Depending on where you live, you’re either basking in an autumnal glow or roasting like a pig on spit. America! It’s a big place, y’all. Whatever the case, we’ve got you covered with songs both scorching hot (Big Grams, Madlib, The Mantles) and crisply cool (Autre Ne Veut, Joanna Newsom). Check out this week’s best tracks below.
Big Grams, “Goldmine Junkie”
The third single from Big Grams is woozier and a bit more shambolic than the other Big Grams cuts we’ve heard, a cousin to Big Boi’s classic “Shine Blockas” in vibe if not in content.
Joanna Newsom, “Leaving the City”
The second single from Divers finds Newsom exploring relatively new (and enticing) sonic territory, adding in a rock-ish Marxophone and Mellotron sound into her arsenal. Oh, and it’s catchy as all hell.
Laetitia Sadier, “Dry Fruit”
The A-side to the Stereolab founder’s new cassingle is this jazzy dream-waltz, whose video we premiered yesterday.
Madlib, M.E.D., and Blu, “Knock Knock” (featuring MF DOOM)
Funkwave is having its moment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHplxMgxmas
The Mantles, “Hate to See You Go”
Michael Olivares of The Mantles seems like a pretty nice guy—a holdout from the time when underground bands sold records mainly by talking to fans after shows. That’s why it hits extra hard when he sums up the bleakness of a situation without mincing words, as he does on the new All Odds End track “Hate to See You Go.” It’s a fun, jangle-y earworm—as is basically every Mantles track—but beneath the sugar-coated exterior is a critique more sinister. He’ll hate to see you go, sure, but is that for your sake or for his?
Broken Bells, “It’s That Talk Again”
Breakup songs have always been James Mercer’s strong suit, all the way back to the biting early days of The Shins, so it makes perfect sense that Broken Bells’ newest track follows the all-too-familiar tale of the final throes of a failing relationship. Thankfully, Mercer’s musical relationship with Danger Mouse is stronger than ever—making the depressing nature of “It’s That Talk Again” a joy to listen to, with its light synth lines, tight bass lines, and a surprisingly effective falsetto. Get down while breaking down.
Autre Ne Veut, “Age of Transparency”
Arthur Ashin isn’t a bad man. But he does want to turn you to stone with his delicate touch.
