Category: Single Of The Week

Single of the Week: “A Child’s Question, August” by PJ Harvey

I mean, new PJ Harvey is generally cause for celebration in almost any situation. “A Child’s Question, August” is not quite what I was expecting, but it was a happy surprise. The song opens not with her deep, powerful, blues-inflected alto that we’ve known to expect from her but a tender, quiet, almost fragile soprano. The song builds like a classic shoegaze anthem- raising in emotional intensity and volume slowly. There’s an Elvis-referencing chorus that flips “Love Me Tender” on its side and a chilling, baritone harmony from the modern voice of Paddington Bear, Ben Wishaw. 

“A Child’s Question, August” is the first single from I Inside The Old Year Dying, Harvey’s first album of new material in seven years, coming your way July 7th. I will also note our honorable mention for Single Of The Week- a surprisingly spare and dissonant track from Kesha, “Eat The Acid.” 

Single Of The Week: “Too Many Things” by The Linda Lindas

The Linda Lindas are too good for how young they are. We have been trumpeting the brilliance of this formerly tween, now mostly teen rock band since 2019. Their debut record, 2022’s Growing Up, is possibly the most exciting and diverse debut of the pop-punk canon. However, my first listen to “Too Many Things” still surprised me. The pulsating, anxious bassline. The lyrics? A deep, introspective look at the feeling of being overwhelmed that wouldn’t have been out of place on a Sleater-Kinney or Go-Go’s record. (The two bands that, IMHO, have best conveyed “anxiety” on record) 

“Too Many Things” is out now in all the usual places. They are spending the Summer opening for Paramore everywhere (except the SF SHOW!!!!), and the press release teases that more is to come this year from The Linda Lindas, so keep an eye out! 

I will also note that this has been the hardest week for Single of the Week, and there are a TON of great new releases this week to give your ears a nice little treat! Veruca Salt’s Louise Post graces us with her debut solo single, “Guilty.” The triumphant return of Speedy Ortiz, “Scabs.” NYC’s soul group 79.5 has a genuine Summer anthem ready for you with “B.D.F.Q.” Pinkshift returns with a burner of a track, “to me.” And if you are looking for evidence of how blessed and lucky you are, the first Natalie Merchant album in nearly 10 years, Keep Your Courage, is out today! 

Single of the Week: “Salad” by Blondshell

I usually don’t like picking multiple tracks from the same album as “Single Of The Week.” But each track off Blondshell’s self-titled debut record has been better than the last. “Salad” is a brilliant piece of work. Like, it’s positively chilling. This is the kind of storytelling in song that I thought was perfected by Nick Cave and Kristin Hersh. Vocalist Sabrina Teitelbaum sings with a haunting quiver, bending her voice around the vulnerable ferocity of her backing band. This song is simply amazing. 

You can find Blondshell’s debut everywhere TODAY! This record is fantastic. Do your ears and your heart a favor and pop it on today! 

Single of the Week: “Hand Grenade” by Be Your Own PET

When Be Your Own PET got back together last year to open a few shows for Jack White at his personal request, I thought those few shows were going to be it. They last graced our eardrums with new material in 2008, when the members of the band were still barely out of high school. Their frantic chaos still delighted me ever so much, and they stayed in my rotation for the last 15 years. BUT! Sometimes the future does hold something good, as Nashville’s finest (Suck it, Diahrrea Planet!) has gifted us with a brand new track, “Hand Grenade.” And, I know some of you might be disappointed, but the band has certainly matured over the years, living as civilians and not a bunch of punk kids riding around the country in a van. It’s a solid, heavy piece of rock n roll and I can’t wait for more. And a West Coast tour, please and thank you? 

Single of the Week: “Come On Baby” by Alison Sudol

There is so much wrong with the state of abortion in the United States. The loss of Roe v Wade is causing widespread damage to the state of reproductive health, particularly in states where there is little support to begin with. One often missed issue here is that since caring for a miscarriage often requires the same procedure as performing an abortion, there are states where doctors are too scared of prosecution to do what is needed for both the physical health and emotional well-being of the mother. It’s heartbreaking. Especially since we are seeing some lawmakers BLAMING miscarriage on the mother. What does this have to do with our Single Of The Week? Well, Alison Sudol, the artist formerly known as A Fine Frenzy, has given us possibly the most potent, honest, and heartbreaking song about this, something we never talk about, yet happens to 10-20% of pregnancies. “Come On Baby” is a gut punch of a song that needs to be blasted in the halls of Congress and The Supreme Court. 

