The Random iTunes Fairy is aiming for a theme weekend, it seems. As with Nellie McKay, yesterday’s selection, Fleet Foxes are a band I abandoned years ago only to second-guess my decision.
The difference is that McKay has continued to record in the ensuing decade, while Fleet Foxes released one more album and have since unofficially split.
It’s been almost ten years since I last paid attention to Nellie McKay. Her 2006 album Pretty Little Head, on which today’s random SOTD appears, was an uneven follow-up to her delightful debut, Get Away From Me, and it removed any desire I had to stick with her.
In hindsight, that wasn’t very fair to Ms. McKay, who is undeniably talented at both songwriting and singing across multiple genres. Most people are allowed three strikes.
Rounding out Billboard’s top five is another track by The Weeknd, who’s having a hell of a week. The Canadian artist’s second studio album hits stores today and based on the success of its first three singles, it’s bound to be a blockbuster.
‘The Hills’ is another track, like ‘Can’t Feel My Face,’ that centers on drug use and relationships — Abel Tesfaye appears to be as infatuated with drugs as he is with women.
Crawling up Billboard’s Hot 100, reaching its peak position (so far) at #4, is Major Lazer’s ‘Lean On.’ My family was introduced to this track several months ago by the soft-spoken 13-year-old son of a friend.
Major Lazer (a trio currently made up of popular DJ Diplo along with lesser-known DJs Jillionaire and Walshy Fire) enlisted Danish singer MØ to handle lead vocals on this song. She also contributed Gwen Stefani-esque dance moves to the colorful video below.
‘Watch Me’ by Silento sits at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 this week. The track is an extended invitation for the audience to watch Silento (a 17-year-old hip hop artist hailing from Atlanta) perform various dance moves — whip, nae nae, bop, stanky leg, you get the picture.
This song is borderline tuneless and devoid of any lyrical merit whatsoever, but the video has its charms.
