Worriers are a band from Brooklyn, New York, centered around the songwriting talents of Lauren Denitzio, with the help of friends Mikey Erg, Nick Psillas, and more. They released their 2nd LP Survival Pop with SideOneDummy Records and have toured with John K Samson, Against Me!, Julien Baker, Anti Flag, and more.
Worriers’ debut album “Imaginary Life” was produced by Laura Jane Grace of Against Me!, My first introduction to Worriers, I’m hooked on their hooks!
Worriers have done something rare: made a big rock record with subtle melodies that continue to flourish over time. It’s a beautiful, fun record.
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All songs written by Lauren Denitzio (BMI)
On this record, Worriers is: Lauren Denitzio – vocals, guitar, keys Mikey Erg – drums Nick Psillas – bass Frank Piegaro – guitar
Blondie will release a new EP and concert film, “Blondie: Vivir En La Habana”, both centering around the band’s 2019 debut performance in Cuba. The film will premiere in June at the Sheffield Doc/Fest, and the EP will follow on July 16th.
In 2019, Blondie were invited to perform in Havana as part of a four-day cultural exchange event through the Cuban Ministry of Culture. It was the group’s first time playing in the country, and, ahead of the trip, drummer Clem Burke noted they were eager to make the most of their time there.
“We’re hoping to try to sort of semi-integrate ourselves into the community and maybe do some performances and jamming prior to the official concerts for the local community,” he told Rolling Stone magazine at the time. “I really don’t know what to expect other than there’s a common denominator when you’re playing music. If possible, maybe we’ll do a drum circle or some kind of musical communication, which is always a great field leveller.”
“Being from New York City, we were fortunate that it’s a melting pot of musical ideas, nationalities, ethnicities and cultures,” added singer Debbie Harry, noting that Latin and Caribbean music had always been a significant influence for the band. “It doesn’t seem so far-fetched that we would adopt some of those feelings into what we do.”
The documentary’s director, Rob Roth, immediately knew it was a one of a kind moment. “When this opportunity came up I could not imagine not documenting it,” he said in a statement “I knew it was going to be special somehow…we managed to pack in some really beautiful moments.”
“We had wonderful Cuban musicians join us for the performances – vocalists, percussionists, horn players … they added a terrific level of excitement to our songs, ” Harry said of the performances. “On ‘The Tide Is High’, Síntesis vocalists Ele Valdés and Maria del Carmen Avila sang with me and did the original harmonies that John Holt had put on the song; it was incredibly beautiful.”
In 2019, the legendary American rock band Blondie performed for the first time in Havana, Cuba as part of a cultural exchange through the Cuban Ministry of Culture. Directed by Rob Roth.
Black Midi are releasing a new album, “Cavalcade”, on May 28th via Rough Trade. Wednesday they shared another song from it, the somewhat jazzy “Chondromalacia Patella” via a Vilhjálmur Yngvi Hjálmarsson-directed video for it. The band have also announced some new U.S. tour dates that happen next March and April and a crazy Cavalcade Golden Ticket contest, with some astounding prizes if you’re a fan of the band.
According to a press release, “Chondromalacia Patella” is “about convalescence, aptly named after a band member’s knee injury from running.”
The Cavalcade Golden Ticket contest runs until October 28th. One golden ticket will be put in an LP in America and one will be put in an LP in the UK. There’s a chance of winning one of three prizes.
Firstly, “black midi will be the function band for an event of your choice,” meaning, we suppose, that they will perform at your wedding, your kid’s bar mitzvah, your birthday party, a gender reveal party, a prom, your retirement party, the opening of a new dry cleaners, etc.
Secondly, a lucky fan will get “one day in the studio with black midi for a creative collaboration.” Ever wanted to badly rap over a black midi song? Now’s your chance.
Finally, the band are giving away “guest list spots for two people for all future worldwide black midi headline live shows for 10 years.” So if you want to see every black midi headline show for the next decade and have the means to travel the world to get to them all (and have nothing else to do with your life whenever the band is on tour), this is the way to do it.
The two golden ticket winners get to pick which of the three prizes they’d like.
The band previously shared the song “John L” upon Cavalcade’s announcement, which was shared via an amazing video. Then they shared the album’s second track “Slow” also via a video
Their debut album, Schlagenheim, also came out in 2019 on Rough Trade, and made it to Best albums Of 2019.
After decades on the road and the never-ending hustle of life as an artist, Lou Barlow has tapped into a new confidence in the chaos. In 2021, the concept of balance feels particularly intimidating. Now more than ever, it’s clear life isn’t just levelling out a pair of responsibilities. Instead, we’re chasing after a flock of different ideals with a butterfly net. On Barlow’s new solo album, “Reason To Live”, he has come to an understanding of that swirl rather than trying to contain it. The multitude of whirring messages in Reason To Live are united by Barlow’s roiling multilayered arrangements and the understanding that change is inevitable–and that it can bring you a new reason to live in the darkest times. “This album is me really opening up, and the album follows that through its many different themes,” he says. “Some of my other work could be almost claustrophobic in its insistence on being all tied together but there’s space for people to live inside these songs.”
