'THE THREAD' of WILLOW'S wicked wisdom

Weeping Willow

By TIM DAVID HARVEY 

As per, there is plenty of music out this New Music Friday from her peers. The headliner Charli XCX's 'Music, Fashion, Film'. The legend Shania Twain's 'Little Miss Twain'. And The Strokes recording the new 'Reality Awaits' of autotune with super producer Rick Rubin out in Costa Rica. Yet, nothing, Sinead playing Prince, compares to the wicked wisdom of Willow Smith, right now. Word to her mother Jada's heavy metal act.

Pops may have got jiggy wit it, as the most famous member of the family. As successful as they come, from Bel-Air and rap's first Grammy, to multimillion-dollar movies that survived the slap, and the "only reason your a## went to Miami." Whilst her older brother, Jaden, may have got their first on his own 'Pursuit of Happyness'. But the tear, or should we say 'The Thread', of what Willow has been on is like nothing, or nobody else, right now. Even outside of her growing artistic family tree. 

The same singer, who shaved her head at the age of ten so she didn't have to keep performing her monster hit 'Whip My Hair' for Jay-Z, on tour with Justin Bieber, so she could be a kid again, has almost released ten albums. And she's only just a quarter of a century young. Imagine what she'll have at 50. Or even just 30. Her latest ('The Thread') is more than an eight wonder. It's her second this year, after February's formidable 'Petal Rock Black' in black and white, with arms and hands held together. Not to mention, her fifth since 2021's 'Lately I Feel Everything'. Most don't have this much in ten years. Let alone half a decade.

Coming out of corona with her 'Coping Mechanism' the following year and 2024's epic 'Empathogen' the extra trick up Smith's sleeve, is that none of them sound the same. It's been like this for 'Willow' ever since the amazing artwork of the 'Ardipthecus' debut on Roc Nation and 'The 1st' second album. And now, this 'Thread' returns to her roots and the veil of some vivid visualizers, following the NPR NMF favourite 'Talk On The Hill' and it's iconic music video.

Blending progressive R&B, jazz and a meditative feeling, 'She's My Religion' is the high note however and where the iconography gets really legendary. Especially in the lyrics, "She's adorned in constellations/Kissing her skin, oh, woah/Each star, a quiet warning/Nature always wins/Her grace is a river raging straight towards the sea, oh/I am not worried 'bout a raft/Her voicе is inside of me and I know." No wonder pops is proud as punch on Instagram.

Creating its own musical language, the purple haze and reign of the album artwork intrigues. As does the title track and the 'Hell To Pay' if you miss out on this heaven sent talent, just because you wrote off the family name of hair whipping fame. This 'Tall Baby' stands higher than all that in 'The Present Moment' of an original sound that pushes the envelope of every genre in an artificial time in need of more, real intelligence and elements in the art form that needs to offically drop the "ficial" responsibility. 'Bone Collecting' like Denzel, the 'Unconditional' love sings, "I wanna be a part of your family/I wanna laugh and drink whiskey with your mother/I want to live in the in-between/Where this love is not about you or me/You or me, oh" in simple, signature odes to match the outstanding grooves.

Refusing to 'Shrink To Fantasy' ("I told you the truth from the start/Not a joke, not a game/Just the shape of this heart"), the most talented member of a terrifically so family is a star in her own right. NPR's New Music Friday album consideration tells us RIYL (recommended if you like) Frank Ocean. But to be frank, as outrageously talented as he is, his output has nothing on us. We recommend him, if you like HER. A 'Crush On Eternity' and the forever push of music that comes with Mei Semones harmonizing "I've kissed desire and called it grace (Mm)/You wrotе your name across my face (Yours always). This is what mainstream music really yearns to be. This thread will go on forever more.

THE STROKES use of autotune on 'REALITY AWAITS' is a stroke of genius

Reality Beats

By TIM DAVID HARVEY 

Back in 2009, Jay-Z declared the 'Death of Auto-Tune' on his smash single 'D.O.A.' from his trilogy conclusion album, 'The Blueprint 3' (still not getting why this cover's prime colour was red, but let's digress). An artificial singing style popularized by the legendary likes of T-Pain. Who since that G.O.A.T. crucifixion has put out some lovely Motown albums, showcasing his vocal skill sans the digital lifts. 

He wasn't the only one, back then. Not to mention, this high-note lob pass goes as far back as Blackstreet singing into plastic straws for hits like 'Don't Leave Me' and 'No Diggity' off the 'Another Level' album. Not to mention, the late, great Roger Troutman of Zapp (and a hilarious Chris Rock skit) hooking 2Pac and DR. Dre's 'California Love' remix. And check the original, where, as my college friend once pointed out, "he goes sick." "Computer. COMPUTER!" Absolute genius.

Another stroke of genius, pun intended (twice), comes with Julian Casablancas and The Strokes new album 'Reality Awaits'. Produced by the creative act of God producer, Rick Rubin, and their first album since 2020's 'The New Abnormal' during COVID times. This seventh seal of a nine-track wonder is another great to add to a classic catalogue ('Room On Fire', 'Angels'). Back in 2001, when The Strokes asked 'Is This It', like a leather glove on the hip, The Strokes, like Rock N Roll Hall of Fame White Stripes, alongside them took it back to the good ole, simpler times and recording techniques. Just like the 'Elephant' in the room of London's Maida Vale studios.

This RCA and Cult record, dubbed "even sexier" like the 1980s Nissan 300ZX in the band's Instagram teaser video, focussed forward however. Despite the reality of the 'Awaits' album artwork and its Richard Prince Marlboro man like 'Cowboy'. And it's a master move, like putting 'The White Lotus' favourite actor Walton Goggins in the 'Going Shopping' music video, alongside the sci-fi needle drop of the 'Falling Out Of Love' second string single. 

Lip-syncing (how apt in all this) Casablancas' "Like a tiger, they will chase you down/With words instead of claws/They will seduce you 'til you reach the point/To let yourself get mauled, oh/The worse reality gets, the less you wanna hear about it/Solidarity can be difficult/When you got cool stuff to lose" lyrics, like Saturn's rings laced around a cherry, Goggins shows he really is a rock star Decked out in a 'Miami Vice' city story proud suit. Although, anyone whose seen him 'Dreamin' Wild' with Casey Affleck in the true story of Donnie and Joe Emerson's 1978 debut album finally coming to light, knows this is already all too true.

That same song was distributed on promotional cassette tapes to promote this album recorded in Costa Rica with Rubin. One that features standout tracks like 'Lonely In The Future', 'Liar's Remorse' (what a title) and 'The Fruits Of Conquest'. But from the ode outset of some 'Psych S###' to the storybook end of 'Tyrants Of The Mellow Moon', it's the use of autotune that really amazes and sets the tempo for this new reality that's anything, but abnormal. Just await it, as Julian harmonizes "Forget the things that they did, yeah/Obey the words that they say, yeah/Get it on my desk on time, yeah/Got plans, I'm going online." The 'Dine N'Dash' of this album is anything but a dime a dozen. The rap game may have left the autotune's ring on the bedside table, but here, it rocks.