The Singles Jukebox

Still waiting on the Joseph Kahn video…

[Video]
[5.78]

Alex Ostroff: NAO’s delightfully funky February 15 EP bopped its way into being one of my favourite releases of 2015, so I’m disappointed that she’s following it up with what is essentially a decent but unexceptional AlunaGeorge rehash. Hopefully the tempo picks up again in 2016.
[6]

Will Adams: Two points of interest: when NAO swoops from her high perch into a rounded alto in the first verse, and the introduction of a lurching, growling bassline. These occur within the first fifty seconds of the song. Good luck with the rest.
[5]

Katherine St Asaph: Five years ago this would have blown my mind. Twenty years from now this will be cool to rediscover. Now, it’s a pleasant-to-listen-to reminder of the influence of Alessia Cara and AlunaGeorge.
[7]

Crystal Leww: “Bad Blood” helps me realize how good George Reid is at making beats that ultimately feel dynamic and how great Aluna Francis is at utilizing her relatively thin voice. The comparison is too easy to make. Unfortunately for NAO, the winner is also too easy to declare.
[4]

Thomas Inskeep: What a weird, unique voice: the tone NAO uses makes it sound really thin, verging on tinny, but in this case it’s kind of refreshing and pairs nicely with the glacial Disclosure-does-neo-soul groove. A delicious slow grind.
[7]

Alfred Soto: The electronic whoops and erratic rhythm complement NAO’s vocal experimenting, but the insistence on its novelty grates on me. I can imagine Disclosure not liking the look of things.
[5]

Brad Shoup: The wide-legged wahs are straight from Chalmers Alford’s playbook. NAO and the track are woozy enough: the guitar acts like a headrush from snapping to. 
[8]

Patrick St. Michel: All the woozy electronic touches and wonky vocal manipulations burbling around this are nice enough, but “Bad Blood” is primarily a great backdrop for NAO’s vocals, which really pack the punch.
[7]

Micha Cavaseno: *Infomercial Vox* WITH PITCH-TUNING ON SYNTHS AND VOCALS, YOU TOO CAN CONVINCE PEOPLE YOU’RE ALTERNATIVE AND NOT JUST RATHER MIDDLING!
[3]