The urge to repost lyrics in lieu of a blurb? Strong. (In all caps, obviously.) Maybe italicised, maybe emboldened, undoubtedly justified. That’d require, though, some prior knowledge of the album, its melodies; and as much as I’d like it to be, this isn’t karaoke. (You might as well listen to the album; not a bad idea.) A case regardless:
Despite my unfortunate Australian identity, On the Impossible Past makes me feel American. A weird thing, I imagine; after all, I don’t feel Japanese driving my girlfrend’s Toyota, listening to Kero Kero Bonito. (Make a bounce playlist: start with Iggy, transition into KKB’s ‘Trampoline’. You won’t regret it, I promise.) It’s testament, though, to the impressive songwriting capacity of the band’s two frontmen, Greg Barnett and Tom May — their underwrought narratives, and the ease with which one relates to them. And though it’s far from the album’s best song (fans could debate this forever), nowhere is this better epitomised than on closer ‘Freedom Bridge’, a song that anthemises (with irony, of course) suicide, detailing in vignette-form the short lives of victims of the so-called American dream. It is, as far as I’m concerned, a perfect (pop) punk song, perfect in its capacity to make earnest and powerful a line that would…
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of April 10, 2020. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff and/or contributors.
– List of Releases: April 10, 2020 –
Active Child: In Another Life
Genre: Electronic/R&B
Label: Masterworks
Azusa: Loop of Yesterdays
Genre: Progressive/Thrash Metal
Label: Solid State
The Dream Syndicate: The Universe Inside
Genre: Psychedelic/Alt-Rock/Post-Punk
Label: Anti/Epitaph
Hamilton Leithauser: The Loves Of Your Life
Genre: Indie Pop
Label: Glassnote
Joe Satriani: Shapeshifting
Genre: Hard Rock/Jazz Fusion
Label: Legacy Recoridngs
Laura Marling: Song For Our Daughter
Genre: Indie Folk
Label: Chrysalis Records
Laurel Halo: Possessed
Genre: Ambient/Techno/Experimental
Label: The Vinyl Factory
Local H: Lifers
Genre: Grunge/Alt-Rock
Label: Antifragile Music
Maddie & Tae: The Way It Feels
Genre: Pop/Country
Label: Mercury Nashville
Midwife: Forever
Genre: Ambient/Shoegaze/Indie-Rock
Label: The Flenser
Nightwish: Hvman. :II: Natvre.
Genre: Power Metal/Classical/Gothic
Label: Nuclear Blast
Sparta: Trust The River
Genre: Post-Hardcore/Alt-Rock
Label: Dine Alone Music Inc.
Squarepusher: Lamental
Genre: IDM/Drum and Bass/Jazz
Label: Warp
The Strokes: The New Abnormal
Genre: Indie-Rock/Post-Punk/Alt-Rock
Label: RCA
lol owned u guys so hard. April fools! get rekt losers!!
Can’t give y’all the decade list just yet (altho expect it soon!). Instead, here’s the next best thing: the OFFICIAL Sputnikmusic Staff’s ranking of the Top 50 Songs of 2018!
Me and the boys have been working hard on refining this since November of ’18, arguing intently for months on end as to which song belongs where, whether some of us listen to too much K-pop, where robertsona’s blurbs are, and so on. Nonetheless, I assure you that the below ranking is as accurate as we can possibly get it and we hope you guys appreciate the work.
I’d note in advance for you that some of the blurbs may be a little dated at this point (but really, I feel like you guys won’t even notice). Anyway, much love from all of us, and stay safe out there (note: for most of you, “out there” should be inside)!
50. “Baby Pink” – Moe Shop
This one radiates good vibes, and idk I just feel like the next few years are gonna be smooth freakin’ sailing for everyone.
49. “The Joke” – Brandi Carlile
Just a funny song about crackin’ silly jokes with the fellas. This would actually be so fitting for a list published on April Fool’s day, but sadly this list will
I’m not sure what’s made 2020 crazier for me so far: all this coronavirus & social distancing, or the fact that I suddenly really dig both country and R&B. It’s a weird feeling listening to so much Honey Harper and Mac Miller, only to dive into Psychotic Waltz right after. You’ll find all kinds of variety on my Q1 Mixtape, which I hope will help you pass some isolation/self-quarantining time while also – maybe – discovering a new artist. Here’s 100 songs that stuck with me from January to March, in alphabetical order by artist name. I suggest you click ‘shuffle’ and let yourself get sucked into the weird, swirling genre vortex that is my current musical taste. Hope you enjoy.
