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9 Finest Songs of the Week: The Mountain Goats, Mitski, Ratboys, A. Savage, and Extra
Plus L’Rain, Anjimile, GUM, Patio, and a Wrap-up of the Week’s Different Notable New Tracks
Aug 25, 2023
Welcome to the twenty sixth Songs of the Week of 2023. Final week’s Songs of the Week was our first one after a month-long hiatus and there have been a variety of sturdy selections (plus we put collectively a playlist of all the nice songs we missed whereas on trip). This week, the pickings weren’t as plentiful, however there have been nonetheless some new tracks we appreciated.
Previously week or so we posted interviews with Ratboys, Beverly Glenn-Copeland, Lloyd Cole, Tom A. Smith, Bethany Cosentino, director/actor Amy Redford, Image Parlour, and others.
Within the final week we reviewed some albums.
Keep in mind that we just lately introduced our new print difficulty, Concern 71 with Weyes Blood and Black Belt Eagle Scout on the covers.
That can assist you kind by way of the multitude of recent songs launched within the final week, now we have picked the 9 finest the final week needed to supply, adopted by some honorable mentions. Try the total record beneath.
1. The Mountain Goats: “Contemporary Tattoo”
The Mountain Goats are releasing a brand new album, Jenny from Thebes, on October 27 by way of Merge. On Wednesday they shared its second single, “Contemporary Tattoo,” and introduced some new December tour dates. “Contemporary Tattoo” options Alicia Bognanno from Bully on guitar, horns by Matt Douglas and Evan Ringel, and backing vocals from Matt Nathanson. Try all their upcoming tour dates right here.
Frontman John Darnielle had this to say concerning the music in a press launch: “I wrote ‘Contemporary Tattoo’ over the course of a number of periods on the piano in March of 2022. I felt an affinity for the story in it and for the way it developed, and I used to be pleased with the music. In December that yr, I despatched it to my previous buddy Matt Nathanson, who hosted the open mic evening the place The Mountain Goats obtained their begin again within the early ’90s. Come sing on my music, man, I mentioned, I wouldn’t even be right here with out you. I’ll be there, he mentioned.
“Typically once I go into the studio, I fret that we received’t have the ability to translate my alone-with-an-instrument imaginative and prescient to the large room. However what my band, and Trina Shoemaker, and Alicia Bognanno, and good previous Matt Nathanson did with it exceeded even my highest expectations. When Jon breaks into straight 4/4 on the music’s climax it looks like a high-performance automobile rising from a flip right into a straightaway at 120mph at daybreak someplace on the plains.
“‘Contemporary Tattoo’ is the flashpoint within the story of who Jenny is and the way she got here to go away Texas. In it, she will get a tattoo of a protect on her arm, and, on her manner house, sees a man who wants assist. This will probably be her final lodger, and it’s her first tattoo, and the day will show to be decisive in her story. Listening to Matt put down the harmonies on it in Tulsa earlier this yr was among the best moments I’ve ever had in my musical life; it meant a lot to make one thing new with him, I wouldn’t even be right here with out him. I’m very glad to share it with the world as we speak.”
Beforehand The Mountain Goats shared the album’s first single, “Clear Slate,” which was one in all our Songs of the Week.
The title character from Jenny from Thebes prominently appeared of their 2002 album All Hail West Texas, in addition to within the albums Jam Eater Blues (2001) and Transcendental Youth (2012).
A press launch describes the story and themes of the brand new album in additional element: “Jenny from Thebes is the story of Jenny, her southwestern ranch type home, the individuals for whom that home is a spot of security, and the west Texas city that’s uncomfortable with its existence. It’s a story concerning the particular person and society, about security and shelter and those that select to supply care when no one else will.”
Darnielle regards Jenny from Thebes as a sequel of kinds to All Hail West Texas, which was far more lo-fi in nature. “If we’re going to do a sequel to a file that was recorded virtually totally on a boombox,” Darnielle says, “why not do the alternative and make it as huge as doable?”
