This week the NPP team tackles the new trend of popular R&B taking root in indie music. With new artists like The Weeknd, Frank Ocean, and How To Dress Well, it’s clear that 90’s R&B is making a comeback. This episode explores how it got to this point.The first clue started a few years ago when contemporary bands began covering R&B hits from the 90’s — in 2009 The xx covered Aaliyah’s “Hot Like Fire.” Shortly after, the influence of this sound grew apparent in new indie bands like Gayngs and James Blake. Dirty Projector’s smash “Stillness in the Move” was a watershed moment, in which a pure R&B vocal was paired with the band’s traditionally challenging sound. Now the stage is set for not just artists dabbling in an R&B sound but actual pure R&B artist to be embraced by the independent community, a fascinating and rewarding new trend in music.
The group also announce the winning name of their recommendation segment, Ear About Town. This episode’s segment Jesse, Jaime and Dawson stay with the theme and share their respective favorite R&B song from the 1990’s.
1. “House of Balloons/Glass Table Girls” — The Weeknd, House of Balloons
2. “Transparency” — d’Eon, Darkbloom
3. “Are You That Somebody?” (clip) — Aaliyah, Dr. Doolittle Soundtrack
4. “Hot Like Fire” Aaliyah Cover (clip) — The xx, B-Side to “Crystalized” single
5. “Don’t Take it Personal” Monica Cover — White Hinterland, single
6. “Gaudy Side of Town” — Gayngs, Relayted
7. “Stillness is the Move” (clip) — Dirty Projectors, Bitte Orca
8. “Stillness is the Move” (clip) — Solange, single
9. “Songs for Women” — Frank Ocean, Nostalgia/Ultra
10. “Wicked Games” — The Weeknd, House of Balloons
11. “Ready for the World” — How to Dress Well, Love Remains
Ear About Town
Jesse: “Cupid” (clip) — 112, 112
Jaime: “All My Life” (clip) — K-Ci and JoJo, Love Always
Dawson: “Pony” (clip) — Ginuwine, Ginuwine the Bachelor
