May '24 Monthly Music Recap
As summer approaches, temperatures are not the only thing on the rise.
With fiery releases from well-known artists and underrated bangers from up-and-coming ones, May turned up the heat when it came to new music.
Billie Eilish hits hard with “THE DINER”
Watch Eilish premiere "THE DINER" at a pre-release listening party, filmed by Finneas, on YouTube.
Words cannot describe what I felt listening to Billie Eilish’s newest album, HIT ME HARD AND SOFT, for the first time. In the dark theater with Eilish’s masterful lyrics flashing on the big screen at a pre-release listening party, I struggled to pick my jaw up off the floor.
While the whole album is a showcase of the innovative production of Finneas, Eilish’s brother, and Eilish’s captivating songwriting and vocals, “THE DINER” particularly satisfied a sonic craving for me. The somewhat psychedelic instrumentals, reminiscent of Eilish’s 2019 record, WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP WHERE DO WE GO, underlie the twisted story of obsession through a stalker’s point of view. With lyrics like “I’m here around the clock / I’m waiting on your block / But please don’t call the cops / They’ll make me stop / And I just wanna talk,” Eilish dives deeper into her experience with stalkers in the past. Although “THE DINER” is my personal favorite on the record, the nine other tracks are incredible. From sapphic anthems like “LUNCH” to a matured version of a previously unreleased fan favorite with “BLUE,” HIT ME HARD AND SOFT is already soundtracking my summer.
Phoebe Go invites listeners to taste the bitter and the sweet in “Marmalade”
After an exciting couple of months touring with Briston Maroney and dropping singles, Australian artist Phoebe Go (born Phoebe Lou) released her debut album, Marmalade, this month. Packed with soothing vocals and down-to-earth yet catchy accompaniments, Marmalade is an example of a quintessential easy listening, indie summer record.
The title track, “Marmalade,” reflects the album’s overall exploration of the side effects of emotional manipulation in a relationship. Backed by a folksy guitar, Lou likens enjoying the bitter taste of marmalade to a loss of self identity: “Marmalade / My first mistake / Now I can make myself like / Anything I wanted to hate.” Other tracks like “Something You Were Trying” and “Leave” were the singles that introduced me to Lou and standout as the classic subdued upbeat indie songs on the album.
Listen to the official audio of "Sexy to Someone" on YouTube.
Clairo ushers in a new era with “Sexy to Someone”
As soon as I saw Claire Cottrill, known to most as Clairo, posing with her clarinet and flute on Instagram, my heart fluttered with the excitement, knowing it meant new music was on the way. After sharing cryptic countdowns and teasers, Cottrill finally announced her new album and released the lead single this month, and the wait was certainly worth it.
“Sexy to Someone,” track two from the upcoming album Charm, is the first look into a new, slightly jazzy sound from Cottrill. The song’s instrumentals are reminiscent of Carole King’s 70s piano-based pop sound — an artist that Cottrill has covered multiple times — and blend satisfyingly with Cottrill’s light and airy vocals. “Sexy to Someone” explores the yearning to achieve the modern entertainment industry’s beauty standards, with Cottrill singing “Sexy to someone, I think about it all / Checkin’ out of the hotel or moments at a bar / Ask if I’m in a movie, no, I didn’t get the part.” If the rest of Charm is anything like “Sexy to Someone,” I will be counting down the days to its July 12 release.
Alana Mars decides her fate with “Don’t Ask”
If you told me after listening to Alana Mars’s debut EP, The Prologue, that she has less than 300 monthly listeners on Spotify, I would have never believed you. The Denver-based indie artist delivered 6 tracks bursting with thoughtful production, head-bobbing instrumentals and illustrative lyrics this month.
Since my initial listen of the EP, prompted by a lovely OTR review, “Don’t Ask” has been the track I find myself coming back to most. Filled with tarot imagery and a mystifying minor sound, “Don’t Ask” explores the intense emotions that come with accepting your fate. What makes the track so impressive to me is the last minute and a half. The bridge, carried by a more rhythmic drum beat, leads into a powerful final chorus marked by a dramatic drop of accompaniment, letting Mars’s vocals shine before the instrumentals come back in stronger than ever to finish out the tune. With such a strong debut EP, I am excited to see what Mars has in store for the future and to have bragging rights of being an early fan when she inevitably becomes a success.
Staff Picks:
Sloane Johnson - “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” by Billie Eilish
Madison Avery - “Slaughterhouse 2” by Knocked Loose, Motionless in White and Chris Motionless
Suma Sesay - “misses” by Dominic Fike
Christina Ryan-Wilson - “Take a Bite” by beabadoobee
Dany Mireles - “Sorry Sorry” by Towa Bird
Cece Faulkner - “Good Time” by Cage The Elephant
Sarah Eiseman - “Tangerine” by Caity Krone
Seay Howell - “I Feel…” by Lightning Bug
Sarah Huynh - “Vol. 2” by The Plot In You
Sophia Calvo - “stabilise” by Nilüfer Yanya
Caroline McKenzie - “The Knocker” by Tiny Habits
Grace Moioli - “Starburned and Unkissed” by Caroline Polachek
June releases to look forward to:
6/7 - Below the Waste by Goat Girl
6/7 - What Happened To The Heart? by AURORA
6/7 - Forever by Bon Jovi
6/7 - Born in the Wild by Tems
6/14 - Scream from New York, NY by Been Stellar
6/21 - The Asylum Albums (1976-1980) by Joni Mitchell
6/21 - Seven Swans (Deluxe Edition) by Sufjan Steven
6/21 - The Secret of Us by Gracie Abrams
6/28 - God Said No by Omar Apollo
6/28 - American Hero by Towa Bird