ARTS AND CULTURE

‘Crash’: another failed mainstream attempt

By JASON FRANK

JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

Charli XCX’s new album “Crash” came out this week on March 18. It’s an electro-pop confection that is designed to bridge the gap between Charli’s experimental side and the music that might actually be played on the radio. In that regard, it’s probably a failure.

Charli had a few brushes with mainstream success early in her career: she scored a feature on Iggy Azalea’s number one hit “Fancy,” had her song “Boom Clap” featured in “The Fault in Our Stars,” and sang lead on Icona Pop’s “I Love It.” But in 2015 she swerved away from the pop mainstream by releasing “Vroom Vroom,” an “avant pop” record produced by experimental electronic music producer SOPHIE. Instead of a B-List celebrity pop star, Charli transitioned into a role as an A-List indie pop star and has released a slew of experimental EPs and albums since. A common joke is that her music now sounds like pots and pans clanging together, but while pots and pans won’t make it on the radio, she’s certainly had a niche.

Then, last year, she released “Good Ones.” “Good Ones,” a pop single about being bad at dating, was the most typical song she’d released in years. With it came the tweet “rip hyperpop,” hailing the end of the experimental genre she’d previously been lumped into, and, in many ways, been the biggest star of.

Now, four attempts at “mainstream” pop singles later, comes “Crash.” The album rollout and simultaneous transition into more typical pop have not been without hiccups. At one point, after a tepid fan response to her single “beg for you,” she released a statement asking people to stream it anyway so she could write more avant-garde pop later. She also called a fan a “c*nt” for fnding the singles mediocre. The album is here, but it wasn’t an easy journey.

Yet for all the histrionics accompanying the album’s release, it’s a very good electro-pop album that, surprisingly (given Charli’s shouting about creating something mainstream), doesn’t sound like the current mainstream at all.

The biggest stars in pop music of the past few years have been Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, The Weeknd, Dua Lipa, Lil Nas X, and Ariana Grande. Charli sounds like none of these people. Of the mainstream sound, the closest she gets is via the ever-popular ’80s inspiration which is also present on The Weeknd and Dua Lipa’s recent albums. But, while they err on the side of Michael Jackson and Madonna musically, Charli sounds like Stacey Q, Rick James, and Janet Jackson. It’s easier to listen to than her “potsand-pans” content, but sanding off the edges of her sound hasn’t made Charli more current.

But while she’s still unlikely to get a real radio hit out of the album, that hasn’t proved detrimental to the music. The title track begins the album and is the most reminiscent of her hyper-pop past in its use of vocal splices, but now they’re melded with a new jack swing infuence that’s indicative of Charli’s larger approach to reference.

New jack swing was a trend beginning in the late ’80s, combining R&B with rap and dance music for a peppy, excited, manic music style. Despite our cultural music obsession with the ’80s, new jack swing hasn’t really made a revival in the 2010-20s. Yet Charli, ever the pop music intellectual, can take the manic quality of new jack swing and combine it with the similarly manic nature of her electronic pop. It works well, allowing current Charli to combine her predisposition for energetic, dizzying music with a previously mainstream music tradition.

The strongest song on the album is its eighth track, “Lightning.” Charli has long shown a facility with toneshifting pop centerpieces (“Track 10,” anyone?), but here she refrains from the attentiongrabbing clanging that defned her previous entries in this category. Instead, “Lightning” grabs attention through its sheer number of hooks and constant left turns. Its slow start belies a bright yet morose electronic love song that seems to be more regretful of love than anything.

“Lightning” works partly because it contrasts the album’s largest faw: the songs are simply too short and it’s the fault of her mainstream pop ambitions. “Lightning” is the only song over three and a half minutes, and thank God for that because the tonal shifts the song makes require a longer time. For some reason, the mainstream trend of short songs is the sole one that Charli has actually followed through. Spotify’s economic strategy has rendered short songs more proftable as it means more of them can be played, and it’s led to situations like Ariana Grande’s “Positions” having no songs longer than four minutes.

It’s unfortunate that Charli has followed suit. Many of her songs here could use a little breathing room — they’re all so jammed with songwriting “moments” that it can be hard to catch your breath, and it hurts the album as a whole. Listening to “Crash” straight through means that a strong song is likely to be missed because these short, intense bursts of energy blend together. “Move Me” and “Every Rule” in particular are lost in the shuffe of the album’s near-constant push forward.

