Descendents
A blunt, catalog-driven takedown of American exceptionalism that refuses to resolve into either pure condemnation or dismissal.…
patriotism and its contradictions historical reckoning disillusionment
Anderson .Paak
A brash, funk-driven strut through fame's early rush, where getting high (on success, on a woman, on substances) becomes a…
intoxication and ambition fame's disorientation desire and possessiveness
Sade
A stark, slow-burning meditation on grief and survival, written in the voice of someone descending into loss while insisting on…
grief survival descent and rebirth
The Supremes
A whimsical children's-style Christmas novelty in which a tree-top star sings in the first person about descending from the sky…
childlike wonder generosity and giving holiday magic
Gregory Porter
A soft, devotional love song that treats a romantic partner as a near-mythical arrival — someone who seems to have literally…
romantic wonder divinity/transcendence in love healing through love
Brian Eno
A stark, slow-moving miniature co-written with Cluster's Roedelius and Moebius, this song strips lyric writing down to a handful…
emotional distance stagnation memory loss
