Pop & Indie:
CONCERT: 11/24- Carter Vail @ Space Ballroom
“Tastes Like Shit” by Bizzy may be one of my new favorite songs. She sings about how karma sucks when it comes back around to you. She used multiple guys and then got used and realized how terrible her own actions felt. The beat and general vibe of this song is so catchy. It will definitely be on repeat for me.
Ricky Montgomery’s song “Superfan” was recommended to me by MollyAnn. This song isn’t my usual vibe but I enjoyed it. I think he has a great voice. I love all the celebrity namedrops in this song, my favorite is definitely Taylor Swift because he says the Swifties would go after him and that is so accurate. I really enjoyed this song and I think it’s fun to find all the mentions of celebrities and fandoms.
Kelsea Ballerini released her latest album “Patterns” and it’s everything I wanted it to be and more. This album is heavier on the country side of pop-country but certain songs would still be loved by those more interested in pop. Ballerini went through a divorce two years ago and some of these songs reflect on that rough time. She talks about how she has changed and the patterns both good and bad that she has. Some of the songs are sad but others are empowering and I think this album is an incredible example of growth. I really love this album and I can’t wait to see her perform it live this Tuesday at Madison Square Garden!
Halsey’s new song “Panic Attack” is great. She relates the feelings of love to symptoms of a panic attack. I honestly didn’t expect this song when I read the title and it’s almost impossible to explain but it’s really good. I definitely recommend giving this one a listen.
There is a new remix of Paramore’s “Still Into You” by CYRIL and maryjo. I’m loving the remixes lately. I really liked this reimagination of a well-known song. This would be perfect on a playlist for getting ready and hyped up.
Punk & Alternative:
CONCERT: 12/11 – Cheem @ Space Ballroom
It has been an exciting couple of months for ‘80s New Wave fans, with two singles released by The Cure, and now with a new album from Tears For Fears. “Songs For A Nervous Planet” was released on October 25, 2024. The album features four new tracks and 18 live tracks. While sonically different than the band’s most popular tracks, the four new songs have resonated with fans, whose only complaints are that the band should have released the four tracks as an EP and the fact that AI was utilized in the cover artwork. The four new tracks are a stark contrast from the band’s previous music, this album being the band’s first new music since 2022 when they released “The Tipping Point.” Prior to that, their last studio album was released in 2004.
Another new Linkin Park single this week! Released on October 24, 2024, “Over Each Other” is the third single to be released from Linkin Park’s new upcoming album, “From Zero.” The fifth track on the album, “Over Each Other” is probably my second favorite of the three singles, only topped by “The Emptiness Machine.” It leans more melodic than the previous two singles, almost landing in pop-rock territory, which I don’t hate. I’ve said in the past that I was excited to hear what the band’s newest vocalist had to offer, and so far, she hasn’t disappointed me. The band’s new sound is certainly different than when led by Chester Bennington, but ultimately, I don’t think Emily Armstrong’s addition is for the worse.
‘80s Alt-Rock band The Pixies released a new album on October 25, 2024, titled “The Night The Zombies Came.” The band was formed in Boston, Massachusets in 1986 by Black Francis, Joey Santiago, Kim Deal, and David Lovering, before breaking up in 1993. Following the band’s reunion 11 years later in 2004, they grew even more popular, with fans drawn in by the band’s “loud-quiet-loud” sound. Unsurprising, considering that The Pixies inspired artists like Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Weezer, The Strokes, and Radiohead. Fan reactions to the album have been mixed, with some calling it “as mediocre as ever,” and some calling it the band’s “best post-reunion album.”
Folk & Country
CONCERT: 11/19/24 – The Steel Wheels @ Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center
On October 25th, Gigi Perez released her new single, “Fable”. Perez first made waves in July with “Sailor Song”, and “Fable” seems poised to receive a similar response. Known for her distinctive vocals and melancholic instrumentals, Perez delves into themes of love, religion, and the afterlife in this latest track. “Fable” is dedicated to her late sister, with her youngest sister contributing backing vocals. While Perez leans toward the alt-folk genre, her artful songwriting makes her one to watch. In my opinion, she’s already one of the best songwriters of our generation – a bold claim, especially with only four songs out so far.
