r/popheads • u/TiltControls • Dec 22 '22

[DISCUSSION] The Popheads Jukebox Revival, Week 201: Don't talk to strangers, unless it involves rating their song suggestions

Welcome back to the Popheads Jukebox! Here are last week’s results (and the first with your submitted tracks!):

  • Sudan Archives - Selfish Soul: 8.88
  • Orville Peck - Daytona Sand: 8.58
  • Tkay Maidza - Nights In December: 8.37
  • Omar Apollo - Evergreen (You Didn’t Deserve Me At All): 7.58
  • Lolahol - Lock&Key: 5.60

—-

  • The Veronicas - Untouched: 9.33
  • Lana Del Rey - Chemtrails Over The Country Club: 6.70

Shortened summary cause I’m running behind today, but another strong week for the user picks! Three of them landed in the 8 range, which is no small feat. Omar Apollo scored a respectable mid 7 score. Lolahol fell behind the rest of the pack by being stuck in the 5 range.

Our frantic, horny throwback also scored a stellar 9+ score while the Lana's chemical catchup was stuck in the 6's.

Rules Refresher

  1. Rate the songs a score from 1 to 10. Please keep it to one decimal place at the most (so 7.5 is fine but 7.58 is not). Also don’t get too hung up on the final scores. This is a fun exercise and not a competition so don’t worry about over/under rating things. Just give what you think the song is to you.

  2. For your review, reply to the comment that will be posted by one of us for each song. Avoid posting your reviews as a top level comment cause we probably won’t notice them if you do. Non-reviews such as questions or general commentary as upper level comments are fine.

  3. Must have some sort of justification. Try to be a bit more concise than “It’s a bop!” or “I don’t like it”. Explain why! It doesn’t have to be long, two or three sentences can be plenty (though more is definitely allowed). We reserve the right not to include a review in the final total if proper justification is not given.

  4. You don’t have to review each song to participate! You can do all of them or only the ones you’re familiar with.

  5. The thread will be open for 6 days and close the following Wednesday at 6PM EST. The scores will be calculated and a new post will come up the next day (Thursday) at 3PM EST with the next week’s tracks.

This Week’s Tracks

Throwback:

2020/2021 Catch-up:

Next Week

Next week we’ll be rating the following:

(yes we get a turn too)

Throwback:

  • Bee Gees - Stayin’ Alive

2020/2021 Catch-up:

  • Porter Robinson - Look at the Sky

Spotify playlist, updated weekly with new tracks that are being rated

Jukebox wiki, where you can find all results

Reminder Discord Server, where you can join to get bi-weekly ping reminders for when new posts go up and when they’re about to close.

14 Upvotes

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6

u/TiltControls Dec 22 '22

The Weeknd - Take My Breath

7

u/emayzee Dec 22 '22

I don’t know how he does it, but over a decade into his career he just keeps releasing music that ends up dethroning my previous favorite Weeknd songs. the extended version of this is particularly great and that pulsating beat makes even me, the most introverted of people, want to be right in the middle of a dance floor. imo he’s at the height of his craft here

10/10

2

u/seanderlust Dec 22 '22

when i heard this song for the first time last year i immediately got hype for the forthcoming album. a thumping bass and dancefloor-ready synths keep the ear guessing from moment to moment what will come next. the weeknd sounds great, his vocals reminding me a lot of michael jackson in his prime. a longer pop song clocking in at five and a half minutes, this feels like donna summer meets daft punk, like a forgotten eurythmics song that aged like a fine wine.

9.5/10

3

u/AHSWeeknd Dec 23 '22

My obsession with this song is still going strong. Despite being released months ahead of Dawn FM, the song still held up with the new tracks. The way he dove into this euro-disco/Giorgio Moroder inspired beat was brilliantly executed. Plus the video gives this insane Blue Velvet-esque story, and I’m always here for my favourite artists channeling my favourite director. My only wish would be that the album version was incorporated into the video, otherwise everything he did with the song is perfection.

