MFMM April 2019
My 11 favorite songs from a packed month of music.
Hello! Welcome to my ever-late roundup of my favorite songs of last month. April was a really good month for releases, hopefully you feel the same way after hearing the tracks I’ve picked out.
As always, here is a Spotify playlist of this month’s songs to follow along with as you read:
Con Altura – Rosalía & J Balvin (feat. El Guincho)
Rosalía is on another level right now. After releasing the critically acclaimed El Mal Querer at the end of 2018, the Spanish singer-songwriter is back serving another hit with her now frequent collaborator and reggaeton superstar J Balvin.
The old-school reggaeton track infused with modern flamenco is going to be a staple at any Latin-themed bar this summer. “Con Altura,” produced by El Guincho (who also handles the hook) and featuring a sample from Canadian producer Frank Dukes, is an extended high energy flex session.
Rosalía and Balvin both deliver infectious verses about living fast and luxuriously.
“Vivo rápido y no tengo cura / Iré joven para la sepultura,” Rosalía sings, which translates to “I live fast and don’t have a cure / I’ll go to the grave young.” The Catalan singer’s lines are chock-full of references to artists that have heavily influenced both her and the Afro-Caribbean feel of the track.
Balvin’s verse oozes swag as he delivers bars about his most famous songs in his signature raspy voice.
The music video is such an enormous flex that it’s very worth contributing to 150 million views it already has.
Corpus Christi – Kevin Abstract
A lot has changed for Kevin Abstract since his last solo album. His boy band, Brockhampton, experienced a meteoric rise, releasing 4 albums in two years that enjoyed significant commercial success. Abstract’s newfound fame has come with some hitches.
“Corpus Christi” is an open and honest discussion of those downsides. Named after his hometown, the track touches on a few of the public, and private, controversies surrounding the artist.
This is the first time Abstract has openly addressed the departure of Ameer Vann from Brockhampton in May of 2018. The rapper was accused of sexual misconduct and kicked out of the group soon after. “I wonder if Ameer think about me, or what he think about me,” he asks, showing that despite Vann no longer being in the group, he is still an important part of the members’ lives.
Abstract also gives some interesting insight into the ephemeral nature of success, and what value one really gets out of it, when he raps “Sometimes I feel like all I'm gon’ have is my money / And my day one homies just gon' be left with their money.”
Brockhampton’s Romil Hemnani and indie-pop artist Jack Antonoff handle the production on “Corpus Christi.” Antonoff’s previous production credits include Taylor Swift, Lorde, and St. Vincent, and his influence is clear on the track’s stripped back, guitar-heavy production.
The long instrumental outro, punctuated by Abstract asking “why me?”, is a highlight with its lead piano and whirly synth.
Everybody Here Hates You – Courtney Barnett
Australian singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett’s first song of 2019 is out and called “Everybody Here Hates You.”
The anxiety is palpable on the track. Barnett discusses misguided efforts to address depression and apprehension of social interaction.
"I feel stupid, I feel useless, I feel insane," she sings to open the track. "I feel toothless, man you're ruthless, oh yeah / I go to Loving Hut, I get my hair cut, I feel the same / I feel putrid, I'm getting used to it, these days."
It’s an incredibly vulnerable look into the rock star’s personal life and an important criticism of how people can be dismissive of the mental health issues of others.
The track itself is an energetic indie rock tune with some catchy guitar riffs and a really full feel.
“PS. everybody here does not hate you. please reach out to somebody you trust or google your nearest mental health support lifeline if you need to talk to someone,” Barnett said in a press release.
Gorgeous – slowthai
Slowthai’s upcoming debut Nothing Great About Britain is one of my most anticipated grime projects of the year. The Northampton rapper’s stock has been quickly rising on the back of a well-received EP from last year and singles like “Gorgeous.”
The production here is really clean and laidback. The piano glides over the simple percussion, aided by some nostalgia-inducing vocal sampling, putting slowthai’s lyrics and delivery in the spotlight.
The track is an introspective look at his upbringing as the son of immigrants in northern England. He discusses his fame in his town, expectations set for him that he’s broken, and general delinquency.
The delivery sounds slow at first, but in reality slowthai is packing in tons of interesting rhyme schemes and evocative storytelling into his verses.
“Gorgeous” includes a long outro about he and his stepdad going to a Liverpool game that his stepdad hadn’t actually bought tickets to, slowthai’s frustration with the situation but also the acknowledgement of how his stepdad “built me up.”
houthi – billy woods & Kenny Segal
Time to put my backpack on real quick.
The ever elusive underground rap legend billy woods and L.A. producer Kenny Segal linked up this month for a new project, Hiding Places.
“houthi,” my favorite track on the album, has an inescapable feeling of dread. “Cut my shadow off with a dull knife / Whispered in its ear then sent it off into the night,” woods raps, a line that’s just as impactful to read as hear.
He also deals with his own, partially self-imposed, isolation when he raps “Corner of ya eye, the edge of the white / That's where I live, I'm set for life.”
At the end of the track, woods’ energy steadily crescendos when he discusses making detailed plans for success, escape, and connection, but still falling short.
Segal’s production is equally haunting. The disjointed flute melody is punctuated by beat breaks that accentuate woods’ most powerful bars and references.
N Side – Steve Lacy
Steve Lacy, best known for his role in The Internet, is releasing his first full length album in May. The singer and multi-instrumentalist’s 2017 debut Steve Lacy’s Demo hinted at a unique sound toeing the line between R&B and indie, and, if “N Side” is anything to go by, his new project will help realize that potential.
