Linkin Park – Lost
Along with announcing a 20th-anniversary edition of their sophomore album Meteora, Linkin Park have released a previously unheard track ‘Lost’. It’s a particularly emotional one for fans of the nu-metal outfit, as it features the vocals of the late frontman Chester Bennington. Guitarist Mike Shinoda has said of the track that “for years, fans have been asking us to release something with [Bennington’s] voice, and I’m thrilled we’ve been able to make that happen in such a special way”. And special it is too.
Paramore – You First
Unless you’ve been living under a rock (or its present-day equivalent, been away from social media), you’ll know that Paramore are back. The trio, fronted by Hayley Williams, have their first album in six years out today, with This Is Why. The follow-up to 2017’s After Laughter – since Williams has dropped two solo albums of her own – is guitar-heavy and riding something of a wave of emo revival.
Kelela – Fooley
Also returning after a six-year hiatus is Kelela, with her 15-track offering RAVEN. An album that revels in both the dancefloor and the afterglow, it has upbeat bouts and atmospheric downtempo in equal measure. Heavy on the bass, ‘Fooley’ represents something of a turning point at which the switch occurs, sitting pretty midway through the album. You can read our full review of RAVEN here.
Philip Selway – Strange Dance
Philip Selway shares a track he says first began some 20 years ago – around the time Radiohead, who he drums for (for those that don’t know), released Hail To the Thief. A track that probably places more emphasis on strange than dance, ‘Strange Dance’ has a rich assortment of strings, brass and synthesisers. It comes ahead of his album of the same name, out on 24 February.
Lip Filler – Haircut
Chess Club Record signees Lip Filler have dropped their second track this week, ‘Haircut’. Beyond its playful, cheeky-chappie title, the tune has a somewhat gritty edge to it. Devised in the band’s shared flat above a chicken shop in Shepherd’s Bush, it chronicles some of the whims and woes of metropolitan life.
Coach Party – Micro Aggression
Isle of Wight four-piece Coach Party, also of Chess Club Records, have released their first tune of 2023, ahead of their UK and European tour. The band have a penchant for writing relatable indie-rock tunes that tackle societal ills, such as misogyny and unhealthy relationship ideals. On their latest track, Coach Party tackle microaggressions: thinking you’re funny by being abusive, followed by the line “it was only a joke” or something similar. As frontwoman Jess Eastwood has said, “just learn some actual funny jokes. People like that”. She’s not wrong.
Yo La Tengo – Sinatra Drive Breakdown
New Jersey cult heroes Yo La Tengo have dropped their new record, This Stupid World, today. As an indicator of the band’s longevity, this is their remarkable sixteenth studio album and, as inherent in its title, the album holds a reflective mirror up to the world – but, thankfully, provides a glimmer of hope amid the doom and gloom. ‘Sinatra Drive Breakdown’ is its whirring opener.
Tennis – Pollen
Husband and wife duo Tennis Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley put out their sixth studio album today, described in our review as “the ideal soundtrack to a cool, artsy, backroom party”. It’s not hard to see why. Pushed by singles ‘Let’s Make a Mistake Tonight’, ‘One Night with The Valet’ and ‘Forbidden Doors’, all three tracks typify the album’s plush, art-pop appeal. But, seeing as they’ve been out before this week, we’ve gone with the album’s pared-back, near-eponymous ‘Pollen Song’.
JERUB – Cold
One of our Ones To Watch For 2023, JERUB, gave us his first song of the year, ‘Cold’. A rousing track that reflects on difficult relationships that demonstrates the Nottingham singer’s impressive vocal range, it’s a prelude to the EP, Finding My Feet, set for release in spring this year.
Monster Florence – Lag
Monster Florence dibble and dabble between all kinds of genres. Depicting Adam and Eve as two androids on its album cover (a ChatGPT dream), their latest album Master System, out today, is a cohesive project that pulls on the many varied talents of the Essex outfit’s six members. ‘Lag’ is true to its name, of sorts; its dragging beat is laidback, but there are plenty of lyrical kicks and references to keep the track plodding along.
