Nicolas Jaar under his “Against All Logic” moniker is set to release a new album on February 7th titled 2017 – 2019 via “Other People.” This will be a follow-up to his previous album 2012 – 2017. Yes we have to wait a whole week to hear the album, but don’t worry, we don’t have to wait a whole week to hear new “Against All Logic” music. Today Jaar released a new two-song E.P. titled Illusions of Shameless Abundance which features Lydia Lunch, FKA Twigs, and Estado Unido, as well as a 50 minute mix. Illusions of Shameless Abundance is available now on all streaming platforms.
2017 – 2019 Tracklist:
1. Fantasy
2. If Loving You Is Wrong
3. With an Addict
4. If You Can’t Do It Good, Do It Hard (ft. Lydia Lunch)
5. Alarm
6. Deeeeeeefers
7. Faith
8. Penny
9. You (Forever)
We all have our own little pleasure rides. Aren’t we all frequently in search of an ecstasy that will alleviate the inconvenient pains life forces us to endure? More often than not we become addicted to the things that bring us that ecstasy, and i’m not just talking about drugs. Many of us are addicted to sex, caffeine, food, shopping, our phones, social media, pornography, and whatever the Hell else brings us temporary happiness. Now i’m not here to wave my finger, because I too am an ecstasy addict, (not the drug guys, calm down) and the biggest addiction I have is music. God that was corny, but hear me out. Don’t we all like music? I mean, you like music. That’s why you’re reading this right now. Isn’t music the biggest addiction we all have that is completely harmless? Well, unless you listen to your music full-blast through your earbuds. Seriously, take care of your ears guys. When an artist can perfectly hit the nail on the head of the mental and emotional strains we have to deal with on a daily basis, it truly is something special. British-American duo “Ready, Steady, Die!” have crafted an impressive debut album that faces these day-to-day emotions with honest lyrical content and dark but infectious instrumentation. Based between London and New York, the duo consists of members Sam K (composer, vocals) and Morgan Visconti (composer, producer, vocals) who is the son of legendary producer Tony Visconti, and their debut album Pleasure Ride is an immaculately produced album that features shades of the moody grooves of Trip Hop, the walls of distant wailing guitars that inhabit Dream Pop, and the futuristic sounds of Post-Industrial, and I can’t help but picture much of these songs in a David Lynch movie. As familiar as these sounds are, the duo manage to create a style that is very much their own. The instrumentation is otherworldly, but the subject matter is very much of this world. Much of the content deals with self-affliction, self-discovery, and self-acceptance. Ranging from the realization of when someone or something is toxic, and separating yourself is the best remedy, (When Hell Freezes Over) to exposing the hurtful selfishness of others, (Vent) all of these songs are expressed in a hopeful tone that wonderfully contrasts the moody nature of the music, and Sam K’s captivating vocals can range from angelic to sinister, leaving the listener an emotional mess, but a satisfied mess. As inward-looking as much of these songs are, there are standout tracks that look outward such as “The Know,” a song about those who obsessively search for truth. We all know those people, conspiracy theorists, people constantly searching for the truth, truths that are supposedly hidden from us by the government, or maybe and exclusive group of people you know whom you desperately try to discover what they truly think of you, or maybe you’re trying to find the true meaning of life. You can stumble on clues, you can have a peak inside to make sense of all this chaos, but you’ll never be inside the know. “The Know” is as thought-provoking as it is eerie with it’s atmospheric synths, soundscapes, and Hellish guitars, but the song is impressively catchy with it’s groovy bass line and pulsating drum machines topped with Sam K and Morgan Visconti’s perfectly in unison vocals. The title track “Pleasure Ride” is an epic piece that perfectly sums up our addictions to help us forget our mental and emotional strains. “This lack of drive from nine to five is starting to get to me. I take my pill that keeps me ill but makes for a better journey” sings Sam K as she expresses the many things we can all relate to, and that’s that brutal honesty and self-realization in music that much of us need to hear, because much of the music that plagues the airwaves isn’t honest. I mean, I get it, most people use music as a form of escapism, but what good is any form of art if it doesn’t make you think or question yourself or the world? Yes, not all art has to be littered with existentialism and melancholia, but art that features these subjects is usually the most genuine, and “Ready, Steady, Die!” understand that along with the bursts of happiness and optimism we get in life, we have our nightmarish and disturbing moments. There’s no light without the dark, and this band is here to force you to experience that dichotomy. As impressive as this album is, it still feels like a starting-point for the band, which it is, it’s their debut album, but their magnum opus is yet to be achieved, and I have no doubt that they’ll reach that. As ambitious and multi-faceted as this debut is, I feel like they have much more to offer, and given that this is the first of three albums that will be released as a trilogy, the band have room to experiment even further. I’m looking forward to this trilogy.
