Did you notice how much awesome stuff was just released in January? If this is any sign of the music to come in 2019, this is going to be one sweet year. Here are five releases from last month that blew us away.
1/3: Black Pistol Fire: New Song, “Level”
We’re huge fans of Kevin McKeown and Eric Owen – the hard-rocking Austin-based duo who make up Black Pistol Fire – so we were pumped when they put out a new single just three days into 2019. “Level” is all the fire you’d expect from these badasses; a satisfying dose of raging drums and guitar fused with McKeown’s powerful vocals and lyrics. “You know you got the best of me, and you know all that’s left of me,” he sings in the new track, in a way that makes us crave their next album even more.
1/24: Vampire Weekend: New Songs, “Harmony Hall” & “2021”
A lot has gone down since 2013. In the long wait for new music from Vampire Weekend (though it didn’t feel that way to Ezra) the world has really changed – so hitting play and realizing they’ve continued prescient ideas from Modern Vampires of the City against scintillating new layers of sound, and bestowed two tracks upon us, is almost too much for a fan to handle. If you needed this pure pop as much as we did and want to hear next album Father of the Bride instantly, don’t forget, they’ve also given us “120 Minutes of Harmony Hall Guitars” to quench our thirst until spring.
1/31: King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard: New Song & Video, “Cyboogie”
Disclosure required: we love King Gizz so much that they could probably swerve in any direction musically, or collaborate with a loud, exotic bird, and we’d gobble it up as if they’ve been depriving us. They clearly haven’t been, releasing five full-length albums in 2017 and five reissues from their back catalogue in 2018, but their sound is so damn enticing, fans of the Australian psych rockers just can’t get enough. And where do we even start with “Cyboogie”? The fact that there’s not a guitar in sight and they’re tearing things up in an entirely new way…the costumes and facial expressions (especially Stu’s) in this righteously fuzzy, retro video…the fact that they instructed fans to bring a bike helmet to the midnight 7” release…the list goes on. Just enjoy.
1/31: Cage The Elephant: New Song & Video, “Ready To Let Go”
The last day of the month also brought us brand new music and wicked visuals from Cage The Elephant (a patient wait since 2017), and everything about this release is fantastic. From the band’s effortlessly cool groove, fitting right in with their hits, to the poignant lyrics delivered in Matt Shultz’ one-of-a-kind timbre (speaking to seriously tough real-life challenges), to the dark and bloody piece of art that is this video, we couldn’t be more excited to hear the Kentucky rockers’ fifth studio album – Social Cues, due out April 19th – and are repeating this to death in the meantime.
1/31: Matt Jaffe: New Video, “Wicked World”
With all the cool things released on the last day of January, we were really proud to be a part of the action and premiere this amazing new music video from Matt Jaffe, created by Oscar-nominated animator Bill Plympton. We can’t stop watching this savage masterpiece, which accompanies “Wicked World” – from Jaffe’s latest album, The Spirit Catches You – based on “a time when Carrie Fisher was still alive. A time when Donald Trump hadn’t yet transitioned from villain to supervillain. A time when Carrie accused Donald of doing cocaine after one of his debate performances,” as the Cali-based singer-songwriter/guitarist explained. There are so many details to enjoy in this hypnotic animation, and the ultra-catchy song will keep bringing you back.
Article: Olivia Isenhart
