Punk & Alternative

This week was an exciting one for rock and metal listeners alike. UK based metal band Architects have released their first single of 2024, “Curse” and are undoubtedly going to debut this song live at their upcoming North American tour beginning in May. Another European band, Bleed From Within, just released “A Fool’s Parade,” are soon to come to the United States, and will tear up stages with their new song too! Fan of I Prevail and Nothing More? Today’s your lucky day because they just collaborated on a track called “House On Sand” where I Prevail’s Eric Vanlerberghe was featured on a brand new single from Nothing More’s unreleased album Carnal, coming out on June 28th! Also happening in June is the nostalgic return of The Warped Tour Band to Toad’s Place on June 8th. Some more new songs this week included ERRA’s new 12-track album Cure and Patient Sixty-Seven’s 6-track EP What If It Never Gets Better. No shortage of rippers this week! 

Hip-Hop + R&B

“Show of Hands” is my favorite song off of the brand new Future and Metro Boomin tape, “We Still Don’t Trust You”. The Rocky feature is a great one, and he does a good job of trading on and off with future. As a huge A$AP Rocky fan I’ve been waiting for him to get active in the music making department for years at this point. The beat feels ominous with the wacky addition of a harpsichord, but it ends up as a super cool product.

Midwxst moves away from his typical trap style that he’s known for and instead opts for a song that’s more rnb. I would’ve never pinned him to do a song with DC The Don of all artists, but their chemistry on this one was surprisingly great. I can picture myself putting this one on during a late night drive this summer.

I was only a bit familiar with PARTYNEXTDOOR’s music before giving his most recent single a listen, and I was definitely impressed. He falls more RnB, but the production he uses on this song pushes the envelope in my opinion. There’s a section with some string swells at the end that was my favorite part of the song.

I have no idea how “DBZ” is flying so under the radar. To start, I’m not sure Madlib has ever made a bad beat in his entire career, and this one is just superb. All the rappers on here deliver incredible verses too. I had never heard of Old Droog before stumbling across this song, and I’m glad my ignorance didn’t get the best of me. He had witty bars and deep cut references that I really appreciated. Method Man and Denzel’s quality should go without saying. It’s a perfect song through and through.

“Forgot We Were Seeds” reminds me a ton of A Tribe Called Quest. The beat from TOBi has a super cool bassline that feels very ’90s, and Mick Jenkins’ rapping ability is no joke. The Chicago native lets it loose on this one with bars about breaking free from oppression. I hope to see these artists collab again soon.

Pop & Indie

This week’s new pop and indie tracks all encapsulate different moods. Dua Lipa’s “Illusion” is a shimmering pop anthem that has already been stuck in my head for days. The track follows her signature pop style making you “dance all night,” like what the chorus says. Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” is like a shot of pure energy. This upbeat track is a fun and sassy exploration of new love. Girl in red’s “I’m Back” is an calm yet angsty and raw anthem. She explores a new softer voice within this track as well as in her newly released album as a whole. One of the best surprises of the year was ZAYN’s venture back into the music space. With his latest single, “Alienated,” ZAYN showcases his signature smooth vocals in a moody and atmospheric track. He seems to be leaning into a more acoustic style, something that differs from much of the pop style songs he’s released in the past. BETWEEN FRIENDS’ “Drive Over Me” is a very experimental pop style song, exploring different sounds and vocal styles that come together perfectly. The song radiates an overall excited vibe. Along with these new songs, check out Wallows playing Madison Square Garden August 23!

Folk & Country

This week in country we have a new Sam Hunt EP Locked up, which has 4 tracks that have a modern upbeat country vibe and are perfect for your summer 2024 playlist! Chayce Beckham’s new album Bad For Me has a lucky number of thirteen tracks that detail his personal addictions and vices. Nate Smith serves up a varied and sometimes surprising collection with Through the Smoke, the follow-up to the California-born singer-songwriter’s 2023 full-length self-titled debut. Townie, released by X Ambassadors, is unexpectedly nostalgic, and the album details lead singer Sam Nelson Harris’ experience growing up alongside his brother and bandmate Casey in Ithaca, New York. Lastly, Country by Medium Build is an alternative folk album that is sure to tug on your heart strings with its acoustic melodies and vocals.

This year’s Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance will be held in upstate New York, near Ithaca. The festival will take place on the weekend of July 18th and will feature Donna The Buffalo, Mavis Staples and Driftwood.