The Mountain Goats’ final album was 2022’s Bleed Out.
Try our “Why Not Each” podcast that includes The Mountain Goats. By Mark Redfern
2. Mitski: “Heaven”
Mitski is releasing a brand new album, The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We, on September 15 by way of Useless Oceans. On Wednesday she shared two extra new songs from it, “Heaven” and “Star.” Our writers collectively gravitated in the direction of “Heaven,” in order that makes the primary record, with “Star” an honorable point out beneath.
She additionally introduced some new UK and European tour dates, examine these out right here.
Mitski labored with arranger/conductor Drew Erickson and a full orchestra at Sundown Sound Studios in Los Angeles on each songs. A press launch mentions Patsy Cline in relation to “Heaven” and compares “Star” to the works of Scott Walker.
The tour dates are described as “intimate acoustic performances” and so they have a title: Novice Mistake.
Mitksi beforehand shared a music video for the album’s lead single, “Bug Like an Angel,” which was one in all our Songs of the Week.
Mitski wrote the songs for The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We in bursts through the years. The LP was primarily recorded on the Bomb Shelter in Nashville and co-produced by Patrick Hyland.
The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We is the follow-up to 2022’s Laurel Hell, which was featured on our Prime 100 Albums of 2022 record.
Learn our evaluation of Laurel Hell right here.
Mitski’s Be the Cowboy was #2 on our Prime 100 Albums of 2018 record and landed her on the duvet of our print journal.
Learn our cowl story interview with Mitski on Be the Cowboy. By Mark Redfern
3. Ratboys: “No Manner”
Chicago indie rockers Ratboys launched a brand new album, The Window as we speak by way of Topshelf. Regardless that all of its singles made our Songs of the Week lists, now that it’s out we will additionally spotlight an album observe we actually like, “No Manner.”
Plus as we speak we posted our new interview with the band about The Window, in addition to our rave evaluation of the album (each written by Mark Moody). Learn the interview right here and the evaluation right here.
Ratboys—composed of members Julia Steiner (guitar, vocals), Dave Sagan (guitar), Marcus Nuccio (drums), and Sean Neumann (bass)—ventured to Seattle to work with producer Chris Walla (Loss of life Cab for Cutie, Tegan and Sara, Foxing) when making The Window. The album was virtually absolutely crafted earlier than heading into the studio, however Walla pushed the band to broaden their imaginative and prescient, including sudden devices resembling rototoms, talkboxes, and fiddles.
Ratboys beforehand shared numerous singles from the album: “It’s Alive” (which was #1 on our Songs of the Week record), “Black Earth, WI” (which additionally made our Songs of the Week record), “The Window” (additionally one in all our Songs of the Week), and “Morning Zoo” (once more a Songs of the Week decide).
Learn our 2021 interview with Ratboys. By Mark Redfern
4. A. Savage: “Elvis within the Military”
On Wednesday, A. Savage (aka Andrew Savage of Parquet Courts) introduced a brand new album, A number of Songs About Fireplace, and shared a brand new music from it, “Elvis within the Military,” by way of a music video. A number of Songs About Fireplace is due out October 6 by way of Tough Commerce. He’s additionally introduced some tour dates. Emile Moutaud directed the “Elvis within the Military” video. Try the album’s tracklist and canopy art work, in addition to all of Savage’s upcoming tour dates, right here.
Savage had this to say about “Elvis within the Military” in a press launch: “We regularly describe ourselves in geographic phrases. American, New Yorker—two phrases that I’ve used to determine myself that must do with being from or of a sure place. So ‘Elvis within the Military’ is a little bit of a listing of these labels. They’ve much less to do with geography than we understand. Actually we’re simply speaking about ourselves, then framing sure traits geographically. Irrespective of the place I reside I’ll have an American psyche till the day I die, for higher or for worse. I’ll all the time be of America. And I can’t think about a time the place New York doesn’t really feel like house. However regardless of that, I’d somewhat not be related to a spot, at the very least for now.”
