Play/Listed Weekly for Aug 14, 2020

I’m starting a new project! For the moment, I’m practicing sharing a few new songs and an album or two every week that have stood out to me from my New Music Friday listens. I’ll be adding the songs to an updated monthly playlist, with the newest (freshest) tracks on the top.

I’m a bit late this week as I spent Friday driving home from a vacation in the Okanagan. However, a 7-hour drive (with a delay due to an accident) gave me plenty of time to turn up the volume and give some new music a chance!

Here are my highlights from today’s New Music Friday:

1. Unbothered - Tori Kelly

   When I started listening to Tori Kelly’s new EP, Solitude, the strong start made me wonder if I’d have trouble picking one song, but once “Unbothered” began, there was no competition. This is the R&B tune I have been waiting for from Tori Kelly, and I will be adding it to my BBQ playlists for the rest of the summer.

2. tonight - Alaina Castillo

   Initially I was pretty stoked about this song. It has this really retro, disco vibe that was perfect to blast in the car while driving along a twisty highway on a sunny day. I don’t want to spoil this too much for you, but there’s a moment when Alaina starts talking, and depending on who you are, you might find it awkward. For example, my wife yelled out loud "WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO BE CUTE RIGHT NOW?” Anyway, it’s kind of like a skit in the song, and it’s weird, but I still like the song. I dunno, you decide?

3. My Power - CHIKA

   Yeeeaaah, I’m obsessed. As long as CHIKA keeps releasing music on Fridays, she’s going to be on my list. "My Power” does not disappoint, and this came on the same week that CHIKA was announced as a part of the 2020 XXL Freshman Class. I have’t been this excited for an artist’s come up since Lizzo!

4. Ultra Black - Nas & Hit-Boy

   I am pumped about this era of music that is all about celebrating blackness, and although as a white woman I am hardly qualified to say what’s a good example of a black anthem in music, I can say that this song hits hard while sounding really, really good. Also there a couple of great digs including one about Doja Cat, who I still haven’t decided how I feel about, but I’m here for Nas right now anyway.

5. CUT EM IN - Anderson .Paak & Rick Ross

   This is Hit-Boy’s week, since he also produced this Anderson .Paak and Rick Ross collaboration that is easily one of my favourite releases today. I’m much more partial to Anderson’s unique voice, I think he pairs well with Rick Ross’ deep, laid-back vocals on the third verse. Plus I love a song about paying dues to the people who were with us during the hard times. It’s like a “don’t forget the little guy” without sounding patronizing.

6. In Too Deep - Jacob Collier featuring Kiana Ledé

   I need to confess that I was initially planning to share Jacob Collier’s entire new album below, with several caveats about how I am not the biggest Jacob fan, but when he’s actually able to pull back and allow the featured artist to shine (like this one), magic can happen. But then I got home and read that his album is #1 on the R&B charts this week, and I feel deeply offended. It’s not an R&B album, and it’s not even a great album. “In Too Deep” is a fantastic track though, and Kiana Ledé is positively perfect on it. I could have used more of her, but I suppose it’s good that this song left me wanting.

BONUS TRACK: Be Free - J. Cole

J. Cole’s “Be Free” was a surprise single released back in 2014 after the murder of Michael Brown, so it’s not actually a new music for today, but it has been made available for streaming on most platforms today. I have regularly looked for this song to add to playlists or recommendations lists. It’s raw and powerful, and if you’ve never listened to this song, I highly recommend you stop whatever it is you’re doing and give this song 4 minutes of your attention.

I was surprised to see a follow up so soon to Burna Boy’s 2019 album, African Giant, but when Twice as Tall showed up in my recommendations, I quickly added it to my downloads for the drive. I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect album for keeping our spirits up while my wife and I were stuck in traffic.

Twice as Tall’s first track, “Level Up,” opens with a very unexpected sample of Pat Boone singing “Oh I’d have to be twice as tall to view better than I do,” before fading out and being overtaken by what we were hoping for. The song continues exploring the artist’s fears and self-doubt in the face of a quick rise to fame and celebrity since his feature on Beyoncé’s The Lion King: The Gift. But what could be more motivating than Diddy on the productions, and Sudanese legend, Youssou N’Dour, singing sweet encouragements throughout the hook.

Anyway, that’s just the first song. The there’s a perfect transition into the next track, “Alarm Clock,” and it just keeps satisfying all the way to the end. My other stand out moments are “Wonderful” (which I just realized has a music video!) and “Time Flies,” which features Kenyan afro-pop group, Sauti Sol, who I will now be following.

But for real, whether you’re stuck on the road long enough for its full 52:50 running time or not, I highly recommend checking out this fantastic gem of an album.

Sounds Like Me is just a 6-song EP, and I honestly wasn’t expecting to care much about it. I’m not a huge Jordin Sparks fan, and I can’t really name a song of hers beyond her big 2007 hit Chris Brown collab, “No Air”. But again, we had a lot of time to listen to music, and I remembered liking a single that came out a few weeks ago (which turned out to be the second song here, “Red Sangria”).

Listening to these 6 songs, I realized a few things: 1. Since famously being the youngest winner of American Idol it sounds like she’s done some growing up and into herself, and 2. The woman has pipes. If I have one complaint about this album, it’s that she doesn’t let the runs rip as much as she could.

I would say aside from the single, my highlights from this album are on either end, with the first track, “Unknown” giving unapologetic gospel, complete with organ. Then at the end of this EP, “Gimme More,” which links a poppy beat with the organ of the first track, pulling this short collection together.

It’s not perfect - one of the tracks feels a bit more like a demo than a finished arrangement - but I think it’s a solid toe-dip back into music, and[ if she can make a whole album with the confidence of the first couple of songs on Sounds Like Me, I think we might see a full revival of Jordin Sparks’ career.