October Goes Easy
Wassup Neuphorians!
In the spirit of changing things up, we have two different playlists for October (and because there was 5 weeks of new releases). Both are short- 11 songs. The first, Neuphoria Goes Easy is softer and less adventurous. The second, Neuphoria Goes Hard is more edgy.
The October Neuphorian voting challenge is to pick your favorite 4 songs in total out of both playlists. For expediency, if you want to focus your listening on just one of the playlists, go for it. Maybe you are “Easy” like Lionel Richie would say- or maybe you “Go hard in the paint” like Waka Flocka Flame?
In Music Chart news, the July through October Billboard Charts (which are slower to change than streaming charts as they include Radio Airplay) have been the most static ever. Only 7 new songs have breached the Billboard Top 10 over those three months- with April 22 Neuphoria winner, “Tipsy” by Shaboozey spending 14 straight weeks at #1. Maybe some of the October Neuphoria songs will break through the Sabrina Carpenter, Billie Eilish, Shaboozey hegemony.
A Neuphoria shoutout to aught’s, 90’s and 80’s megabands like the Smile (Radiohead reconstituted), the Hard Quartet (Pavement redux), the Cure, Alphaville, Duran Duran and the Horrors who had great releases, that didn’t make the Neuphoria October cut.
Now that Neuphoria is monthly, there is more time for you to suggest playlist songs. If there is a brand-new song that you think will be popular, or has an extraordinary global pop culture story, feel free to suggest them to me. Thanks to Paddybear for his suggestion that I included for October!
Happy listening!
Rod Wave, 25 (R&B)- Songs from Mr. Wave’s new LP dominated the streaming charts last week, comprising 18 of the top 20 Apple Music streamed songs. “25” was the #1 streamed song both in the US and Globally last week. Maybe you can relate to his lyric “I don’t really get along with my peers, Everything that they do, to me, is weird.”
Coldplay, All My Love (Pop)- While Coldplay’s new LP, “Moon Music” has received a lukewarm reception from critics for not taking chances and for Chris Martin’s celestial blatherings, I’ve been favorably surprised by it. While it was difficult to pick just one song from the LP, I’ve added “All My Love” due to its McCartney-esque piano chords and simple sentiment.
Jelly Roll, Winning Streak (Country/R&B)- Last week Jelly Roll (Jason DeFord) released his awaited LP, “Beautifully Broken”, which features “Winning Streak” as a single. Mr. Roll’s story is inspiring. He has overcome a family of addiction, a felony-ridden youth and relative anonymity from 2012 to 2022 as a face-tatted rapper turned country artist (sound familiar?) to win the CMA’s 2023 Best New Country Artist and his 2023 LP, “Whitsitt Chapel” hit #2 in the US.
“Winning Streak’s” poignant chorus speaks to DeFord “being so ashamed to be in this seat (in AA), till I met a man who was 20 years clean” who said “nobody walks through these doors on a winning streak”- to a powerful gospel-backed chorus.
Ari Lennox, Smoke (R&B)- Just released today, “Smoke” seems to have found a new platform to showcase Ms. Lennox’s preternatural talents and charisma…… Retro-soul. The video to “Smoke” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22NZRV39aVI ) demonstrates why “the other Ari"s soul and scintillating sex appeal may be a threat to respectable society.
Victoria Monet & Bryson Tiller, We Might Even Be Falling in Love (R&B)- Originally known as a Grammy-nominated songwriter for artists such as Arianna Grande, Chris Brown, Blackpink and Selena Gomez, Ms. Monet has now had 3 recent R&B Top 20 hits as a solo artist. This week, Sacramento’s Monet released an extended version of her 2023 hit LP “JAGUAR II”, including the new seductive slow jam “We Might Even Be Falling in Love”. Turn the lights down and the volume up.
Separately, Monet's extended "JAGUAR II" also includes the risque, sophisticatedly jazzy, but completely absurd, "Dickatnight", which is worth a listen. https://open.spotify.com/track/5WkxfbclYM5PeCtINl3qJV?si=Ag1wh6lxTyyk7m9zdz4sDA
The Weeknd & Playboi Carti, Timeless (Rap/R&B)- “Timeless” has been a smash hit, debuting in late September as the most streamed song in the US, now settling firmly in the Top 10. Released to positive reviews, Pitchfork described “Timeless” as “seamless and languid….cosmic lounge music”.
ROSALIA, Omega (featuring Ralphie Choo) (Latin)- Admittedly, I have a crush on Rosalia. My daughter delights at updating me on Rosalia’s latest paramour, knowing that whoever it is, I’ll respond without exception that “he doesn’t deserve her”. In my defense, she is truly exceptional being tagged as “a once-in-a-generation talent”, as the only student selected to study flamenco (singing, guitar and dancing) under the most prestigious flamenco teacher in Spain for several years, and then after her first flamenco album didn’t sell, pivoting to a unique variety of latin ballads, reggaeton, electronica, hip-hop, pop and flamenco, which has resulted in 11 Latin Grammy’s (and 24 nominations).
“Omega” is Rosalia’s latest single and features her breathless vocal and her signature flamenco-style melismas.
Gigi Perez, Sailor Song (Folk/Alternative)- While “Sailor Song” was released 2.5 months ago, I’m making an exception to include for October, since both Perez and the song have gone from utter obscurity to #7 and rising on the Global streaming charts, including #2 in the UK. On “Sailor Song”, both the production and the emotions are stripped naked, which has captivated fans.
Ella Langley, Weren’t For the Wind (Country)- While Neuphoria alum Langley just released her smash debut LP “Hungover” in August, she has already teased the November 2024 release of her extended LP “Still Hungover”, with the single “Weren’t For the Wind”. In “Weren’t For the Wind”, Langley feigns introspection about her history of leaving relationships, ultimately blaming the wind for that “tumbleweed in me”, in another traditional, yet clever lyric.
Morgan Wallen, Love Somebody (Country)- The reigning king of country music takes a sidestep into contemporary pop with “Love Somebody”, hoping to continue his streak of eight straight Top 10 singles, including “Last Night”, which spent 16 consecutive weeks at #1. Just released today, it just knocked Rod Wave's "25" off to be the #1 most streaming song. My hot take on “Love Somebody” is that it’s purdy dern catchy.
Lizzy McAlpine, Spring into Summer (Folk/Alternative)- Last week, Neuphorian alum McAlpine released an extended version of her July album “Older”, featuring “Spring into Summer”. In “Spring into Summer”, Lizzy lives with the tension of holding on to the past and the inevitability of the future, with a beautifully crafted bridge starting at 1:55.