The album contains “Thanksgiving Prayer,” a brand new music Savage shared in July by way of a music video. “Thanksgiving Prayer” was one in all our Songs of the Week. The album options Jack Cooper (Fashionable Nature, Final Portray), Cate Le Bon, saxophonist Euan Hinshelwood (Cate Le Bon’s band), drummer Dylan Hadley (Kamikaze Palm Tree, White Fence), and violinist Magdalena McLean (caroline).
Savage had this to say concerning the new album: “I think about myself enjoying these songs in a small membership that’s slowly burning…. Fireplace is one thing it’s important to escape from, and in a manner this album is about escaping from one thing. This album is a burning constructing, and these songs are issues I’d depart behind to save lots of myself.”
A Savage’s final solo album was 2017’s Thawing Daybreak.
Try our evaluation of Thawing Daybreak. By Mark Redfern
5. L’Rain: “Pet Rock”
This week, L’Rain (aka multi-instrumentalist Taja Cheek) introduced a brand new album, I Killed Your Canine, and shared its first single, “Pet Rock,” by way of a music video. She additionally introduced some fall tour dates. I Killed Your Canine is due out October 13 by way of Mexican Summer time. Try the album’s tracklist and canopy art work, in addition to the upcoming tour dates, right here.
Cheek says of “Pet Rock” in a press launch: “The music is predicated round an previous story I’d been advised a couple of girl who was using the prepare however regarded unusual, and the reader finally figures out that she’s lifeless, with glasses on, being propped up by the those who appear to have harmed her. As a lifelong collector of tchotchkes, the music video is predicated on an idea I got here up with that includes miniatures.”
Cheek labored with long-time collaborators Andrew Lappin and Ben Chapoteau-Katz on I Killed Your Canine, which is her third full-length. By Mark Redfern
6. Anjimile: “Animal”
Anjimile (full title Anjimile Chithambo) is releasing a brand new album, The King, on September 8 by way of 4AD, his first album for the label. On Wednesday, he shared its third single, “Animal,” by way of a music video. The protest music was impressed by the loss of life of George Floyd and Anjimile notably sings “For those who deal with me like an animal/I’ll be an animal.” Robby Operman directed the video.
A press launch describes the music in additional element: “‘Animal’ is a protest music about police brutality, written in the summertime of 2020 and explicitly references the loss of life of George Floyd. Like the remainder of The King, each sound heard on ‘Animal’ comes from two devices: an acoustic guitar and Anjimile’s personal voice. All through, Anjimile’s emotions of rage and frustration are tinged with sardonicism.”
Beforehand Anjimile shared the album’s title observe, “The King,” which was one in all our Songs of the Week. Then he shared its second single, the brief and delicate “Father,” by way of a lyric video.
The King is the follow-up to 2020’s Giver Taker, Anjimile’s debut album, launched by way of Father/Daughter. Anjimile labored on The King for a yr in Los Angeles with Shawn Everett. Many of the songs are primarily based round acoustic guitar and Anjimile’s voice, however the album additionally options contributions from Justine Bowe, Brad Allen Williams, Sam Gendel, and James Krivchenia (Huge Thief).
“If Giver Taker was an album of prayers, The King is an album of curses,” Anjimile mentioned in a earlier press launch.
In 2021 Anjimile introduced that he had signed to 4AD and has shared his debut single for the label, “Stranger,” which isn’t featured on The King.
Learn our interview with Anjimile on Giver Taker, and take a look at our podcast interview with him, the place he discusses the Reunion EP. By Mark Redfern
7. GUM: “Music Is Greater Than Hair”
GUM is releasing a brand new album, Saturnia, on September 15 by way of Spinning Prime. Yesterday he shared one other new music from it, “Music Is Greater Than Hair,” by way of a music video. GUM is the solo venture Australian psych-pop musician Jay Watson, who can be a member of each Tame Impala and POND. Try GUM’s upcoming U.S. tour dates this October right here.
