WEEKLY TUNES
Below will be a selection of what I have deemed to be the cream of the crop of albums released this past weekend, April 19th, 2024.
PEARL JAM: DARK MATTER
The 90s grunge outfit Pearl Jam is back with their 11th studio album in their first outing since 2020. Dark Matter was produced by Andrew Watt. Watt has worked with pop artists like Post Malone and Miley Cyrus. The influence of a pop producer is felt on the record but doesn’t feel overly commercial. Eddie Vedder is the highlight of Dark Matter. His vocal stylings are more dynamic than they have been in the past, and the unique vibrato that Vedder is notorious for overusing doesn’t feel as forced on the record. Pearl Jam is changing into a different modern sound but still holding on to their grunge roots authenticity.
LUCY ROSE: THIS AIN’T THE WAY YOU GO OUT
This Ain’t The Way You Go Out is a piano-heavy soulful record that feels classic and fresh simultaneously. Simple percussion, impressive piano melodies and sultry vocal stylings combine to create a comfy but entertaining sound. Rose serves as producer, performer and writer of This Ain’t The Way You Go Out and gives the listener an intimate but still groovy listening experience.
SEEYOUSPACECOWB: COUP DE GRACE
Mixing jazzy grooves with heavy post-hardcore instrumentation makes Coup De Grace one of the more compelling records of the year. Multiple vocalists on Coupe De Grace create an addicting concoction of pop-punk melodic hooks, industrial-sounding distorted backing vocals and brutal energetic screeching. Seeyouspacecowboy takes plenty of risks sonically and stylistically, which makes the cohesion and enjoyability of the record all the more impressive.
TAYLOR SWIFT: THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT
The 11th album from pop star Taylor Swift is worth listening to whether you are a fan or not. The Tortured Poets Department is a 31-track double LP that, despite feeling bloated at times, has as many toe-tapping hooks as it does heartbreaking lyrics. This is Swift’s most personal project, and that intimacy gives the record an edge not often found in pop music. The lyricism, hook writing and consistency are top-notch on The Tortured Poets Department, making for one of the best pop albums of the year.
MELVINS: TARANTULA HEART
The Melvins are a band that has been making music since the early 80s. They bring a sound reminiscent of metal godfathers Black Sabbath and mix it with a punk rock aesthetic. For a band that has been around for so long, they have somehow avoided becoming stagnant. Tarantula Heart opens with an ambitious 19-minute track that takes up half of the record’s run time. The aforementioned track starts with an alt-metal uplifting sound and descends into a darker, groovier and grimy tone. The song ends with an explosion as the instrumentation gets more and more brutal. The Melvins drummers Roy Mayorga and Dale Crover take Tarantula Heart from a Black Sabbath-inspired sludge metal record to a groovy, funky metal masterpiece.
CLAIRE ROUSAY: SENTIMENT
Sentiment is an experimental, ambient and droning record that perfectly illustrates the feelings of depression. The vocals provided by Rousay are heavily distorted, creating a dissociative spacey vibe. Admittedly, the electric production and vocal mixing can feel almost incomprehensible at times, but the sound is intentional and connects well with the sentiment of the project. Sentiment won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but the record will linger in their thoughts long after the first listen.
BILLY MORRISON: THE MORRISON PROJECT
Billy Morrison was the long-time guitarist for Billy Idol, and The Morrison Project is his 3rd solo project. The record combines an industrial nu-metal sound with hard rock stylings of the early 80s. The record goes for an edge that feels manufactured, and some of the lyrics on The Morrison Project flirt with being corny. Where the record shines is in its massive list of legendary features. Ozzy Osborne, Corey Taylor, Billy Idol and many more lend their talents to Morrison and make the record feel like a time capsule. The guitars and industrial metal production combined with catchy hook writing make The Morrison Project one worth checking out.
BLADEE: COLD VISIONS
Cold Visions was a mid-week drop and a surprise. Bladee is a Swedish trap artist who has built an impressive following with his unique sound. His latest record falls in the rage genre and combines his trap elements with melodic synth progressions that, matched with his drunk-sounding vocals, make for an original record. Bladee is hitting sounds on Cold Visions that feel experimental and ahead of their time. The futuristic, new-age nature of the album does come with a barrier to entry for those who aren’t musically adventurous. However, for those who do decide to spin this record and give it a bit of time to grow on them, they will be rewarded with a listening experience that is unlike anything else.