Gold Soundz: January 12, 2024

This week's suggested new music, curated by omg!nyc

As we settle into 2024, the prospects of great new music seem to be swelling and the list of new, highly-anticipated records grows each week. Even with a lot to look forward to, we’re already seeing some excellent new albums pop up, suggesting yet another banner year for releases.

Heavy hitters Infant Island storm back this week with a ripping new album full of combustable tracks that go to the extreme, making it the first great metal album of the 2024 (I know we’re only two weeks into the year, but still!).

Kali Uchis released her latest album less than twelve months ago, but she’s already back with another collection of R&B jams that I assume will only further boost her career and add to her well deserved ascent to a major player in the game. Today also sees new albums from Kid Cudi and 21 Savage, two different ends of the hip-hop spectrum, but ones that will surely be the high point for their long-term fans.

Today sees the release of Jeymes Samuel’s soundtrack to the new film The Book of Clarence and it features a nine-and-a-half-minute track from Jay Z and D’Angelo as well as appearances from Kid Cudi, Jorja Smith, and, Doja Cat.

While the rollout of albums still hasn’t reached critical mass, artists are dropping singles left and right. Waxahatchee has announced her first new album since 2020’s excellent Saint Cloud (and you’d be remiss to not check out her album with Jess Williamson under the name Plains) and shared the gorgeous new song “Right Back to It” featuring indie rock’s rising sensation MJ Lenderman.

The Smile will release their sophomore record before the month’s over and this week they shared the third single, “Friend of a Friend.” It’s a song that shares some musical DNA with Radiohead’s “Pyramid Song,” building to a stunning climax like so much of their best work.

After having a career-year in 2023 playing the main stage at Coachella and throwing a five-hour rave in MSG (both with Skrillex and Fred again..), Four Tet is readying a solo album for this year and shared the lead single, “Loved.” It features a steady beat, layers of piano, and a throwback vibe to his more downtempo style.

While the xx recently stated that they’re back and working on a new album, Jamie xx still shared a new song of his own this week. It’s been quite a while since his lone solo album, but this is a nice holdover until we get whatever he’s been cooking up, whether on his own or with his band.

Last year, Erika de Casier got a lot of attention for producing the EP from K-Pop sensations NewJeans, particularly their massive breakout jam “Super Shy.” While Erika has already released stellar albums on her own, 2021’s Sensational was one of my favorites of that year, she’s back with a new album that amplifies her alternative R&B style and “Lucky,” the lead single, features skittering rhythms under a glassy piano motif.

Following their recent mini-album Robed in Rareness, avant-rap pioneers Shabazz Palaces are already gearing up to drop another mini-album, this one entitled Exotic Birds of Prey, and it features the single “Angela” which actually doesn’t include a verse from Ishmael Butler, but instead frequent collaborators Stas THEE Boss and Irene Barber. It’s another spaced-out trip.

Dinosaur Jr. frontman J Mascis has a new album due in February and the third single is another fantastic jam that starts out as a lush acoustic number before giving way to a flying electric guitar solo that could come from no one else. Faye Webster announced her new album will be out this year and with it dropped the single “Lego Ring” which is an unlikely collaboration with none other than Lil Yachty. I bet that wasn’t on your 2024 bingo card!

Albums:
Infant Island | Obsidian Wreath
Kid Cudi | Insano
Kali Uchis | Orquídeas
21 Savage | American Dream
Armin van Buuren | Breathe In
Jeymes Samuel | The Book of Clarence [Soundtrack]

Songs:
Waxahatchee | “Right Back to It” (ft MJ Lenderman)
The Smile | “Friend of a Friend”
Four Tet | “Loved”
Jamie xx | “It’s So Good”
J Mascis | “Right Behind You”
Faye Webster | “Lego Ring” (ft Lil Yachty)
Erika de Casier | “Lucky”
Ariana Grande | “yes, and?”
Sheer Mag | “Moonstruck”
Lil Nas X | “J CHRIST”
serpentwithfeet | “Safe Word”
Future Islands | “Say Goodbye”
MGMT | “Nothing to Declare”
Helado Negro | “Best for You and Me”
Laetitia Sadler | “Panser L’inacceptable”
Shabazz Palaces | “Angela” (ft Stas THEE Boss, Irene Barber)
Julia Holter | “Spinning”
Ben Frost | “The River of Light and Radiation”
Wilco | “Space Oddity” (Live) [David Bowie cover]

If you’re a Spotify user, you can listen to these songs (and more from 2024) here!