The desire to see an ex after years of separation is a scenario I’ve played out before, but when it awakens in a dream, its vividness can be alarming. The conversations I entertain in my head more often than not manifest themselves in my dreams, especially when it comes to misgivings about old flames. Shy Girls is not only a band that deserves your ear, but also willingness for an acute emotional connection.
People talked through Shy Girl’s entire set and when they finally played Trivial Motion, not surprisingly, I felt alone in my bubbling enthusiasm for the track. I saw Shy Girls open for Slow Magic at the Roxy in Los Angeles and it reminded me of seeing Rhye at Coachella-both groups were too intimate and emotionally intricate for the occasion. It’s not hard to put my finger on why I fell for Never Lost so hard: I’m still nostalgic for Came Along. The familiar Amtrac hook that kicks in at 3:30 and builds into a cathartic crescendo. That chorus hook is bittersweet in that it’s hopeful but despondent-it mirrors that feeling of being able to see a future with someone and at the same time open to succinctly moving on to something new. There’s illusive grandeur within the production of Beg For It, an ethereal pulse that warbles into existence just before the chorus and fully kicks-in as Zuri Marley assures us she’s not going to take an unresponsive lover’s bullshit sitting down. This is a list of songs from 2017 that soundtracked creative ventures, initiated impromptu dance parties, and also found me in moments of solace. I put significant digital wear and tear on these puppies last year.