This week I bring you songs about loving computers, J-rock anthems and an Avril
Lavigne/Nicki Minaj collaboration.
THE BEST:
‘I Love My Computer’ –
Hollowlove
It’s always great to hear love songs around Valentine’s Day,
and what better song to epitomise love in 2019 than this new track from Vancouver
electropop duo ‘I Love My Computer’. It amazes me how this duo are able to
tackle serious social messages whilst crafting ridiculously fun songs in the
process. This time the topic is tech addiction, sung from the perspective of a
lovestruck digital junkie to the accompaniment of glossy synths funky enough to
rival Jamiroquai. If I ever get married to my laptop (I hope she says yes – I’m
yet to pop the question), this is the song I’ll use for the first dance.
‘Day Dream Heights’ –
Walker Landing
With its breathy vocals and neon twinkling synthesizers, this
nocturnal track draws heavily from the eighties, whilst adding enough polish to
the production to keep it modern. It’s music for cruising the city streets late
at night whilst wearing shades (but preferably not heavily
tinted shades that could cause you to have an accident, because safety before coolness). The track comes off the producer/singer’s new album 1111, which was composed between Brooklyn, San
Francisco, Chicago and Berlin adding to its sense of escapism and wanderlust.
‘This Breed Will Find
Something Worthwhile’ – I, Aeronaut
I’m used to hearing drug-addled rappers spitting about
smoking blunts over this type of psychedelic production, so it was a pleasant surprise
when the vocals came in (although as I later realised, I have featured this
artist before on the blog). In fact, I want to hear more people singing non-weed-related
lyrics over these types of beats.
‘Choose Go!’ – CHAI
J-rock usually isn’t my thing, but these girls are so fun
and infectious that I’ve found myself constantly returning to this track. The
groovy guitars and chanted vocal melodies have a cutesiness that’s missing from
rock in the west. Maybe if I translated the lyrics I’d think differently – they
could be singing about killing puppies for all I know. I prefer not knowing.
‘Please Me’ – Cardi B
& Bruno Mars
It’s time for a slow and seductive sex anthem. Grab the marmalade and the boxing gloves and the jump leads and
whatever other utensils you crazy people use in the bedroom. Ever since releasing ‘24K Magic’, Bruno Mars been on an unstoppable
90s nostalgia trip and last year he reached the pinnacle of 90s nostalgia with ‘Finesse’,
featuring a guest verse from Cardi B. The two have now returned for another
collaboration that’s equally 90s flavoured but this time with a much raunchier vibe.
It’s a lot of fun – enjoy it now before the radio plays it to death.
THE WORST:
‘Dumb Blonde’ – Avril
Lavigne ft. Nicki Minaj
It’s not as bad as ‘Hello Kitty’, but I’m still having a
hard time watching Avril Lavigne clawing onto relevancy. The Nicki Minaj
feature doesn’t fit the track and the whole song feels like it should have been
released in 2009.