Greetings from the most polluted city on the planet (I took the above photo around 2:30 on Wednesday and it’s an unfiltered view on lower Manhattan on the day the sky turned orange), but holy moly, what a stacked week of new music! As we hit the half-way mark of 2023, it seems to be yet another year of staggering output from top-notch artists and newcomers as well and this week has some of the hottest and most anticipated releases of the year.
After taking a brief break from music to focus on her excellent film career, Janelle Monáe is back with her new album The Age Of Pleasure and it features a smattering of legendary guests such as Grace Jones and Sister Nancy. Janelle is an artist of supreme talent and this is a much needed return from such a virtuosic artist. Jenny Lewis also returns this week with her first new album since 2019 and the ever joyful artist is beaming with sunshine and rainbows on this one, full of the blissful melodies we’ve come to expect.
King Krule has never played by anyone else’s rules and that sentiment remains intact on his new album, Space Heavy, which continues on his course of lingering, drawn-out jams that explore new sonic dimensions. England post-punks Squid are also dropping their latest, dizzying album today which finds the band pushing their exploration into new territory of angular, jagged tunes that attack with a sneering bite.
Jess Williamson is probably best known as one-half of the duo Plains alongside Waxahatchee, but today she’s back with a new solo album of blissed-out country pleasure. Following suit, Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit also have a new album full of bonafide country rocking jams that are sure to hit that early summer sweet spot.
Continuing the trend of shoegaze influenced ‘90s alt-rock, we have the debut album from newcomers Feeble Little Horse which is another great addition to the revival canon that seems to be making a splash across the rising generation of indie rockers. Today also features the return of duo turned trio Darkside who are dropping their new EP which is their first recording to feature the addition of their new drummer into the mix.
Following her excellent 2021 album Fatigue, L’Rain came back this week with the stunning new single “New Year’s UnResolution.” It’s a full-blown odyssey of lush ambient work that morphs into twitching electronics for something totally sublime and refreshing that sets the tone for whatever she chooses to do next. Julie Byrne also dropped a new single, the third from her upcoming album, that also channels supreme majestic vibes with haunting vocals that conjure up magical moods and pure, raw emotions.
After sharing singles for nearly two years, Romy Madley Croft of the xx has finally announced her debut solo record and with it is led by the shimmering, dreamy single, “Loveher” which was produced by frequent collaborator and overall hot shot Fred again.. Japanese composer Cornelius has shared a new track, the lovely “All Things Must Pass,” which isn’t a George Harrison, but instead a glowing track all his own that touches on soft City Pop vibes and warm electronic textures.
Lifeguard are a recent signee to Matador and this week they dropped the great new song “After,” which gives in to ‘90s alt-rock guitar tones mixed with a rush of energy that propels the track with instant vigor. Brooklyn’s Locations also dropped a new tune this week called “Better Days” which kicks off with some emo tones a la American Football before erupting in a surge of massive guitar swells ready to rock an arena. Also in the cards this week is a ripping new banger from hardcore band Fiddlehead who continue to bring the ruckus to the pit on their latest, “Sullen Boy.”
Albums:
Janelle Monáe | The Age Of Pleasure
Jenny Lewis | Joy’All
King Krule | Space Heavy
Squid | O Monolith
Jess Williamson | Time Ain’t Accidental
Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit | Weathervanes
Feeble Little Horse | Girl With Fish
Christine And The Queens | Paranoïa, Angels, True Love
Godflesh | PURGE
Youth Lagoon | Heaven Is A Junkyard
Dudu Tassa / Jonny Greenwood | Jarak Qaribak
Darkside | Live At Spiral House
Songs:
L’Rain | “New Year’s UnResolution”
Julie Byrne | “Moonless”
Romy | “Loveher”
Cornelius | “All Things Must Pass”
Lifeguard | “Alarm”
Miranda Lambert | “If You Were Mine” (ft Leon Bridges)
Fiddlehead | “Sullen Boys”
PJ Harvey | “I Inside the Old I Dying”
Shamir | “Oversized Sweater”
Sharon Van Etten | “Quiet Eyes”
Locations | “Better Days”
If you’re a Spotify user, you can listen to these songs (and more from 2023) here!