Olivia Rodrigo, “Good 4 U”, 2021, USA
Some modern riot grrrl elements wrapped in the package of a Disney pop princess. It actually makes it kinda fun to revisit teenage heartbreak. (“Like a damn sociopath!”)
youtu.be/gNi_6U5Pm_o?...
Olivia Rodrigo, “Good 4 U”, 2021, USA
Some modern riot grrrl elements wrapped in the package of a Disney pop princess. It actually makes it kinda fun to revisit teenage heartbreak. (“Like a damn sociopath!”)
youtu.be/gNi_6U5Pm_o?...
Spiritual Cramp, “Herberts on Holiday”, 2023, US
Have you ever wondered what it would sound like if Ian Curtis fronted Franz Ferdinand and decided to write a 2-minute long mushy, sweet romantic pop song about his wife? Well here you go!
youtu.be/jQCpVroU0wU?...
Spiritual Cramp, “Herberts on Holiday”, 2023, US
Have you ever wondered what it would sound like if Ian Curtis fronted Franz Ferdinand and decided to write a 2-minute long mushy, sweet romantic pop song about his wife? Well here you go!
youtu.be/jQCpVroU0wU?...
Wolf Alice, “Bloom Baby Bloom”, 2025, UK
I love how versatile the singer is, at times sounding breathy and angelic and at times screaming and growling, all with great precision.
youtu.be/lBGcloF8LIY?...
Wolf Alice, “Bloom Baby Bloom”, 2025, UK
I love how versatile the singer is, at times sounding breathy and angelic and at times screaming and growling, all with great precision.
youtu.be/lBGcloF8LIY?...
Let’s Eat Grandma, “Happy New Year”, 2022, UK
Indie pop with a catchy hook, my favorite kind of music. Plus it’s a sweet celebration of best friendship with fireworks kicking in after the bridge, for a fun effect.
youtu.be/9R9qLldd7_U?...
Let’s Eat Grandma, “Happy New Year”, 2022, UK
Indie pop with a catchy hook, my favorite kind of music. Plus it’s a sweet celebration of best friendship with fireworks kicking in after the bridge, for a fun effect.
youtu.be/9R9qLldd7_U?...
CHVRCHES ft. Robert Smith, "How Not to Drown", 2021, UK
So many interesting elements here: CHVRCHES embracing a rock sound; Robert Smith quietly echoing the bold first verse in the last minute, drowned by guitars; & one of my favorite choruses of late.
youtu.be/7U_LhzgwJ4U?...
CHVRCHES ft. Robert Smith, "How Not to Drown", 2021, UK
So many interesting elements here: CHVRCHES embracing a rock sound; Robert Smith quietly echoing the bold first verse in the last minute, drowned by guitars; & one of my favorite choruses of late.
youtu.be/7U_LhzgwJ4U?...
Kendrick Lamar, “Not Like Us”, 2024, USA
Feud with a Pulitzer Prize winning rapper, suffer the consequences.
youtu.be/TvqpiUlMsB4?...
Kendrick Lamar, “Not Like Us”, 2024, USA
Feud with a Pulitzer Prize winning rapper, suffer the consequences.
youtu.be/TvqpiUlMsB4?...
Lady Gaga, “Abracadabra”, 2025, USA
Theatrical, weird, and wonderful.
youtu.be/vBynw9Isr28?...
Lady Gaga, “Abracadabra”, 2025, USA
Theatrical, weird, and wonderful.
youtu.be/vBynw9Isr28?...
Taylor Swift, “All Too Well (10 min)”, 2020
Think what you will about her new album; there’s no denying the hold “You kept me like a secret, but I kept you like an oath” had on Swifties in 2020.
youtu.be/sRxrwjOtIag?...
Taylor Swift, “All Too Well (10 min)”, 2020
Think what you will about her new album; there’s no denying the hold “You kept me like a secret, but I kept you like an oath” had on Swifties in 2020.
youtu.be/sRxrwjOtIag?...
Melenas, “Bang”, 2023, Spain
Some great indie pop from Spain. Fans of Stereolab should take a listen.
youtu.be/v7TC6QZODBM?...
Melenas, “Bang”, 2023, Spain
Some great indie pop from Spain. Fans of Stereolab should take a listen.
youtu.be/v7TC6QZODBM?...
Jessie Ware, "Please", 2021, UK
This sounds like something I my friends and I would have went wild for at a school dance in 1993, and I mean that in the most complimentary way possible.
youtu.be/-31FETutIr4?...
Jessie Ware, "Please", 2021, UK
This sounds like something I my friends and I would have went wild for at a school dance in 1993, and I mean that in the most complimentary way possible.
youtu.be/-31FETutIr4?...
Mitski, “Love Me More”, 2022, USA
There’s such desperation, so much wanting, it sounds like we’re listening to a confession. Raw emotion wrapped in a perfect 80s-pop-song package. What a song.
youtu.be/P4J3Z9xgjWQ?...