The track is built around Lacy’s dreamy guitar groove, while a simple automated-drum loop keeping the beat moving. The wiry synth line that comes in for a few seconds during the chorus is also really enjoyable.
Lacy’s soulful voice drifts languidly over the instrumentation as he wonders whether his partner is ready to take their relationship to the next level.
“N Side” also features a little voicemail, which I’m fairly sure people only leave these days in the hope of being featured as an interlude.
Numb – Men I Trust
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Men I Trust has one of the consistently high quality discographies of any band I know. The indie trio from Montreal is soon set to release their third album, Oncle Jazz, their first since lead singer Emma Proulx joined.
Men I Trust described “Numb” as their “new favorite song from the upcoming album” and I’m inclined to agree. The slow-paced track feels like a dream state, enveloping listeners. The cloudy synth melody and bass groove mesh beautifully, anchored by a simple hi-hat/snare combo.
Proulx’s velvety, forlorn vocals are easy to get lost in. “Numb is how I feel deep inside my soul,” she sings, floating just over the instrumental. “Need to feel that I am on the line / I’m sorry that I dragged you down my way.”
Ride – Lolo Zouaï
Lolo Zouaï is hard to categorize. It’d probably be safest to call the French-American singer a pop artist, but the influence of R&B and trap on her music is hard to ignore. Her debut album “Highs Highs to Lows Lows” is a unique blend of the genres. It’s also a unique blend of her upbringing – you’re unlikely to find music influenced by Algerian Raï and Too $hort elsewhere.
“Ride” is a song about female empowerment! It’s also uh, a song about being good at sex.
The sultry track is built on a swirling hip-hop beat with a lot of moving parts. The claps and 808s supercharge the plucked guitar melody and timpani that open the track. The production from Zouaï and frequent collaborator Stelios Phili gets to the next level when they use her voice as an instrument. Her soaring vocals are fused into the instrumentation to create a complex, full atmosphere.
The second verse is what really makes this track special. I cannot get over this effect on the first line of it, where Zouaï sings “I love the power” and then “when I’m on to-o-o-op” in a fluttery falsetto. Zouaï code-switching her adlibs into French to tie each line together is also a highlight.
This track is a certified banger, and has me really looking forward to what Zouaï does next.
Sellout – Rico Nasty & Kenny Beats
The mercurial Rico Nasty is back with her second album in as many years, and this might be her best. Working with her friend and frequent producer Kenny Beats, the DC rapper shows her full range on the tight 18-minute project.
“Sell Out” is Anger Management’s thesis. “The expression of anger is a form of rejuvenation,” Nasty raps at the beginning of the second verse. “I'm screaming inside of my head in hopes that I'm easing the pain.”
This is Nasty at her most honest, giving listeners a look into why her music is so fiery and powerful. Her aggressive rapping acts as a sort of healing, a confrontation of things under the surface that need to be let out. Nasty channels her anger into productive self-reflection, a twist on what the album’s title might lead you to expect.
She also offers her music as way for listeners to cope, mentioing the impact she’s already noticed on some of her fans. “Turned my emotions to something y'all could sing to,” Nasty raps. “Cause some of y'all have been through the same shit I've been through.”
Kenny holds his own here. The guitar loop is reminiscent of early 2000’s R&B and his signature 808s hit hard. Rap is lucky to have him back.
This Life – Vampire Weekend
It’s barely May and “This Life” is already the song of the summer.
After a 6-year hiatus, New York City based indie rock outfit Vampire Weekend has a new album out. The lengthy double album was preceded by six singles, of which “This Life” is my favorite.
The track talks about awareness of issues that can arise, specifically in a relationship, but not awareness that those issues can affect you. “Baby, I know pain is as natural as the rain / I just thought it didn't rain in California,” lead singer Ezra Koenig laments.
Koenig describes “cheating through this life and all its suffering” by avoiding the relationship issues he has now, before finally realizing his own role in the conflict.
One of my favorite musical friendships gets a big shout out on this track. The chorus (“You've been cheating on, cheating on me / I've been cheating on, cheating on you”) is lifted from “Tonight” by ILoveMakonnen and not a suggestion that Koenig is cheating on Rashida Jones.
The track itself is one of Vampire Weekend’s brightest and bounciest. The upbeat drums and handclaps keep the pace, while the twangy bass and guitar lines create a wonderfully lighthearted feel. Danielle Haim’s harmonies make the track just that much more cheerful.
Bonus: very worth checking out the live performance of “This Life” on Fallon because you get the hear all of Haim on vocals!
Twilight – Anderson .Paak
When Anderson .Paak released Oxnard late last year, one concern many had was that he leaned too far toward rap, sacrificing some of the funk and soul sound that made 2016’s Malibu so memorable. Just five months later, Paak quieted those concerns by releasing Ventura.
This new project has some incredible highlights, like Andre 3k’s feature on the opener and a powerful collab with the late Nate Dogg, but for me, “Twilight” stole the show.
It’s impossible not to bounce a little bit listening to this track. Paak recruited Pharrell to produce it, and he came through with a cut reminiscent of early The Neptunes. The horns and piano harmonies are remarkably bright, the pounding house-style bass drum keeps the track rolling, and the busy percussion is super lively.
“Twilight” is an ode to Paak’s wife, Jae Lin, who he has been married to since 2011. He talks about how she’s managed to keep him grounded throughout his ascent from homelessness to international stardom. “You're my twilight when it's awfully dark and I lost my way,” he belts out in the chorus. “Cause when my life feels off the mark, you put me back in place.”