The Flamingos Pink strap themselves in, Skallbank turn ping-pong into a contact sport, King Nun get a case of the cramps, Z Berg are down to skin and bones, Love Gang play dead, Thelonious Monster vanish before your eyes and much, much more in your Friday Roundup. Here’s my Halloween treat to you: The biggest collection of videos and singles I’ve ever posted (until the next one, anyway).
ON REPEAT
1 | The Flamingos Pink | Bloodstrap
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Just in time for Halloween, Montreal rock ’n’ roll duo, The Flamingos Pink unleash their haunting new video for Bloodstrap. “Visually, it’s is a cross between The Ramones and Thriller,” they say about the video, which was created with long-time friend and teammate, Renaud Lefebvre-Ganne. “We’ve been working with Renaud on all things visual for the band and we’re stoked for the future. Feels like it’s starting to click!”
2 | Skallbank | Stockholms Blodbad
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Skallbank makes rock ’n’ roll great again! The Swedish rockers have just released the new single Stockholms Blodbad, and their crazy video is the best thing you’ll watch today! Skallbank deliver a unique sound by blending classic rock ‘n’ roll riffs with growling vocals. For fans of Kvelertak, The Hellacopters and Turbonegro.”
3 | King Nun | Human Fly
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “In celebration of Halloween, King Nun have shared a suitably spooky live cover of The Cramps’ Human Fly. It was filmed live at the band’s South West London rehearsal space, and forms the latest in their King Nun Live Again series. Frontman Theo Polyzoides says: “The Cramps inspired us in a big way early on, and we’ve been meaning to cover this particular song for a while. We love it because it’s fucked.”
4 | Z Berg | Skin and Bones (ft. Shamir)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “In honor of spooky season, Z Berg present the deliriously and hilariously macabre, neon-lit acid-trip that is Skin and Bones. Directed by Molly Adams, the video was filmed at the studio of L.A. artist, Max Hooper Schneider, whose disturbing and delightful dystopian dioramas Berg finds herself lost inside.”
5 | Love Gang | Dead Man’s Game
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Denver’s psychedelic rock ‘n’ rollers Love Gang unleash their fiery ’60s-inspired video for Dead Man’s Game, the title track off their latest album. Fire-driven solos, shredding organ and flute melodies and catchy hooks: enter Love Gang’s ecstatic and psychedelic world immediately! The video was edited by Cristian Vega and harkens back to old Beat- Club videos, with plenty of psychedelic imagery flashing behind as the band rips along at full tilt.”
6 | Thelonious Monster | Disappear
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “L.A. rock band Thelonious Monster will release Oh The Monster, their first alum in 16 years, on Nov. 3 (Election Day). Today the band reveal their latest single Disappear. Thelonious Monster’s Bob Forrest says: “Disappear is a song about death. When you die, you disappear. Too many of our friends have disappeared. It is in remembrance of them. And also a wake up call to ourselves and the listener. That this existence does end. Live life. Now. Don’t wait for tomorrow.life is precious. Don’t waste time being a victim or a zombie. Open your eyes. Your heart. And open your mind to life! For someday you will disappear.”
7 | Baby Shakes | Sweet ’n’ Sour Part 2
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “This is the first of two singles where Brooklyn’s Baby Shakes take tunes from The Undertones’ songwriters Damian O’Neill and Billy Doherty and stamp their imprint all over them. Sweet ’n’ Sour (Part 2) takes a key track from Damian’s 2018 solo LP Refit, Revise, Reprise and transforms it from slinky T. Rex to stomping Sweet glam-rock pomp.”
8 | Daniel Lanois | (Under The) Heavy Sun
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Songwriter and producer Daniel Lanois has announced a new album for April 2021, Heavy Sun. He has also shared the first single from the album — (Under The) Heavy Sun. “We want to lift people’s spirits with this music,” says Lanois. “It’s so easy to feel isolated right now, but we want everyone to feel included in what we’re doing.”
9 | Uschi Tala | Warriors of Darkness, Wielders of Light
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “B.C. multi-instrumentalist and looping artist Uschi Tala releases a video for Warriors of Darkness, Wielders of Light, an epic, dark fantasy and visual metaphor on the conflict between nature and man, marginalization and aggression. The track appears on their forthcoming debut full-length Between the Veil, set for release Nov. 13. Says Tala: “Human existence persists in both the light and dark. We cannot have one without the other, and yet we must find peace and balance to coexist with one another.”
10 | Mellah | Hitchin
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Mellah shares the video for his new single, Hitchin. The surreal clip is a self-directed Merman odyssey, a fish-out-of-water tale featuring cameo appearances from a host of Mellah’s friends and collaborators. In Mellah’s words, “Hitchin is about relinquishing control. Forever pining and searching and digging for contentment, meaning and joy when in reality it’s in your back pocket, all you need to do is stop looking for it to notice the free ride.”
