[ad_1]
11 Finest Songs of the Week: IAN SWEET, Yumi Zouma, Sufjan Stevens, Wilco, Vagabon, and Extra
Plus Lol Tolhurst x Budgie x Jacknife Lee, Steven Wilson, The Massive Moon, Wild Nothing, and a Wrap-up of the Week’s Different Notable New Tracks
Sep 15, 2023
Welcome to the twenty ninth Songs of the Week of 2023. This week’s alternatives come from artists hailing from throughout the globe: New Zealand, England, Finland, Israel, and naturally America.
Prior to now week or so we posted interviews with Worriers, Coach Occasion, Grian Chatten, Steven Wilson, Michael Dinner (showrunner of Justified: Metropolis Primeval), and others.
Within the final week we reviewed some albums.
Do not forget that we beforehand introduced our new print challenge, Subject 71 with Weyes Blood and Black Belt Eagle Scout on the covers.
That will help you type by way of the multitude of contemporary songs launched within the final week, we now have picked the 11 greatest the final week needed to provide, adopted by some honorable mentions. Take a look at the total record beneath.
1. IAN SWEET: “Emergency Contact”
IAN SWEET (the undertaking of Jilian Medford) is releasing a brand new album, SUCKER, on November 3 by way of Polyvinyl. Yesterday, she shared the album’s second single, “Emergency Contact,” by way of a music video. Brittany Reeber directed the video, which options Saturday Evening Stay’s Martin Herlihy. Take a look at IAN SWEET’s upcoming tour dates right here.
Beforehand Medford shared the album’s first single, “Your Spit.”
Medford had this to say in regards to the new tune in a press launch: “‘Emergency Contact’ is biting and sarcastic at its core. It’s a safety tune to myself largely. Making an attempt to persuade myself that I didn’t really need what I had misplaced within the first place as a method of dealing with the end result. The video we made for it’s one among my favourite IAN SWEET movies ever (particularly because it ties in with the ‘Your Spit’ video as properly). I needed to signify the humor that always goes hand in hand with deep disappointment. Within the video Martin (who performs the director) retains rapidly snapping me out of these deep darkish moments and pushing my buttons to attempt to get an increase out of me so in flip I’ll placed on the perfect efficiency attainable.”
Reeber had this to say about directing the video: “A very long time fan of Jilian’s work, I used to be actually thrilled to be requested to collaborate and much more stoked after I realized that she was right down to be humorous. ‘Emergency Contact’ might be my favourite monitor on the brand new document. It’s intestine wrenching. So it felt most true to lean into an idea that performed with the self-serious nature of a ballad. We additionally needed to make one thing that will join thematically to ‘Your Spit’ so we constructed an idea round a movie set (the movie you see screening within the film theatre) and solid Martin Herlihy of SNL to play Jilian’s overbearing, maniacal director.”
SUCKER is the follow-up to 2021’s Present Me How You Disappear and 2022’s Star Stuff EP.
Medford says Present Me How You Disappear “was written throughout a extremely troublesome interval of my life after reckoning with a psychological well being disaster. I survived that very second in my life by way of writing that document, and the acute urgency to heal is mirrored within the songwriting. With SUCKER, I felt extra succesful to take my time and experiment with out being completely afraid of the end result. It wasn’t life or demise—it was simply life, and I used to be fortunate to be dwelling it.”
SUCKER was co-produced by Alex Craig (Binki, Claud) and Isaac Eiger of Unusual Ranger and was combined by Al Carlson (St. Vincent, Jessica Pratt).
“I revisited the explanation why I began enjoying music to start with,” Medford says. “I needed to get extra private and showcase a extra assured aspect musically and lyrically.”
Take a look at our COVID-19 Quarantine Artist Examine In with Medford.
2. Yumi Zouma: “KPR”
On Wednesday, New Zealand alt-pop group Yumi Zouma shared a brand new tune, “KPR,” by way of a music video directed by the band. The band say its first single from an upcoming EP (particulars of that are TBA). Yumi Zouma are touring North America this fall. Take a look at the tour dates right here.
The band’s final album, Current Tense, got here out in 2022 by way of Polyvinyl. The band options Christie Simpson, Josh Burgess, Charlie Ryder, and Olivia Campion.
