In case you haven’t heard, there’s a new Beyoncé album out today and it’s sure to be one of, if not the biggest releases of the year. It’s been six years since the reigning Queen of Pop delivered a solo album and this one is the first part of three. “Break My Soul” was our first taste of the record and leads the way for the house-revival we’re sure to now experience as a result. Apologies to anyone else with a new album today because it’s hard to imagine people talking about much else.
However, if Beyoncé isn’t really your thing (and if that’s true, you should still give her a listen) there’s also the new album from Maggie Rogers. Her singles have given us a more matured sound that exudes bold confidence and it feels like a powerhouse of an album may be upon us.
Indie rock veterans of Montreal have a new record out this week and it continues the ever-expanding sounds of Kevin Barnes and crew as the band heads into yet another decade of experimental psych-pop. Also out this week is a new mini-LP from The Reds, Pinks and Purples. It follows the full-length from January and continues Glenn Donaldson’s prolific run as one of the most consistent songwriters of his generation, blending classic college rock, dream-pop, and indie standards.
Wild Pink announced a new album this week and shared the title track “ILYSM,” a transcendent, larger-than-life song that makes a run for one of the best guitar-songs of the year. Waxahatchee and Jess Williamson shared the news of a joint album as the duo Plains would be on the way and released the lead single, a country jam, called “Problems With It” which will immediately resonate with anyone who fell in love with Katie Crutchfield’s last record Saint Cloud.
I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve never been hip enough to get Rosalía’s hits, but can say that her latest single is the first that’s really connected with me and it’s a great banger that’ll make the playlist for the rest of the summer. Charli XCX has a new one this week as well. “Hot Girls (Bodies Bodies Bodies)” is more hyper-pop goodness with an indelible hook that will again have you on the dance floor.
Built to Spill are set to return this fall with their tenth album and “Spiderwebs” is yet another track that suggests the band still has their flame burning bright, guitars tuned and ready to blaze. Preoccupations will release a new one in September and dropped their latest single “Death of Melody” which defies its title, but delivers on continuing the band’s sound.
Albums:
Beyoncé | Renaissance
Maggie Rogers | Surrender
Chat Pile | God’s Country
Florist | Florist
of Montreal | Freewave Lucifer f<ck f^ck f>ck
Murder By Death | Spell/Bound
The Reds, Pinks and Purples | Still Clouds at Noon
Songs:
Wild Pink | “ILYSM”
Plains | “Problem With It”
Rosalía | “DESPECHÁ”
Built to Spill | “Spiderweb”
SBTRKT | “Miss the Days”
Charli XCX | “Hot Girls (Bodies Bodies Bodies)”
Fucked Up | “Strix”
Preoccupations | “Death of Melody”
The Linda Lindas | “Tonite” [Go Go’s cover]
The Comet is Coming | “CODE”
Dry Cleaning | “Anna Calls from the Arctic”
Fred again.. | “Turn Out the Lights” (ft Swedish House Mafia and Future)
If you’re a Spotify user, you can listen to these songs (and more from 2022) here!