11 | Helicon | Bardo Thodol
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “With it being Halloween this week, Glasgow’s Helicon went and released a suitably chilling new video for Bardo Thodol, a track taking its name from the Tibetan Book of the Dead. Bardo Thodol is lifted from the band’s This Can Only Lead To Chaos LP, released earlier this year.”
12 | Laura Carbone | Who’s Gonna Save You
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Laura Carbone’s third studio album was set to be recorded in May, but things came to a halt when the world went into lockdown. Instead an idea emerged — What if Rockpalast would let us release our show as a live album? That’s what Laura Carbone Live at Rockpalast is. The album will be released digitally Dec 4. Who’s Gonna Save You is the first single.”
13 | Marie Davidson & L’Œil Nu | Back to Rock
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Marie Davidson & L’Œil Nu unveil a video for Back To Rock, off their album Renegade Breakdown. It’s one of the first tracks they recorded as a trio, and the track became a kind of blueprint for them to distil their various influences into new and exciting forms. Directed by Loïc Darses, the cinematic short film sets Marie in an empty nightclub at the end of her last live club set. The video follows her on a physical and metaphorical journey of self-imposed exile as she drags her massive road case behind her, like Sisyphus’s burden.”
ALSO ON THE PLAYLIST
14 | Riotron | Dark Highway
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Riotron return with Dark Highway, an evocative slice of retrowave pop coupled with a cinematically lush video directed by Gianennio Salucci. According to Riotron’s Jeff Fettes, “Dark Highway is a metaphor for all the bad decisions we make. You’re going too fast, you’re out of control but you don’t stop. And then suddenly you can’t stop. For the video I wanted to pay tribute to some of my favorite ’80s videos. There’s horror, sci-fi, and even some hand drawn animation.”
15 | Downtown Mischief | Fall Into The Sky
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “West Coast collective Downtown Mischief are vibing their way through the pandemic with Fall Into The Sky, the second single from their album Galactic Mantis, out Nov. 13. “Fall into the Sky was written in the studio,” says Poppa Phat Smile. “At first we thought it may be too “happy”, but then we just gave in to the joy and started to float with the music.”
16 | Ghøstkid | Yøu & I
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Ghøstkid is the new namesake of Sebastian “Sushi“ Biesler (formerly Eskimo Callboy) and a conspiracy of friends and likeminded allies. Today marks the release of the next song and video taken from their self-titled debut album. Ghøstkid comments: “Yøu & I is probably the most personal track on the record and based on a true story. It’s the story about a close person who is in a coma … The video is a metaphoric walk through the coma world. It’s about finding a way out of it together, about support and about help.”
17 | Dark Tranquillity | The Dark Unbroken
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Swedish metal pioneers Dark Tranquillity present The Dark Unbroken, the final single from their seventh album Moment, out Nov. 20. They say: “The Dark Unbroken shows the city as we’ve seen it this year and it reflects our longing to be back on a stage together. Shot in part at the beautiful Stora Teatern that has stood in the center of Gothenburg since 1859, this serves as a transition to our upcoming streamed live show from the very same stage.”
18 | Muca & La Marquise | October Blues
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Muca & La Marquise unveil their third single October Blues. The track blends a beautiful blues tone with a melancholic sadness, which echos the likes of Jeff Buckley alongside Pink Floyd’s Shine on You Crazy Diamond. The music video is based on Tiago’s comic book The Liquid Mystery and The Solid Fatality.”
19 | Demonstealer | This Crumbling Earth
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Sahil Makhija aka Demonstealer’s EP And This Too Shall Pass is all set for release on Dec. 11. Keeping with his tradition of releasing songs in a chronological order, Makhija has unveiled a video for the first single This Crumbling Earth. Makhija comments, “Every day the news gets more and more depressing, you see the horrible side of humans, how we’re almost regressing as a species.”
20 | Diamond Head | Am I Evil?
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Diamond Head’s Lightning To The Nations 2020 arrives on Nov. 27. Am I Evil? is the second single. Founding member Brian Tatler reminisces: “Am I Evil? is one of the songs that Metallica covered.”
21 | Yukon Blonde | Good Times
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “In two weeks, Yukon Blonde will release their fifth LP Vindicator. Today, they are sharing a fifth track from the album, Good Times, which James Younger claims is “pure collaboration. The lyrics were spontaneous and fictional, and we all had a shot at singing … We just thought it was funny to talk about being at home all bummed out, while you think your partner is out having a good time.”
