Enterprise Earth scare up some bones, Harlem Gospel Travelers fight the good fight, Bahama Social Club share a mango, My Kid Brother play it cool, Tiger Army ride, Corb Lund saddles up, Spook the Horses self-destruct and much, much more in another big-ass Friday Roundup. Rev it up and go:
VIDEOS OF THE DAY
1 | Enterprise Earth | Foundation Of Bones
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Foundation Of Bones is the new EP from death metal practitioners Enterprise Earth. The EP serves as a surprise bridge piece from their latest full-length effort, Luciferous, into the work being laid down for their forthcoming LP and also marks the band’s first self-produced output. “Foundation Of Bones was a spur of the moment idea that quickly came to fruition,” elaborates Enterprise Earth guitarist Gabriel Mangold. “After returning home from our canceled tour, we began writing and finishing up new material. While listening back to some new demos and being stoked on the quality of the mixes, we thought, ‘Fuck it. Let’s give self-production a go and release an impromptu EP!’ ” Foundation Of Bones features one new song from the band (the title track), two cover tunes — Lamb Of God’s iconic Now You’ve Got Something To Die For and Necrophagist’s Fermented Offal Discharge — an acoustic interpretation of There Is No Tomorrow from their Luciferous LP, and an instrumental version of the new track.”
2 | The Harlem Gospel Travelers | Fight On
THE PRESS RELEASE: “The Harlem Gospel Travelers dropped the new protest song and video Fight On for Juneteenth. Group member and songwriter Thomas Gatling says this about the song: “During slavery, songs were a form of communication for black people. These songs became known as hymns, or as our seasoned saints call them, the songs that brought us over. Fight On was inspired by a hymn called Hold On (Just A Little While Longer), a song used to encourage black people to not give up. Through that song, God gave me Fight On. It was written to amplify the voices that for so long have fallen on deaf ears and to encourage and uplift people to continue the fight for equality and against white supremacy. Be empowered, my people. We are not thugs, we are innovators. We are intelligent and our feelings, hopes, dreams, and lives matter. Fight on, and everything’s gonna be alright.”
ALSO ON THE PLAYLIST
3 | Bahama Soul Club | Mango feat. Arema Arega
THE PRESS RELEASE: “As anticipation builds around the release of Bahama Soul Club’s album Bohemia After Dawn dropping on July 17, the German nu jazz outfit give another sneak peek into what to expect on the new full-length with the 3-track Mango EP, centered around track Mango featuring Cuban singer Arema Arega. She is one of the most exciting voices in the Bahama Soul Club family and has been somewhat of a permanent feature throughout their albums. In Mango she once more confirms this love match with her unique take on this sweet yellow-green part of a god, waxing lyrical over a laidback tropical groove. The Mango EP also features remixes by Club Des Belugas and TheEEs.”
4 | My Kid Brother | Ain’t That Cool
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Leesburg, Va. band My Kid Brother have shared the video for Ain’t That Cool. “I got pretty obsessed with Jackie Wilson’s song Higher and Higher, and wanted to write something in that style,” says singer/guitarist Christian Neonakis. “It was difficult. I didn’t like anything that I was making. So then I wrote a song about how frustrated I was with trying to write a song.”
5 | Tiger Army | Last Ride
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Tiger Army premiered their latest video Last Ride! Directors Travis Shinn and Jeremy Danger — whose combined credits include Marilyn Manson, A Perfect Circle, Nine Inch Nails, and many others — worked closely with Tiger Army founder and frontman Nick 13 to create an atmosphere that pulls from film noir and Los Angeles’ car club culture, with renowned clubs Satan’s Escorts, Sentinels, Serpents, Kingsman, and Las Doñas taking center stage in the video. Nick 13 explains: “I wrote this song on an all-day drive to buy a vintage guitar — it started with the rhythm of the road, so it seemed natural to involve cars in the visual representation. Hot rodding and Kustom cars started in Southern California and like our music, are a lifestyle — there’s a lot of crossover between the two. Last Ride was also written at night, so the directors referenced film noir techniques to achieve the video’s feel.”
