42 Moons - Madeline Rae (R&B/Pop) With “42 Moons”, Madeline Rae laments a prior relationship, deceptively confident in her conviction that the kind of hot/cold affair she was subjected to is not something she needs or wants going forward—we learn in the final moments of the track that she is only “faking it until she makes it”. The track casts a spell with a production that almost feels like an incantation, as the gentle vocal “ohms” serve witness to a delicate vocal lead. First off, the production is masterful—a close and intimate vocal with punchy percussion slicing through a moody synth and piano backdrop. The track is also chock full of tension and release, and the vocal layering and harmonizing in particular are incredibly engaging. And thankfully, Madeline pulls it all home with rousing and clever lyrics, both in the words themselves and in the arrangement. That ramp up into the chorus is delicious every time. One of our favorite tracks of the year.

Best Lyric: “Nobody’s jealous when I talk to my friends. Nobody’s lying about smoking again.“