Ethel Cain’s Fuck Me Eyes is a poignant powerpop anthem

There’s loads of music out there, and sometimes it’s hard to keep up.

Rather than letting the algorithm dictate your music taste, you can listen to Rated by THE FACE – a playlist that’s lovingly curated and updated by our (human) editorial team every week.

Ethel Cain – Fuck Me Eyes

Hayden Anhedönia, known to the world by her musical alter ego Ethel Cain, is currently rolling out her second album Willoughby Tucker, I Will Always Love You. Conceptually, the LP serves as the prequel to her 2022 album Preacher’s Daughter, and on lead single Nettles, the Ethel Cain character was traumatised and trapped in a small town, tormented by dreams of the death of her lover Willoughby.

Second single Fuck Me Eyes, Anhedönia has explained, is an ode to ​“the girls who are perfect and have everything, yet carry the reputation of town slut”. Through Ethel’s conflicted narration, we hear the story of a character with ​“heartbreak red” nails who cruises around town in an old Cadillac, showing up to church straight from the clubs. With ​‘80s powerpop synths and stadium-filling drums, Fuck Me Eyes feels like the spiritual successor to Preacher’s Daughter hit American Teenager. Light up a Marlborough Red, embrace the poignancy. DR

Shelly – Cross Your Mind

When Shelly made a surprise return with two songs last week, the fans went wild. In 2020, the band – made up of Clairo and her best friends Claud, Joshua Mehling and Noa Frances Getzug – debuted with two breezy tracks which became online indie hits (the song Steaaam now has 126 million Spotify streams). Shelly were credited as a featured artist on Claud’s 2021 track Falling With the Rain and then, a four year silence, until they reunited at Clairo’s London show back in March. Clairo takes lead vocals on Cross Your Mind, opening up about the pain and nostalgia of an old relationship, while the band backs her with a shimmering sound that feels like a supportive hug. TL

Alex G – June Guitar

The second single off Alex G’s upcoming album Headlights is the kind of song you feel like you’ve known for ages and yet it still has a fresh shininess to it. The sound palette is comforting and summery, like laying in the grass at dusk on a warm evening. But don’t get too comfortable – the lyrics deliver a gutpunch: ​“Love ain’t for the young anyhow /​Something that you learn from fallin’ down”. JW

John Glacier – Fly With Me

On her debut album Like a Ribbon, John Glacier and producer Kwes Darko perfected a sonic formula, emphasising the emotional potency of the Hackney rapper’s poetry with raw guitars and bittersweet synths. But when John hopped on an old JME beat earlier this year, it was a reminder that she can sound great on harder-edged production too. ​“This is my city, so you need to fly with me /​I’ve seen some hell on earth so I keep it quite gritty,” John raps on Fly With Me, remaining cool and nonchalant while Kwes’s unsettling beat surrounds her like spreading flames. DR

Sainté – Days in the 3 ft. Kairo Keyz & Ledbyher

Leicester rapper Sainté has grinded hard to earn his sizeable fanbase, South Londoner Kairo Keyz recently caught a massive second wind and, right now, Ledbyher is the most hyped new artist emerging from the underground. For the Days in the 3 video, the trio took a trip to Miami to cruise in a Lamborghini, circle yachts on jet skis, stuff shopping bags with Chanel and Balenciaga and sip Don Julio at a mansion pool party. Good for them, they’ve earned it. DR