What's New(s)?

"Sheezus" season approaching

As lazily named as Lily Allen's new album Sheezus might be, the title-track and accompanying video are anything but. The track itself feeds on crisp drum claps and soft "ah ah ahs", while the clip is overstuffed with blacklights, squiggling white lines, and psychedelic swirls. At one point Allen appears to be freely floating in a star-cluster and she becomes a spot-on Avatar character while crooning "Periods. We all get periods." And if all of that weren't enough, she big ups other colossal female musicians like Beyonce, Lorde, Rihanna, and Lady Gaga who she refers to as a "martyr." 

Sheezus is out May 5 through Regal Recordings.

Joey Bada$$ pays tribute to the UFC with "Mr. Wonderful"

 






















Given 19-year old Brooklyn native Joey Bada$$'s penchant for laid-back boom-bap, you wouldn't expect him to be the type to pay homage to a UFC fighter. But that's exactly what he's done with "Mr. Wonderful", which tips a cap to light-heavyweight brawler Phil Davis. "Mr. Wonderful" doesn't just mention Davis in passing, it revolves entirely around the "number one contender" and how he'll "hit you with the flying kick." While it's fascinating enough to hear Bada$$ stick to one narrative for an entire song, it's much more interesting to hear Kirk Knight's beat which jabs in a way Bada$$ efforts generally don't.

Davis will fight Anthony Johnson at UFC 172 on April 26 and will be using "Mr. Wonderful" as his entrance music for the bout.




tUne-yArDs pays tribute to Pee-Wee's Playhouse in new video

Merrill Garbus' work as tUnE-yArDs has consistently towed the line between in control and chaotic for two albums now, so what better way to capture that near-chaos than to pay tribute to one of the masters of the art-form, Peewee Herman? In the video for the clattering "Water Fountain", the lead single off of third LP Nikki Nack, Garbus recreates the cult-classic TV series Pee-Wee's Playhouse. 

In Garbus' take multi-armed puppets, dog-man chefs, one-eyed monsters, robots, fanged couches, and mad scientists are freely roam around without much interference. Sadly there's no pterodactyls, genies, or mail-carriers to be found, but the video is just as joyous as any trip to the Playhouse would be. So pull yourself up a chair and enjoy.

Check back tomorrow for more of the newest in new(s) and follow AllFreshSounds on Twitter for updates throughout the day.

What's New(s)?

Watch/listen to Lana Del Rey's theme for Maleficent

Lana Del Rey's yearning, pop ballads always felt like fairytales set to music, so it's no real surprise she'd be tapped to record the theme-song for Disney's upcoming Maleficent. A re-imagining of the 1959 classic Sleeping Beauty, Maleficent delivers the point-of-view of the "tragically misunderstood" titular character as played by Angelina Jolie. Reportedly Jolie herself handpicked Del Ray for the job of updating the Sleeping Beauty tune, which first aired last night during the Grammys. All of the benchmarks of Del Rey are present in "Once Upon a Dream" from breathless vocals to elegiac strings that float like clouds of smoke. If dream weren't already in the title, it'd be one of the first few words that comes to mind.

You can download "Once Upon A Dream" via Google Play and view the trailer for the film which opens in theaters May 30.

Chvrches cover "Bela Lugosi's Dead" for Vampire Academy soundtrack

I've never been a staunch advocate for covers. In most cases it's a lose-lose situation, particularly when an artist is tackling a bonafide classic. Bahaus' 1979 single "Bela Lugosi's Dead" falls into "classic" category, cloaked in scraping guitars and unstable drums it essentially launched the goth-rock genre.

Scottish synthpop trio Chvrches apparently could not care less about the song's mythic stature based on their decision to resurrect the number for the Vampire Academy soundtrack. Lauren Mayberry and company already proved their chops with their wistful take on Janelle Monáe's "Tightrope", so this seismic offering feels like a victory lap for the group. "Driving" is a word unlikely to appear in the same paragraph as "goth-rock" but Chvrches' effort is marked by electronic propulsion. Peter Murphy's tombstone croon is swapped for Mayberry's longing chirp, and unsettled guitar sounds tag out for warm synths. Where the original seemed terrified of the fallen horror legend, Chvrches cover scans as celebratory.

The soundtrack which also features music from: Sky Ferreira, Bear in Heaven, Au Revoir, Simone, and more is out February 4th via Universal.

2014 Grammys Round-up

Anyone fearing a rise of the machines was in full-panic mode last night, as robotic French duo Daft Punk took home "Album of the Year" for the career defining Random Access Memories. Robots Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo also nabbed Grammys for "Record of the Year" and "Best Pop Duo/Group Performance" for effortless disco hit "Get Lucky", which they shared with Nile Rodgers and Pharrell.

