The new year is starting off strong with a release from one of the biggest names in music. The Weeknd, whose last album hit in March 2020 just at the onset of the pandemic, is back with his fifth album, called Dawn FM, and it’s sure to be one of the biggest of the year. It features collabs with Tyler, the Creator, Max Martin, Lil Wayne, Quincy Jones, Oneohtrix Point Never, and… Jim Carrey.
Another notable release this week comes from electronic, uk-garage, and all-around dubstep pioneer Burial. It may be billed as an EP, but the run time is lengthy and this is the longest release we’ve had from Burial since his landmark album Untrue back in 2007.
The Smile, the new band from Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood, shared their first official single this week as well. It’s a return-to-rock banger and a rather unexpected direction for these two. With Tom Skinner of Sons of Kemet on drums, all expectations are out the window for the album (which still doesn’t have a release date), but anticipation continues to climb.
Brooklyn’s Widowspeak also announced their new album this week and shared the gritty track, “Everything is Simple.” This will be the second album from the band during the pandemic and judging from the single, it’s a more sinister turn from the group and could mark the start of a new direction in sound.
Father John Misty shared details for his new album which is out later this spring and dropped the led single “Funny Girl” with the announcement. Broken Social Scene’s new compilation Old Dead Young: B-Sides & Rarities comes out next week and today the band shared another tune called “Curse Your Fail” which features Sebastian Grainger of Death From Above 1979.
Albums:
The Weeknd | Dawn FM
Burial | ANTIDAWN EP
Waxahatchee | El Deafo [Soundtrack / EP]
Gunna | DS4EVER
Songs:
The Smile | “You Will Never Work in Television Again”
Widowspeak | “Everything is Simple”
Earl Sweatshirt | “Titanic”
Father John Misty | “Funny Girl”
Broken Social Scene | “Curse Your Fail”
Beirut | “Fyodor Dormant”
Pinegrove | “Respirate”
Maren Morris | “Circles Around This Town”
If you’re a Spotify user, you can listen to these songs here!