The band collectively had this to say about “KPR” in a press launch: “All 4 of us are New Zealanders, however we stay between NZ, the US, and the UK, which makes it troublesome to spend time bodily collectively. This was a specific problem throughout the pandemic, which made the creation of our final album Current Tense a totally distant course of. Nevertheless, final 12 months, we performed over 70 reveals in 13 international locations, together with one present and 24 hours in Japan—a fleeting glimpse which planted a seed that Tokyo might be center level for us to satisfy once more to write down and document in the future.”
“And so, it transpired—over three weeks in April and Could, we wrote and recorded at Studio Mech, a studio based mostly within the quiet neighbourhood of Yutenji, south of Shibuya. Working in a special setting with out the pressures of being on tour was a brand new expertise, whereas the combination of routine and residency introduced us all nearer collectively. The periods additionally sparked new artistic conversations—this was the primary time Olivia had been capable of be a part of the group for every step of constructing a document, and the proximity of natural devices within the studio for sharing concepts meant that songs primarily turned established on the guitars and pianos round us, as an alternative of software program devices shared wirelessly between our laptops at house.
“The result’s our fourth EP, and ninth Yumi Zouma document total—a fuller, extra natural-sounding assortment of recordings crammed filled with cascading piano traces, pummelling drums, chorused gang vocal takes, and waves of distorted guitars. Significantly impressed by the sounds of ’90s noise, shoegaze, and midwestern emo, these new songs push the band’s signature dream pop sheen to new extremes, exemplified by the bursts of screeching suggestions and spoken phrase on lead single ‘KPR,’ and the overdriven screams within the bridge of the anthemic ‘be okay.’ There are even surprises throughout the document’s extra traditional Yumi Zouma moments, such because the bare, intimate vocals within the coda to ‘Kicking Up Daisies,’ and Olivia’s joyous shout of ‘whoo!’ earlier than the piano-led second verse of the alt-folk-leaning ‘Desert Mile.’”
The tracks on the EP have been combined by Kenny Gilmore (Weyes Blood, Julia Holter, Chris Cohen), Jake Aron (Grizzly Bear, Snail Mail, Solange), Tom Healy (The Chills, Tiny Ruins, Marlon Williams) and Simon Gooding (Fazerdaze, Neil Finn, Dua Lipa). Antoine Chabert (Daft Punk, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Christine & The Queens) mastered the EP.
Burgess had this so as to add in regards to the EP: “The time we spent collectively writing and recording this EP will without end be one among my most cherished reminiscences.”
Whereas Ryder says the EP “is the perfect music we now have ever launched, with no shadow of a doubt—it seems like a really dramatic replace to the world of who we’re as a band.”
The EP’s precise title, tracklist, cowl art work, and launch date all have but to be introduced.
Yumi Zouma’s 2020 album, Reality or Penalties, was featured on our High 100 Albums of 2020 record.
Learn our COVID-19 Quarantine Artist Examine-In interview with the band’s Charlie Ryder.
In March 2020, we posted our My Firsts interview with the band, which might be learn right here.
Learn our 2017 interview with Yumi Zouma on their second album Willowbank.
3. Sufjan Stevens: “Will Anyone Ever Love Me?”
Sufjan Stevens is releasing a brand new album, Javelin, on October 6 by way of Asthmatic Kitty. On Wednesday, he shared its second single, “Will Anyone Ever Love Me?,” by way of a music video. Stephen Halker directed the video, which options art work by Stevens.
Stevens has additionally introduced some Javelin listening events at unbiased document shops throughout North America on October 3. Beneath discover these particulars.
“Will Anyone Ever Love Me?” options extra vocals from Adrienne Maree Brown, Hannah Cohen, and Megan Lui. In a press launch, every of them supplied a quote on working with Stevens.
Adrienne Maree Brown: “The primary time I sang the tune I began crying, I used to be so moved by the honesty of the questions. Sufjan is an impossibly courageous and gifted author.”
Hannah Cohen: “Being within the studio with Sufjan is like watching an alchemist at work. He creates a brand new realm, constructing our voices from a delicate choir, then morphing us into sirens raging from the ocean.”
Megan Lui: “‘Will Anyone Ever Love Me?’ felt like a glimpse into Sufjan’s previous data however spins into an epic collage of voices and devices. His imaginative and prescient of melody and composition are astonishing and dealing with him and Hannah within the room was pure pleasure.”
