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While the temperate drops, the music heats up this week with fantastic new releases from Miley Cyrus, Paramore, Margo Price, Velvet Negroni and many more. So let's get to it.
Singles of the Week:
“Flowers” by Miley Cyrus
Breakup songs are the standard for any artist. It’s Miley’s turn. Just because she released her new song on ex-Liam Hemsworth’s birthday doesn’t mean anything right? Her new powerful song takes a bit of a salsa sound backing empowering lyrics (“I can take myself dancing - And I can hold my own hand - Yeah, I can love me better than you can”). It’s a great kick-off to the season of Miley and her upcoming album. Dig it everyone!
“C’est Comme Ca’” by Paramore
The more I hear new tunes from Paramore, the more excited I get about their next album. It’s a pop-punk track that is punchy and takes lead singer Hayley Williams between singing and speaking. The band was inspired by bands like Dry Cleaning and Yard Act - bands that talk a lot more than sing over great music. Paramore’s music continues to grow and impress and I’m excited for more from them later this year.
“Gossip” by Maneskin (feat. Tom Morello)
I will be the first to admit that I got so tired of Maneskin’s debut, over-played single “Beggin’” - It was such a “meh” song for me. But this one - caught me right away. It’s pop-punk sound (see a theme here) is catchy right from the start and lead singer Damanio David sounds much more mature and relaxed. The band works Rage Against the Machine Morello in perfectly, creating a song that you’ll have a hard time getting out of your head. And this time, that’s a good thing.
Albums of the Week:
Strays by Margo Price
Margo Price has done it again. There’s a confident groove and swagger to Price’s latest. She and her husband went on an extended mushroom trip to write much of her latest. It’s chock full of Price from the past and where she’s heading, a cosmic-country Southern rock classic. Highlights include “Been to the Mountain”, “Lydia” and “Light Me Up”. There’s shades of Tanya Tucker, Dylan, Springsteen, but just know that Margo Price is her own woman, with a powerful voice and things to say. Strays is the next step in her fantastic career.
Late Developers by Belle and Sebastian
I loved the early Belle and Sebastian albums (especially If You’re Feeling Sinister and The Boy with the Arab Strap) and then I sort of forgot them. But they never forgot how to put out great music. The harmonizing is still there and the band can go from folky pop to chamber pop in a second. Stuart Murdoch sounds as good as he did way back when. Highlights include “So In The Moment”, “The Evening Star” and “Do You Follow”. I love when a band I’ve dug for years continues to put out great music. It’s catchy Brit-pop for the modern listener.
Bulli by Velvet Negroni
I love discovering new music and Velvet Negroni is new to me. Negroni, a black artist who was adopted by a white evangelical Christian family, started his music career in college playing with experimental noise bands. There’s an incredible mix of genres, touching on soul, dance-pop, and alternative jazz. Even his voice acts as an instrument, layering textures throughout his words. Highlights include “Pop Song 1”, “Ebony Eggshell” and “The Foreigner”.
The Mind of a Saint by Skyzoo
The show “Snowfall” and specifically the character Franklin Saint played a very important role into the new one from rapper Skyzoo. Prepare yourself to hear Franklin's vantage point on hustling, morals and keeping his head on a swivel. Skyzoo, after almost twenty years, remains among the most poetic rappers there is in the game. And the complicated process of writing songs about a fictional character, yet making the song his own - chef’s kiss on that. It reminds me so much of what Isaac Hayes was doing in the 70s. Highlights include “Eminent Domain”, “Bodies!” and “The Balancing Act”.
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