“In My Arms” by Lou Barlow off ‘Reason to Live’ out on Joyful Noise Recordings.
Two of the best contemporary singer/songwriter/guitarists, Angel Olsen and Sharon Van Etten, have teamed up for a brand new collaborative song, “Like I Used To” It was shared on Thursday via a video for the duet. John Congleton, who has worked with both artists before, produced the rousing anthem, which starts with vocals from Van Etten, before Olsen takes over and then they join forces, trading lines. To hear and see both of them singing together is quite chill-inducing. When I first heard this song a day before its public premiere.
The Track featuring Dave Hartley of The War On Drugs, Zac Rae of Death Cab For Cutie, and Griffin Goldsmith of Dawes as the backing band. It’s a gorgeous, glorious, soaring track with heart-rending harmonies and a touch of country flavour. Sharon and Angel sound as incredible together as you’d expect,
Kimberly Stuckwisch directed the accompanying video, which was shot in Los Angeles and Joshua Tree.
Olsen and Van Etten have long been mutual admirers, but have never collaborated together.
“Even though we weren’t super close, I always felt supported by Angel and considered her a peer in this weird world of touring,” says Van Etten in a press release. “We highway high-fived many times along the way…I finally got the courage in June of 2020 to reach out to see if she would want to sing together. I got greedy and quickly sent her a track I had been working on.”
“I’ve met with Sharon here and there throughout the years and have always felt too shy to ask her what she’s been up to or working on,” adds Olsen. “The song reminded me immediately of getting back to where I started, before music was expected of me, or much was expected of me, a time that remains pure and real in my heart.”
There’s no word yet as to whether or not this is a one-off single or part of a larger project.
Earlier this month, Olsen released a new box set, “Song Of The Lark And Other Far Memories” via Jagjaguwar recordings. The set features Olsen’s albums “All Mirrors” and “Whole New Mess” along with a bonus LP titled “Far Memory” and a 40-page book.
Last month, Van Etten released “Epic Ten” an anniversary reissue of her 2010 Epicalbum, via Ba Da Bing. It featured covers of the some of the album’s songs by notable artists, including Fiona Apple, Courtney Barnett and Vagabon,IDLES, and more. Van Etten’s most recent new album, “Remind Me Tomorrow”, came out in 2019 via JagjaguwarRecordings.
Eight years passes like nothing for Birds of Maya! Their fourth album kicks out the Philly jams with every bit as much fervor as their earlier releases — in fact, as it was recorded in 2014, it IS one of their earlier releases. They will sell no wine before its time.
Trading the crushed harmonics of their basement tapes for studio-grade mics, overdubs in the mix, and only slightly less-bruised melodies, Birds Of Maya’s roiling essence not only survives, but thrives, non-stop, on “Valdez” stuttering, screaming and stomping through six circuitous numbers. With their undulated and unfettered riffage mutated into raw power, The Birds project their sound to burst through the basement and spill into the streets. “Please Come In” is pulled from way back in early pre-Mayan consciousness, and well-suited for the Birds’ classic mottled and throttled, all-to-the-wall approach. A stormer tinged with 60s psych vibes, it has the feel of a perennial set-closer – because what could possibly come next?! Accompanied by a video filmed by Joe Burns and edited by Birds bassist/vocalist Jason Killinger, “Please Come In” presents a thrashin’, washed-out performance reminiscent of long lost Super 8 footage. Killer!
“Please Come In” is from “Valdez” released on LP & Streaming on June 25, 2021 by Drag City Records.
Split Single, the collective project of Chicago-based musician Jason Narducy (Bob Mould Band, Superchunk, Verbow) and this time featuring REM’s Mike Mills on bass and Jon Wurster (Superchunk, Bob Mould, The Mountain Goats) on drums — releases a new single/video, “95 Percent,” from their new album, “Amplificado”, out June 25th on Inside Outside Records. Following lead single “(Nothing You Can Do To) End This Love,” “95 Percent” is a punch of political frustrations and inner turmoil. The track closes with “whoa whoa whoa” gang vocals as if Superchunk went through a Springsteen phase. Watch the Grant Nickson-animated video.
“As a liberal person, I can get tripped up by my tendency towards empathy,” says Narducy. “Part of me wants to believe that politicians are earnest in their efforts to help all Americans even when I know they are not. So it can backfire when I get hesitant and confused but overall I think it’s positive because I never fully trust ANY of them. I’m 95 percent committed and 95 percent suspicious. I’m also not good at math.”
Recorded at Electrical Audio in Chicago, Amplificado is a tight collection of rock songs dealing with the anxiety of living through a chaotic and cruel Republican majority rule and under the limitations of a worldwide pandemic. The new album comes nearly five years after the release of Split Single’s 2016 album, Metal Frames, “a powerhouse pop record that prides itself on tenacious vocals and resolute rhythm guitar” (Stereogum) recorded with Wurster and Wilco’s John Sitrratt, and last year’s acclaimed, Jeff Award-nominated production of Verböten, a musical inspired by Narducy’s now-seminal childhood punk rock band of the same name. “Love this record,” says MikeMills. “So much fun playing and singing with Jason and Jon. And it ROCKS.”