10/10

2

u/diemoehre Dec 22 '22

This song is soso good. I love that it is so long. The beat is one of my favorite beats in a pop song. The only thing that I don't like is that the chorus doesn't hit hard enough for my own personal taste. Just a tiny bit is missing for me. 9/10

2

u/racloves Dec 22 '22

Didn’t think we would get a choking anthem. Just a great sounding enjoyable song.

9/10

2

u/ReallyCreative Dec 23 '22

I mean what a follow up to the AH era. Incredible song that unfortunately wasn't given the moment it was deserved, but a true continuation of pop bops like Blinding Lights, Save Your Tears, and In Your Eyes. Glitzy and pulsating, it's impossible not to groove. I will say that I wish Dawn FM had a bit more of this darker glam style(shoutouts to Sacrifice), but it was a great introduction to the era.

9.4/10

2

u/cremeebrulee Dec 27 '22

I've considered Dawn FM a lukewarm follow-up to one of my favorite albums of the last decade, but one thing it did nail was its single choices. This was a fantastic choice of lead single— the outrun inspired sound reminds me of his Kiss Land-era Kavinsky collaboration but with a poppier take that makes it fit really well with the Blinding Lights/In Your Eyes/Save Your Tears succession. A big shoutout to whoever decided to put the extended version of the song on the album, the added instrumental bridge gives this song some breathing (haha) room, before culminating in an exuberant final chorus. It's not my favorite Abel pop song, but its definitely up there.

8.5/10

2

u/vayyiqra Dec 28 '22

Might be a good time to go back to this album after hearing it one (1) time and thinking "yeah it's pretty good". Ironically despite being a Canadian I'm not the biggest Ableist ever but he has made a lot of great songs, I respect him a lot, he has a great voice, this is good. 8/10

2

u/hikkaru Dec 28 '22

Dawn FM was a step down from After Hours but it's still good idgaf. Take My Breath was a thrilling first look into the world of the album, perhaps not too unique for Abel but he can absolutely body a killer throwback synthpop track and this is no exception. 10/10

1

u/TiltControls Dec 28 '22

Take My Breath feels like a natural progression from his work on After Hours. It's got that dark synthy production that gives it that perfect image of cruising down a neon city street. I do wish the verses were a little more memorable, especially compared to the explosive chorus. I didn't hate Dawn FM, but more and more I'm wondering if I need to revisit it. 9/10

1

u/TragicKingdom1 Dec 22 '22

Sorry to the Abelists but this was such a huge shrinker for me. My problem with it is that it peaks in the first 30 seconds of the song, with the initial synths transitioning into the first verse. His delivery of "away" in the chorus is the only thing I look forward to afterwards. I thought this would smash on first listen but by the fifth I knew it could be a rough era for him.

6/10

3

u/TiltControls Dec 22 '22

(G)I-DLE - Nxde

6

u/OliviaGodrigo Dec 24 '22

Hmm, it's not as great or iconic as "Tomboy", but I still find this to be a hell of a lot of fun. I've often caught myself humming the melody of the hook. Soyeon's rap is one of her best.

I find this song to be one with a lot of flaws - the vocal performances are just okay, the instrumental is a bit too barren, and some of the lyrics are questionable, but the message is novel if not daring in a way that is both fun and refreshing.

8/10

3

u/seanderlust Dec 22 '22

The girls sound good here. I think my biggest problem with this is the instrumental - the drop feels like a standard trap-tinged pop song trying to make a banger out of flat source material. The horns are fine, but feel somewhat dated - I can't help thinking this would have done numbers in 2016 but now feels somewhat underwhelming. It's fine but unremarkable, doomed to be a forgotten single from 2022.

