally and artistically, and that a new era could be around the corner for her. This is a solid single with huge radio potential and a killer self-directed music video, and I highly suggest you check it out. SCORE: 7/10
So there we have it: some of the biggest singles and tracks released in the past weeks have finally been discussed here on the blog. I’m hoping for new album releases soon, as I’m finally settling into my apartment, which includes my new speakers and record player which will be used regularly. Which of these tracks is your favorite? What kind of music have you been listening to recently? Let me know. Thanks for reading.
