Are you ready for the weekend? I am!

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Thomas Inskeep: By making a point of releasing the credits for “Heatstroke,” Harris makes sure that we know that he played (deep breath) Ibanez 1200 Bass, Linn LM-2, 1976 Yamaha UX Ebony Piano, Gibson SG Custom, 1965 Fender Stratocaster, Flexitone, Wurlitzer Electric Piano, and Roland Jupiter-8 on this, along with mixing and producing it. I for one am glad to know it, because this has an organic mellow disco vibe akin to Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories (which, whaddaya know, also featured Pharrell, whose vocals fit settings like this so well), and I’m happy to give credit where it’s due. Harris is, with this and the earlier “Slide” (to which this is immensely superior), clearly taking his music in a different direction in 2017, and about fuckin’ time. Enough of the Rihanna-featuring EDM-pop tracks already; he didn’t always make records like that, and I’m quite pleased he’s remembered that. Young Thug is predictably weird on this, but in an amusing way, and Grande delivers her most relaxed vocal in years, making me think she could have a disco-diva record in her, a la Kylie Minogue (if only!). Most of all, “Heatstroke” is warm. This would make a superb little summer jam — and for me, it will be. I’m kinda shocked by how much I love this single.
[9]

Ryo Miyauchi: Jeffery grabs the best vocal affects from “Kanye West” and “Harambe” to present Young Thug, the singer. His raps become really vanilla as an unfortunate side effect of him fulfilling his rock star dreams, but it’s an alright trade if I can get to hear his voice crack in all sorts of pitches in an otherwise pleasant, almost sterile soft rock.
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Crystal Leww: Old people BBQ music. 
[7]

Alfred Soto: Buttery like most Calvin Harris isn’t, “Heatstroke” might’ve been an insta-hit in the fall of 2013 when the aftermath of “Blurred Lines” hadn’t upset a fatigued nation. So ingratiating is “Heatstroke” that it rubs against your leg begging for you to pet it; so vaporous are the vocals that the song vanishes like mist.
[4]

Will Adams: I’m only just coming around to “Slide,” so I don’t have much use for more tiki bar house, especially when I can get the same or better from The Knocks without all the big to-do.
[4]

Micha Cavaseno: You know, it’s awful nice of Calvin Harris to give handouts to a painfully washed up musician like Pharrell, especially with that beat battle with Timbaland coming up threatening to *vine vox* EXPOSE HEEEEM and remind us we don’t have to look at a geriatric pretend to musicality, when he hasn’t done anything worthwhile this decade beyond a few loosies with Gucci Mane and his verse on “Move That Dope”. Frankly, what is Pharrell even doing here in that auto-tune, because somehow even that glorious plug in still reminds us his voice is shit? Beyond my petulant abuse of the elderly, I am all for the continued yacht-rock career shift of Calvin Harris, as he offers a playful party vibe that isn’t nearly as classicist as when you had your hamfisted Nile Rodgers collabs from various parties a few years back. Also, entirely happy to hear Young Thug on a proper pop record sounding right at home, and next to Ariana Grande which leaves an opening for them to follow up and have a proper “Fantasy” moment together away from this “Hello, Fellow Kids” looking-ass N*E*R*D.
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