22 | Ryland Moranz | If I Had Wings
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Folk singer-songwriter Ryland Moranz releases of If I Had Wings, the first single from his album XO, 1945, out Jan. 15. “If I Had Wings is a song about finding what you love and deciding to do that thing for the rest of your life,” says Ryland. “I’ve found lots of things to love during my short time on earth, and aviation blends them all together.”
23 | Nikki Glaspie | Sinister (feat. Raydar Ellis)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Nikki Glaspie is one of the most preeminent drummers on the planet. With her touring schedule grinding to a halt during the coronavirus pandemic, Glaspie got to work on a new project entitled The iPhone Sessions. Glaspie present her very first solo release and single, a collaboration with DJ, producer and educator Raydar Ellis. The blistering track takes aim at the leader-in-chief and could not drop at a more appropriate time than right before this critical election day.”
24 | Social Club Misfits | Is That Okay?
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Social Club Misfits have released their album Feared By Hell, which they say “embodies the reality that we are Loved by Heaven and Feared by Hell. This album is a genre-bend of hip-hop, Latin, and pop with massive hooks. We feel like this is the best music we have ever made, and all during quarantine!”
25 | Gianna Lauren | Closed Chapter
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “It’s the same old story that I can’t tell,” sings Gianna Lauren on Closed Chapter, abandoning the jaunty melody she began with for a pulsing, dramatic drumbeat and expansive horns. Her own voice joins, then other voices, calling back on a loop, mimicking the patterns of a doomed relationship she’s finally learned to let go of — and you hear that exact moment, because the jaunty melody comes back for the final seconds, a bookend, maybe a kiss-off.”
26 | Patrick Watson | Lost With You
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Patrick Watson unveils his new track and video Lost With You. Recorded during the pandemic, Patrick felt the urge to reach out to his fans and offer a little comfort. “I wanted to share this song with you,” says Patrick, “I hope it keeps you good company … I’m not going to lie but finally my embarrassing rollerblading skills came in handy to film this. Homemade covid videos are very fun to make.”
27 | Frank Turner & Jon Snodgrass | The Fleas
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Frank Turner & Jon Snodgrass present The Fleas, the latest track to be lifted from collaborative album Buddies II: Still Buddies, out Nov. 13. “There is nothing wrong with the planet, the planet is fine … the people are f***ed,” said the late George Carlin in one of his most famous jokes. As the apocalypse looms, Turner & Snodgrass reflect on Carlin’s classic Saving The Planet routine here.”
28 | Ghxst | U R My Night
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Grunge-noise duo Ghxst will release their new EP Dark Days on Nov. 16. U R My Night is the third single taken from the EP, and it was written as a celebration of nighttime in Los Angeles. The guitars are a tribute to The Velvet Underground and Jesus And Mary Chain — two of the duo’s forever influences.”
29 | Linn | Happy Metal
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Following the announcement of her forthcoming debut EP Happy Metal, Danish DIY musician and producer Linn has shared the title track from the record. She says it’s “a song about trying not to take things too seriously and being a little less pretentious. In Danish we have a saying that goes something like ‘it’s not a matter of what happens to you, but how you cope with it.’ I wrote a verse and it seemed a little dark and depressing, so I wanted to twist it with a bit of humor.”
30 | Anna Straker | Boys Will Be Boys
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Anna Straker has gone from strength to strength in recent months. Her new track Boys Will Be Boys looks poised to make the biggest impact of the lot. “Boys Will Be Boys’is my feminist anthem to tear down the patriarchy,” explains Anna. “After recovering from a sexual assault last year, I realised what men are really capable of and this sarcastic anthem is my angry response to the double standards we face as women.”
31 | Sofiane Pamart | Berlin
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Sofiane Pamart is back with his latest poetic composition and video Berlin, from the new album Planet Gold. The video’s passionate imagery is a perfect match for Pamart’s moody and expressive playing. Planet Gold follows last year’s critically acclaimed Planet — featuring the album’s original 12 songs plus six new compositions, each named after cities and places that inspire him.”
32 | Dylan Rouda | Hey You
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “By age 17, after moving to Malibu for a few years with his family, Dylan started his professional career in Laguna Beach. After high school, Dylan attended school at Berklee College of Music, where he continued to develop as a musician. Dylan continues to perform, write, and record around Los Angeles, where he currently resides.”
33 | Marenna-Meister | I Don’t Wanna Lose You
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Marenna-Meister debut the video for I Don’t Wanna Lose You, from their recent debut album Out Of Reach. “We wanted a kind of ‘revival’ to everything that we have done all these years, but with our face and our impression of today. With all our experience we realized that there is a very specific niche of people who connect with this nostalgic atmosphere, and who, in a way, look for materials in this style, that is, or, as a rule, a disc.”