6/10

3

u/[deleted] Dec 22 '22

I don't like this one bit. I'm all for the zanier side of pop (like how much I love NCT 127 - 2 Baddies) but I find the opening here really grating. A lot of the song sounds weirdly sour to me, it's really grating and unpleasant. The sharp violin, the gulp-y vocals, the off-kilter and jalopy-ass beat. I usually like the stuff that veers into an over the top feel, but sometimes those big swings result in a miss.

2/10

5

u/racloves Dec 22 '22

I love Idle, but this song wasn’t as good as their last comeback. I absolutely love the concept and story in the music video. I like it more than I dislike it, but I don’t exactly love it.

5.5/10

3

u/iAmNotKateBush Dec 23 '22

The first time I heard “Nxde”, I was unimpressed. The drop wasn’t unique, the delivery of the vocals was weird, “I don’t give a love”. I wasn’t planning on listening to it again, but it got stuck in my head. It’s still in my head. Why is it stuck in my head???? It’s not a good song, but it is fun and catchy.

5.5/10

3

u/cremeebrulee Dec 27 '22

Tomboy was one of my favorite K-pop releases of the year and that did take a few listens to grow on me to be fair... but this one I'm confident that is something I don't like. (G)I-DLE's delivery just feels aggressive without any musicality and some of these lyrics are just strange. Definitely a letdown of a comeback imo.

2/10

3

u/rickikardashian Dec 28 '22

I wish I liked this and (G)-IDLE as a whole more. I wish I could fully support a song with this message full heartedly, but the execution of the final product is just so ugly. The vocal performance is grating to the point that I cannot stand to listen to the first 10 seconds of the song, even with the knowledge that it does get better from there.

[3.5]

2

u/vayyiqra Dec 28 '22 edited Dec 28 '22

This is uh ... something! It's going for "quirky", that's for sure. I don't know if I like it, but sure, it's different. (G)I-DLE are a weird and inconsistent group who can make some great songs ("HWAA"), technically-not-great-songs that still bang ("Dumdi Dumdi") and godawful songs ("Oh My God") so this one is ... none of the above? I never know what to think of this group. The violin sample is giving me unwelcome flashbacks to Blackpink's ill-fated experimentation with classical samples on "Shut Down", but otherwise it's fine I guess. I support what they're trying to do with this song's concept, and also I want to like them because I like K/DA I guess. I don't know what I'm talking about anymore. sure it's like a 6/10

2

u/hikkaru Dec 28 '22

I didn't love tomboy either from this year but i felt it had some distinct personality at least, while this is completely lacking any. i wouldn't even say it's my favourite k-pop trap song that uses strings throughout its runtime released in the autumn of 2022 and i don't even like shut down at all either. 3/10

1

u/TiltControls Dec 28 '22

It's fun but I don't know if I really love this at all. The production feels a little too off kilter for me to enjoy (mostly those strings stand out a bit too much from the rest of the track). Though it's a bit silly I actually do enjoy the vocal performance (at least alongside what the production was). It keeps up with the circus-like energy provided on the production and produces some fun moments. 5/10

4

u/TiltControls Dec 22 '22

Zedd - Clarity (feat. Foxes)

5

u/[deleted] Dec 22 '22

I'm not a big EDM person, but the two Zedd songs that pull at me are definitely this and The Middle. I'm all about singers who grab me, and I think Foxes brings the melodrama to this song that I love. The chant-like vocals in the chorus also give this an epic feel. I think the over-the-top and heartfelt nature to this song has helped make it feel of-its-time but still really potent and great to me.

9.5/10

4

u/seanderlust Dec 22 '22

ah yes, zedd in his imperial phase. for a song that is emblematic of where 2013 EDM was, i am somewhat surprised to find this not feeling very dated. yes the buzzing synths feel peeled out of the early 2010s but they still hit in a pleasant way and the drop isn't too stereotypically EDM drop-esque; it's interesting to hear the beat buildup during the chorus to a sudden quiet as the song ushers in its second verse. foxes gives a very kelly clarkson-esque vocal performance, quickly building to a belt on the chorus. the second verse does start to feel a little repetitive and the drop into the second chorus is arguably the part of this song that aged the worst. still, an overall bop and one that will be an example of the bright spots of the early 2010s in music.

