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Kali Uchis, Isolation LP
A post-genre masterpiece that changes its moods like South Florida changes the weather. At one moment the sound is reminiscent of blissful 90s R&B (like a modern Mya), the next moment she sounds like a tropicalia singer fronting Suicide. Kali Uchis is mature, frank, captivating and really a whole mood of her own in the truest sense. Forget what I said about post-genre–this is really a Soul record through and through. Heavy Rotation: “Dead to Me,” “Just a Stranger,” “In My Dreams.”
Robyn, Honey LP
Future-forward, slick adult-pop. A minimalist deconstruction of everything that has come before–and a maximalist roadmap to the future sound of bop. “Beach2k20” contains hidden multitudes in its DNA which gradually reveal themselves (to those with ears that can perceive sacred sounds, anyway). Heavy Rotation: “Between the Lines,” “Ever Again,” “Honey.”
Janelle Monáe – Dirty Computer LP / Christine and the Queens – Chris LP
Two flawless future-retro albums that are as much about deconstructing identity as they are about channeling liberation funk energy. I can’t help but believe that Prince is looking down proudly on both of them. Heavy Rotation: “Crazy, Classic, Life,” “Django Jane,” “Americans” (Dirty Computer) || “Doesn’t Matter,” “Comme si,” “5 dollars” (Chris)
SOPHIE – OIL OF EVERY PEARL’S INSIDES LP
Sometimes I refer to it as Music for Spaceports, Volume 1, just because that is easier to say. I’ve read that ultra-enigma SOPHIE doesn’t care for the album as an art form, much like her frequent collaborator Charli XCX. Which is too bad, because they both excel at curating an album. There’s a mix of cavernous, otherworldly, subterranean sounds play out over more experimental tracks like “Is It Cold in the Water?” and “Pretending,” all of which require a bit of patience and curiosity in order to embrace them. But it is the shimmering, brilliant moments of avant-pop spectacle conjured up elsewhere that I find myself returning daily. “It’s Okay to Cry” is a gorgeous hymn of acceptance and grace; “Faceshopping” is a masterclass deconstructing the economics of social media. The album peaks with “Immaterial,” a liberation post-human dancefloor anthem that rejoices in the rejection of form, which is easily my favorite SOPHIE song since “Just Like We Never Said Goodbye.”
Charlie Puth – Voicenotes LP
A funky white boy does right by the genre (for once). Full of summery, California pop vibes and clean, lean songwriting that I’ve come to respect. Heavy Rotation: “LA Girls,” “Cups,” “Done For Me.”
Poppy – Am I Girl? LP
Problematic performance artist YouTuber delivers utterly delectable pop hooks over electro beats and crunchy alt guitars. I know it’s not cool to be down with Poppy and her Gary Numan e-girl schtick (especially in the wake of the allegations against her collaborator Titanic Sinclair by his former girlfriend/collaborator Mars Argo). But Am I a Girl? Sounds too much like Version 2.0 – era Garbage for me to resist! Heavy Rotation: “Time is Up,” “Hard Feelings,” “Am I A Girl?” and “Immature Couture” (non-album single)
Pale Waves – My Mind Makes Noises LP, All The Things I Never Said EP
I will forever make fun of Pale Waves for their over the top fashion goth image, but truthfully that weird art rock energy is sorely missing in the modern landscape. And it doesn’t hurt that they write exceptionally catchy tunes. Early singles “There’s A Honey” and “Television Romance” may have sounded like, but hard driving tunes like “Eighteen” and “Kiss” proved they could advance their craft. My favorite songs of theirs were on the early 2018 EP, annoying titled All the Things I Never Said. “The Tide” channels The Cure vibes with modern sleekness, and tribute to staying out all night on hipster dancefloors “Heavenly” is perhaps their finest moment to date. I can deal with the cheesy goth posturing so long as they continue to deliver solid guitar pop.
Cardi B – Invasion of Privacy LP
The cover art alone established that Bardi is here to be nothing short of an icon; opening number “Get Up 10” underlined that point in red ink. Heavy Rotation: “Get Up 10,” “Bickenhead,” “Be Careful,” “Best Life” “Ring”
Sofi Tukker – Treehouse LP
This charming duo brings a much-needed sense of downtown cool and art school attitude to commercial dance music. A smart, thoroughly enjoyable collection of the duo’s best singles. Heavy Rotation: “Fuck They,” “Benadryl,” “Baby I’m a Queen,” “Best Friend.”