34 | Brayden Alexander | Queen
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “As the world becomes attuned to the extraordinary R&B/Soul superstars that Canada has to offer, Toronto’s Brayden Alexander leads the next generation with his debut record Honey, and the album’s first single/music video for the sexy Queen. Incorporating alternative R&B with a deeply introspective rap style, Alexander employs his falsetto to stunning effect, while his poetically thoughtful lyrical flow dominates, breathing a new vibrancy into the genre.”
35 | Sunny War | Orange Man
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Sunny War is more than just an artist; she is a force of nature that is tough to pin down. What exactly is her style? Blues or punk? Yes, she may be a Robert Johnson with a shot of Bad Brains, but even this description falls short. The only way to really know Sunny is to immerse oneself in the music. Easy enough, right? Sunny War’s brutal song about the Orange Man is out now, along with its accompanying video.”
36 | Terry Uyara | Inuugannuk
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Terry Uyara’s debut solo album Nunarjua Isulinginniani has been released to the world. To celebrate, the acclaimed Nunavut artist is sharing the video for Inuugannuk.“It is about how stories that my parents and my late grandma used to tell me about things that seemed little but eventually became so useful in my life. Their little quotes became my instructions on Inuit ways and have evolved over their experiences.”
37 | Kiey | Piccadilly
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Based in the heart of Vietnam, electro-pop artist Kiey has targeted very different surroundings for his single Piccadilly. Taking inspiration from the place he spent three years studying, Kiey’s atmospheric, dreamy track is the perfect introduction to an artist whose music transcends culture and will hit home with listeners wherever they are.”
38 | Mors Subita | Extinction Era
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Thundering drums, and crushing bass lines shape Mors Subita. Today, the band from Oulu in Northern Finland launched their fourth single Overthrown from the new album Extinction Era.”The album as a whole is quite well-balanced and versatile. Musically it´s the perfect mixture of beauty and brutality,” says guitarist Mika Lammassaari. “The riffs are in the center of the songs, and the album conveys energy, lots of it.”
39 | Big Ideas | The American Dream
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “London-based Big Ideas announce the Nov. 26 release of the EP The American Dream. “Whilst writing, we had the idea for a song that commented on two realities that exist in the world today,” the band said. “The American Dream embodies that drive to improve life for the individual–on the surface, easy to understand … like our song. But that short sightedness ignores challenges that can only be solved as a collective. The dream you’re sold isn’t always the reality you end up paying for.”
40 | Boy Blue | Ghost of Saturday Night (ft. Jaret Reddick)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Bloomfield, N.J. pop/rock band Boy Blue have dropped a new single titled Ghost Of Saturday Night (ft. Jaret Reddick of Bowling For Soup). Guitarist Joe Moretti says, “The song title is taken from a Tom Waits lyric, and the song is kind of an interpretation of what that means. It’s about the almost depressing feeling that you get the day after a party with all of your friends when you wake up hungover and everything is just a mess. You wonder if you’ll ever be able to get that high of happiness from the night before ever again, and that feeling really haunts you.”
41 | Mnkybsnss | All Nite All Nite (ft. Life On Planets)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Alt-electronic Colombian duo Mnkybsnss release All Nite All Nite, featuring Baltimore musician Life On Planets. The pair say: “All Nite All Nite shows a fresh new layer of us as a duo. The song flows both smoothly and energetically with colorful riffs filled with groove and an imposing bassline, which is a trademark of ours. Life on Planets gives the song the perfect touch with his funky house vocals.”
42 | Tourists | Another State
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “As Tourists prepare to release their debut album, they release the title-track Another State. Tourists say: “It’s about drifting off to another state of mind, the highs and lows, paranoia it can lead to in a relationship for example. But ultimately the importance it has for your wellbeing to experience it and disconnect with the world for brief blissful moments.”
43 | Brocarde | Twisted
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Multi-faceted rock artist Brocarde unveils the acoustic version of her recent single Twisted. In her worlds: “Twisted is an anthem to diminish all boxes and preconceived notions and a rally cry to tear up the rule book, a refusal to be limited by others imaginations. It’s an anthem for all those who feel judged and misrepresented.”
https://youtu.be/WqD_1TAWwmk
44 | Garagedays | To My Soul
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Austrian metal quartet Garagedays release To My Soul, the second single from their album Something Black (Nov. 13). With this track they prove that they can not only swing the heavy club at full power, but also get under the skin, which the great video shows!”
45 | Clouds Taste Satanic | Funeral For A Friend
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Instrumental quartet Clouds Taste Satanic are back with The Satanic Singles Series, covers of tunes that have had a profound influence on the band, but are not necessarily metal. Volume 1, out this month, features Funeral For A Friend (yes, the Elton John song).”
