This week at WVUA, we’re recapping some of the weekend’s biggest releases and our personal recommendations – starting off strong with a release from one of the most legendary rock acts.
DEFTONES
Private Music
Deftones are well known for being experts at their craft, and they only keep refining it. Private Music is their unique blend of hard rock, metal, and shoegaze at its most satisfying. The songs roll out like a thunderstorm, ambient and electrifying all at once, and standout tracks “ecdysis” and “departing the body” seem designed to echo in your eardrums for the rest of the day.
-Jake Bennett
LAUFEY
A Matter of Time
When you listen to this album, it’s easy to see how modern pop emerged from classic jazz and musical theater. While contemporary artists get lost in the evolution, Laufey calls upon the origins of the genre to remind us what pop is all about – singing in the car, tapping your foot, enjoying the sun, and getting lovestruck. Any fans of her earlier work will be delighted to hear more, and I’d recommend anyone who had a Broadway phase to entertain it too – check out highlights “Tough Luck” and “Lover Girl”.
-Jake Bennett
ROYEL OTIS
Hickey
Royel Otis is to alt-pop what Vampire Weekend is to indie rock – skirting the edges of the genre, indulging in whatever instruments and sounds catch their eye, while staying grounded enough to produce a cohesive album. Hickey sees the duo’s sound traveling into a more obviously double-edged style, with guitar and drum tracks engaged in a private duet across the tracks. Give “good times” and “shut up” a listen to see what I mean.
-Jake Bennett
WOLF ALICE
The Clearing
An album for the classic rock lovers, the Fleetwood Mac-ers, and the “before he cheats”-ers, Wolf Alice does more than reference the songs they grew up on – they toss out an album that would sit among the greats. Balancing the polished and emotional sound of the classics with the weird but equally raw style of the current windmill scene, The Clearing is a milestone in how British Indie Rock is evolving in the 2020s, comparable to the works of The Last Dinner Party and BCNR.
-Jake Bennett
HOT MULLIGAN
The Sound a Body Makes When It’s Still
The self proclaimed “#1 Hot New Band” has proven themselves worthy with the release of their fifth album. Full of heartbreaking lyrics and catchy guitar hooks hidden behind the most absurd song titles you’ve ever heard, this record is absolutely worth the listen for fans of emo, pop punk, or more generally, alternative rock. Check out “Monica Lewinskibidi,” “Bon Jonah,” and “Slumdog Scungillionaire.”
-Kathryn Rachford
DOMINIC FIKE
Rocket
Taking its name from his recently revealed son, this mixtape sees Fike at his most introspective as he reflects on his new responsibility as a father. This release is jam packed with everything Fike does best: dreamy guitars, smooth melodies, and an overall nostalgic atmosphere perfect for the humidity of late August. Listen to “Sandman,” “Great Pretender,” and “$500 fine,” which are all back to back on the tracklist, to get started.
-Kathryn Rachford
EARL SWEATSHIRT
Live Laugh Love
Sitting at just 24 minutes long, Live Laugh Love is the fifth studio album coming from the West Coast hip-hop artist and producer, Earl Sweatshirt. Diving into new themes of fatherhood and cautious optimism, it’s hopeful yet unorthodox, keeping the avant-garde edge that keeps Earl fans coming back for more. With heavenly production and familiar delivery, if you like any of Earl’s other work or maybe just hip-hop in itself, this is the record for you.
-Z Marik
NOURISHED BY TIME
The Passionate Ones
An easy album of the year contender in my books. Sitting at just 45 minutes, this album is a unique blend of synth-heavy bedroom pop and R&B that makes you just want to move and groove. With such a unique soundscape that draws from so many different genres of music, I cannot recommend this album enough.
-Z Marik
GREG FREEMAN
Burnover
This Alt-Country record by Greg Freeman is very similar to the music coming out from Mj Lenderman and This is Lorelei. A rather explosive and unsettling album, keeping your attention through punchy guitar, incredible piano jams, and even some barnyard noise tracks. This album may not be for everyone, but this is definitely my kind of country music.
-Z Marik
KERALA DUST
An Echo of Love
An artsy blend of electronica and rock, the newest work from this London Trio combines the stony, gothic tone of post-punk with equally dark lyricism for a truly captivating piece.
-Jake Bennett
THE VIRGOS
Lord Have Mercy
I have a feeling most people clicked on this album because of how sick the cover art is. Be not afraid, for the metal music within is equally radical – riff-ridden with some of the cleanest vocal performances and screaming you’ll hear from the genre, Lord Have Mercy is the work of a band destined for a blow-up – check out “World Ain’t Dead” and “Yes” to join them.
-Jake Bennett
If you wanna check out all this music, click through to our Spotify playlist and listen throughout your week! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1PmsI6UV07qcATglItf74y?si=f9e6cbf7c8184c53&nd=1&dlsi=ff5529cd2a9e4f1e
Authors
Hi! My name is Jake Bennett, I'm a film and computer science student at UA. I'm also a member of WVUA's speciality show Loser Radio, an avid fan of indie rock, and a social media manager for artists!
