ICYMI is a series featuring new and notable releases you (and we) may have missed
Art by Enne Goldstein, you can find more of their work here
Shilpa Ray — “Manic Pixie Dream Cunt”
One of the comments in Shilpa Ray’s newest video reads: “Gracias por endulzar nuestra vida con tu grosera energía.” This translates to, “Thank you for sweetening our life with your crass energy.” This immediately caught my attention. For starters, “Manic Pixie Dream Cunt” has the visual impact of a punch in the face, and in reality it is that and more. An anthem, a modern feminist manifesto, a way to reclaim oneself. And hey, if you feel like the word “cunt” is too much for you, did you know it is the oldest known word to describe a vagina, and not only that, the word itself is connected to old societies and even Shakespearean euphemisms. In fact, ‘cu’ is associate with the basis of both the words ‘cow’, and ‘queen’. Then there is Kunti, the Hindu Goddess of the universe! You should dig in a little yourself, and not let history make a quick (almost predictable) impact. If anything the imagery that Amos Poe provides in “Manic Pixie Dream Cunt” is filled with a variety of women’s revolutionary moments. Those same moments reflect the still increasingly raging gender war and how the attitude and perception of women have changed in time. If the boys could call us groupies, then we can call ourselves whatever we want, and if “bitch” is not pulling your strings anymore then cunt is the new kid in town. And if not Shilpa Ray, will ” Burn this palace down.”
— Lola Pistola
Bright Eyes — “One and Done”
I would expect nothing less from Bright Eyes than the spiraling, cinematic, teetering-on-the-edge-of-a-breakdown track that “One and Done” is. As Conor Oberst’s voice is echoed softly by collaborator Miwi La Lupa, we’re taken through a progressively unraveling orchestral movement that seems to mimic the loss of sanity when coming to terms with the terrifying world we’ve found ourselves in.
— Lauren Khalfayan, managing editor
Dream Wife — “So When You Gonna…”
A stark contrast to the Bright Eyes track, if you’re fighting your depression spiral and thinking instead about the good ol’ days (or dreaming about the future when we can get back to some sort of normal), “So When You Gonna…” is the perfect song for you. A first person POV of a Dream Wife gig from inside the viewer’s mouth, the video is a celebration of live music, sexual autonomy, and the playful punk energy the group embodies so well. Will 10/10 make you wanna kiss your friends.
— Lauren Khalfayan
Squid — “Broadcaster”
Creating an atmosphere where technology and nature exist in the world simultaneously and it feels like Big Brother is watching us, “Broadcaster” is a synth-ier departure for Squid. One of the many things I enjoy about Squid is they truly do not give a fuck about what is conventional or expected. They’ll flip a song on it’s head at the 3:30 mark and say, “fuck it, this isn’t the song you thought it was going to be.” I don’t usually have strong visuals associated with the music, but listening to this it’s hard not to have vivid imagery of digital waves and rainforests going through your head.
Ian Sweet — “Sword”
The opening of this song sounds like some beautiful cooing extraterrestrial being. Moving more and more into the “dream pop” world, “Sword” effortlessly floats along as singer Jillian Medford shares her innermost feelings on the both the strength and vulnerability of one’s body.
