Music I Liked: August 2023 (Al Green, Somi, Nine.i, Olivia Rodrigo, Sufjan Stevens, XG and More)

This post was delayed due to the greatest K-Pop songs ranking. September's round-up will come soon.

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Al Green - Perfect Day

A remake of the classic Lou Reed song by the legendary soul singer, Perfect Day is a wonderfully calming little song, acting as a time capsule to the '60s. Al Green's beautiful and soothing voice is fantastic for the melody.

ÁSDÍS - Angel Eyes

This little Icelandic synth-pop song has proven quite catchy. Asdis proves a strong vocalist on her official debut, but the real star of the show are the waterfall synths, guiding the song to a chorus that has aged surprisingly well over the month.

Daði Freyr - Moves To Make & Bitte

Bitte is honestly great, but Moves To Make is easily Dadi's best since 10 Years. His voice pummels over the glitzy early-noughts electronic production, sounding like a Nordic remake of an Animusic classic. The music video is also fantastic, and seeing a viral star actually talk about its mental damage is unsurprisingly, extremely impactful.

Everglow - Slay

One of the reasons I think I love Everglow which I rarely see anyone else talk about it is their harmonies. Minus Onda, none of Everglow's vocalists are anything spectacular, but when they sing together, they have a somewhat gritty, high-pitched harmony that sounds distinct from their individual voices. Their songwriters, at least historically, knew how to use it, and Slay is its best example since Dun Dun. The melody is nothing incredible, but competent production keeps you going till the "Na na na" comes in.

George Clanton - Ooh Rap I Ya (Song of the Month - For You, I Will)

I honestly have so much to say about this album I probably will devote a post to it later on. But yeah, this album is just a masterpiece from start to finish, even if you don't like vaporwave and shoegaze. It has a mature story to tell, and so accomplishes it.

Jeon Somi - Fast Forward

Much like, and perhaps more than, any other YG artist, Somi has spent the most time in the "YG dungeon," her last comeback was over one-and-a-half year ago. Thankfully, Fast Forward is her best, and it's not even close. The hooks are catchier, Teddy actually seems to have tried to give his instrumental drops personality once again, and more than anything, the song just comes together. Fast Forward is a perfect example of building expectations and delivering, perfectly translating western DJ EDM sounds for the Korean market.

Kalifarniya - Puerto Rico

Admittedly, this song is two months too old for this round-up, but I felt like talking about it. On one hand, as the biggest, post-COVID, post-Bloody January Qazaq hit, Kalifarniya's Puerto Rico is almost certainly going to influence the future of Qazaq music over the next few years. While I am worried about this potential direction, Puerto Rico is catchy. It may not be deep, but the melodies hit hard.

Kyle Gordon (DJ Crazy Times) - Planet of the Bass Ft. Ms. Biljana Electronica

If you love a catchy, late '90s Eurobeat, love to overread lyrics that want to be deep but lack 1st-grade English grammar, and a techno track parody that is both accurate as a tribute and mockery, then Planet of the Bass is for you. Minus a few lines that push it a little too far, I will love a catchy "women are my favorite guy" any time of day. The anthemic melody is the icing on the cake.

Nine.i - New Mind (Power Up - Song of the Month)

Initially, I was not nearly as sold on Nine.i's new EP, New Mind,  as everyone else was, but it slowly has grown into my favorite album of the month. It is six songs, with no skips in between. The Sweetune-produced single Turn It Off has proven an addictive blend of early 2010s' synths and youthful exuberance. The catchy "We fight, we fly, we freeze" has been living rent-free in my head for the past two weeks.

Beyond single Turn It Off, Power Up is one of the most addictive b-sides, capturing the youthful energy of Katy Perry and One Direction circa 2011. Not only am I nostalgic towards the sound, but they craft a great chorus with it. If one song is roommates with Turn It Off in my cerebrum, it's Power Up.

Hurt is the most emotionally effective song of New Mind, and boy, does that chorus hit hard. Yes, it isn't nearly as catchy or joyful as the previous two tracks, but damn, the angst and emotionally rage in the chorus makes Nine.i the successors of early 2010s pop and punk.

I love an emotional, nostalgic, little synth-laced mid-tempo, and Highschool Love is exactly that. There may be more daring and adventurous songs off the EP, but few feel more perfectly targeted for me, and fellow mid-tempo pop lovers. The bass is a great assist, as well.

Oliver Anthony - Rich Men North of Richmond

Rich Men North of Richmond has been criticized by some as far-right, but Anthony has clarified many times that he is criticizing both of America's political parties. Admittedly, some lines could use another draft or re-write. Nonetheless, when Rich Men works, it works. Anthony's voice is rugged and natural, and the first verse is an instant classic.

Olivia Rodrigo - Bad Idea Right?

The smartest thing Bad Idea Right? does is not try to project itself as a sequel to Vampire, as that is a difficult task, given that Vampire has slowly grown into one of my favorite pieces of the year. Instead, its just a fun little ditty through an unhealthy obsession, and Rodrigo has the charisma to pull it off.

StayC - Bubble

Between Bubble and Teddy Bear, it seems StayC and their producers in Black Eyed Pilesung are aiming to capture the early '10s EDM market, and they are doing a great job at that. Just like Teddy Bear, the verses are subservient to a chorus designed to get stuck in your head. It is not quite as addictive as Teddy Bear's refrain, but the verses are a little better.

Sufjan Stevens - So You Are Tired

Sufjan Stevens is perhaps the greatest folk-acoustic singer-songwriter of the 21st century, and So You Are Tired is the first single for his first vocal folk album since 2015's (incredible) Carrie and Lowell. Shocking literally no one, So You Are Tired is beautiful, showcasing the falling apart of love with the artistry only Sufjan could provide.

The Last Rockstars - Psycho Love

Given how much I love the four members involved with The Last Rockstars, I have not gone back to their debut as much as I wish. Psycho Love may change my perception. It isn't nearly as good as you'd expect Miyavi, Yoshiki, Hyde, and Sugizo, but that would mean an instant 12/10. Ignoring a build that goes on a little too long, there is little to complain about Psycho Love. Additionally, the emotive drama at the heart of the song is incredible. I just Yoshiki would take a little break for his health soon.

U-Know (Yunho) - Reality Show

As a massive TVXQ fan, Yunho's solo discography has always been a puzzle for me. On one hand, he has some excellent songs, including 2021's Need You Right Now, but the music has always been subservient to the videography Yunho was building. Reality Show is no exception, as it feels designed for the fantastic Nexus video, a must-watch for sure. The songs feel intrinsically tied to the story Yunho is trying to tell, and some of them are really good. Tarantino's whistle hook is really catchy, but it is both Spotlight and Vuja De that finally let us see Yunho's unique charm and ambition, both of which are surprisingly strong.

XG - TGIF

XG's Y2K-influenced, futuristic sound is a perfect example of the globalized musical industry of the post-Covid world. Based in Japan but with almost all their fans in the west, taking K-Pop inspiration but purposefully avoiding Korean marketing or the market. TGIF is probably my favorite from them so far. XG's members have the ability to perform cheesy lines with the conviction to make them work, somehow making "I'm so Tahiti hot and breezy, off the heezy, on the IG, YT, TT" work. The real draw, however, is the snazzy '90s house beat and the fancy MV.

Yard Act - Trench Coat Museum

I always love a fun little indie release, and that is what Yard Act bring. James Smith's sing-talk performance over lyrics that finds an analogy between trench coats and society's unwillingness to let go of the past. It's all kind of mind-bending, but loads of fun at the same time. Bonus points for the fun MV.

Image Source: Radio and Music