46 | The Last Bandoleros | Chupacabra
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Ever since the members of San Antonio-forged, Tex-Mex/Pop-Rock outfit The Last Bandoleros can remember, they’ve been surrounded by dynamic and diverse musical influences — and the sounds around the members of The Last Bandoleros have always had an urgency and emphasis on songs and songwriting. To celebrate Halloween, they just released the new single and video Chupacabra.”
https://youtu.be/T2n8NjiHidI
47 | The Staple Singers | Respect Yourself
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Here’s a new lyric video for The Staple Singers’ soulful 1971 anthem Respect Yourself. The captivating visualizer pairs archival photos from the Civil Rights Movement with contemporary images from the Black Lives Matter protests — because now as then, this song’s message of self-respect, tolerance and empowerment provides a compass for navigating times of political tumult and upheaval.”
48 | Sodom | Indoctrination
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Genesis XIX is the impending studio offering from German thrash metal veterans Sodom, set for release on Nov. 27. In advance, the band releases their lyric video for second single Indoctrination.”
49 | Scour | Doom
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Scour — the extreme metal supergroup featuring Philip H. Anselmo — will release The Black EP on Black Friday, Nov. 27. “The latest Scour is the best Scour,” proclaims Anselmo. First, the band is pleased to offer up opening crusher Doom for public feasting. The track includes guest vocals by Jason Momoa and a guitar solo by Erik Rutan.”
50 | Maggie Lindemann | Scissorhands
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Songstress Maggie Lindemann is making the most of this COVID Halloween. She just released an infectious Edward Scissorhands-themed track Scissorhands, along with a video. Remember — Whenever candlelights flicker where the air is deathly still — that is the time when ghosts are present, practising their terror with ghoulish delight!”
51 | Lonelyouth | In The Deep
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Hard-hitting Nashville rockers Lonelyouth are back with their newest and heaviest release, In The Deep. Guitarist Josh Dawn says, “In the Deep brings to mind the sweat and blood-covered basement show where you get punched in the face with rhythms and melodies big enough to get an arena airborne. This song rattles your bones and peaks those adrenaline levels.”
52 | CamelPhat x Lowes | Easier
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Multi-platinum duo CamelPhat have released their debut album Dark Matter. In line with the release, CamelPhat have also shared their new single Easier. The track features Lancaster band Lowes and is topped with the powerhouse vocals of frontwoman Evie Plumb.”
53 | Sonny | Place I Love
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Stirring timeless influences with modern pop sensibilities, 21-year-old Sonny offers something a little different in the current landscape. While he’s best known for his laidback ballads, his new single Place I Love presents a much bigger sound. “Place I Love is about my hometown South Shields. Growing up with the amazing Geordie nightlife and my group of friends. I always miss it when I’m away from home.”
54 | Meg Warren | If I Can’t Do It The Way I Want, Then I Don’t Want To Do It At All
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Toronto singer-songwriter Meg Warren’s EP A Thousand Ways is out on Nov. 27. Today, she shares a powerful statement on the single If I Can’t Do It The Way I Want, Then I Don’t Want To Do It At All. Meg says, “Coming up in the music industry in my 20s, I was bombarded with unhealthy messages about constant ’hustling’ and ‘grinding’ and ‘outworking the competition’. After turning 30 (and not spontaneously combusting or whatever else I thought was going to happen to me as a woman in the music industry), I made a deal with myself.”
55 | Dethonator | Beautiful In Death
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Beautiful In Death is the fifth movement from Detonator’s upcoming album Race Against The Sun: Part Two, due Nov. 27. “Beautiful In Death is a gothic ballad of sorts”, explain Dethonator. “It was chosen because of the immediacy of its chorus. We’ve never really had a ballad before, so this is something a bit different for us — at least until it turns into a riff avalanche in the midsection.”
56 | Danika Smith | Sweet Mellow D
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Soul-skewed indie folk artist Danika Smith revealsher gorgeous new single Sweet Mellow D and its video accompaniment. Filmed during the short relief between Melbourne’s strict lockdowns earlier in the year, the Sweet Mellow D video whisks the listener deeper into the honey stick melodies of Danika’s evocative siren-like songwriting; its multilayered ocean waves and rolling clouds passing over the viewer as her delicate refrains do the listener.”
57 | The Dollyrots | Monster Mash
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “It’s Halloween time! If you don’t have it yet, here’s our cover of Monster Mash! Add it to yer spooky playlists for this weekend… and HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!!”
58 | Ratso | Skeleton Tree
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Larry “Ratso” Sloman released his debut album Stubborn Heart last year. Today, he returns with a cover of his friend Nick Cave’s affecting Skeleton Tree. Ratso says: “When Skeleton Tree was released, a brilliant first attempt at coming to terms with the death of a son by his father, I knew I had to incorporate the song into my set as some small gesture of my love.”
