Newer Music:

The Avalanches : We Will Always Love You

How do you attempt to keep the attention of music fans in these days of streaming services, TikTok,
and ever-shortening attention spans? For the Australian electronic duo, The Avalanches, the answer
appears to be to try to fit as many genres, music samples, and guest collaborators into an album as
possible. The results are the brilliant new record We Will Always Love You, perhaps their strongest
work to date.

The brilliance of their groundbreaking 2000 debut Since I Left You was centered primarily on the
expert use of perfectly curated samples. Strong 2016 sophomore release Wildflower melded the
sample work with a handful of featured guests. With We Will Always Love You, they have doubled
down on the approach Damon Albarn has mastered with his Gorillaz project—utilizing a staggering
collection of perfectly deployed guest contributions from across the music genre spectrum to craft an
album full of catchy pop earworms. The eclectic contributor list includes Johnny Marr, Jamie XX,
Rivers Cuomo, Kurt Vile, Leon Bridges, Blood Orange, and Neneh Cherry.

This fantastic record deserved to be a part of many more year-end best-of lists than it was due to its
December release date. I’d only had this full record in hand for just a few weeks, but felt compelled
to include it in my personal top ten list of favorite albums from last year. I’d recommend that listeners
exercise their attention spans by consuming this rewarding 25-track, 71-minute work in one
continuous sitting. You can do it, I promise!

Standout Tracks: Interstellar Love (w/ Leon Bridges); The Divine Chord (w/ Johnny Marr); Running
Red Lights (w/ Rivers Cuomo); We Will Always Love You (w/ Blood Orange); Born To Lose;
Wherever You Go (w/ Jamie XX)

Burial, Four Tet, Thom Yorke: Her Revolution/His Rope

Radiohead is my favorite band of all time, so Thom Yorke’s involvement in any project will get my
attention. Moreover, a new collaboration between Thom Yorke and genius music producers Burial
and Four Tet demands that I drop everything to seek out the results of that union as soon as
possible. This supergroup released these two tracks in early December and they don’t disappoint.
Moody, beguiling electronic sounds for the music snobs.

Standout Tracks: Her Revolution; His Rope

Shame : Drunk Tank Pink

Sometimes I just need to return to the comforting formula of a four or five piece indie rock band,
preferably British, playing three-minute punky songs featuring loud, aggressive guitar and spouting
brash nonsense. This sophomore record Drunk Tank Pink expands nicely on the promise of their
critically acclaimed 2018 debut Songs of Praise.

Standout Tracks: Alphabet; Nigel Hitter; March Day; Water in the Well; Snow Day

Sleaford Mods : Spare Ribs

The music blog Brooklyn Vegan describes Sleaford Mods as “creative swearing-in thick English accents
over minimal, punky beats” and I honestly don’t know if there is a better description. New record Spare
Ribs continues that successful approach with mostly positive results. A little bit of Sleaford Mods can go
a long way, but I always feel like I’ve been transported to some gritty neighborhood in London or
Manchester when I listen to these records. A little escapism is good every once in a while, right?
Standout Tracks: Mork n Mindy; Nudge It; Spare Ribs; Top Room; I Don’t Rate You

Throwback Selection of The Week:

The White Stripes : The White Stripes Greatest Hits

Last month, Third Man Records and Jack White put out an exhilarating greatest hits compilation
displaying the white-hot brilliance of the over-much-too-soon career of The White Stripes. In addition
to the standard 2-LP indie record store version, Third Man Records put out a gorgeous 3-LP
exclusive version as part of their subscription Vault club. I was surprisingly giddy as I blasted this at
excessive volume and was reminded just how much Jack and Meg dominated the 00s. Most of it
sounds just as powerful and raw and dominant as it did on release. Icky Thump is an even more
powerful, prescient statement song in 2021.

Standout Tracks: Icky Thump; Seven Nation Army; My Doorbell; Ball and Biscuit; Hotel Yorba; Dead
Leaves and the Dirty Ground; The Hardest Button To Button; Fell In Love With A Girl

More Related Music You Should Also Check Out:

Gorillaz: Songbook, Volume One; Burial : Untrue; Four Tet : Morning/Evening; Viagra Boys : Welfare Jazz