Friday’s are great, but they are even better with new music! Every week I want to showcase some things that I think you should have on your radar. As your reliable young person, I want to encourage you to seek out new music… and by reading this blog you are already on the right track to do so! So take a journey with me while we explore my monthly new music recs, you’re welcome.
August 25th
New Singles of the Week:
Your Side of Town – The Killers
Are you a synth-head? Is that even a thing? The Killers’ new single might be for you if you are someone who is passionate about 80’s mall nostalgia and looking into the distance with a smoldering look on your face. The band describes this track as a nod to all of the synth music that inspired them over the years.
The Beautiful Letdown – Switchfoot (Jonas Brothers Version)
Yeah, you read that right. The Jonas Brothers have released their version of the 2003 Switchfoot track, The Beautiful Letdown. According to CJ, this sounds a bit country. Who would’ve thought that The Jonas Brothers would fit in our 101x playlist?
Just in case you needed a reminder on what the original sounded like:
Hated – YUNGBLUD
It is no surprise that YUNGBLUD would be bold enough to release a new song filled with passion and vulnerability paired with striking visuals and a Sweeney Todd-ish hairstyle. The lyrics tackle personal struggles of processing childhood trauma, a subject that artists his age aren’t shy to confront in their art. He described Hated as being his most vulnerable track, opening up to fans about being sexually abused by a doctor at a young age.
If you want to learn more about YUNGBLUD, check out our 2022 ACL interview with him below!
New EP of the Week:
I Am High – MISSIO
Multi-instrumentalist producers Matthew Brue and David Butler released their newest EP I Am High, featuring 6 new genre-bending tracks. Close your eyes, throw on some noise-canceling headphones, and dive deep into the world of MISSIO.
More humble bragging. I also had a lovely talk with Missio at ACL Fest back in 2021!
Bonus Track of the Week:
Used To Be Young – Miley Cyrus
10 years after Miley Cyrus’ Bangerz album and iconic foam finger performance, she released a new emotional track reflecting on her past. I mean we all used to be young too!
August 18th
New Single of the Week:
An Arrow in the Wall – Death Cab for Cutie
Despite being a hardcore Plans and Transatlanticism fan, I have grown to become more open to accepting new DCFC albums. Just a little Emily lore for you, I am the way I am because I was gifted a CD of Plans by my mom’s cool, young best friend back in middle school. From then on their romantic lyrics and quirky charm have shaped my entire personality. This new single An Arrow In The Wall comes right before they kick off their DCFC/Postal Service tour, which has sold numbers across the United States. (They will be at Germania Insurance Amphitheater on September 30th, by the way.) They also released a CHVRCHES remix of their new single, which adds an exciting club tempo that is guaranteed to help you get through your Friday.
Don’t forget that we love Lauren Mayberry here at 101x!
New Album of the Week:
Unreal Unearth – Hozier
It has been 4 years since the angelic Hozier released a new album. Unreal Unearth is his third studio album and frankly, I am over the moon excited. If you are one of those people who are planning to roll up to the American Express stage at ACL Fest only having Take Me To Church or Work Song in your brain, you’ve got some research to do. There is something about Hozier’s voice that is so ethereal and perfect for building a dark fantasy realm around breezy melodies. I will be honest, he makes me and my friends weak at the knees. Speaking of my unnecessary swooning in a music review, his video for De Selby (part 2) features one of my favorite Irish actors Domhnall Gleeson. Otherwise known as Bill Weasley, the love interest in About Time, Ex Machina robot guy, and strangely, Mr. McGregor in Peter Rabbit.
Bonus Track of the Week:
Play With Fire – Tessa Violet feat. Frances Forever
Maybe I just have Barbie on my mind, but there’s something about a power pop pink indie duo that gets my heart excited. I have been a fan of Tessa Violet since her early Meekakitty YouTube days. As a creator myself (NOT a musician, I don’t claim that), it makes me very happy to see someone come so far without being ruined by the internet. On this tour, Tessa Violet brought along Frances Forever, ironically also a child of internet fame with their TkTok hit Space Girl. It seems like their friendship has grown tremendously over their travels as they continue to post videos and record together on the road. Pink power forever!
