First Impressions is our weekly chance to go head-to-head on the new tunes of the week. Each of the contributing writers reviews the track and then slaps a score out of 5 on it. This week Megan Thee Stallion, Mallrat, Cashmere Cat and more are up.
Megan Thee Stallion - Hot Girl Summer (Feat. Nicki Minaj & Ty Dolla $ign)
Carolina De La Piedra: Megan Thee Stallion is the woman of the moment and beyond! This song is a bop and will go off in the club! Nicki’s verse bangs! And I love watching their friendship evolve! More of this please 🙂 the only thing I’m mad about is that its currently winter in Australia and not Hot Girl summer! I also wanted more Megan and Nicki and less Ty Dolla $ign. 4
Sam Murphy: I didn’t expect capitalising on the viral ‘Hot Girl Summer’ sensation to sound this organic. This is the most commercial thing that Megan has dropped but she doesn’t lose any of her personality. The Ty hook is a great way to take into the pop world without going headfirst into it and Nicki is the perfect companion. Her verse tough and playful at the same time, proving once again the Nicki revival is happening. I don’t care if it’s Cash Shit or this, just give Megan a number one. 4.5
Katy Perry - Small Talk
Carolina: Ok I’m sorry I'm bored! 1
Sam: I love that Katy has just done a hard detour out of the experimental world of Witness back to straightforward pop. There’s something about this that sounds uninspired but it’s a bop nonetheless. Never Really Over is one of the pop songs of the year and while this chorus doesn’t quite hit its heights, the “blah blah blah” bridge gets it over the line. 3.5
Mallrat - Charlie
Carolina: This song is super cute and the video clip is even cuter! I’m trying to figure out whether she’s singing about a lost love or is it about her dog and her dogs name is Charlie? Either way it's cute and I like it! 3.5
Sam: I love how Mallrat’s songwriting ability has developed with age. She’s still essentially exploring the same subjects but her experiences have broadened and with that has become a fearlessness with what she reveals in her songs. This is her most personal drop to date and it’s delivered with such intimacy and delicacy. The simile at the end of her dog waiting for her to come home is exactly the sort of thing that sets her apart from the others. It’s a warm, vivid stroke of brilliance. 5
Brockhampton - If You Pray Right
Carolina: So dope!! These boys are so innovative and always find new ways of doing the damm thing! Each one of them brings something new to the track! I can not wait to see them live at FOMO2020. Also can not wait for their full album to drop! Sick sick sick!!! 5
Sam: This album is going to be good - I can tell there’s a hunger there - but they’re easing us slowly into it. Both this and I Been Born Again are slow burners, serving some of Brockhampton’s most minimal production to date. I dig the horns on here and the switch-up at the end, I just wish there was more to grab onto. 3.5
Montaigne - Love Might Be Found (Volcano)
Carolina: I’ve always loved Montaigne’s voice and she doesn't disappoint on this single! Love the violin sample as well! Her voice is amazing on this! 3
Sam: The Kate Bush inside her jumped out. This is a soaring, strange pop song that shows just how far Montaigne has come since her debut. She sounds glorious and the chorus on this is one of the best things she’s ever written. 4
Cashmere Cat - EMOTIONS
Carolina: I did find this a little boring but I can appreciate it! 2
Sam: The production on this is brilliant and it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. There’s a part of me though that can’t help but wish he didn’t pitch up Tove Styrke’s vocal and instead made it a fleshed-out pop song. 3.5
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