Stephen Halker had this so as to add about directing the “Will Anyone Ever Love Me?” video: “This piece serves as an exploration into the intricate landscapes of the human psyche, akin to an open invitation to wander by way of the huge emotional domains of the thoughts. It illustrates the journey from surface-level facades to the profound yearnings, vulnerabilities, and fixations that reside inside the human coronary heart.
“I used to be enjoying with this idea by placing these two dimensional collaged icons into three dimensional areas that slowly turn out to be much less and fewer tethered to the actual world. We are able to by no means really know one another, all of us simply stay with our personal considerably flattened interpretations of these round us. The much less we’re deeply identified, the much less we might be deeply liked.
“Will anyone ever love me? I don’t know.”
Javelin is being billed as Stevens’ first full on singer/songwriter solo people album since 2015’s acclaimed Carrie & Lowell. Beforehand Stevens shared the album’s first single, “So You Are Drained,” by way of a lyric video. “So You Are Drained” was one among our Songs of the Week.
In 2021, Stevens launched the five-volume album Convocations, in addition to A Newbie’s Thoughts, a collaborative album with Angelo De Augustine. Learn our digital cowl story interview with the duo about that album. In 2020 he put out The Ascension. Earlier this 12 months, Stevens launched Reflections, his rating for the Justin Peck ballet of the identical identify that was carried out by pianists Timo Andres and Conor Hanick.
Adrienne Maree Brown, Hannah Cohen, Pauline Delassus, Megan Lui, and Nedelle Torrisi all present harmonies on lots of Javelin’s songs. Bryce Dessner of The Nationwide performs acoustic and electrical guitar on “Shit Discuss.” Album nearer “There’s a World” is a Neil Younger cowl. Stevens recorded the album himself at house, however a press launch factors out that Javelin nonetheless generally has an enormous sound and that it “pairs musical sweep with emotional breadth.”
4. Lol Tolhurst x Budgie x Jacknife Lee: “Ghosted At Dwelling” (Feat. Primal Scream’s Bobby Gillespie)
Lol Tolhurst (previously of The Treatment), Budgie (previously of Siouxsie and the Banshees), and producer/musician Jacknife Lee have all teamed as much as launch a debut album collectively, Los Angeles, on Nov 3 by way of Play It Once more Sam. On Wednesday they shared one other tune from it, “Ghosted At Dwelling,” which options visitor vocals from Primal Scream’s Bobby Gillespie. It was shared by way of a black & white music video directed by Julian Gabriel Bendaña. Take a look at the album’s tracklist and canopy art work right here.
Los Angeles additionally options an array of different notable visitor stars, together with: James Murphy (LCD Soundsystem), The Edge (U2), Isaac Brock (Modest Mouse), Lonnie Holley, Mary Lattimore, Arrow de Wilde (Starcrawler), Mark Bowen (IDLES), and others.
Tolhurst had this to say in regards to the new tune in a press launch: “The primary sound you hear on ‘Ghosted at Dwelling’ can be the primary recording we made collectively within the sacred space of Yosemite. With it, we connected all our hopes and expectations for the music we have been making. It appeared acceptable that the primary instrument we performed within the forest for our document was additionally probably the most historical—a drum.”
Lee provides: “We have been aiming for a way of claustrophobia that Bobby skilfully picked up on.”
Budgie additionally had this to say about working with Gillespie: “In life it’s uncommon to listen to somebody telling their story and for us to acknowledge it as our personal. It’s rarer nonetheless when that story pertains to a fancy, harmful and psychologically damaging relationship. To induce this sense of empathy is probably the present and talent of an ideal lyricist and author. Bobby Gillespie is a type of writers.”
Beforehand Lol Tolhurst x Budgie x Jacknife Lee shared the album’s title monitor, “Los Angeles,” which options James Murphy.
Tolhurst can be releasing a e-book, GOTH: A Historical past, on September 26 within the U.S. by way of Hachette Books. He was a founding member of The Treatment, however left the band in 1989.
5. Wilco: “Cousin”
Wilco are releasing a brand new album, Cousin, on September 29 by way of dBpm. Yesterday, they shared its second single, title monitor “Cousin,” by way of a lyric video.
