New Song Releases
Oh Sees (as OSees) Announce New Album Protean Threat, Share “Dreary Nonsense”: Stream
Every August for the last three years, Oh Sees have released a new album: Orc in 2017, Smote Reverser in 2018, and last year’s Face Stabber. Like everything in 2020, it looks like the John Dwyer-led band’s next effort will be arriving a little later than anticipated this year. Taking on the moniker OSees, the prolific garage rockers have today announced a new album, Protean Threat, set for a September 18th release via Castle Face Records. Described as “the apogee of scuzz,” Protean Threat is a 13-track collection calling to “abate hate” with a “club” of love. A typically aureate press release says the songs are meant as a rally cry to “stand up and be vigilant” against “the planet-killers.” The statement goes on, “TRUTH WILL NOT BE FOUND IN THE SPEECHES AND PHOTO OPS OF...
Angel Olsen Announces New Album Whole New Mess, Shares Title Track: Stream
Last year, Angel Olsen released the orchestral All Mirrors, which quickly became not only one of the best albums of 2019, but of the 2010s in general. While promoting the effort, she frequently mentioned that early versions of the songs were intended for a separate, much more raw release. Today, Olsen has finally announced that companion record, Whole New Mess, and it’s due out August 28th via Jagjaguwar. Nine of the 11 tracks on Whole New Mess will at least be partially familiar to All Mirrors listeners, only here they’re presented in their original, stripped-down form with slightly different titles. You’ll see “Lark Song” instead of the powerful “Lark”, “(Summer Song)” instead of simply “Summer”, and “Chance (Forever Love)” instead of “Chance”. These versions were recorded alon...
A.K. Paul Shares New Song “Be Honest”: Stream
A.K. Paul by A.K. Paul Back in May, A.K. Paul quietly dropped his first song in four years, a groovy bop called “HUNGRY BEAT” made during quarantine. Today, he’s back with another new one called “Be Honest”. The track is a mechanical alt-R&B tune that sets the English artist’s warm-blooded croon over watery, refracting synths that almost recall the busyness of vaporwave. It’s exactly the sort of left-of-center pop that we’ve come to expect from Paul and his equally elusive brother, Jai — and apparently we can expect more new material from the siblings soon. In a statement paired with “Be Honest”, A.K. Paul announced that he and Jai are relaunching their enigmatic label, the Paul Institute, and have a whole slew of new releases slated for the coming months. “I’m really happy we’re relea...
Raffi Shares Ode to “Portland Moms” in New Black Lives Matter Protest Song: Stream
Who woulda thought the musician behind “Bananaphone” would be the one giving the Wall of Moms their own theme? Beloved children’s singer Raffi has shared a new song called “Portland Moms” in support of the ongoing Portland protests against police violence and racial injustice. Set to the tune of the folk standard “Buffalo Gals”, Raffi calls for Portland Moms, Black Lives Matter, and the Wall of Vets to “come out tonight by the light of the silvery moon” and be “strong and peaceful.” He’s joined on the jaunty protest song by Lindsay Munroe and Ivan Rosenberg. Together, they “stand in solidarity” with the Portland, Oregon protesters currently dealing with unmarked federal troops Trump has sent in against the wishes of local government. “In solidarity with #BlackLivesMattter, a tribute to the...
Manuel Gagneux (Zeal & Ardor) Returns as Birdmask, Premieres Music Video for New Song “Set Me on Fire”: Stream
Zeal & Ardor frontman Manuel Gagneux has revived his long-running solo project, Birdmask, and is premiering the music video for new song “Set Me on Fire” exclusively via Heavy Consequence. Birdmask is Gagneux in his own creative element. Although some of the atmosphere and experimental ideas of his metal outfit Zeal & Ardor are present here, Gagneux embraces a varied spectrum of sounds — “pop-rocked-bliss” as he calls it. Most notably, his soaring vocals remain right up front. “I’ve had this song ready for a couple of years now but being preoccupied with other projects kind of forced me to leave it on the back burner,” Gagneux says. “I feel like it’s about time to let it out. In the time between then and now I was lucky enough to tour the world with a different project, score ...
Bruce Hornsby Teams with Jamila Woods for “Bright Star Cast”: Stream
Bruce Hornsby is celebrating recent protests against racial inequality with “Bright Star Cast”, his new song featuring Jamila Woods. While this cross-generational collaboration may seem unexpected, both artists have long histories of addressing racism. The 65-year-old Hornsby has touched on prejudice several times throughout his career, including on his biggest radio hit, 1986’s “The Way It Is”. Then, too, there’s his decades-long relationship with Spike Lee, where he’s provided the musical backdrop to some of the most vital cinematic moments of the last 25 years. And as for the 30-year-old Woods, the fight against injustice is one of many plots that run through her two titanic albums, 2017’s HEAVN and the 2019 masterpiece, LEGACY! LEGACY!. “Bright Star Cast” is a rollicking funk-rock...