6 | Corb Lund | Never Not Had Horses
THE PRESS RELEASE: “In celebration of Corb Lund’s new album, Agricultural Tragic (set for release next week) the singer-songwriter released a new track, Never Not Had Horses. Tune in to the track below.”
7 | Spook The Horses | Self-Destroyer
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Spook The Horses, hailing from Wellington, New Zealand, deliver their ferocious new album, Empty Body on Aug. 28. With distortion levels cranked up, tempos sped up and songs condensed and stripped down to the bare, ugly essentials, Empty Body comes as a brutal wake-up call within the rampant COVID-19 fatigue, and an unexpected surprise in almost every regard. “We’ve always been both a heavy and a quiet band. An entire album of our prettier, more bittersweet inclinations demands a reply of our most aggressive and confrontational. The pendulum must swing back the other way,” comments multi-instrumentalist Callum Gay. Stream Self-Destroyer from Empty Body now.”
8 | The Manvils | Sudden News
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Reaction Arrow is the third album from The Manvils, one of Vancouver’s original indie-rock bands (circa 2005) and is their most personal, indignant, and hard-hitting release to date. The band’s staying power is a testament to the incredible musical bond between power drummer Jay Koenderman and frontman Mikey Manville. The band was a staple of Vancouver’s vibrant live music scene, sharing the stage with the likes of Stereophonics, Metric, Sonic Youth, Ben Harper, The Bellrays, Jarvis Cocker, and many others. Reaction Arrow’s deeply personal storyline is contrasted by fuzzed-out, sonic thunder that echoes the unprecedented era we’ve entered globally. An album that, at its core, speaks to the universal nature of grieving–from the agony of loss to the heroism of survival. In between are revelations on life’s highs and lows, all guided by a conviction that does not waver.”
9 | Rise of the Northstar | Samurai Spirit
THE PRESS RELEASE: “In 2019, Europe’s biggest crossover band, Rise of the Northstar, was back on stage after a two-year hiatus away from the French capital, armed with its new record The Legacy Of Shi. The band took this opportunity to film and record a few songs from this sold out and memorable show. Today, they release their first live EP Live In Paris, and to celebrate the occasion, the band also reveals a new live video for their track Samurai Spirit. In these particulary tough times for the music industry, Rise of the Northstar brings its own answer to not being able to perform live: “If you can’t come to our show, we’ll bring the show to you.”
10 | The National Parks | Wildflower
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Folk-influenced male/female indie pop band The National Parks have released their fourth independent full-length studio album Wildflower. It’s about struggles and growth, hard times and faith, and knowing that through trials and tribulations the best is yet to come. The 15 songs on the new album hope to inspire and uplift listeners and remind everyone to be authentically themselves and feel encouraged that we can all get through anything and everything life throws at us. Coinciding with the album’s release, The National Parks have also dropped the official music video for their latest single Waiting For Lightning, which wraps the visual trilogy running throughout the videos for previous singles Wildflower and Time.”
11 | The War And Treaty | We Are One
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Since the very beginning of The War And Treaty’s career, Michael Trotter, Jr. and Tanya Blount-Trotter have put their core values of unity, inclusion, and love on full display in their work and their daily lives. The War And Treaty have released We Are One, a song that deeply reflects those values.”
12 | Katie Pruitt | Out of the Closet
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Katie Pruitt is commemorating this year’s Pride Month with a series of recordings of songs by artists she has long admired, which will be released weekly. “I picked a collection of songs by gay women in particular who have inspired me to be transparent in my music.” She reflects, “I think representation is huge. Having my experience represented in certain bands’/artists’ music has helped me to better understand myself. If it weren’t for people like Indigo Girls, Brandi Carlile, Courtney Barnett, and Tegan and Sara, I don’t think I would have been brave enough to be as honest as I was on Expectations.” Her cover of Tegan and Sara’s Walking With a Ghost is out now.”