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of April 3, 2020. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff and/or contributors.
– List of Releases: April 3, 2020 –
Ad Infinitum: Chapter I – Monarchy
Genre: Melodic Death Metal
Label: Napalm
All Time Low: Wake Up Sunshine
Genre: Pop Punk
Label: Fueled by Ramen
Anna Burch: If You’re Dreaming
Genre: Folk/Indie-Rock
Label: Polyvinyl
August Burns Red: Guardians
Genre: Metalcore/Progressive Metal
Label: Fearless
Born Ruffians: JUICE
Genre: Indie-Rock/Post-Punk
Label: Yep Roc
Ellis: Born Again
Genre: Indie-Folk/Pop
Label: Fat Possum
Emancipator: Mountain of Memory
Genre: Trip-Hop/Electronic/Downtempo
Label: Loci
Empress Of: I’m Your Empress Of
Genre: R&B/Electronic
Label: Terrible Records
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of March 27, 2020. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff and/or contributors.
– List of Releases: March 27, 2020 –
5 Seconds of Summer: Calm
Genre: Pop-Rock
Label: Interscope
Activity: Unmask Whoever
Genre: Electronic
Label: Western Vinyl
Basia Bulat: Are You In Love?
Genre: Indie-Pop/Folk
Label: Secret City Records
The Birthday Massacre: Diamonds
Genre: Alternative Rock/Industrial/Gothic
Label: Metropolis
Brian Fallon: Local Honey
Genre: Folk/Rock
Label: Lesser Known
Candlemass: The Pendulum
Genre: Doom/Heavy Metal
Label: Napalm
If there’s one thing I’ve learnt from these monthly voting sessions, it’s that you can expect an eclectic mix of albums, and, sometimes, the unexpected. Though Sputnikmusic is notorious for favouring post-rock music as its dominant preference, and even though I had good money on Envy’s The Fallen Crimson taking February’s crown, it didn’t stop the poll from being a surprisingly fierce one. Fighting tooth and nail with Spanish Love Songs’ Brave Faces Everyone, Envy’s trailblazing return just in so garnered the votes for February’s Album of the Month win. After a turbulent decade for Envy, the band have clearly delivered an album the fans can rejoice at, and the results speak for themselves. With that, Sputnik user Sniff will shed some light on why it’s the obvious choice.
February 2020 AOTM: Envy – The Fallen Crimson
“Here’s a short list of random, great and memorable comebacks:
– Super Bowl LI. You know, the year Patriots tricked us all into believing they wouldn’t win it that year.
– Tiger Woods – The Masters. 3955 days and a whole bunch of problems (both on and off the golf course); later he went and won another major.
– Liverpool in the Champions League final of ’05 – the 3 fast goals that took it to extra time will never be forgotten.
– David Bowie – The Next Day. After 10 years and out of “retirement”, he drops another acclaimed album. …
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of March 20, 2020. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff and/or contributors.
– List of Releases: March 20, 2020 –
Adam Lambert: Velvet
Genre: Pop
Label: More is More, LLC
Baxter Dury: The Night Chancers
Genre: Alternative Rock
Label: Heavenly Recordings
Roger and Brian Eno: Mixing Colours
Genre: Ambient/Electronic
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Container: Scramblers
Genre: Techno/Minimal/Industrial
Label: Alter
Foreign Fields: The Beauty of Survival
Genre: Folk/Indie-Rock/Ambient
Label: Caroline International (P&D)
Gordon Lightfoot: SOLO
Genre: Folk
Label: WM Canada
Heaven Shall Burn: Of Truth & Sacrifice
Genre: Metalcore/Melodic Death Metal
Label: Century Media Records
Helen Money: Atomic
Genre: Progressive Rock/Doom Metal/Post Metal
Label: Thrill Jockey
Hyborian: Volume II
Genre: Doom Metal/Stoner Rock
Label: Season of Mist
Kelsea Ballerini: Kelsea
Genre: Pop-Country
Label: Black River Entertainment
Låpsley: Through Water
Genre: Indie-Pop/Ambient/Electronic
Label: XL Recordings
Matthew Tavares and Leland Whitty: Visions
Genre: Jazz
Label: Mr Bongo
Moaning: Uneasy Laughter
Genre: Post-Punk/Shoegaze/Indie-Rock
Label: Sub Pop Records
Morrissey: I Am Not A Dog On A Chain
Genre: Alternative Rock/Indie-Rock/Post Punk
Label: BMG
Myrkur: Folkesange
Genre: Black Metal/Folk/Ambient
Label: Relapse
TOKiMONSTA: Oasis Nocturno
Genre: Hip Hop/Electronic
Label: TOKiMONSTA Music
The Weeknd: After Hours
Genre: Pop/R&B
Label: Republic Records
Yael Naïm: nightsongs
Genre: Folk
Label: Tôt Ou Tard
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of March 13, 2020. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff and/or contributors.