So proud of our friend Frances Forever for their tour with Tessa Violet!
August 11th
New Single of the Week:
Nothing is Perfect – Metric
Can I just start out by saying… I always love a good Emily. Nothing is Perfect is Metric’s latest single from their upcoming companion album, Formentera II. Not sure if it’s the lack of electronic production that I typically know Metric for or the obvious gloomy title, but there’s something about this song that feels so personal. Just the repetition of the lyric “Dissolve to fade” paired with an acoustic guitar gives me the creeps in a good way! The entire follow-up album to their last 2022 release Formentera will include 9 new songs and will drop on October 13th.
New Album of the Week:
Volcano – Jungle
The British electronic music project Jungle released their 4th studio album, Volcano today. If you’re a fan of artists like Jai Paul (also signed with independent record label XL) but want a less-crunchy ambient sound then Jungle is for you. With singles like “Candle Flame”, “Pretty Little Thing”, and “I’ve Been in Love”, Volcano looks to feature other prominent artists to really embrace their journey in incorporating more soul sounds into their tracks. Now if that was too much mumbo jumbo music talk for you and you’re more of a fan of cool videos, they are also releasing an Original Motion Picture along with the soundtrack. Tons of amazing choreography and visuals for you “I only like books if they have pictures” type of people.
https://omny.fm/shows/morning-x/new-music-friday-8-11
Bonus Track of the Week:
Call Me Wild – Cory Wong feat. Dodie
Oh boy, oh boy! Do I have a bonus track for you today. Where to start? Well if you have never heard of Cory Wong, just picture that guy who you took high school band with who was clearly a music genius. Cory Wong is a seasoned guitar player with an extensive background in funk, R&B, pop, rock, jazz, soul, and folk (remember I did say extensive!) His pure talent and knowledge have allowed him to collaborate with many great artists of the era. In 2013 he jammed with the band Vulfpeck which later got him invited to their recording sessions and tour and really jumpstarted his significance in the industry. Pair this prodigy with Dodie, a personal favorite of mine who has one of the most friendly voices in the world, and you know that it will be a fun listen. You might even find yourself doing a little happy dance without realizing it!
August 4th
New Single of the Week:
Desire – Cannons
I Desire to have more Cannons in my life. See what I did there? This alternative/electro-pop band has perfectly created a sexy and memorizing story of lust and potentially unrequited wishes that we have all related to at least once in those late nights. This single is a great teaser to their newest album, Heartbeat Highway, which will be released later this year. You’ve got until September 20th to convince your Desire to come see Cannons with you at Stubb’s.
New Album of the Week:
You Are Who You Hang Out With – The Front Bottoms
Of course the Front Bottoms would have a killer, quirky album name. I really wish I was in Colorado right now so that I could experience their album release show with Say Anything at Red Rocks. Since I can’t get a last-minute plane ticket to the Rockies, I guess that I will just have to resort to seeing them at ACL Live on October 28th. We might have a bit of a bias about the Front Bottoms, okay mainly me, because CJ and I interviewed Brian Sella at SXSW. There’s so much more that I can say about my love for them, but I will just let my fangirl interview do the talking.
https://omny.fm/shows/morning-x/new-music-friday-8-4
Bonus Track of the Week:
Bad Machine – Soda Blonde
Okay, so I will admit that I am already getting lazy with my recommendations. Technically this song came out last month, but the video was released earlier this week! Soda Blonde is a band that has been technically on my radar for years. This Irish alt-pop band from Dublin first caught my eye (ears?) when they were touring the US under the name of their previous project, Little Green Cars. After being in the industry for over a decade, lead singer Faye O’Rourke has been able to completely reinvent her sound through Soda Blonde. This edgier, darker, more experimental alternative tone pairs perfectly with her haunting vocals that I personally love. Plus, everything about this music video seems chaotic. I always enjoy a good off-the-rails woman.
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