Staff Pix 3/4

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

Adora Brown

I’m Tired (From “Euphoria” an HBO Original) by Labrinth and Zendaya

The recent season finale of HBO’s “Euphoria” once again featured Zendaya on vocals. With a far more melancholy tone, the song remains in somewhat of a contrast to last season’s bold concluder, “All for Us.” And yet, Labrinth’s iconic use of a chorus provides beautiful harmonies that send a chill down your spine. The song is a prayer to a higher power, with simple, repetitive lyrics such as “Hey lord, You know I’m tired.” Zendaya’s unique sound adds a further softness to this plea.

Everly Orfanedes 

Fall in Love With A Girl by Cavetown and beabadoobee

The way I wish this song had been released in time for Valentines, because this is the newest and cutest love song bedroom pop has produced recently. This adorable, softly sung song was written and produced by modern music’s indie icons, Cavetown and beabadoobee. Accompanied by light instrumentals, electronic beats, and chill vibes, Cavetown and beabadoobee tell a simple story with intricate lyrics of what it feels like to fall in love with a girl. 

Sarah Fournell

U Don’t Really Love Me by Jake Timothy

Starting out slow and sweet, like a barbershop quartet-esque ballad, “U Don’t Really Love Me” is an excellent display of Emerson student Jake Timothy’s versatility as a vocalist. Right when your tears begin to glisten while you’re swaying under the disco ball that dropped from the ceiling to the tune of a beautiful brass line, the song quickly crescendos into a lamentation of a relationship that “turned so out of hand.” With the heartbreak comes a symphony of electric guitars, hard hitting drums, and a confessional bridge. “U Don’t Really Love Me” is the final track on Jake Timothy’s first EP Do U Really Love Me?, which was released today on all major streaming services. 

Sophie Severs

Mystery by Raveena

“Mystery” is a single on singer-songwriter Raveena’s newest album, Asha’s Awakening, released in February. The entire album is ambitious, being a concept-album told from the perspective of a Punjabi space princess. Though somewhat abstract, Raveena clearly pulls it off, as the album has been the subject of raving reviews thus far. “Mystery” tells the tale of unrequited love and longing, backed by a dreamy, poppy track that leaves listeners happily bobbing their heads to the beat. 

Harry Bates

“Gay Bar Blues” by Lavender County

I’m not sure if it’s all of this “where the hell is the gay nightlife in Boston” talk recently, but I just really feel this song. Lavender County is the first gay country band ever, and they first got together starting all the way back in ‘72. “Gay Bar Blues” comes from their newly released album Blackberry Rose (2022). Honestly, I love it. Nothing hits the heart and soul’s bass strings better than some blues <3

Will Ingman

Famously Alive by Guerilla Toss

Tasteful overproduction seems to be the common thread that ties together artists I like, and Boston/New York art rock group Guerilla Toss have that in spades. For something so noisy, it’s impressive how meticulously they’ve composed this track - the drums walk the razor’s edge between analog and digital, and you’d struggle to find a vocal melody that exists free of autotune. “Famously Alive” sounds like a light show, dazzling and blinding in equal measure, hard enough to listen to that finding the groove feels like an achievement, but poppy enough to encourage brain-melting re-listens.

Lily Hartenstein 

Heavy Heart by Bartees Strange 

Bartees Strange has released new music alongside an announcement of his signing to 4AD and I couldn’t be more thrilled. Strange is such a standout artist in the way he blends his musical background, from being raised by an opera singer to idolizing Midwest emo, into something both entirely new and comfortingly familiar. “Heavy Heart” leans more into a traditional indie-rock sound, with gentle guitar rising into a powerful riff as Strange sings of the grief of losing his grandfather and the guilt of his rising success. As the track continues to build into swelling, celebratory horns as he sheds his fears, showing off what he does best in building layers of expansive emotion through sound. 

