100 Gecs: “Stupid Horse”
Can it really have taken so many decades for someone to work out that 2-tone is the perfect soundtrack for watching horse racing (and then violently assaulting a losing jockey?) The purity of dumbness here exceeds even that of early Shady.
Kvelertak feat. Troy Sanders: “Crack of Doom”
A guest spot from Mastodon’s cornerstone doesn’t exactly clear up whether they’re the metal of rock bands or vice versa, but with a fake chorus before the real chorus and as many reminders of inevitable mortality as a 17th century Leiden vanitas painting, who cares? (A: Everyone on the Metallum forum.)
Gabby Barrett: “I Hope”
Not the Charlie Puth remix that fueled the song’s recent crossover (maybe if he didn’t wuss out and change the pronouns.) Emotional revenge with squalling minor key guitar and no body count—American Idol still has its uses.
Wand: “Airplane”
The loveliest thing is how the line swoops down each time Sofia Arreguin sings “on an airplane ride.” When she repeats “given time”, it feels like the song could go on forever; the band have the decency to keep it to nine minutes.
Madison Kozak: “First Last Name”
We haven’t had a good Good Dad country song in a bit, though maybe they’re more common in Canada (the songs, not the dads, although who knows.) Kozak’s does plenty of feminine-coded things—even the dishes—and even shows emotion once, setting up a classic first verse/bridge symmetry. Songwriting!
Sunflower Bean: “King of the Dudes”
The effortful rhythm lends this some charm, as Nick Kivien guitar finds a series of fetching accompaniments to Julia Cummings’s grunge thrift-shopping. Aqua seafoam shame!
Ab-Soul: “Dangerookipawaa Freestyle”
The frequently overlooked Black Hippy in unusually ebullient mood, putting on a straightforward demonstration of prowess against two contrasting beats. Might make one temporarily believe the “rawest rapper of the planet’s name is Herbert IV.”
Fiona Apple: “For Her”
Quite apart from that line, this surpasses “Hot Knife” both in sound design and how well the music fits the words. But really, that line, that vituperativeness.