Following the tragic and untimely death of their legendary drummer Taylor Hawkins, I was, for one, unsure if we’d ever hear from Foo Fighters ever again. Much to my pleasant surprise, the band is back with a new album that largely pays tribute to their departed bandmate as well as lead singer Dave Grohl’s mother. Based on the four lead singles, it’s safe to say this is the most excited I’ve been for a new Foos album in over a decade and while I’m saddened that it took such an awful incident to create something so great, I’m happy to band found a way to process their grief and can now share that with their fans.
On her fourth record under the moniker Bully, Alicia Bognanno continues to drive home epic alt-rock packed with rich, fuzzy guitars and catchy choruses sure to have you rocking out with a supreme attitude as you start your kick-off to summer. Michigan’s Protomartyr drop their sixth album this week, the rocking Formal Growth In The Desert which the post-punk band has described as their most “headphone” record yet.
After once again squashing an Oasis reunion and yelling at The 1975’s Matty Healy, Noel Gallagher is back with a new record featuring his backing group High Flying Birds. ‘90s punk act Rancid also returns this week with a brand new album that continues to blend their crust aesthetics with pop-punk melodies which made them a defining act of their time.
Post-punk trio Patio shared a new single this week, their first since 2019, and it’s a stark, scratchy track that lights a spark through its raw, mineral rhythms and skeletal grooves. After reuniting for some shows over the past year, the garage-punk band Be Your Own Pet have finally announced their first new album in 15 years. Along with the news, the band shared their killer new single, “Worship the Whip,” which is a heavy new track that gets right up in your face and finds the band excelling exactly where they left off.
This month, Queens of the Stone Age will release their new record and this week, their latest single affirmed that we can surely expect more of their stomping sludge rock that’s ready to be played at a loud volume. For her second single off her upcoming album, Palehound has shared The Sopranos inspired track, “My Eye,” which confronts the reality in which sometimes you are, in fact, the asshole.
Now based out of Philadelphia, Speedy Ortiz have announced a new record is on the way and dropped the rocking new track “You SO2” which forges more ground for their brand of blown-out indie rock. The multi-instrumentalist Blake Mills (who plays with just about everyone) has a new album out in June and this week he shared the dazzling new tune, “Skeleton is Walking,” which is a lovely piece of tantalizing guitar work.
As his prolific run continues, Panda Bear jumps on the new track from his long-time collaborator Rusty Santos and the two share vocal duties on this blissed-out and slinky song. Continuing on his journey after fronting dream-pop groups Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Kip Berman is ready to release a new album as The Natvral and on “Lucifer’s Glory” he continues down the path of bright folk-pop.
Long thought to be lost forever, a new recording of John Coltrane’s run at the Village Gate from 1961 has been discovered and it features a set from a quintet that featured Eric Dolphy, McCoy Tyner, Reggie Workman, and Elvin Jones. The miraculous version of “Impressions” is our first taste of the set and already feels like an instant addition to the classic Coltrane catalogue.
Albums:
Bully | Lucky For You
Foo Fighters | But Here We Are
Rufus Wainwright | Folkocracy
Protomartyr | Formal Growth In The Desert
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds | Council Skies
Rancid | Tomorrow Never Comes
Beach Fossils | Bunny
Tanya Tucker | Sweet Western Sound
Juan Wauters | Wandering Rebel
Lost Under Heaven | Something Is Announced By Your Life!
Songs:
Patio | “En Plein Air”
Be Your Own Pet | “Worship the Whip”
The Natvral | “Lucifer’s Glory”
Palehound | “My Eye”
Queens of the Stone Age | “Carnavoyeur”
Speedy Ortiz | “You SO2”
Arthur Russell | “Very Reason”
Blake Mills | “Skeleton is Walking”
John Coltrane / Eric Dolphy | “Impressions”
Rusty Santos / Panda Bear | “Mirrors”
Kelly Clarkson | “i hate money” (ft Steven Martin)
If you’re a Spotify user, you can listen to these songs (and more from 2023) here!