Review Thursday: How To Dress Well - "What's Up"

How To Dress Well

"What's Up"

Care

Weird World

For most of people, "What's up?" may be the most mundane way to start a conversation. Trying to engage and provoke other people's business are probably the most dreadful thing to undergo and something as simple and as colloquial as "What's up?" may evoke our fear. Either we enjoy being "what's up"-ed or not, there's no way to ignore it and a response is unescapable. It may be various, but one thing that remains the same is that "what's up" is the door to people's soul as we get to know someone better, and it leads into something deeper and bosom. 

For someone who's a maven in nihilism, Tom Krell, surprisingly thoroughly understands the surreptitious meaning behind a simple "what's up". His "What's Up" is not trifling and it's not intended to fill the void in an elevator or break the ice in a lame party. Instead, it is honest, veracious, and direct. "I wanna know your mouth/ I wanna see the things the way you see them," Krell begins fortrightly amid the bravura beat that we're all used to. Krell repeats "Say it was you" four times in a choir-esque before hitting the second chorus when the tempo crescendoes and Krell infuses the bongo-like instrument in an upbeat and gay rhythm, something that you won't associate How To Dress Well with immediately. "I really feel like you know me/ And that's just the craziest thing," Krell emphasizes that his "What's Up" is not a dreadful question, and as it's proven from the absence of question mark in the title, "What's Up" actually skips the trivial part of the question, but jump directly to the true meaning of asking such question: to bring an intimacy. 

Review Thursday: Justice - "Safe and Sound"

Justice

"Safe And Sound"

Single

Ed Banger

It's almost ten years after the release of "D.A.N.C.E", a track that catapulted French electronic duo, Justice, to a prominence. "D.A.N.C.E.", being a perfect club banger itself, also becomes the best thing that Justice probably has ever released, as their follow-up album, Audio, Video, Disco has been drab and lackluster, to say the least. But, they don't give up, they may have redeemed Audio, Video, Disco by releasing "Safe and Sound".

Taken from their untitled third album, "Safe and Sound" is a track that can easily fit into Daft Punk's Random Access Memories. Justice dauntingly channels their inner Bangalter and de Homem-Christo with a delectable disco track which sounds retro and futuristic at the same time. A hypnotic vocal accompanies "Safe And Sound", blending in Rosnay and Augé's twisty and colorful composition. "Safe And Sound" reminds us the stupendousness of "D.A.N.C.E.", and with this, Justice may be able to reclaim their éclat back. 

Review Thursday: Mitski - "Happy"

Mitski

"Happy"

Puberty 2

Dead Oceans

Ever since Pharrell Williams' smash-hit "Happy" was ubiquitously heard in every radio station back in 2014, we always think of that ear-wormy and catchy tune every time we feel blithe and happy. Mitski Miyawaki, or more known by her first name Mitski, tries to re-brand the whole concept of happiness by creating an ominous song called "Happy". It's the second song she throws after "Your Best American Girl"--a paroxysmal song about unrequited love (one of the finest songs this year)--as a teaser of her fourth studio album (and her first with Dead Oceans label), Puberty 2. 

In "Happy", still as tumultuous as ever, Mitski anthrophormizes happiness as a one night stand man who promises to stay, but leaves in the next morning. She depicts happiness as a man who "bought cookies on the way", whispering at the beginning of the song between the soft drum beat. As the instrument gets louder and the blowing sound of horn is heard, Mitski realizes that the happiness is a jerk as he's gone while she goes to bathroom ("I was in the bathroom/ I didn’t hear him leave/ I locked the door behind him"). Complaining of the mess he left behind, Mitski sings, "Well I sighed and mumbled to myself/ Again I have to clean." Mitski's "Happy" has an ironic feeling to it as it is a parable of the sinuous happiness, the up-and-down of our feeling, and an allegory of happiness and sadness; both can't last forever, no matter how tight we hold on to each of them.