Mitski, “Love Me More”, 2022, USA
There’s such desperation, so much wanting, it sounds like we’re listening to a confession. Raw emotion wrapped in a perfect 80s-pop-song package. What a song.
youtu.be/P4J3Z9xgjWQ?...
Rosé and Bruno Mars, “Apt”, 2024
This song is just good fun.
youtu.be/ekr2nIex040?...
Rosé and Bruno Mars, “Apt”, 2024
This song is just good fun.
youtu.be/ekr2nIex040?...
Cate Le Bon, "Moderation", Wales, 2021
Her ethereal voice floats surreal lyrics over a cool bass groove:
"I get by pushing poets aside
'Cause they can't beat the Mother of Pearl
I quit the earth
I'm out of my mind
And the fruit of it all"
youtu.be/M6a7WeVYnSs?...
Cate Le Bon, "Moderation", Wales, 2021
Her ethereal voice floats surreal lyrics over a cool bass groove:
"I get by pushing poets aside
'Cause they can't beat the Mother of Pearl
I quit the earth
I'm out of my mind
And the fruit of it all"
youtu.be/M6a7WeVYnSs?...
Fiona Apple, "Shameika", 2020, USA
I'm normally drawn to Fiona Apple for her lyrics, but "Shameika" shows off what a talented musician and performer she is. That piano is played like a hurricane, and she absolutely rocks her vocal performance over it.
youtu.be/s4M8VqJkBWk?...
Fiona Apple, "Shameika", 2020, USA
I'm normally drawn to Fiona Apple for her lyrics, but "Shameika" shows off what a talented musician and performer she is. That piano is played like a hurricane, and she absolutely rocks her vocal performance over it.
youtu.be/s4M8VqJkBWk?...
Sabrina Carpenter, “Espresso”, 2024
A fun, frothy song of the summer. My favorite bit is the wordplay - seems frivolous but is so hard to do well!
“That’s that me espresso”
“Walked in and dream-came-trued it for ya”
“My give-a-fucks are on vacation”
youtu.be/eVli-tstM5E?...
Sabrina Carpenter, “Espresso”, 2024
A fun, frothy song of the summer. My favorite bit is the wordplay - seems frivolous but is so hard to do well!
“That’s that me espresso”
“Walked in and dream-came-trued it for ya”
“My give-a-fucks are on vacation”
youtu.be/eVli-tstM5E?...
Beabadoobee, “Beaches”, 2024, UK/Philippines
This one has such a warm nostalgic feel. Listening to it is like being wrapped in a warm blanket on a cold rainy day.
youtu.be/nNXSSfSmbao?...
Beabadoobee, “Beaches”, 2024, UK/Philippines
This one has such a warm nostalgic feel. Listening to it is like being wrapped in a warm blanket on a cold rainy day.
youtu.be/nNXSSfSmbao?...
SZA, “Kill Bill”, 2023, USA
Layers of soft dreamy vocals over a synthy, groovy beat. And wryly funny lyrics: I might kill my ex / Not the best idea / His new girlfriend’s next”.
youtu.be/MSRcC626prw?...
SZA, “Kill Bill”, 2023, USA
Layers of soft dreamy vocals over a synthy, groovy beat. And wryly funny lyrics: I might kill my ex / Not the best idea / His new girlfriend’s next”.
youtu.be/MSRcC626prw?...
Ariana Grande, “We Can’t Be Friends (wait for your love), 2024, USA
I don’t listen to a lot of Ariana, but I find myself singing this one in the car quite a lot. (It’s tough. Girl has some range!)
youtu.be/KNtJGQkC-WI?...
Ariana Grande, “We Can’t Be Friends (wait for your love), 2024, USA
I don’t listen to a lot of Ariana, but I find myself singing this one in the car quite a lot. (It’s tough. Girl has some range!)
youtu.be/KNtJGQkC-WI?...
Rema & Selena Gomez, “Calm Down”, 2022, Nigeria / USA
Both versions of this song are pretty great. But the remix featuring Selena Gomez has an extra layer of depth and richness to it. A well-deserved monster hit.
youtu.be/WcIcVapfqXw?...
Rema & Selena Gomez, “Calm Down”, 2022, Nigeria / USA
Both versions of this song are pretty great. But the remix featuring Selena Gomez has an extra layer of depth and richness to it. A well-deserved monster hit.
youtu.be/WcIcVapfqXw?...
Troye Sivan, “Rush”, 2023, Australia
It’s Saturday night, let’s party.
youtu.be/b53QJYP-lqY?...
Troye Sivan, “Rush”, 2023, Australia
It’s Saturday night, let’s party.
youtu.be/b53QJYP-lqY?...
Lorde, “Solar Power”, 2021, New Zealand
It’s November now and the weather has turned cold and windy. Time to put on my headphones, close my eyes, and turn the volume up on this day-at-the-beach-in-a-song.
youtu.be/wvsP_lzh2-8?...
Lorde, “Solar Power”, 2021, New Zealand
It’s November now and the weather has turned cold and windy. Time to put on my headphones, close my eyes, and turn the volume up on this day-at-the-beach-in-a-song.
youtu.be/wvsP_lzh2-8?...