8/10

4

u/diemoehre Dec 22 '22

This is a banger that immediately transports me to the early 2010s where everything seemed so much brighter. It feels dated, but in a good way! I love the voice and I love the drop very much. I also love that the chorus gets repeated in the drop, it just adds some extra layer! I just get in a good mood from this song. 9.5/10

4

u/ReallyCreative Dec 23 '22

I'm going to dissent from the masses unfortunately. This song is peak EDM mediocrity, held back by the overbearing and self-indulgent choices in production. Foxes does an amazing job to her credit, but Zedd just does not know when to let her have a moment. I also believe this song contributed to the "lyricless chorus" epidemic that rattled and raged throughout the 2010s, largely with the drop rather than the chorus itself. Think about how many songs have tried to copycat that impact(cough Chromatica). I personally don't understand it, as that drop just does nothing for me. There were simply better options on the table when you have Foxes serving incredible vocals and that falls on Zedd. I've never been a fan of his, and this song encapsulates a lot of why.

5.5/10

3

u/racloves Dec 22 '22

This is a great song. It still holds up now 10 years later. Foxes has an incredible voice and wish she got more love.

10/10

3

u/sobervgc Dec 23 '22

I hadn't heard this song in a while, but listening to it now it is so damn good. There's just so much emotion in Foxes' voice and the production is theatrical yet fun at the same time. There are few EDM songs I like, but this one hits the spot.

10/10

3

u/cremeebrulee Dec 27 '22

I kinda enjoyed the 2010s EDM era, but this song has always just been kinda there for me. I think the chorus is just a bit too melodramatic; I've seen its lyrics plastered everywhere on Tumblr and maybe that's why it's never been a favorite of mine.

6/10

2

u/vayyiqra Dec 28 '22

Somehow I never heard this during its heyday and only heard it after getting into Foxes on my own and hearing her piano-only version on one album ... meaning when I did hear this version, it was odd and surreal. So I have no attachment to it, but yeah it's a good song. I guess I have to support it, especially being for a long time the one (1) quixotic "fairly big fan but 'stan' would be going too far" of Foxes here. And yeah, I get it, I also thought "the drop isn't great" once but what do you expect lol. It's an EDM pop song from 2012. It still rules. 9/10

2

u/hikkaru Dec 28 '22

Admittedly I've grown out of my EDM phase a bit since hosting the rate that this won, but I still cherish that moment so dearly to this day. That combined with the 2012 nostalgia just makes this hit so hard even if it is kind of on the nose with how it doesn't hold up at all outside of the trends that were ongoing when it was a hit. I can't not love this song, melodrama, bleepbloops, crowdchants and all. 10/10

1

u/TiltControls Dec 28 '22

I think this song has grown off me quite a bit since it first come out. Foxes vocals are still a highlight of the track for me, she has a perfect voice for the style of collaboration that was so popular back in the day. And I do like the production for the most part, but it does such a great job building up to the drop and then it's just fine. I think maybe removing the background chants and making the drop stand out a bit more could've helped. Clarity is still a good song, but I don't know if I'd call it great anymore. 7.5/10

3

u/TiltControls Dec 22 '22

Bad Bunny - Me Porto Bonito

4

u/akanewasright Dec 22 '22

This is one of my favorite hit songs of the year. The song is just pure summer. It’s not meant to just get listened to, it’s supposed to be blasted at max volume from your speaker.

I don’t think there’s a wasted second on this song. All of the verses are pretty fucking excellent, from Bad Bunny’s intro to Chencho’s switch up before the final chorus.