13 | New Bleach | Silver Lining
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Quebec’s New Bleach reveal their new video and single Silver Lining. Speaking on the track Raphaël Potvin explains, “Seeing the positive is not always easy, especially in times of crisis and social upheaval. With Silver Lining, we tried to deliver a plea for hope in these trying times. We wanted to create a summer tune with positive, yet introspective vibes.The video is a tribute to something we truly miss as musicians right now, a road trip. We tried to spice up the concept a little by turning it into one hell of a psychedelic trip.”
14 | Elisapie | Asuguuq
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Elisapie returns with a new single called Asuguuq. This song is a gift to Inuit communities for National Indigenous Peoples Day. It is a cover from Inuk country-folk artist Charlie Adams, one of Nunavik’s greatest singer-songwriters, who passed away in 2008. Asuguuq is an intense love song that features Elisapie’s soft, raw vocals and describles the state that one finds oneself in when experiencing love at first sight. Its title is actually an expression of bewilderment similar to “Oh my God” in Inuktitut.”
15 | Osyron | The Ones Below
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Calgary’s Osyron has a new album on the way, the explosive and thought-provoking Foundations releasing on July 10. Today, Osyron brings their next video for the second single The Ones Below, a track that stands alone from the themes of the album as a whole and pays tribute to the loss of a loved one or friend who has left our world. This is a track everyone can pay homage to the good times and not dwell on the bad. It’s an upbeat song of hope that is inspired by the cheers of frosty mugs with a gentle touch down on the table soon followed. A salute to the ones below.”
16 | Francois Klark | Always
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Francois Klark is a South African born, Canadian singer-songwriter and producer. This Toronto-based artist has caught the attention of music lovers, industry professionals and labels worldwide with his incredible songwriting and powerful vocal performances. Netflix’s new dance film Feel the Beat utilizes indie singer/songwriter Klark’s dreamy, evocative song Always as a character and story piece. Always not only bookends the film, but the piano ballad prominently features in the film’s climax, a dance sequence dubbed the “petal dance.”
17 | Primal Fear | I Am Alive
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Primal Fear will release their highly anticipated 13th studio album Metal Commando on July 24. The title of the album is self-explanatory — Metal Commando contains 110% Primal Fear and is full to the brim with their signature power and energy. Today, the second single I Am Alive is released digitally, along with a video clip.”I Am Alive is the opening track of the new album and a statement in these rough times. Between the speed of the double bass drumming plus grooves and fat guitar riffs, is one of the best Primal Fear hooks ever. You can look forward to a real banger of a song that is representative of our new album Metal Commando,” comments bassist and producer Mat Sinner.”
18 | Make Them Suffer | Bones
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Make Them Suffer have digitally released their new album How To Survive A Funeral today. The band has also shared the video for the new song Bones. The song’s chunky, crackling riff, chilling keyboard melodies, and vicious vocals are matched by the unsettling visuals and storyline that unfold before your eyes in the clip. “Bones is a song about sacrifice,” says singer Sean Harmanis. “It’s about the sacrifices I’ve made and the sacrifices we all make to pursue what we love. Writing the lyrics to this song raised the question of how much I’d be willing to give for this band. How much more could this pursuit take from me?”
19 | Chastity Brown | Golden
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Tennessee-born, Minneapolis-based artist Chastity Brown is releasing her new single Golden in honour of Juneteenth. Brown, who has been sheltering at her home in the South Minneapolis neighbourhood recently impacted by the protests, was inspired to finish and record Golden after George Floyd’s murder and its aftermath. “This collective trauma that black, indigenous, immigrant, and queer/trans folk feel is real,” Chastity says. “It’s every goddamn day. Yet, we still thrive and flourish in our natural beauty; we still have swag and songs for days. We still have wild and wondrous imaginations like we are all the children of Octavia [Butler]. I went into my garage studio on June 2nd at noon and came out at 8 pm having written and recorded the entire song on my iPad. It felt electric. It felt like a griot was singing the whole tune in my ear. And I was just trying to keep up. This is for me, my people, and the UPRISING to defund police here in Minneapolis and thereby set a new standard for how communities want to be protected.”
