Papa Got A Brand New Lick

Madison McFerrin “Run It Back”

The bones of “Run It Back” are strong enough that I think you could go a lot of ways with the arrangement and end up with something good, but I’m glad Madison McFerrin opted for minimalism. Aside from a bit of well-placed percussion and harmony vocals, it’s pretty much just her voice and a bit of piano. Her voice is strong and forceful, but I think if she was competing with more elements in the mix, it would tip over to a sort of belting/honking that wouldn’t suit the low-key vibe of the lyrics. The way it is here, you get just the right balance of flirtatiousness and decorum. It’s like she’s trying to keep something quiet out of caution, but can’t help raising her voice when she’s overcome by the feeling.

Buy it from Bandcamp.

LSDXOXO featuring Boys Noize and VTSS “Red”

Prince is an extremely influential artist so you can hear traces of him in all sorts of music, but sometimes you hear something like “Red” and it’s really more about emulation than generalized inspiration. The drum machine sound, the synth tones? Unmistakably Prince. The vocal cadence, the lyrical approach? Prince 2 the max. LSDXOXO and crew are clearly tapping into a very purple funk here, and that includes nailing the casual catchiness and lascivious atmosphere of peak-era Prince. But it’s not all retro, or all Prince worship – there’s a modern gloss on the production, a more relaxed vocal tone, and the lyrics are very, very gay.

Buy it from Bandcamp.