Willie Nelson released a rendition of Beck’s “Lost Cause” on October 25 and it is truly one of the most interesting renditions of a song I have heard in a long time. The song is almost unrecognizable, with the slow acoustic singing of Nelson paired with a string quartet and an essence of dread. Nelson’s take on “Lost Cause” is reminiscent of Johnny Cash’s powerful cover of “Hurt” by Nine Inch Nails and joins the small club of covers better than the original. Willie Nelson brings a new perspective to the breakup ballad and leaves his own distinctive mark on the song. “Lost Cause” will appear on his upcoming album Last Leaf on the Tree, set for release on November 1.
The Oak Ridge Boys, famous for their iconic song “Elvira”, have just released a new album. On October 25, they introduced Mama’s Boys, a ten-song collection that stays true to their signature sound. This heartfelt album is a tribute to mothers everywhere. The song “Her Voice” honors the lullabies their mothers used to sing to them at night, while the title track, “Mama’s Boys,” is a standout favorite. With its sweet and easy-listening vibe, Mama’s Boys is an amazing album that’s definitely worth a listen.
Hip-Hop & R&B
CONCERT: 12/7 – El Alfa @ Total Mortgage Arena
I don’t think it’s an exaggeration in the slightest to call “SWORD” the most impactful hip-hop song to come out this year. This duo of NARCY, an up-and-coming Iraqi rapper, and redveil, a young, yet established, producer and artist ended up being a match made in heaven. This song was actually debuted by redveil’s as the finale of his Camp Flog Gnaw set a little less than a year ago. Behind him was a video wall displaying hundreds of names of Palestinian children who had died in Gaza since October 7. The beautiful string and choral instrumental of the song was the backtrack to redveil’s calls to go to Ceasefiretoday.com and to call political representatives. He ended an already fantastic festival set with a resounding message to free Palestine. The full song itself is an incredibly powerful statement, with lyrics like, “You churn our babies bones down then you sell them to Exxon / a martyr’s breath spray the musk assassinate Elon.” The music video that the song released alongside was very well put together too, showing the lives of a father and his daughter after the destruction of their home. At least according to the duo, the issue is pretty cut and dry in their eyes. In redveil’s own words at Camp Flog Gnaw, “It’s not complicated. Don’t let anybody tell you that shit.”
Perry Maysun’s “roll with the punches” is another incredibly emotional song but for more individual reasons. Maysun has detailed two intertwined journies on his 200k+ follower TikTok account. The first is his budding music career, but the other is how he’s dealt with his cancer diagnosis he received last February. It’s been incredibly inspiring to me to see both how his music has evolved, and how Maysun has changed as a person amidst his treatment. Fortunately, just a few days ago he rang the bell announcing his cancer was in remission, and just a day later he released “roll with the punches.” On his TikTok Maysun said that it’s the most painful song he’s ever released, and was crying while recording. The somber yet simple piano beat is magnificent, and his old-school flow brings the whole experience together. It’s an experience you can only get by actually listening to the song, which I literally can’t recommend enough.
While this song is a remix of a song I’ve mentioned previously (in the September 23 weekly, off of The Alchemist’s Genuine Articulate), I feel like I need to give it its own paragraph this week. It shouldn’t be a shock that The Alchemist’s song has the best beat on this list, but the other guys this time around really put up a fight. “Ferraris in The Rain Part 2” features the same fantastic wailing saxophones, a full horns section, and shimmering synths, with some real kit drums. The Alchemist’s chop of this intense jazz sample is a mastery of hip-hop production. Freddie Gibbs is one of my favorite rappers in the game right now, and his recent work with The Alchemist has been unparalleled. This verse has some top-notch wordplay and a great flow. ScHoolboy Q has been working with The Alchemist for over a decade, and you can tell how comfortable he is on beats like these. His chorus is fine, but I’d say it’s also worth checking out his verse in the original version of this song too.
Saba and No ID’s collab tape is right around the corner, and their new single, “How to Impress God” is getting me very excited. No ID has been known to mentor Chicago’s greatest rappers like Kanye West and Common, and his drum-heavy beats mix well with Saba’s rapping style in my opinion. The way the beat builds is cool too, adding a menacing 808 in the second chorus. Saba’s rhyme schemes on this song are something to behold too, which has always been one of my favorite aspects of his style. I will definitely be keeping a close eye out for their album, but if you need something to hold you over, I also reviewed their song “head.rap” when it came out in April.
