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This week has been pretty solid for new music: we finally got that enormous comeback from Lorde, Dear Seattle and Between You And Me both popped back into the spotlight, and we got new tracks from The Front Bottoms, Weezer, Manchester Orchestra and iDKHOW (among plenty others).
Also, Trophy Eyes announced some shows! I really wanted to get tickets for that Oxford Art Factory gig next month, but a) they were $60 each, and b) they sold out in like five minutes anyway. Ah, well. I might try to see if I can review it for someone. And there’s almost certainly going to be a theatre tour later in the year when LP4 lands.
I’m not really keen to talk about how my own week has been this time around – I might write a separate post about the day I spent with Milo at Ed Square yesterday, if I don’t immediately zonk out after I chew through some errands – so let’s jump straight into all the stuff I reported on for NME this week!
MONDAY, 07/06/21
SZA reveals she “burst into tears” during a rehearsal of ’20 Something’
Listen to Porridge Radio put their spin on Love Of Everything’s ‘Happy In A Crowd’
Listen to Wooze’s steamy new single ‘Witch Slap (IOU)’
TUESDAY, 08/06/21
Lorde teases her return with ‘Solar Power’
Listen to Dear Seattle’s cruisy new single ‘In My Head’
Skegss announce national ‘Rehearsal’ tour dates
Watch the cinematic new video for Ngaiire’s single ‘Closer’
The extended program for Leaps and Bounds 2021 has been unveiled
Tones And I announces debut album ‘Welcome To The Madhouse’
WEDNESDAY, 09/06/21
Serpentwithfeet puts his spin on a Lesley Gore classic with ‘You Don’t Own Me / Canopy’
Migos unveil ‘Culture III’ tracklist featuring Drake, Juice WRLD, Cardi B and more
Megan Thee Stallion and Marshmello team up for the club-ready ‘Bad Bitches’
Listen to Chelsea Warner’s moody new single ‘Drama’
THURSDAY, 10/06/21
Sleater-Kinney share new single ‘Method’, announce livestreamed variety show
Listen to Manchester Orchestra’s grungy contribution to DC’s ‘Dark Nights: Death Metal’ soundtrack
Watch AC/DC conjure up the dark arts in their new video for ‘Witch’s Spell’
The Front Bottoms announce 2021 US tour, share new single ‘Voodoo Magic’
Watch The Goon Sax get weird in the video for their new single, ‘Psychic’
FRIDAY, 11/06/21
Illuminati Hotties announce new album, share new single, ‘Pool Hopping’
Listen to iDKHOW’s melodramatic new single ‘Mx. Sinister’
Listen to Skrillex’s star-studded new single, ‘Supersonic (My Existence)’
Weezer take aim at Pitchfork in punchy new single ‘Tell Me What You Want’
Trophy Eyes announce intimate Australian tour dates
Listen to Between You And Me’s spirited new single ‘Supervillain’
SUNDAY, 13/06/21
Watch Noel Gallagher play Oasis’ classic ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’ on CBS This Morning
Foo Fighters announce intimate gig for vaccinated Los Angeles fans next week
Polo G arrested in Miami following alleged battery on a police officer
I think in general, the highlight for this week was the hotly anticipated return of Lorde. I don’t think “Solar Power” is her strongest work – not by a massive stretch (IMO it sounds like a half-assed rip of “Harmony Hall” by Vampire Weekend) – but it’s great to see the queen of pop back in action, and I’m extremely keen to get my hands on the full album, whenever it drops.
I figured the new Front Bottoms track would end up being my personal highlight, but the more I listen to it, the more it feels like a very generic, uninspired track from the band. They have a solid dozen other songs that sound pretty much exactly the same.
The new Skrillex, on the other hand, is great. I love the way it blends his old and new styles (which is no doubt mostly thanks to the input from Noisia), and what it adds to his recent slate of comeback singles – it’s definitely my favourite out of the three. Now I’m just waiting for the album announcement. It has to be coming, right!?
I’m also really stoked on the new Illuminati Hotties single. The album looks super promising, and I’m really hoping I can jump on the phone (or Zoom) with Sarah to vibe on it before October.
