Just in time for the final stretch of summer, long-time collaborators Panda Bear and Sonic Boom have teamed up for their first official album as a duo and it’s another sample-heavy affair that uses bright, ‘60s pop as its anchor and sophisti-pop harmonies for something sweet and laidback. Perfect for watching summer come to a fade, but still with enough juice to give you some effervescent-pop.
Megan thee Stallion drops her surprise new album today as she looks to keep the fire burning on the pop and R&B charts following earlier smashes from the summer as she continues to assert herself as one of the biggest names in rap music. After years of leading the Roots, Black Thought has teamed up with Danger Mouse giving us yet another hot collab this week and that finally sees the rapper getting the light he’s deserved for years.
Metal vets Boris are back with their second album of 2022 and third overall album to be called Heavy Rocks. It’s another banger full of huge riffs and pounding rhythms. Canada’s Kiwi Jr. are also back this week with their second album in as many years and continue on their quest of making classic indie-rock full of tight rhythms and steady grooves.
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs shared the second song from their comeback record Cool It Down and “Burning” does just the opposite, lighting things up for the dance floor and ready to explode with punk rock tendencies. Alvvays have a new record on the way as well and also shared the second single this week, another shoegazey rocker with loud, fuzzed out guitar with dreamy vocals.
Four Tet dropped two new tracks this week, the techno banger “Mango Feedback” and another, dance-leaning track, “Watersynth” both of which have their moments and retain the classic sound Kieran has been curating for so long.
Dungen are prepping their first new album in quite some time and shared another psych rocker, “Om Det Finns Något Sum Du Vill Fråga Mig,” that brings about spaced-out guitars and buzzy melodies. Instrumental metal trio Russian Circles have a new record out soon as well and their latest single, “Gnosis,” is another mighty song, full of surging power.
Beyoncé has already taken over the charts with her seventh consecutive number one album and last weekend she dropped a new remix of lead single (her first number one solo track since 2008’s “Single Ladies”) featuring Madonna and an interpolation of her all-time classic “Vogue.”
Albums:
Panda Bear / Sonic Boom | Reset
Megan thee Stallion | Traumazine
Danger Mouse / Black Thought | Cheat Codes
Boris | Heavy Rocks (2022)
Kiwi Jr. | Chopper
Songs:
Yeah Yeah Yeahs | “Burning”
Four Tet | “Mango Feedback” / “Watersynth”
Alvvays | “Easy On Your Own”
Nicki Minaj | “Super Freaky Girl”
Dungen | “Om Det Finns Något Sum Du Vill Fråga Mig”
Santigold | “Shake”
Russian Circles | “Gnosis”
No Age | “Tripped Out Before Scott”
Wilco | “Ashes of American Flags” [Live in the Studio]
Beyoncé / Madonna | “BREAK MY SOUL” (THE QUEENS REMIX)
The Isley Brothers / Beyoncé | “Make Me Say It Again, Girl”
If you’re a Spotify user, you can listen to these songs (and more from 2022) here!