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Taylor Swift Supports Indie Record Stores with Free Signed Copies of folklore
Taylor Swift has surprised independent record stores around the country with signed copies of her new album folklore. Many shops reported unexpectedly receiving a package of 30 autographed CDs, and have been posting pictures with the hashtag #recordstorefolklore. folklore is a self-consciously “indie” effort, created with The National’s Aaron Dessner and featuring Bon Iver. It’s also the top-selling record of the year, released by one of the most famous people on the planet. With this gesture — hand-signing hundreds of CDs and shipping them all around the states — Swift may have given herself arthritis, but she’s also given these record stores her time and the power of her colossal celebrity. It worked — several stores reported selling out the whole stock of CDs in less than an h...
30 Years Ago, Alice in Chains and Jane’s Addiction Gave Rise to ’90s Alternative Rock
Alice in Chains’ Facelift, via Columbia / Jane’s Addiction’s Ritual de lo habitual, via Warner Bros. The rise of ’90s grunge and alternative rock can be traced back to a handful of significant moments, but one date in particular stands out: August 21st, 1990. On that same day, Alice in Chains and Jane’s Addiction released Facelift and Ritual de lo habitual, respectively, signaling a new shift toward textural, artful, heavy music. The albums parallel one another in myriad ways — from sonic congruencies to shared influences — a point best illustrated by mutual producer Dave Jerden, who worked on both LPs successively. The addictive ethereal vocals of Perry Farrell and the group’s eclectic blend of metal, post-punk, and funk had already caused a turning point in pop music wh...
Gorgon City Rework Sonny Fodera and Dom Dolla’s “Moving Blind”
In June, Sonny Fodera and Dom Dolla released their collaboration “Moving Blind,” which they had previously teased on their joint tour earlier this year. Just two months later, the pair have released the first official remix for their collab, whipped up by none other than Gorgon City. Gorgon City’s remix of “Moving Blind” is a class act reconstruction of the original, stripping away some of the more complex elements and refining the heart of the track. The English duo’s flair is present throughout, as their minimalistic approach has become unmistakable to longtime fans and critics alike. Listeners who already had “Moving It” on repeat will certainly welcome this rework, as it gives them a fresh version of the tune to rinse. Fans sho...
BLVK JVCK Drops Rip-Roaring Dubstep Edit of iMinikon’s Viral Hip-Hop Single “I’m Tryna”
Even as TikTok faces a permanent shutdown in the US, its imaginative and vibrant community of users have remained as creative as ever. Such is the case with iMinikon, whose viral hip-hop single “I’m Tryna” serves as both a speaker-rattling rap anthem and a phlegmatic middle finger to the news of TikTok’s dubious fate. Renowned electronic producer BLVK JVCK has now arrived to pour gasoline on iMinikon’s explosive single in the form of a rip-roaring dubstep remix. Using thunderous 808s and vicious bass patches, which run roughshod through the track’s drops, BLVK JVCK delivers a mind-bending hip-hop and trap hybrid for the TikTok age. You can listen to his “ReVibe” below. Following the December 2019 release of “I’m Tryna,”...
Calvin Harris and The Weeknd Tease Rumored Collaboration, “Over Now”
Good news in the music world has been rare lately thanks to the wrath of COVID-19, but in one fell swoop, Calvin Harris and The Weeknd delivered some that set the industry ablaze. The two superstars took to social media to tease a forthcoming dream collaboration that many are dubbing “Over Now,” simultaneously sending their fanbases into a fever pitch. The Weeknd shared an Instagram post that shows the two hanging out with a bunch of Solo cups, adding the cryptic caption, “Don’t get too confused…” Harris opted for the platform’s Stories feature, sharing a video of the purported collaboration, which features funky, acid-inspired bass and R&B falsettos that could easily be attributed to the Grammy-winning “Can’t Feel My Face̶...
SNBRN Returns with Massive Malcom Anthony and Anthony Isaiah Collab, “James Brown”
With his new single “James Brown,” SNBRN goes above and beyond his reputation for all things house. Out today via Ultra Music, “James Brown,” featuring Malcolm Anthony and Anthony Isaiah, is a seamless incorporation of both classic house energy and new wave funk. Five years in the works, it’s an exciting release from SNBRN, going beyond his beloved synth-heavy style with groove-inducing percussive elements and a smooth guitar riff. Featured above SNBRN’s arrangement are Anthony and Isaiah, whose vocals bring a special human touch to “James Brown.” From Anthony’s velvety flows to Isaiah’s soulful intonations, each artist adds a special dimension to the song, transforming what could have been a typical house track into one tha...
