Back to reality - summer is over for most of y’all. Classes are starting to shuffle back in session, the sun is starting to set a little earlier (if you squint… you can totally tell), and my 6 day sabbatical away from my work and a computer has come to an end. Escaping to Portland for a few days did the trick (re: helped me freakin' RELAX). While I’m up to my ears trying to catch up on my tasks at work, I can’t help but daydream about the next time we’ll get to experience rain and I can appropriately crawl back into a chunky knit sweater. Who’s with me?
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.
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“It Changes” - Amber Arcades | I want to curl up to Amber Arcades’ latest EP Cannonball. Every single track on it sounds like a lazy day at the beach with the sun kissing at the tip of your nose - although “It Changes” in particular toes the line with an off-kilter edge. I dug around the net to find out a bit more about Amber Arcades and discovered she’s a Dutch war crimes expert named Annelotte who scrounged up her savings to fund her first album. Her tunes sound a bit like a hi-fi recording of Broadcast (RIP Trish) meets Warpaint. Listen here
“Only In A Dream” - Doug Tuttle | As I stated in the opening notes: I am so desperate for summer to be over, y’all! I sound like a brat, but the sunshine and need for aircon will not quit! “Only In A Dream” sounds precisely like the last sips of summer - like nursing a scraped knee with your skateboard beside you as you’re say on a hilltop watching the sunset. Listen here
“Submersible” - Sivu | Speaking of wanting summer to be OVER: last week, Brand New’s Science Fiction put me in a MOOD. I’ve been starving for autumn after walking through the suburbs of Portland wearing a denim jacket as soon as the temperatures dipped below 60F after sunset. Sivu’s haunting opening track “Submersible” off his latest LP Sweet Sweet Silent is a theatrical, languid, and deeply personal tune that will lull you into a crisp, cloudy October morning. Listen here
“On My Mind” - Jorja Smith x Preditah | I don’t usually take a liking to UK Garage (with the exception of the king Craig David), but Jorja Smith can sell absolutely anything. While I don’t think “On My Mind” will be the crossover hit to make Jorja’s mark Stateside, it truly is a BOP. Get ready to bounce. Listen here
“Lost in the Mystery” - Shock Machine | One of my favorite bands in high school was Klaxons. I rinsed a dodgy rip of Myths of the Near Future for months before I was able to snag an import copy at a record shop. Ten years later, Klaxons are no more, but James Righton is (thankfully) still putting out new music. His latest project is Shock Machine, a sound forged in colorful psychedelic rock with a twist of bubbly 1960s pop riffs. The debut Shock Machine album came out today, and I present to you the fizzy, sweet “Lost in the Mystery” in hopes it’ll inspire you to give the full album a spin. Listen here
BONUS
If there is one album you consciously listen to this week, please make time for The War On Drugs’ A Deeper Understanding - absolute masterpiece Listen here
Katy Perry has a video out for “Swish Swish” - a clear call to Pop Art, the visuals are a desperate display of modern meme-itry (whoa @ my literary agency) and a time capsule of contemporary internet culture. Song still BANGS Watch here
Fergie still got it! Girl dropped two singles tonight - “You Already Know” feat. Nicki Minaj and “Hungry” feat. Rick Ross. The beat on “Hungry” is dope - it’s actually got me looking forward to her forthcoming album Double Dutchess. Go AWF, Gothtrap Stacy!!
Fifth Harmony have dropped their first album sans-Camila…. Album is smooth as hell. Highlight for me is “Sauced Up.” These girls did the damn thing. Bravo, ladies! Listen here
Lady Gaga is releasing a documentary on Netflix next month and I am very, very, very excited
Lil Uzi Vert album Luv Is Rage 2 Listen here
Buddy’s new EP Magnolia Listen here
A$AP Mob mixtape Cozy Tapes Vol. 2: Too Cozy Listen here
Last but certainly not least, DNCE have linked up with Rod Stewart to re-record Rod’s 1978 hit “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy” and tbh it could have been way, way funkier Listen here
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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!