59 | Jewel | Race Car Driver (Outtake)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Jewel unveils a previously unreleased outtake of Race Car Driver from the forthcoming 25th anniversary reissue of her breakthrough debut Pieces of You, out Nov. 20. “I knew it was going to be a slow process, but I also saw a change in the zeitgeist,” Jewel recalls of that time in her career. “Grunge was a tectonic shift in the culture, but you can’t live in cynicism forever.”
60 | Executive Order | Wicked
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Executive Order is an eclectic, genre-defying band out of Honolulu. Their new single explores how temptation can summon wickedness differently, depending on the person. As lyricist Joseph Olson puts it, “Wicked can mean different things to different people and in different contexts. Wicked-fun, as in a night on the town leading to a raging hang-over; the wicked-goodness of eating a decadent dessert; or the wicked inner voice saying ‘do it’ while actions remain ‘appropriate.’ ”
61 | Rothwell | Not In Love
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Bristol singer-songwriter Rothwell releases hypnotic new single Not In Love and continues to make waves with her entrancing brand of emotive, well crafted pop offerings. Rothwell says: “Sometimes simplicity is best, and I feel like this song is exactly that, emotive, heart-breaking and epic in its delivery. I hope you all love it as much as I do.”
62 | Grande Royale | Carry On
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Grande Royale are back with Carry On, the titular first single from the band’s upcoming fifth album. The single clearly shows the new direction of the band: Rawer, simpler, back to basics. The new songs are catchy, straightforward, and reek of garage rock energy.”
63 | Color Palette | Normal Life
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Color Palette are an Electro Rock/Synth Pop band from Washington, DC. They released their debut album Vaporwave in May 2016. They take experiences like heartbreak and love, and together turn them into something mystical and inviting.”
64 | Bas Rotten | Surge
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “On Nov. 20, Bas Rotten will release the explosive grindcore assault of Surge. That flawless moment when this small, sweating microcosm of the world explodes in perfect synchronicity … the beat hits, the riff breaks, the front man leaps, the lights blaze, the alcohol ignites in your brain and the pit erupts as one. For a fraction of a second it seems to freeze, coalesce into an immaculate, momentary memory that will stay with you forever – and then chaos reigns; glorious, joyous, violent chaos.”
65+66 | Parlour Music | Phantom West + Ville Rose
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Parlour Magic is the project of Luc Bokor-Smith, a media artist, composer, and producer from New York City. The album The Fluid Neon Origami Trick comes out Dec. 4. In Bokor-Smith’s own words, “Origami is a distinctly Vegas record, although I never intended it to be. Looking back at a world that I’m not sure will ever fully exist again, full of second-hand smoke and crowded craps tables, I’m glad that I have this record to serve as a personal relic of it.”
67 | Sam Eagle | Think Twice
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “21-year old multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Sam Eagle shares a new single from his forthcoming EP Something Out Of Nothing. Think Twice merges Sam’s leftfield neo-soul phrasings with a subtle modern psych inflection. Sam says, “The song is about the feelings of just before the start of a new relationship with someone, the feeling of safety and being completely in the moment with the other person.”
68 | Matthew Chaim | Sand
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Sand is the new track from Matthew Chaim. Sand is a breakup story. A week after Chaim and his girlfriend broke up in 2018, he jumped in his car and drove from Montreal to LA. The next day, he wrote Sand. From Matthew: “Writing Sand was like writing a stern yet loving letter to the both of us, saying that we can eventually move on and get over each other. We can make new plans and find new people, and the hardened emotions and memories will one day soften into something as light and weightless as sand.”
69 | Bassically | Prepare For It
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Stranded in quarantine on a remote beach in Thailand, Raz Olsher took lockdown as an opportunity to write a track a day for the entire month of April — now known as Audio Diaries. The latest single is the intriguingly philosophical Prepare For It. The cut features thoughtful vox pops making way for flourishing bass loaded beats.”
70 | Kristiane | Wish I Could Be Your Girl
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Kristiane is an L.A. singer/songwriter who has spent the last few years developing an eccentric, jarring approach to pop/rock. Her new single Wish I Could Be Your Girl “feels like a teenage fantasy, but ultimately, its intent is much more weighted. This song to me isn’t about literally wanting to be somebody’s girl, but rather wanting to fit the archetype of the kind of partner that’s easy to be with, uncomplicated.”
71 | Matthew Sweet | At A Loss
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “On his 15th album Catspaw, due out Jan. 15, Matthew Sweet cranks his vintage amplifiers and steps into a role previously played by some of his generation’s most unique and incendiary lead guitarists, from Richard Lloyd (Television) to Robert Quine (Lou Reed) and Ivan Julian (Richard Hell & The Voidoids). Though Catspaw is absent of his famous collaborators, their presence is felt in the mark they left on Sweet’s guitar work. His solos are audacious, confrontational, and inspired.”
