Reviews of albums, films, concerts, and more from the Bay Area Music and Movie Nerds
I’m not a “metal” guy. It takes something really special in that world for me to fall for. “Ego” is a Spanish Language, driving, chunky head banger that I’ve been listening to so much that, despite being three weeks old now, it only seems fair to give it the honors that it should’ve gotten right away.
“Ego” is off The Warning’s upcoming album, Everything’s Falling, which is out August 28th in stores and on your local DSP.
Times are dark. It’s refreshing to hear a truly uplifting and joyful song. “Kool Aid” by Debbii Dawson is about the most positive love song I’ve heard in ages. It’s also catchy as hell for a song about life being heavenly.
“Kool Aid” is off Dawson’s upcoming EP, Where Have All The Good Men Gone?, dropping June 26th. Prepare for it’s arrival here!
Sometimes you just need a good, hook heavy pop-punk jam to get through things. You will have those in spades, and “nothing good to cry about” will make you feel all the feels you had when all you needed to get through the hard stuff was the right song.
All you need to learn more about wilt and select your preferred outlet for listening is here.
What can I say? I love a good punk rock mosher. “grin & bear it” by Welsh Riot Grrl act Panic Shack ticks all the boxes- intelligent feminist lyrics, sung with their Welsh accent, and a BPM that gets the heart rate into danger territory. I love them, and love this song. And somehow Super Furry Animals AND Sex Pistols are taking them out on the road next year! Continue reading “Single of the Week: “grin & bear it” by Panic Shack”
I didn’t post this on Friday. Because I knew what was coming. Gen Z’s greatest songwriter, Sabrina Teitelbaum aka Blondshell, had a new single coming down the pike. And it’s a banger. So heavy- both sonically and emotionally. I can’t wait for this record to drop. Enjoy “Heart Has To Work So Hard” NOW!
Fall tour dates HAVE dropped, including an appearance at the historic Castro Theater in SF. Full dates here, including sign up for the May 20th presale!
First of all, it’s been 15 years since the last new music dropped from ANY Beastie Boy. It’s also been 14 years, nearly to the day, since Adam Yauch left this mortal plane. But Mike D gifted us his first solo single today, and it’s a chaotic, jungle-influenced bit of sonic joy. Think DJ Shadow meets AK 1200. Anyways, “Switch It Up” is great.
He’s also playing a few headlining shows, with a show at Sid The Cat Auditorium on Sunday, and Xanadu in Brooklyn May 22nd-23rd.
Sunflower Beam’s Julia Cumming’s solo debut is out today, and the latest single is a heartbreaker AND heartmender. A beautiful song about finding resolution in an old relationship. We’ve all been there, and she captures it in such a lovely way.
Julia is on your favorite DSP and at your local indie retailer TODAY!
Spacemoth is back! I’m bloody thrilled… She’s returned with a bright and sunny bit of krautrock joy. Does that make sense? NOT AT ALL! Until you listen to the track. Heck, even Willow Smith is on board at this point. Put your brain in a swimming pool in the sun and enjoy.
“Do We Exist?” is the first single off Spacemoth’s sophomore record, Inward Eye, dropping June 26th. See them at their record release show at Rickshaw Stop on July 24th, or at the King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard curated Field Of Vision Festival August 14-16! Or on your computer right now courtesy KEXP!
I don’t like to pick covers for Single of the Week, but I’ll make an exception here- Kate Nash has presented a retelling of Sinead O’Connor’s “Famine,” which tells the truth about the Irish potato famine and how it all ties back to English Imperialism. Last night I saw Habibi perform, and their lead singer, Rahill, discussed at length what’s happening in Iran, and it was potent. (Her song about that is dropping soon) But the history of false famines to control a population is as painful as it is deliberate. (See: US destroying Cuba RIGHT THIS FUCKING SECOND)
“Famine” is ready to stream now, and the 7″ can be preordered for release July 17th.
What? An actual piece of modern classical music as your “Single Of The Week”? And it’s out on Stones Throw? Oh, BLARF is actually comedian Eric Andre?!? YES! This piece is a little Copland, a little Gershwin, and a little Reznor and it’s AMAZING.
BLARF’s full album of classical compositions, Film Scores For Films That Don’t Exist is out May 1st. Preorder here! And see him debut these works WITH ORCHESTRA in LA on April 27th!
