Staff Pix 10/26

The Milk Crate staff’s favorite tracks of the week, presented with blurbs worthy of a promotional sticker on a jewel case. Tune in Tuesdays from 1-2 EST to the Staff Pix radio show.

Karenna Umscheid

I Love You But I Love Me More by MARINA ft. Beach Bunny

Pop princess Marina always sounds fun, but especially with a dose of confidence in this powerful self-love breakup anthem. She’s always candy-like, sugar-filled but still a bit sour. The addition of Beach Bunny only adds more kick to the ballad, laying background vocals and a killer verse like a tinge of spice to Marina’s sweet & sour confection. So if you’re staunchly anti-cuffing season, blast this Marina/Beach Bunny collaboration until the weather warms and you’ve escaped the ultra-cheesy fall/winter couple posts. Marina will be here for you the whole way. 

Kyle Woolery

XX by Agnes

On October 22nd, Agnes, the Swedish Idol winner turned dance diva best known for her 2008 club hit “Release Me,” dropped her first album in over nine years: Magic Still Exists. The album—an all killer, no filler collection of intergalactic nu-disco opuses—is a natural sonic progression from the string-laden, disco-tinged dance pop that made her a star, and her trademark powerhouse vocals sound more refined and resonant than ever before. Opening track “XX” is a clear standout on the album. It is a liberating declaration of independence and a euphoric celebration of individuality adorned with hypnotic synths and robotic vocoders. In the song, Agnes commands you, the listener, to “express yourself,” “show off your colors,” and “free your mind and free your body.” It sets the tone for the rest of the record: a spiritual awakening on the dance floor. In all aspects, Magic Still Exists is indicative of an artist in their most fully realized form, and “XX,” an anthem of self-actualization, reflects this creative evolution.

Maura Cowan

BLOODRUNSOUT by Julianna Joy

At first blush, Julianna Joy’s sugar-sweet, dreamy pop may seem just a little out of season as the autumn chill really begins to settle over the city. But with a swelling instrumental build and a drum line like a first-kiss heartbeat, her latest single, BLOODRUNSOUT, is a confection for any time of the year. Joy’s charmingly confessional lyrics capture the beginnings of a new relationship with a perfect balance of enthusiasm and vulnerability. Grab your partner or your friends for a dorm room dance party and wash the late October rain away.

Nia Tucker

OG by JPEGMAFIA

Sampling lines and clips from old school rappers Just-Ice and DMX, JPEGMAFIA’s signature chaotic collage of sounds come together in this track off his new album LP! Out of his discography, in my opinion, this track marks a clear acknowledgment of a new and constantly shifting sound that we’ve seen him explore in previous singles and small projects since last year. The song in many ways feels like a response to earlier track, “What Kind of Rappin Is This,” that calls out those who criticize his style and unique flow and melodic delivery. Here, he calls back to the roots of hip-hop while still maintaining his distinct voice.

Will Ingman

Chaos Space Marine by Black Country, New Road

Black Country, New Road lit the “bands-with-no-definitive-genre” genre on fire last February with their debut record For the first time, a balanced breakfast of soft harmonic melody and anxious, shifting dissonance. “Chaos Space Marine” is their first single from their upcoming album Ants From Up There, and features a more refined, subdued sound, only briefly drawing from the band’s well of seemingly limitless chaotic potential.

Sara O’Connell

Just A Notion by Abba

Abba is back, baby. Get your platforms and your double denim pants. Nature is healing. 

Sarah Fournell

Last Day On Earth by Halfnoise

HalfNoise’s newest single, “The Last Day on Earth” is a breezy, trance-like, walk in the park. Opening with a lovely slide guitar intro, and followed by a peaceful blend of acoustic harmonies, “The Last Day on Earth” sounds like it came straight out of a Wes Anderson soundtrack. Spearheaded by Zac Farro, the drummer of Paramore, HalfNoise is returning to the indie music scene with Motif on November 5.

Izzy Desmarais 

Hide & Seek by Etta Marcus 

I came across Etta Marcus completely by chance. Her debut single “Hide & Seek” introduces Marcus as a force to be reckoned with. The dreamy guitar and synthesizer fits perfectly into the indie pop genre right now, but her deeper voice paired with the track’s beautifully dark lyrics offers something new and exciting. To say I’m looking forward to what Marcus releases next would be an understatement. I’m already her new number one fan.

Lily Hartenstein 

Life’s Been Good to Me by Ric Wilson and Yellow Days

“Disco Ric” is the king of collabs; his album with Terrance Martin is a groovy masterpiece, his feature on CHAI’s album WINK is my favorite of the collection, his work with Bone Slim has awarded him attention in the UK and his song with BJ the Chicago Kid is his greatest yet. His latest partnership with indie-soul artist Yellow Days, however, is shaping up to be perhaps the greatest marriage of his sound so far. “Life’s Been Good to Me”, the single for their upcoming album together, is a funky fusion of Wilson’s signature upbeat flow and affinity for discoesque sound with Yellow Day’s soulful bedroom pop.