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The Weekend’s new proves: The lights do dazzle twice
The Weekend’s eighties obsession is also evident on his new album, Dawn FM. Listening to it with your senses will experience an unstoppable, almost euphoric pop sequence that makes the standouts on the 2021 albums ashamed. The rest of the album is fun too, but there are some reservations.
The best scenario for a pop star is that a song from his previous album will still run strong in the charts as the campaign for his new album begins. It’s such a rare scenario that it’s almost imaginary, but it’s the contemporary story of The Weekend. The song Blinding Lights, which came out in early 2020 and was the biggest hit in the world this year, remained in the US singles chart for 90 weeks (of which nearly 60 weeks in the top ten). It’s a record. Blinding Lights is also the biggest hit in pop history, weighted by the length of stay in the parade and the exact location throughout that period. This, of course, does not mean it is the best-selling song ever. It can no longer happen in this era.
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The unification of “Abba” seems like bad news for those who shy away from the possibility that virtual appearances, starring holograms, will soon become an accepted and widespread practice. Holographic performances are an idea that has been in the air for several years and even realized here and there. Still, they have not yet been accepted as an acceptable substitute for performances by flesh-and-blood singers.
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The new “Abba” is a happy occasion, but you will not find timeless hits here. Even a four-decade hiatus did not completely dry up Abba’s golden repertoire. However, as the new album proves, it’s hard to combine them to create perfect pop songs.
The union of “Abba” may change the picture and train the holographic format. The virtual performances of “Abba,” starring Abbatars (Abba + Avatars), will open in May 2022. The impression is that they are about to become the first box office hit of the hologram performance market.
No collective eyebrow-raising is felt about the initiative. As part of Abba’s extensive media coverage of Voyage’s release, the band’s first album in 40 years, there have been almost no critical voices regarding the upcoming virtual performances. They seem to be perceived as a positive and even exciting event, like the comeback of “Abba” as a whole.
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The new “Duran Duran”: Not just a shot of delightful nostalgia
Even in the seventh decade of their lives, the “Duran Duran” members make a successful pop that resonates with a real passion for music. Their new album Future Past may not be a hit – but it’s not their fault anymore.
Not many bands survive so many years, perform together and release albums that arouse interest – without breaking up and without making dramas. “Duran Duran” is one of them. The British band, formed in Birmingham in 1978, celebrated 40 years, this year with their debut album, named after her. Shortly before the end of the civil year, she marks another happy moment – a studio album 15 in number.
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A wordless reminder of Brian Wilson’s musical genius
Wilson’s piano version of the song God Only Knows, one of the most beautiful in pop history, successfully passes the ear test – and no less the heart test.
Not that there is any need for that, but the last few weeks have provided some reminders of the supreme beauty of the best Beach Boys songs and the genius of Brian Wilson. One reminder is the new Feel Flows box, which features the 1970s Beach Boys Sunflower and 1971 Surf’s albums, plus dozens of alternate versions and recordings from performances (you should start with Surf’s song itself, which is probably the most wonderful song by The “Beach Boys” that is not played on the radio, and also the song that is closest in its being to classical music in the band’s repertoire).
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The gap between Lil Nas, the cultural phenomenon, and Lil Nas, the musician, is growing.
In his new album, Montero, Lil Nass ex mixes different genres of music and seeks to make it clear that he does not fall into the binary trap into which the world insists on cramming it. It’s just a shame the album remains on a limited artistic level.
Like any pop phenomenon and more than most other pop sensations, the race to the top of Lil Nas X is a phenomenon that transcends the boundaries of music. It seems that every night of Lil Nas, every frame in his clips, every garment he wears, and every tweet of his on social media are perceived as reflecting the social, technological, and gender fluctuations of the present moment and somehow defining the spirit of the period. Naturally, these are the aspects in which the incessant discourse focuses on the 22-year-old star.
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George Harrison now sounds closer than ever, so why is it disappointing?
George Harrison’s voice became very frontal in the remake of his album All Things Must Pass, which is evident in the song Beware of Darkness. There may be someone who will relish the intensified intimacy, not me.
“That does not sound right.”
This short and decisive sentence came to mind very shortly, perhaps a minute, after the start of the reissue of All Things Must Pass, George Harrison’s triple album, which was his super-successful Declaration of Independence after the Beatles’ dissolution.
This sentence continued to resonate in thought until the end of the listen, an hour and three-quarters later (well, an hour and twenty: no one listens to the third album of “All Things Are Transient,” which features some negligible instrumental touches).
