Jessie’s Weekly Listen - 07/01/15

(Okay, so it seems as though the title for this series has stuck...)

Welcome back to my weekly song reviews in this little corner of the internet! These past few days have been fantastic for new music - it's clearly a 'back to school' September feel, with motivation and a fresh start in the air for all of these artists! I've been particularly pleased to find so many female singers releasing new songs recently. So, without further ado, here are my tracks of the week, in a handy Spotify playlist to boot!

Lauren Aquilina - Oceans

Lauren Aquilina’s legion of hardcore fans have been waiting for this moment for about eighteen months - new music from this phenomenal singer-songwriter. And my, she does not disappoint. The chorus is my favourite chorus of the year: ‘They call it freedom, how can it be, when we all follow patterns and live on repeat’. This song will certainly be on repeat, I don’t know about anything else. The instrumental keys build up is so atmospheric and sheer bliss to listen to, blending with Lauren’s supreme vocals perfectly. I simply haven’t got enough praise to give. I had the pleasure of meeting Lauren at an intimate performance she gave at Bristol last year, where she performed another new song - so let me just say, she keeps it up. Following on from her three major breakout EPs, Fools, Liars and Sinners, the Ocean EP is set to be a cracker too. Go pre-order it here (and check her out on tour in October if you can).

For fans of: Gabrielle Aplin, Birdy

Natasha Negovanlis - 27

The husky-voiced star of the webseries ‘Carmilla’ (which has practically the whole of tumblr hot under the collar) has unexpectedly released some demos on Bandcamp, leading to a flurry of excitement from her fans. This song’s title and many of the lyrics heartbreakingly reference the ’27 Club’ of artists who have died at the tender young age of 27, like Kurt Cobain and Jimi Hendrix - and Natasha’s style definitely feels older than her time, going back to the musical styles of these memorable musicians. There’s an almost otherworldly quality to it, as the opening music creates a soothing undertone for Natasha’s voice to build smoothly into something much darker. This song isn’t on Spotify but if you want to take a listen head to vanlis.bandcamp.com (and whilst you’re at it have a listen to ‘Nothing’, too).

For fans of: Waxahatchee, Lissie

Troye Sivan - WILD

Take it from me and the bajillion of music magazines out there: Troye Sivan is THE one to watch. The singer-songwriter and YouTube sensation has just released his second label EP and it's a corker. The lead single 'Wild' is his classic electro-pop fusion, and the echoic 'Wii-iii-ild' puts me into a trance every time I hear it (I should probably see someone about that...). Check out my review of the whole EP here. 

For fans of: As I said in my last review, he's too unique to truly be compared to anyone!

Troye Sivan

Photograph: Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons

Bully - Trying

This Nashville band’s USP is definitely the sheer honesty of the lyrics in practically every single one of their songs on their debut album, ‘Feels Like’ - it’s as though they’re talking to you from the depths of their soul. This introspection is particularly evident in this song, with lead singer Alicia Bognanno expressing thoughts like wishing for her period and questioning her sexuality early on in the track. The husky, gravelly quality of her voice on the word ‘Trying’ in this chorus adds significantly to its rawness, building from softer tones to a harsher edge that gives it a distinctly 90s grunge feel. As frustrating as the band has suggested it is when people continuously compare them to Nirvana, it’s hard not to hear the Courtney Love edge in their music. It’s nice to hear a comeback of this kind of music, as it’s something that the music scene has been sorely missing.

For fans of: The Pretty Reckless, Joan Jett

Oh Wonder - Technicolour Beat 

This South-East London band have just released their self-titled debut, after having already released each song on the album through Soundcloud over the last year (one song a month). This song encapsulates their musical talent, and it’s refreshing to hear a duo who’s voices merge together so pleasingly. They are quite samey, with each of their songs often sounding like a variation of the next, but when each song is so pleasing on the ear you can’t really complain! They know where their talent lies and they stick to it, with their emotive, soft, haunting voices blended over a sweet but powerful instrumental. 

For fans of: the xx, London Grammar

Eliza and the Bear - Lion’s Heart

The Essex five-piece are firmly making their mark on the music industry with their brand of alt-rock. This tune has lyrics set to instill courage in even the most cowardly of lions, and the folk-like vocal quality of lead singer James Kellegher merged with the indie guitar instrumental creates a truly euphoric single. It's nice to hear a band that's so cheery too, in the doomsday world of music we live in. Their debut album has been produced by Kings of Leon producer Jacquire King, and is set to drop in February - and I for one can’t wait. For now, you can see them on tour in October.

For fans of: American Authors, Imagine Dragons

Against Me!

Photograph: Eddie Berthier via Wikimedia Commons

Against Me! - True Trans Soul Rebel

The '23 Live Sex Acts' live album has only gone further to prove what we already know - Laura Jane Grace is a punk rock legend. Live albums can often fall flat, revealing the poorer quality of vocals when away from the autotune, but this album is just stunning - different enough from the band’s regular albums to make it worthwhile but still capturing the spirit of Against Me!. And THIS SONG. As Laura croons the almightily powerful lyrics ‘You should have been a mother, should have been a wife, you should have been gone from here years ago, should have been living a different life’, drawing on her own experiences as a transgender woman, the cheer that rockets up in the seconds of pause afterwards says it all. Laura’s final response sums it up: ‘Is everything cool? It’s all cool?’. Yes, it’s all cool - how can it not be with bands like Against Me! in the world? 

For fans of: NOFX, The Bouncing Souls

Courtney Barnett - Nobody Really Cares If You Don’t Go To The Party

I've been a fan of Courtney Barnett since she was previewed as 'one to watch' by Amazon in 2014. In the (nearly) two years that have passed, she's released an album full of the quirky, talky, angsty songs we know and love her for, in the form of 'Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit' (the album title says it all). There is no-one in music who is quite as lyrically kooky as she. In this song she states 'I wear my heart on my sleeve', and that's exactly what she does in all of her lyrics. She's someone you have to listen to to 'get', and that's what I recommend you do RIGHT. NOW.

For fans of: Angel Olsen, Waxahatchee

Foxes - Better Love

Bastille’s Dan Smith lent a hand on this song, and his harmonies are certainly powerful against Foxes’ (Louise Rose Allen) spellbinding vocals. This is definitely the kind of song you can unabashedly belt out in the shower, with tuneful instrumentals building into ballsy climaxes, as she constantly pleads for what we all deserve: 'Show me love, better love’. She will be touring in the autumn, and I definitely suggest that you go and hear her live!

For fans of: Charli XCX, Jessie Ware

Demi Lovato
Photograph: Neon Tommy via Wikimedia Commons

Demi Lovato - Cool For The Summer

Now, I am in two minds about this song. I absolutely adore the purportedly bi-curious, sexy lyrics and the summery offbeat electro tune, but the title gets under my skin and bothers me somewhat, for reasons I will leave to the reader's imagination. But one thing is for certain. It’s too damn catchy to not love it. Musically, Demi has it in the bag. The beat tugs at you until you just have to dance to it. And Demi sensually crooning 'don't be scared 'cos I'm your body tyyyyyype' has to be one of the hottest things I've ever heard. As is 'got a taste for the cherry I just need to take a biiiiiiite'. I think I have a thing for prolonged vowel sounds. I found this article from The Guardian on the song and its implications super interesting too.

For fans of: Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez