Noots Letter: Mother May I?
May 2024
May brings about my favorite discourse: song of the summer. I wrote about the battle for the top slot last year, and I’m eager to explore more upcoming contenders in the next few weeks. Here are some early frontrunners:
The obvious choice, “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter, is inescapable. We are all singers who are working late (because we are singers) now.
“Nasty” by Tinashe is like how it feels to walk around with exposed legs for the first time all season.
Tommy Richman’s “Million Dollar Baby” is a classic online earworm/success story and will continue to be the featured background song of choice for all your favorite and least favorite influencers, so buckle up.
Billie Eilish, “Lunch”, a.k.a. Happy Pride month.
Metro Boomin, “BBL Drizzy”. This is the only comment I will be providing about The Beef, because it is stuck in my head every moment of every day.
“BAND4BAND” by Central Cee ft. Lil Baby just because I like this TikTok trend.
If you’re absolutely voracious for more-of-the-same summer bops…
As it was famously once said, Katy Perry was simply God’s vessel for “Teenage Dream”. Unfortunately this is how I feel about Dua Lipa. There is no doubt she is independently talented—great singer, dancer, conventionally hot—but Radical Optimism (2024) was beyond bland to me. Off the heels of 2021’s iconic discowave Future Nostalgia, I admittedly had high expectations and was let down. It’s fun, but it’s nothing we haven’t heard before.
Dula Peep, I’m sorry. But if you want another rising pop star to latch onto, I do endorse Norwegian hottie Astrid S, Joyride (2024).
If you want to know what albums scored 9s for me (I’m scared to label anything as 10 until the end of year)…
There were a record amount this month! Big win for Noots.
Jessica Pratt, Here in the Pitch (2024)
Ibibio Sound Machine, Pull the Rope (2024)
Hana Vu, Romanticism (2024)
Rachel Chinouriri, What A Devastating Turn Of Events (2024)
Original Off-Broadway Cast, The Lonely Few (2024) — this is only available in person at MCC Theatre through June 9 :-)
La Luz, News of the Universe (2024)
The Marías, Submarine (2024)
If you’re pro-nepotism…
I wish WILLOW’s celebrity didn’t run so deep because I really think empathogen (2024) is brilliant and we’d be all about her if she was a more indie artist. Kate Hudson really leaned into her roles as Penny Lane and that one scene in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days when she sings “You’re So Vain” and said I’m working late because I’M actually a *singer* now. The songs on Glorious (2024) are boring but she’s not bad at singing, I’ll give her that. Again, with both of these, are they talented or just rich?? Bit of a chicken/egg thing methinks.
While we’re on the topic, let’s just call a spade a spade and bring Billie Eilish into the mix. Considering all of the discourse over the years about her queerness, she has quite loudly confirmed this, from the rooftops one might even say, on HIT ME HARD AND SOFT (2024). Admittedly late to the Billie train, but really enjoyed the production and honesty on these tracks.
If you’re a dreamy jazz lover…
I was shown Eddie Barbash’s For Murray and Lillian (2021) on a sunny car ride upstate and nearly wept. I also listened to Andrew Bird’s Sunday Morning Put-On (2024) on a train through North Carolina. I do recommend these specific sites for listening.
If when you hear the phrase “psycho killer”, you respond in French…
Various Artists, Stop Making Sense: A Tribute Album (2024). While I do love a good compilation album, not one of these outdoes the originals and that’s just me being real!!
Or if you just enjoy French in general…
Corridor, Mimi (2024). I love French music they are doing it soooo correctly. And I’m not caught up in understanding what they’re saying! Pure ignorance vibes!
If you’re in it for the vocals…
Andra Day Cassandra (cherith) (2024). It’s been a while since I’ve listened to something and been like… damn. She is S I N G I N G. Glad she did not disappear after her massive hit “Rise Up”, followed by her legendary rendition of “Burn” on the Hamilton Mixtape (lol).
If you like the color Blue…
Good news, I’ve made a playlist for that: 🌀🌀🌀, featuring Charlotte Day Wilson, Cyan Blue (2024). Y’all know I love an alto. And she’s got a real Frank Ocean thing going on with some of this production (and her version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” is reminiscent his “Moon River” tbh).
If you ever crave a diss track about Eric Adams…
A daily desire! Yaya Bey, Ten Fold (2024). Beyond making fun of inept politicians, this album blends the grief of loss with self-affirming winner status. Simultaneously going through it + unbothered.
If you like…
Tom Misch or Bruno Major: Jordan Rakei, The Loop (2024). This is wholesome, there are beautiful string arrangements, what more could you ask for.
Lizzy McAlpine or Leith Ross: Tiny Habits, All For Something (2024). I had to do a triple check to make sure Lizzy was not, in fact, in this trio, because one of these singers sounds identical? If you like harmonizing with your friends in stairwells, these softies are for you.
Crumb: Well, Crumb, AMAMA (2024), but also Magic Fig, Magic Fig (2024). Crumb’s most recent album was a bit monotonous for me, but Magic Fig crafted a more dreamlike, psychedelic atmosphere.
Portishead: Beth Gibbons, Lives Outgrown (2024). I so love learning about/hearing women who are rockstars who are aging and eternally iconic. The greatest respect.
If you want to feel like you’re in your freshman dorm years in the throws of angsty youth…
Wallows, Model (2024). They make music for a teen movie, which is fitting considering they are, in fact, in teen movies.
If you want to cry…
The Avett Brothers, The Avett Brothers (2024). They’re simply so sentimental to me that it’s reached a point where I cannot handle listening casually. They’ve mastered the science behind constructing chord progressions that set off certain synapses that make you tear up, and that’s just something I have to accept at this point.
If you have a Letterboxd account…
Speaking of crying… Various Artists, I Saw the TV Glow Original Soundtrack (2024). This is one of the best (albeit most upsetting) films I’ve seen recently, and its soundtrack lives up to the nostalgic, luminous world of The Pink Opaque, featuring Florist, Bartees Strange, Sloppy Jane, Frances Quinlan, and more. Highly recommend watching the film, reading this article about how Jane & company wrote the music, and skimming this survey about other favorite movie soundtracks.
Also (kind of) Pet Shop Boys, Nonetheless (2024). Binged half their discography one day after watching All of Us Strangers–I cannot in good conscience recommend this film because I found it too disturbing–but there’s this scene featuring Pet Shop Boys’ “You Were Always On My Mind”. I’ve previously heard versions by Elvis, Willie Nelson, and a devastating cover by Bahamas that an ex-boyfriend once sent me, causing me to fall to my knees in a public park. ANYWAYS all to say I am late in life to PSB but I very much enjoy their uptempo version of that tune as well as some of this kooky 2024 album!