Even if I'm dying they'll still try to stop me
2023 Mix 23: Anti-Dobbs Demi, Killer Mike gets Andre 3K in the studio, Pharrell goes gospel, Corrine Bailey Rae rocks out, and I live vicariously through Stormzy's archery wounds
Each week I skim through about 2,000 songs mostly from Spotify's company-curated New Music Friday playlists. Whenever I find 80 minutes worth of music I like, I make a CD-length mix and write a newsletter about it.
What’s the opposite of a rain delay? That’s what this is! We are currently getting rained out of an estimated 50% of family vacation activities so the kids are watching lots of TV: the old-school kind where you have to (gasp) leave it on one channel and hope something good is on, which they seem to be enjoying more than streaming. “We’re watching TV the ancient way!”
Meanwhile I have managed to make a mix—and it’s a good ‘un, I think, but minimal commentary as I cannot fully abandon my family for my fickle mistress The Internet. Only partially, per yoozhe. Enjoy!
Mix 1 // Mix 2 // Mix 3 // Mix 4 // Mix 5 // Mix 6 // Mix 7 // Mix 8 // Mix 9 // Mix 10 // Mix 11 // Mix 12 // Mix 13 // Mix 14 // Mix 15 // Mix 16 // Mix 17 // Mix 18 // Mix 19 // Mix 20 // Mix 21 // Mix 22
MIX 23: EVEN IF I’M DYING THEY’LL STILL TRY TO STOP ME
1. Killer Mike & Andre 3000 f. Future & Eryn Allen Kane: SCIENTISTS & ENGINEERS
A tour de force track from Killer Mike, who managed the dual impressive feats of getting Andre 3000 in the studio and making Future sound drop dead gorgeous.
2. Voices of Fire f. Pharrell Williams: JOY (Unspeakable)
Missed Pharrell’s documentary project from 2020, where he and his uncle, Bishop Ezekiel Williams, put together a gospel choir in his hometown in Virginia. As far as I can tell, this is the only official track from the project since 2021.
3. Ben Reilly: Let the Sample Work
Two from the Spotify Most Necessary playlist, usually a better bet for new rap than Rap Caviar. The first, appropriately, mostly gets by on its sample, but the second, “Rich Baby Mama,” is a minor marvel, equal parts hard and heartfelt.
And of course I couldn’t resist the transition from “Rich Baby Mama” to Demi Lovato’s post-Dobbs decision primal scream.
6. Corinne Bailey Rae: New York Transit Queen
Had to re-familiarize myself with Corinne Bailey Rae to confirm that she has never sounded anything like this (I think?) — handclap ‘n’ stomp rock that makes the most of its 90 seconds.
Stockholm producer with a Latin dance pop trifle, throws as many signifiers as he can at the wall and a bunch happen to stick.
8. Omar S & Desire: HARD TIMES
I’ve only followed Omar S lightly, and reluctantly since reading this post last year about his behavior in response to allegations of sexual assault against a fellow DJ. But this veers more pop than what I’m used to from him, and I can’t always control where my ears lead me. (Although I was successfully able to run taste interference on the new CeeLo Green song, which mercifully didn’t make it past my shortlist.)
9. Stormzy f. Fredo: Toxic Trait
Fun one from Stormzy, who in the music video gets to do all those fun archery activities I missed this week.
10. Jungle f. Channel Tres: I’ve Been in Love
Channel Tres is a frustrating artist, maybe has the highest ratio of songs I really want to like but ultimately don’t. I pause on almost everything he puts out and rarely bite — not sure why this one did it for me.
11. QUBIT: G.A.D.
12. ano: スマイルあげない [Sumairu agenai]
Two J-pop numbers, the first unknown to me and the second a recent People’s Pop discovery whose title translates to “Don’t Smile” — tough bet!
13. Thabiso Lameslow: Majerina Mama
An artist from Polokwane, in Limpopo province. Another one where I’d like to know more about the music that informs it, starting to figure it out slowly (I missed previous recent eras of South African music and feel like I’m piecing it all together like a shitty detective.)
14. Theo Parrish f. Maurissa Rose: Spiral Staircase
Theo Parrish’s album was a big find in my 1998 deep dive, and Michelangelo Matos featured a long retrospective and some killer mixes back in September. This is from his album with Maurissa Rose.
Some kinda jammy, country-inflected hipster thing that winds up mostly sounding like the Rolling Stones — so much so that I’m surprised more recent stuff doesn’t sound quite like this, as far as I can tell?
16. Chief Adjuah: Xodokan Iko - Hu Na Ney
Neat interpolation of “Iko Iko” from jazz trumpeter formerly known as Christian Scott. For some reason puts me in mind of Neil Young’s expansive but spiritually faithful treatment of folk standards on his 2012 album Americana.
17. Pigeon: Trust
Spacey one from a People’s Pop fave for their song “Yagana,” UK group with a Guinean singer.
18. Село Близнюкиiв: Без слiв [Selo Blyznyukyiv: Bez sliv]
From what I can tell, this is the demo version of a more polished 2022 song from a Ukrainian band. This demo version is much better.
19. Far Caspian: Pet Architect
Mood-setting indie from Leeds and Chicago, respectively, break through the chaff this week. Bandcamps: Far Caspian and mattstranger.
21. Willie Nelson: You Left Me a Long, Long Time Ago
Promising track from an upcoming album of reimagined Willie Nelson classics. As pretty as the cover art is hideous.
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Oh, a quick archery update: they do not allow children as young as mine to handle bows and arrows, so I will be returning from vacation with fewer flesh wounds than expected. Talk about silver linings!
—Dave Moore (the other one)