music blog

Belle and Sebastian recently released a new album called A Bit of Previous, but if you check the tracklist, you’ll notice that there is not a title track. Weeks after the album’s release, the band has now released a new song called “A Bit of Previous.” Check out the animated video from Graham Samuels and Henrik Appel below. Stuart Murdoch came up with the video’s concept. “The song touched on the themes of karma and reincarnation,” Murdoch said in a statement. “In the clip a woman journeys through her life ‘seeing’ people’s karma. She sees what they are and what they will become. She sees people who are doing well, who are gods in this life. ‘Just because you’ve got the highground/Doesn’t mean you’re have the most fun.’ She imagines them transform into different life forms, even into walki...

The 1972 self-titled album from Neu!—the Krautrock project of Michael Rother and the late Klaus Dinger—turns 50 this year. To celebrate, a 50th anniversary box set is coming on September 23 via Grönland. The vinyl and CD boxes come with the band’s first three albums (and, for the CD box, Neu! ’86), plus a new tribute album featuring remixes and reworks from the National, Mogwai, Idles, and others. Find the tracklist and the “Hallogallo” remix from Stephen Morris and Gabe Gurnsey below. In addition to the box sets—which also come with a booklet and a stencil of the album’s iconic logo—their debut album Neu! will also be reissued on cassette and picture disc on June 17. The Neu! catalog previously got a box set reissue from Grönland in 2010. Content This content can also be viewed on the sit...

Sasami has released an alternate version of her Squeeze song “Tried to Understand.” The new rendition features Dinosaur Jr. frontman J Mascis on lead guitar and Ty Segall on drums. Listen to the heavier take—complete with shredding guitar solos—below. “‘Tried to Understand’ was a song that took many forms before it became what you hear on my album, Squeeze,” Sasami said in a press release. “This rawer cut with J Mascis is kind of a peek into the different dimensions and moods one composition can inhabit. This version features Ty Segall on drums, me on bass and guitar and J on the ripping leads and backing vocals. It’s the less cute version of what spinning out can sound like.” Squeeze is the second solo LP from Sasami, who previously played in Los Angeles rock group Cherry Glazerr. Sasami’...

Reigning Sound, the Memphis-born rock group led by Greg Cartwright, are disbanding after 20 years. Cartwright announced the news today (June 8) on social media, noting that they are calling off their upcoming summer European tour. “We are also formally announcing the end of the group,” Cartwright wrote in a statement. “COVID has proven to be a long-lasting concern and more difficult to navigate than anyone could have anticipated. Rather than compromise ourselves or our fans, I have decided this is the right time to dissolve the band.” Find Cartwright’s full statement below. Following his time as a member of Compulsive Gamblers and Oblivians, Cartwright formed Reigning Sound in Memphis in the early 2000s. The original lineup included Cartwright, Jeremy Scott, Greg Roberson, and Alex Greene....