The end of a century had come and gone. Or, as another British band once put it, a new decade was fully upon us. Britpop, the era Blur had helped define, was thoroughly in the rearview. Its principal acts were fracturing or wandering. By the early ’00s, Pulp had returned with a final post-script, We […]
Billy Corgan Reviews Yeat
Billy Corgan has thoughts about Yeat. Deep thoughts. As part of his promo run for the Smashing Pumpkins’ new triple-LP rock opera ATUM — which, after a schedule change, is finally out in full this Friday — Corgan sat down for a chat with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe. Part of the interview involved Corgan listening […]
Modern Woman – “Achtung”
Back in 2021, the London band Modern Woman released their debut Dogs Fighting In My Dream EP, and last year they followed it up with the standalone single “Ford.” Today, they’re back with their first new track since then, one called “Achtung” that builds to a a squalling and discordant end. “‘Achtung’ was a song […]
Little Dragon – “Kenneth”
Last month, Little Dragon, the Swedish band who don’t fit into any easy genre categories, released a single called “Slugs Of Love.” At the time, they presented it as a one-off single, but it’s not. Instead, it’s the title track of the new Little Dragon LP. Slugs Of Love, Little Dragon’s follow-up to last year’s […]
Jam City – “Wild N Sweet” (Feat. Empress Of)
Later this month, the UK dance producer Jam City will release the new collab-heavy album Jam City Presents EFM. We’ve already posted “Redd St. Turbulence,” with Show Me The Body’s Julian Cashwan Pratt, and “Times Square,” with Aidan. Today, Jam City has teamed up with Empress Of for the new song “Wild N Sweet.” Jam […]
The Number Ones: T.I.’s “Live Your Life” (Feat. Rihanna)
In The Number Ones, I’m reviewing every single #1 single in the history of the Billboard Hot 100, starting with the chart’s beginning, in 1958, and working my way up into the present. In 2005, computer screens around the world lit up with the image of a goofy-looking kid doing an even goofier chair-dance to […]
Strange Ranger – “She’s On Fire”
Philly’s Strange Ranger have announced a new album, Pure Music, which follows their 2021 No Light In Heaven mixtape and 2019’s Remembering The Rockets. Out July 21, Pure Music features the previously released “Rain So Hard” and the official lead single, the percussive “She’s On Fire,” which is out today with a video directed by […]
Anna St. Louis – “Better Days”
Last month, Anna St. Louis announced a new album, In The Air, the follow-up to her 2018 debut If Only There Was A River. She shared the lead single “Phone” from it at the time, and today she’s back with another new song, “Better Days.” “While ‘Better Days’ may have tones of sadness it’s really […]
Soviet Kitsch Turns 20
Discovery stories don’t get much more indicative of an artist’s talent than the one that producer Gordon Raphael tells about Regina Spektor. Raphael says he first heard Spektor play at a studio in the East Village, after being encouraged to meet up by mutual friend and drummer Alan Bezozi. “I said hello, and she smiled, […]
Westerman – “A Lens Turning”
This week, Westerman is releasing his sophomore album, An Inbuilt Fault, the follow-up to his 2020 debut Your Hero Is Not Dead. He started rolling it out slowly last fall with “Idol; RE-run” and officially announced it back in February with “CSI: Petralona,” and then “Take” followed. Today, he’s back with one last advance preview […]