A press launch describes the which means of the tune: “‘Cousin’ is, musically and lyrically, a struggle with a relative. Moderately, a refusal to struggle: the narrator holds their familial opponent in a de-escalatory bear hug, whereas admitting, ‘My cousin/I’m you.’”
Cate Le Bon produced Cousin. Beforehand Wilco shared its lead single, “Evicted.”
Of Cousin, Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy stated in a earlier press launch: “I’m cousin to the world. I don’t really feel like I’m a blood relation, however possibly I’m a cousin by marriage.”
Of the collaboration, Le Bon stated: “The superb factor about Wilco is they are often something. They’re so mercurial, and there’s this thread of authenticity that flows by way of every part they do, regardless of the style, regardless of the really feel of the document. There aren’t many bands who’re capable of, this deep right into a profitable profession, efficiently change issues up.”
Of working with Le Bon, Tweedy added: “Cate could be very suspicious of sentiment. however she’s not suspicious of human connection.”
Cousin sees Glenn Kotche on drums, John Stirratt on bass, Mikael Jorgensen on synths, Pat Sansone on piano, Euan Hinshelwood on saxophone, Tweedy on electrical guitar and vocals, and Nels Cline on guitar.
Wilco’s earlier album was 2022’s Merciless Nation.
Tweedy can be releasing a brand new e-book, World With a Tune: Music That Modified My Life and Life That Modified My Music, on November 7 by way of Penguin Random Home’s Dutton,
6. Steven Wilson: “Rock Backside” (Feat. Ninet Tayeb)
British musician/producer Steven Wilson is releasing a brand new album, The Concord Codex, on September 29 by way of Spinefarm. This week he shared its second single, “Rock Backside,” which options Israeli singer Ninet Tayeb and was shared by way of a music video. Nimrod Peled directed the video.
We just lately posted half one among our two-part interview with Wilson in regards to the album. Learn the interview, which was carried out by Stephen Humphries, right here.
Beforehand Wilson shared the album’s first single, “Economies of Scale,” by way of a music video. “Economies of Scale” was one among our Songs of the Week.
A deluxe version of The Concord Codex consists of remixes/reimaginings by Interpol, Manic Road Preachers, Tears for Fears’ Roland Orzabal, and others.
The album options Ninet Tayeb, Craig Blundell, Adam Holzman, Jack Risks (Meat Beat Manifesto), and Sam Fogarino (Interpol).
In 2022 Wilson launched his memoir, Restricted Version of One, and The Concord Codex relies on a brief story featured in that e-book.
“I’ve at all times seen my music in cinematic phrases,” Wilson says in our new interview with him. “However one thing about this document has taken that facet, I believe, to a different stage. Possibly it’s the actual fact it was based mostly on the quick story. Possibly it’s the truth that each tune appears distinctly completely different to each different tune, and it has its personal kind of inner musical world and musical vocabulary, and but it nonetheless appears to type a cohesive complete, a cohesive journey.”
7. The Massive Moon: “Summer season Nonetheless Comes”
This week, The Massive Moon shared a brand new tune, “Summer season Nonetheless Comes,” and introduced some new tour dates, together with three in North America. “Summer season Nonetheless Comes” is taken from an upcoming deluxe version of their 2022 album, Right here Is All the things, which will probably be out on October 13 by way of Fiction (nearly precisely a 12 months for the reason that album first got here out). Take a look at the band’s tour dates right here.
The band’s lead vocalist Juliette Jackson had this to say in regards to the tune in a press launch: “It’s a tune about eager for your pals and family members. Experiences simply don’t actually imply something to me until I can share them with another person. And the adjustments of the seasons really feel so relentless and unforgiving when your life isn’t shifting on the similar velocity.”
The deluxe version additionally consists of one other new tune, “Spherical Endlessly” (which options lead vocals from bassist Celia Archer), in addition to remixes from Marika Hackman and Artwork College Girlfriend.
We beforehand posted the Right here Is All the things tracks “Hassle,” which was one among our Songs of the Week, and “This Love,” which was additionally one among our Songs of the Week. The album additionally made our High 100 Albums of 2022 record.
