As June comes to an end, so does the first half of the year and even though we still have six more months to go, 2023 has once again already been a stacked year for new music. Next week, I’ll share my favorite releases (so far), many of which have been included in these weekly emails.
The legendary Lucinda Williams has a new album out this week, her fifteenth studio record, that highlights her classic hallmarks of Americana and country-leaning rock that’s made her such an all-time great and at 70 years old, she’s proving she still has plenty left in the tank.
Japanese composer and multi-instrumentalist Cornelius is back with another album that’s chock-full of his usual genre-less songs that somehow weaves together electronic, rock, and ambient components to create other worldly sonic landscapes that still sounds distinctly his own.
After releasing a record earlier in the year with the collective known as Dinner Party, Terrace Martin has a new solo album out this week which is comprised of more of his avant-jazz compositions that continues to push the genre in new directions while still holding true to his own sound. The sophomore record from Joanna Sternberg is out today and the indie singer-songwriter has been gaining a lot of hype around this release and the early singles suggest a similar vocal styling to Joanna Newsom, but with a raw guitar in place of a harp and ornate storytelling.
Grunge supergroup 3rd Secret is made up of Krist Novoselić (of Nirvana), Kim Thayil (of Soundgarden), Matt Cameron (of Pearl Jam AND Soundgarden), and Bubba Dupree (of Void), as well as vocalists Jillian Raye and Jennifer Johnson. Last year, they secretly announced their debut album and last weekend, they slyly released their second.
Following her instant-classic debut SOUR, Olivia Rodrigo returns with her first single from her sophomore album, GUTS, which is out this fall. “vampire” starts as a slow piano ballad that surges to a triumphant climax (some Arcade Fire vibes on this one) before collapsing on itself and starting over, slowing regaining steam as a steady, earnest beat leads once again to a killer refrain. It’s hard to imagine this one not dominating the charts and becoming a leader for the song of the summer.
Animal Collective rediscovered their groove and pop-adjacent melodies on last year’s “comeback” album Time Skiffs and this week they shared a new 22-minute epic called “Defeat” which takes a step back to some of their more primal beats and droning effects and is really a showcase for diehard fans still looking for the band to return to their (even more) experimental days.
After originally gaining hype around his scrambled electronic, post-dubstep sounds on his early EPs, James Blake made his vocals (and emotions) the focal point of his music, but on “Bad Hammer,” the lead single for his new album, Blake reverts back to making twitchy club-bangers. Sampha hasn’t released a solo record in six years, but all of that will soon change and if his new single, “Spirit 2.0,” is any indication, his knack for skittering beats and powerful vocal delivery is set to deliver the goods.
Garage-punks Be Your Own Pet are gearing up for their first new album in 15 years and this week they shared yet another kick-ass song, “Goodtime!” The band was unfortunately often overlooked during their initial run from 2004-2008, but if the rest of the album follows the path of these singles, they could finally see their well-earned day in the sun as one of the best rock bands out there.
The shoegaze revival continues with the announcement of a new album from Slow Pulp as well as their latest single, “Slugs,” which is another fuzzed-out song with heavy guitars that wallop with a purpose. Big Thief guitarist Buck Meek will drop a new solo record later in the year and his newest single, “Paradise,” is another gem of bright guitar-pop that sounds terrific in the summer sun.
Olof Dreijer had remained pretty silent since announcing the demise of the Knife with their sibling Karen, but earlier this year we were treated to a near-reunion when Olof showed up to produce several songs on the new album from Fever Ray and this week they dropped their own new track, they slippery, rubbery electro number “Rose Rugosa.”
Indie veterans The Breeders are set to release a 30th anniversary edition of their fantastic album Last Splash and ahead of the reissue, they’ve shared the previously unheard song “Go Man Go,” which sounds like another solid track from the band that fits perfectly with what we’ve already come to love from the group.
Albums:
Lucinda Williams | Stories From A Rock And Roll Heart
Cornelius | Dream In Dream
Joanna Sternberg | I’ve Got Me
Terrace Martin | Fine Tune
Lil Uzi Vert | The Pink Tape
3rd Secret \ 2nd 3rd Secret
The Alchemist | Flying High EP
Songs:
Olivia Rodrigo | “vampire”
Sampha | “Spirit 2.0”
James Blake | “Bad Hammer”
Animal Collective | “Defeat”
Slow Pulp | “Slugs”
Blur | “St. Charles Square”
Be Your Own Pet | “Goodtime!”
Olof Dreijer | “Rose Rugosa”
Buck Meek | “Paradise”
Girl Ray | “Love Is Enough”
L’Impératrice | “Heartquake” (ft Cuco)
Alabaster DePlume | “Did You Know”
The Breeders | “Go Man Go”
If you’re a Spotify user, you can listen to these songs (and more from 2023) here!