What the fuck is Rx27? They’re your new favorite band. They’re a band that brings both the bark and the bite back to Rock & Roll. They’re up and coming, but the band consists of musicians that have been around for quite some time playing in numerous bands hailing from New York City to Hollywood. The band’s attention to the craft of songwriting, promotional skills, and forward thinking drive all make their veteran status evident, and they’ve only released two songs! The first, “Gasoline” is a Punk banger featuring legendary guitarist Rikk Agnew. On their second single “Chasing Crazy” the band shouts “Fuck! Forever!” Could this be an encouragement to embrace the fact that we’re all sexual beings and that giving in to our lustful nature shouldn’t be painted in such a negative light? Or is this a reality check for all the people brainwashed by love stories, love songs, and Valentine’s Day into thinking that there is such thing as a romance that lasts forever? Or is it really a love song, a realistic love song that informs us that it’s okay to be unsure of things or to be unsure of how long things will last, and to just live and love in the moment and take it day by day? Is it all of the above? The fact that i’m asking these questions should be enough proof that along with the band’s fun spirit of Glam Goth/Punk that’s as sexy as it is uncompromising, we’re treated to thought-provoking subject matter that holds up a mirror to society and urges us to question all we’ve known, and the band prove that you can have fun while thinking about these things, because this a catchy as Hell anthem. Realistic love songs, it’s rare when we hear those. You can watch the music video for “Chasing Crazy” below:
After much anticipation and patience patience patience, we now have a release date to look forward to for “Sorry’s” upcoming debut album 925. The album will be released on March 27th via “Domino Records.” Today the band have shared a new single titled “More,” and just like their previous singles it’s a catchy tune that finds the band refusing to compromise their lyrically honest and inward looking sound that frequently genre bends. You can watch the music video for “More” below:
It’s been far too long since we’ve heard anything new from “Ultraísta,” a band that were beginning to look like they might be a one-album wonder due to the 8 years of inactivity following their debut in 2012. Though members Laura Bettinson, Nigel Godrich, and Joey Waronker have all been busy with various musical endeavors, whether or not they would return as a band sparked much speculation. Well, we no longer have to wait and hope. Today the band have announced that they will release their new album Sister on March 13th via “Partisan Records.” The band have also shared the album’s first single “Tin King.” The track picks up where the band left off with synth-heavy and danceable grooves, and Laura Bettinson’s soothing and loop-heavy vocals, not unlike their previous album, but refreshing nonetheless. You can watch the music video for “Tin King” below:
U.S. Girls garnered much acclaim with their last album In a Poem Unlimited, an album that has arguably been considered the band’s best work yet, and it’s easy to see why. Incorporating a live band under the name “The Cosmic Range,” lead singer and songwriter Meg Remy’s “U.S. Girls” project had a full sound of jammin’ Rock instrumentation that also explored Jazz and Psychedelic territory while carrying a consistent tone of Pop, and this all complimented Remy’s infectious vocals and topical lyrics perfectly. Today it has been announced that the band will release their follow-up Heavy Light on March 6th via “4AD.” The band have also shared the album’s first single “Overtime.” You can watch the music video below:
OvO will release their new album Miasma on February 7th via “Artoffact Records,” and today the band released a new single off the upcoming album titled “Queer Fight.” Like their previous work, this song is Hellish, extreme, and quite frightening with their signature minimal Metal? Punk? Industrial? Hell, it’s OvO, they can’t be categorized, and in this day and age that isn’t something that can be said for a lot of modern artists. About the song the band have stated that “Queer Fight is our personal ode to positive rage. It is the metaphor of everyday life: people fighting rules which don’t give space for diversity, a challenge against the inflexibility of the society. It wants to be a motto for a united fight for everybody’s freedom.” You can listen to “Queer Fight” below:
Metalcore innovators “Code Orange” have returned, unveiling the details of their upcoming album UNDERNEATH which will be released on March 13th via “Roadrunner Records.” The band have also shared the album’s title track, and in true Code Orange fashion, the track combines their own heavy brand of Metalcore with Industrial-laden electronics and moody atmosphere, a sound that separates them from their peers. With an infectious interplay between vocalists Reba Meyers and Jami Morgan, it’s looking like the album’s track’s aren’t looking to sit still in one corner, and who better to bring a refreshing sound to the genre’s stagnant predictability than Code Orange? You can watch the music video for UNDERNEATH below:
Tame Impala are set to release their long-awaited album The Slow Rush on February 14th. Today the band released another new track off the upcoming album titled “Lost In Yesterday,” and much like their previous singles the track is a groovy laid-back jam that doesn’t exactly break new ground, but is easy on the ears and is as moody as it is danceable. You can listen to “Lost In Yesterday” below:
After teasing us with a cryptic video via social media, “MGMT” have returned with a brand new single titled “In the Afternoon.” The band have announced that this track along with another titled “As You Move Through The World” will appear on a limited edition 12″ single set to arrive in late March 2020. “In the Afternoon” finds the band diving further into the impeccable style of Ariel Pink-esque Synth-Pop/Psychedelic Pop they crafted so well on their last album Little Dark Age. You can watch the music video for “In the Afternoon” below:
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