What a WHIRLWIND few weeks it’s been. This time NEXT week, I will be enjoying a box full of Voodoo Donuts LIVE FROM PORTLAND, OR! One of my best college friends is (finally) getting married, and I wouldn’t miss it for the world.
I’ve spent most of my week obsessively listening to Aphex Twin to help keep my brain focused on getting as many things done before I’m reunited with the Pacific Northwest. Between every loop of “Xtal” and “Avril 14th,” I managed to track down 5 new tracks from emerging artists that I’m fairly certain you’re going to enjoy.
Please reach out to me via the handy dandy contact page on the cmd+f website, or on Twitter with your thoughts about any of the tracks I’ve selected this week. I love chatting about music. Let me in on your new favorite band; they’re looking for new fans, too.
As always, you know the drill: if you like what you hear, spread the cheer. Tell your friends about the songs you liked in this letter, but most importantly, let the artists know. There’s a good chance they’ll see your comments. Let them know how good their tunes are, and they’ll crank out even more magic.
P.S. If you would like to have this letter sent to your email every Friday, please head over to this link right here to subscribe to never miss a weekly roundup!
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“My Smile is Extinct” - Kane Strang | New. Favorite. Song. This is not an exaggeration. I strongly considered only put this song down five times in a row, as I knew nothing else I listened to this week could grab my attention well enough to listen to anything else! “My Smile is Extinct” is, mathematically, a perfect song. Clocking in just under 3 min 30 seconds, every segment is as memorable as the last, and you’ll be signing all the lyrics after the first few spins. “Kill me now/ I want to die/ I heard there’s a chance at an afterlife,” the chorus kicks off. The vocals are all delivered in a keen level of monotone that verges on suppressing every level of emotion to not go postal. This song is the Pringles of all songs - once you pop, can’t stop. Put this puppy on repeat, and after about 30 minutes you’ll forget when the last spin of the song started. I actually discovered New Zealand’s Kane Strang on YouTube of all places after craving a music video binge, and the title “My Smile is Extinct” got a chuckle out of me. The rest is history. Listen here
“Motion Sickness” - Phoebe Bridgers | Been really deep inside my feelings this month. “Motion Sickness” is a stunning, evocative lyrical painting. Each line paints a vivid narrative of restlessness and anxiety. Haven’t stumbled across a song I can high key relate to in terms of trying to absorb and metabolize my anxieties, relationships, environment… "I have emotional motion sickness / Somebody roll the windows down / There are no words in the English language / I could scream to drown you out." Also feel obligated to give a shout out to Phoebe for being a fellow Pasadena native! Really exciting to showcase someone this talented from my city. Listen here
“Mermaid” - Skott | If you’ve been going HAM on whole wheat with Lana’s Lust For Life LP and want to switch things up a bit, may I introduce you to Skott? Imagine Lana went a bit more Kate Bush than Stevie Knicks, and you’ve got “Mermaid.” The Swedish siren has also dropped an artful clip to help completely set the mood on this ballad. Listen here and Watch here
“Adrenaline” - BOSCO | My gut reaction to this song was “holy shit.” The frantic, haunting production at first had me thinking this was a SZA b-side until I noticed it was an entirely different artist. “Give me a reason to love you through the pain” - like, YES GIRL! Tell! Them!!! Absolute banger. Listen here
“That Much” - Buddy | While Kendrick Lamar has completely re-defined the Compton flow, Buddy has taken that vibe and wrapped it up in “That Much.” Back in May, I poked at Buddy’s lyrical content on his KAYTRANADA produced “World of Wonders” with a bit of an eyeroll, but warmed to it for that insatiable beat. Last month I got to experience Buddy live for the first time, and he surprised the hell out of me. I then later realized he’s been at this game for over 8 years and is only 23 years old. DAMN! Listen here
BONUS
Kesha’s highly anticipated first sans-Dr. Luke LP Rainbow is here. It’s got not one but TWO (high key) Beth Ditto-esque collabs with Eagles of Death Metal, and a fab duet with country legend Dolly Parton Listen here
Everyone’s fav punk goths turned neon wave shoegazers The Horrors are BACK with a new single [wails] “Something To Remember Me By”, and it’s a MASTERPIECE Listen here
For those reading who do not have TIDAL (which odds are approx. 97% of you), JAY-Z’s “Moonlight” video is now available for us plebs to experience on YouTube! Please talk to me on the side about this video especially, as the LEVELS of cultural commentary are just dying to be unpacked. SO, SO GOOD. Watch here
Allegedly the new Liam Gallagher tune “For What It’s Worth” is an open, public apology to “everyone,” but I’m sure now he’s especially sorry to his new pal A$AP Rocky whom he thought was actually named “Whatsapp Ricky.” Listen here
Rita Ora! Out here! Reminding everyone she a musique artiste! Swedish hit making producer Avicii may have quit performing live FOREVER, but he’s back in the studio and ready to crank out a whole new crop of earworms. Love this new lil bop called “Lonely Together,” T B Q H Listen here
World’s second more popular Albanian pop star Bebe Rexha has shared her All Your Fault: Pt. 2 EP. Highlight is club ready jam “(Not) The One” Listen here
New Fifth Harmony track “Angel” is gonna make LAPS on the airwaves; what a bop Listen here
Please head over to Emre’s Twitter Account for a link to the new Exit Kid music video for “Caesar” (because it wasn’t live by the time I sent this out, but you should be sure to take a peek - all previews look wild)
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If you’re interested in hearing what else I’ve been rinsing this month (aside from the tracks listed above), peep my personal August 2017 playlist. There I will be dumping in new (and occasionally throw back) tracks as the month carries on. You can dive into the cmd+f archive to hear what I’ve been listening to in previous months this year.
A(lmost a)ll of the tracks I’ve shared this week and past cmd+f newsletters are archived into a single playlist on Spotify for you to follow here. You’re welcome.
See you next week!