New Song Releases
Joni Mitchell Shares Archival Release Vol. 1: The Early Years (1963-1967): Stream
Legendary songwriter Joni Mitchell has cracked open the vault to reveal Vol. 1: The Early Years (1963-1967), an archival project featuring unreleased music. Stream it in full below via Apple Music and Spotify. Vol. 1 is the first entry in the folk artist’s recently launched Joni Mitchell Archives series. Consisting of five CDs, the inaugural release includes Mitchell’s earliest-known recording, a 1963 in-studio radio performance for CFQC AM in her hometown of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and her first-ever demo, “Day After Day”. There are also early versions of songs like “Michael From Mountains” and “I Had a King”, a 1965 mini set for Let’s Sing Out on CBC TV, and her rare Neil Young cover of “Sugar Mountain”, as well as 1967 New York City home demos of “Free Darling”, “Mr. Junk”, “...
Vin Diesel Still Doing the Music Thing on Second Dance Single “Days Are Gone”: Stream
Last month, Vin Diesel made his music debut with a single called “Feel Like I Do”. The tropical house track saw the Fast & Furious star trade in his tough guy exterior for something a little more relaxed and vacation-ready. Proving the song wasn’t just a one-time fluke, Diesel is back now with a second offering, “Days Are Gone”. Not to be confused with that very good HAIM album, today’s single continues to scream “DJ Dom Toretto in a Hawaiian shirt”. Like its predecessor, “Days Are Gone” is out through Palm Tree Records, the label co-founded by Kygo, who has all but mastered the tropical house genre for island-hopping millennials. It was also co-written by Diesel, Kygo collaborator Petey Martin, and Noah McBeth (a.k.a. NoMBe). Stream it down below. “Something about 2020 led me to this ...
Superchunk Share Halloween Single “There’s a Ghost”, Cover Sisters of Mercy: Stream
Superchunk have returned with “There’s a Ghost”, their first new music in two years. As an extra Halloween treat, the single is paired with a cover of The Sisters of Mercy’s “Alice”. The band’s first original song since 2018’s “Our Work Is Done” and that same year’s What a Time to Be Alive, “There’s a Ghost” is a bopping punk track built on mirrored acoustic and crunchy electric guitar riffs. It taps into the paranoia of 2020 perfectly, as frontman Mac McCaughan wrestles with being trapped inside alone for far too long. “Now its the end of the season and the last of our supplies/So check your fingernails/ Burning through the calendars and E strings/ Oh yeah, we’re breaking all the scales,” he sings. “I didn’t write a song for probably the first six months of the lockdown,” said McCaughan i...
Lil Durk Drops New Song “Stay Down” Featuring Young Thug and 6LACK: Stream
Lil Durk has dropped his new song “Stay Down” featuring a hook from 6LACK and a guest verse from Young Thug. This is the second single from Durk’s forthcoming album The Voice. Produced by Metro Boomin and DY Krazy, “Stay Down” is all about priorities. Specifically, Durkio prioritizes sex and lots of money. With the aid of auto-tune, he raps “Only five star shit, ain’t no thots with us/ Chanel round shades like binoculars/ Diamond nose ring, they think Pac with us.” He’s got punchlines about The Proud Family (“I gave you every Penny like Oscar”), and shows off some non-English vocabulary to prove that women of other cultures and faiths are more than welcome in his bed. But the Chicago native’s line about going “from Harold’s Chicken to eating lobster,” is unlikely to win him many ...
Smashing Pumpkins Drop New Songs “Wyttch” and “Ramona”: Stream
We’re officially less than a month away from Smashing Pumpkins’ new double album, CYR. Following the release of “Anno Satana” and “Birch Grove” a few weeks ago, the Billy Corgan-led outfit is now sharing another pair of teaser songs in “Wyttch” and “Ramona”. “Wyttch” finds the Pumpkins revisiting some of their more ominous musical territories, filled with crunchy and searing guitars. The track comes just in time for the spooky Halloween weekend. The alt-rockers take a mellower approach on “Ramona”, however. Corgan here drops his snarl in favor of a softer vocal delivery, and a coating of ’80s synths give the song a light, glassy sheen. Stream both new singles below. “Ramona” also comes with a Linda Strawberry-directed music video that stars founding Pumpkins members Corgan, James Iha,...
Tegan and Sara Share New Holiday Song “Make You Mine This Season”: Stream
Tegan and Sara have released their first song of 2020. Titled “Make You Mine This Season”, it’s a holiday tune that’s set to appear on the soundtrack for Clea DuVall’s new Hulu film Happiest Season. An upbeat but aching synthpop number, it hears the two Quin sisters pining after “the only girl I’ve got on my list.” “I chase the feeling, ’cause you’ve got me dreaming,” they sing. “I could make you mine, make you mine this season.” The track’s heartache falls in line with the premise of DuVall’s upcoming queer Christmas movie. Per the film’s synopsis, “a young woman plans to propose marriage to her girlfriend while attending her family’s annual holiday party. At the party, she realizes her girlfriend hasn’t come out to her conservative parents yet.” Editors’ Picks Stream “Make You Mine...