The Sword Announce Conquest of Quarantine Session, Cover T. Rex’s “Children of the Revolution”: Watch
The Sword have announced a new socially distant performance series, Conquest of Quarantine. The heavy rockers are today premiering the first tune from the three-song lockdown session, a cover of T. Rex’s “Children of the Revolution’, exclusively via Heavy Consequence. The new series comes on the heels of The Sword’s recent career-spanning compilations, Conquest of Kingdoms and Chronology 2006-2018. Both cull archival live recordings, B-sides, and rarities. As singer-guitarist J.D. Cronise told us in our recent interview, the band hoped to tour in support of the album before the pandemic effectively paused live music. Instead, The Sword performed together virtually in isolation and streaming the footage for fans. “Since we’re not touring this summer as originally planned, we figured we shou...
PJ Harvey Unearths Dry Demos Album: Stream
As part of an extensive archival campaign, PJ Harvey is reissuing her entire discography on vinyl. Notably, these re-releases are also being paired with demos culled from the original album sessions. First to be spotlighted in this series is, of course, her 1992 breakthrough debut album, Dry. Its corresponding collection of demos is simply titled Dry-Demos and consists of 11 early recordings, each raw and captivating in their own way. Whether you’ve been a longtime fan or have just recently discovered her magic, it’s a piece of Harvey history worth savoring (or at the very least, adding to your streaming queue). This release marks the first time Dry-Demos has ever received a standalone release. In addition to digital formats, it’s available in CD and vinyl form and comes packaged...
The Flaming Lips Imagine “You n Me Sellin’ Weed” on New Song: Stream
The Flaming Lips are back with a new song called “You n Me Sellin’ Weed” from American Head, their upcoming 21st album. Better yet, it comes with a sun-soaked music video to brighten up your quarantine. This is the fourth single we’ve heard from American Head so far, following “Dinosaurs On The Mountain”, “Flowers Of Neptune 6”, and “My Religion Is You”. While this new track reads like it will be a giddy uptempo number about the magic of selling drugs with your partner, it begins like the opposite. Over some hazy guitar strums and mellow percussion, Wayne Coyne sings with a tinge of nostalgia about a relationship — that is, until the tempo picks up, sound effect pop in the background, and the psychedelia starts to trickle in. As with the previously released songs from the album, “You n Me ...
Curren$y and Harry Fraud Reconnect On New Collaborative Project The OutRunners: Stream
Curren$y has already dropped two joint projects in 2020, but his latest one might be the most noteworthy. The Outrunners sees the New Orleans-bred rapper reuniting with trusty producer and longtime collaborator Harry Fraud. Stream it below via Apple Music or Spotify. The new effort consists of nine tracks and features special guests in Rick Ross (“Mugello Red”) and Wiz Khalifa (“90′ IROC-Z”). Jim Jones also appears on a song called “In the Coupe”, while Conway the Machine provides extra bars on “Riviera Beach”. In a statement, Curren$y said that despite his already-prolific catalog — which includes over 30 (!) albums, mixtapes, and EPs — there’s plenty of new and exciting things to be found on The Outrunners. “Even those who have known me forever will find out things they didn’t ...
Lupe Fiasco and Kaelin Ellis Release Collaborative HOUSE EP: Stream
One of the most unexpected collaborations of the year might also just be one of its best. Today, Lupe Fiasco and Kaelin Ellis have released HOUSE, a joint EP they created during quarantine. Stream it below via Apple Music or Spotify. HOUSE is a testament to the power of the internet. Back in May, the Orlando producer uploaded a video of himself churning out beats while stuck at home. One Twitter user decided to tag Lupe Fiasco in the comments, and the Chicago rapper almost immediately recorded a new version of the track featuring an original freestyle over it. That’s when Fiasco and Ellis decided to link up for real. The two artists wrote and recorded five songs for the HOUSE EP, all of which was created by passing material back and forth online. As for the cover art — which takes its insp...
Hudson Mohawke Drops Surprise EP Heart Of The Night: Stream
Taylor Swift isn’t the only one with a New Music Friday surprise. Scottish producer Hudson Mohawke has released a new solo EP, Heart of the Night, completely out of the blue. Stream it in full below via Bandcamp. This new drop comes less than a year after HudMo and Lunice reunited for their second collaborative project as TNGHT. Heart of the Night collects four tracks altogether, some of which are remixes — or “classic R&B bootlegs” as he calls it — of songs by Beyoncé (“Baby Boy”), Sean Paul and Christina Milian (“Dip It Low”), and more. Editors’ Picks Mohawke’s last solo album, Lantern, dropped more than five years ago. Since then, in addition to reactivating TNGHT, he’s produced and remixed material from Kanye West, Anohni, ASAP Rocky, Banks, and DJ Shadow. New newww...