Mark Lanegan and Dylan Carlson Collab on Cover of Galaxie 500’s ‘Summertime’
Screaming Trees alum Mark Lanegan and Earth singer/guitarist Dylan Carlson dropped their take on “Summertime” as part of the ongoing Galaxie 500 series, a video project of 20 bands covering songs from the short-lived but influential trio that formed in the late ’80s. The initial plan was a concert of Galaxie 500 covers in conjunction with Record Store Day, but it was scuttled due to the pandemic. In a statement from Los Angeles, Mark Lanegan states: “Dylan Carlson and I giving the garage treatment to one of my favorite songs by one of the all-time great bands.” In the clip, Lanegan sings and plays tambourine, while Carlson is on guitar. The song is from Galaxie 500’s third and final album, 1990’s This is Our Music. Other artists participating in the Galaxie 500 series i...
Sia Shares New Song ‘Riding on My Bike’
For anyone looking for some new music that’s great for the whole family, Sia has you covered. Her new song, “Riding on My Bike,” was released today (Aug. 21). The sing-song piano-driven children’s tune effortlessly shows Sia’s affinity toward the carefree, fun and whimsical. The message is simple. The pop singer is going for a bike ride around the neighborhood and talking about what she sees. “Riding on My Bike” is part of the new Atlantic Records children’s music benefit compilation, At Home With the Kids, which includes 24 classic children’s songs, lullabies and even some brand-new original tunes. Net proceeds will be going to benefit Save the Children. Along with Sia, Anderson East released his take on “I Ain’t No Zebra I’m A Bumblebee” today. “Very happy we could all make some music in...
Duckwrth Is Ready for the World to Feel SuperGood Again
For the last seven years, L.A. rapper-songwriter Duckwrth had the album title SuperGood in the back pocket of his overalls, saved for a rainy day. One problem: Life hadn’t quite given him that super-good feeling yet. But 2020 almost did. At least in the beginning, when he hopped in the studio and recorded his entire new project in just a month. He finally felt he’d achieved his vision — that the world could mirror the joy he hoped for in his major-label debut. Well, things change. Duckwrth’s record is arriving after a pandemic has halted everything in its path and as the fight for racial justice has taken priority over album release plans. But none of that meant he had to sacrifice SuperGood. He just had to tweak his mindset a bit. “It’s like shining the light in the cave,” ...
Coheed and Cambria Share ‘Jessie’s Girl 2′ Video Featuring Rick Springfield
Coheed and Cambria wrote a sequel to Rick Springfield’s ubiquitous 1981 #1 hit “Jessie’s Girl,” and the follow-up, “Jessie’s Girl 2,” furthers the lyrical narrative in unexpected and comic ways. The Grammy-Award winning Springfield plays a hapless bartender in the video, a version of the lovesick character from his original “Jessie’s Girl.” In a statement, Coheed and Cambria vocalist/guitarist Claudio Sanchez asks, “Has anyone ever written a sequel to another artist’s song? I don’t think so. As a fan of movies, it just seemed like a really interesting idea. Let’s just say it’s not a fairytale ending. It’s kind of like a National Lampoon’s movie meets So I Married an Axe Murderer.” The song’s concept, tackling the premise that “he got the girl,” then wonders, “where are they...
Facelift Turns 30: Musicians Salute Alice in Chains’ Debut Album
“Dark.” That word came up the most as SPIN spoke to nine musicians about Facelift, the groundbreaking debut album from grunge gods Alice in Chains. Thirty years later, it’s the ultimate description for the album’s bleak sound, anchored by the tortured lyricism of frontman Layne Staley and guitarist Jerry Cantrell. While 1992’s Dirt is widely considered Alice in Chains’ masterpiece, 1990’s Facelift introduced the world to Staley’s hypnotic voice and the band’s ominously groovy approach. The album — released this very day, three decades ago — explored somber lyrical themes like death, drugs and censorship. And on classic songs like “Love, Hate, Love,” “Bleed the Freak,” “Sea of Sorrow” and the MTV-endorsed “Man in the Box,” they helped define the ...
The Killers Bring ‘Blowback’ to The Late Show
The Killers’ new album, Imploding the Mirage is finally out today (Aug. 21). And the band celebrated the release by debuting their new single, “Blowback” on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert last night (Aug. 20). Unlike their previous quarantine performances, this one shows the full band, while still socially distanced, back together onstage. As Bobby Olivier pointed out in his SPIN review on the album, this song, along with the rest of the LP, is “an easy bridge to the next arena tour.” Even though it may take a while until we get back to that kind of live event, it was nice to see what the Killers are bringing to the table with “Blowback,” which Brandon Flowers and Ronnie Vannucci, Jr., initially shared on the CBS This Morning in April. But now, we get to see the whole group play it, an...