The short-song issue is particularly diffcult to grapple with because of its purely commercial nature. Charli knows better than this. For all her intelligence as a writer, she is seemingly incapable of identifying her audience. None of her singles off this album have charted in the United States, but she’s creating music as if she expects to go to the top 10. The strongest parts of the album are the moments when she lets the mainstream go. Hyper pop may be dead, but Charli XCX, pop auteur, needs to live.

HOROSCOPES

Weekly horoscopes

By MADDY DULONG

JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

Aries

This week sees the very beginnings of Aries season and the astrological New Year! This brings more energetic, can-do vibes, a perfect match for the warmer weather approaching. This week also brings Mercury falling into Aries this Sunday, the 27. This could lead to very short attention spans on everyone’s part. Use this to your advantage — keep things short and sweet and it might make more of an impact than a long, drawn out explanation. Keep an eye out for new passions that may arise this week, whether it be a new fing, new friendships or new opportunities. This new passion may fzzle out just as fast as it appeared. Allow things to take time to settle down, and plant roots before going headfrst. Taurus

Happy astrological New Year, Taurus! Use this extra Aries energy to spark new fames in your life! However, don’t get too caught up in the fast-paced Aries season: make sure not to put too much on your plate. This Sunday, Mercury leaves your 11th house and enters Aries in your 12th house of spirituality and karma. As Mercury is the communication planet, you may be feeling some “divine intervention” or spiritual inspiration. Allow inspiration to come from unexpected sources, and really just roll with the punches the next few weeks, Taurus. Mercury in Aries is a great opportunity to take hold of any anxiety or nerves that may be plaguing you and make breakthroughs by communicating with others and through various types of therapy. Gemini

Aries season is upon us, Gemini, as is the start of the astrological New Year! Some tips for this Aries season: listen to your emotions, especially your anger. Aries is a fre sign, and the frst sign of the zodiac, often nicknamed the baby of the zodiac, so you may fnd yourself feeling more passionate or impulsive about even the smallest issues. Find some outlet for your anger in a healthy way this Aries season! Also keep in mind, Mercury enters Aries this Sunday, landing in your 11th house of community. You may fnd yourself at the height of popularity at this time! Take advantage of it. Spend quality time with friends and prioritize your free time for what you want to do! Cancer

Love yourself a little extra this Aries season, Cancer! Aries is the ruler of self-love, and it is important to embrace that this season! Think a little extra about the people in your life and what they contribute. Prioritize those who serve you well, and think a little extra about those who may not have the best intentions. Mercury lands in Aries this Sunday, and right into your 10th house of long-term goals and your career. You may see a boost in your charisma and communication skills. Reach out to some connections this month, or even schedule an interview during this time. Keep in mind how important networking is, and communication being boosted in that area during this time allows you to make the most of what you have! Leo

Listen to your heart this Aries season, Leo. You might feel an extra boost of energy thanks to the sun currently being in your fellow fre sign Aries right now, but don’t let that get the best of you. Take the time this season to ask yourself what is worth your energy. Putting too much on your plate at once can overwhelm you and potentially cause burnout. As Mercury enters Aries this Sunday, it will land in your ninth house of adventure and travel. Widen your horizons during this time! Perhaps attend an event or panel about another culture, or join a cultural club on campus, or even just get out into Waltham and fnd new local places to eat or shop! Virgo

ies season may leave you more stressed than carefree. Take control of the potential bursts of inspiration and energy you may get this season by writing down your ideas and scheduling plans ahead of time. Even with this pre-planning, some chaos can be expected during this season. Learn to open up to what you can’t control, and allow things to go in the direction they are headed. Mercury lands in Aries and your eighth house of intimacy and fnances this Sunday. Be open to talking about your wants and needs with those around you. And be on the lookout for passionate emotions occurring during this time as well. Don’t blow up on someone who may not deserve it!

Photo Courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS ARIES: Aries season started March 21.

