CHARMING NOISE | The Beautiful Strangeness of Women

So far, for me, 2019 has meant the release of new songs from a couple of wonderfully weird women.

I will admit that it wasn't until yesterday that I had even heard the name "Aldous Harding." And if I had heard the name out of the context of this video, I probably would have assumed that he was old, British, and a moral philosopher. Luckily, she is none of those things. After seeing this video for "The Barrel," I went back and listened to her 2017 album "Party," and was delighted to confirm that she is just my brand of off kilter. This video of her new single is proof perfect of her genius.

Weyes Blood is also back with a new song and a new album announcement (and a visual ode to campy '70s horror movies to boot!). The track is yet another example of how she can somehow make a sunny psychedelic tune sound both joyful and foreboding. Perfection.

To much more weird, wonderful women in 2019!

CHARMING NOISE | (My) Top 10 Albums of 2017

They may not be the 10 best albums of the year, but they're the 10 that I enjoyed the most.


10. Charlotte Gainsbourg, Rest

 

9. St. Vincent, MASSEDUCTION

 

8. LCD Soundsystem, American Dream 

7. Father John Misty, Pure Comedy

6. Julien Baker, Turn Out the Lights



5. Fleet Foxes, Crack-Up

 

4. Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile, Lotta Sea Lice



3. Big Thief, Capacity



2. Perfume Genius, No Shape

1. Slowdive, Slowdive

THIS IS RAD + A FRIDAY ROUND UP +

UK Metal band GONGA + Portishead's Beth Gibbons = AMAZING. Throw in the fact that this is a cover of a Black Sabbath song set to a video made up of clips from a '60s horror movie called Black Sabbath, and we truly have a winner here, folks.

I haven't listened to much Chairlift, but I'm really liking this song and video by Chairlift’s Caroline Polachek. The track is off of her upcoming solo debut as Ramona Lisa, called Arcadia. You can stream the album here.

Two of my favorite things in the whole world (food and books) have come together in this new book, Fictitious Dishes: An Album of Literature's Most Memorable Meals, by graphic designer Dinah Fried. I especially love the images from The Bell Jar (above) and The Catcher in the Rye. Learn more about the book by heading to an interview that Fried recently did on NPR.

CHARMING NOISE | MORE NEW MUSIC NEWS

I don't seem to be inspired to write about much other than new music lately. Luckily the music Gods have been kind to us so far this year.

   

I love this Pee-Wee's Playhouse-inspired video from Tune-Yards, who are going to be at (the recently announced) Austin City Limits Music Festival this year! I saw her at Fun Fun Fun Fest a few years ago, and she was great. She's definitely one of the most unique sounds in music right now.

I posted a preview last week of a clip of a new song from Robyn and Röyksopp, and there are now two full songs being streamed on Pop On and On. It's all the electronic-dancey goodness that I wanted it to be.

As previously mentioned, the Austin City Limits Music Festival lineup was announced yesterday! Upon first look, it was a bit of a letdown. I mean, I don't care about Eminem, I just don't, and while I like Outkast, there's no way that I would ever deal with that crowd to see them. But the further down that I got on the list, the better I felt. The Replacements, Spoon, Interpol, Chvrches, St. Vincent, Phantogram, Jenny Lewis, Real Estate, Tune-Yards, Jagwar Ma, Mac Demarco, and Poliça. Not too shabby at all. Plus, smaller bands mean smaller crowds. Always a plus at a ridiculously hot and crowded festival. Much excitement. 

CHARMING NOISE | NEW TUNES

This new clip from the upcoming Robyn and Röyksopp collaboration (how had I not even heard about this?!) is an electronic-dance dream.

 

Don't hate me for being totally into this Lana Del Rey song. Yes, I am one of those indie-music fans who can't help but liking Lana Del Rey. I fully acknowledge that she is a pop culture construct, but whoever is writing her music/managing her career is on top of it. Plus, I think Lana is a lot cleverer than people give her credit for. She is famous for a reason people.

THIS IS RAD + A FRIDAY ROUND UP +

A beautiful lookbook from Elizabeth Suzann.

A new Sharon Van Etten video!

CHARMING NOISE | GRAB BAG

EMA's new album is streaming on NPR, so you should probably go check that out.

First Aid Kit just announced a new album (out June 10), and from the imagery and snippet of music that this trailer shows, it looks like they may be taking a step away from the country-folk of their last album and moving in a '60s-Nancy Sinatra-type direction. What's not to love?

The Cloud Nothings had a new album come out this week and it was Pitchfork approved and everything. Check out their surreal sleepover music video.