It sure is: Halsey, “Nightmare” – Uh, Halsey is the Paul Revere of the impending nu-metal revival. Who knew? Stylistically, “Nightmare” is her take on rap-rock (where rock is defined by, I don’t know, the guitar-less offerings of Twenty One Pilots.) It’s interesting to see a vintage genre defined by machismo and misogyny turned into something of an empowerment anthem in 2019—I only wish that she would’ve pushed it harder, and made this song as violent-sounding as its lyrical intent. Also: Is that really Debbie Harry near the end of the video? Dang. —Maria Sherman
Yes: French Vanilla, “Suddenly” – Fans of skronk-y new wave post-punk free of all that self-serious nonsense, look no further than Los Angeles’ French Vanilla. “Suddenly,” their latest, is playful and weird, and Sally Spitz’s chorus of “I like the nightlife/I’m in the spotlight/I want to live life,” is the energy I want to bring forth this summer. —MS
Yes: French Vanilla, “Suddenly” – Fans of skronk-y new wave post-punk free of all that self-serious nonsense, look no further than Los Angeles’ French Vanilla. “Suddenly,” their latest, is playful and weird, and Sally Spitz’s chorus of “I like the nightlife/I’m in the spotlight/I want to live life,” is the energy I want to bring forth this summer. —MS