Phoenix - J-Boy
With a name like 'Ti Amo', the sixth album from Parisian disco-rock band Phoenix is set to be a romantic affair, though there are shades of darkness in the colourful, glittering production since the band have been recording during turbulent political times. Lead single J-Boy exemplifies that, with lines like "kamikaze in a hopeless world" sung over a whirl of funk rhythms and cascading twinkles.
Katy Perry - Bon Appétit
KP has never been one for a subtle metaphor, but at least on Chained To The Rhythm there were hints at political activism. Here we just have a repetitive synth line with sexual innuendo force-fed into our ears. "Got me spread like a buffet," she sings, but this is more like one of those world buffet restaurants in Swindon or somewhere: bland, cold, greasy. You'll vomit it back up shortly after.
Kygo feat. Ellie Goulding - First Time
I'm not sure who needs who here more. Does Kygo need a big popstar feature to seem legit? Does Ellie Goulding need to stay relevant? Either way, Kygo is still trying to make tropical pop a thing, Goulding still sounds whiny, and this isn't the first time anyone has heard First Time. Basic bops not wanted.
Also, does Kygo's backwards logo annoy anyone else or is it just me?
Hailee Steinfeld - Most Girls
Speaking of basic, here's Hailee Steinfeld with another feminist-light track that not only fails to live up to breakthrough hit Love Myself but everything else in the charts at the moment.
Tove Styrke - Say My Name
The bouncing rhythms. The twanging guitar lines. The sassy lyrics. It's like a more fun and quirky remix of Lorde's Royals, adding bags of personality to the minimalist production. A+
Prince - Electric Intercourse
This sounds like an outtake from 'Purple Rain', because it's an outtake from 'Purple Rain'. With a name like Electric Intercourse, it's classic Prince but it's not hard to see why it didn't make the final album cut.
Allie X - Paper Love
Allie X may well be the most underrated popstar out there, delivering solid hits to alt-pop crowds. It might have the typical structure of most contemporary pop tracks (wordless chorus included), but she sidesteps banality with an infectious bassline, a pre-chorus of fun paper metaphors, and sprinkles of oriental confetti. This is solid gold.
Cashmere Cat feat. Ariana Grande - Quit
The last time these two worked together we got the 90s throwback pop of Be My Baby. With Quit from the producers new album '9', we have something more current sounding. Maybe that's the Sia-penned melody, the drop chorus or the tropical percussion, but this sensual, yearning mid-tempo jam hits all the right beats.
Fall Out Boy - Young And Menace
WHY DOES EVERY ROCK SONG AT THE MOMENT SOUND LIKE THE CHAINSMOKERS? PLEASE MAKE IT STOP.
Haim - Right Now
The "buzz track" status (technically it's not actually on NMF). The studio video showcasing their instrumental abilities (which are, incidentally, out of time). This all reeks of "authenticity" when what we all want from a new Haim track is a pop banger with guitars, harmonies and a dance routine. Right Now just doesn't go anywhere, the guitars and drums building towards emptiness. The actual single should be coming next week so let's hope it's the great track this had potential to be.
