Here at RVA Magazine, people are sending us new music all the time–so much that we can barely keep up with it all. Obviously, music being made in Richmond takes first priority, but considering how good a lot of the non-RVA stuff actually is, it seems silly not to share some of it with you. So here are some really good new songs that are not by local bands:
Here at RVA Magazine, people are sending us new music all the time–so much that we can barely keep up with it all. Obviously, music being made in Richmond takes first priority, but considering how good a lot of the non-RVA stuff actually is, it seems silly not to share some of it with you. So here are some really good new songs that are not by local bands:
Explosions In The Sky & David Wingo – Join Me On My Avalanche
This isn’t exactly a real new Explosions In The Sky song–the Austin, TX post-rock group came up with this track in collaboration with fellow Austinite David Wingo of Ola Podrida as part of their work on the soundtrack for David Gordon Green’s upcoming film, Prince Avalanche. But considering that Explosions In The Sky’s original claim to fame was their stirring, emotional soundtrack for Friday Night Lights, it seems appropriate. Rather than the loud crescendos of their usual work, this song is more of a slow build, with even some electronic elements showing up in the mix. Is this a new direction for the group, or a side trip inspired by the format? Only time will tell.
Sebadoh – I Will
This song is the first taste we’ve gotten of Sebadoh‘s upcoming album, Defend Yourself–their first new album since 1999’s The Sebadoh. Lou Barlow and Jason Loewenstein, along with yet another new drummer, Bob D’Amico, have not only picked up where they left off but seem to have regained some of the dark vitality of their early 90s glory days, if this Barlow-sung track is any indication. The mix of heartfelt sentiment and heavy guitars that worked so well on songs like “Brand New Love” and “Skull” is in strong evidence on “I Will.” If the whole album is this good, I’ll be officially stoked.
SISU – Return The Favor
Moody yet tuneful postpunk with melodic basslines and chilly female vocals is hardly uncharted territory over the past decade, but the latest from SISU, a side project of Sandra Vu (Dum Dum Girls), is just too good for me to spend much time worrying about what genre it belongs to. Listen long enough to get to the first chorus, and you won’t care either–you’ll just want more. Return The Favor is the first track released from SISU’s upcoming debut album, Blood Tears. You can also check out their previous EP, Light Eyes, on bandcamp.
Pussy Riot – Like A Red Prison
Generally, people think about this group of Russian women as more of a political issue than an actual punk band–and in a way that makes sense. As some of the unjailed members explained to Pitchfork last month, they see themselves not as a band but a politically-motivated performance art group who express themselves through music. Regardless, even if music is just a means to an end for Pussy Riot, they’re starting to get good at it. The vocals on “Like A Red Prison” are still a bunch of angry untrained women screaming and yelling–but if you’ve ever been into Blatz, or some of the riot grrrl bands, I’m sure you can recognize the positive aspects of this vocal style. Musically, this song mixes elements of metallic crust-punk with segments that remind me of early-90s post-hardcore groups like Fugazi and Quicksand. And the video, in which the members of Pussy Riot take over a state-run gas station and throw oil on pictures of corrupt Russian government officials, is totally badass.
Far East Movement ft. Riff Raff – The Illest
I haven’t heard much about the Asian rappers in Far East Movement since “Like A G6” dropped off the charts, but I’ll check out any song Riff Raff is on, and this one is SO worth it. The opening chorus sounds like one of those EDM empowerment anthems that Swedish House Mafia cheer up their fans with, but after that it turns into a legit rap song with a pretty dope beat (produced by Wallpaper). The video (guest-starring Lil Debbie) is basically an eruption of hedonistic excess in the middle of a cubicle farm–and that’s before Riff Raff even shows up. The whole track kicks into a much higher gear once Jody Highroller gets the mic, but the Far East Movement dudes hold their own for the most part, and in light of all the ridiculous craziness happening in the video, you really can’t miss this one.
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Enjoy these tracks, and have a great weekend! We’ll be back with more next week.