Killer Mike Links Up with WooDaReleast for New Song “Greatness”: Stream
Killer Mike (photo by Ben Kaye) and WooDaRealest (photo courtesy of his Instagram) Killer Mike has joined the up-and-coming Atlanta rapper WooDaRealest for a new single called “Greatness”. It’s part of a forthcoming compilation album that Pharrell’s creative collective i am OTHER is releasing in collaboration with SoundCloud. As to be expected with Killer Mike on the track, “Greatness” is a politically-charged banger meant to rally up listeners as Election Day grows ever closer. “Ain’t no savior coming, Black folks gotta save ourselves/ If it come to your life or a crooked copper don’t be slaughtered/ Word to Assata,” the Run the Jewels rapper spits raps in his classic, matter-of-fact flow. At the end of the track, Mike returns with a mini sermon urging people to take to the streets instea...
Gone Is Gone Announce New Album, Share New Song “Breaks”: Stream
Supergroup Gone Is Gone have announced their sophomore album, If Everything Happens for a Reason…Then Nothing Really Matters at All. To tide us over until the December 4th release date, the band’s shared the video for new song “Breaks”, which follows two previous singles that will also be included on the new album. Gone Is Gone features Mastodon singer-bassist Troy Sanders, Queens of the Stone Age guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen, At the Drive-In drummer Tony Hajjar, and composer Mike Zarin. Together, the group of heavy music vets create an accessible amalgamation of stoner and alternative rock. As “Breaks” illustrates, the band has found the elusive threshold between metal and melody. The new album follows the 2017 full-length debut Echolocation and a 2016 debut self-titled EP. While both ...
Common Reveals New Album A Beautiful Revolution Pt 1: Stream
Just in time for what’s sure to be a very tense Election Day, Common has dropped a new album called A Beautiful Revolution Pt 1. Stream it in full below via Apple Music and Spotify. In a statement, the ever-socially conscious and inspiring Common described his new LP as an “affirmation.” He added, “It’s recognition. It’s elevation. It’s music to go with a movement. Because the truth is, there is still so much work to do. Regardless of the outcome of the election, we need to make sure things do not return to the status quo.” The rapper isn’t out protesting by himself, though. A Beautiful Revolution Pt 1 features contributions from the Stevie Wonder and Robert Glasper, as well as Black Thought (“Say Peace”) and Lenny Kravitz and Public Enemy’s Chuck D (“A Riot in My Mind”). Karriem Rigg...
Indigo Sparke Announces Debut Album Echo, Shares “Baby”: Stream
Indigo Sparke has announced her debut album Echo, co-produced by Adrianne Lenker of Big Thief. It arrives January 29th, and Sparke has shared a preview with her new single “Baby”. Sparke is an Australian songwriter who’s been building buzz over the last year, even performing an NPR Tiny Desk Concert right before the coronavirus lockdowns. She’s already made some well-regarded friends. In addition to Lenker, Echo was co-produced by Andrew Sarlo (Big Thief, Bon Iver), and features playing from Nick Hakim and Big Thief’s James Krivchenia. All of those indie darlings are present and accounted for on “Baby”. Lenker sings backup vocals, Krivchenia handles synths, and Hakim tinkers with a glockenspiel. The song is gorgeous and gentle; Sparke sings in an ethereal voice of the kind of lov...
Clairo Forms New Band Shelly, Shares Debut Songs “Steeeam” and “Natural”: Stream
Since releasing last year’s stellar debut album Immunity, Clairo has preoccupied herself with a series of collaborations. Our former Artist of the Month has linked up with producers A. G. Cook and Mura Masa, as well as futurist pop queen Charli XCX and rising songwriter Arlo Parks. Now, Clairo is taking her collaborative spirit a step further by forming a new band called Shelly. The outfit pairs Clairo with Claud (they/them), a Brooklyn-based indie pop artist who also just so happens to be the first act signed to Phoebe Bridgers’ Saddest Factory label. Shelly are rounded out by Clairo’s two old friends from Syracuse, Josh Mehling and Noa Frances Getzug. To coincide with today’s announcement, Shelly are sharing their debut songs “Steeeam” and “Natural”. Both continue the bedroom pop narrati...
Carly Rae Jepsen Shares New Song “It’s Not Christmas Till Somebody Cries”: Stream
What even is “the Christmas spirit” in 2020? I mean, do any of us really think this holiday season is gonna be all magic and pretty lights? Carly Rae Jepsen knows better, which is why she’s released the Xmas song this year demanded, “It’s Not Christmas Till Somebody Cries”. Sure, all the jingle bells and bright notes are there, but they’re presented with tongue firmly in cheek. Though perfectly timed, the tune isn’t really about a pandemic holiday, but instead what Jepsen calls “Christmas versus expectation.” “Christmas holiday is my favorite time of year. I love it,” the Canadian pop star said in a statement. “But so often emotions run high and expectation versus reality is something I’d like to shed some light on and hopefully some laughs too in the process. So if you are lucky enough to...
