As we approach the end of the year, I expect the marathon run of new releases to begin to slow down as people start to prepare their best-of lists and while this week may be light on new songs, there are plenty of exciting full-lengths to check out.
It’s a great week for shoegaze as Hotline TNT drop their new album which comes with swelling waves of thick guitar with a bit of punk and hardcore adrenaline that gives it a supreme alternative feel. This week also sees the return of ‘90’s act Drop Nineteen who are back with their first album in thirty years. They delayed the start of their reunion tour, but the album should still suffice and allow even more hype to swirl for their dreamy return to the stage.
bar italia already released one of my favorite albums of the year (so far) and this week they’re back with their sophomore record, The Twits, and judging from the singles, it tones their sound into a more chiseled vibe while still retaining their raw, brooding enthusiasm and dry, post-punk ethos.
It’s been over a decade since we heard a new album from guitar-wiz Marnie Stern, but this week she roars back with her rocking new album that’s full of the blown-out virtuosic style as her past, but with an updated edge. On his second album following his time in Cymbals Eat Guitar, Joseph D’Agostino is back as Empty Country with another slick indie rock record that showcases highly defined guitars and interesting hooks.
Earlier this week, trip-hop icons Portishead celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of their landmark and legendary live album Roseland NYC Live with a re-release that includes three tracks that were previously omitted from the album and only appeared on the concert film. It’s currently only streaming, but a physical release is set to follow.
U.S. Girls also surprise announced and released a live album of their own which collected live takes from shows dating back to 2018 assembled in a random order to recreate the experience of a single live show. Four Tet has a live album out today as well from his gig at Alexandra Palace in London from May of this year and it’s cover is a crowd-sourced fan photo from the event.
Hip-hop producer extraordinaire The Alchemist has dropped albums this year with Earl Sweatshirt, Larry June, MIKE and an EP with billy woods and Boldy James and tomorrow he follows it all up with another EP that finds him back on the mic as well, this time with Action Bronson in tow. Lindsey Jordan just recorded a cover of Lou Reed’s “Perfect Day” with Thurston Moore for a Fender commercial and today she’s back with a Snail Mail EP from last year’s Valentine sessions.
Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr shared the “last” song from The Beatles this week and it’s based on a recording John made in the ‘70’s that the band tried to include on Anthology back in the ‘90’s but scrapped due to technical difficulties. Now, thanks to the technology developed by Peter Jackson, the surviving Beatles were able to isolate Lennon’s vocals and include George’s guitar takes from ‘95 to produce what they’ve called the final track from the world’s greatest band. It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s a pleasure nonetheless.
After releasing her blockbuster sophomore album just a few months ago, Olivia Rodrigo has dropped a new single for the upcoming Hunger Games films and this one is a driving piano ballad that stretches out her vocals and lets them shine over marching rhythms and isolated longing.
“Cobra” is the new track from Megan thee Stallion that goes hard over a heavy metal guitar riff and calls to attention the trauma she’s encountered over the past few years and who stood by her while calling out those who showed doubt or led the attacks. It’s a vicious track that takes no prisoners and showcases Meg’s vulnerability, the most punishing weapon in her arsenal yet as she kicks off her new, independent era.
The last we heard from Sharon Van Etten was last year’s excellent We’ve Been Going About This All Wrong and this week we got the new single “Close to You” from the upcoming AppleTV series The Buccaneers. The song is one of two tracks from Van Etten that appears on the soundtrack and this one was co-written by Courtney Barnett.
Albums:
Hotline TNT | Cartwheel
Drop Nineteens | Hard Light
bar italia | The Twits
Marnie Stern | The Comeback Kid
Empty Country | Empty Country II
Spiritual Cramp | Spiritual Cramp
Tkay Maidza | Sweet Justice
Snail Mail | Valentine Demos EP
The Alchemist | Flying High: Part Two EP
Portishead | Roseland NYC Live 25 [live album]
Four Tet | Live at Alexandria Palace London, 24th May 2023 [live album]
U.S. Girls | LIVES [live album]
Songs:
The Beatles | “Now and Then”
Olivia Rodrigo | “Can’t Catch Me Now”
Meghan thee Stallion | “Cobra”
Sharon Van Etten | “Close to You”
MGMT | “Mother Nature”
Cloud Nothings | “Final Summer”
Spencer Zhan | “OST”
Mount Kimbie | “Dumb Guitar”
If you’re a Spotify user, you can listen to these songs (and more from 2023) here!