Though I still wouldn’t call myself a fan, XG’s music has appealed to me more and more as their discography has grown. Last month’s New Dance was a catchy earworm, while GRL GVNG felt like their most convincing hip-hop track yet. After months of pre-releases, their first EP has finally been released alongside the music video for Puppet Show. Funny enough, this song feels like an encapsulation of the elements that work and don’t work in XG’s music — almost in equal measure.
I’m into Puppet Show‘s percolating electro groove. The production during the verses is a nice blend of laidback and propulsive, crafting a soundscape that works especially well with the group’s vocals. As the song begins to gather steam, I expect a chorus that takes this sound to its natural conclusion. Instead, Puppet Show switches the beat to deliver a hesitant, trap-influenced hook.
To the song’s credit, these transitions don’t feel as jarring as you’d expect. Much of that is thanks to the group’s performance, which steers the track with plenty of character. However, XG’s music could be offering something much more interesting and exciting. Puppet Show‘s production flirts with experimental sounds but never goes full bore. If you’re going to cut the tempo back for your chorus, we need the arrangement to melt our minds. Hip-hop producers Timbaland and Missy Elliott were always so adept at this kind of minimalist drama, and I can’t help but think a song like Puppet Show deserves a similar approach.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7.75 |
