This Week’s Music is a weekly column that discusses the weeks’ best, worst, and most interesting songs. We try to select songs of different artists and genres to keep things interesting and to please a variety of music fans.
This week A$AP Rocky makes a trippy comeback, Ari Lennox joins the new R&B up and coming singers, and Alessia Cara gets closer to the release date of her latest album. Check them out:
Rap
A$AP Rocky – “Sundress”
Sampling Tame Impala’s “Why Won’t You Make Up Your Mind?” is always a good idea, especially when paired with a trippy video that depicts a dance club where time stands still. The music video, directed by Frank Lebon, tells the story of a woman who confronts Rocky with a gun in the middle of a dance club; everyone around them seems frozen in time, unable to do much except dance. “Sundress” is brief and lean, a good refresher as A$AP Rocky’s first song since the release of his last album Testing released in May.
R&B
Ari Lennox – “Grampa”
Related: This Week’s Music: Bon Iver, The Chainsmokers And Zayn Release New Songs
“Grampa” is soulful and soultry, a throwback to the R&B of the 90s and early 2000s. It’s a simple song that holds back more than it lets on, boasting silly lyrics to boot. Ari Lennox is a D.C. native who boasts a singular and powerful voice. The song, backed by deep bass and drums ends up giving off a sensual and seductive vibe that works to its advantage. While there’s not a lot of room for Lennox to show off her skills and vocal range, she still manages to shine in this interesting single.
Pop
Alessia Cara – “Not Today”
“Not Today” is one of the tracks from The Pains Of Growing, Alessia Cara’s second studio album set for release Nov. 30. The 22-year-old singer and songwriter has done a lot with her career, working on her voice and crafting songs that are always honest and quirky. Although her work can sometimes tread the line between sweet and saccharine, “Not Today” is sad yet somehow hopeful. Not her best song but a good entry in her roster that lets listeners know that it’s okay to cry today and maybe tomorrow. Someday you’ll be fine.