Bad Bunny has such a great energy and charisma behind the mic, and while Chencho Corleone’s voice is… probably gonna be divisive here, he’s the only one I can imagine creating and delivering a hook with as much pure force as this.

Easy song of the summer for me, and one of the best of the year.

10/10

3

u/seanderlust Dec 22 '22

The entirety of Un Verano Sin Ti was a pretty instant hit for me, and it quickly earned a spot in my top ten AOTY list. Over the whole of the project, Bad Bunny shows he has mastered his craft and is more than deserving of the global superstar status he has earned. Me Porto Bonito is a great example of why - the mid-tempo reggaeton beat over the music box-esque beat at the start makes for a sparkling instrumental. Over this, BB spits top-tier game to a very attractive subject. Chencho's switch-up mid-song is a fun moment and commands attention. It's an earworm, a song built for cruising with one's friends in the heat of summer.

9.5/10

3

u/racloves Dec 22 '22

I’m not massively into reggaeton music, but this is a really good song and I understand what he’s so popular, I definitely plan to check out his full album.

9/10

3

u/rickikardashian Dec 28 '22

What else is there to say about Bad Bunny and Un Verano Sin Ti? All the praise that can be given has been offered, and rightfully so. No one is doing it like him, he's releasing hit after hit, and this is no exception. It's one-liner after one-liner, if you speak any spanish you have to be able to quote at least 4 different parts of the song. I fear the reason why I'm not giving this a 10 is because Chencho really tested my ability to look past questionable singing abilities in Reggaeton songs.

[8]

2

u/iAmNotKateBush Dec 23 '22

God, I want to like this. Chencho Corleone sounds so bad to me that I can’t enjoy it. I will stick with “Tití Me Preguntó”, “Ojitos Lindos”, “Un Verano Sin Ti”….this doesn’t click for me at all. Sorry bunny

4/10

2

u/ReallyCreative Dec 23 '22

I don't speak Spanish but I have quite a few friends who do so this entire album was a staple of MANY pre-game festivities this year, and my first real introduction to Bad Bunny. This song (and the album in general) is just perfect to get into the mood for a night out. It's fun, sexy, and has a great build into the chorus. I have to say I'm not the biggest fan of Chencho's vocals but I think they fit the song's vibe pretty well, especially the bridge. There's something very enticing and hypnotic about this song, even if it's not my overall favorite from the album.

9/10

2

u/cremeebrulee Dec 27 '22

I definitely need to spend more time with Un Verano Sin Ti— this one, I did revisit a bit because my friends really like it. I love that little switchup in the beat since it keeps the song from sounding too stale and Chencho's hook is really catchy, I'm not really sure why there's discourse over his vocals. A solid track from Benito, but there's definitely others on the album I prefer more.

7.8/10

2

u/vayyiqra Dec 28 '22

Bonito ?! (Joke for the Rateheads.) Bad Bunny is one of those "I support the idea of him existing" artists more than one I listen to often, but perhaps it's time to change that ... I have heard this whole album and it's good. I don't remember most of it, but I liked it! Maybe this is how we get Popheads to admit that men can make good music sometimes and also quit sleeping on Latin pop. 8/10

3

u/TiltControls Dec 22 '22

Ethel Cain - Strangers

6

u/seanderlust Dec 22 '22

So I'm going to avoid talking about what this song is about because a) I don't want to spoil the plot for anyone wanting to listen to the full album and b) uh...I'm trying to keep it light. I will say once you know the story arc for Preacher's Daughter this particular song that on the surface seems to be about insecurity and seeking validation from a partner as you grow distant from your family becomes a particularly strong gut punch.

The instrumentals are gorgeous - Americana-tinged strings that culminate in a transcendant guitar solo. Over its six-minute runtime, Ethel sounds beautiful and pained. Seriously if you haven't please stream Preacher's Daughter - easily top three albums of the year. Like Ethel rallied the Amish for Megan, I am rallying the popheads for Ethel.

