January concludes with a week full of maximal rock and roll records. Canadian punks Fucked Up lead the pack with their new ripper, the tight and restrained One Day which is their most concise and compact record in quite some time. It wastes no time going straight for the pit and hits hard.
White Reaper have a killer new one this week as well full of huge metal riffs and tight rhythms. Their garage punk style meets high-octane power for some righteous, big sounds that are sure to amp up your day. Parannoul’s recently announced new album is out today as well and the hype around this one is building. The ethereal shoegaze tones and the towering post-rock build ups have been powerful elements of the project’s sound, but the elusive artist has stated that “this album is not what you expected, but what I always wanted.”
The ultimate in chill, King Tuff brings back his fuzzed-out rock and roll with a new record called Smalltown Stardust which once again hits hard on his stoner-rocker vibes of thick guitar. Not to be outdone, the legendary J Mascis is back with a solo record this week under the moniker Heavy Blanket which is another album full of buzzing blown out guitar.
Popcaan gave us a dancehall jam earlier this year with Drake that sounded straight out of 2013 and now he’s got a whole album full of the lush tropical vibes that should be a great way to heat up the winter blues. There’s also a new album from Jonah Yano and features heavy collaboration from Toronto’s BADBADNOTGOOD. Together, the artists create lush jazz that feels cozy and inviting, best to soundtrack a good night with close friends and mellow vibes.
Kevin Morby released his first soundtrack this week for the film Montana Story. It’s a short record that continues his rustic country rock and features vocals from his partner Katie Crutchfield, aka Waxahatchee. Elsewhere, Fatboi Sharif and Roper Williams team up for a new collaborative EP which features a killer verse from E L U C I D and goes hard on the dark and warped beats.
Karin Deijer is getting ready to release their first Fever Ray album in five years. Following the fantastic two singles “What They Call Us” and “Carbon Dioxide,” Karin returns with their brother Olof in-tow for a mini reunion of the Knife on the sensual new track “Kandy.”
Barcelona pop sensation Rosalía is still riding high from last year’s Motomami and today she’s back with another infectious jam, “LLYLM.” Next month, Gorillaz will release their eighth record and today the band have shared yet another single, the sleek and groovy “Silent Running.”
If dark electronics is your jam, you’re in luck as Tim Hecker is back with a typically deep ambient jam “Lotus Light” which is easy to get lost in. There’s also the propulsive techno track “Oak Bank” from Surgeon that delivers hard beats for a sinister night at the club. Markus Popp, better known as Oval, has a new album coming this spring and this week shared the track “Touha” which features a twisted piano melody over clanging electronics.
If the darker sounds aren’t your vibe, Bonobo’s new track flashes with promise and is sure to get you moving on the dance floor and gets an assist from Jacques Green. There’s also a new one from Clark that features production, bass playing, and ghostly vocals from Thom Yorke. It’s a buzzing track that is sure to get you moving.
Jangle-pop band The Telephone Numbers have a new single out this week featuring more of the bright melodies that have emerged from the rising San Francisco scene and features Glenn Donaldson of The Reds, Pinks and Purples. Following last week’s “NOLA Freestyle,” Dean Blunt returns this week with a track of looped acoustic guitar and strings featuring the lush vocals of TYSON to give it an enticing edge.
Albums:
Fucked Up | One Day
Parannoul | After The Magic
White Reaper | Asking For A Ride
Popcaan | Great Is He
The Arcs | Electrophonic Chronic
Oozing Wound | We Cater To Cowards
King Tuff | Smalltown Stardust
Jonah Yano | Portrait Of A Dog
Heavy Blanket | Moon Is
Fatboi Sharif / Roper Williams | Planet Unfaithful
Kevin Morby | Music from Montana Story [soundtrack]
Songs:
Fever Ray | “Kandy”
Rosalía | “LLYLM”
Gorillaz | “Silent Running” (ft Adeleye Omotayo)
Chöle | “Pray It Away”
Daniel Caesar | “Do You Like Me”
Clark | “Town Crank”
The Telephone Numbers | “Weird Sisters”
Bonobo | “Fold” (ft Jacques Green)
Dean Blunt / TYSON | “Pressed”
Tim Hecker | “Lotus Light”
Surgeon | “Oak Bank”
Oval | “Touha”
Eyedress | “HOUSE OF CARDS” (Kevin Shields remix)
If you’re a Spotify user, you can listen to these songs (and more from 2023) here!