Over 500 song pitches came through my inbox last week. These survived the scrutiny and made the list for the Five Songs You Must Hear This Week.
1. Jack White, ?
NO NAME (Third Man Records)
Recommended If You Like: Surprises
Back on Friday, July 19 and without any fanfare or warning, Jack White released a vinyl album. It came in a plain white cardboard sleeve. The words “NO NAME” were stamped on the white label. There’s no tracklisting. The only place where anyone could find a physical copy was at the three Third Man Record Stores (Nashville, Detroit, London) where employees quietly slipped copies into customers’ shopping bags unbidden. And it wasn’t officially made available on any of the streaming services. So how were other fans supposed to hear it? Jack said “Rip it!” So they have. Here’s the whole record.
2. Menno Versteeg, Fish Out of Water
Single (Royal Mountain)
RIYL: Canadian indie
Now that Hollerado has called it a day, Menno Versteeg has time freed up for other pursuits. One is being the frontman for the Canadian indie supergroup Anyway Gang. The other is for solo projects, like this single featuring Doug Paisley on acoustic guitar and vocal harmonies. Like songs about how hard it is to grow up in a small town? Menno’s got you covered right here.
3. JJ Wilde, Options
Vices (Black Box Recordings)
RIYL: Relationships gone bad
I quote JJ: “This album is the album I said I would never make. I always said that I would never put a relationship before music or myself and then I went and got completely lost in someone. The amount of emotional, personal and mental growth that this album has brought forward for me is massive. It’s the breakup album I swore I wouldn’t write. But I got dumped before a two-month tour across the States, and that was the catalyst to go deeper into my most vulnerable places and heal.”
4. Primal Scream, Love Insurrection
Come Ahead (BMG)
RIYL: The end of long hiatuses
We haven’t had any new music from Glasgow’s Primal Scream for eight years, but at least there’s a new album in sight with Come Ahead set for released on November 8. (Yes, we’re talking about November releases already). This advance single has a soulful, groovy dance feel that reaches back to the rave days of the 90s. By the way, if a Glaswegian tells you to “come ahead,” run away. That means he/she wants to fight.
5. Noun, Wanted
Single (Don Giovanni Records)
RIYL: New bands from old
If you’re a fan of New Jersey punk, you were probably upset that Screaming Females called it quits after 18 years. However, the band’s Marissa Paternoster isn’t retiring. In fact, she’s been making solo records under the name Noun since 2010. This incarnation of the band is a duo featuring collaborator Phillip Price. Jack White will hear this and approve–meaning that we’ve come full circle for this edition of the Five Songs.
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