Alternative Rock
Geese Announce Debut Album Projector, Share “Low Era”: Stream
The Strokes have been the Kings of New York for two decades now, but the scuttlebutt around the palace suggests Geese are coming for the throne. The very young Brooklyn rockers — the eldest member just turned 19 — have announced their debut album Projector. It drops October 29th, and to herald its arrival, the quintet have unveiled the new single “Low Era.” The reference to The Strokes wasn’t accidental, and if you listen to previews of Projector you’ll hear many more. Songs like previous single “Disco” radiate a casual coolness, with textured guitar riffs that would slot nicely alongside cuts from Is This It? But music has come a long way over the last 20 years, and Geese are far more than aughts indie revivalists; the band utilizes tempo changes, psychedelic flou...
Jerry Cantrell Announces 2022 North American Solo Tour
Jerry Cantrell has announced a 2022 North American solo tour. The Alice in Chains singer-guitarist will be heading out in support of his upcoming solo album, Brighten, arriving October 29th. The outing will be Cantrell’s first full-fledged solo tour since 2004. Most recently, he performed a pair of intimate club shows with an all-star pickup band in Los Angeles in late 2019, prior to the pandemic. The extensive 2022 tour kicks off March 24th at First Avenue in Minneapolis and runs through a May 8th date at the House of Blues in San Diego. Highlight stops include an April 5th appearance at Irving Plaza in New York City and a homecoming show of sorts on May 2nd at the iconic Moore Theater in Seattle. Advertisement Related Video Cantrell was joined by a large cast of friends and collaborators...
Des Rocs Drops New Song “Imaginary Friends”: Stream
New York rocker Des Rocs has shared the new song “Imaginary Friends.” It’s the latest preview of his debut album, A Real Good Person in a Real Bad Place, out September 24th. “Imaginary Friends” is a propulsive cut about being left alone with your thoughts. “Do you wanna leave me here?” Des Rocs wails. “We’re always in your head, imaginary friends!” As he tells it, there’s a certain anguish when no one can save you from yourself. “Tell me, why do these voices always try to change me?” he sings. “Sick from the noises, they keep whispering.” In a statement, he said, “‘Imaginary Friends’ is a personal anthem that draws from a well of escapism. For me this song brings up all the darkest parts of myself — the journey of the last few years — and deals with all that darkness in one sort of ma...
Heavy Culture: Nova Twins on Racial Identity, Representation of Women of Color in Heavy Music, and More
Heavy Culture is a monthly column from journalist Liz Ramanand, focusing on artists of different cultural backgrounds in heavy music, as they offer their perspectives on race, society, and more as it intersects with and affects their craft. The latest installment of this column features Amy Love and Georgia South of the Nova Twins. UK duo Nova Twins released their debut album, Who Are the Girls?, in 2020. They kicked off 2021 by curating a compilation called Voices for the Unheard, which showcases alternative and rock artists of color. Proceeds from this compilation went to The Black Curriculum, which is an initiative to address the lack of Black British history in UK classrooms. Bandmates Amy Love and Georgia South describe their music as “urban punk,” but it melds several genres together...
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats Announce New Album The Future, Share Single “Survivor”: Stream
A new album from Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats is on the horizon: The Future, the soul-rock outfit’s first record since 2018’s Tearing at the Seams, is out November 5th via Stax Records. To share the news, Rateliff and company have offered a preview with the lead single “Survivor.” The Future was recorded at Rateliff’s studio just outside his home base of Denver, Colorado. “I look at the album overall as a big question,” the musician explained in a statement. “When I was writing the record we were in the middle of a pandemic and our future looked pretty bleak. I just continue to try to write from a place of hope. Then my own neurosis, and maybe being a Libra gets in the way, and I can’t make up my mind. There is this constant back and forth battle in me personally and I am sure...
Courtney Barnett Takes Us Down “Rae Street” on Fallon: Watch
Courtney Barnett is gearing up to soundtrack your Sad Girl Winter with her forthcoming album, Things Take Time, Take Time. To promote the follow-up to 2018’s Tell Me How You Really Feel, the Aussie singer-songwriter made an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where she performed her recent single (and previous Song of the Week) “Rae Street.” Sonically, “Rae Street” feels warm and rugged, and Barnett’s remote performance suited the song’s ambiance perfectly; she and her band set up in a dimly-lit lounge area that looks like a mix between your neighborhood speakeasy and your favorite grandparent’s living room. It’s the type of setup that makes you want to curl up in one of the big upholstered chairs in the corner and watch Barnett’s magnetic songwriting unfurl in front of y...