– List of Releases: March 13, 2020 –
The Bombpops: Death in Venice Beach
Genre: Punk/Pop Punk
Label: Fat Wreck Chords
The Boomtown Rats: Citizens Of Boomtown
Genre: Post-Punk/Punk
Label: BMG
Burzum: Thulêan Mysteries
Genre: Black Metal/Ambient
Label: Byelobog Productions
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of March 6, 2020. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff and/or contributors.
– List of Releases: March 6, 2020 –
Allen/Olzon: Worlds Apart
Genre: Metal
Label: Frontiers Music Srl
Anna Calvi: Hunted
Genre: Indie-Rock/Pop
Label: Domino Recording Co.
Body Count: Carnivore
Genre: Hardcore/Thrash Metal
Label: Century Media
Caroline Rose: Superstar
Genre: Indie-Pop/Rock
Label: New West
Cornershop: England Is A Garden
Genre: Indie-Rock/Brit-Pop
Label: Ample Play
Crematory: Unbroken
Genre: Death Metal/Industrial/Gothic
Label: Napalm
Honey Harper: Starmaker
Genre: Indie-Pop/Folk
Label: ATO
Hot Mulligan: You’ll Be Fine
Genre: Emo/Pop-Punk
Label: No Sleep
Jonathan Wilson: Dixie Blur
Genre: Folk/Psychedelic
Label: BMG
Lost in the wave of protest songs that washed over us from 2016-2019 is perhaps one of the most important messages to come out of the entire decade. “Noble Soldier/Dystopian Lament” is the curtain call and thematic crux of 2018’s Vitriola – an album whose overarching themes damn both politics and society, deeming both “fucked” as guitar chords slash away at listeners’ optimism. Lead vocalist Tim Kasher laments the abuse of power and financial wealth, self-prioritizing civilizations, and endless finger-pointing – frequently wrapping it all up into plainly stated disgust. The culmination of this miserable album is this seven minute all-damning epic, in which Kasher lists a series of things that used to give him hope, then swats down each one with a reason why it is corrupted:
I used to fall for love For family and for friends I used to fall for unity Despite our differences I used to fall for trust The decency of man I used to fall for secrecy ‘Til a neighbor played my hand I used to fall for math A universal truth I used to fall for science books Until they were removed I used to fall for hope The promise of our youth I used to fall for change ‘Til our youth became recruits I used to fall for currency To dictate what I’m worth I used to fall for ancestry Now I know we’re fucked from birth I used to fall for news I’d check…
When I first reviewed Aviary, I surmised: “At fifteen tracks, each hovering in the six-to-nine minute range, Aviary presents a daunting task. It’s a world that requires dedicated immersion; a commitment to its unwieldy time length but also a staunch distancing that allows you to engage its thousands of intricacies. It’s like a dot painting; there’s plenty that can be observed up close, but it’s prudent to step back and see the entire picture for what it was intended to be.” While that remains true of the album in its entirety, I’d like to think that “I Shall Love 2” does a damn fine job of capturing all of the record’s best traits in a tiny gorgeous bubble. Holter breathes enticing melodies into the music seemingly without effort, and they swirl around like leaves caught in an updraft – wispy and insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Chimes echo, strings swell from miles off, drums clatter, and electronics bubble and murmur. Her voice sways with the flow of the song, adding in a gorgeous hum or chirpy quip in spurts and however the music dictates. A grander nature surrounds this mini-opus, and it feels as though Holter is merely observant, as opposed to in charge. It all feels very autumn-esque, and it’s hands down one of the most beautifully picturesque tracks of her entire career.
Read more from this decade at my homepage for Sowing’s Songs of the Decade.
