If you can manage to take a break from the nostalgic bliss that is Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), there’s some fine tunes below that’ll welcome you with open arms.
TRACK OF THE WEEK: CMAT – Where Are Your Kids Tonight?
Just when you thought you couldn’t love CMAT any more, she comes through with another solid gold bop. This time she’s teamed up with John Grant, whose voice is a heavenly complement on ‘Where Are Your Kids Tonight?’. With shimmering ’80s synths and a dramatic music video that matches the vibe perfectly, this is another huge win for CMAT. Side effects may include the overwhelming desire to backcomb your hair to within an inch of its life. [VG]
Also new this week…
Teenage Fanclub – Tired of Being Alone
Heavenly harmonies from the alt rock legends on this fresh track. It’s also accompanied by a beautifully scenic music video that matches the wistful feel of the single. The excitement for the new album this September is unreal! [LW]
Hot Milk – Bloodstream
Hot Milk’s upcoming debut album has been one of my most anticipated releases all year, and this new single gets me even more excited for it! Fun pop punk song with male and female lead vocals, synths, and a super catchy chorus. [SD]
Cherry Glazerr – Soft Like a Flower
‘Soft Like A Flower’ opens with a grimy, grungy guitar riff and just keeps getting better. Mixing shoegaze vocals with grunge instrumentation, Cherry Glazerr’s upcoming album I Don’t Want You Anymore is an exciting prospect. [VG]
Logan Avidan – Left My Heart
Logan Avidan is giving us major Lana Del Ray meets Courtney Love vibes with ‘Left My Heart’ – sort of an interesting combo when you hear it. The model turned songwriter has dropped quite an intriguing debut and we’re on the edge of our seats as we wait for whatever’s coming next. [TF]
Birdy – Paradise Calling
Birdy’s new single is an upbeat, catchy synth-pop tune that will get you moving. Just a fun, simple love song with a throwback feel. [SD]
Spanish Love Songs – Pendulum
This sort of goes without saying, but for the unitiated, this song is neither a love song nor is it in Spanish. But it does rule, just like pretty much everything this band does. Keep an eye out for their new record next month because, spoiler alert: it’s awesome. [TF]
Yard Act – The Trench Coat Museum
A new single from Yard Act is pretty much guaranteed to be a good time at this point. In ‘The Trench Coat Museum’, they reflect on the strange position of being in a band post-debut album. It’s typically tongue-in-cheek and razor-sharp, referring to themselves as “a flash in the pan bunch of sellouts” before the song has scarecely begun. The presence of Gorillaz’s Remi Kabaka Jr. on production elaborates on the pared-back post-punk stylings of The Overload, adding new flourishes to an already great sound. Clocking in at 8 minutes, ‘The Trench Coat Museum’ rejects music industry standards and shows that it pays off to do whatever the hell you want. [VG]
Mod Sun – Strangers
A song about love lost, the subject of Mod Sun’s new single “Strangers” is pretty clear considering he had broken up with Avril Lavigne earlier this year after being together for two years. It’s a simple song about missing her and how lovers can quickly become strangers again, something everybody can relate to. [SD]
PYNKIE – Plz
A steady, driving beat is the backbone to this new single from New Jersey-based Pynkie (aka Lindsey Radice). It’s a delightful slice of lo-fi dream pop that fans of Clairo and Soccer Mommy should fall in love with instantly. Fun fact: Lindsey is a Registered Nurse by day – saving lives and making music… respect. [TF]
Holly Humberstone – Room Service
I’ve been a huge fan of Holly’s since seeing her open for Girl in Red in Brooklyn last Spring. With every song, she manages to tug on your heartstrings, and ‘Room Service’ is no different. A fantastic songwriter, it’s hard to believe she’s only about to release her first proper record this October. I’d say she’s one to watch but, if you’re anything like me, you’ve already been watching. [TF]
Contributor Key:
[TF] TJ Foster, [VG] Vicky Greer, [SD] Shawn-Ray Dalinsky, [LW] Lydia Webb