“Come On Baby” is off Sudol’s most recent record, Still Come The Night, which is out now in all the usual places, both virtual and physical. Also, if you know anyone looking for support in this regard, HAND of the Bay Area is an excellent organization that I highly recommend. 

Single of the Week: “Fuck Around Phase” by Housewife

Do you know what trend I LOVE? The return of the heavily overdriven guitar tone of the 90s. So many young songwriters, most of whom weren’t even alive yet when alternative radio was littered with the most glorious walls of noise, are incorporating this sound. “Fuck Around Phase” by Housewife is definitely in line with that. Spine-tingling guitars combined with honest, bold, well-crafted lyrics? Sheer Perfection. 

“Fuck Around Phase” is available in all the usual places. Housewife is, somehow, touring with Paolo Nutini? I bet this band is gonna scare a few people at those shows. 

Single Of The Week: “To be honest” by Christine & The Queens

Christine & The Queens is one of the most captivating live acts I’ve ever seen. He puts on a rich show full of emotional range. “To be honest” is, at first, a subtle synth ballad. By the time you reach the end of the track, you’ve been taken on a journey on par with his live act. This very well could be his first real hit single in the states. 

“To be honest” is the first single off PARANOÏA, ANGELS, TRUE LOVE , coming to you June 9th. Also, don’t miss Chris when he brings his spectacular live show to The Regency in SF on April 13th. 

Single of the Week: “rabits” by madge (featuring ZAND)

A lot of people are going to listen to this song and make it 30 seconds and run away in digust. It’s bluntly vulgar, sonically as subtle as a hand grenade, and switches itself up so often that it’s highly uncomfortable. This song is not comfort food. And it’s not uncomfortable in that way where people who claim to like “uncomfortable” music like it- this isn’t Mr Bungle and it isn’t Peaches. Yet, somehow it’s both at the same time and it sounds like it has major label production, which somehow makes it even harder to listen to. 

But, for those that are willing to open their ears to this track, it’s pretty spectacular. It’s got a sense of humor and really doesn’t care if you like it or not. Madge has struck gold with this track, and I think you should give it a whirl or 70. “rabits” can be enjoyed in all the usual places, and I can’t wait for more, and I hope you can’t either. 

Single Of The Week: “Letter” by Morgan and the Organ Donors

SUPERGROUP ALERT!!! Morgan and the Organ Donors consists of Bikini Kill’s Tobi Vail, C.O.C.O’s Olivia Ness along with James Maeda and Sara Peté. “Letter” is their second single, and it’s reverb-heavy, power-pop meets country piece of hooky goodness. Maybe it’s the name of the song that forced me to think of Alex Chilton, but this track definitely is somewhere between Big Star and Best Coast, with just enough Southern Culture On The Skids to feel like you can smell the PBR and hairspray. Anyways, it’s a solid song and I’m excited to hear more from them.

…which you can if you preorder their debut album, M.O.D.s, coming your way on March 31st from the legendary K Records. And you can see them IN PERSON if you come out to Mosswood Meltdown July 1st & 2nd for the single most apeshit festival line up of you life. (Seriously- Bratmobile, Le Tigre, ESG, JJ Fad, Mika Miko, Avengers, GRAVY TRAIN!!!! and so much more!)

Single Of The Week: “Buy You A New Attitude” by Tianna Esperanza

Tianna Esperanza keeps blowing everyone out of the water. In just about a year we are on our third single from her that simply blew my mind. This one is a jazzy throwback number with a sense of humor. The video is fun, too. Her widly eclectic debut record is *finally* out today! Terror, Esperanza’s debut record is out TODAY. You can enjoy it both phyiscally and virtually in all the usual places!