Popular actress Maya Hawke released a compelling second album this past month. PHOTO CREDIT: Pitchfork.com
September had me falling for some of the most heartfelt and attentive music releases of this year.
Recognized mainly for her role as Robin in the “Stranger Things” series, Maya Hawke dropped her second studio album entitled “Moss.” If there’s one thing that stands out throughout Hawke’s discography, it’s her warm tone. I would categorize her as a hybrid of Phoebe Bridgers and Maggie Rogers — two of the most praised artists currently in the pop genre. Hawke, however, will not stay in the shadows of these “big-time” names: she’s bound to make her own mark.
“Moss” is notably lyrical. The message behind every song is striking, even when her vocals are airy, almost mimicking a weak gasp for air. Hawke interweaves simplicity and risk as acoustic guitar glides alongside sincere songwriting.
My favorite pick off of “Moss” is easily “Luna Moth.” Through hyperbole, Hawke finds her own version of a story known all too well: ruining something you love the most. You can feel the hurt in this track as she sings “I don’t need anyone to hurt me/ I can do that myself.”
Alternative band Lake Street Dive covered some of their all-time favorites on their latest release, “Fun Machine: The Sequel.” This is the second EP of its kind coming from Lake Street Dive, where the band puts their own spin on tunes from past legends — Dionne Warwick, Shania Twain and The Cranberries to name a few. Lake Street Dive does a fantastic job upholding the integrity of the original versions of these songs.
Their contemporary take adds a new perspective to each song, reinventing the wheel while simultaneously paying homage to it. Their choice of covers ranges from 1970s pop to quintessential funk, which falls closer to Lake Street Dive’s original class of choice.
Being a lifelong Carole King fan, it’s hard to choose anything as my favorite from this album besides Lake Street Dive’s cover of “So Far Away.” Lead singer Rachel Price mimics King’s expressive, soulful voice as the instrumentation holds a steady beat beneath. It could never top such a legendary original tune, but it edges near.
Noah Cyrus upholds the family name in “The Hardest Part,” an album debuting some deeply personal stories from her past and present. The collection opens with Noah Cyrus admitting, “When I turned 20, I was overcome/ with the thought that I might not turn 21.” Having gone through substance abuse and coming-of-age in the limelight, much like her sister Miley, Noah Cyrus opens up about the pain that comes along with the whole world watching.
“The Hardest Part” pays critical attention to detail, especially in terms of harmony and style-play. She touches on folk, pop, country and indie in only 33 minutes. It’s an impressive feat for any artist, let alone one whose “official” experience is still emerging.
“I Burned LA Down” is my definite favorite out of the 11 tracks. It’s a song with just enough body to compliment a personal story while not overpowering the movement of Cyrus’s lyrics. She sings “You can’t make a God of somebody who’s not even half of a half-decent man,” alluding to her past relationship and very public breakup with rapper Lil Xan. Regardless, she speaks her truth in this song and embodies a strong female figure for her fans who might need a reminder that their worth is endless.
Here’s a list of some honorable mentions that caught my eye this month:
“Belinda Says” by Alvvays
“Coyotes” by Bill Callahan
“No Big Deal (I Love You)” by Dodie
“29 – Stripped” by Demi Lovato
“Why Not?” by Christian Leave
“You Don’t Go To Parties” by 5 Seconds of Summer
I’ll have these releases on repeat until October sums up. As always, check out these tunes on your streaming service of choice, as well as the Good Five Cent Cigar’s various podcasts.