It’s Something Magic And I’ll Never Quit

Magdalena Bay “Only If You Want It”

There is no shortage of young artists aiming for late 90s/early 00s pop aesthetics, but a real dearth of artists who can actually provide this beyond a surface-level glossiness. But here’s Magdalena Bay, a duo who have somehow written a bright, hyper-infatuated bop with the melodic grace and effortless bounce of an actual early Britney Spears hit. “Only If You Want It” sounds great and feels very authentic in large part because the composers understand that writer-producers like Max Martin were aiming to replicate ‘90s R&B, and the bones of the song are rooted in those traditions even if the aesthetics are all neon plastic and overbearing sunshine. They push the cheery hyper-pop vibe to an extreme, and follow through on a conceptual level with lyrics that come across as playfully unhinged as they push the “I’m obsessed with my crush!!!” boilerplate sentiments of teen pop to a deranged conclusion.

Buy it from Amazon.