Miguel just announced his upcoming album CAOS this week, and he’s wasting no time in getting the rollout going. He’s already offered up a preview of the album’s title track through an exclusive listen on his S1C.LA site, where he’s offering other exclusive sneak peeks ahead of the album’s release. He’s given us the set’s first official release with the new cut “New Martyrs (Ride 4 U).”
Soundwise, “New Martyrs’ is Miguel in classic form. Perhaps that’s because the song is written and produced by the artist himself. It seamlessly mixes rock and R&B, something the performer has been doing from the very beginning of his career, but especially during his Wildheart album era. This time, however, he’s coming with even more edge thanks to the song’s subject matter.
Miguel plays the role of an outlaw on the track, with the verses detailing his plans for a robbery that he hints may be in response to the current state of the American system. The song takes us from conception to actually putting a plan in motion. But throughout the track, he makes sure to check in to see if his lady is really down for the cause.
“If you tell me that you’re with it, babe / Are you with it, babe? / Tell me that you’re with it, babe / ’Cause I’m with it, babe,” he sings, both asking for her support in the caper and getting her permission to move forward as well.
By the third and fourth verses, we’ve moved from planning to action, with the risks of the stick-up now coming into focus. But rather than back away, he’d rather go down for the cause in a blaze of glory while planting one last kiss on his love.
“New Martyrs (Ride 4 U)” might be one of the most cinematic songs that Miguel has ever released. It also bodes well for the quality of what will be included on CAOS when it arrives in October. Give the song a spin when you head below.
