At long last, we have new albums from Björk and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. What a day! First up, the avant-pop icon Björk has been unveiling her tenth studio album this past month dropping a new single each week as the build-up to the album’s release. Today, we’re gifted the latest from the adventurous experimentalist and Fossora is unquestionably another confounding chapter in her ever expanding discography, one derived from the earth, glowing with fungal powers, and hypnotic charm that can come from no other artist.
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs are also ones to never steer from flamboyant fun and having Karen O back in action on stage has confirmed her legacy as one of the best to ever do it. Today the illustrious New York trio are back with their first album in nearly a decade. The singles have been great and while they’re less chaotic, they still strike with killer force and refined style.
Freddie Gibbs only recently announced his new album and he’s shared two tracks from it so far, both of which suggest he’s up to his usual tricks of hard-hitting rhymes with impeccable flow. billy woods already released one of my favorite albums of the year, Aethiopes, and today he’s back with another called Churches. This one features production from Messiah Muzik and verses from the other half of Armand Hammer, ELUCID
Titus Andronicus return this week as well with their rip-roaring new album full of emotionally charged punk bangers and screamo legends City of Caterpillar are one of many legacy acts that have joined the reunion train and this week they strike back with their new album, Mystic Sisters.
Earlier this year, Sam Prekop teamed up with his The Sea and Cake bandmate John McEntire for the excellent album Sons Of and today he’s back with a new solo endeavor that is sure to hit the sweet spot between post-rock and subdued electronic compositions. While Netflix’s recent film Blonde has been garnering all sorts of criticism and praise in its depiction of the life of Hollywood legend Marilyn Monroe, it was recently revealed that the soundtrack was done by none other than Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, two men who are no strangers to film scores, so perhaps this can act as a silver lining to an otherwise highly criticized film.
Following last year’s fantastic I Don’t Live Here Anymore, The War on Drugs have shared a deluxe edition of the album and with it comes two new tracks. The epic “Oceans of Darkness” feels right at home with their charged-up heartland rock anthems and “Slow Ghost” is a beautiful ballad full of the riches this band has long been capable of delivering. Wild to think both almost ended up on the cutting room floor.
Over the past three decades, Bill Callahan has solidified his place as one of the great American singer/songwriters through his work under his moniker Smog and now under his own name. Next month he’ll release yet another album and this week we got to hear the jubilant new song “Natural Information” which immediately feels like one of his most jovial and rhythmically upbeat tracks yet.
LCD Soundsystem have been reuniting for residencies across the country, but they haven’t released any new music since 2017’s American Dream. Today they’re back with a new track from Noah Baumbach’s latest film White Noise. Arctic Monkeys recently announced their new record and this week they delivered the second single, another meditative and expansive song called “Body Paint.”
What a year it’s been for Panda Bear. As I’ve said in previous weeks, following release of the best Animal Collective record in a decade, Noah Lennox teamed-up with his frequent collaborator Sonic Boom for their first record as a duo, the wonderful Reset, and he also lent vocal duties to Braxe + Falcon for the Song of the Year, “Step by Step.” He’s also appeared on a song with George Fitzgerald and will appear on the new record from Nosaj Thing as well. In addition to all of that, he’s once again teamed-up with Teebs and takes over on vocals for their new track “Did It Again.” Teebs also dropped the great instrumental “NES” as well.
This week, Pitchfork has been compiling new lists of what they consider to be the best music from the ‘90s (my personal favorite decade for music). They’ve done this several times before, but like so many other lists, they felt it was time for an upgrade. As we progress further from the decade itself, things shift and something that once held relevance may retreat from culture and significance can fade while new treasures may be discovered the better reflect the past. When Pitchfork debuted their best of lists back in 2010, I made my own to reflect my own tastes. You can read my list favorite songs and albums from the ‘90s and if you feel like it, share yours as well.
Albums:
Björk | Fossora
Yeah Yeah Yeahs | Cool It Down
Freddie Gibbs | $oul $old $eparately
Titus Andronicus | The Will To Live
City Of Caterpillar | Mystic Sisters
Kid Cudi | Entergalactic
Brandi Carlile | In The Canyon Haze
Melody’s Echo Chamber | Unfold
OFF! | Free LSD
Sam Prekop | The Sparrow
billy woods | Church
Kamaiyah | Three Nights in Seattle EP
Nick Cave / Warren Ellis | Blonde [Soundtrack from the Netflix film]
Songs:
The War on Drugs | “Oceans of Darkness” / “Lost Ghost”
Arctic Monkeys | “Body Paint”
LCD Soundsystem | “new body rhumba”
Bill Callahan | “Natural Information”
Teebs | “Did It Again” (ft Panda Bear) / “NES”
The Reds, Pinks and Purples | “Is Your Mind That Free?”
Archers of Loaf | “Aimee”
Neil Young and Crazy Horse | “Love Earth”
Beck | “Old Man” [Neil Young cover]
If you’re a Spotify user, you can listen to these songs (and more from 2022) here!