The Music Dispatch: September 18, 2021
Inside: Yebba, NCT, Lil Nas X, and the best Weeknd-back-when-he-imitated-MJ MJ impression from Majid Jordan
Welcome to The Music Dispatch! This is a newly christened weekly part of this Substack where I shortly review every new(-ish) release I listened to. Out every Saturday, or whenever I listened to everything I wanted to.
I’m Sure the Album Is Nice but I Have Not Listened to a NCT Album in Years and I’m Not About to Start Now So This Is Just a Review of the Lead Single
NCT – Sticker
In SM’s group roster, NCT like a musical science experiment wherein every single element of what makes a song – specifically, a Kpop song – is seen and treated by the producers as its own separate entity. (Why else would anyone include a Naruto flute this prominently? Even NCT knew this was made for them the moment they heard it) But if that’s so, songwriter Yoo Youngjin and producer DemJointz need to fully commit to it. DemJointz provided a solid hip hop beat, flourishing the strongest when Taeyong and Mark rap. Yoo Youngjin decided to write a Kpop song around that, especially noticeable in the prechoruses and whenever Jaehyun sings. The result is a maddeningly wonky almost-song that really needed DemJointz and Yoo Youngjin on the same page in order to come anywhere close to the heights of Kick It.
EPs and Albums
The album I have not listened to in time and will thus refrain from reviewing this week is Park Hyejin’s full length debut, Before I Die.
Lil Nas X – Montero
Lil Nas X builds on both the hip hop foundations and the rock influences that we’ve thus far heard on the 7 EP, but unlike that release, debut Montero is fully polished. Lil Nas X has a strong knack for hooks and almost every song is catchy here. There are two problems to this debut: one, the tracklisting makes songs like Industry Baby and Doja Cat feature Scoop both sound weaker than they really are, and overall this aspect could have been tinkered for a better and more coherent experience; and secondly, both vocal and rap performances oftentimes fall just slightly short of where they should be. Admirably, Lil Nas X tries, and this is a solid debut. My favorite song is Lost In The Citadel and album single That’s What I Want was absolutely worth the wait, extremely catchy song.
Maisie Peters – You Signed Up for This
This British singer-songwriter’s debut on Ed Sheeran’s label made me realize why I ditched radio pop, specifically the late 2000s all the way to the early 2010s, in favor of Kpop. This record harkens back to the whitest era of pop music possibly ever. Every turn you think You Signed Up for This will make, it does; Peters’ voice is grating; I quit six tracks in. I had a horrible time with this record. I, in fact, did not sign up for this.
Injury Reserve – By the Time I Get To Phoenix
Following their 2019 debut record, Arizona trio (now duo following the passing of Groggs last year) returns with a tumultuous, harrowing, gutwrenching fourth record with two very emotionally exhausted Richie and Groggs on the mic and an experimental sonic palette. It’s a difficult and often very sad listen, definitely not a record I’d recommend if you wouldn’t consider someone like Earl Sweatshirt’s output music you’d listen to by any stretch, but if you do and got forty minutes to spare, it is absolutely worth it. Top Picks For You is especially heartbreaking.
SUMIN & Slom – MINISERIES
This ten-track collaboration of R&B singers SUMIN and Slom finds them delivering sleek, futuristic rnb music that never quite fades into background music. I especially liked TRAP and though it was my first proper introduction to SUMIN, I really enjoyed this and will definitely be checking back to her older releases.
Yebba – Dawn
I’ve apparently missed this last week when it first came out. But what a stunning debut album of the Arizona native Yebba, a well-produced album predominantly dealing in some folk, but mostly soul and r’n’b the vein of Snoh Aalegra (but better) with a stunning, stunning vocal performance throughout. A$AP Rocky delivers a very solid rap verse that I haven’t heard from him since probably Potato Salad and Smino sounds at home in Louie Bag also. This is a record I will definitely go back to a lot – that’s not something I say for everything I listen to!
Singles
pinkpantheress is the future of pop music
When I first saw the music video to Just for Me, I thought UK-based singer pinkpantheress was a 00s artist that had somehow went under my radar. The aesthetics and low-quality video really do match that vibe! But I found out she is very much an artist of today and none of her songs really go over the 2 minute mark. Needless to say I think she’s the future of music and easily the best take on 00s vibe and sound that I’ve come across. Just for Me, Passion, and Break it Off are all amazing. I can’t wait for her debut.
Kehlani – Altar
The newest by r’n’b singer-songwriter Kehlani has a rock element in the production, almost veering to the territory of the singer-songwriter (while the first part of the second verse wouldn’t be out of place on a SZA song), shining most strongly in the chorus that I absolutely adore, and the drum sections throughout are heavenly. Her vocals are as beautiful as ever and this is a very good lead single. I can’t wait for upcoming record Blue Water Road.
Hatchie – This Enchanted
The last time I heard of Hatchie, debut Keepsake honestly sounded like all the songs blended together to one mush of a genre that was better elsewhere. This Enchanted, however, very much sounds like its own thing. The production is crisp here, almost nostalgic, and to hear shoegaze this clearly makes for a wonderful listening experience. One can only hope that her upcoming album sounds this way, because this is absolutely amazing.
Majid Jordan – Summer Rain
Synth-“vibes” duo Majid Jordan’s newest makes me so happy The Weeknd helms the synthpop 80s revival era that we’re in. This is a very good, very spirited track, a fantastic blend somewhere between 80s revival and nightdrive music that the duo has been doing since Hold On, We’re Going Home, and vocalist Majid Al Maskati oftentimes brings on his best Weeknd-back-when-he-imitated-MJ MJ impression. I hope the upcoming album sounds like this.
St. Vincent – The Nowhere Inn
I swear I heard this, and I have a scrobble of it proving me right, but I really don’t know what this sounded like. At all.
Taylor Swift – Wildest Dreams (Taylor’s Version)
This song didn’t really need the production update subduing where the original soared. I fear the time we get to 1989 in Swift’s reclamation project, because Taylor’s voice hasn’t significantly changed since 1989 and if she (or whoever) decides to subdue the frankly immaculate production then I’m simply going to listen to the original pirated, sorry.
Maybe there’s something in there that you’ll like! Or maybe there’s something you like that you want me to listen to, in which case, please let me know over at Twitter @theturkishrug, or, if you want something totally anonymous, you can try my Curiouscat!