A police siren, alarms that cut in and out and children's voices kick off tUnE yArDs' "Gangsta," a rollicking anthem inspired by singer Merrill Garbus' move into a violent neighborhood Oakland. "Gangsta" is the audible representation of what it's like to move to a big city: it's loud, it's disjointed, it doesn't feel familiar, and its dissonant sounds can make your head hurt. But eventually, those sounds coalesce in a rhythm, as wild drums and explosive horns turn "Gangsta" into a full-blown dance song. It's easily the strangest, most creative pop tune this year.
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