Have you ever had one of those insane weeks when everything is so undoubtedly shit that the single thought of waking up in the morning and sorting your life out becomes unbearable?
Oh wait. That’s just being human nevermind.
Ha ! It did happen, it does happen and most probably will again – that’s the wild game of adulting isn’t it ? Well, one of the things that do make things better in my world is – music. And what a world it turned out to be lately.
It might have been a shit week but it’s been one hell of a brilliant shit week with so many new music releases. I had to actually pick some of them to write about. That NEVER happens.
Trust me, I’m an endless chatter box, a professional word vomiter and I’m physically incapable of picking. Here we are though.
Enough of the shitty intro and on with everything good that rocked my world these past few days – also known as my favs conspiracy urging me to quit my whinging. Probably (and thank you.)
FONTAINES DC
They’ll always be my other favorite irish and i’ve been looking forward to new music from them eagerly. Because they never let you down.
Is it their best work yet? I’ve seen a lot of chatter around agreeing with it honestly. Don’t ask me, I’ve been too busy listening to that song on repeat, letting it consume me like a black hole.
‘Starbuster’ came like a big slap in the face waking me up from the tumultuous void existence can sometimes be. I’m getting too intense again? Wait til you hear Grian’s flow on that song and come talk to me about intense after that please. And then wait some more.
Gosh, what an absolute banger that first single is, and one hell of a messenger of things to come. Powerful things. Their new album ‘Romance‘ drops August 23 and I’m waiting for it to scorch my senses like a freaking solar flare. No more shit weeks after that for sure.
PVRIS
I was barely back on my feet from all that when Pvris, one of my top artists, decided it was time to drop new music on my frail shoulders.
Thankfully, it was one that would happily fill and inhabit said void through its haunting features. ‘Oil & Water’ will show you that not all ghosts are bad, and that more often than not they will take you to places you’re too afraid to revisit on your own. Or maybe that’s just Lynn’s talent. Facing all the feels you’d rather ignore in such good company felt more like a soothing ointment for the soul in my week than anything else.
Also, how do you make a song sparkle? Well, apparently like this.
BYRNE/PARAMORE
I was already mourning ever hearing this one given I couldn’t take part in RSD this year and missed that release – I live in a place with cheap coffee and sunshine 95% of the year, if I had a record store nearby it would basically be heaven and I’d be dead, so I’ll pass (for now) – but thank the rock gods, Paramore are the best beans around, and on ‘Hard Times’ birthday, we got delivered another gift with that cover from David Byrne.
SURPRISE shit week, you are SO done.
Take the ultimate funky song and make it funkier, I don’t know if that was the goal but that’s exactly what we were served. What an absolute treat to add this one to every single one of my playlists – I haven’t given up on getting that physical release one day, but in the meantime : ecstatic joy. It gets even better if you’re somewhat of a Pmore fan and have that inside knowledge of how much it must have meant to them. And if you don’t, those few words from Hayley probably sums it all up.
David Byrne covering one of my fav Paramore songs = setting my groovy marshmallow heart on fire.
GIRL IN RED
Talking of, or Talking heads – am I not making sense? Well, STOP MAKING SENSE. The album, not me. Am I losing you cool babies ? Maybe that’s not a bad thing, psycho killers might end up burning down the house.
Got it? Not yet? Ha. Let’s try again. Everyone’s Getting Involved : A tribute to Talking Heads’ Stop Making Sense will be out on May 17 and so far every release from it has been FLAWLESS. Covers that definitely did the big grey suit justice in the most joyous way. The list of artists involved is a real treat for any music lovers from all horizons, and I can’t wait to put my hands on the whole thing (again).
I couldn’t wait either (you would never believe how patient a person I actually am hearing me say that every 2 sentences), to hear how the iconic ‘Girlfriend is Better’ would sound like in Girl In Red’s hands. There wasn’t the shadow of a doubt that she would nail it given her vibes make everything better. Well guess what? She’s doing it again baby – I sense a trend with that lately Mary?
Don’t ever ever stop please.
Also worth noting, what a power move to drop that one song from that one artist on Lesbian visibility week – don’t think we haven’t noticed a24 (and we thank you for that).
MITSKI
If you’ve been following this shit week got me slapped, haunted and set on fire. Ha. Even though the Norwegian gal brought a little happy vibes in between, it’s time for a little break don’t you think? And I can always rely on Mitski to bring the eerie energy that manages to calm me down. ‘Star’ couldn’t be further than Fontaines bursting one, like two celestial bodies floating at each end of the musical spectrum, bringing me a different kind of numbness. This one left my head in the clouds and brought back the peace in my week. I would have happily spent eternity there, floating around the ethereal beauty of that song.
ST VINCENT
Haha. Hahahaha. Peace and quiet eh? Try again, me.
We might all be born screaming but that particular release from the soon to be out St Vincent album definitely kept me on screaming Big Time.
‘Big Time Nothing’ is the song that truly made me fall on my knees and crawl through, and past, the doldrums of this shit week. Empowering beats, filthy eargasmic bass and enticing guitars pushing you through that hole in the ground you’ve been digging for yourself and taking you to the other side where all that awaits for you is that craving for more.
It hasn’t been just on repeat since it came out, it’s been slipping into borderline obsession. Not even mad.
If I am to be buried anywhere this damn week may it be in that groove please and thank you. ‘Broken Man’ and ‘Flea’ were already on the verge of becoming my whole personality, but ‘Big Time Nothing’ shoved me head first into the burning pit that is potential love at first listen.
I can officially state that St Vincent ‘All Born Screaming‘ will be my favorite album of 2024 — and I don’t even care if it’s not out yet.
Phew.
What a week.
Exhausting for the feels, nourishing for the soul. And a big kick in the arse on any troubles in your day. Life can be shit but if you have the right soundtrack to go through it? Ha. Not half bad after all. You might even end up asking for more.
… WHY IS MY KITCHEN ON FIRE? – Oh wait, look, a new Pearl Jam album.
