• Benjamin Ingrosso and Purple Disco Machine feat. Nile Rodgers and Shenseea), Honey Boy (Dance)- The May 20 playlist winner, this dance earworm was quite a collaboration. Written and sung by the Swedish Benjamin Ingrosso, it was given a disco sheen by the German DJ, Purple Disco Machine and former leader of Chic, Nile Rodgers, with backing vocals from the Jamaican dancehall queen, Shenseea. 

• New Jeans, How Sweet (K-Pop)- Debuting at #1 in Asia, “How Sweet” is K-Pop megagroup, New Jeans’ newest release.  While partnering with New Jeans has proven to be a very profitable venture for many corporations, including LG whose New Jeans limited edition laptop sold out in 6 minutes, in my humble opinion, New Jeans is more than another K-pop sensation.  New Jeans’ greater depth is evidenced by “How Sweet” which features a late 80’s/early 90’s industrial drum machine beat and a soul/jazz-influenced melody.   

• underscores, My Guy- Corporate Shuffle (Alternative/Hyperpop)- underscores is a trans hyperpop artist from San Francisco and is a pseudonym of April Harper Grey, which is a pseudonym of Devon Karpf, a 2018 grad of the Urban High School, where our kids (April, class of ’16 and Sean, class of ’19) and many other Neuphorian families went.  Given that our daughter was the only April in the school and was a cool customer, I can’t help but wonder whether that had any influence on underscores’ choosing the name April………

Regardless of the Urban High connection, I would have included “My Guy” on this playlist, as there is a ton of buzz around this precociously catchy new single, including headlining Apple Music curator Zane Lowe’s podcast this week.  underscores’ last LP was named by The Atlantic, one of the Top 10 albums of 2023. 

• Bring Me the Horizon, YOUtopia (Metal)- Alright…… I know that metal isn’t Neuphorians’ bailiwick, so I’ve chosen the softest song from Bring the New Horizon’s (BMtW) new LP, “POST HUMAN: NeX GEn”.  For the uninitiated, BtNW is known, not only for their arbitrary use of the Shift Key, but also for having their last 2 albums chart at #1 in the UK and Australia.  This week, “POST HUMAN: NeX Gen” and “YOUtopia” debuted at #5 and #40, respectively in the UK.  Try to be open minded on this one….

• Billie Eilish, Birds of a Feather (Pop/Alternative)- Sometimes it takes time to sort out which songs from an LP have staying power.  This is evidenced by “Birds of a Feather”, which is now the world’s 4th most streamed song, eclipsing “Lunch”, Ms. Eilish’s first single from her most recent LP.  With an effortlessly poignant melody- and an understated accompaniment, FINNEAS and Billie may have crafted a pop classic.

• Twenty One Pilots, The Craving (single version) (Alternative)- Given that 21P’s last 3 albums have charted #1 or #2 in the English speaking world, yielding multiple Billboard and Grammy awards, their new LP “Clancy” is much awaited. While some critics believe that “Clancy” may not live up to the Columbus, OH band’s past acclaim, 21P’s newest single “The Craving” is an exception, featuring an uncharacteristic folk sound and catchy singalong melody.

• Zach Bryan, Pink Skies (Country)- While some Neuphorians are big fans of Bryan, including attending his Oakland Coliseum concert on Saturday, I’ll put this in the context for those less familiar.  Following his family tradition, Bryan served in the US Navy, until age 25 in 2021 and then exploded on both the Country and Pop scene in 2022, with his first LP debuting at #5 and his 2023 eponymous LP and single, “I Remember Everything” both being global #1’s. Like Bryan’s best material, “Pink Skies” tells a simple, yet eloquent Americana story that serves as a platform for Bryan’s strong, but singularly expressive voice. 

• Lola Young, Messy (Pop/Alternative)- “Messy” is the most recent single from the 23-year-old Brit Lola Young.  While most of us may not be able to relate to Lola’s schizoaffective disorder diagnosis, the lyrics to “Messy” are inherently relatable for self-analytical 20-somethings navigating the polarities and insecurities of post-COVID relationships. The slow, but catchy build of the chorus is a bonus.

• Sofia Reyes & Danny Lux, El 100 (Latin)- In “El 100”, which is moving up the Latin charts, the 20-year-old Lux laments in Spanish that his lover has already left 99 broken hearts, and his will likely be the 100th.  Sofia Reyes hails from Neuphorian Pedro S’s hometown of Monterrey, Mexico and Lux is 2nd generation Mexican from Palm Springs. 

• Victony & Asake, Stubborn (AfroBeats)- “Stubborn” is presently in the Top 5 in Africa is a collaboration between Nigerian hitmakers, Victony (the high voice) and Asake (the lower voice)- and tells a story in part English, part Yoruban of self-sufficiency through being “Stubborn”.

• Vince Staples, Black & Blue (Rap/R&B)- Fresh from the positive reviews from his Netflix absurdist dark comedy series, “The Vince Staples Show”, Staples has just released his 6th album, “Dark Times” also to critical acclaim.  For full disclosure, I’m a Staples fanboy since possibly my favorite rap LP ever is his brilliant “Summertime ‘06” and we are both from Long Beach, with many of his songs including references to familiar LBC matters.

Named as “The Consequence of Sound” best new song of the week, “Black & Blue”, mixes sharp social commentary on matters like Reaganomics impact on his neighborhood, with a catchy, but forlorn chorus with a backing Philly Soul sound.

• Machinedrum, featuring Tinashe, Zoom (Drum&Bass)- “Zoom” was featured on Apple Music’s New Music Daily and is from underrated US DJ Machinedrum’s recent “3FOR82” LP release.  “Zoom” features a subtle, but blistering Drum & Bass backing track with Tinashe’s soulful counterpoint soprano rising above.  “Zoom” was featured on Apple Music’s New Music Daily.

• Anti Up, The Weekend (Tech House)- While the UK’s Chris Lake and Chris Lorenzo are each considered top global DJ’s, they came together as a side project in 2019 as Anti Up as an outlet for their interest in harder house music.  Their new single “The Weekend” is a stripped down industrial banger- and was featured when Anti Up recently headlined the 2024 Coachella Saturday night dance stage.

• Koreless, Seven (Electronic/Ambient)- Apple Music’s description of Koreless is so good- that I’m just going to plagarize it.  “Welsh producer Koreless makes highly physical music…. building looped samples and chopped vocals into hypnotic rhythmic patterns.  Influenced by….. minimalist composers, such as Steve Reich, his music is intended to be artificial and process-based, yet express wide-screen emotions.”

I would recommended listening to his brand Koreless’ single, “Seven” with headphones….

Special callout to Neuphorian Paddybear who brought the new Orville Peck and Willie Nelson country duet “Cowboys are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other” to my attention.  While that song title may not be the most concise, it is surreally clever to hear the Red Headed Stranger sing “Cowboys are frequently secretly fond of each other.  What did you think all them saddles and boots were about?”

Also, forgive me for not including Eminem’s new hit song “Houdini”, but I’m not much of a fan.

Happy listening!  

D