So it's never a great thing when the first thought that crosses your mind when listening to a new single by a fantastic group is: Why? Why did you decide to record this song out of all the songs in the world? Unfortunately, that was my initial thought, but thankfully, not my ending one with Tufts Jackson Jills's latest relase, This Love. Obviously, the why this track deals with is allegations and the problematic nature of the lead singer of the original artist. Why in our Lord's '24 would a collegiate women's group want to record this? It's the same trepidation I had with The BluesTones covering Poison a few years ago. And just like with them, the end result is much better than the fear I had going in. The sapphic twist more than makes up for some of the misogynistic lyrics in the song.

It's a bop. The background is rich and enthusiastic throughout from both a production standpoint and musician execution. All the ladies are singing. I'm really taken by the depth of the basses throughout as the roundness of the sound thumps through the speakers so very well. Disha Bhowmick is a captivating soloist without being overly theatrical. There is a sense of sincerity and authenticity that makes for an enjoyable listen. The arrangement is a bit static at the beginning, and I thought it was going to be too much of a transcription ... and then the second verse kicks in and the creativity and the awe-inspiration kicks in, too. I wish arrangers Abby Sommers and Sara Velazquez had reimagined the entire track in this fashion instead of just that stellar jazzy R&B cut in the middle. The surprising groove invigorates the rest of the track.

So even though there was an initial side-eye thrown bombastically when I got this assignment, there are definitely parts of This Love that I love.