2022 has been a great year for music (and that might be about it) and earlier this week, I shared my favorite releases of the year (so far). I think it stacks up to be the best of the past half-decade and I’m excited to see what else will come out in the next six months.
This week things are a bit slow as we ease into mid-summer, but for me it’s all about the latest “lost” album from Mr. Neil Young and Crazy Horse. Recorded at the turn of the millennium, but shelved do to personal reasons, Toast has gained a reputation for his fans and rivals the legendary status of other never-released albums such as the illusive Chrome Dreams.
Mid-aughts electro-indie greats Metric have a new one out this week for what’s perhaps the other big release of the week. Elsewhere, Viagra Boys drop their new one, the forceful Cave World, reigniting dance-punk and mega-riffs for tons of fun with tunes that are ready to let loose.
Last weekend, Bill Orcutt announced a new solo album called Music For Four Guitars and shared several of the tracks from the record. Highlight “At a Distance” is a melodic, motorik-driven track that locks into a solid groove full of intricate melodies. Julien Baker shared a new song called “Guthrie” from an upcoming EP that finds her back to her solo intimate roots, a retreat from the full-band sound of last year’s Little Oblivions.
Five years since their last LP and Canadian quartet Alvvays have finally announced their new record and shared the shredding new single, “Pharmacist,” which is rich in classic shoegaze vibes. Earlier this year, Hot Chip announced a new album for this summer and this week they’ve shared the second single, the beaming, disco-funk-forward “Eleanor,” which features lush synths and plush beats.
Oliver Sim of the xx shared yet another track from his upcoming solo debut and “GMT” is another sultry track produced by bandmate Jamie xx and features a Brian Wilson sample. Killer Mike returned this week with his first solo track since his breakthrough record R.A.P. Music and “RUN” is a hard hitting classic from Mike that shows he can still bring the goods when he’s on his own.
LA punk vets No Age announced a new album this week and in a bit of a twist shared the instrumental track “Andy Helping Andy” as the lead single. Pantha du Prince has also shared a new track, the twinkling, ethereal electronic wonder “Golden Galactic.”
Punk and New Wave icons Blondie have a box set out next month full of demos and unreleased material from 1976-1982 and this week they shared the track “I Love You Honey, Give Me A Beer (Go Through It)” which would eventually become “Go Through It,” the final song on their 1980 album Autoamerican. There’s also a Miles Davis box set due later this year and yesterday saw the release of the track “What It Is” which was recorded live in Montreal exactly thirty-nine years ago to the day, July 7, 1983!
Albums:
Neil Young and Crazy Horse | Toast
Metric | Formentera
Viagra Boys | Cave World
Westside Gunn | Peace “Fly” God
Spiral Stairs | Medley Attack!!!
Songs:
Bill Orcutt | “At a Distance”
Alvvays | “Pharmacist”
Julien Baker | “Guthrie”
Hot Chip | “Eleanor”
Oliver Sim | “GMT”
Pantha du Prince | “Golden Galactic”
Chassol | “I figli morti”
Killer Mike | “RUN” (ft Young Thug)
No Age | “Andy Helping Andy”
CHAI | “HERO JOURNEY” (ft Superorganism)
Blondie | “I Love You Honey, Give Me A Beer (Go Through It)”
Miles Davis | “What It Is” [Live in Montreal - July 7, 1983]
If you’re a Spotify user, you can listen to these songs (and more from 2022) here!