The end of the year is starting to creep up, but we’re still basking in tons of great new music and it seems like that will be the case right up until 2023. This week we see the triumphant return of Weyes Blood who is back with her first new album since 2019, And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow.
The living legend Neil Young is back with Crazy Horse for yet another new album, this one actually recorded in the past year, and on this one, he’s brought in Rick Rubin to handle production. As usual, Neil and the Horse are up to their old tricks of ragged, revved-up guitar and while it surely doesn’t hold a candle to their best work of the ‘70s and ‘90s, it’s still impressive to see and hear a band so locked in at this stage of their careers. Long may you run, Neil!
The year of Panda Bear keeps on rolling. Following the comeback album with his main group Animal Collective, the band returns yet again this year, this time with a soundtrack that goes big on their typical jams instead of instrumental pieces as you might expect. Still not slowing down, Panda Bear and Sonic Boom follow their joint album from this summer with an expanded edition today that features instrumental and remix versions of the album’s bright melodies.
The magnetic hip-hop group Brockhampton announced their break-up following a set of good-bye shows and a final album. The Family was billed as the group’s last record, but it was released ahead of schedule and a secret follow-up, actual final album called TM is out now.
In other soundtrack news, Colin Stetson follows-up his recent album with a score for the film The Menu. Chat Pile, the bruising noise-rock band from Oklahoma City, released their epic debut album earlier this year and today they’re back with a score for the movie Tenkiller which finds the band exploring new dimensions of their intense sound.
Romy Madley-Croft, best known as one of the singers of the xx, has shared a second solo track that features production from Fred again.. and it’s an exuberant techno track that welcomes you to the dance floor. Kelela returned this week to announce her new album, Raven, and shared her smoldering track, “On the Run.”
Katherine Paul, known by her stage name Black Belt Eagle Scout, also announced a new album this week and along with it shared the epic, towering guitar track, “My Blood Runs Through This Land.” Andy Shauf announced his new album will be out next year and shared the lead single, “Wasted On You,” which carries on his wistful, pop melodies over easy guitar riffs.
It’s a bold move to name your band Fucked Up, but the Canadian punks have remained faithful to their intense name and their latest single, “Found,” is another high-intensity punk banger full of brilliant energy. Alex Edkins is perhaps best known for leading the noise-punk trio METZ, but his side project Weird Nightmare is another great act that brings down the intensity in favor of more pop-focused melodies that still bring the heat.
Albums:
Weyes Blood | And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow
Neil Young & Crazy Horse | WORLD RECORD
Caitlin Rose | CAZIMI
Brockhampton | The Family / TM
Chat Pile | Tenkiller Motion Picture Soundtrack
Animal Collective | The Inspection Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Colin Stetson | The Menu (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Black Midi | Live Fire [live album]
Panda Bear & Sonic Boom | Reset (Expanded Edition)
Songs:
Romy | “Strong” (ft Fred again..)
Black Belt Eagle Scout | “My Blood Runs Through This Land”
Danielle Ponder | “The Difficult Kind”
Kelela | “On the Run”
Fucked Up | “Found”
Weird Nightmare | “So Far Gone”
Andy Shauf | “Wasted On You”
If you’re a Spotify user, you can listen to these songs (and more from 2022) here!