Soul Glo, Architects, and Northlane in a heavy New Music Friday
I'm going to try to write shorter newsletters, since I now have a full-time job that will be restricting my availability on Friday mornings. Here's an attempt at that.
The Playlist
Northlane's Carbonized is a call to not glorify abusive and predatory men in the metalcore scene, which has been a problem that's been pervasive for as long as I've followed this scene, and which I'm always grateful to hear artists voicing their discomfort with.
In a great statement Northlane vocalist Marcus Bridge says, "Time and time again, the phrase 'separate the artist from the art' is used to discount and deflect the damage these people — often men in a position of power — have inflicted on those around them. Whether it's manipulating minors or putting a hit out on your wife, it shocks me that fans will forget all about it because their latest track is really heavy."
I looked up to you
But you looked down on them
Predatory through and through
And you call yourself a man
Northlane - Carbonized
Soul Glo is maybe the most hyped hardcore band I've seen this year. Everywhere I turn, people are buzzing about their new genre-defying album which is finally out today. This is their first release with Epitaph Records and feels like a massive step up for them as they're getting ready to open for My Chemical Romance's next tour.
Turning from that, we've got Son Lux, who's done the score for Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert's new film Everything Everywhere All Of The Time and today I'm featuring a track that he did with Moses Sumney, taken from the film's soundtrack. As expected, if you follow these artists, it's a cinematic, haunting, beautifully soaring track that you can just let wash over you. Stunning.
Eichlers' new album My Checkered Life is one of my most anticipated records of the year and possibly the only hyperska record I've ever heard of. This dude's combined hyperpop and sky to create a record that's engaging, entertaining, and weirdly not super gimmickly. You can really feel his love and respect for both of the genres as he deftly crafts something new.
The new Weezer EP is out. This is the first of four records that will be moving through each of the seasons. We've also got pop-punk up-and-comers 408 collaborating with Sleeping With Sirens' Kellin Quinn and Magnolia Park on a new trap-infused pop-punk track that pays homage to blink-182's Mark Hoppus.
There's a new track from Max Richter's recomposition of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons, which I'm crazy about. If you don't know Richter by name, you may recognize him as the composer behind HBO's The Leftovers or the films Ad Astra, Mary Queen of Scots.
One of my favorite metalcore acts, Architects has just released an album of tracks recorded live at Abbey Road accompanied by a full orchestra. I've been following this as they've released videos of the performance on YouTube and I can't wait to sit down and watch the whole production.
Listen, I know that we just went over Charli XCX's Crash last week, but it's not my fault that she decided to release a deluxe edition today. Holy shit, what a blessing.
I'm enough of a sucker for Red Hot Chili Peppers, especially now that Frusciante is back in the band, that you're going to be getting each new single as we pull up to Unlimited Love's release. Really stoked to hear piano in this one. Not really an instrumentation that I associate with RHCP in general. The ethereal lead guitar reminds me of Dark Side era Pink Floyd and Flea's part here is brilliant as usual, too. Looking forward to sitting with the bass tabs for a few hours, getting increasingly frustrated while my fingers refuse to do what I goddamn want them to do.
Latto is a rapper who's new to me, but this winner of reality competition series The Rap Game's first season is clearly earning every ounce of attention with her flawless new gospel-infused record 777, out today. I've selected a track with features from Lil Wayne and Childish Gambino, but she's more than capable of standing on her own, which she successfully does for all but four tracks on this massive record.
Ending today, we've got post-hardcore giants Dance Gavin Dance with a new track featuring Rob Damiani of Don Broco for a weirdly dancey jam with a video that would be right at home on late late night Adult Swim.
Was feeling panicked so I bought myself knife
Then I felt empty so I went and got a myself a wife
I tried to learn about the meaning of my life
But I couldn’t quite decide on which good book to buy
Dance Gavin Dance - Synergy
There's a lot more this week that's worth your time and attention and I trust that if you're following along you'll know to listen through the full playlist with me. I only include tracks that I would actively vouch for and today's no exception. I wish I had time to write about black midi, !!!, Soccer Mommy, The Head And The Heart and Ibibio Sound Machine, but there aren't enough hours, so I'm trusting that you'll just go through and listen.
I fucking love new music.