Despite some good stuff last week, I’ve just realised I haven’t really continued listening to any of it over the last few days. And actually there hasn’t been much so far this year that has had staying power for me: Dua, 5SOS, Torine and Dagny have all been repeated heavily, plus The Pussycat Dolls’ React (through that’s perhaps just through the virtue of it being the Pussycat Dolls).
But anyway, let’s see if any of this week’s Best Of hangs around. As ever, the rolling playlist is on Spotify here. And, in a rare wave of genius, I have rearranged it so the newer stuff is at the top!! How about that?!
Downhill From Here – Call Me Loop
I first became a Call Me Loop fan with 2018’s Cut And Run, and while she’s continued delivering the goods since, nothing had really matched it for me. Until now! Downhill From Here is a big pop bop with a magical hands-aloft chorus. I love the pre-chorus too, and the simplicity of the chant-a-long middle-8. Big tune.
Feel Me – Selena Gomez
An old offcut from the Revival era that was performed on tour but never released, Feel Me would actually have sounded fine on Rare as well – but now here it is in its own right. This could maybe have suited a faster tempo and more powerful vocal; but at this pace, Selena’s patented wispy delivery just about stops it feeling too sluggish.
Gone – Gracey
This has got a touch of the Charli XCXs about it, especially in the chorus when the vocals go all GONE GONE GONE, and I like it – Gracey has long felt like someone who deserves to have a little bit more of a spotlight on her, and hopefully this midtempo angstbanger will do the trick.
The Birthday Party – The 1975
I’m not sure the stuff we’ve heard from the upcoming new album is quite as exciting as what we were given ahead of A Brief Enquiry… a couple of years ago, but that’s not to say it’s not been good: The Birthday Party is luscious, and – as is the norm for this lot – the lyrics are clever and insightful.
Tequila – Jax Jones, Martin Solveig, Europa, RAYE
This is an easy chart-ready, radio-friendly, loudspeaker-baiting banger, and frankly if it helps get RAYE another hit so she can keep making stuff like Please Don’t Touch and Love Me Again, I’m all aboard!
Electric Angels 