The post Megan Thee Stallion and RM Bring the Heat, “It’s MJ Lenderman Fall” and Other Songs of the Week appeared first on Consequence.
Every week Consequence’S The “Songs of the Week” column presents great new songs from the last seven days and analyzes notable releases. Find our new favorites and more on our Spotify Top Songs playlist. For more great songs from up-and-coming artists, check out our Spotify New Sounds playlist. This week, Megan Thee Stallion teamed up with RM from BTS for her new song “Neva Play” and MJ Lenderman’s new album. Fireworks Manning contains the extraordinary song “Wristwatch”.
“Neva Play” by Megan Thee Stallion & RM is so hot I’m a little scared
The thing is, we absolutely have to get BTS out of the military. They’ve served enough!
If you don’t keep up with all the news on BTS, you might be surprised to hear that they’ve been on a bit of a hiatus for the past few years. It hasn’t felt like a hiatus at all. It’s a bit mind-boggling how much content these guys had prepared before they hit the ground running—fans were swimming in multiple full-length albums, travel shows, documentaries, and collaborations all prepared in advance, including this new track from Megan Thee Stallion.
Megan Thee Stallion and RM make a good team. They’re both poised and confident; they both have incredible stage presence. They love wordplay and thrive when rapping in their respective flows. Their first team-up happened when Meg hopped on the playful, upbeat remix of BTS’ “Butter,” but “Neva Play” has a completely different vibe. If anyone understands how much range a BTS member can offer from song to song, it’s ARMY’s resident purple princess; this is day 726 of me asking for Megan Thee Stallion photocards. We deserve it!
RM thrives in his lower register, used to maximum effect on “Neva Play.” It’s always exciting to see new listeners accept the reality that BTS’s vast discography promises a world of riches beyond the songs that introduced them to the general public and casual listeners; today, Twitter is awash with non-fans and hotties (members of Meg’s fanbase) proclaiming their new ARMY status. “I didn’t know anyone in BTS sounded like that,” one user wrote. “RM, I didn’t know your game,” another said.
It seems ARMY weren’t the only ones shaken by the intro line “What’s up Stallion?” But any long-time fan can understand the tension that comes with enjoying well-deserved recognition while also wanting to keep a little bit of an eye out, especially since this is a particularly intense collaboration. That’s “DDAENG” energy. That’s “Cypher Pt.3” energy. That’s “All Night” energy, and it’s not something to be messed with.
— Maria Siroky
Co-editor
MJ Lenderman lays his cards on the table in “Wristwatch”
It’s easy to get lost in MJ Lenderman’s shimmering, porch-sounding guitar work and every single song on his new album. Fireworks Manningat least one lyric stands out and changes the aura of the entire song. In “Wristwatch,” that line is “I got a houseboat docked at the Himbo Dome.” It would be amazing on its own, but it’s followed by “…And a wristwatch that’s a pocket knife and a megaphone/ And a wristwatch that tells me I’m all alone.” As the song’s grand finale, Lenderman drives this gleeful, materialistic character to a total nervous breakdown. He was pathetic enough in the beginning, boasting about his beach house in Buffalo (where? Lake Eerie?) and his multifunctional smartwatch.
But “Himbo Dome” is just so remarkable. It’s enunciated with the tunnel vision of a man who has made mistakes, knows he’s wrong, but can’t bring himself to do that final favor of true self-reflection and responsibility. “Himbo Dome” is not only a hilarious take on Hippodrome, but also a stand-in for that monolithic idea of possession as armor, of ignorance as expertise. By the time he gets to the final memory of his loneliness, Lenderman has managed to sketch out a brief but poignant character study that’s all about the shiny, impenetrable technology we wear on our wrists.
We will turn Fireworks Manning There’s a lot more to come in the coming months, which means there will be dozens more outstanding pieces of writing to ponder between now and the next one. And for that, Mr. Lenderman, we say thank you.
— Paolo Ragusa
Co-editor
Editor’s choice: The best songs of the week from 1 to 6 September
Jungle – Let’s go back
We can absolutely count on Jungle to deliver an incredible music video. But even aside from another stunning visual experience carried by dancer Will West, the British band’s new track is a fresh, irresistibly groovy offering. Jungle are gearing up for a US tour after experiencing a major breakthrough with their 2023 single “Back on 74,” and “Let’s Go Back” is a clear assurance that the band won’t be resting on their laurels anytime soon. — M. Siroky
La Femme – Clover Paradise
French group La Femme is back with “Clover Paradise”, the second single from their upcoming album Rock machine, and their first in English. They weren’t kidding when they waved “Ciao Paris!” earlier this year, because “Clover Paradise” is set in a universe all its own. With a pulsing synth line and an eerie sense of apprehension, the group conjures up a pulsating spell. To make things even more stylized, the band’s guitarist lays down a theatrical, glamorous guitar solo. If this is what paradise looks like for La Femme, “fascinating” is an understatement. — P. Ragusa
Pharrell Williams — Piece by Piece
Pharrell Williams is back with his new song “Piece by Piece,” the theme song from his upcoming Lego biopic (yes, you read that right). This upbeat and catchy tune reflects on the power of never giving up and is full of inspirational lyrics that push Pharrell to follow his dreams. With an exciting electronic influence, powerful instrumentals, and an energizing beat, Williams proves why he is a master of movie soundtracks—especially when it’s his own film.— Rachel Rosenfield
TAVE – Difference now
Producer and songwriter TAVE is in the spotlight these days and his new single “Difference Now” is a dreamy, hypnotic R&B offering. Known for his penchant for blending genres, TAVE welcomes singer Stacy Barthe and reggae artist Runkus to team up to create something completely expansive. With horns and a gentle undercurrent, “Difference Now” is something quite sublime. – M. Siroky
This is how I love – On the floor
Before her album All pleasure Out November 1, Thus Love are back with “On the Floor,” an exciting preview of what the Vermon quartet has to offer. The band’s sound is rooted in the rock and post-punk bands of the ’80s and ’90s, with an energy and attitude that feels modern, resulting in a sound all their own. The song’s thought-provoking lyrics revolve around societal oppression, and combined with its anthemic melody, “On the Floor” is a fantastic introduction to what Thus Love do best. — R. Rosenfield
Video Age — Record Store
Video Age have always had a pretty nostalgic sound, but now they’re turning the time machine even further back to the late ’60s and early ’70s with “Record Shop.” Fittingly, the track is an ode to music – more specifically, it’s about someone who works in a record shop and just loves his job. “I eat calypso and jazz for lunch,” sings singer Ross Farbe, before boasting that he’ll tell you who plays keyboards if you name a record. It’s a really sweet dedication to the audiophiles who put their heart and soul into their job at the local record shop, and Video Age would appreciate throwing them a big “thank you” the next time you buy a vinyl record. — P. Ragusa
Song of the week – Artwork:
Single artwork “Neva Play (ft. RM)” by Megan Thee Stallion
MJ Lenderman’s Manning Fireworks album cover
Artwork for the single “Let’s Go Back” by Jungle
La Femmes “Clover Paradise” single image
Pharrell Williams’ single artwork “Piece by Piece”
Taves “Difference Now” solo artwork
So I love all joys album cover sotw
Artwork for the single “Record Shop” by Video Age
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Megan Thee Stallion and RM heat things up, It’s MJ Lenderman Fall and other songs of the week
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