Play/Listed Weekly for Oct. 2nd, 2020
I cannot believe we’re already in October! A new month means a fresh playlist, but don’t worry: you can still listen to all your fave new suggestions from previous months on my Spotify page!
I had a pretty rough night last night (when I normally get a good head start listening to new releases), so today’s entry - especially the albums - might feel a bit rushed. That’s because it is. But this gives you a chance to listen to the albums along with me and let me know what you think! Also, there’s some goooood singles this week, so let’s GO!
Here are my highlights from today’s New Music Friday:
Jeanie - Jim-E Stack & Bon Iver
It seems like Justin Vernon of Bon Iver can do no wrong in 2020. I’m digging everything, and this collab with Jim-E Stack (who I love from his work with Empress Of) is no exception.
Come Over - Jorja Smith feat. Popcorn
This collaboration between one of my favourite Brit singers and dancehall producers is exactly what I hoped such a collaboration would sound like.
Salt Licorice - Jónsi feat. Robyn
And this is exactly as weird as one might expect from Sigur Ros’ lead singer collaborating Swedish pop goddess Robyn. I was pleasantly surprised at how great their voices sounded together, and just wished the instrumentation was a little less frenetic to allow them to shine.
1,000,000 X Better - Griff & Honne
Not to be confused with the rapper by the same name, Griff is an upcoming pop star who I am very excited about. And this song is one of the reasons why.
Bet You Wanna - BLACKPINK feat. Cardi B
K-Pop girl group BLACKPINK released their debut studio album (cleverly titled The Album), and I’m only a little embarrassed about how much I like this Cardi B-assisted track. My favourite lyric is definitely “give me an all night hug, I bet you wanna.”
Inhale - Bryson Tiller
Bryson Tiller just released an album today as well, and A N N I V E R S A R Y is definitely worth a listen if you’re into those R&B slow jams. This song is brilliant, built on 2 samples from one of the best soundtracks of all time, Waiting to Exhale (instrumentals of Mary J Blige’s “Not Gon’ Cry” and vocals from SWV’s “All Night Long”). Maybe it’s partly my 90s upbringing, but I was a fan from the first second.
Not Another Love Song - Ella Mai
The only person who said I can only share 6 songs each blog was me, so I’m breaking my own rules because, well, Ella Mai.
The Rarities - Mariah Carey
This was the one and only no-brainer for this week, as I’ve been waiting to listen to Mariah Carey’s deep cuts on The Rarities ever since it was promoted in the summer, along with her recently released memoir The Meaning of Mariah Carey.
I’ll be honest and say that I haven’t had the chance to dive into this, and probably for a lot of official Lambs (the name of true, die-hard Mariah fan/stans), there aren’t many surprises. Correct me if I’m wrong, Chia? ;) But for folks like me, who recognize Mimi for the legend that she is, and are happy for the nostalgia that her voice brings, but don’t follow every little thing she does, I can tell already this is going to be a treat!
The album is broken into two volumes; the first is unreleased tracks (I especially appreciate that its tracklist is in chronological order), and the second is basically a live recording of her show at the Tokyo Dome in 1996, arguably the peak of her career … or at least the first peak of her career.
All Love Everything - Aloe Blacc
Aloe Blacc’s first non-Christmas release in 7 years is much better than I was expecting. On first listen, All Love Everything caught my attention constantly. The opener, “Family” is like a thesis statement, letting us know that this is an upbeat album about (and dedicated to) the people that Aloe loves the most.
“My Way” was released as a single back in June, and it never stood out to me, but now hearing it in the context of the album, I’m enjoying it much more.
A couple of my other highlights are back-to-back in the middle of the album; “Nothing Left But You” and “Glory Days” carry pretty much the same sentiment of “that one person” - the one that it all comes down to. I think Aloe shines when he tells a story, as in the first track, which I mentioned above, and the last track, “Harvard,”a light, guitar-picked, strings-assisted gem that marries soul-pop with country in an authentic way that feels very Aloe Blacc.