With January in the rear view, February kicks off with a strong promise and keeps the seemingly non-stop quality new music in full force. ‘90s country queen Shania Twain has a new solo record out today, her first since her 2017 comeback, Now.
A decade after breaking in as one of Williamsburg’s last great DIY bands, The Men are back with their new record, the aptly titled New York City. The singles have brought their sound back to their heyday anthems and highlight their Crazy Horse influences a bit more than their bruising noise-rock tendencies. Delaware metal band Year of the Knife surprised released a three track EP which continues their frenzy of relentless, punishing terror.
As part of their upcoming career-spanning discography reissue, indie rock titans Neutral Milk Hotel released a new version of 1995’s (pre-Aeroplane Over the Sea) Everything Is, featuring new versions as well as additional songs to their long, hard to find EP. The band also released a single of alternate versions of the tracks “You’ve Passed Me Now” and “Where You’ll Find Me.”
On the verge of her highly anticipated new record, the hyperpop sensation Caroline Polachek has dropped yet another summersaulting track that dazzles with perspective and adds bagpipes to her illustrious bag of tricks. Yves Tumor has continued to innovate on what it means to be a rock star and this week their announced a new record and with it comes the cruising lead single, “Echolalia.”
The prolific Glenn Donaldson keeps his incredible streak under the moniker The Red, Pinks and Purples in fine tune with his latest pair of singles, the striking “Life in the Void” and the pleasing sounding, but forever sad, “Too Late for an Early Grave.” Glenn’s knack for marrying sweet melodies with sullen lyrics continues without a miss.
Last fall, psych-rockers Unknown Mortal Orchestra announced their next record would be a double album and this week they confirmed the details along with it came the new song “Layla," another winding gem of lush guitar. Frankie Rose has a new album on the way as well and this week she shared the new synthy single “Sixteen Ways.”
Following last year’s single “Idol; RE-run,” Westerman dropped an acoustic-driven new tune, “CSI: Petralona,” and announced his new album as well due later this year. Brooklyn’s Geese (not the jam band Goose) shared the giddy new rocker, “Cowboy Nudes,” this week and a jubilant track that seems poised for a raucous room of devoted fans.
Long-time EDM icon Skrillex is having a bit of a renaissance this year moving more towards alternative rave music and playing with the likes of Four Tet and Fred again.. This week he’s got another bonkers track, “Xena,” featuring Nai Barghouti.
Albums:
Shania Twain | Queen Of Me
The Men | New York City
Year of the Knife | Dust to Dust EP
Neutral Milk Hotel | Everything Is EP [reissue]
Songs:
Yves Tumor | “Echolalia”
Caroline Polachek | “Blood and Butter”
Unknown Mortal Orchestra | “Layla”
Westerman | “CSI: Petralona”
The Reds, Pinks and Purples | “Life in the Void” / “Too Late for an Early Grave”
ANONHI | “Rapture”
Geese | “Cowboy Nudes”
Frankie Rose | “Sixteen Ways”
Model/Actriz | “Amaranth”
Black Belt Eagle Scout | “Spaces”
Skrillex | “Xena” (ft Nia Barghouti)
Xylouris White | “Latin White”
Whitney | “For A While”
Neutral Milk Hotel | “You’ve Passed Me Now” / “Where You’ll Find Me Now” (Alternate Version)
If you’re a Spotify user, you can listen to these songs (and more from 2023) here!