20 | Ayron Jones | Take Me Away
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Rock singer-guitarist Ayron Jones releases his explosive first track Take Me Away. The single is influenced by the weight of his past, and the struggles that shaped Jones’ art, and equally inspired from diverse musical influences to create a style uniquely his own. Jones’ tumultuous childhood marred by parental addiction and abandonment laid the foundation for the song themes. “Take Me Away is about how music is my escape, how I sometimes feel stuck in my own personal prison of isolation and solitude that I’d constructed for myself,” explains Jones. “From the darkness I can create something beautiful, and not be defined by my history.” Jones also released a powerful lyric video today to accompany the song and explains “It’s hard to describe what the experience of a black person is to those who’ve never experienced it. From my first-hand experience, I know the feelings of frustration, anger and helplessness that I’m sure we’ve all felt when trying to see from someone else’s perspective. But, it’s in times like these that I’m reminded of that age-old proverb, Where Words Fail, Music Speaks.”
21 | Thelonious Monk | Epistrophy (Live At Palo Alto High School, 1968)
THE PRESS RELEASE: “In the fall of 1968, a 16-year old high school student named Danny Scher had a dream to invite legendary jazz pianist and composer Thelonious Monk and his all-star quartet to perform a concert at his local high school in Palo Alto, CA. In a series of twists and turns, against a backdrop of racial tension and political volatility, that concert happened and was recorded by the school’s janitor. Palo Alto is set for release on July 31, 2020. “That performance is the one of the best live recordings I’ve ever heard by Thelonious,” says T.S. Monk, son of the pianist/composer maestro, drummer and founder of the Thelonious Monk Institute. “I wasn’t even aware of my dad playing a high school gig, but he and the band were on it. When I first heard the tape, from the first measure, I knew my father was feeling really good.”
https://youtu.be/_1Ac-C5I1bM
22 | Tyler Carter | Escape My Love
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Issues vocalist Tyler Carter will release his Moonshine Acoustic solo EP on June 26. The eight-song EP shows off the many sides of Carter’s musical personality and features acoustic versions of six tracks from his 2019-released debut solo album Moonshine. The EP also includes a brand new and deeply personal song called Escape My Love. “Escape My Love is a song I have kept in the vault for years,” Carter says. “As a songwriter, there will always be songs that may never see an opportunity to come out. I’m happy this one finally found a place. I wrote this song about falling in love with someone who was not yet ready to live their truth — everyone has their time and story to tell, and that’s valid. But it was heartbreak nonetheless and I’ve always put my feelings into my music before anything else.”
23 | Noble Oak | Hypersleep
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Vancouver’s electro dream-pop artist Noble Oak releases his new album Horizon and shares the video for the record’s closing track Hypersleep. Noble Oak’s Patrick Fiore describes Hypersleep as “a balm for the end of a journey, the long rest much awaited when time has restored to a slow state” and the accompanying video, directed by Nancy Lee and Kurtis Yu, perfectly reflects that. Horizon is an enchanting collection of post-chillwave pop, a sumptuous suite of sativa songs for hazy, lazy days prompting comparisons to the likes of The War on Drugs, Bob Moses, and Tame Impala. “My intent from day one was literally to make the most beautiful songs that I possibly can,” says Fiore. “And to hope that the world can understand that and see it.”
24 | Phobetor | A Toxic Lie
THE PRESS RELEASE: “When Phobetor released their first EP, Burning Memories, a little over a year ago, they were already hungry to push things further. They knew they had so much more to say, both musically and lyrically, than they had managed to express on their first release. Since then they have been working feverishly upon the solid foundations of Burning Memories, digging deep to find their truth. Now they are ready to present Phobetor reborn — harder, heavier, more extreme, with their hearts laid bare and their undiluted passions aflame. This is the incendiary, uncompromising sound of When Life Falls Silent. From its beginnings in blood and pain to its ending in a last shuddering breath, life is a wild ride of confusion and terror, boiling black storm clouds punctuated by all too rare rays of warming sunshine. With When Life Falls Silent Phobetor have torn away the veils of deceit that hide this terrifying truth from our frantic eyes; they have tapped the vein of our ceaseless struggles and drunk deep of our desperate blood.”