Watson had this to say concerning the music in a press launch: “‘Music Is Greater Than Hair’ is a humorous title, I believe it’s referring to me getting older and feeling my mortality slightly bit extra, or at the very least my price as a musician being tied up in the best way I look. Feeling prefer it’s affecting my music, as if it has something to do with it. Musically it’s one in all my favorites due to Jesse Kotanskys lovely string association.”
Saturnia contains “Race to the Air,” a brand new music GUM shared in Could that was one in all our Songs of the Week. When the album was introduced in July Watson shared its single “Would It Ache You to See?”
Of writing the brand new album, Watson says: “Due to COVID and since I had a brand new child, for the primary time ever I’d write songs and take into consideration them months on finish. I’d all the time been a little bit of a lazy arranger, however this time I used to be engaged on totally different sections in my head for months.”
Of his intentions with Saturnia, Watson says: “My dream was to make one coherent file that sounded the identical all through, but it surely’s simply so onerous if you like a lot totally different stuff! I needed the entire album to sound like Nick Drake on the very starting, but it surely simply doesn’t work out like that. I’ve obtained a lot gear and stuff to play with that even when I begin with one thing that appears like Nick Drake, I’ll beginning including issues and enjoying with it and it’ll take it away into some place else instantly.”
GUM’s final album was 2020’s Out Within the World, launched by way of Spinning Prime.
In 2020 we interviewed Watson as a part of our COVID-19 Quarantine Artist Verify In collection and you’ll learn that interview right here. By Mark Redfern
8. Patio: “Relics”
On Wednesday, New York post-punk, trio Patio, launched “Relics,” one other music from their forthcoming album Assortment, which is due out September 22 by way of Fireplace Speak.
Bassist Loren DiBlasi’s conversational virtually deadpan vocal supply is juxtaposed with taut, angular post-punk guitars on “Relics.” It’s a observe that explores Catholicism and real-life tragic figures like Beatrice Cenci, and the criticism of Anne Carson, with an unmistakable sense of menace.
The band reveals in a press launch: “Relics is a darkish love music—and cautionary story—about grief, sacrifice, and generational trauma. How a lot of your self do you lose if you fall for another person? And the way a lot is in your management vs. pre-determined by future?” By Andy Von Pip
9. Squirrel Flower: “Alley Mild”
On Tuesday, Squirrel Flower—the moniker of Chicago-based musician Ella Williams—launched her new single/video, “Alley Mild,” from her forthcoming album, Tomorrow’s Fireplace, out October 13 by way of Polyvinyl.
Williams cites artists who’re adept at weaving narratives resembling Bruce Springsteen as fonts of inspiration for Tomorrow’s Fireplace, and “Alley Mild” is an ideal instance, a music narrated from the angle of a down-on-his-luck man whose automobile is about to interrupt down as is his relationship with a lady who simply needs to flee.
The accompanying “Alley Mild” video is helmed by Bizarre Life Productions and options the art work and studio of Gwen Yen Chiu.
Of the observe, Williams says: “This music is concerning the man in me, or a person who I really like, or a person who’s a stranger to me. The video references a neo-noir Chicago heist film the place they use this thermal steel contraption to chop right into a secure. They run across the metropolis making sparks fly and getting as much as no good. I needed to do all that.” By Andy Von Pip
Honorable Mentions:
These songs virtually made the Prime 9.
The Chemical Brothers: “Skipping Like a Stone” (Feat. Beck)
Das Koolies: “Out of This World”
Explosions within the Sky: “Shifting On”
Misplaced Ladies: “With the Different Hand”
Mitski: “Star”
Jane Remover: “Lips”
Right here’s a helpful Spotify playlist that includes the Prime 9 so as, adopted by all of the honorable mentions:
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