Time for some new music, one more for 2024. As usual, the new music alert is songs from newer bands, older bands, bands I’ve never heard (the first six), and bands I’ve been listening to for years (the final four). Hopefully, you’ll want to add one or more of these songs to a playlist and maybe explore the band further.
– “Further From My Start” by Prize Horse: The trio from Minnesota comes with a brooding blast of grunge. Check out this tune from their debut album, Under Sound:
– “Just a Place” by Glitterer: The D.C. band released its third LP late last year. They produce an erratic, noisy template jacked up with guitars and synths. Take a listen to the slower, wistful, and typically short “Just a Place:”
– “Joy is a Crime” by Soft Kill: The Portland band has a fine-tuned blend of indie rock and dark synths. Here’s what that sounds like:
– “Scream from New York, NY” by Been Stellar: The title song of the debut from Been Stellar says it all. They are a NYC band and the chaos of the city amid its stirring culture are running themes of the album. Hence the tension between inspiring and ominous as heard here:
– “Reappearing Rat” by Sunset Rubdown: Sunset Rubdown started as a solo project for Wolf Parade singer, songwriter and keyboardist Spencer Krug. While familiar with the Montreal rockers, I had no idea about the side project (see an earlier Post Transmission post Rock N’ Roll in the 2020s (cont.)- Wolf Parade and Pearl Jam). More than a one-off, Sunset Rubdown’s new Always Happy to Explode is their 5th album and first in 15 years. They’re music is cheerful acoustic guitar and catchy keys as evidenced by this song:
– “Supersad” by Suki Waterhouse: I don’t get too excited when I hear that another actress, singer, and model has come out with an album. So, when I heard “Supersad” on Sirius XMU radio, I was pleasantly surprised. It’s a 90s radio-friendly throwback with trashy guitars and soaring vocals.
– “Raining on Your Pillow” by DIIV: DIIV has just released Frog in Boiling Water, their 4th and best LP. After seeing them live in 2019 I called them punishing bliss (Six Overlooked Bands for You to Check Out). I’ll let the band describe this new single, “A looping guitar plays underneath a driving rhythm in a cloud of murky atmosphere of analog synths and tape loops – menacing, doomed, and strangely hopeful.”
– “Desire” by Fontaines D.C.: Fontaines D.C. embark in a new direction on Romance, the band’s 4th album. (see my first post Rock N’ Roll in the 2020s? – Try The Districts and Fontaines D.C.) The hypnotic chanting has been replaced by a lighter, more accessible, and less Irish-focused sound. But they’re still raw, dark, and enchanting led by Grian Chatten’s vocals.
– “Ruby Church” by X: I didn’t think I’d be writing about another X album after 2020’s excellent Alphabetland (Ten Late Career Albums That Were Overlooked but Carry on the Band’s Legacy) They surprised us all with one final album and tour in 2024. Smoke & Fiction is a 28-minute, full throttle finale. With songs like “Winding Up the Time” and reflective lyrics about their journey “from a big black X on a white marquee to a tiny little x on a white marquee,” X cements its legacy.
– “Portland Rocks” by Ride: I loved Ride in the ‘ 90s and was excited about their return in 2017 (Bands that Took 20 Years (or more) Between Albums: Part Three – Ride (and a shout out to Shoegazers) Interplay is the third album of their rejuvenation. It’s signature Ride with its chiming, lush guitars. On “Portland Rocks,” the guitars are flat-out exhilarating. This song had me at about 10 seconds.
Trivia: Suki Waterhouse starred in what Prime Video musical drama series?
Answer: Daisy Jones & the Six
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