We are now 20 days into 2017, and new music seems to be coming our way at a particularly fast and furious clip. This is a wonderful thing, especially given the caliber of tunes that we’ve been lucky enough to receive over the past couple of weeks. From the just dropped collaboration between Arcade Fire and Mavis Staples (!) to Spoon’s seductive “Hot Thoughts,” to Slowdive’s first new recording in 22 years – we are lucky to be music lovers in a time like this. And since this weekend promises to be, well, eventful, we can all certainly use a killer soundtrack.
Spoon – “Hot Thoughts”
“Hot Thoughts” is sly, effortlessly well constructed, and a great indication of what to hope for from Spoon’s forthcoming album. That album, also entitled Hot Thoughts will be out on March 17th via Matador.
Ibibio Sound Machine – “Give Me a Reason”
Ibibio Sound Machine’s Eno Williams was born in London, and still based there – but this recording project reflects her Nigerian heritage. Case in point, this particular song is about the 276 Chibok girls who were abducted in northern Nigeria in 2014 and remain missing. Despite the heavy subject matter, the song sounds like an absolute ray of sunshine. Ibibio Sound Machine’s new album “Uyai” will be out on March 3rd via Merge.
Gorillaz – “Hallelujah Money”
Gorillaz are back doing what Gorillaz do best, this time teaming up with English soul singer/poet Benjamin Clementine. This track/video was released to both tease a new record that is expected to commandeer our collective earbuds sometime around the end of this year, and also to comment on the current political happenings.
Dirty Projectors – “Up In Hudson”
Mmmm, another taste from the forthcoming Dirty Projectors album which is due in late February. This is a particularly epic one, telling the story of a doomed relationship with lyrics that are sorta funny, yet also show depressingly specific attention to detail. Dirty Projectors forthcoming self-titled record will be out on February 24th via Domino.
Ryan Adams – “Doomsday”
Ryan Adams new track is shimmering, and bold which are words that I could use to describe many of my favorite songs of his. Like the Dirty Projectors song referenced above it tells the tale of a doomed relationship, with our narrator finding himself bemoaning the state of his broken heart along with the state of the world that he finds himself in. Ryan Adams’ Prisoner will be released on February 17th via Pax Am/Blue Note
Ty Segall – “Break a Guitar”
The title of this song pretty much tells you all you need to know. Crank it up to 11, and thank me in the morning. Ty Segall’s new self titled record will be out on January 27th via Domino.
Slowdive – “Star Roving”
This is the first music Slowdive has released since their 1995 album Pygmalion, and it couldn’t come at a better time. Though they’ve never been formulaic, Slowdive do shoegaze better than almost any other band in the game. “Star Roving” is a beautiful track and finds the band in fine form, despite their prolonged break. No word yet on a full album, but apparently there are more new tracks in the works so… fingers crossed.
Arcade Fire & Mavis Staples – “I Give You Power”
So wow, just when we thought the week couldn’t be more stacked with high profile new releases, Arcade Fire hit send on an unassuming tweet linked up with new music. Arcade Fire have been working on a record that could be released as early as this spring. In the meantime, they’ve given us this slinky new single that features vocal contributions from living legend Mavis Staples. All proceeds from the purchase of “I Give You Power” will be given to the American Civil Liberties Union.