Newer Music:

DARKSIDE :  Spiral

The prolific Chilean-American DJ and electronic artist Nicolas Jaar and his long-time collaborator Dave Harrington returned this year with the long-awaited second album from their DARKSIDE project. Jaar is one of the busiest and most interesting electronic musicians and producers operating today. He released THREE albums in 2020: Cenizas and Telas under his own name; and then the fantastic 2017-2019 LP under his Against All Logic project. 

Jaar and Harrington reportedly met as students at Brown University around 2011 when Jaar was looking to put together a live band to tour his debut solo record Space Is Only Noise from the same year. They put out their self-titled debut EP later that year. Their critically-acclaimed debut full LP Psychic was released in 2013 before they decided to put the project on hiatus the following year. 

Jaar and Harrington started recording sessions for this new record Spiral back in 2018. The resulting album was well worth the wait—the first lead singles Liberty Bell and The Limit are two of the strongest, most accessible electronic tracks released in the past year.

Standout Tracks: Liberty Bell; The Limit; I’m The Echo; Lawmaker; Only Young

Wavves :  Hideaway

Southern California indie punkpop band Wavves returned last month with their 7th record entitled Hideaway. Nathan Williams’ band started off in the late 00s as a buzzy slacker band with a catchy, lo-fi scuzzy sound. Remnants of that past remain on album opener Thru Hell and title track Hideaway. Elsewhere, it feels like Wavves and veteran indie rock producer Dave Sitek made a genuine effort to explore greater genre diversity. Lead singles and album highlights Sinking Feeling and Help Is On The Way are polished and melodic straightforward indie rock, while The Blame enjoys an old-school outlaw country structure and sound. Hideaway is a fun, likable record and one can easily imagine Williams and band having a great time touring this new material along with their ragged, rambunctious earlier material. I saw Wavves in those wild early days and I hope to see a display of their progression a decade or so later into their career.

Standout Tracks: Sinking Feeling; Help Is On The Way; Hideaway; The Blame; Thru Hell

Leon Bridges :  Gold-Diggers Sound

Texas soul singer/songwriter Leon Bridges remains an exciting artist who impresses with greater skill and versatility with every project. Bridges absolutely exploded onto the music scene in 2015 with the popularity of his amazing debut retro soul masterpiece Coming Home. One of the biggest crowds at Lollapalooza in 2015 was Bridges afternoon set that had clearly been scheduled before he had become an overnight sensation. There was a palpable buzz that we were about to witness something special and Bridges delivered a stunning performance.

Successful sophomore album Good Thing arrived in 2018 to solid acclaim and popularity even though it was always going to struggle to reach the heights of the classic previous record. Bridges demonstrated his willingness to broaden his sound, and showed that his talent was going to be durable, by next entering the studio with fellow Texans Khruangbin to record the Texas Sun EP and its beautiful title track.  

Leon approached his new record Gold-Diggers Sound with a new concept in mind. Bridges enlisted a handful of big name collaborators such as Robert Glasper and Terrace Martin to work on the record at Gold-Diggers Sound, an East Los Angeles studio and hotel where Bridges and crew could record at all hours and channel that nighttime energy into more of a modern soul and R&B sound (with some jazz elements thrown in for good measure). The resulting album showcases an entirely new, different sound for Bridges and it suits him well. Another Leon Bridges and Khruangbin EP is on the horizon and very welcome, but one would not be surprised to see future solo Leon records feature more of this contemporary sound rather than a return to the retro approach.

Standout Tracks: Motorbike; Steam; Sho Nuff; Born Again (Featuring Robert Glasper); Sweeter (Featuring Terrace Martin)

Durand Jones and the Indications : Private Space

I finally surrendered to the guilty pleasures of the new record by lovable R & B and soul revivalists Durand Jones and Indications. Upon hearing that this was the band’s “disco” record, I snobbishly put off giving the record a proper listen. Shame on me for not immediately accepting that I was going to eventually give in to the record’s charms sooner or later. I dare anyone who has ever enjoyed a Motown Monday at the Five Spot in East Nashville to listen to lead single Witchoo and not come away itching for some fun.

Private Space is the third record by the band on hot indie label Dead Oceans. As advertised, the album does feature a funkier and more “disco” sound; however, there are more than ample servings of the delicious trademark Jones soulful vocals and classic r&b and soul sound one expects to savor from a Durand Jones and the Indications offering. Aaron Frazer, the Indications member who released his own brilliant solo record in January, provides more great falsetto vocals throughout. Undoubtedly, Private Space will soundtrack many a lively gathering in the coming months.

Standout Tracks: Witchoo; Love Will Work It Out; The Way That I Do; Private Space; Ride or Die; 

Throwback Selection: 

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds : Back the Way We Came (Greatest Hits Volume One 2011-2021)

I will always have an affinity for just about anything that either Gallagher brother touches. This compilation of highlights from the first decade of Noel’s solo career is a fantastic listen and a testament to the enduring songwriting genius of the elder, smarter, and more stubborn of the Gallagher brothers.

There are many worthy selections on this compilation, but I have always been most susceptible to an earnest Noel power ballad, so my favorites are probably If I Had A Gun… and Lock All The Doors. Noel continues to churn out some surprisingly catchy upbeat tracks as well, including brand new track Flying On The Ground. Unknown to many fans, acoustic gem Dead In the Water is another absolute highlight. As much as I appreciate Gallagher solo exploits, I’d still strongly consider donating a non-essential organ to see an Oasis reunion show.

Standout Tracks: If I Had A Gun…; Lock All The Doors; In The Heat of the Moment; Dead On The Water (Live); Flying On The Ground

More Related Music You Should Also Check Out: Against All Logic: 2017-2019; Best Coast: Crazy For You; Khruangbin: Live at Lincoln Hall; Oasis: Be Here Now