Libra

Relationships take priority this next week, Libra! With the Sun currently in Aries and Mercury joining in your seventh house of relationships and partnerships this Sunday, relationships rise in priorities for you! Mercury leaving your productive sixth house could lead to a drop in productivity or motivation, so keep an eye out for that! However, embrace that your personal relationships may be a higher priority these next few weeks! Plan some dates with your signifcant other or even a friend date, and spend some quality time with the people who matter to you the most! If you are currently single, now may be the time to put yourself out there and try a new dating site or give someone your number! The law of attraction works, you just need to put in the effort! Scorpio

Start spring cleaning, Scorpio! Mercury lands in Aries in your sixth house of organization and order this upcoming Sunday! With the Sun in this placement as well, spring cleaning may be at the forefront of your mind the next few weeks. Whether it’s cleaning your room or clearing out your email inbox, take some extra time to prioritize your mental and physical wellbeing and clear out anything that may be causing stress. Don’t try to do too much at once, though. It is never a bad thing to ask for help, especially when cleaning a shared space. Use this Aries season’s “gogetter” attitude to motivate your roommates to help make your space neat and tidy! The sixth house also rules physical health, perhaps use the nice weather this week as an excuse to get outside and get moving! Sagittarius

Romance is on the rise for you this week, Sagittarius! As the astrological New Year begins in Aries, Mercury is also moving into Aries this Sunday, landing in your ffth house of romance and creativity. This double Aries energy combined with Mercury, the communication planet, might lead you to have a major boost in creativity, fun opportunities, and general good vibes. Make plans with friends, a signifcant other, or anyone who wants to have a good time these next few weeks. You deserve it! Be adventurous; plan a fun, unexpected night out with friends. Maybe even go on some dates and open yourself up to new romantic opportunities. Go into this new year with an open mind and a good attitude and really start the astrological year off right! Capricorn

Aries season and the start of the astrological New Year brings new life and energy to you, Capricorn! Mercury falls into Aries and your fourth house of domesticity this Sunday! With spring cleaning underway, your place of residence may become a hive for activity. Especially with Mercury being the communication planet, this is the perfect time to plan a fun night in with your friends or signifcant other. Have a karaoke night, TV marathon, or even a long-awaited gossip sesh! Some solitary self-care activities are always appreciated during this time as well, especially when Aries rules self-love! Splurge on yourself, Capricorn: prepare for the upcoming nice weather by treating yourself to a pedicure or a new summer wardrobe! Aquarius

Communication is on the rise for you this Aries season! As energy and new beginnings are on the rise with the start of the astrological year, Mercury swings into Aries in your third house of communication this Sunday! If you have been meaning to do anything involving writing, speaking, etc. now is the time to get started on that! Even just making an outline for a new project could inspire you more than you think! You may also feel incredibly social in the next few weeks, Aquarius! Any social events will fll that desire for chatting and catching up with friends, even just meeting for dinner or attending game nights. Focus on your communication and harness the power it gives you, as it will become your superpower in the next few weeks! Pisces

Finances rise in your priorities this week, Pisces! With Aries season and the astrological year just getting started, you may be feeling slightly more energetic and inspired than you were previously! Mercury sails into Aries this upcoming Sunday and right into your second house of fnances and work! Use this extra energy and clarity about your money to your advantage! Perhaps rework your budget, or start saving up for an upcoming trip! If you are already feeling pretty confdent as far as fnances go, perhaps use this energy to focus on some other second house rulers, such as your priorities or habits. Cut any habits that may not be serving you and focus your priorities for this new year!

STAFF’S Top Ten

JACK YUANWEI CHENG/the Justice

Top 10 albums and EPs released in 2022 (so far)

By JANE FLAUTT

JUSTICE ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The indie music gods have blessed us this year, and it’s only March. In my very biased opinion, here are the top 10 albums/EPs released in 2022 so far.

1. From 2 to 3 - Peach Pit 2. Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You - Big Thief 3. The Jacket - Widowspeak 4. Shoals - Palace 5. Laurel Hell - Mitski 6. Texas Moon - Khruangbin and Leon Bridges 7. BRIGHTSIDE - The Lumineers 8. Once Twice Melody - Beach House 9. Rose Pink Cadillac - DOPE LEMON 10. Lore - Vundabar

MINA ROWLAND/the Justice

“Both illustrations were inspired by the impact of climate change on the Earth and the idea that humans are primarily the cause of the Earth’s dismay. Initially, both were in response to an art scholarship that challenged me to create art that represents the phrase ‘Conserve Life.’ One is a watercolor piece and the other is mixed media — ink overlaying a photograph. I wanted to use the image of the bottle to allow us to see how one simple object can cause so much pain — within one you see wildlife and the other the ocean. Both symbolize our mistakes and attempt to illuminate how we can fx them.” — Mina Rowland

SUDOKU