As February marches on, in the corner of the music world that doesn’t have a 24 hour live feed on Kanye West’s Life Of Pablo, it is shaping out to be a great month for new releases. Andra Day scored her first Spotify Sessions, Missy Elliott would like to invite you to sit next her during the pep rally, it’s a pep rally, and Santigold delivered a pumped up anthem due to a disruptive ‘Banshee’ on her shoulder.
In the shortest month of the year one most seize each moment, or lest the month moves past us in the blink of an eye; head over to Spotify and catch the full rundown of these week’s latest in music. Also make sure to check out New Music Friday All-Stars for a quick catchup on the best of week’s past.
10. Fool by Basia Bulat
Call her the girl next door just across the border, this Ontario native is a certified veteran with her four albums under her belt and enjoys popularity in Canada and England. Tracks like Fool highlight her easy harmonies and play like a slightly less quirky but just as unique Zooey Deschanel. Basia took to Instagram to state how proud she is of the record, and pointed out friendships that helped her make it. Her North American tour kicks off in Montreal on March 18th.
9. Kids by The Frights
With a style similar to bands like Fidlar and Wavves, mixed with the grand spirit of ‘I Hear They Suck Live’ by classic punk band NoFX, The Frights bring their loudest laments to their latest release, You’re Gonna Hate This. ‘Kids’ highlights the true horrors of ‘adulting’ that includes paying for your own insurance in between statements (that truly incapsulate the experience) like OH MY GODD WHATTEVERRR! Best to play when everything sucks.
8. Lonely Is A Lifetime by The Wild Feathers
Creating a starkly simple portrayal of rock n roll fused with the blues and just a shake of country, The Wild Feathers rely on a harmony of the quintet’s voices and instruments that come in at just the right places. As they sing “but only the starlight can turn this town cold” it makes you want to grab a blanket and stargaze, even if it’s much too cold for such an activity right now. There’s been a lot of fanfare for the album title of the same name, set to be released in full on March 11.
7. Don’t Panic by Clairity
Clairity has been enjoying a way of success following her debut of Alienation last year, and has been a fixture on Fresh New Music with several appearances under her belt. Fresh off the heels of their Superbowl halftime show, Clairity took the next step and did a cover of Coldplay’s 2000 “Don’t Panic.” While the original is a quiet, laidback affair, Clairity turns the track into an opus, using what feels like a full scale orchestra to create pulsating drama. If Chris Martin’s version is a slideshow of gorgeous spots on Earth, Clairity’s is an astronaut in space gazing down on our beautiful world.
6. The New Cupid by BJ The Chicago Kid, Kendrick Lamar
There’s no doubt that modern love, with the dawn of apps like Tinder and non-stop drama available via social media, can feel more like swimming with sharks than finding eternal bliss. BJ The Chicago Kid totally gets it, explaining that the NEW cupid is too busy in the club, and that ‘if you see him, let him know that love is dead.’ Helping drive the point home is Kendrick Lamar, letting us know that he’s not having too much luck either with parking lot pimpin’ and honking at women only resulting in miniskirts walking away from him. As shown here, finding love continues to be a frustrating mess.
5. Tearing Me Up – RAC Mix by Bob Moses, RAC
It’s beginning to become an irrefutable fact, that anything RAC touches turns into an even more sparkling shade of gold. The popular producer ‘Remix Artist Collective’ shows that the hits just keep on coming, after getting their hands on Bob Moses’s Tearing Me Up, of which the original is more meandering while the RAC version just gets right into the beat. Because the beat is so melodious and time keeping, the track will make a perfect addition on your Productivity Please playlist.
4. Come Alive by The Jezebels
One of the dreamiest acts to ever grace the label of indie music, it’s hard to believe it’s already been three years since the Aussie band’s last album, The Brink. For Synthia, for which the band says they’ve spent the bulk of 2015 crafting and honing it together, lead vocalist Hayley Mary describes the album as ‘…a beautiful gothic Australian desert with an old man singing but sped up to sound like a young girl.’ For more brilliant commentary make sure to check out the band’s track by track commentary album available on Spotify.
3. Make Me Like You by Gwen Stefani
Always a maestro of bubblegum pop, Gwen Stefani pops a new stick of bubblegum and has given fans something to get excited about, as the singer made it official that a new album is on the horizon; ‘What The Truth Feels Like’ will land March 18th. This news is especially rewarding, as Stefani scrapped an album that was set for December 2014 due to writers block and ‘things just not feeling right.’ Make Me Like You gives us those infectious hooks that played so well on Love Angel Music Baby and The Sweet Escape, as she explores her newly single life.
2. Low Life by Future, The Weeknd
It only makes sense that Future and The Weeknd would join forces, as Future continues his record of linking up with artists right when they’re blazing hot (Drake, Pusha T) and The Weeknd’s brand of alt R&B mixes so well with rappers of right now. On Low Life both artists acknowledge that they’re living the high life right now, but that doesn’t mean they have to compromise the way they want to live; they’ll always be reppin’ for that low life.
1. Shroud by Lissie
One of the most underrated artists in the world of Rock bordering on Folk, Lissie has come out with guns blazin’ on her latest album My Wild West. On the album Lissie conjures up images of California and wide open country scenes on songs like Sun Keeps Risin, Ojai, and Go For A Walk. Shroud is one of the more darker moments on the album, where she battles confusion and depression with raw set of emotions. As she asks the question “Where Are My Friends?” it feels as if we’re given a peak into one’s most private somber moments.
Leave a Reply