I Am So Sorry For The Sins I Have Done
An apology.
Today's playlist has 72 songs over 4 hours 48 minutes. It isn't a short one and that's okay, cause it's a hell of a week. There are a lot of covers on here this week, plus a lot of extreme metal. Normally, I'd ask you to give those a shot, but feel free to skip those if it's not your speed. I understand. It's a long playlist.
The Playlist
Spotify | Apple Music | Bandcamp
Albums of Note
I broke a personal rule this week. I try not to include more than one track from any given artist each week, but I couldn't resist the urge to bookend with tracks from Skatune Network's new Skalloween album, which is a goddamn delight. We also finally have Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit's covers album highlighting work from Georgia songwriters, which he promised to do if we turned Georgia blue in that last election. Today's selection from that album is a cover of R.E.M.'s Nightswimming, a song that I love so much that I've now included two different covers of it on this playlist since I started just a couple months ago. This version also features Chris Thile and Béla Fleck, so it was always going to be something that I threw on.
Starflyer 59 is maybe one of the most important bands to come out of the Christian label Tooth & Nail Records, and they've got a new album out today. This is the 16th full length album from the indie shoegaze legends and I'm still just as excited as ever to hear what they've prepared for us. I hope that Hey, John hits you hard enough to get you to listen to the whole album with me. I know it hit me. We've also got psych-pop artist Vanishing Twin's new album, which expands on the genre bringing in elements of avant garde and experimental music in ways that should hopefully grab your attention, whether you love it or hate it.
I'm not going to talk about Coldplay's new album, but it's here. FINNEAS also finally has a new album out. For those who don't know FINNEAS, he's Billie Eilish's brother and producer and he's been behind like 90% of the songs on the radio this year that have made you cry.
Modern hardcore giants Knocked Loose dropped a surprise EP this week, along with an accompanying visual album that is simply stunning. I can't recommend this enough. Julia Shapiro (Chastity Belt) has a solo record out today that promises a lot more grit than we've previously heard from her. Oh, and there's a new album from comedian Zach Fox. If you don't know the name, he's the dude that made the Jesus Is The One (I've Got Depression) track that blew the fuck up on TikTok last year. I also used soundclips from that track on Idle Curiosities' Bee Movie bonus episode, because I am a child.
Tom Morello's new record is here, finally. It's a lot of collaborations, some of which I've already shared here, so I'm not gonna dive in too hard. And finally, Stereogum named Xenia Rubinos' Una Rosa their album of the week, which is high enough praise that I'm throwing it on here knowing literally nothing else about it.
Still Tracking With Me?
Okay, now let's dive into individual tracks that you should know about, starting with a collab between Hrishikesh Hirway and Yo-Yo Ma. If you don't know Hirway, he's the dude behind the absolutely perfect Song Exploder podcast and is an incredible artist in his own right, even though he has dedicated his career to lifting up other artists.
Post-hardcore giants Touché Amoré just dropped a cover of The Strokes, which all you indie trash will probably eat up. Mikey and his Uke covers NOFX with the help of a variety of notable punk musicians. Perhaps best known as Alice Cooper's guitar player, Nita Strauss brings us a new single of her own, featuring David Draiman (Disturbed).
Oh, there's a new Adele track, too. I'm guessing you knew that.
Actor/musician/queer boomer Billy Porter has a fun new single. And speaking of fun, go watch the video for Alissic's Piano. It's a delightful romp of frog costumes. Also, it looks like Susanna Hoffs (The Bangles) has a covers collection coming soon, the first single of which features Aimee Mann covering Badfinger. A genuine fuckin' treat.
I'm also supremely excited about new tracks from deathcore outfit Impending Doom, metalcore band Betraying The Martyrs's attempt to sound like Architects, and Careful Gaze's Cold Spring. Hearing Gabe Reasoner's pleading cries echo the refrain of my past year is both healing and heartbreaking:
if the good times always end
then the bad ones do
tell me they have to
That's All, Folks (Almost)
Em's Fresh Christmas - Spotify | Apple Music | Bandcamp (N/A)
I'd be doing nobody any favors if I didn't point out that I've added to Em's Fresh Christmas with Kelly Clarkson and Ariana Grande performing Santa, Can't You Hear Me.
Merry Christmas. I'll see you next week.