New Music
James Blake Drops New EP Before
Surprise! James Blake is back with a new EP. Though he’s stayed quite busy (at a dizzying pace), it’s the first proper release from the singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist/producer since…last year. Either way, the dance-pop EP is a tip of the cap to Blake’s days coming up as a DJ in London’s club scene, yet he manages to push forward with a new sound. In celebration of the release, Blake is going back to the Boiler Room to DJ his first set there since 2013. The set will be livestreamed at 10 pm BST/5 pm EST/2 pm PST on Friday (Oct. 16). Listen to it below. Here’s the tracklisting for the EP: 1. I Keep Calling2. Before3. Do You Ever?4. Summer Of Now You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with giving ...
CARM (of yMusic) Shares New Song “Land” Featuring Justin Vernon: Stream
After a decade of guesting on high-profile albums, founding member of yMusic CARM (CJ Camerieri) will drop his star-studded solo debut CARM next year. His latest single is “Land”, which reunites him with Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon. yMusic is a contemporary classical ensemble, and over the last few years they’ve become one of the most in-demand backing bands in the world. Led by trumpeter Camerieri and violinist Rob Moose, they’ve appeared on recent Bruce Hornsby efforts Non-Secure Connection and Absolute Zero, Paul Simon’s In the Blue Light, and Ben Folds’ So There, to name a few. Camerieri has also won two Grammy awards as a member of Bon Iver, and he comes highly recommended by that group’s lead singer. As Vernon said in a statement, “CJ and I have worked together ...
James Blake Surprise Releases New EP Before: Stream
As announced just 24 hours ago today, James Blake has released a new EP called Before. Stream it below via Spotify. Before follows Blake’s 2019 full-length Assume Form and spans four tracks in total. As the title suggests, the London musician revisits his early work in dance club music — the same era that spawned his self-titled debut LP, one of the best albums of the 2010s — for this new project from the comfort of his home studio in Los Angeles. According to Blake, most of the material was recorded in 2020 in between covering popular songs. A handful of notable guests are featured on Before. Composer Nico Muhly provided guest assistance, as did Mount Kimbie, who previously partnered with Blake and slowthai on last month’s “Feel Away”. Blake also tapped Erick Arc Elliott, who he worked al...
Bad Religion Share New Song “What Are We Standing For”: Stream
Venerable L.A. punks Bad Religion have returned with a new single, “What Are We Standing For”. It’s a sincere political anthem just in time for the impending November election. The song’s titular question is on the minds of many this election season, with the future course of US politics seemingly at stake. Per the press release, the song is in solidarity with athletes who decline to stand during the national anthem and for those who have “taken a knee to protest police brutality and racism.” “In this time of tribal nationalism, dissent, as a form of political speech, is vital to democracy,” co-songwriter and guitarist Brett Gurewitz remarked. The track is an outtake from Bad Religion’s 2019 album, The Age of Unreason, and would have fit nicely on that record. It’s a rollicking uptempo roc...
Testament’s Alex Skolnick Unleashes New Rap Song “Wear a F**king Mask”: Stream
This year’s most unlikely political rap star, Testament guitarist Alex Skolnick, has returned with a second pandemic anthem: “Wear a F**king Mask”. The thrash guitarist surprised everyone last month when he dropped the hilarious “Trump Sucks” rap — a homemade ditty with a clear and direct political message, given the impending November elections. Consider this new track the B-side to “Trump Sucks”. Tragically, the basic safety measure of wearing a face covering during the pandemic has become a divisive political issue, with President Trump remaining defiantly apathetic toward mask regulations despite contracting COVID-19 himself. Well, Skolnick is having none of that. He might not be the most gifted rapper, but that’s part of the satirical humor, as Skolnick himself admits. “My recent home...
Claud Signs to Phoebe Bridgers’ Label, Shares New Song “Gold”: Stream
Earlier this month, Phoebe Bridgers launched her very own record label called Saddest Factory, and today she’s announced the imprint’s inaugural signing. The Brooklyn indie pop musician Claud (they/them) is the first artist on the roster, and they’re kicking off the partnership with a new song called “Gold”. Bridgers previously said that her vision for the Dead Oceans imprint is “good songs, regardless of genre”, and “Gold” definitely qualifies. Previous Claud tracks like “Wish You Were Gay” (not to be confused with the Billie Eilish tune) and “If I Were You” were more outwardly melodic and brisk, but “Gold” has has a resigned haziness to it. Claud’s frustration with the ending of a relationship comes through not just in their fatigued vocal delivery, but also the misty harmonies and ...