8. Wild Nothing: “Suburban Options”
Wild Nothing (aka Jack Tatum) is releasing a brand new album, Maintain, on October 27 by way of Captured Tracks. On Tuesday, he shared its second single, “Suburban Options,” by way of a music video. Tatum co-directed the video with Josh Burgess (of Yumi Zouma).
Beforehand Wild Nothing shared the album’s first single, “Headlights On,” which options Hatchie and was shared by way of a music video. “Headlights On” was one among our Songs of the Week.
Tatum has additionally introduced that he’s releasing two restricted version wines tied into Maintain. He has teamed up with New York State’s Osmote Wines for a particular “Suburban Options” Riesling. And within the UK he has partnered with Blackbook Vineyard on a bottle for “Headlights On.” The wine will probably be out there by way of a vinyl bundle.
Tatum had this to say in regards to the wines in a press launch: “I’m actually thrilled to be partnering with Blackbook and Osmote for these restricted run bottles impressed by my new album Maintain. Sergio and Ben are each so keen about what they do and when this partnership fell in my lap it felt like such a particular alternative to convey folks in on one thing else that I really like.
“We landed on a Riesling from Osmote and Glowing Seyval Blanc from Blackbook, not solely as a result of they showcase what these guys accomplish that properly, however as a result of they’re additionally precisely the form of crisp, dry wines I’d attain for myself when out at dinner or having a couple of buddies over. Ian Miller, who designed the Maintain album artwork, additionally designed these labels and we had a blast tying them into the bigger visible world of the document.”
Wild Nothing’s final album, Indigo, his fourth, got here out in August 2018 by way of Captured Tracks. Indigo was our Album of the Week and one among our High 100 Albums of 2018. In 2020 he launched the Laughing Fuel EP, additionally by way of Captured Tracks.
Jorge Elbrecht (Japanese Breakfast) combined “Headlights On,” which options drum manufacturing by Tommy Davidson of Seaside Fossils, and backing vocals from Hatchie’s Harriette Pilbeam. Tatum self-produced Maintain and Geoff Swan (Caroline Polachek, Charli XCX) combined it. The album additionally options Molly Burch, Becca Mancari, and Tatum’s his spouse, Dana.
“I’ve sat with this document for a really very long time now, so naturally I’m each excited and apprehensive to let it see the sunshine,” stated Tatum of Maintain in a earlier press launch. “It’s my first document as a father. My first self-produced document since my debut. It’s a document that offers in existential themes however doesn’t at all times take itself too significantly. It’s not afraid of pop however it’s hopefully not afraid to be unusual both. It has enjoyable, will get unhappy, dwells within the quiet moments and embraces the loud ones. It’s me doing what I really like and feeling grateful for it.”
Learn our 2018 interview with Wild Nothing on Indigo.
Learn our 2018 Anatomy of a Tune article on Wild Nothing the place he detailed Indigo single “Companions in Movement.”
Additionally learn our overview of Indigo.
Wild Nothing’s 2012 album, Nocturne, was Underneath the Radar’s #1 album of that 12 months.
Learn our 2016 interview with Wild Nothing.
9. Vagabon: “Lexicon”
Vagabon (the undertaking of Lætitia Tamko) launched her third album, Sorry I Haven’t Referred to as, immediately by way of Nonesuch. On Tuesday she shared its newest single, “Lexicon,” by way of a music video. Kathleen Dycaico directed the video.
In a press launch, Tamko says that the album’s co-producer Rostam (Vampire Weekend, HAIM) helped her notice her ultimate imaginative and prescient for the monitor. “I wrote the tune, the verses, the refrain, all the bridge, and all of that, however I couldn’t discover a place for it on the document sonically,” she says. “After I revisited the album with Rostam in LA, he stated give me a minute with it’ and he simply bought it.”
Sorry I Haven’t Referred to as was impressed by the 2021 demise of Tamko’s greatest pal. And but Tamko tried to show that grief into one thing extra uplifting. “This document seems like what I’ve been working in direction of,” she says. “After I consider this album, I consider playfulness. It’s fully euphoric. It’s as a result of issues have been darkish that this document is so vigorous and vitality. It’s a response to what I used to be experiencing on the time, not a doc of it.”
Vagabon has beforehand shared three singles off of Sorry I Haven’t Referred to as: “Carpenter” (which additionally made our Songs of the Week), and “Do Your Worst” (which made a particular Songs of the Week playlist).