Magdalene is backloaded with some of FKA Twigs strongest individual tracks to date. ‘fallen alien’ is a career highlight and immediate song of 2019 contender, possessing one of the most rhythmically complex and aesthetically rich atmospheres that she’s ever crafted. The track commences with gentle piano notes and electronic effects that are jolted to the forefront with the synth-equivalent of nails on a chalkboard. FKA Twigs’ opening verses are then interrupted by extremely high-pitched, digitally-altered chants of “I feel the lightning blast”, and it’s clear that this is going to be the most epic bid on all of Magdalene. Thematically, the song again deals with relationships gone awry – in this case, that feeling of claustrophobia when you sense that someone is restricting your potential: “I never thought that you would be the one to tie me down…but you did.” FKA Twigs went on record confirming as much, stating, “For me, it’s that line, When the lights are on, I know you/When you fall asleep, I’ll kick you down/By the way you fell, I know you/Now you’re on your knees. You’re just so sick of somebody’s bullshit, you’re just taking it all day, and then you’re in bed next to them, and you’re just like, ‘I can’t take this anymore’.” Of course, as per Twigs’ reputation, the song’s motives aren’t overly transparent – so while such meaning can be derived through interpretation, ‘fallen alien’ is, at least from a technical/musical standpoint, an absolute blast.…
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of February 28, 2020. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff and/or contributors.
– List of Releases: February 28, 2020 –
Beneath The Massacre: Fearmonger
Genre: Death Metal/Progressive Metal/Hardcore
Label: Century Media
Nick Cave has written some pretty bleak verses, especially following the passing of his son Arthur, but I’m not sure any have hit me as hard as the lyrics to “Bright Horses”: I can hear the whistle blowing, I can hear the mighty roar / I can hear the horses prancing in the pastures of the Lord / Oh the train is coming, and I’m standing here to see / And it’s bringing my baby right back to me. Cave has been wallowing in gloom since 2016’s Skeleton Tree, but somehow the hope (denial?) present in this track is even more obliterating. Here’s this man who has lost his son tragically, just waiting at the train station to see his child again. Whether he’s literally waiting at a station, or if it’s a metaphor for some kind of afterlife, is up to interpretation. As a new father, this passage during the more broadly breathtaking Ghosteen absolutely broke my heart. It’s also the most beautiful and memorable song on what might be Cave’s best album – so no matter how you look at it, “Bright Horses” is a must-hear moment.
Read more from this decade at my homepage for Sowing’s Songs of the Decade.
![LIFERS [Explicit]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61PQhsRFgQL._SS500_.jpg)
![Trust the River [Explicit]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71znaAsTYoL._SS500_.jpg)
![Wake Up, Sunshine [Explicit]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81BlV5SicbL._SS500_.jpg)
![I'm Your Empress Of [Explicit]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81IxF0KXMsL._SS500_.jpg)
![CALM [Explicit]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/719fzJYAujL._SS500_.jpg)
…
![VELVET [Explicit]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91SyJE74dUL._SS500_.jpg)
![The Night Chancers [Explicit]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61SvoA1RTzL._SS500_.jpg)
![Oasis Nocturno [Explicit]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/713y35epI0L._SS500_.jpg)
![After Hours [Explicit]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81XiZxda-8L._SS500_.jpg)
![Supernova [Explicit]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71xv8oxcYKL._SS500_.jpg)
![Put the Shine On [Explicit]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/611784r2rSL._SS500_.jpg)
![Underneath [Explicit]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71aNmqEhwBL._SS500_.jpg)
![Deap Lips [Explicit]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/816VTXcV5RL._SS500_.jpg)
![You Know I'm Not Going Anywhere [Explicit]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/819Cn-k4X+L._SS500_.jpg)
![Kiss My Super Bowl Ring [Explicit]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71CcWgHnWWL._SS500_.jpg)
![Carnivore [Explicit]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91sNuUuULxL._SS500_.jpg)
![Unbroken [Explicit]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81di4-bqGnL._SS500_.jpg)
![you'll be fine [Explicit]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81XMqJsNaQL._SS500_.jpg)
![A Beautiful Place To Drown [Explicit]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71Klsh-nVdL._SS500_.jpg)
![5 Years Behind [Explicit]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61itBJtGrAL._SS500_.jpg)
![F8 [Explicit]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71G4t4GFyeL._SS500_.jpg)
![Brain Pain [Explicit]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81Df1BcX2lL._SS500_.jpg)
![Errol [Explicit]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81FZwGatUhL._SS500_.jpg)
