“Attention” by NewJeans, Friday, February 23, 2024 & 2024+ and Top 23 or '23 Number 1: "Nothing More" by Anberlin!

 

I'm taking a break from writing this week and just delivering playlists. I don't have any parasocial commentary on NewJeans. I don't know much about this group of teenagers and feel too old to relate to it. Their massive 2023 hit "Super Shy" gained critical acclaim around the world and was shortlisted by many critics as a favorite song of the year. Instead, today, we're looking at the big songs from the last two years and songs that might be big this year. 

NewJeans has not yet released a song in 2024. Their output in 2023 was impressive. But I thought I would go back to where it all started in posting my Spotify edition of 2024+, with their song "Attention." The 2022 song fits my requirements for songs released within the past two years. The Apple Music edition will come later.  I will also reveal my favorite song from last year at the post's end!

1. “Nothing More” by Anberlin. I was iffy on the latest Anberlin EP, Convinced. I still haven’t covered one of the songs. It was certainly interesting. Almost every song was heavier than most of their discography. It also contained the lead single “Lacerate,” which featured lead vocals by guitarist Christian McAlhaney with Stephen Christian only singing backup, blending in with McAlhaney and producer Chad Carruthers who screams in the chores. But that’s a post for another day. The song of the year is the last song on the EP. “Nothing More.” It starts as a synth-driven Anchor & Braille-sounding track. It’s a love song; presumably, Stephen is writing to his wife Julia. “Are you convinced?” seems like a follow-up to 2014’s “Atonement,” the song that Stephen convinced his audience that Anberlin is back together. But then there was the announcement in October that Stephen would be stepping down as touring frontman indefinitely, replaced by Memphis Mayfire singer Matty Mullins. “Nothing More” brings back the classic 6+ minute closer Anberlin is known for. The track builds on its synth foundation. Multiple singers join Stephen on the bridge. The lyrics of the song end receding into a mellow jam session--mood music, almost worshipful. First, a 1975-style saxophone solo plays as the band jams for nearly two minutes before dropping out to a tranquil ocean sound with the “worship” keyboard playing a few more chords. The EP finishes with nearly two minutes of waves lapping on the shore. It’s only a shame that Anberlin didn’t have a more cohesive work for this beautiful song to conclude. I admire Anberlin for taking the risks rather than making their formula album, but I would much rather have had a full Anberlin album with the experiments they put on their two EPs, a few classic-sounding tracks to tie the experiments together, and beautiful songs like “Nothing More” to finish the record. But for all of Convinced’s flaws, the EP ends flawlessly. “Nothing More” concludes my search for the best song of last year because after hearing it, I quite literally thought nothing more could be better than this song. The return of my favorite band, a new sound, and a saxophone!