Karenna Umscheid 

Get Better by Babehoven

In their newest single, Babehoven incorporates lovely, soft percussion with a hypnotic melody and gorgeous vocals to create a track that heals like a mana potion. They’ve been on a small tour around the East coast, dousing small venues with their stunning, emotional tunes. The vivid and honest lyricism is paired with Maya Bon’s pure, powerhouse voice to make music that can be felt so deeply by listeners. Something about the slow, raw energy in each song makes me feel like I need to sit back in my chair and close my eyes. I feel a need to absorb the beauty in it all, and let the music carry me. “Get Better” feels like a möbius strip, the end looping back to beginning, and because of this, I find myself listening to it endlessly. Their new EP “Sunk” comes out today, and it’s pure magic. 

Izzy Desmarais 

Lost Track by HAIM

Dreamy vibraphone, rhythmic bass, and heartbreaking lyrics, “Lost Track” was released this past Tuesday along with a music video directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. Filmed on the set of Alana Haim and Anderson’s photoshoot for W Magazine, “Lost Track” visually and lyrically depicts the numbness one feels when trapped in a situation they would do anything to get out of. Stuck in a country club, surrounded by well-to-do women in vibrantly colored dresses, Danielle Haim wreaks havoc and searches for an escape in a muted blue dress. With this single, HAIM proves once again that they never, ever miss. 

Nia Tucker 

Woke Up Blessed by Tinashe ft Christian Blue

In the darker deluxe version of her 333 album from last year, pop artist and genre-bender Tinashe returns with 4 new tracks, including this one. As the final song that intends to wrap up this futuristic and highly experimental era, it does it justice. In the song, Tinashe—a now independent artist after years of battles with management and record companies—laments bad record deals, “Twitter fingers,” and those who doubted her. And rightfully so. With each new album, she defies what it means to be a R&B and pop music star, and puts her music and image into her own hands, all shown in this gritty, hip-hop and electronic inspired song.

Julia Norkus

Pepsi on the House by Peach Pit

I won’t lie– despite being a Peach Pit fan, almost all of their songs sound the same to me. However, with the release of their newest album From 2 to 3, Peach Pit is exploring a new way to use their musical expertise to create brighter sounds and groovier hooks. “Pepsi on the House” is a song about letting go and being young, accompanied by the gentle strum of the acoustic guitar and the tambourine. It completely contrasts the feel of songs like “Alrighty Aphrodite” and “Guillotine” off of their first album, Being So Normal (2018). I’m excited about this new era of Peach Pit, and “Pepsi on the House” shows major growth from their 2018 release. 

Maura Cowan

Fortune Favors The Bold by Joy Oladokun and Tim Gent

The most recent single from Nashville singer-songwriter Joy Oladokun is an ode to those who take a stand. Weaving lyrical stories of everyday compassion and courage –a woman who leaves an abusive relationship, a man who saves a friend’s life by checking in with him on the night of his planned suicide– Oladokun heralds small heroes with a twinkling key riff and echoing beat. This is not her first collaboration with rapper (and fellow Tennessean) Tim Gent, who took a verse on her song “mercy” last year. Gent jumps onto the track over a sparse synth beat, and his snappy, almost jarring flow draws immediate attention. The two collaborate seamlessly, and it is a duo I can foresee returning for years to com

Andrew Johnson

Math S.O.S. by Mr Vale’s Math Class

“Math S.O.S.” is the new single from Mr Vale’s Math Class and was just released today. It's a mix of pop and funk that is endlessly replayable. The song is structured in a musical round with different tracks fading in and out, creating a loop perfect for getting stuck in your head all day. While the full album does not come out until April 8, “Math S.O.S.” is a great primer and will get you in the mood to listen to more of their music.

Adri Pray

WHAT YA GONNA DO? by push baby

The latest single from the band offers and N*SYNC-type beat with a strong choral sound. Listening to this song reminded me of an upbeat nighttime car ride to the beach with your friends. push baby delivers yet another banger.