Cloud Nothings Announce New Album The Shadow I Remember, Share “Am I Something”: Stream
This past July, Cloud Nothings dropped a surprise album titled The Black Hole Understands, written entirely during quarantine. They’re back today with the announcement of yet another full-length record: The Shadow I Remember is due out February 26th via Carpark Records. The band is also prepping a reissue of their debut LP, Turning On, in honor of its 10th anniversary. The Shadow I Remember sees the indie rockers reuniting with Steve Albini at his Electrical Audio studios in Chicago. The veteran producer previously worked on Cloud Nothings’ acclaimed Attack on Memory, one of our favorite rock albums of the 2010s. According to a statement, frontman Dylan Baldi came up with nearly 30 demos before finally whittling down the new album to 11 tracks. And instead of leaning into hi...
John Frusciante Shares ‘Brand E’ Off Upcoming Maya
John Frusciante, who has been in and out of the Red Hot Chili Peppers over the years (his status since 2019: in), has dropped an electronic single, “Brand E,” as part of his prolific solo work. It’s from his upcoming solo album, Maya, releasing next week. A statement describes the video as: “A short abstract sci-fi, filmed in various areas of his hometown Los Angeles, starring himself as the Observer and Lee Bootee as the Blind Follower. Directed by Amalia Irons and produced by Aura T-09. Featuring Tanya as Maya.” Dedicated to his cat of the same name that died recently, the guitarist said, “Maya was with me as I made music for 15 years, so I wanted to name it after her. She loved music, and with such a personal title, it didn’t seem right to call myself [solo moniker] Trickfinge...
Julia Jacklin Unveils New Songs “to Perth, before the border closes” and “CRY”: Stream
Australian songwriter Julia Jacklin has unveiled a pair of new songs: “to Perth, before the border closes” and “CRY”. Both cuts are available as a 7-inch as part of the Sub Pop Singles Club, Vol. 5. As you probably guessed from the titles, these tracks were written in quarantine. This past March, Jacklin was nearly finished with a year-long world tour in support of her excellent sophomore album Crushing, when the Australian government issued a series of lockdown orders. After half-a-decade of nearly nonstop touring, Jacklin was forced to pick a spot and stay there. She chose Perth, and “to Perth, before the border closes” was written in that moment of turmoil. She sings, “I loved it there/ That city held me/ Don’t you know that everything changes?” In a statement, Jacklin explained wh...
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SEVENTEEN Release Highlight Medley Video for New Album ; [Semicolon]: Watch
K-pop group SEVENTEEN have released a highlight medley video for their upcoming new album, ; [Semicolon]. Watch it below. ; [Semicolon] is the second special album SEVENTEEN have recorded. It’s currently scheduled to be released on October 19th, and they’re going big by making the physical version available in 13 different variants, one for each member of the group. To shake things up before the record hits streaming services, SEVENTEEN decided to gift fans a preview of each track. The six-song medley begins with the chipper finger snaps of retro opener “HOME;RUN”. It’s followed by the anthemic trap number “Do Re Mi (도레미)”, the pop-forward “HEY BUDDY”, and the jazzy rap “Light a Flame (마음에 불을 지펴)”. The album then closes out with the acoustic synth song “AH! LOVE” and the mellow closer “All...
Angel Olsen Shares New Song, ‘Time Bandits’
After appearing on NPR’s Tiny Desk (At Home) concert last week, Angel Olsen has treated fans to a new song on Instagram. “Time Bandits” is a piano-driven ballad that repeats a set of chords the directs the focus to the lyrics. It clocks in at just over 11 minutes. She sings, “I want you I want you I need you right now / To be here and lay down and get on the ground / And hear it and feel it and know that you’re bound / To the earth to each other, and that’s where it’s found / The love that we wanted the future we need / We can’t do it alone, we have to believe / In each other in each other be as thick as thieves.” Olsen penned “Time Bandits” after coming home following a trip to St. Louis a few weeks ago. She did hesitate to post it, but “against better judgment I’ve decided to put new son...
Portugal. The Man and “Weird Al” Honor Indigenous Peoples with New Song “Who’s Gonna Stop Me”: Stream
Portugal. The Man and “Weird Al” Yankovic, photos by Ben Kaye Portugal. The Man and “Weird Al” Yankovic have joined forces once again, but this time it’s not to turn beloved indie songs into polka jams. Instead, they’ve collaborated on a new track, “Who’s Gonna Stop Me”, in honor of Indigenous Peoples Day. Produced by the Grammy-winning Jeff Bhasker (Kanye West, Rihanna) and co-written by the legendary Paul Williams (David Bowie, The Love Boat theme), the song also features contributions from The Last Artful, Dodgr. A peacefully powerful call for freedom, the opening verses are meditative before a rattling drum beat turns it towards invigorating. “Sneaking out, jumping over backyard fences/ We’re all just looking for freedom,” sings “Weird Al” on the second verse. “I’ve got an ...
