Each Friday, Atwood Journal’s workers share what they’ve been listening to that week – a tune, an album, an artist – no matter’s been having an influence on them, within the second.
This week’s weekly roundup options music by St. Vincent, Medium Construct, Why Bonnie, Hippo Campus, Caroline Polachek, Sabrina Carpenter, EJ Imho, Hockey Dad, Orlando Weeks, Casii Stephan, Quiet Canyons, Dalia, Fiona-Lee, Low Hum, Glixen, & Babe Rainbow!
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:: All Born Screaming – St. Vincent ::
Christine Buckley, Connecticut
St. Vincent’s seventh studio album All Born Screaming is my first contender for album of the 12 months. When “Damaged Man” got here out a number of months in the past I looped it for every week, yelling “what are you ?!” and hanging manic poses each time that severe synth/guitar chord dropped. Upon listening to the album’s opening observe, I knew we have been in good fingers once more: “Hell Is Close to” is a swingy, eerie ballad and so totally different from “Damaged Man,” “Flea,” and “Large Time Nothing,” the album’s three singles, confirming that Ms. Shapeshifter herself was again.
“Violent Occasions,” “The Energy’s Out,” and “The Sweetest Fruits” are all standouts, dropping in that highly effective synth-guitar sound right here and there to remind us that it’s Annie Clark’s world and we’re simply residing in it. And the ultimate eponymous observe, with visitor Cate LeBon, builds up a lot pressure that when it lastly drops you are feeling such as you’ve simply been whirled again to the dubstep years:
I’ve climbed into open arms
They changed into a straitjacket
Stolen hearts I didn’t want, however
Man, I at all times paid for them
I used to be a pantomime of a contemporary lady
These have been the times, and I used to be depressing
A karaokе model of Leonard’s “Hallelujah”
My wholе rattling life, I had by no means exhaled
Oh nicely
This album had me at hey however has gotten extra nuanced and simply so significantly better with every pay attention. It’s formally my first contender for album of the 12 months.
:: “Large Time Nothing” – St. Vincent ::
Liv Goodbody, Brighton, UK
Bouncy, electrical, hanging, St. Vincent’s new single “Large Time Nothing” delivers precisely what a pre-release ought to previous to the drop of a brand new album. In my eyes, “Large Time Nothing” is probably the most thrilling observe of the album (All Born Screaming), reward St. Vincent earns by way of her commanding spoken lyrics, dynamic guitar solos and woozy grooving. A strong bass line and fervent synths curl round soulful backing-vocals to create an exhilarating funk-rock efficiency. Discussing the depth of her new album, St. Vincent candidly shares that she had no intention of losing time “with trifling shit”; a mindset which explains the hypnotic fervour of ‘Large Time Nothing’.
The truth that that is the artists’ first self-produced report after releasing six albums is extremely compelling. The album guarantees to be probably the most private contribution to her discography and boasts ten tracks soaked in persona – documenting a creativity let free. St. Vincent refers back to the album as “post-plague pop”; its tracks being constructed beneath themes of darkness and anxiousness. Nonetheless, the extent of introspection this artist has applied into her work creates a brutally stunning actuality, showcased by the choice dance-rock LP.
St. Vincent’s influence on the trendy music scene is simple and her new album All Born Screaming, launched April 26 2024, proves to be a worthy successor to her earlier work, which has already earnt her three Grammy Awards. She stays an artist who deserves to be on each music-buff’s radar, and “Large Time Nothing” has personally turn out to be an on the spot St. Vincent traditional.
:: “Stick Round” – Medium Construct ::
Mitch Mosk, Beacon, New York
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:: “Dotted Line” – Why Bonnie ::
Mitch Mosk, Beacon, New York
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:: “Every little thing at As soon as” – Hippo Campus ::
Rachel Leong, France
Hippo Campus has returned with new single, “Every little thing at As soon as,” marking a brand new period for the indie-rock band. Meditative guitar strains take heart stage because the observe opens, with vocals and layered guitars quickly swooping in to create a collision of sounds that simply hit that sonic satisfaction. Frontman Jake Luppen’s vocals gleam over the observe’s instrumental musings, sliding seamlessly over the soundscape of “Every little thing at As soon as.” Traditional of Hippo Campus, the brand new observe holds a sophisticated DIY sound that reverberates with readability.
