From Belle and Sebastian to Muse, here is everything you should be listening to this week.
New Albums:
Belle and Sebastian – How to Solve Our Human Problems Pt. 1-3
The veteran Glasgow indie pop group’s latest, its 10th overall studio release comes in the form of a trio of EPs. This will mark its first studio release after 2015’s Girls In Peacetime Want To Dance. It comes twenty-two years after their breakout album If You’re Feeling Sinister, proving that they are going to stick around for a while.
Wild Beasts – Last Night All My Dreams Came True
On September 25th 2017, the English art-pop group Wild Beasts decided to disband, which was greeted as a shock to many long time fans. Since then, it has released an EP, Punk Drunk and Trembling, as one of the two parting gifts to the fans. Last Night All My Dreams Came True marks its final effort, a 13 song live set of their recent songs as well as its back catalogue. A raw, visceral end to its career.
Car Seat Headrest – Twin Fantasy (Face to Face)
The juggernaut that is Car Seat Headrest released its eleventh studio album in only the eighth year of its music career. This is a complete re-recording and reworking of their sixth album, Twin Fantasy, which was released in 2011 and amassed a cult following. Smash Mouth, who recently endorsed by the band, features on the album. Smash Mouth took on Car Seat Headrest’s Teens Of Style track “Something Soon,” while Will Toledo recorded a rendition of Astro Lounge’s “Fallen Horses.”
New Singles:
Courtney Barnett – ‘Nameless, Faceless’
On the heels of a much awaited collaborative album and a subsequent tour with Kurt Vile, Barnett has dropped a new single, ‘Nameless, Faceless’ while announcing her upcoming album titled Tell Me How You Really Feel. This is a more laidback, mid-tempo effort with a more explosive chorus while paraphrasing a famous Margaret Atwood quote.
Muse – ‘Thought Contagion’
Continuing on a newly found cyber-punk route as seen in the earlier song, ‘Dig Down’, Muse has released a new single, ‘Thought Contagion’. Providing an ominous background vocal, along with spooky synth, this is reminiscent of Rob Zombie’s effort. This acts as a precursor to the English alt –rockers’ yet-untitled eighth album.
Frank Ocean – ‘Moon River’
Following a pattern of releasing new material slowly after his second studio album Blonde, this is a cover The Academy Award-winning classic song from Breakfast at Tiffany’s, sung by Audrey Hepburn. It lends a distinct flavor to the song, with overlapping, layered vocals interwoven in the song. After a busy 2017 that saw Frank Ocean drop singles like ‘Lens’, ‘RAF’ featuring ASAP Rocky and Quavo, and (most recently) ‘Provider’, the R&B crooner cryptically promised that “If you liked 2017, you’ll love 2018.”
