It’s been about six years since the last Corinne Bailey Rae single. And I’ve always known that Rae has been unafraid to showcase a wide variety of influences, but I never would’ve expected a super sweaty, 1:57 driving rocker to come from her. It’s so fast you could miss the song, but if you jump in before it gets away from you, you get a concise story and a solid HIIT workout all at once.
“New York Transit Queen” is the first single from Black Rainbows, a multi-media project that Rae has been working on for the past six years, inspired by Theaster Gates’ collection at Stony Island Arts Bank. The audio portion can be pre-ordered here and will be out on September 15th.
Oakland’s SPELLLING has released two of the most impressive dark-pop records I’ve ever heard, and the cries of “this generation’s Kate Bush” are all well deserving. She’s also been on the road for about two years straight with an AMAZING live band that has given these tracks a bigger, more organic energy. Instead of doing a live album, she’s brought that band into the studio to record “live” versions of these tracks, and this version of “Under The Sun” is a world away from the lofi synth of the original.
SPELLLING & The Mystery School is coming to your eardrums on August 25th, and preperations for it’s arrival can be made here. SPELLLING is bringing her band and other friends as well as a myriad of other oddities and exciting things to Children’s Fairyland in Oakland on September 16th for a very, very special evening of… Well, it’s co-presented by Atlas Obscura, so your guess is as good as mine. Tickets for that are available here!
Jamila Woods never ceases to surprise me. Her heavy lyrics are always full of layers, often political or spiritual, or a mixture of both. So, after spending hours with “Tiny Garden,” trying to determine what she’s getting at, only to find that she’s gifted us with… A straight-ahead love song? A stunning, honest love song, centering on the work and the joys of being in a long-term relationship. And that middle lyric: “If I’m awkward, let me rock,” sent shivers down my spine. It’s the most real, relatable, and kind song I’ve heard on a while.
“Tiny Garden” is the first single off Wood’s upcoming album, Water Made Us, which is sure to dominate all of the end-of-the-year lists. So do the prep work to make sure you are ready for it on October 13th here!
Cherry Glazerr has been a Spinning Platters favorite for a while… For years, a photo I took of them from SXSW was our Facebook image. (Does anyone use Facebook anymore?) Anyways… We are stoked that they are back with their first record in four years! I Don’t Want You Anymore is the name, and it’s in stores and streaming on September 29th. Preorder/presave here! And enjoy the scorcher of a first single, “Soft Like A Flower”
Remember the classic Rage Against The Machine lyric “Your Anger Is A Gift”? Locate S,1 have hit that nail so perfectly on the head. Especially since, if you aren’t paying attention, “Go Back To Disnee” is just a mellow, happy little groove of a tune. Except it once you start digging into exactly what frontwoman Christina Schneider was getting to: the struggle of celebrating this country in 2020 (the year this song was written), when COVID is running rampant with little regard for humanity and even lesser communication about what to do. George Floyd was just suffocated to death by a former co-worker turned police officer. Half the west coast was on fire. Who would’ve thought it could get even darker in the last three years? (JESUS!) This single is perfect catharsis for dark times. Bitter irony and a catchy, bossa nova beat.
“Go Back To Disnee” is the most recent single off Locate S,1’s latest record Wicked Jaw, in stores and streaming on July 28th. (PreSaOrderVe Here!) Locate S,1 is also traveling across this great land to perform for you! Tour Dates are here, and we are likely to be in the audience at the July 29th show at Thee Stork Club!
Carly Rae Jepsen, according to several sources, made and scrapped a disco record called Disco Sweat. This record is on my long list of unreleased records that I would do ANYTHING to hear. Although it looks highly unlikely that Disco Sweat will ever see the light of day, this week, Ms Jepsen gifted us with the track “Shy Boy,” and I’m pretty sure this is close to the original vision of that record. It’s a bright, peppy disco number, complete with an actual “jam” at the end. It’s the Summer disco jam we always knew Carly had in her.
I can’t wait to hear what else Carly Rae Jepsen has in store for us this year. Until then, you can enjoy “Shy Boy” in all the usual places.
This groove is infectious. I almost didn’t listen to this one, and I even had a single of the week ready to go! And then I found myself with this track on repeat for an entire day and then some. This Kaytranada-produced track (a producer that I don’t normally even like) is a late entry in the “Song of the Summer” race, but you really shouldn’t sleep on this one. And the video? Possibly the sexiest beach video this side of “Wicked Game.”
“Questions” is the latest single off Maeta’s most recent EP, When I Hear Your Name, which is out everywhere you can stream music!
“One Hit Wonders” is just a nice, solid groove. The track reminds me a bit of Luscious Jackson at their funkiest, with “rapping” that sounds like a ultra John McCrea of Cake. There isn’t much to be said about this song, but it feels really good. Pop it on and get your Summer kicked off properly!
“One Hit Wonders” is the 4th single from Jenn Grant’s upcoming record, Champagne Problems, coming your way June 21st!
The Be Your Own Pet comeback remains the least expected return of 2023, but I’m ALL IN! We’ve got a second single that isn’t quite the JoltColaCore of their first two records, but we all have to grow up sometime? And if growing up for BYOP means embracing your darkest and most controversial desires and expressing them in the form of rock n roll, that’s not a bad way to channel maturity. “Worship The Whip” is that very song, and it’s off their third album (15 years after their genius sophomore record Get Awkward), Mother, which is headed your way on August 25th. Prepare for this date the way you see most fit by clicking here! I’m a tad overwhelmed by my preorder options, TBH. We will see what I end up buying!
Oh- and I promised tour dates that go on sale this Friday. Looks like a sweaty good time for all:
9/16 – Third Man Records Blue Room – Nashville, TN
10/18 – Local 506 – Chapel Hill, NC
10/19 – Union Stage – Washington, DC
10/21 – Elsewhere Hall – Brooklyn, NY
10/22 – Underground Arts – Philadelphia, PA
10/23 – Beachland Ballroom – Cleveland, OH
10/24 – Third Man Records – Detroit, MI
10/25 – Lincoln Hall – Chicago, IL
10/27 – The Back Room at Colectivo – Milwaukee, WI
10/29 – Headliners Music Hall – Louisville, KY
11/8 – Soda Bar – San Diego, CA
11/9 – Teragram Ballroom – Los Angeles, CA
11/11 – Great American Music Hall – San Francisco, CA
I’m loosely familiar with the work of Marc Ribot, primarily his time as Tom Waits’ guitarist. What I’ve heard of his work has pretty much entirely been in the greater jazz vein. I’ve never heard him sing before. Even with Ceramic Dog, is work is closer to jazz fusion than anything else. But “Connection”? This song is heavy as fuck. Well, in that Sonic Youth / Wilco / The Replacements way… A ferocious, noisy cacophony with a sweet melody making you feel simultaneously comforted and uncomfortable. And there are even VOCALS!
This surprising track is the first single off Marc Ribot’s Ceramic Dog’s upcoming record, also named Connection. You can preorder that here!