25 | Brimstone Coven | The Inferno
THE PRESS RELEASE: “US occult hard rockers Brimstone Coven’s upcoming fourth album The Woes of a Mortal Earth is due Aug. 21. Join the magic circle with The Inferno lyric video! While summoning eerie forces from the past, from the timeless heaviness of Sabbath and Coven to the wholehearted rock force of Led Zeppelin, Brimstone Coven craft a timeless and wholehearted brand of sonic witchery that will hold any soul captive inside its magic circle. The past and future collide in a dazzling big bang, melding foreboding atmospheres with a bright and intoxicating vocals from Corey Roth and Andrew D’Cagna.”
26 | Landon McNamara & Mickey Avalon | Dodging Bullets
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Sometimes, the most unlikely pairings can create unexpected and beautiful art. Such is the case of the unlikely union of reggae artist Landon McNamara and debaucherous rock ‘n’ roll rapper Mickey Avalon. The duo have joined forces with the perfect amount of contrast and chemistry to create a brand new EP entitled Highs & Lows, set to surface on Aug. 14. Mickey continues, “We felt like Dodging Bullets was a logical choice for the first single because the world is in such chaos right now. Even though the song was written a while back, we’re talking about police brutality, so it’s extremely topical and almost seems prophetic given that is what the world is currently fighting over. We felt like this is a good message and we hope to bring even a few minutes of peace and happiness to people in a time that feels hopeless.”
27 | Erez Zobary | Blue (For Now)
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Toronto-based R&B/pop artist Erez Zobary has a timeless voice, in more ways than one. Raised on Stevie Wonder and Amy Winehouse, Erez’s soulful vocals echo the sounds and styles of her youth. Lyrically she is raw and uninhibited, writing openly about universal, yet highly personal, feelings of self-worth, uncertainty, and vulnerability. Erez’s new single, Blue (For Now), paints a picture of the future, rather than detailing something that has already happened. It’s a reminder that the self-reflection we experience during difficult moments can make us stronger.”
28 | The Ironsides | Sommer
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Breezy instrumental soul from California’s The Ironsides. Featuring members of Monophonics, Sommer is a cover of an obscure 1973 song by Stig & Steen, but the mood seems very 2020 with the help of some excellent production by brothers Max and Joe Ramey. The song sets the tone for what is surely to be one of the most bizarre summers on record. As the world begins to open up and we all adjust to a new normal, there’s hope but with a tempered sense of melancholy on the horizon. Developed in 2010 by SF Bay Area natives The Ramey Brothers, The Ironsides originated as a studio project dedicated to the revival of ’60s and ’70s soul music, with emphasis on a vivid cinematic, soundtrack vibe. Since the recording of their first 45 record, The Ironsides have moved into Soul with a capital “S” harkening back to the golden days of Stax and Motown.”
29 | Skeleton | The Sword
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Austin-based blackened metal/punk practitioners Skeleton will unleash their self-titled debut on July 10. In advance of its release the band today releases the The Sword for public feasting. Easily the most vicious and intelligent dark punk/metal hybrid in years, the 11 tracks comprising Skeleton signal the black dawn of a new breed; war-like hymns for the soldiers of a scorched apocalypse to come, from which a bleak alternate future will emerge. Comments drummer/vocalist Victor Skeleton of The Sword, “Never doubt it’s strength… It’s flame burns bright… The sword will prevail… A warrior will never die.”
30 | Young, Planetary | Separate Rides Home
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Boise, Idaho’s Young, Planetary will release their new EP Locations I Can’t Place on Aug. 7. The new single Separate Rides Home is now streaming. Young, Planetary started in 2013 and has faced various setbacks in their time together. Considering their gnarled history, a lesser group would have already thrown in the towel. Something about YP kept bringing songwriter/front-man Trevor Villagrana back to the grind, though. After all these years, the band is finally coming into their own on their upcoming release, Locations I Can’t Place.”