Stone Temple Pilots and Bush Announce Fall 2021 Co-Headlining Tour
Two bands from the heyday of ’90s alternative rock, Stone Temple Pilots and Bush, are joining forces for a co-headlining 2021 US tour. The run will set off September 30th in Mesa, Arizona, and wrap up October 17th in Oklahoma City. Black Map and Devora will provide support. A press release promises an “an unforgettable night of music,” with each band taking turns closing out the night in various cities. Advertisement Related Video Tickets for the shows go on sale to the general public starting Friday, August 20th, at 10 a.m. local venue time via Ticketmaster, with pre-sales beginning Thursday. A limited amount of $20 tickets are available for certain dates. In addition to the dates with Bush, Stone Temple Pilots will hit the road on their own headlining run from October 18th through Novemb...
Nick Cave and Warren Ellis to Soundtrack New Movie Blonde About Marilyn Monroe
Longtime collaborators and friends Nick Cave and Warren Ellis have reportedly been working on a soundtrack for a new film about Marilyn Monroe. The movie, currently titled Blonde, is directed by Andrew Dominik and is scheduled for release later next year, notes The Guardian. When asked about what it’s like working with Warren on projects like these, Cave said it’s “an incredible privilege” that he doesn’t take for granted. “In any situation, he wants the best for me and I want the best for him,” he said. “We have basically developed a way of working where we both relinquish control of the music we make together. We spend many hours improvising music together, sitting and playing in good faith without the politics and power grabs of many partnerships. We just let the songs find themsel...
Billy Joel Performs “Iris” with Goo Goo Dolls’ John Rzeznik at Buffalo Concert: Stream
Billy Joel had a surprise for the crowd present at his show in Buffalo on Saturday night: an appearance by none other than the Goo Goo Dolls’ John Rzeznik. “Welcome to my hometown,” the frontman told Joel after being brought onstage at Orchard Park, NY’s Highmark Stadium to cheers from the assembled concertgoers. From there, he launched into his band’s biggest hit — 1998’s “Iris” — with some help from the legendary piano man on keys. “And all I can taste is this moment/ And all I can breathe is your life/ And sooner or later, it’s over/ I just don’t wanna miss you tonight/ And I don’t want the world to see me/ ‘Cause I don’t think that they’d understand/ When everything’s made to be broken/ I just want you to know who I am,” he wailed on the second verse and subsequent chorus as the crowd ...
Wednesday Share New Album Twin Plagues: Stream
The new album from Wednesday — no, not that Wednesday — is here. Twin Plagues, the latest release from the Asheville, North Carolina quintet, is indie rock in the truest sense of the phrase, released via the Chicago label Orindal Records. Twin Plagues includes the single — and our Song of the Week Honorable Mention — “Handsome Man.” On this album, Wednesday tap into many tried-and-true ‘90s touchstones. You can hear flashes of Pavement’s unpolished, lo-fi charm, The Breeders’ knack for earworm melodies, Codeine’s hypnotic slowcore, and My Bloody Valentine’s trademark roaring guitars. Altogether, however, Wednesday make these well-worn references feel fresh across the 12 tracks of Twin Plagues. Lyrically, Wednesday aren’t afraid to step into the surreal: “I think the magical realism/absurd ...
CHVRCHES Cover Echo & The Bunnymen’s “The Killing Moon”: Stream
If you’ve ever thought the music of CHVRCHES had a bit of an ‘80s goth feel, that comparison checks out. Today, the synth-pop trio have shared a cover of Echo & The Bunnymen’s classic 1984 hit, “The Killing Moon,” available to stream exclusively on Amazon Music. “We’ve been waiting to do this forever, so it only feels right that ‘The Killing Moon” be our first proper cover this year,” CHVRCHES wrote on social media. They also mentioned their shared affinity for the 2001 psychological thriller, Donnie Darko, which featured “The Killing Moon” on its soundtrack: “‘Killing Moon’ feels almost synonymous with Donnie Darko, which is a film we all love.” Stream CHVRCHES’ cover of the track below. This isn’t the first time CHVRCHES have paid homage to their ‘80s goth forebears this year; earlie...
The Replacements Announce Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash Deluxe Reissue
The Replacements are celebrating the 40th anniversary of their debut album, Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash, with a deluxe edition reissue. Due out October 22th via Rhino, the new set boasts 100 tracks, 67 of which are previously unreleased rough mixes, alternate takes, and more. Along with the 4xCD/1xLP set comes a 12×12 hardcover book with rare photos and liner notes from Replacements biographer Bob Mehr and their former manager Peter Jesperson. In addition to remasters of the album’s original tracklist, Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash (Deluxe Edition) includes some of the Minneapolis band’s earliest demos as a burgeoning punk act. Advertisement Related Video You can also hear the first professional live recording of the band, taken in January 1981 at Minneapolis’ iconic 7t...