On the observe, the band states, “Every little thing at As soon as” is a “meditation, a give attention to breath within the midst of breathless moments. You’ve been working away for too lengthy; you should ace what you’re working from if you happen to’re ever going to beat it. Decelerate, breathe deep, put a reputation to the stuff you worry. Be affected person, give up your pressured perspective, and really feel the whole lot without delay.”
Forward of their Could sixth present on the iconic Pink Rocks Amphitheater, the discharge comes shortly after the announcement of assorted summer season pageant gigs for the band.
:: “Starburned and Unkissed” – Caroline Polachek ::
Dimitra Gurduiala, Italy
What higher solution to begin any Thursday than listening to a brand new tune by Caroline Polachek? The Everasking Version of her magnificent album Need, I Need To Flip Into You has been not too long ago launched, however this fascinating muse’s music is de facto by no means sufficient. And right here is “Starburned and Unkissed,” a part of the soundtrack to Jane Schoenbrun’s upcoming film “I Noticed the TV Glow.” A soundtrack that sounds fairly fascinating, since to this point it contains “Using Round within the Darkish” by Florist and yeule’s cowl of “Anthems for a Seventeen-12 months Outdated Woman” by Damaged Social Scene. “Starburned and Unkissed,” co-produced by A.G. Prepare dinner, has been described as a outstanding piece within the movie, has a dreamy however considerably darkish vibe, with a robust guitar that by no means hurts. If that is the premise, I can already say that I can’t look ahead to this movie to return out.
Come house
Thе kettle’s whistling
My coronary heart’s a ghost limb rеaching
Starburned and unkissed
Sunkissed, the women exist in chilly
Simply as they’re to you
Child, say the phrase and also you get bored
Don’t allow them to in for you
:: “Espresso” – Sabrina Carpenter ::
Josh Weiner, Washington DC
Sabrina Carpenter’s new single “Espresso” has been popping up on my Spotify Really helpful playlist so much these days, and Boy. Is. It. Catccheeeee!!! I suppose that’s the thought for a tune named after an addictive early morning drink, however Ms. Carpenter has exceeded my expectations with this one. She’s received a candidate for Music of the Spring with this one, and has demonstrated that Olivia Rodrigo is much from the one Disney Channel alum turned younger solo star value maintaining a tally of. Is that candy? I assume so. Is that significantly superior? I know so!
:: “Don’t Neglect Me” – EJ Imho ::
Mitch Mosk, Beacon, New York
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:: “Security Pin” – Hockey Dad ::
Mitch Mosk, Beacon, New York
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:: “Dig” – Orlando Weeks (ft. Rhian Teasdale) ::
Hamish Monk, Essex, England
This is a refined, slow-burner from ex-Maccabees frontman, Orlando Weeks. The instrumentation is harking back to an early Tame Impala, with its dampened drums, fuzzy bass, and looping keys. Weeks’ vocal supply is characteristically near the mic, restrained. The selection of handing a characteristic to Moist Leg’s frontwoman, Rhian Teasdale, is a intelligent one, too. Her verse holds the momentum of the observe because it builds to a psychedelic and washed out center eight that can appease any Maccabees fan. “Dig” is a superb tune and the video should to not be missed.
:: “Wine & Gold”- Casii Stephan ::
Chloe Robinson, California
Tright here is that deep type of love… The sort that’s so explosive and passionate you simply need to shout it to the rooftops. Casii Stephan’s “Wine & Gold” particulars that sort of untamed romance all of us dream about. With punchy powerhouse vocals hovering over funk-induced soundscapes the fierce piece is wholly infectious. The tune’s vitality is indicative of Duffy’s “Mercy.”
