"Music is power, let it flow through your mind" (Richard Ashcroft)
Brighton's own Rizzle Kicks are back with a corker of a record. Easily their best yet, Competition is for Losers is a tour de force of stream of consciousness hip hop. Example...
Art Rock Wunderkind Steven Wilson is back with The Overview. What is life like on earth if we look at it from the universe's perspective? And how do we look at the universe? Both of those questions are answered on this magnifient work.
Opening track...
Andy Bell is a renaissance man. He has his own ridiculously awesome band (Ride), he plays with superstars (Oasis) and he makes great solo records. It's the latter that gets my nod for Album of the Week this week. Pinball Wanderer sees Bell stretching his musical muscle into some very interesting and innovative aural landscapes.
The album opens with this beauty...
LE SSERAFIM is back with a luscious new EP called HOT. And it is most warm. Five bloody mags tracks that will force you to dance.
Opening track...
I'm in an alt country sort of mood today so it's all about Lola Kirke. Her latest is called Trailblazer and it is simply wonderful. The stories she tells are most heartwarming.
One of my faves...great title!
Brian D'Addario is a pop treasure. The Long Island native has been crafting amazing music for over two decades. His latest effort is called Till The Morning and it is pure genius. I feel like he should host his own variety show in the 1970's!
Opening and title track...
I have been quite enjoying Bambara's latest offering to the world. Birthmarks is a masterpiece of pop and goth. The laying of the keyboards and the vocals are astounding.
One of my faves...
Lady Gaga's latest is called Mayhem and holy shit does she bring it! This record has dragon level power and thunder not seen in a long long time. The whole thing is just shovel to the head stunning from start to finish.
Opening track...
The pride of Cardiff are back with a wonderful new record called Cotton Crown. The Tubs know how to do "dudes with guitars" quite well, mixing in mod and pop most effectively. I love all the Welsh cultural stuff and their views on Great Britain in general.
Check it out!
Let's turn up the pop music to 11! Because Sasami has a new record out called Blood On the Silver Screen. It is a masterpiece of pop combined with a distinct sound that reminds me of every James Bond title track.
Check it out!
I'm officially declaring this week Michi week! This Latinx superstar has taken the world by storm with her debut record called Dirty Talk. Talk about the grooves...
Chicago's own Circuit des Yeux is her own musical genre. It's goth, baroque, alternative, indie and Broadway. Her latest is Hate On The Inside and it is magnificent.
One of my faves...
Six Sex is a guilty pleasure. Yes, she is cliche but her latest EP is a whole lot of fun. X-sex shows just how much of a boss the queen of the Puerto Rican rave is these days!
My fave (as an ass man) of course...
Esme Emerson has a wonderful new EP out called Applesauce. It's perfect soundtrack for the start of spring. Slinky and fun!
Love love love this track...
Panda Bear is quite a lovely little project for Noah Lennox. The latest effort is called Sinister Grift and it manages to successfully combine psychedelia, lounge and Beach Boys-ish vocals into a wonderful mashup of cornucopia.
One of my faves...
I am loving me some Banks lately. Her latest drop is insanely good. Dragon level. Off With Her Head is the title. Vibe is the groove.
Dig it...
Doves are one of those magical bands for me. I've been a fan since they released their first EP in 1998 ("Cedar"). They hit me very deeply and the effect is ever permeating. They don't have an enormous catalog and release records very infrequently. But when they do come out, they are bloody mags.
Their latest is called Constellations For The Lonely and it speaks to the great loneliness in the world that we all ironically share. The opening track sets the tone perfectly...
The dynamic duo of London aka Ider are back with a beautiful record called Late To The World. The power of this record is dragon level.
Check out the title track and start listening!
Boston's own Vundabar are back with romp of a record. Surgery and Pleasure takes of at 100mph and never lets up. All tracks fun!
Here is one of my faves...
Jennie from Blackpink has a wonderful new record out called Ruby. The record flexes some serious diversity in style and for a still novice K Pop guy like me, that's good thing.
This track is an early contender for track of the year...