I only have two goals for this series: 1) Introducing the masses to great new music and 2) Giving myself an excuse to listen to every single new release on the Tidal streaming service so I can stay up with new music. Doing this on a weekly basis means that I have a one week window to get this up before the Tidal feed flips to the next set of records, so by posting song reviews rather than full album reviews, it allows me to get more out there and then if you choose to dig deeper, you can.
So… songs of the week for the release date of 5/22/2020.
- Artist: Carly Rae Jepsen
- Song: “This Is What They Say”
- Album: Dedicated Side B
- Genre: Pop
- Notes: Carly Rae Jepsen B sides sound as good as A-sides. How bout someone makes her the next Taylor Swift? Come on, you want to!
- Artist: Griz f/ ProbCause & Chrishira Perrier
- Song: “My Friends and I Pt. 3
- Album: Bangers[5].zip
- Genre: EDM/Funk
- Notes: I love the funk side of Griz and this is a great one that bridges funk and EDM.
- Artist: Pete Rock, Camp Lo
- Song: “Starlight Glitz”
- Album: 80 Blocks From Tiffany’s II
- Genre: Hip-Hop
- Notes: Legendary DJ Pete Rock collaborating with old school duo Camp Lo a second time? Hell yeah! I was never the biggest Camp Lo fan but together with Pete Rock, they are straight fire. Classic hip-hop here.
- Artist: Indigo Girls
- Song: “Country Radio”
- Album: Look Long
- Genre: Folk Rock
- Notes: I would have never thought in a million years that I would even like one Indigo Girls song let alone a full album but this song and frankly every song on the record are awesome. This could be one of the top records of the entire year. Maybe this should be the point where I just stop reviewing music because what else could happen if I love an Indigo Girls records after decades of willingness to cut off my ears just to avoid them?
- Artist: The Airborne Toxic Event
- Song: “Come On Out”
- Album: Hollywood Park
- Genre: Indie Rock
- Notes: In the land of bands whose sound doesn’t remotely match its moniker, The Airbourne Toxic Event has to be near the top. That screams punk or loud mindless rock but they are indie rockers, usually utilizing a lot of orchestral passages. But there’s a few tracks on this new album that kind of harken back to 80s new wave, like “Come On Out.” And really, what could be more fitting in this period of Covid-19 lockdown, than a song called “Come On Out” by a group called The Airborne Toxic Event?
- Artist: Dagny
- Song: “Coulda Woulda Shoulda”
- Album: Strangers/Lovers
- Genre: Pop
- Notes: Dagny released her first EP in 2016 and then here four years later, another 6-song release is out – so she’s not a prolific solo artist but if all her material is as good as this, we need more for sure.
- Artist: Japan, Man
- Song: “Cautious”
- Album: I Like To Wait = EP
- Genre: Indie Pop
- Notes: A 15-year old girl from Beirut made this neat little quirky indie pop disc and sounds mature beyond her years.
- Artist: Centinex
- Song: “Derelict Souls”
- Album: Death in Pieces
- Genre: Death Metal
- Notes: Swedish Death Metal at its finest.
- Artist: Lemaitre
- Song: “Eyes Wide Open”
- Album: JGM
- Genre: Electronic Rock
The Trusty Steed 