October is ending with a band! Today we get the new album from rock heroes The War on Drugs. Proceeded by highlights “Change,” the slow and steady “Living Proof,” and the stunning title track, this is easily one of my most anticipated records of the year and is sure to be one of the best guitar records of the year. Ever since their breakthrough Lost in the Dream, the band has been a pure force and this album could be their best yet. It’s hard to imagine anyone remotely interested in rock music not enjoying this album and finding moments of total elation. It’s an absolute blast!
Mastodon is also back with a double album (although I’m not entirely sure what that really means in 2021 as so many records are on two discs when it comes to vinyl these days) and it finds the prog-metal greats up to their old tricks. We also get the soaring new record from Bat Fangs which will fill the need for high octane guitar riffage that is somewhere between Pat Benatar and other ‘80s staples.
Megan thee Stallion has a new free-style mixtape this week as well which is sure to soundtrack a Halloween party or several thousand this weekend and continues her hot streak as one of the biggest rappers on the planet.
Holy anniversaries this week as well! We get new reissues of classics from R.E.M., Ghostface Killah, and Death Cab for Cutie. Somewhere out there I hope there are people equally excited for all of these as I am.
Snail Mail shared another single ahead of next week’s album release and it’s a cool new twist that leans back from the guitar-forward sound of her debut. Spoon also announced a new album due in February 2022 and shared the great first single, “The Hardest Cut.”
Albums:
The War On Drugs | I Don’t Live Here Anymore
Mastodon | Hushed And Grim
Bat Fangs | Queen Of My World
Megan thee Stallion | Something for thee Hotties
Geese | Projector
Tori Amos | Ocean To Ocean
Dinosaur Jr. | Emptiness at the Sinclair [live album]
R.E.M. | New Adventures In Hi-Fi [25th anniversary edition]
Ghostface Killah | Ironman [25th anniversary edition]
Death Cab For Cutie | The Photo Album [deluxe edition]
Songs:
Snail Mail | “Madonna”
Spoon | “The Hardest Cut”
Kylie Minogue / Jessie Ware | “Kiss of Life”
Kelly Lee Owens | “Unity”
Yaeji / OHHYUK | “Year to Year” / “29”
Jessie Lanza | “Seven 55 (DJ Kicks)” (ft Loraine James)
Beach Bunny | “Oxygen”
If you’re a Spotify user, you can listen to these songs (and more from 2021) here!
My first Halloween mix in years spans dubstep, jazz, ambient, pop, drone, and everything in between. Meant for late night vibes and spooky themes, most of the songs here are a bit haunting and in some cases challenging, just like your favorite scary movies. At times it’s unsettling, but fun rewards punctuate throughout. There are some rockers as well as some experimental moments, but the whole mix will make for a fun adventure (I hope). Stick with it even if you get scared and don’t hit shuffle.
These jams were all released in 2021 as well (mostly).
Tracklist:
01 ANDY STOTT | “The Beginning”
02 DARKSIDE | “Narrow Road”
03 VATICAN SHADOW | “Twilight Nail in the Coffin”
04 LANA DEL RAY | “Interlude - The Trio”
05 MADLIB | “The New Normal”
06 CIRCUIT DES YEUX | “The Vanishing”
07 LYDIA AINSWORTH | “Queen of Darkness”
08 MOGWAI | “Midnight Flit”
09 COLD CAVE | “Night Light”
10 PARQUET COURTS | “Black Widow Spider”
11 MAGDELENA BAY | “Killshot - Slowed + Reverb”
12 ANGEL BAT DAWID | “Husband of the Queen of Walo, Wolof”
13 GROUPER | “Basement Mix”
14 ONEOHTRIX POINT NEVER | “Tales from the Trash Stratum” (ft Elizabeth Fraser)
15 LOW | “Disappearing”
16 DEAFHEAVEN | “Neptune Raining Diamonds”
17 THOM YORKE / RADIOHEAD | “Creep - Very 2021 Rmx”