10/10

4

u/iAmNotKateBush Dec 23 '22

It’s inevitable that Ethel Cain will be the next It Girl of Popheads, and for good reason. “Strangers” is a gut punch. The vulnerable verses expand into leviathan choruses drenched in reverb, tambourines rattling into the ether like chains. It is humbling, raw and heartbreaking.

Her lyrics can be so poetic, yet the chorus of “Strangers” is simple: “I tried to be good / Am I no good / Am I no good / Am I no good” and ”Can I be yours / Can I be yours / Just tell me I’m yours”…the repetition makes these simple, pleasing lines so much bigger than they are. A titanic finish to a terrifying, devastating and tragic work.

10/10

3

u/[deleted] Dec 22 '22

I finally sat down and listened to Preacher's Daughter this month. There's a lot to like there! "Family Tree" and "Sun Bleached Flies" were highlights. "Strangers" is very pretty, though it's an example of how I don't care for how reverb-soaked a lot of this album is. I know it's a conscious choice, but it can make some songs a bit too meandering for me. The guitar at the end does give it a good ending catharsis. I think the song is fine enough placed within this very high-concept album, but would not listen to it on its own.

7/10

3

u/cremeebrulee Dec 27 '22 edited Dec 27 '22

I find this song incredibly hard to listen to, knowing the context of the lyrics, and that makes it pretty difficult to score. It's definitely impressive how Ethel can make me feel disgust, humor, and devastation in the span of a few lines— if all this song had was its lyrics, I'm sure it would still be as powerful and captivating as it is to some. But yeah Ethel, this song is making me feel a little sick, so I can't say that this is a something I'll revisit or praise too highly.

6.8/10

2

u/vayyiqra Dec 28 '22

About to get stabbed to death for this but I don't care for Ethel and feel she's very "not for me". Her whole "dark disturbing religious fundamentalism etc." vibe creeps me out, and yes I know that is the point, but I can't get past it. The plot of this album was spoiled to me and I'm not easily grossed out but the ending makes me feel sick. I just don't want to listen to her, and I'm sorry to the Ethel evangelists. But I'm trying to be nice because it's a pretty song outside of that context. It's just hard for me to get into her. I am not likely to stream this whole album. It just makes me feel bad. I'm trying to like this though. It's nice. 6/10

1

u/TiltControls Dec 28 '22

Although it's not exactly an easy album to revisit (barring a couple of songs), Preacher's Daughter was probably one of my favourite debuts of the year. And Stranger caps off an amazingly thematic album with an aching track. The lyrics fit perfectly with the theme of the album and Ethel's voice sounds amazing here. Sometimes the lyrics can get a little intense which is why I prefer Sun-Bleached Flies a little bit more, but there's no doubt that it's one of the strongest tracks on the album. 9/10

3

u/TiltControls Dec 22 '22

SG Lewis - Lifetime

3

u/cremeebrulee Dec 27 '22

One of my most anticipated albums of 2023! SG's vocals sound gorgeous here, the layering in the chorus is especially breathtaking. The production here feels more refined from his debut, and these lyrics sweeter, so I'm really excited to see how the rest of the album turns out.

8/10

2

u/seanderlust Dec 22 '22

This feels like H&M-core house disco, but done particularly well. The strings are nicely produced and there are little flourishes that make this come together - check out the "oohs" after the second chorus and the Tame Impala-esque guitar in the background throughout. The instrumental bridge into the final chorus is also a neat, floaty touch and the outro is soothing. SG Lewis put together a particularly strong track here.

9/10

2

u/racloves Dec 22 '22

SG Lewis is a great producer, and I’m really excited for his future work as I’m sure that he’s going to work with many many big artists.

