I hope the February Blahs haven’t got you down. It can be a gloomy time of year around these parts, and it’s easy to fall into depression with the dearth of sunlight. Perhaps some New Releases to cheer you up?
It’s another solid week in New Music, with lots of new sounds from which to choose. Leading the pack are indie greats MGMT, and K-Pop group TWICE, so it’s a little light for marquee Artists.
MGMT – Dancing In Babylon (feat. Christine and The Queens)
The rest of the New Release racks are fertile with intriguing new titles. I’m most curious to hear from Amigo The Devil, Læticia Sadier, Andy Partridge, Mary Timony, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Real Estate and Bombay Bicycle Club.
Bombay Bicycle Club – Willow (feat. Lucy Rose)
Tucked away in my BandCamp Wishlist this week I have eleven titles awaiting release. On Thursday, Australian Punk Band Phil & The Tiles release their debut full-length, Double Happiness, and what I’ve heard so far sounds very promising.
We are in store for another terrific week of artists not named Taylor Swift, but still have the nerve to ask for our time and attention (and a couple of bucks). The shelves are due to be filled this week with all sorts of new titles, from the unknown to the legendary. But first!
I’ve been looking toward the end of the year, because it’s nearer than you think. It’s been an unbelievable year for New Music, and my consumption has grown in proportion to my BandCamp intake. In the two and a half years that I’ve been writing about music (on Facebook at first, and for the past ten months at WP) , my Year-End Listof Favourite New Releases has evolved from a Ranked list of Twenty Releases in 2020 to an unranked list of twenty last year. This year I’m taking inspiration from the Mercury Music Prize in the UK, and the Polaris Prize in Canada.
Mine won’t have a sexy trophy like the Mercury Prize. Or any money attached.
On Saturday, December 24, I will publish Jason’s Fifty Favourite New Music Releases of 2022. The list of fifty will be unranked, as it feel that it would be dishonest.
On Saturday, December 31, the Shortlist of Five will come out, and on Sunday, January 1st, 2023, I will come out with a Feature story to announce who the non-existent New Music Jason Prize winner is for 2022. Isn’t that exciting?
This will be lots of fun for me, and I do hope you’ll join my for that journey!
Getting back to the imminent New Releases due for arrival this week, leading the charge is The Boss, Bruce Springboard, Nas, and that cute former member of One Direction with style, Louis Tomlinson.
Bruce Springsteen – Don’t Play That Song
A healthy helping of known names are peddling their wares this week. Among this category that I’m curious to hear are Christine & The Queens, MGMT, Slowthai, and Quadeca.
Christine & The Queens – la chanson du chevalier
My BandCamp Wishlist is healthy again this week, with ten titles awaiting full release by Friday. Among them is my new favourite rapper, Homeboy Sandman, which I’m feeling fairly confident will succeed in charming me. So, instead I will feature something I’m a little more “on the fence” with. The Cool Greenhouse is a solo project from London that has some smart quirkiness. Will the whole album add up? Find out on Friday!
The Cool Greenhouse – Get Unjaded
Have a happy week, friends and fronds! Be good to yourself!
New Music Jason’s Picks 