72 | Michael C.Duguay | Candy Store (Jeremy Parkin Reprise)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Michael C. Duguay shares the latest track from his forthcoming The Winter of Our Discotheque (Reprise), a compilation of Canadian artists performing interpretations, remixes, and covers of the songs from his album The Winter of Our Discotheque. Candy Store features a remix by Jeremy Parkin, a 23-year-old music producer from Whitehorse, YT. Says Duguay: “I think that Jeremy is one of the most exciting and important artists coming up in Canada.”
73 | Katie Wood | Where Have You Been?
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “British singer/songwriter Katie Wood blends her love for both past and present to create something new. Where Have You Been? depicts feelings of being infatuated with someone and not knowing how to deal with those emotions. Wood confides, “It’s hard to admit sometimes when you’re in love for whatever reason … it can make you feel uneasy.”
74 | Kadeema | I Want To Break Free
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Ontario duo Kadeema have already shared classic covers of Duran Duran and Elton John hits. They are now wrapping up the string of covers with I Want To Break Free by Queen. The band reimagined how Queen might have done it if they were a new band in 2020, showing how timeless the song is.”
75 | Boys of Fall | Worth It
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Detroit quintet Boys Of Fall will release their album Distance on Nov. 20. Today they have drop Worth It. Vocalist Michael Martenson says, “Distance really talks about change. The lengths we travel in our lives through so many situations that bring you to where you are now. It’s very personal to all of us and was the most honest expression of who we are as a band today.”
76 | Lucas Nord | Call You Up Again
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Dance producer Lucas Nord has released his EP Boy Restless, which includes the track Call You Up Again. Nord elaborates: “After a long break of not doing any solo stuff and just writing and producing for other people, I started thinking about working on some type of project for me. But this time the project would be more of a “producer/artist” project rather than me singing.”
77 | Louise Burns | Clowns (Odile Myrtil Remix)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Louise Burns’ single Clowns gets the remix treatment from renowned Montreal artist Odile Myrtil. It forms part of Louise’s forthcoming EP Silhouettes, an instrumental companion to her 2019 LP Portraits. Odile says “When I received the song, I got a real new wave feel from it. For the remix, I expanded on that aspect while making the song more dance oriented. By rearranging my favorite lyrics and using a kick-snare beat, I wanted to echo the ’90s era of pop dance remixes I grew up in.”
78 | Ryal | Thunder (Solo on the Dancefloor)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Ryal‘s new single Thunder (Solo on the Dancefloor) is dedicated to the memory of lead singer Jacques’ friend/former college roommate who passed from COVID earlier this year. Her friend was a drag queen in New York who was at his “prime” in the scene in the ’90s. The song is reminiscent of the ’90s club scene vibe and speaks to the need for “safe spaces” during the pandemic, especially in the LGBTQ community.”
79 | Airports | Loser
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Aaron Lee aka Airports defines DIY alt-pop. His latest single Loser leans into his ever-evolving and often sarcastic social perspective. Airports shares, “It’s when you look back and realise how bad a person made you feel for trying to love them, a fun & sarcastic take on the drama of it all.”
80 | Lone Kodiak | Bones
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Indie-rock trio Lone Kodiak release their newest electrifying single Bones, which they call “a happy, happy accident. We were experimenting with intros for our live set; we took one of our previous songs, slowed it down, and reversed it (which is what you’ll hear at the beginning). We were totally captivated by this melody we kept hearing, and two hours later, we had a new song.”
81 | Francis Aud | Codeine Kiss
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “N.Y.C. funk-pop artist Francis Aud has released his infectious new single Codeine Kiss, which is just what the doctor ordered when it comes to feeling good, letting out all of that pent-up summer energy, and treating yourself to that Zoom dance party that you deserve. “It’ll definitely help you do something with all of that bootyshake-energy you’ve got stored up and help you groove your way out of this year and into the next.”
82 | Roman Clarke | I Hate Myself
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Touring musician-turned-producer Roman Clarke doesn’t shy away from the truths he has faced on his latest single I Hate Myself. The single talks about a familiar issue — how the music industry promotes addiction. He says: “I Hate Myself is another song that deals with a prominent theme in my life: addiction and escapism, except this time I’m pointing out how the music industry thrives off of people with addiction issues and mental health struggles.”
83 | Theo Bard | Rhythm In The Night
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “With his debut album Now I Am King due early next year, London producer Theo Bard reveals his second single Rhythm In The Night, an ode to life. He tells us: “So many people are struggling right now, and focused on the daily grind of their lives, and the things they need to do to survive. This song is an escape — a chance to forget your cares and connect to times when you’ve felt the highs of life.”