31 | Nohokai | Catch the Wave
THE PRESS RELEASE: “With his upcoming new album Mixed Emotions looming on the horizon, Hawaiian-born MC/producer Nohokai has released the second single Catch the Wave featuring Gift of Gab. Nohokai has assembled an all-star cast of guests for the album that reads like a lineup worthy of a festival stage. Nohokai meshes his boom-bap production style with some venomous lyrical attack from the co-artists that have blessed this body of work with insane verses.”
32 | Maddox Jones | My House
THE PRESS RELEASE: “British singer and songwriter Maddox Jones teases more new music with My House, the second offering from his upcoming new EP Headspace set for release on July 10. “It’s a bit of a cathartic party anthem,” says Jones while asking “Can we have house parties yet Boris Johnson? … If you’re feeling nostalgic for a night out, or maybe even if lockdown has made you take a look at old habits that perhaps weren’t serving you, this is your new anthem. I wrote the bare bones of My House on the piano and then fleshed it out a bit with my close friend Dave Crawford before taking it to Louis Souyave who produced it. I have known Louis for years, since he was in Daytona Lights, we got back in touch and it turns out we are both on the same quest for truth and authenticity.”
33 | Trade Secrets | Burning Daylight
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Trade Secrets return with These Other Lives, a new multi-part musical series. Part One, a digital EP, is set for release July 10. These Other Lives Part One pushes Trade Secrets into new territory. The new series finds Trade Secrets further expanding their rich sonic palette, taking the listener on a cinematic journey of distance and desire in the digital age. “It’s about longing. For a connection to a person, to a place, or to a moment, no matter where, when or even how”, says TS founder F.J. DeSanto. Intimate and moody while retaining their electronic dance roots, Trade Secrets’ lush soundscapes and deep textures usher us through back alley bars, late night phone calls and the morning after.”
34 | Nils Lofgren | All God’s Children
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Willie Nile Uncovered (Celebrating 40 Years of Music) is a two-CD collection features 26 songs from the New York rocker’s history performed by an array of veteran and emerging artists, each putting their unique stamp on his songs. The Aug. 21 release set celebrates the brilliant songwriting of one of rock ’n’ roll’s unsung heroes, with Nils Lofgren, Graham Parker, Richard Barone, Richard Shindell, Elliott Murphy, Slaid Cleaves, Dan Bern and others interpreting Willie’s songs in a range of styles — rock, Americana, country, roots, folk and more. Here’s Nils Lofgren singing Nile’s All God’s Children. “I’ve been listening to Willie’s edgy, soulful rock ‘n’ roll for decades. Willie’s always delivered. When asked to sing a track for this wonderful compilation, I was thrilled the brilliant All God’s Children was still available for me to record. A song of hope for the ages, more poignant now then ever as our entire human race strives for equality and peace, through a startling and collective insanity of hellish greed and moral corruption.”
35 | Keegan Calmes | Broken Heart
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Singer-songwriter Keegan Calmes is perhaps known best as the front-man for Vinyl Theatre, but he’s back as a solo artist with a brand new single titled Broken Heart, a song about how love can continue to exist as a residue on your soul. Keegan says Broken Heart “is a culmination of a year of soul searching; Trying to pinpoint who I am and what is most important to me intrinsically. This is that ‘aha’ moment for me in trying to both define my sound and work through past emotions. It’s a song about loving someone after your love as ‘one’ has expired. And in that lingering love, you decide to always wish them the best. And when you see them again, to smile with love although your love together will never be again.”
