Newer Music:
Clairo : Sling
Given the enormous success of her 2019 breakout indie electropop album Immunity, and the ubiquitous play of catchy singles Bags and Softly (299 million Spotify streams!), one might have expected that Clairo’s next move would be a similar pop-forward record to take her career to the obvious next step toward greater mainstream popularity. Instead, Claire Cottrill pleasantly surprises with a refreshing, mature record full of understated, substantial, beautiful songs.
Previous LP Immunity, produced by former Vampire Weekend member Rostam, featured the trademark sound and instrumentation of its producer. Clairo produced Sling alongside megaproducer Jack Antonoff, whose influence is certainly felt throughout the record. In particular, several tracks feature warm instrumentation that recalls St. Vincent’s Daddy’s Home record from earlier this year, also produced by Antonoff. Clairo fans hoping for her to make the leap to superstardom will likely be disappointed (at least for now), but it was a bold and commendable choice for her to follow the path of Weyes Blood and Annie Clark, rather than Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo.
Standout Tracks: Reaper; Blouse; Amoeba; Partridge; Harbor
Twin Shadow : Twin Shadow
George Lewis, Jr’s Twin Shadow project has come full circle. 2010 debut record Confess and 2012 sophomore record Forget saw Twin Shadow breakthrough from unknown to indie music darling within just a few years. Subsequently signed to major label Warner, his next two albums (Eclipse in 2015 and Caer in 2018) struggled to maintain the same buzzy momentum and failed to meet label expectations, despite still featuring much worthwhile, rewarding music. Since then, Lewis Jr. has retreated to a more low-key career approach by starting his own label and shifting to more of the R&B and soul sound from his Dominican upbringing. His new self-titled record featuring this fun Dominican Dancehall sound is unlikely to expand his audience but is hopefully very satisfying for him from an artistic standpoint.
I will always be a Twin Shadow fan for two reasons: First, my friends and I enjoyed an epic Twin Shadow performance during a Lollapalooza aftershow in 2012. His solo acoustic version of his brilliant song The One remains a very memorable performance for all of us. The other reason is that I ran into him at a Spiritualized concert in LA back at his peak popularity and he was extremely approachable and cool—and he clearly has good taste in music. I am always happy to support the nice underdogs of indie music.
Standout Tracks: Sugarcane; I Wanna Be Here; Johnny and Jonnie; LoneStar; Is There Any Love
Small Black : Cheap Dreams
Brooklyn-based indie-pop band Small Black returned earlier this year with their first new album since 2015. Their latest record Cheap Dreams is their first on the 100% Electronica label after putting out their first three full-length LPs and two EPs on prominent indie label Jagjaguwar. Their 2013 album Limits of Desire is their most well-known album and features their most prominent track No Stranger, but Cheap Dreams could very well be their strongest overall record.
Because Small Black toured with Washed Out back in 2010, they have often been included as part of the chillwave genre. However, a likely more appropriate descriptor for the band is synthwave, as they have cited 80s new wave synth pioneers OMD and Human League as some of their primary influences. I feel like Small Black and this new record have really flown below the radar this year, which is too bad because Cheap Dreams deserves to be heard and appreciated alongside their earlier output.
Standout Tracks: Postcard; Duplex; Tampa; Driftwood Fire; The Bridge
Hiatus Kaiyote : Mood Valiant
I always enjoy developing an appreciation for a new (at least to me) band, especially from music genres I don’t normally listen to. On very first listen of their new record Mood Valiant, I was won over by the Australian soul and funk outfit Haitus Kaiyote. It’s been great to go back to explore their first two excellent records and I’ve kicked myself for not finding them sooner. Lead singer Nai Palm has a great voice and the rest of the band produce some of my favorite funky soul music in recent memory. I am hoping they join forces with fellow Australian Genesis Owusu (and another recent discovery of mine) and come tour America sometime!
Standout Tracks: Red Room; Get Sun; And We Go Gentle; Sparkle Tape Break-up; Chivalry Is Not Dead
Throwback Selection:
Wilco and Billy Bragg : Mermaid Avenue Vol. 1
This selection is in honor of the great show Wilco played last night at Red Butte Gardens. Wilco, revered as elder statesmen of the alternative music scene, have now been around 27 years, and with their current six-piece lineup since 2004. Appropriate for a band with such a robust catalog, last night’s set featured tracks from 10 different Wilco records. The final track played last night was fan-favorite California Stars from the album Mermaid Avenue Vol. 1, the first of the two records Wilco recorded in collaboration with British artist Billy Bragg as a tribute to Woody Guthrie.
In 1995, the daughter of Guthrie approached Billy Bragg about putting lyrics written by Guthrie to music. Bragg enlisted Wilco to help with the project and they set off recording songs with original compositions and Guthrie’s lyrics. The initial result was the Mermaid Avenue Vol. 1 record released in 1998, eventually to be followed by a Volume Two in 2000. The whole project was pretty inspired and the obvious high point is California Stars, the perfect marriage of Guthrie’s earnest dreamer lyrics and Wilco’s most accessible and charming americana melody, vocals, and instrumentation.
Standout Tracks: California Stars; Way Over Yonder In a Minor Key; Ingrid Bergman; One By One; Walt Whitman’s Niece
More Related Music You Should Also Check Out: Weyes Blood : Titanic Rising; Washed Out : Within and Without; OMD : Architecture and Morality; Human League : Dare!; Spiritualized : Sweet Heart Sweet Light
