Hey there Insighters! I hope all of you are doing your best to remain safe during lock down. I know that the past month hasn’t been the easiest time to exist. But as each day goes by, do the best you can to find something to show gratitude for. Trust me, it helps. Gratitude and music go a long way.

That said, today’s music post is another installment of Muse Clues! here on #FiveOnFridays.

And for those of you who may not be familiar with how ‘Muse Clues!’ works, here’s a brief overview.

Follow me on Twitter: @Introverted242

Yeah, that’s pretty much the gist of Muse Clues. I’ll give a brief backstory of how I discovered said songs, and as always give my depiction of each one, while ranking the entries from 5 to 1.

This week’s lineup is pretty incredible and I think these recent releases are really building the momentum we need in music right now. Amidst all that’s going on in our world, we’re in need of something to dance to, relate to, and heal to.

So without further ado, let the countdown begin!

[5]

Jamie xx – “Idontknow”

While catching up on my YouTube videos, I stumbled across Anthony Fantano’s Weekly Track Roundup segment and found this beauty listed among his best tracks of the week. Inquisitive, I gave it a listen. And the rest is history.

The song broods a hypnotic ambiance that’s spangled with these distorted “I don’t know[s]” that add a sense of wonder to the track. Dipping and pulsating background production prevent the track from being a snooze fest.

Normally, this is the part where I begin going in depth on the lyrics, while making mention of vocal arrangements, and so on.

However, with this release from English DJ and musician Jamie xx, all I can urge you to do is listen for yourself.

Genres: Electronic, Dance

[4]

Kid Cudi – “Leader Of The Delinquents”

One of my favorite YouTubers, Shawn Cee recently did a review of this track on his channel. And being the inquisitive soul I am, I watched and heard tidbits of the track. Immediately drawn to the droning production, I gave it a listen for myself. And here we are.

I think any avid listener of Kid Cudi knows that his humming is legendary. As Shawn pointed out, it adds a sense of divinity, as if some demi god is about to emerge from the sky and rain fury on the Earth. Further, it makes the track more cerebral as it draws more attention to his lyrics.

Similarly, “Leader Of The Delinquents” a song whose origins date back to 2012 channels a vintage Cudi. A time where his music consisted mostly of rap instead of the more melodic flows listeners have been getting as of late.

Lyrically, the song explores rough periods in Cudi’s life alongside the people and poor lifestyle choices that added fuel to the flame. “I’ve been trapped in my mind, I’ve been tryna escape/ Fame and loneliness, the recipe for disaster/ I can’t handle this shit, I’ma get plastered”, he admits bravely.

This line along with so many others delve deep into his constant battle with his mental health and how his paranoia tends to get the better of him. Also, hearing lyrics that stray from the typical Hip-Hop subject matter of sex, money, and murder is refreshing to say the least.

All in all, I’m interested to see what Kid Cudi brings next. Also, I think I’ll be led to explore more of his discography for myself.

Genre: Rap

[3]

Troye Sivan – “Take Yourself Home”

I remember my first time listening to this song like it was just the beginning of the month. And that’s because it was. “Take Yourself Home” was released on April 1st, 2020. It’s timing couldn’t be any more perfect as the song’s mannerisms mirror this reclusive period for humanity.

Additionally, Troye’s moody lyrics which juggle themes of depression, materialism, and homesickness evoke a sense of longing, which I can appreciate.

“I’m tired of the city, scream if you’re with me/ If I’m gonna die, let’s die somewhere pretty, ah, ah-ah“, he whines melodically alluding to how jaded he feels in Los Angeles and how he misses the visceral simplicity of home in Australia.

Adding to the poignancy of the track is the mellow keyboard, minimal drums, and somewhat haunting backing vocals. These elements all mesh well together giving the song a dystopian vibe. And the industrial-styled, instrumental outro? FIRE!

Truly this is one Troye’s best tracks to date and I’m anticipating what genius his next project will bear.

Genres: Pop, Electro-Pop, Industrial

[2] (fave new music)*

Rina Sawayama – “Comme des Garçons (Like the Boys)”

Having seen her garnering a lot of praise for her debut album ‘SAWAYAMA’ on Twitter, I decided to give Japanese/English artist Rina Sawayama a chance. And after experiencing her album, I must say, her music definitely lives up to the hype.

Before enjoying her record, I was sifting through a couple of its singles. The punchy, action-packed “XS” was first. Thereafter, I found myself even more captivated by the musical stylings of this here beauty. It’s early 2000’s vibe offers an empowering message amidst a very danceable production.

And what better than some Electro-Pop and rippling basslines to examine a social construct such as toxic masculinity? Indeed, “Like the Boys” finds Rina juxtaposing the idea of women having to use negative masculine tropes to appear confident to society, otherwise running the risk of being labelled a b*tch.

“Excuse my ego, can’t go incognito/ Every time you see me, it’s like winning big in Reno”, she purs slyly. Conversely, she delineates how that very label is used as a source of confidence in certain settings, the club for instance (hence the club-like atmosphere the song exudes).

Altogether, this track is bursting with oodles of replay value and is the perfect pick-me-up for whenever we may be feeling down about ourselves. It’s a sonic reminder that “You should never be ashamed to have it all”.

Genres: Pop, Dance-Pop, Electro-Pop

Honorable Mentions

  • Azealia Banks – “1-800-NU-CHECKS”
  • Drake – “Tootsie Slide”
  • Kelly Rowland – “Coffee”
  • Joji – “Gimme Love”
  • Sam Smith, Demi Lovato – “I’m Ready”

[1]* (fave new music)*

Fiona Apple – “I Want You To Love Me”

After an 8-year music hiatus, Fiona Apple re-emerges from her Venice Beach residence with an album that is simply phenomenal. Some tweeps (Twitter peeps) made mention of her return earlier this month. This led me to listen to her latest full-length LP, ‘Fetch the Bolt Cutters’.

Upon exploring this universe of makeshift instrumentation, piercingly relatable lyrics, and perfectly-imperfect vocal performances, I’m met with the album’s opener. “I Want You To Love Me” is a song Fiona wrote and performed some years ago with its meaning shifting from being about a particular lover to nobody quite a few times.

A jaunty casio and friendly bass introduce the track before Fiona appears almost mystically with her piano and raw, evocative vocals and lyrics. I found the entire second very relatable as it expresses how she has no fear of death itself and intends to make the most of her time here on Earth with the person she loves.

“And I know when I go/ All my particles disband and disperse/ And I’ll be back in the pulse/ And I know none of this will matter in the long run/ But I know a sound is still a sound around no one/ And while I’m in this body/ I want somebody to want/ And I want what I want and I want”, she muses in a raspy tone as the verse bleeds beautifully back into the chorus.

And might I say, the way she drags the “you[s]” throughout the hook is effective in expressing her sheer longing for this cosmic love. Also, the ending is amazing – a jittery, scattered jolt of passion and the unexpected Ultimately, this song is timeless and most importantly, felt.

Genre: Pop, Art Pop, Singer-Songwriter, Chamber Music

Did you enjoy today’s Muse Clues segment? Which songs from this list are your faves? Tweet me your thoughts @Introverted242  or leave me a comment below.

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