36 | Cubgod | Save the World
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Cubgod is the experimental hip-hop project of Los Angeles native Aaron Silverstein. The project began in mid-2019 when he began making original beats for local artists and friends, then quickly decided to add his own vocals to the tracks to capture the exact feeling he was looking for. Says Cubgod: “‘Save the World is about being tired — tired of nothing changing, tired of not getting any answers, tired of waiting — and getting so fed up with how things are that you finally lift yourself off that comfy couch and decide to make those changes yourself. Pretending that all we need to do is come together and everything will suddenly be sunshine and delicious cornbread is living in denial. Naw bro, this song is me letting everyone know, especially myself, that I’m here and I’m going to do something… and I’ma save the world. Like, I’ma really try because I’m tired of waiting and this is the one time my giant ego is helpful because it really got me thinking I can make a difference.”
37 | Leela Gilday | Giants
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Award-winning singer-songwriter Leela Gilday shares her brand new single Giants. The new song co-written and produced by Hill Kourkoutis was written for the 2020 World Cup of Cross Country Skiing (which were unfortunately canceled). “In writing this piece I discussed the idea of resilience and strength passed down from our ancestors with Hill, which is how we ended up with Giants,” shares Leela. “It is the first time I have used my own language (Dene) in spoken form in a song. That was very special for me as I am just a beginner learner. My mother and my aunt did the translation and coached me in my pronunciation. It’s not perfect, but it’s me giving it my best effort.”
38 | Guerrilla Ghost | Wesley Snipes in Demolition Man
THE PRESS RELEASE: “On the heels of their debut album, 2018’s Perpetually Sad Motion Machine, Milwaukee hip-hop outfit Guerrilla Ghost have wasted no time in delivering a follow up. Exhibiting growth on multiple levels, the group presents the listener with Wesley Snipes in Demolition Man, a first look at the upcoming album, We Get What We Deserve. Wesley Snipes in Demolition Man finds Guerrilla Ghost expanding their sonic palette once again, with producer Tron Jovi crafting a rich and texturally dense backdrop, sounding like Pi’erre Bourne were producing for Godflesh or Trent Reznor producing for Playboi Carti. This unique cocktail of sounds allows room for growth on the vocal side, and Bad Graphics Ghost delivers a vocal performance that illustrates his development as an emcee, showcasing one of the group’s most memorable hooks yet.”
39 | Gold Star Gold Star | Talkin’ Need My Friends Blues
THE PRESS RELEASE: “On Introducing… Gold Star Gold Star’s debut LP set for release on Aug. 7, Adam Miller and Adam Obermeier’s take on classic radio pop shines in its studied precision, knowing subversive choices, and undeniable warmth. For their debut, the Chicago duo use the language of bands like The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and Motown acts and then twist the dial ever so slightly away from what you’d hear on AM radio. Gold Star Gold Star’s newest single, Talkin’ Need My Friends Blues, features a fluorescent fuzz guitar solo, and is inspired in part by the sound of mid-’60s Bob Dylan — mainly in the organ riffing throughout and the big descending chord progression.”
40+41 | Speed | A Dumb Dog Gets Flogged + Devil U Know
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Australian hardcore group Speed released their two-song flexi titled 2020 Flex, living up to their name through grooving and grindingly heavy hardcore that calls to mind the classics like Madball and Biohazard. Also in line with their name is their mission to continually move forward and reject complacency. Both new songs further that agenda from different angles, while A Dumb Dog Gets Flogged warns against the dangers of idle speech, stressing the importance of practicing what one preaches. Devil U Know deems a strong moral foundation as a true mark of strength, comparing complacency and nihilism to a sickness.”
42 | Sparkle Division | Oh Henry!
THE PRESS RELEASE: “Sparkle Division is the new union of William Basinski and Preston Wendel. A vibrant electronic fusion of lounge, experimental jazz, and gritty disco is maybe not the first thing you would expect to hear from one of the world’s most renowned modern composers and ambient tape loop pioneers, but upon first listen it makes so much sense that one wonders why it didn’t happen sooner. Oh Henry is Sparkle Division’s collaboration with and tribute to the otherworldly musician, poet, illustrator, philosopher, metaphysician, and educator, Henry Grimes, who suffered from Parkinson’s Disease and died of COVID-19 in a Harlem nursing home on April 15, 2020. One of his final studio recordings, Grimes contributed upright bass and violin to Oh Henry!”
