Tes X & Mario Judah
Tes X and Mario Judah team up together for this inspired metal rap-rock gem.
“It’s Time to Rock” says to all. Magnificent!
“It’s Time to Rock”
Fred Again
Fred Again, British musician and producer, dropped a new song.
“Julia (Deep Diving)” samples sound from singer Julia Michaels’ social media posts to create this infectious tune.
“Julia (Deep Diving)”
The Dirtiest
Embodying the spirit of the Ramones Italian-style, The Dirtiest may be a bit derivative but so much fun.
Tuscan punk from their 2nd album Sovranista (Sovereign)
“Quando C’era Lui” (When He Was There)
“Ti Piscio Sul Presepe” (I Piss on Your Nativity Scene)
“Quando C’era Lui”
“Ti Piscio Sul Presepe”
FKA twigs
My favorite live pre-Covid concert of the last few years was easily FKA twigs.
“Don’t Judge Me” featuring Headie One and Fred Again is her new single.
“Don’t Judge Me”
El Perro del Mar
El Perro del Mar (The Dog of the Sea) is Swedish artist Sarah Assbring.
She’s recorded 5 albums and numerous EPs and songs.
Her latest EP, FREE LAND, includes the song “Alone in Halls” featuring Blood Orange.
“Alone in Halls” featuring Blood Orange
The Avalanches
The Avalanches is an Australian electronic group that now functions as the duo of Robbie Chater and Tony Di Blasi.
They take their time recording having only produced 3 albums since their formation in 1997.
The current disc, We Will Always Love You, includes some well-known guests such as Perry Farrell, Mick Jones, Blood Orange, Tricky, Jamie xx, Kurt Vile, Karen O, MGMT and Johnny Marr, the last two on the song “The Divine Chord”.
“The Divine Chord” featuring MGMT and Johnny Marr
Vagabon and Courtney Barnett
Two marvelous artists have banded together to record the 1965 song “Reason to Believe”, a classic written by Tim Hardin.
The complementary voices of Vagabon and Courtney Barnett.
“Reason to Believe” (featuring Courtney Barnett)
Deep Sea Diver
Deep Sea Diver hail from Seattle.
Led by Jessica Dobson whose quartet recently gave us “Impossible Weight” which features the wonderful Sharon Van Etten.
“Impossible Weight” feat Sharon Van Etten
Loma
Loma has been one of my favorite bands the past couple of years.
The trio of Emily Cross, Dan Duszynski, and (Shearwater frontman) Jonathan Meiburg have 2 albums, Loma from 2018 and most recently Don’t Shy Away.
Listen here to a track from each of these exquisite recordings: “Who is Speaking?” (Loma) and “Half Silences” (Don’t Shy Away).
“Who is Speaking”
“Half Silences”
Eminem
We leave this dreadful year and enter the new with the great Eminem.
He just released a follow up to 2020’s Music to Be Murdered By, same title but Side B.
His internal rhymes and speed are a marvel and pointed as ever.
Here are two: “Gnat” and “These Demons”
“Gnat”
“These Demons (feat. Maj)”
Christmas/U.S. Girls
My favorite Christmas song this year is by U.S. Girls, the pseudonym for the Toronto-based American Meghan Remy.
“Santa Stay Home” perfectly reflects this year’s holiday.
BTW, tonight I continue with my annual show, Christmas Eve with Oedipus, 6 hours of non-traditional holiday music heard only once a year and centered on peace, love and understanding. Hear it on WGBH, 89.7 in Boston or wgbh.org.
6 pm-Midnight
“Santa Stay Home”
Grimes/Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 is the hot video game of the season.
Grimes voices one the characters, Lizzy Wizzy, and also sings “Delicate Weapon”.
“Delicate Weapon”
The Network
The Network is a side project of Green Day.
The Network’s debut album was in 2003 with Money Money 2020.
The follow-up has just been released entitled Money Money 2020, Part II: We Told You So!
Prophetic!
Here are 2: “Trans Am” and “Ivankkka is a Nazi”
“Trans Am”
“Ivankkka is a Nazi”
Sault
Sault is a mysterious British musical collective that explores R&B, funk, dance, and house.
They have no social media presence and do not give interviews, perform live, create videos and offer no photos.
This year alone they have given us 2 incredible albums, Untitled (Black Is) and Untitled (Rise).
Listen to a song from each: “Wildfires” (Black Is) and “Fearless” (Rise)
“Wildfires”
“Fearless”