ARTMS pre-released their track Born Stunner a couple weeks ago and it would be an understatement to say I disliked that song. Every once and awhile, some poor release bears not only the brunt of its own shortcomings but the brunt of being the latest in a long line of similar songs with similar shortcomings. In other words, it was a straw that broke the camel’s back. But to my welcome surprise, the preview for their album sounded much better and that quality bears out on title track Blue Blood.
It’s shocking how uniformly (and quickly!) girl group trends have congealed into this hyperpop-tinged take on early 2010s electro and bloghouse sounds. Blue Blood is a bit more melodic than most of these efforts so far, but still has that artificial — almost tinny — sheen to it. At just under two and a half minutes, the song has been trimmed of any bells and whistles in favor of a brief, concentrated blast of high-tempo electronica.
Because of this approach, it’s hard not to come away from Blue Blood with two opposing feelings. On one hand, I appreciate the energy and love how the track boasts a fully sung chorus that attempts to provide some sort of payoff. On the other hand, everything about Blue Blood is so fleeting. Everything could have been fleshed out so much more than it is and feels rushed without the kind of build that makes these electro-bangers so satisfying. It’s a dynamics issue — all light and no shade. An extended mix would work wonders.
Hooks
8
Production
9
Longevity
8
Bias
8
RATING
8.25