5 new releases we love: A sexy, riff-heavy collision, a bracing alté debut, and more
Music Features A-Sides
Sleater-Kinney Photo: Charlie Engman
Clairo, “Bags”
[Fader Label, May 24]
It’s that classic story: Boston teen writes lo-fi pop song for simple keys and click track, murmurs it straight into webcam while wearing a school sweatshirt and earbuds, and racks up 33 million-plus YouTube views. More than just a charming earworm, Claire Cottrill’s “Pretty Girl” (and the appealing EP it appeared on) was marked by a preternaturally sophisticated sensibility—emotive yet deadpan, understatedly arch, and deceptively unpolished, like more sedate, ironic Alessia Cara. Now the self-started (sort of, maybe) 20-year-old known as Clairo is back with “Bags,” where she retains her uncanny calm but jettisons synth-pop for dream-pop guitars. It’s warm music played cold as ice, naturalness meets artifice, with shades of Au Revoir Simone and Beach House, destined for a David Lynch project. “Bags” is the first single from Clairo’s debut album, Immunity, which comes out August 2. [Brian Howe]
Miley Cyrus, “The Most”
[RCA, May 31]
“The Most,” the closing track on Miley Cyrus’ brand-new six-cut EP She Is Coming, will likely receive the least bit of attention, as it doesn’t sport any cool collaborations with RuPaul or Ghostface Killah, and Cyrus doesn’t swear once in it. Nevertheless, it’s far and away the best song on the release. It’s a sweet anthem, presumably to Cyrus’ newlywed husband, Liam Hemsworth, bringing to mind her earlier pop-country hits like “The Climb” or even “Malibu” from 2017’s Younger Now. In her appealingly raspy twang, the singer unfurls a heartfelt, self-deprecating love song (last line: “I don’t know why you still believe in me”), backed by a disparate but epic combo of primitive percussion, steel guitar, and breathy strings. It’s the kind of emotive country ballad her godmother, Dolly Parton, would appreciate. She Is Coming is part of the lead-up to Cyrus’ seventh studio album; here’s hoping that record contains more songs like this one, fewer like “D.R.E.A.M.,” or “Drugs Rule Everything Around Me.” [Gwen Ihnat]
24 Comments
A new Kishi Bashi album dropped today. I don’t like it as much as his first couple but it’s still good stuff:)
The new ionnalee (iamamiwhoami) album Remember the Future dropped today, and it’s unexpectedly summer-lovely (didn’t so much love the last one). A Zola Jesus cameo, and a cover of “Mysteries of Love” from Blue Velvet with Röyksopp. I’m down. Also hell YES with Sleater-Kinney.
The new Sleater Kinney song has me very excited for their new album— seems like they haven’t skipped a beat.
I’m currently about halfway through a first listen to Gaika’s new release, Heaters 4 the 2 Seaters. After that I’m planning on checking out the Denzel Curry and Injury Reserve albums.I also enjoyed a few singles that dropped today, including Crack Babies 2.0 by Joe Young, Into Happiness by Phantogram, Crime Pays by Freddie Gibbs. Otherwise seems like a pretty slow week for music…
Oooh, new Phantogram!
While I love reading about new stuff I haven’t heard before (or wasn’t aware was forthcoming), the absolute best part of these articles is the comments sections where everyone talks about what they’re excited for. I’ve learned about so many musicians on here. Thanks, fellow AV Clubbers!ETA: That Sleater-Kinney song fucking bangs. I’m so glad they’re back!
Yes! This very comment section turned me on to Carly Rae Jepsen, and that is genuinely one of the best things that’s ever happened to me.
I probably would never have given CRJ the time of day, but thanks to the Kinja comments section, I checked out her music and am really glad I did. It’s definitely not like what I usually listen to, but it’s damn good and I can appreciate that.
That Sleater-Kinney song fucking bangs.Usually I find these new music posts here and on Jez to be eye rollingly lame but this is one of those times they get it right.
It’s good, though my love of Sleater-Kinney’s early albums is hard to surpass. I feel like Carrie Brownstein sings lead on their most interesting songs, but Corin Tucker sings lead on their best songs. That video is excellent. I’d love to think they recorded it live.
“I feel like Carrie Brownstein sings lead on their most interesting songs, but Corin Tucker sings lead on their best songs.”That’s a perfect description of their two different sounds.
That Azymuth album sounds great.
Grandma, what’s a Riot Grrrl? Me honey, me.
Clairo has clearly listened to a lot of early Liz Phair.
Question regarding the header photo: is Aubrey Plaza in Sleater-Kinney now?
Not sure my feeble brain would be able to handle that vortex of awesomeness.
Just discovered MorMor the other day and have had his ep’s on constant replay over the last few weeks… Same for another random itunes find, Yuno; breezy summer/night kinda music.Had playing on spotify while at my bakery: Garbage, Poe, Missy Elliott, Letters to Cleo, Sylvan Esso, Chance the Rapper, Lizzo.
Sleater-Kinney should be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, there I said it.
They just became eligible. I’ll vote for them if they get nominated.
Janet Weiss… best drummer in rock! (Well, joint with Brann Dailor).
I had a friend in high school tell me he didn’t like Sleater-Kinney because their drumming was weak. Later he called them a “lesbian band,” which is an ignorant insult tangentially at least tenuously connected to reality.
That’s crazy, except, I suppose, for the fact that JW didn’t drum on the first two records. Maybe it was in that era (not that I think the drumming was weak then, but Janet Weiss is a phenomenal musician.) As for the insult… well, high school students do say dumb things. I imagine he’s grown a bit since then.
This was post Hot Rock, so Weiss was firmly in the drummer’s seat. Dude was just being a dick. Last I heard he was a tourguide on one of those boat tours of the Chicago River. So maybe that’s growth?
Also the new Denzel Curry album ZUU is incredible
Riot grrrandma