"How Do I Make You Love Me?" by The Weeknd
"How Do I Make You Love Me?" works because it understands seduction in sound design.
Weekly Track
Thoughtfully curated weekly deep dives on a single track worthy of your time and attention (and your hifi gear.)
"In The Air Tonight" by Phil Collins
A soft pulse, a bit of synth drift, a vocal that barely rises above a murmur. It feels simple, but that is all a trap. The third act hits like train.
"Work It" by Missy Elliot
Effortlessly cool. Instantly iconic ear-candy. The vocal track here is laid back and uber-confident. The bass digs, the layers are thick, and the detail is off the charts.
"Summer Madness" by Kool & The Gang
These synth hooks flood the track like some Kubrickian elevator filled with deliciously alien tones taking your mids and highs to the limit.
"Keith Don't Go (Live)" by Nils Lofgren
There are live recordings, and then there is "Keith Don't Go (Live)" by Nils Lofgren. It's a masterclass in acoustics. No studio trickery. Just wood, wire, and energy.
"Golden" by HUNTR/X
The pop craftsmanship here is off the charts and provides the scaffolding for an astounding vocal performance that is equal parts power and vulnerability.
"God's Gonna Cut You Down" by Johnny Cash
One of the last recordings by Johnny Cash. You can hear every mile of hard-living in his voice. The power is gone, but what’s left still amazes.
"Free" by VAST
“Free” feels massive from the first bars. Thick sub bass, a punchy rhythm section backing reverb-drenched vocals, and fuzzed out guitars all build to a surprising end.
"Cecilia" by Simon & Garfunkel
An astounding stereographic image that puts you right in the middle of a drum circle. This one feels like home.
"Garden Grove" by Sublime
Riding shotgun in my friend's crappy car in 1996, listening to Sublime cracked something open for me: emotionally, musically, even spatially.
"My Sharona" by The Knack
Lead guitarist Burton Averre’s full-length "My Sharona" solo doesn’t just cut through the mix. It burns a hole in the track.
"Lean on Me" by Bill Withers
There’s no flash here. Just weight. “Lean on Me” moves slow. A steady piano, a dry snare, claps that surround, and a jaw-dropping vocal performance.