Fun Fact- I had a different Single of the Week picked out for this week. I wrote it up and decided I was done. It was the debut solo single from The Raincoat’s Gina Birch. Then I landed upon “Leech” by London’s Dream Wife. This track- a throbbing post-punk anthem with heavy poetry from vocalist Rakel Mjöll that breaks out into a near scream without giving you the catharsis of a full scream- is addictive magic. If the full length is half as potent as this single, we’ve got a serious contender already in the queue for the 2023 Album Of The Year.
You can enjoy “Leech” in all of the usual places. Obviously, I’m going to keep going down this rabbit hole, and if my fellow American does the same, maybe they will pay us a visit next year?
I feel funny using the phrase “heir apparent” when describing a newer artist in relationship with a past act. But, for Yves Tumor, calling them the heir-apparent to David Bowie is totally appropriate. Does Tumor sound exactly like Bowie? Nope. Not much at all. But the darkness, the theatricality, the hooks- all very Bowie-esque. “God Is A Circle,” lyrically, is a dark meditation on the what and why of what our parents teach us. It’s a stunning track, through and through.
“God Is A Circle” is available in all the usual spots. Expect more genius from Yves Tumor in 2023!
Do you remember the last time Rihanna has graced our earbuds with a solo project? It was 2016. To put it on perspective, Obama was in the White House. Since then, America elected a fucking actual fascist as President, and, somehow, made it so the Republican party could actually say out loud the stuff they mumble quietly. Overt racism, homophobia, xenophobia, transphobia, etc, went from being something pushed aside and shamed to something folks were visibly proud of! And, of course, that awful human ended his time in office by turning COVID into pure chaos instead of working hard to get the country aligned on it. And, yes, we are still picking up the pieces of that nonesense today. (I stand by the fact that if we had clear, concise COVID messaging from the get-go, we wouldn’t be in the current financial mess we are in today)
When I learned that Rihanna was dropping a new single on 10.28, the day after my birthday, it was the first time I felt a shred of optimism in, dear god, 6 years? Like, maybe- just maybe- Rihanna was the key to returning the world to order and kindness. The song itself was written in memory of Chadwick Boseman. The lyrics, however, are actually about finding strength through grief. So maybe, just maybe, Rihanna isn’t the prophet we needed, but the catalyst for building up the strength to get through the pain of now and help encourage and motivate us to fix it. Anyways- “Lift Me Up” is a stunning ballad that I’ve already listened to 10 times and will keep relistening to for the rest of the day, maybe longer. And you probably should, too.
Since Sleater-Kinney released an album of other artists covering Dig Me Out, it only seems right to spotlight this new Quasi single. Janet Weiss sounds like her car accident never happend. Her drumming is as forceful and melodic as ever. Sam Coomes’ keyboard playing is consderably more ferocious that in the past. This song is a gem. It really is a good time to jump back on the Quasi train. Assuming you ever got off.
“Queen Of Ears” is the lead single from Breaking The Balls Of History, due out on SubPop on Febuary 10th. Pre-Everythinging can be done here. Of course, you should also give this 2020 track that I missed a listen, too.
It’s a downright intimidating new release day. New Carly Rae Jepsen and Taylor Swift and Arctic Monkeys and a-ha (Did you know a-ha are still together?) and Archers Of Loaf (even more surprising?!?) and I’m kinda drowning so much that I almost MISSED giving you a single of the week this week. So here is some blissful, Fleetwood Mac-inspired country from Roanoke. The band, not the city. This song is the perfect antidote to the epic amount of stress that has been burning through the world. “After I Go” is, simply put, pleasant. And, yes, I know it’s uncool to enjoy pleasant things, but sometimes it’s nice to just have something nice.
“After I Go” is the lead single from Wolf Motel, coming to you November 11th on… (checks notes) Kill Rock Stars Nashville? Yes. The legendary Olympia punk label now has a Nashville imprint.
I am ALWAYS ready for a new Bleached track. This one is a big, classic power-pop number. Heavy in the riffage, and colors of Bangles-esque minor key harmonies… A catchy, optimistic number from a band from Jennifer Clavin, a songwriter that, somehow, always knows exactly what I need right when I need it.
You can buy/stream “Flip It” in all the usual places. Bleached are also playing a handful of dates this November, including a 5th Anniversary show for the Lodge Room in LA on November 9th and a 10th Anniversary show for The Chapel on November 15th. They put on a fantastic show. So get your Omicron booster and party with us!
It’s been about five years since Paramore has graced our eardrums. Normally arena-level acts get bypassed in this column, but holy fucking Gang Of 4 groove punk shit?!?! In a time when MySpace-era emo is having a bit of a resurgence, the third part of the My Chemical Romance / Fall Out Boy holy trinity of this scene came back with a post-punk gem that would’ve been perfectly at home on 4AD in the late 80’s. Like, I almost used the word “angular” here and not in a 00’s disco punk way.
“This Is Why” is the title track of their forthcoming record due out February 10th, 2023. You can get reserve this perfect Valentine’s Day gift here!
A sure fire sign of a great groove is when you impulsively nod your head as the song starts. If you accidentally say the word “Yeah!” under your breath when they hit the fourth bar, and then look around and hope nobody noticed, then it’s a solid number. This psych-soul number, “Landslide” did all of that for me. This track is just plain hot.
“Landslide” is the second single off Barbara’s forthcoming LP, Nothin’ But Time, coming to you both digitally and physically on November 11th. Make the necessary accomodations to bring this one in your life here. She’s playing the absolutely bonkers Freakout Festival in Seattle in November, too.
The WAEVE took me a long time to figure out how to pronounce. (It’s “wave” for my fellow Americans) They are also a “supergroup” made up of Rose Elinor Dougall, my favorite Pipette, and Graham Coxon, the best part of Blur. I had no idea this was in the queue, but this song is a lovely piece of psych pop that takes one on some surprising turns. It’s a 4:22 journey through a myriad of sounds, and I’m excited to see what else comes from this partnership.
“Can I Call You” can be found now in all the usual places. Their self-titled debut record is coming your way February 3rd, 2023, and for those who like to make their shopping decisions early, there are plenty of fancy packages available for preorder.
The best songs transplant you to another place. The let you feel something that your current surroundings can’t give you. I haven’t dug into the lyrics of “Midnight Legend” quite yet, so I may re-assess this in a month, but this song and accompanying video manage to take me back to my harder partying days, both the good and bad of those nights.
“Midnight Legend” is the latest single off New Orleans’ band Special Interest’s upcoming record, Endure, due out on November 4th. You can get a fancy yellow vinyl pressing with TWO bonus 45s if you preorder here!