Allie X – SuperSunset (EP)
Golden age Hollywood glamour channeled through vintage synthesizers and committed to a warped VHS cassette. Once derided as Gaga redux, singer-songwriter Allie X has evolved into her a strange identity of her own. Her avant-garde vision and extremely strong musicianship anchor the artistic integrity of this project. Her “analogue versions”–live versions recorded with a backing analog synth garage band–are excellent and underscore her talent, and the songwriting here is top notch (I particularly admire her lyricism). SuperSunset is a brief but excellent introduction this emerging iconoclast. Heavy Rotation: “Science,” “Girl of the Year,” “Little Things”
House of Feelings – New Lows LP
House of Feelings is a New York-based dance party, radio show and house band. There is a grand tradition in New York of punky bands that make dance music, and funky collective House of Feelings seem to be worthy inheritors of this mantle. This is a promising debut, and I’ll be adding their club night as a must-see on my NYC clubbing field trip I hope to take this spring (along with the instantly legendary Holy Mountain). Heavy Rotation: “Say Yeah,” “Touchscreen,” “Body”
ALMA – Heavy Rules EP
Alma is a Finnish cyber goth with neon yellow hair who was featured on Charli XCX’s Pop 2. Her 2017 singles “Dye My Hair,” “Karma” and “Chasing Highs” are all effing amazing as well. What more do you need to know? Heavy Rotation: “Fake Gucci,” “Legend”
Sigrid – Raw EP + Sucker Punch
Sigrid is the sweetest, purest creature in all of wild north. Her releases this year continued to showcase her knack for strong pop instincts and her infectious energy. Watching her perform live, it is clear she possesses an energetic sense of rhythm which she can barely contain. In this way, she reminds me of her fellow Scandinavian pop songstress, Robyn, and seems best poised to inherit the mantle of the queen of the cybernetic Teutonic bops. As I’ve stated before, I don’t make this claim lightly. Sigrid’s charisma translates into her music much in the same way that anyone who has observed Robyn live or in interviews knows is true of her music as well. Plus, her messages often extend beyond the joys of heteronormative romance so common to standard pop lyrics. For example, “High Five” is not just about that asshole who everyone kisses up to–it’s about feeling sorry for them because they don’t realize that they are inherently lonely because all of their relationships are transactional. Heavy Rotation: “Schedules,” “Sucker Punch,” “Focus,” “High Five.”
Best of the Rest of the New Class
Excellent bops from the rising class of international underground pop stars. These are some of the emerging artists I just didn’t have the time or space to write about:
- jesse saint john – WHAT DO U LIKE?
- Dorian Electra – Man to Man, Career Boy
- Lil Aaron feat Kim Petras – ANYMORE
- The Pom-Poms, The Pom-Poms EP
- Ayesha Erotica – Vacation Bible School
- Boy Sim – Solid Gold Clit (feat Pearl) and Take Me (feat Ayesha Erotica), Pink Noise LP
- MNEK – Girlfriend
- Graveyardguy – Final Girl (feat Slayyyter), Shock Treatment
- Saweetie – ICY GTL (feat Kehlani) – Bae Mix
- Terror Jr – Heaven Wasn’t Made For Me
- Betty Who – Just Thought You Should Know
- Ava Max – Sweet But Psycho
- Transviolet – Bad Intentions, Undo
- GIRLI – Day Month Second
- GFOTY – Boy Next Door
- Parquet Courts – Wide Awake (Club Mix)
- Colleen Green – I Wanna Be Ignored
- SSION – 1980-99 (feat Sky Ferreira + Patty Schemel), At Least the Sky is Blue (feat Ariel Pink)
- Kyunchi – Regina George (feat That Kid and Ayesha Erotica)
- Carly Rae Jepsen, “Party For One”
- Kate Nash – Life in Pink
- HOLYCHILD – Wishing You Away
- Kitten – I Did It!
- Years & Years – Palo Santo LP
**if you are an artist who prefers your name stylized in ALL CAPS and I did not do this, please forgive me and feel free to correct me by sending a note to thepetebeatshow@gmail.com