This week’s New Music Friday involves mostly releases from indie labels.
Singles
1. Justice, Neverender (feat. Tame Impala) (Virgin Records)
This seems to be a match made in heaven: French electronic music mated to the Australian alt-pop sensibilities of Tame Impala. The result is summery, dance-y, and perfect for warm weather listening.
2. My Chemical Romance, Helena (Live at the BBC) (S0ny)
Just ahead of their big sold-out summer stadium tour, MCR has released this version of a single that was recorded for the BBC. It’s the second bonus track off their forthcoming Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge (Deluxe Edition). That record will be out June 6.
3. Wolf Alice, Bloom Baby Bloom (Sony)
It’s been a minute since we’ve heard anything from Wolf Alice (three years, in fact), but now it’s almost time for a new album. The Clearing is set for release on August 29. Yes, we’re already setting things up for the fall.
4. The Black Keys, No Rain, No Flowers (Easy Eye Sound)
Dan and Patrick start a tour this week and will no doubt be roadtesting material from the new album–which, by the way, will be their 13th. This is the third advance single.
Albums
1. Damiano David, FUNNY little FEARS (Sony Music Italy)
Måneskin has had a nice run since winning Eurovision a couple of years back. Now frontman Damiano David has a debut solo album which yielded three advance single. For this one, he’s gone all introspective with a song about trauma and personal struggles. The video was filmed in an Italian prison.
2. Lana Del Rey, Classic (Interscope)
I wasn’t keeping track so I was surprised to learn that this is Lana Del Rey’s tenth album. Since 2012, she’s been pretty good at releasing a new album every 18 months or so. This one, original entitled The Right Person Will Stay but renamed Classic, promising it to be a collection of country covers done Lana style. This track, however, is an original and might be the most achingly beautiful songs of the year. The bit where she talks about the Henry’s mom hits hard.
3. Ms. Ezra Furman, Goodbye Small Head (Bella Union)
I’ve spent quite a bit of time with this record already and the deeper I go, the more I know I’m going to have to pull out some old Lou Reed Records. Furman has come up with a folk-punk opera that she describes as “orchestral emo prog-rock record sprinkled with samples” and features material that are “variations on the experience of completely losing control, whether by weakness, illness, mysticism, BDSM, drugs, heartbreak, or just living in a sick society with one’s eyes open.” Highly recommended.
4. Dan Mangan, Natural Light (Arts & Crafts)
Dan is now up to seven albums and honestly considered calling this one Schminger Schmongwriter, largely because he’d also sort of bristled at being labeled a singer-songwriter himself. But hey, if it quacks like a duck, you know? This may be the most poetic of all Dan’s records.
5. Tune-Yards, Better Dreaming (4AD)
If experimental art-pop is your thing, you’ve probably already discovered a the duo of Merril Garbus and Nate Brenner. There’s no way to describe their music other than “eclectic.” Few bands use loops created by foot pedals and lo-fi percussion better. And if a ukulele shows up every once in a while, all the power to them. This is album number six.
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