Our weekly column Song of the week highlights the best new songs every week. Find these new favorites and more in our Spotify best songs playlist and to see other great songs from emerging artists, check out our Spotify new sounds play list. This week, Remi Wolf runs with the bulls in “Toro.”
If Remi Wolf has a secret weapon when creating his fun, off-kilter take on pop tunes, it's his embrace of the unexpected. It's a thread that ran through the CoSign alum's 2021 debut album, Juno, and it's one that has remained constant in his music ever since. The melodies do not go where the listener anticipates; No moment of silence is wasted, and their ability to harness funk turns what would otherwise be a simple track into a complete playground.
Today, “Toro” has arrived as a dual release alongside “Alone in Miami,” and the former embodies the vibrant, layered sound that Wolf does best. It's details like the guitar that flourishes in the pre-chorus and the particularly husky vocals in the second verse that make it more than a sunny, windows-open listen: Wolf demands all your attention.
“You're a bull and I can't help but say 'bull,'” he sings over pulsing bass. There's also a subtle sincerity to the song, with confessions of wanting more amidst blatantly lustful banter. It's three-dimensional and honest, as fun as it is carefully designed and mixed. And shouldn't that be our standard for pop music, rather than an exception?
In an era where the “let people enjoy things” sentiment has run amok, it seems the standards for pop stars have begun to flatten as well. Remi Wolf is the much-needed bolt of lightning in space, and serves as a stark reminder that creating music that's fun and enjoyable shouldn't stop it from also being interesting and expertly constructed.
— Maria Siroky
Associate Editor
Honorable mentions:
Dora Jar – “She Loves Me”
Dora Jar has returned with “She Loves Me,” a romantic indie rock gem that is as delightful as it is strange. Built almost entirely around a multi-octave bass line, Dora Jar describes a relationship with… a ghost? A lover? Some unknown female entity? Whoever it is, once again, it keeps us all under her spell; Instead of turning up the volume and strangling the song's momentum, like her latest single, “Puppet,” Dora Jar gives way to a strange outro, complete with ghostly coos and seemingly…improvised murmurs. She's proven her excellence for a while now, but one thing that consistently sets Dora Jar apart is her inimitable vocabulary, her irreverence, and her otherworldly spirit. — Paolo Ragusa
Half abandoned – “Ursa Major”
The latest from Half Waif is a cut from their next project, be ephemeral, a title that aptly captures the mystical energy that “Big Dipper” emanates. Her dreamy vocal performances dip and dance over twinkling instruments, which then build on the contrast of drum heaviness and guitar chords. It's a summer song, built for the reality of the modern era. — M. Siroky
Jordana – “My idol (feat. Paul Cherry)”
Remember when Twee was supposed to return a couple years ago? Jordana yes! On “My Idol,” the singer-songwriter, now based in Los Angeles, teams up with Paul Cherry for a bittersweet, mid-paced indie folk jam. “Sometimes it hurts to get what you want/What if it's all just a lie?” Jordana and Cherry ask in harmony as if they were talking, although there is a feeling of loss and inertia represented in the lyrics, not to mention With some solemn violins , “My Idol” is undoubtedly warm and simple. Sometimes a sad song is so nicely crafted that it feels both wrong and right to smile while listening to it. — P. Ragusa
Bear Bear – “all my love”
For the first time since 2022, Oso Oso is back with a brand new tune and, just as we've come to expect from songwriter Jade Lilitri, it's catchy, irresistible and almost perfectly constructed. At just two minutes and a change, the song begins with elegant guitar lines backed by a surprisingly lush indie rock instrumental. About halfway through, Lililtri breaks into the chorus “all my love/(singing) all my life” that takes over the rest of the song. And honestly? It's so good that she could have run that start for twice as long and it would still be too short. — Jonah Krueger
Origami Angel – “Fruit Wine”
In 2022, Origami Angel released two surprise EPs, the acoustic Return and the tough as nails Go out. Last year, they achieved an excellent long-term project, The brightest days. Now, the band has finally entered 2024 with their latest song, “Fruit Wine.” One part melodic power-pop, one part hardcore beatdown, the tune opens and closes with summery, energetic passages of vocal harmonies and powerful guitars. However, sandwiched in between is a proper breakdown for some truly gnarly two-steps. It's the best of both worlds Gami in one song. — J. Krueger
Sour Widows – “Looking at the sky/Shining”
Serving as the epic eight-minute approach to their next release. Rebirth of a friend, “Staring into Heaven/Shining” by Sour Widows is a wonder of indie rock with slowcore influences. Unlike most eight-minute album finales, “Starring into Heaven/Shining” doesn't rely on a big dynamic shift for catharsis. Rather, it's more like a walk through the woods, one with gentle ups and downs that make you stop periodically along the way to kick a rock or admire a bush. With vocal melodies and such compelling guitar work, the tune is a path I would take again any day. — J. Krueger
Vayda – “Baby, baby”
Atlanta-based rapper Vayda loves to mention that she's unique in the scene, and just listening to “Baby Baby” is enough to know she's not exaggerating. In just over a minute, Vayda presents the listener with a flow that demands attention, while at the same time her entire personality is completely unaffected. She is bar after bar of intelligence and warmth, while Vayda floats around as if she requires no effort on her part. — M. Siroky
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