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New Music Fridays: Ariana Grande, Kamasi Washington, MIKE and more
This is a thread to discuss 2024 releases that have recently arrived on our doorstep, or been announced for the future. Feel free to share albums, singles, EPs or reissues that have caught your eye and interest, or share your thoughts about any new music that you've had the chance to listen to this week.
Discussion Points
Is there anything you've been looking forward to listening to?
Any releases that have surprised you?
Have you listened to any new music recently? What are your thoughts?
What have you enjoyed from these artists in the past? How does their latest work compare?
Links:
Pitchfork - Out This Week
AllMusic - All New Releases
Stereogum - New Music
I heard Nikka Costa's new song Dirty Disco today. It's a fun track and made me happy.
Nikka hasn't released a new album of original music in something like 15 years. This song has very strong Prince vibes, specifically the early 80s era Prince. The new album also apparently drops on June 7. That day would have Prince's 66th birthday.
I'm quite excited to hear what Nikka has put together. I first came across her music with the 2001 album Everybody Got Their Something and have followed her career since. She's worked with everyone from Mark Ronson and Questlove to Lenny Kravitz and the already mentioned purple yoda. It has always been something of a mystery to me why Nikka isn't a bigger star.
Time to dive into March! Here's what's caught my eye ~
Headliner for the week will be the new full-length from Ariana Grande - 'Eternal Sunshine', her first release since 'Positions' in 2020.
Another long wait coming to an end for band leader Kamasi Washington who announced his fifth studio album 'Fearless Movement' to be released in May. Spearheading the lead-up is his new single 'Prologue' - some really driving jazz here, which is where Kamasi sounds his best, I think.
Any fans of MIKE will want to hear his collab with Tony Seltzer 'Pinball' - it's pretty novel hearing the drumless MC over trap beats.
A lot of buzz over the new album from Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth dropping today - 'The Collective'. Some really thick, fuzzy noise rock from what I've heard from the singles, with even some hip hop/trap influences on its sleeve.
A mention too from me for Moor Mother's new release 'The Great Bailout'. The Jazz Poet is moving towards a less musical sound with this one. It's a challenging listen, but no less commanding - anxious and broody, definitely worthwhile for anyone that wants to hear something a little more left-of-field.
Also! Matt Champion from Brockhampton (disbanded Texas based Hip Hop 'boy band') has been dropping singles the last few weeks that I've completely missed (his most recent with KPop star JENNIE), and just announced the date for his debut album 'Mikka's Laundry'. Whew boy I think I might be excited for this one. I'm not sure if Matt has landed a good team to back him, but this everything so far has shown real promise. It's very comfy R&B/Neo-soul (oozing Mac Miller) but just has an elevated attention to detail, or some very interesting unexpected choices, just here and there. The videos and branding have all been very focused with a clear directed theme.
Sorry to always bump these late but I've been bad about getting these out on time. This weeks' releases also probably posting today on the other thread (for the 15th)
I kinda love everything listed here- so not picking favorites. It's all so good.
Non-metal
homeshake - CD Wallet
Grunge/alt-influenced bedroom shoegaze / indie pop From Toronto, Ontario. Great progression from soft verses to heavy choruses and so on. Solid singer/songwriter indie pop vocals. Guitar tone for days. Would be a perfect soundtrack to an overcast day.
Meatbodies - Flora Ocean Tiger Bloom
Garage punk/rock/psych with some pop in the melodies. Plenty of variation and great vocal harmonies. Fuzzy riffs. Some Smashing Pumpkins atmopshere going on here too.
Metal (primarily clean-ish / non-scream vocals)
Judas Priest - Invincible Shield
55 years since the band was formed and despite underwhelming album art and some slow tracks on the album, Halford's still got it and there's still plenty to like here.
I AM THE INTIMIDATOR - S/T
March 8th is an incredible week. This release was such a surprise when the single first came out and the rest of the album keeps that pace. I have no idea how a 80s/90s classic metal/thrash project themed around Dale Earnhardt of all people ended up being so good, but it is possibly the TOP of the week. Hard to decide- but this is incredible and has no business being this good.
Early Moods - A Sinners Past
Fuzzy heavy/doom from Los Angeles. Big Pentagram/Candlemass vibes. Think more classic/heavy leaning instead of stoner.
Drunk Mums - Beer Baby
Australian old-school punk. Think of things like Ramones. Thick accent, biting social commentary, old-school punk attitude, it's so good!
Metal (primarily harsh vocals)
Molten - Malicide
One of the best recent releases from Transylvanian. Great album artwork by Noah Cutter Meihoff. Dark death/thrash with deep growls and enjoyable riffs.
Slimelord - Chytridiomycosis Relinquished
Well goddamn, this ripped my face off. Filthy raspy vocals, slimy atmosphere, psych death/doom that curls and twists through dissonance, reverb, effects, and tempo changes. This is one hell of a trip.
Skeletal Remains - Fragements of the Ageless
Absolutely blasting death metal. Feels like it has a bit more character than prior releases, like they've really slotted into a particular vision now. Some of my favorite solos and blastbeat sections I've heard in a while.
Midnight - Hellish Expectations
Well this week is just gem after gem. Midnight has never had a truly bad release, but this might be their best since Satanic Royalty. Long-running black/thrash act. Super catchy single F.O.A.L. had me sold immediately. One of the best to do black/thrash. Athenar's vocals are a standout in the genre.
Gost - Prophecy
Industrial/darkwave/metal/electro from Michigan. Think Perturbator, Carpenter Brut, and so on but far more industrial and metal focused. Goes from dance beats to machine-like blasting to slow drum interludes. Wild as always and great stuff.
That midnight album is a banger! Short and sweet. Just long enough and packed full of great riffs. Makes me wanna buy a bullet belt.