It’s back and better than ever — now you can get your weekly music news and select choice of fresh finds, all in one place!
Thoughts
I read an article yesterday about folks ending friendships over varying opinions on Taylor Swift. It was weird. The album was fine. Certainly better than the last one. Yes, all the songs sound the same. But it’s a pleasant enough sound and there’s no lyrics about sexy babies.
News
Travis Scott WILL go to civil trial over Astroworld crowd crush-- The more time passes, and this may be a controversial opinion, but the more I feel like the Astroworld tragedy is going to be Travis Scott’s sole legacy. The pop culture shorthand. The thing that is used to key in trivia players to the answer. ANYWAY, Judge Kristen Hawkins overruled a motion to dismiss Travis from the wrongful death claim filed by the family of 23-year-old victim Madison Dubinski.
[REDACTED] is producing pornography now -- It’s literally called Yeezy Porn. That’s maybe the grossest two word combination I’ve encountered that didn’t contain a racial slur.
Everybody wants that Taylor clout -- Neil Tennant from Pet Shop Boys went on the record to say that Taylor Swift has “no famous songs.” That’s a pretty damn bold take. And is also at odds with objective reality. I hope he was successful in his actual goal of getting zoomers to google his group and listen to “West End Girls.”
As an aside, Taylor herself broke both the all-time Spotify album stream record and the all-time vinyl record sales record in the same week. Though, admittedly, the latter likely has something to do with releasing 91 goddamn versions of every album so you gotta catch ‘em all like Pokemon cards.
The people want ticketing reform and they want it now -- Loads of musicians are drumming (HA) up support for the Fans First Act, which aims to provide common sense regulation of the ticket industry. The bill seems to have bipartisan support, presumably because it’s currently too expensive to go to a Kid Rock concert. Among other things, the bill would seek to crack down on tickets being bought by bots. How it will affect Botts remains to be seen.
Please go read Drew Carey’s review of a Phish concert -- What the fuck?
New (Sean) Lennon-(James) McCartney collab dropped -- Pretty catchy little tune. Dhani Harrison could not be reached for comment, presumably because he’s busy secretly being the most talented of the bunch.
Such
What is channel.WAV listening to?
Botts: Is it too much to give for the thrill of it all?
Slone: Earl Sweatshirt performed with Tyler, the Creator at Coachella and it resurrected 16-year-old Brandon. Then I listened to Bastard for the first time in a while and that shit is hella cringe. So my pick is the entirety of Chappell Roan’s album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess
Ritter: This live version of “So Real” is… so real.
It seems like the fear of Taylor has warranted another week of very little new music… *Sigh*
Albums/EPs
St. Vincent - All Born Screaming:
Will this be the St. Vincent album I finally end up loving?
Justice - Hyperdrama:
Summer starts now, with some fantastic new dance tracks! Plus, a new Justice x Tame Impala track.
Anitta - Funk Generation:
And then wash that down with some even more summer sounds!
Hovvdy - Hovvdy:
Hovvdy seems to never stop making new music, and the country sad boi in me loves it.
Sinéad Harnett - Boundaries:
Take this as your sign to listen to a gorgeous new voice today.
Singles/Music Videos
Normani - “1:59 (feat. Gunna)”:
Are we ever getting this Normani album???
Gucci Mane - “TakeDat”:
In the current rap-beef climate, Gucci decided to take a hit at the lowest hanging fruit: Diddy. Some really intricate levels to Mr. Mane’s song: He does things that Diddy does (but no Diddy), that he doesn’t do things that Diddy does (because no Diddy), and that he did things without Diddy (and therefore, no Diddy). In all seriousness, there’s actually some clever lines in here.
Tems - “Love Me JeJe”:
Tems is the moment. Always.
YG - “KNOCKA”:
Not the West Coast legend I was hoping for today, but this song is good regardless.
Nilüfer Yanya - “Like I Say (runaway)”:
This artist has flown under my radar for years, but no longer! Fantastic new song!
Motley Crüe - “Dogs of War”:
Their first new single in five years plus their first one following Mick Mars’ departure from the band.
Saba & No ID - “head.rap (feat. Jordan Ward, Ogi, and Madison McFerrin)”:
It sounds like Saba and No ID scrapped their collab album in favor of a new, stronger collab album. We’ve been hearing about it for years, just give it to me dang it.
Wallows - “Bad Dreams”:
I had trouble getting into Wallows, but this song did it for me.
Elmiene - “Sweetness”:
Ok, now take THIS as your sign to listen to a gorgeous new voice.
Tiera Kennedy - “I Ain’t a Cowgirl”:
Following Shaboozey and Tanner Adell, Tiera Kennedy is riding her Beyoncé-clout wave with a fantastic new single.
Catch the .WAV:
New songs and jams below, plus some great choices from previous weeks!
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