Take a look at our 2019 interview with Tamko on her self-titled sophomore album.
10. Jaakko Eino Kalevi: “Palace in My Head” (Feat. Alma Jodorowsky)
Finnish multi-instrumentalist Jaakko Eino Kalevi is releasing a brand new album, Chaos Magic, on November 17 by way of Domino imprint Bizarre World. On Monday, he shared one other new tune from it, “Palace in My Head,” by way of a music video. The tune options visitor vocals from French actress Alma Jodorowsky, who additionally directs and co-stars within the video.
Kalevi met Jodorowsky by way of a mutual pal in Athens, the place he’s now based mostly. The 2 wrote the lyrics collectively, which Kalevi says in a press launch “was all very spontaneous and straightforward.”
He continues: “I had an early demo of this for a few years on my pc and didn’t know easy methods to end it. I re-recorded it within the studio and fortuitously bought Alma to assist me end the refrain half. The refrain and verse are from completely different worlds, in my view. The verse could be very dramatic and darkish after which the refrain is vibrant and comforting.”
Of the video, Jodorowsky says: “Understanding that we needed to shoot the video in Athens, the place Jaakko and I met, I had this concept of our ghosts lacking on one another and main the viewers to those stunning Greek landscapes. This parallel world, similar to a dream, is like an incarnation of the artistic thoughts of us two musicians. It resonates with the lyrics of the tune that after all impressed me, evoking thoughts palaces and the border between fiction and actuality.”
The video was filmed on an previous Bolex digital camera by cinematographer Sean Value Williams.
Chaos Magic additionally options Jimi Tenor, Fake Actual, Yu-Ching Huang, and John Moods. It was recorded at Mutual Sound Studios in Athens and was co-produced and combined by Teemu Takatalo, who runs the studio and is buddies with Kalevi.
Kalevi calls the album “a ‘again to the roots’ album” and “a group of songs from a sure interval with out making an attempt to tie them collectively.”
Beforehand Kalevi shared a video for the album’s first single, “I Overlook,” which made a particular Songs of the Week playlist we did.
Kalevi’s final full-length was 2018’s Out of Contact. In 2020 he launched the mini-album, Dissolution,
Learn our The Finish interview with Kalevi.
Additionally learn our My Firsts interview with Kalevi.
Plus learn our Self-Portrait interview with Kalevi.
Learn our 2015 interview with Jaakko Eino Kalevi.
11. Jamila Woods: “Good Information”
Chicago musician and poet Jamila Woods is releasing a brand new album, Water Made Us, on October 13 by way of Jagjaguwar. On Wednesday, she shared its third single, “Good Information.”
Woods co-wrote the tune with Biako and Jean Placide and had this to say about it in a press launch. “The title of the album comes from one of many lyrics, ‘the excellent news is we have been glad as soon as/the excellent news is water at all times runs again the place it got here from/the excellent news is water made us.’ For me the tune is a lesson in give up, a lesson I study from water time and again.”
Beforehand Woods shared a video for the album’s first single, “Tiny Backyard,” which options duendita. “Tiny Backyard” was one among our Songs of the Week. Then she shared its second single, “Boomerang,” by way of a music video. “Bommerang” was additionally one among our Songs of the Week.
Woods had this to say in regards to the album in a earlier press launch: “Water Made Us seems like probably the most private and susceptible piece of artwork I’ve ever made. I really like creating from supply materials, diving deep right into a topic and extrapolating from what I uncover. We sat in the home for 2 years and I turned my very own supply materials. Shout out to the therapists, the astrologers, the members of the family and buddies who listened, who helped me course of and remodel my journaled ideas and questions into this physique of labor. I hope it seems like a playlist that carries you thru the life cycle of a relationship, no matter stage of the journey your coronary heart could also be in.”
Honorable Mentions:
These songs nearly made the High 11.
Massive Thief: “Born For Loving You”
Cherry Glazerr: “Sugar”
Drop Nineteens: “A Hitch”
Harp: “I Am the Seed”
Nation of Language: “Sightseer”
Right here’s a helpful Spotify playlist that includes the High 11 so as, adopted by all of the honorable mentions:
[ad_2]