Y/N is a guide to the week’s music releases based on our highly scientific, non-subjective Yes/No rating system.
Y: Syd, “Bad Dream/No Looking Back”— These two-songs-in-one were released earlier this week to announce an upcoming project from Syd, a “feature soundtrack” (whatever that means) called Always Never Home, due out September 9. It sounds like that’ll be two full-lengths from Syd in 2017 (we raved about her solo debut Fin when it was released in February), which means we’re just too damn lucky. This track, particularly the longer “No Looking Back” section is more carnal sweetness from The Internet leader (“We only kiss when we fuckin’ / So we don’t get too attached”) over a sample of Jodeci’s “What About Us.” Syd’s given us an embarrassment of riches already and the “feature soundtrack” isn’t even out for another two weeks. —Rich Juzwiak
Sure, why not?: French Montana featuring Mariah Carey and Swae Lee, “Unforgettable (Mariah Carey Remix)”— Maybe just for the sake of attaching herself to a bonafide hit during a years-long commercial rough patch, Mariah jumps on French Montana and Swae Lee’s sublime sonic approximation of summer breeze, “Unforgettable,” and the results are... fine? She’s in airy mode here and her presence makes a compulsively listenable song no more compelling. At the same time, it doesn’t make it less compelling. It’s a minor victory, but at this point, I get the feeling that when it comes to impacting popular music, MC will take what she can get. —RJ
Sorry, babe, but I can’t: Demi Lovato, “Tell Me You Love Me” — The only Demi Lovato song I am willing to accept into my heart is “Cool for the Summer” and that’s because I heard it so many times when it came out that it bore its way into my heart and now I can’t get rid of it...like herpes. This song—a jangly, up-tempo number that vacillates between desperate pleading for love and weak reassurances that everything will be all right—sucks. Sorry! —Megan Reynolds
Y: Miguel featuring Travis Scott “Skywalker”— The answer to “Where the hell is Miguel and all his beautiful music?” (for now) is this bass-thick song with a smooth hook and its semi-goofy video—full of neon lights, celebration shots, booze and scenes of Miguel “Luke Skywalk-ing on these haters” in a comfortable silk shirt. I consider this a cool, playful filler as we wait for a full project from him. —Clover Hope
Y: I’ve been enjoying A$AP Mob’s Cozy Tapes Vol. 2: Too Cozy all day today upon its release, but an early standout is “Please Shut Up,” with A$AP Rocky, KEY, and Gucci Mane, who all just want everyone to shut the hell up over a rather mournful, tiptoeing little beat. This is my every late summer mood. —Julianne Escobedo Shepherd