Stephan shares, “Welcome to being fully obsessed and consumed by love. That is the type of love that grabs you off of the bar stool you have been sitting on and dances with you till your toes begin bleeding. It feels good, but additionally your mates have questions. I do hope this tune makes you smile, dance, and have enjoyable.”
The artist crafts a novel fashion melding indie-pop and soul-rock. Every of her releases emits an overflow of emotion and conviction. It’s exhausting to imagine she was once a shy lady frightened of her personal voice till she started writing songs at 16. Now she places out music that makes a daring assertion with a ton of vulnerability and coronary heart. “Wine & Gold” has that very same daring soul.
:: “Chairs” – Quiet Canyons ::
Mitch Mosk, Beacon, New York
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:: “TO THE BONE” – Dalia ::
Mitch Mosk, Beacon, New York
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:: “Mom” – Fiona-Lee ::
Christine Buckley, Connecticut
When U.Okay. singer-songwriter Fiona-Lee says she’s “writing songs to keep away from confrontation,” there’s part of you that bizarrely hopes she stays conflict-averse, as a result of if her debut tune, “Mom,” alerts what’s to return, then wow. We have to preserve this lady anxious.
Severely, although, the Yorkshire native’s music, which falls someplace within the Venn diagram of people, rock and pop, blends her lilting, emotional Florence Welch-like vocals along with her electric-guitar fingerpicking, a trademark of her solo stay reveals. This observe has a way of impending dread that rises right into a rhythm-driven, head-nodding rock crescendo harking back to her countryman Sam Fender.
The lyrics chronicle her tragic first expertise within the music trade – one which she notes is much too frequent for girls.
Mom, get me out of right here, I’m sinking in a storm.
I’ll inform you when the coast is obvious, don’t look ahead to me to run.
And I really feel his eyes are in all places, sticking to my pores and skin.
Nevertheless it doesn’t come off with cleaning soap and water, this mess I’m in.
Fiona-Lee’s voice is probably the most fascinating factor about this observe, much more than the superb songwriting. For this reviewer, it conjures Don Henley and Stevie Nicks’ tune “Leather-based and Lace:” Equal components feathery sweetness and gritty dedication. Let’s hope for extra tracks to swoon over quickly.
:: “Lifeless Weight” – Low Hum ::
Josh Weiner, Washington DC
My faculty can be kicking off Spirit Month quickly to mark the top of the tutorial 12 months, and together with Sports activities Day, Starvation Video games Day and extra, it feels like Hawaii Day is on the agenda as nicely! I do know simply the tune to play for my college students to set the ambiance for the Aloha State at school: “Lifeless Weight” by native islander Collin Desha (and okay, perhaps “Hawaiian Curler Coaster Experience” from the Lilo & Sew soundtrack as nicely….)
Having grown up on the Large Island and Oahu, Desha is at the moment residing in Los Angeles and conducting a solo music undertaking entitled Low Hum. Almost 10 years into this inventive endeavor, Desha continues to be going robust, with a brand new album, Terra Incognita, within the works and an ongoing tour alongside fellow indie acts Ra Ra Riot and Meltt.
His new music is born from a saddening expertise– he was robbed whereas on tour not too long ago and misplaced a lot of the inventive materials he’d been carrying with him on the time– however Desha is decided to show tragedy into triumph. His newest single, “Lifeless Weight,” illustrates that resolve nicely– he describes it as “a tune that speaks to perseverance” and conjures up the listener to “preserve pushing by way of when issues really feel troublesome and [to keep] your eye on the ball.” It’s an altruistic message, and Low Hum’s synthy, spellbinding manufacturing expertise evidently survived that tough expertise. Could nothing however optimistic ones lie forward for this gifted man!
:: “lust” – Glixen ::
Mitch Mosk, Beacon, New York
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:: “Retrograde” – Babe Rainbow ::
Mitch Mosk, Beacon, New York
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