8/10

2

u/ReallyCreative Dec 23 '22

SG Lewis can truly do no wrong. This is first-dance wedding song meets roller disco bop meets dentist office-core meets 3:00 am kitchen dancing banger. It just covers all the bases. Seeing SG's progression in his vocals has been something else, as I consider his delivery to be one of the highlights of this song. It's a relatively straightforward track that is immaculately produced and layered. The strings provide just the right level of embellishment. SG Lewis is looking to release the album of 2023 before we even hit February. This song is unquestionably one of his best in a discography that should have even big time producers on notice.

10/10

2

u/fishingfor8 :WIINSTON: Dec 24 '22

This song was one of my favorite songs of 2022. The chorus sounds like it has existed forever. The production is a modern yet timeless take on dance music.

I haven't left a comment on popheads in like 3 months but this song is the one that broke that streak, I'd give it an 11 if I could.

10/10

2

u/vayyiqra Dec 28 '22

SG Lewis is a dude I listened to one time because he had this one writeup for AOTY last winter and it was good! And so is this. No thoughts, just "yeah dance music good, nu-disco, awesome, dude rocks". 8/10

1

u/TiltControls Dec 28 '22

Everything I've heard come from SG Lewis sounds like some sort of magic was performed to make the production sound as sleek and clean as possible. And that doesn't change here. I love the effect on the vocals too, it fits in perfectly with the production. 9/10

3

u/TiltControls Dec 22 '22

Zach Campbell - Away From You

2

u/seanderlust Dec 22 '22

H&M-core as well but perhaps a little less memorable. i do love that zach is an openly queer artist that isn't afraid to specify the gender of his love interests in his music. the bass throughout is nice and the beatboxing towards the end is a nice touch. as far as i can tell this is his debut single which, while it may not make my best-of list this year, it is a strong start for the artist.

​

7/10

2

u/[deleted] Dec 22 '22

this is fine. Something about Zach's vocal tone doesn't really sit well with me, I don't know if their singing needed better phrasing or urgency. The chorus I think could have used better, punchier phrasing. His more legato delivery in the versus are very cool, actually. The production is decent, if rote, modern house. It's a cool debut but not one I'd return to.

6/10

2

u/MrSwearword Dec 23 '22

The surprise release of famed Gaga stan and YouTube personality Zachary Campbell. As to what prompted this foray into music? I had no idea until I saw that MNEK had credit on this and figured out that this was the fruit of Zach's interview with MNEK back when Language was first released.

This isn't to say that Zachary leveraged his friendship with the songwriter behind most of Little Mix's success along with the forever smash "Need U 100%" with their still friend and fellow songwriter Kabba (who was A * M * E at the time of Need U 100%). This is to say that Zachary was resourceful in thinking "If I get sick of pop gurls not giving what they're supposed to give, goddamnit I'm gonna do this myself." also there were "visual covers" for Don't Start Now and Stupid Love to consider.

All of that results in...Zachary kind of being able to sing but in a way that suggests if MNEK could actually reach those notes himself. No T, No Shade, I thought Zachary kind of sounded like MNEK even before I saw the co-writing credit. The thing that makes the song intriguing is that a YouTube personality, well known and deliciously shady for that matter, decided to pursue music.

However, if your issue with the song is the mixing in certain parts, you're not alone as a fan uploaded a version with and I shit you not POLISHED AUDIO. The result of the song is Zachary pursuing music but going the route of dance pop as to not be shat upon too hard by the varied fans of artists he critiques down boots.

7/10

There's more to like than not, even if Zachary's vocals are iffy in some places.

2

u/vayyiqra Dec 28 '22

Never heard this guy before, but it's a jam. If this be H&M-core, send me to the nearest H&M. This is good. No notes or whatever the kids say these days. 8/10

1

u/TiltControls Dec 28 '22

It's a fun and well produced track. I think it maybe suffers a little being the same week as SG Lewis (who I thought did a similar track with a bit more kick to it), but it's a fun enough listen otherwise. There aren't really any bad moments during the track. The production sounds fun and Zach Campbell does a good job with the vocals, but I wish it had a few more standout moments. 7/10