Reviews of albums, films, concerts, and more from the Bay Area Music and Movie Nerds
I wanted to avoid any Singles Of The Week that were connected to the pandemic currently devastating the world. However, two singles dropped this week that bring the quarantine front and center. Those are “forever” by Charli XCX and “Phenom” by Thao and The Get Down Stay Down. Both songs are great, and both relevant for different reasons. Continue reading “Singles Of The Week: forever by Charli XCX / Phenom by Thao and The Get Down Stay Down”
Steven Wilson is certainly no stranger to epics. Whether his work in the band Porcupine Tree with songs like the sprawling “Anesthetize,” or his solo effort about serial killer Denis Rader “Raider II,” he has proven quite the knack for epic songs, cycles, and albums over the years. It should prove no surprise that his recent single for the upcoming The Future Bites, “Personal Shopper,” shares this epic quality.
Continue reading “Single of the Week: Personal Shopper by Steven Wilson”
Haim’s swift rise to fame was partnered with an even swifter decline in critical favorability. Their second record, Something To Tell You, had the band playing bigger venues than ever, but it wasn’t a far enough progression for the band to keep them as a the critical darlings they deserve to be. I was even ready to shrug them off… Then, I heard “The Steps.” This song is kind of a monster… There is still that signature classic rock riffage, but the song is just plain “bigger” than anything we’ve ever heard from them. This is an anthem for the ages, and may very well be the thing we needed from Haim.
Expectations are firmly set for their third record, Women in Music, Vol III, in stores & streaming April 24th. You can preorder double red vinyl from this link!
Sometimes, the cure for what ails you is simply a massive guttural scream. This week, “MIORATA” by dodola is the exact guttural scream that releases the tension. This track comes off of the dodola’s self-titled debut record recently released on Bandcamp. It’s a 10 track beast of a record that assaults the senses, while occasionally opening up for a breath. However, the peace is always balanced out by increased intensity. This has been a rough week for the world, and what better way to end it than with a dose of pure sonic catharsis.
Calgary, Alberta experimental pop trio, Braids have been quiet for the last five years. Instead of resting on their laurels, they’ve been working hard at producing their 4th full length record. And, if the lead single, “Young Buck,” is any indication, this is going to be their most accessible record yet! However, they haven’t gone completely soft. This might be their most emotionally complex piece of lyric yet. The accompanying video is also a potent piece of film!
Shadow Offering, the latest full length LP from Braids hits all the usual places on April 24th. You can preorder online here!
Their North American tour kicks off June 3rd! Don’t miss one of the most intense live experiences of your life!
Carly Rae Jepsen, Canada’s greatest export since Rush, has done it again. She’s released another single outside of the standard album cycle that is bound to outlast anything that appeared on the album that preceded it. Much like “Cut to the Feeling” has become one of her most beloved songs, her newest single “Let’s Be Friends” is poised to become another standout in her unimpeachable songbook.
Co-written and produced by CJ Baran, whose credits include “Let’s Get Lost” and “Emotion” from Carly Rae, “Let’s Be Friends” is a bouncy breakup song that examines the lie that couples will stay friends after they’re done being lovers. Full of playful vocals and clever turns of phrase, its catchy chorus is ready for singing along or for quirky short dance videos. The song even features a funny spoken-word breakdown, perfect for TikTok lipsyncing, that “coincidentally” lasts exactly 15 seconds.
We’re big, big fans of Carly Rae here at Spinning Platters, so much so that we’re on a first-name basis with her in our heads. So it’s exciting to note that at the same time this single was released, she also announced a show on April 12 at The Fox Theater in Oakland.
It’s been FAR TOO LONG since we’ve heard from Diet Cig! Today is your day to hear your first taste of what they’ve been working on the last three years… “Night Terrors” still features Alex Luciano’s signature passionate tremble in her voice, complimented by not just her on guitar and Noah Bowman on drums, but with fully fleshed out production! We have bass filling out the low end, as well as synth flourishes creating a wash of sound. This is the biggest, boldest single from Diet Cig yet!
UK & US East Coast tour dates were just announced, so if you leave somewhere near the Atlantic Ocean, go buy tickets ASAP. The new single is streamable in all the usual places, and you can purchase it on Bandcamp! Oh, and if you wanna buy a gift for your favorite music blogger, I could totally use a new pillow case.
It’s very sad that Australia has been in the news for some sad reasons. (And, of course, they still need help. Please donate what you can here!) The other side of Australia is that they are just churning out AMAZING rock n roll these days. This week’s single of the week comes from Melbourne’s Cable Ties. It’s the kind of propulsion driven number that really makes it impossible not to move to it. I can’t wait for these folks to visit the US, because the live show just feels like it would be amazing.
This is the first single off their album Far Enough, which will be available to you on March 27th. Preorders are available on their Bandcamp page RIGHT NOW!
Jenny Lewis had an insanely productive 2019. I did not expect our first Single Of The Week in 2020 to be a new track from her, but, sure enough, I ended up opening my inbox to a fantastic new track that she did with African musician Habib Koite. It’s a gentle, contemplative number, and one of the most overly political statements she’s made since her record with Nice As Fuck in 2016.
This track is from the forthcoming compilation Let The Rhythm Lead: Haiti Song Summit Vol 1, a collection of songs written and recorded in Haiti, where popular musicians collaborated with locals. This record is due out on January 31st, and pre-saves and pre-orders can be found here!
