New Track Jukebox – 2/7/22
A jukebox themed weekly recap of notable new releases
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CONTRIBUTIONS FROM: John Peterson and Will Kirkpatrick
Add to Queue:
Throw Tkay Maidza on a good beat and the song is sure to go hard. Kyle Dion compliments her presence nicely as the pair sing over acoustic guitar and trap drums. – John Peterson
The penultimate track from Mitski’s latest release, Laurel Hell, is a stunning piano ballad bathed in reverb. I will admit, I’m not the biggest Mitski fan—her songwriting style vexes me—but “I Guess” reminds me of my favorite Mitski song, “A Horse Named Cold Air.” The sonic atmosphere is spectral with the loss of an important person but warm with the feelings of gratitude resulting from that person being in their life. – John Peterson
Honestly, Saba has just released one of the best hip hop albums of 2022. I mean the whole year. As I continue listening, I look forward to enjoying the range of emotions it offers, with nods to a variety of different genres. The second track on the album is brimming with positive energy, embracing indulgence in the wake of newfound success and uplifting listeners with its incredible beat. – John Peterson
Kamasi Washington continues to deliver beautiful modern jazz. He breathes a new life into the sound and keeps the roots of jazz alive. Kamasi surrounds himself with amazing musicians who aren’t overshadowed by his playing. – Will Kirkpatrick
As lead singer Isaac Wood takes his leave from Black Country, New Road—just two albums in—you can’t help but appreciate his insightful lyrics and heartfelt delivery. As the lush, waltz arrangement progresses, flutes dancing and piano gliding, he croons “good morning” to a codependent partner, and you sense all the comfort and anxiety that stems from it. – John Peterson
Up for Debate:
Another posthumous release from Juice WRLD, this one seems to be something that has been floating around SoundCloud for a while and is finally released officially. The direction Juice took this song is a welcome surprise and if he did not die so young his emo, pop-punk sound would fit well with the revival of the genre. – Will Kirkpatrick
Oliver Tree is kinda stupid, but this song is not as horrible as expected. Feels a bit like some Front Bottoms songs from my limited knowledge on the band. Not the worst song, but this doesn’t make me 100% write Oliver off. – Will Kirkpatrick
Adekunle Gold is bringing a fresh sound to RnB with a strong Afrobeats influence. The Nigerian singer’s voice is as smooth as they get, while the rhythms of his tracks infect you with their groove. His newest album is a step forward, but lacks an ambition that would propel him to the top of mainstream charts. – John Peterson
Get off the Aux:
Yeah, I don’t know if “I fell in love with an emo girl. All I want is an emo girl” really counts as a chorus. WILLOW’s willingness to be on this track indicates to me that her love for punk aesthetics is half-hearted. She brings a lot of energy, but can’t save the song from its formulaic and overdone production. – John Peterson
