A Mauritanian Annette
Nu Music Monday #31 / 12-07-2021
Hey there,
I’m Red, and welcome to Nu Music Monday. Glad to have you here.
Every week I share my favorite tracks released in the past seven days (-ish). I also go into the latest music news when I feel like it and share stuff I think is worth your time.
We touch base with Barack Obama and Scarlet Johansson this week. Little Simz is securing her spot as one of my favorite artists of our time. And more great music!
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Obama’s Summer playlist: predictable and inoffensive
The time has come: Barack Obama has shared his music picks for the Summer. This year’s theme seems to be nostalgia, with few new faces around and older tunes on the page.
In past years Obama has occasionally been on the mainstream’s sidelines, bringing in new faces to larger audiences through his summer curation. He introduced Maggie Roggers (2019) and Moses Sumney (2020) through his yearly recs. This year he’s rooting for R&B veteran Jazmine Sullivan and bringing back Rihanna for another round of NOT-NEW-MUSIC.
As he has done in the past, soul and R&B are heavily featured with young artists like Sabrina Claudio but also legends like Stevie Wonder, Erykah Badu, Miles Davis. H.E.R. is here again, securing her place with the boring ‘Find A Way’ and her standing as one of the most prolifically predictable artists of her generation.
All in all, the playlist is a who’s who of current trends and old favorites. No left-field choice, no risk taken, Barack Obama’s Summer 2021 Playlist is a beige and pessimistic rendition of all music has to offer in 2021.
Movie round-up: Cannes X Marvel Summer ‘21 Collection
Cannes is in full swing, Marvel fans are fed, what more could we want? Well, for starters, I’d like Paul Verhoeven to stop making movies.
Annette is a cookie tale of love, ambition and obsession. It’s so weird that I couldn’t tell if I loved or hated it when I came out of the theatre. I’ve settled on ‘I don’t know’ but unlikely to see it again any time soon.
Girlbossing her way through the MCU, Scarlet Johansson is Black Widow’s main attraction. Came for the action, stayed because I didn’t have anything else planned
Imagine a student film on nuns and Lesbian love affairs. Benedetta is probably not too far off what you’re picturing. So much wrong with this movie: the shaky script, the forced smut, the incredibly weak acting, the amateurish direction, I meannn. Don’t waste your time; watch Basic Instinct on-demand instead.
In the same vein as The Report (Scott Z. Burns, Adam Driver), The Mauritanian addresses the Gitmo horrors during ‘the war on terror’. It’s a harrowing portrayal of injustice led by magnificent performances by Tahar Rahim and Jodie Foster. Captivating, well-paced, thrilling.
Rejjie Snow - Baw Baw Black Sheep / review
A departure from debut album Dear Annie’s post-relationship melancholy, Baw Baw Black Sheep’s overarching concept is unadulterated happiness.
This time around, Irish rapper Rejjie Snow and executive producer Cam O’bi set out to create an audio short film anchored in childhood vignettes. Scattered with sound effects, from screeching tires and graffiti sprays to bleating sheep and chirping birds, the hyper-visual album guides the listener through a loose storyline centered on contentment.
Full review over at The Line of Best Fit.
Track of the week: I Love You, I Hate You - Little Simz
Wait wait wait. Another spotless banger from Little Simz where she gets introspective to immaculate production? The bar is so high it’s impossible to see on a cloudy day.
Runner-up: Gloria - Angel Olsen
Harsh and mesmerizing. A lot to take in but please give me it.
ARE YOU WITH THAT? - Vince Staples
Interlude 1: The range
Sections - Ant Clemons (feat. Kehlani)
NDA - Billie Eilish
Sinner - Adekunle Gold, Lucky Daye
Interlude 2: Carpe Diem
Polaris - Damon Albarn
Go Away - Omar Apollo
Reach Out - Sufjan Stevens, Angelo De Augustine
Interlude 3: I would watch
GANG - Jean Deaux
Esta Noche - Lalo Ebratt, Bad Gyal
Olympus - Sufjan Stevens, Angelo De Augustine
Interlude 4: And we buy it
Nostalgia - Berhana
De Museo - Bad Bunny
Bouncin - Tinashe
Interlude 5: Newton’s 5th Law
Imaginary Laughter - Baltra
Cure For Me - AURORA
More, more, more
Also check out these *hip* new tracks:
Extra reading
This diatribe against Lin-Manuel Miranda and all the man represents will make you go ‘oof’ several times. Read it in Wear Your Voice mag.
To prepare for Leon Bridges’ upcoming album (and the review that goes with it ;) ), read this interview in Forth Worth Magazine.
You’ll find my favorite July releases in this Spotify playlist.
Thanks for reading! Back soon with more great music & stuff,
I’m @red_dziri on Twitter.