Jan 15, 2021 By Mark Redfern (with Joey Arnone) Middle Kids

Welcome to the second Songs of the Week of 2021. It was a little less trying than last week, but Donald Trump did earn the dubious honor of being the first ever president to be impeached twice. It was a fantastic week for new songs; after a slow week last week with only a Top 6, this week we present double the songs with a Top 12.

Jan 15, 2021 By Mark Redfern Baio

Baio (Vampire Weekend’s Chris Baio) is releasing his third solo album, Dead Hand Control, on January 29 via Glassnote. Now he has shared two new songs from the album: title track “Dead Hand Control” and “Take It from Me.”

Jan 15, 2021 By Mark Redfern Bartees Strange

So, 2020 was quite an uneventful year wasn’t it? Nothing much of note happened. It was pretty boring. But at least there were some decent records to liven things up. This is the intro to our Best Albums of 2020 list I wish I could be writing.

Jan 15, 2021 By Caleb Campbell Number One Popstar

Kate Hollowell certainly hates running just as much as most of us do. More than that though, she hates the diet culture and exercise industry that circles around the pastime. So for her second single under the moniker Number One Popstar, she’s making a pop anthem for everyone who has already quit their New Year’s resolution.

Jan 15, 2021 By Mark Redfern Shame

British post-punk five-piece Shame have released a new album, Drunk Tank Pink, today via Dead Oceans. Now that the album’s out you can stream the whole thing here. Also, today we posted our review of Drunk Tank Pink.

Jan 15, 2021 By Caleb Campbell World’s First Cinema

LA-based duo, World’s First Cinema have released their newest single, “Cold Sets In,” the latest track from their forthcoming debut EP. Fil Thorpe is best known for his time as a founding member of Neck Deep, but he left the band and relocated to LA in 2019 to focus on production work. After joining up with John Sinclair, a.k.a. Saint Claire, the duo inaugurated their new band, World’s First Cinema, based around an eccentric new approach to pop music, inspired by “the glittering fanfare of fantasy novels.”

Jan 15, 2021 By Mark Redfern Sleaford Mods

English electronic punk duo, Sleaford Mods (Jason Williamson and Andrew Fearn) have released a new album, Spare Ribs, today via Rough Trade. Now that the album’s out you can stream the whole thing here.

Jan 15, 2021 By Christopher Roberts Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever

Melbourne, Australia five-piece Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever released a new album, Sideways to New Italy, last year via Sub Pop. Now they have shared a video for the album’s “The Only One.” Mike Ridley directed the video, which features Pie Man, a man with a giant pie for a face, as he wanders around suburban Melbourne and encounters the band.

Jan 15, 2021 By Christopher Roberts James Yorkston

James Yorkston is releasing a new album with James Yorkston and The Second Hand Orchestra, The Wide, Wide River, on January 22 via Domino. Now the group have shared another song from the album, “There Is No Upside,” via an animated video for the track.