Two years soon after its release,
Clairo's "Bags" remains a potent mining of inscrutable attraction and confusion, all beautifully sung by someone who's willing to be susceptible however also terrified at that very prospect. It's also firmly sad in the indie-rock way, pulling from some emo hallmarks. That's what makes
Arlo Parks's new take on the tune so invigorating — over a steady and calm backbeat, the British singer-songwriter unspools the song's drama in a totally stripped-down, late-night, turntable-spinning way. As on her new single "
Hope," and across her impressive debut LP
Collapsed in Sunbeams, Parks lets her voice lead, even as it's swaddled in piano accompaniment. The result is basically meditative, something to soundtrack your own pondering. —
Patrick Hosken