84 | Noprism | Happiness
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Noprism is the stage name for Newcastle-based masterminds Andrew Young and Mark Nelson. Channeling electronica-infused pop with hints of modern funk and ’80s new wave; the pair return with their highly anticipated new single Happiness. Young says: “We didn’t want to overthink it … I kind of like the way the 2 choruses bookend the middle sections, which are a bit of a free-for-all. It fits the theme of the song sounding almost absent-minded and distracted.”
85 | Georgia Black | Repeat & Play
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Georgia Black is a contemporary Blues singer from North London. She wrote Repeat & Play at a time in her life when she felt stuck, like a record on repeat. Through effortless, smoky vocals, haunting harmonies and mellow melodies, the musician has crafted a laid-back song to ease the soul.”
86 | Evan Isaac | Dark Room
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Evan Isaac’s newest album Dogwood Dignitaries Listen to the Baby is forthcoming. The album is preceded by the single Dark Room. “The first batch of these songs were written at a very turbulent time in my life,” Evan says. “When we get to a certain point in our lives we sometimes have to assess how, where, and with whom we spend our time. There was a period of intense creativity after that and fleshing out these songs was almost surreal.”
87+88 | Jimbo Mathus | Possession + Zombified
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Singer-songwriter, Squirrel Nut Zippers frontman and all-around Mississippi roots-rock legend Jimbo Mathus delivers not one but two tunes for your Halloween sack. Check out Possession and Zombified.”
89 | Science Man | Give The Ghost To Me
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Buffalo lab rat Science Man is back with a new LP Science Man II on Nov. 6. SM II cranks the gas and doubles the dose on the maniac fronted, drum-machine driven, relentless guitar attack that was his 2019 self-titled debut. Imagine if Hot Snakes started playing basement gigs with weirdo hardcore bands after listening to Big Black and Judas Priest in the van all day.”
90 | Jesus Piece | Punish (Kilbourne Remix)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Philadelphia metallic hardcore quintet Jesus Piece present a remix of Punish by Ashe Kilbourne. “Jesus Piece is always about bridging the gaps of all extreme music facets,” the band writes. “Kilbourne is not only our friend, but one of the only real gabber techno producers coming out of the USA. We trusted her vision with maintaining the energy and rawness of our song. She destroyed it and created a new level of pain.”
91 | Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar | Sacrifice
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar have released Sacrifice, from their Nov. 20 album The Reckless One. Samantha says: “Sacrifice is written about a person trying to right their wrongdoings in relationships with flowers and gifts when the damage has already been done and the person has already checked out. It basically sums up the end of every relationship I have ever had.”
92 | Sarah Buxton | Some Things Don’t Change
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Sarah Buxton will share her voice and songs with the world with the release of Signs Of Life, her first solo album in almost a decade. Today, Buxton released Some Things Don’t Change, a pulsing, groovy pop tune-meets-commentary on the reciprocal nature of humanity. “Every time there’s a new style, old folks say it’s too wild.”
93 | Gillian Heidi | Wonderin’ (ft. Michael Christmas)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Rising pop singer-songwriter Gillian Heidi is revealing her new single Wonderin’ (ft. Michael Christmas). Inspired by the buzzing local music scene in her hometown of Boston, Heidi tapped fellow Bostonian Christmas for her new single. ”I’ve actually been a fan of Michael for a while,” Heidi writes, “I absolutely love his style and how creative it is.”
94 | Kruder & Dorfmeister | Swallowed The Moon
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Legendary trip-hop duo Kruder & Dorfmeister release their latest single Swallowed The Moon, from their long-awaited album 1995, set to drop on Nov. 13. Like a dancer taking delicate steps through time, Swallowed The Moon is dreamily unhurried. Take a step backstage with the dancer, to where the drinks flow freely and a sense of wonder fills the air.”
95+96 | The Nagging Doubts | Berlin + Marine
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Sydney’s The Nagging Doubts preview their upcoming EP Autocalm with the double A-side release Berlin and Marine. Berlin and Marine hint at what is to come from the EP; a feast of diverse sounds, and a young band showing they are not afraid of travelling to all points of the compass to find their sound.”
97 | Dani Stevenson | Sugar Honey Ice Tea (ft. Shya L’Amour)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Remember Nelly’s Hot in Herre? Of course you do. The woman singing that breathy, catchy chorus was Dani Stevenson, and now she’s back with her own Sugar Honey Ice Tea, ft. Shya L’Amour. Stevenson says: “Sugar Honey Ice Tea is about the people who always have something to say with the intent to bring other people down. The song says, if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it at all!”