“95 Percent” written and produced by Jason Narducy Performed by Jason Narducy, Mike Mills,Jon Wurster, and Dan Leu From the Split Single album “Amplificado“
2nd Grade are from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with members of Remember Sports, Free Cake For Every Creature, and Friendship, Peter Gill was writing his own music at a feverish pace. While working a casual summer gig, the musician self-recorded a series a demos under the mixtape Wish You Were Here Tour. Now following the success of 2nd Grade’s Hit To Hit debut album, the band is re-recording their demos.
2nd Grade has announced their Wish You Were Here Tour (Revisited) project with an updated recording of the wistful track “Favorite Song.” Clocking in at just under two minutes, the “Favorite Song” rerecording ups the production quality and boasts skittering guitars and crashing symbols. In a statement about the reissue project,
Gill said:“It amazes me on just how many levels ‘Favorite Song’ works, for a sub-2 minute song that practically wrote itself. It’s a total celebration of listening to music, my absolute favourite thing to do in this world. It’s an attempt to tell both sides of a sad misunderstanding. It’s proof of the John Ashbery quote about how proper nouns are the most descriptive words in the English language. Not least of all, it’s a carefully crafted piece in the tradition of ‘April Come She Will’ that nonetheless rejects such a tidy narrative. The stories we tell ourselves through pop music often fail to square up with the facts of our predicaments, but sometimes they can make us feel a whole lot better.”
Listen to “Favorite Song” the demo version
Deluxe reissue of the Sleeper Records 2018 release Wish You Were Here. Remastered, and featuring many reworked and rerecorded studio versions and a B-side from the debut album Hit to Hit.
Releases June 25th, 2021
PETER GILL: vocals, guitars, drums
CATHERINE DWYER: guitars, vocals PETER GILL: vocals WILL KENNEDY: drums JON SAMUELS: guitars JACK WASHBURN: bass, vocals
Wish You Were Here Tour (Revisited) is out 6/25 via Double Double Whammy.
As a member of both Wooden Shjips and Moon Duo, Portland warlock Ripley Johnson has a long history of making excellent way-out psychedelic rock. With Rose City Band, though, Johnson does something else. Despite its name, Rose City Band is almost entirely a solo project, with Johnson playing just about everything himself. On his two Rose City Band albums, Johnson has been making supremely chilled-out country-rock. It’s as stoner-friendly as the music that Johnson has made with Wooden Shjips and Moon Duo, but the vibe is all different. It’s soft, gentle sunlight-through-the-blinds music, and it’s really good.
Next month, Johnson will release the new Rose City Band album Earth Trip. Thus far, Johnson has shared two singles, “Lonely Places” and “Silver Roses” Both of them sound like Wilco covering Galaxie 500, which is a good thing.
Johnson has now shared the new track “Ramblin’ With The Day,” which eases even further into the mellow folk-rock blissout zone and which finds Johnson rhapsodizing about the feeling of dirt in his toes.
In a press release, Johnson says: I did a lot of looking back during 2020. This song came together after a mushroom trip where I laid in bed and listened to The Basement Tapes and Johnny Cash. It took me back to a place when I was younger and would ramble around the woods and fields with one of my oldest and dearest friends, taking psychedelics and generally having our young minds blown. I realized how direct the line is from those formative experiences to who I am now, and this song is an attempt to pay honour to that, and to that enduring friendship.
Ramblin’ With The Day released through Thrill Jockey Records Released on: 18th May 2021
Lana Del Rey has stated that she will release a new album, titled “Blue Banisters”, on July 4th. The announcement was made on social media with Del Rey sharing album artwork alongside the title and release date (see above). She previously shared an image of the album title.
Del Rey has released three new songs from her upcoming album the title track, ‘Text Book’, and ‘Wildflower Wildfire’. Del Rey has already released one album, her seventh record “Chemtrails Over The Country Club”, in 2020. She followed that album’s March release by stating that she would follow it up in June with an album titled Rock Candy Sweet. After previously announcing another new album, Rock Candy Sweet, due for release on June 1st (although not much else has been revealed about Rock Candy Sweet since).
Del Rey co-wrote “Blue Banisters” and “Text Book” with Gabriel Edward Simon. Simon produced “Blue Banisters” and co-produced “Text Book” with Zachary Dawes. Del Rey co-wrote “Wildflower Wildfire” with Mike Dean and he also produced the song.
Jack Antonoff produced Chemtrails over the Country Club. Its closing track, “For Free,” features guest vocals from Zella Day and Weyes Blood. That album was the follow-up to 2019’s acclaimed Norman Fucking Rockwell. In March she shared a video for the album’s opening track, “White Dress” .
Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey’s eighth studio album “Blue Banisters” follows the success of fellow 2021 effort Chemtrails Over The Country Club which became her seventh consecutive top-ten album in the US. The 15-track effort includes the previously released songs “Wildflower Wildfire”, “Blue Banisters”, and “Text Book” plus new single “Arcadia”.
Lana Del Rey is releasing a new album, “Blue Banisters” on July 4th via Interscope Recordings.
The Fat Angel Sings 