Welcome to my new series! This is the series where I take a look back on the month and pick my top and bottom 3 songs that came out. I am talking about January 2019, in which, as per usual, is pretty underwhelming. There have been a few good songs and quite a few bad songs, and I will be briefly touching on my 3 favorite and least favorite songs the month had to offer. Keep in mind that this is everything that I heard within the month. I might find a song that initially came out in January down the road that I end up loving or hating. This is all at the moment. Plus, I'm only talking about the singles that have been released. Sorry, but no deep cuts. I will list off my top three and then my bottom three, and then I will put a few honorable and dishonorable mentions at the very bottom. And then I will wait until the end of February to make another one of these. Without further ado, here is the first addition to "The Top and Bottom 3."
THE TOP 3
Genre: Dream Pop
Lana Del Rey has never really interested me as an artist with the exception of this song. I love a good piano ballad, and that's exactly what this is. The melody of the piano is simple, yet gorgeous, and there's a fantastic amount of subtlety to it. Lana Del Rey's voice shows amazing vulnerability and beauty, and the lyrics are captivating. They're personal, sad, and honest. It's one of those songs that stops you in your tracks. If she continues to make music as intimate and beautiful as this, then I'm all in.
Genre: Jazz Rap
I'm pretty sure this song came out December 31, 2018, but I'm going to count it anyways. I just recently listened to Noname's breakout hit Room 25, and "Song 31" is a great continuation of the jazzy and trippy sound she established on her album. The vocal swells that make up the melody are infectious, and the drums and backing instrumental help build the soundscape wonderfully. Noname has amazing flow and her lyrics are very clever. The hook is odd, but it works with the strange, almost intentionally off-putting music. It's a strange little song that was probably a B-side to Room 25. If that's the case, then her B-side track is better than most rap songs. Seriously, listen to Noname. She's really good.
Genre: Emo Indie Rock
The emo genre rarely appeals to me. A lot of the genre sounds like whining with obnoxious musicianship. This song, however, is fantastic. The guitars sound beautiful, the instrumentation is intricate yet soothing, the use of strings is subtle yet effective, and the vocals are gorgeous. And while the lyrics may seem like typical angsty emo lyrics, they're actually quite profound. The song talks about growing up and the anxiety following it, and I found it touching. Plus, Hayley Williams of Paramore makes a guest appearance on this song, and the dynamic between her and the lead singer is great. While this song is emo, it's captivating and very pretty. I love it.
Honorable Mentions: "Harmony Hall" by Vampire Weekend, "Moderation" by Florence + The Machine, "Exits" by Foals, "Juice" by Lizzo
THE BOTTOM 3
Genre: Electronic
You want to hear a song that's trying way to hard to be cool? Well, here you go. The mixing is awful, with a way too sharp synth lead at the verses. The beat drop at the chorus is weak, the vocals are way too quiet and generic, and the lyrics are absolute garbage. It reminds me of "you should see me in a crown" by Billie Eilish, except worse. And I'm not even a fan of that song.
Genre: Folk Pop
As much as I appreciate the message, this song is a mess. It tries to be a mix of modern pop and folk, but it doesn't work. The way the synths and the banjos clash are unpleasant to listen to. The vocals don't do much for me and the hook sucks. The repetition of "I'm in over my head" is very annoying. I'm not too well versed on this band, but from what little I've heard, their other material is much better. This sounds way too poppy for my taste.
Genre: Trap
I think the best word I can use to describe this song is "awkward." The beat sounds super cheap and tacky. Blueface uses this gravelly voice that sounds downright absurd and cartoony, and he is constantly getting off the beat as he raps. The chorus is a joke and the verses are stupid. I don't think I've heard a rapper sound this disjointed from an instrumental. Say what you want about rappers like Lil Pump, but at least he has instrumentals that suit his brand of rapping. For this song, it doesn't work at all.
Dishonorable Mentions: "Undecided" by Chris Brown, "7 Rings" by Ariana Grande, "Butterfly Doors" by Lil Pump
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