California indie-pop singer and songwriter Remi Wolf continued the rollout for her upcoming debut LP Juno with the release of two new singles, “Anthony Keidis” and “Front Tooth,” along with accompanying music videos. The two-track bundle follows previous singles “Grumpy Old Man,” “Quiet on Set,” “Guerilla,” and “Sexy Villain,” which were also released as two-song bundles in anticipation of the album’s October 15th release.
“Anthony Keidis” rides a funky groove, fittingly for a song named for the frontman of punk-funk pioneers the Red Hot Chili Peppers, albeit driven by keyboards, multi-tracked vocals, and a Spotify-ready catchy melody. Wolf documents some of her personal and emotional struggles through nearly free-associative lyrics, running through a list of issues while throwing out comparisons to the Chili Peppers and middle-aged soccer moms while maintaining a decidedly upbeat tone. Twice she breaks into an extended chorus of “na na nas” that would seem to be expressions of pure joy if not for the lyrics’ matter-of-fact distress.
The video continues the aesthetic of Wolf’s previous visuals, as well as her general stylistic approach, blending decade-old visual effects and editing styles with an intoxicating collection of neon colors, instantly recognizable backgrounds, and semi-ridiculous outfits.
“Front Tooth” is deceptively sparse and hard-edged, driven by an extremely funky drum part that recalls a dozen classic backbeat samples, slowed to the edge of recognition, leaving it rocking back-and-forth with the air of a skilled boxer keeping his opponent off balance.
Fittingly, the music video features Wolf pretending boxing in an otherwise empty ring, channeling all of the anger that she also expresses in her vocal delivery. She sings with an extremely rhythmic delivery that at times verges on rapping or shout-singing to the beat before she moves into the chorus.
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