Another big winner of the night was New Zealand teen Lorde who took home "Song of the Year" and "Best Pop Solo Performance" for the effervescent, beat-driven "Royals". Jay Z/Justin Timberlake partnering "Holy Grail" won "Best Rap/Sung Collaboration", while Macklemore & Ryan Lewis cleaned up in the rest of the category winning for: "Best Rap Performance", "Best Rap Song", and "Best Rap Album" (More on that tomorrow).  

Elsewhere Vampire Weekend captured a win for "Best Alternative Music Album" in a crowded field that also featured Neko Case, the National, Nine Inch Nails, and Tame Impala. And in one of the night's biggest surprises, Taylor Swift was shut out of all country categories, including "Best Country Album" which she lost to Kacey Musgraves. 

There are too many great moments to list (Yoko Ono getting down to Daft Punk and Jay Z/Beyonce swaying to Kendrick stand among them), so check out a few of the choice performances here.


Check back in tomorrow for more of the newest in new(s) and follow @AllFreshSounds on Twitter for updates throughout the day.

"No Better"- Lorde

 

Could New-Zealand pop-singer Lorde have picked a worse time to release a new song? Right around the same time the Internet was having a full-fledged Beyoncé freakout (myself included); the 17-year-old was covertly releasing a new-track. All the hyperbolic phrases like "pop visionary" or "icon" were absent. We didn't have any high-profile guests like: Drake or Jay Z to fuss about. Instead, Lorde delivered a slice of unassuming melodic pop. 

And "unassuming" is a near-perfect descriptor of what Lorde's aiming for on non-album single "No Better." The synthesizer part shimmers without ever blinding. And the bass while booming never threatens to drown out Lorde's shy coo during the verses. Subtlety is the guiding force, and Lorde confirms it in the line "can feel the subtle taste of the Dtalk groan and the locker room where we stayed." Almost every line she delivers is couched in the specific, but her eye for detail doesn't spoil relatability. A coy recollection of "I'm chewing gum and it's killing you," could apply to any number of young lovers cooped up during the cold days of winter; goofing off. The hook of "go all the way, have your fun, have it all, this will take you down, get through the days, do your thing, do it well," delivered in a velvety tone as an electronic clatter kicks in becomes a mantra. Beyoncé may very well be the queen, but who can really relate to royalty?

"No Better" is out on iTunes now, and Lorde's excellent debut release Pure Heroine is still on the shelves.  

What's New(s)?

Arctic Monkeys unveil more tour dates

In support of their excellent fifth LP AM, Arctic Monkeys are heading stateside starting December 3 in Seattle. As if the initial run weren't enough though, the Sheffield mainstays have recently announced an additional slew of dates in January and February of next year. Frontman Alex Turner and crew will trek down south, before hitting up the Eastern shore on a pair of tour dates with the shapeshifting Deerhunter (who will open).

All the scheduled stops can be found below, and after the jump you can find the video for the sobering late-night cut "Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High" below. 

12/3 Seattle, WA - Key Arena
12/4 Portland, OR - Roseland Theater
12/6 Oakland, CA - Oracle Arena
12/7 Los Angeles, CA - Shrine Auditorium
12/8 San Diego, CA - Valley View Casino Center
12/09 Tempe, AZ - The Marquee
12/11 Tulsa, OK - Cain's Ballroom
12/12 Columbia, MO - The Blue Note
12/13 Milwaukee, WI - The Rave
12/14 Kansas City, MO - Midland Theatre
1/30 Miami, FL - The Fillmore
1/31 Orlando, FL - Hard Rock Live
2/1 St. Petersburg, FL - Jaanus Live
2/3 Charlotte, NC - The Fillmore
2/4 Richmond, VA - The National
2/6 Boston, MA - Agganis Arena (w Deerhunter)
2/7 Portland, ME - State Theatre
2/8 New York, NY - Madison Square Garden (w Deerhunter)
2/10 Covington, KY - Madison Theater
2/11 Columbus, OH - LC Indoor Pavillion
2/12 Detroit, MI - The Fillmore
2/14 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue 

"Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?"

Raekwon remixes "Royals"

Following the Weeknd's and Rick Ross' remixes of Lorde's impossibly infectious "Royals", the Wu-Tang Clan's resident chef has offered his own take on the New Zealand pop singer's track. Coasting atop the booming beat, Raekwon stays in his lane of "stoves and Range Rovers", and kicking back in some of NYC's finest dining experiences. Lorde's wide-eyed desire to be "royals" reflects the street-wizened vet's constant state of mind, to get the respect a near 20 years in the rap game commands. Raekwon's kept the "Cuban links" on, but he's still craving the crown. 

In addition to sharing his own take on "Royals", Raekwon has dropped the EPMD-indebted "It's My Thing" which may or may not be appearing on his forthcoming F.I.L.A. (Fly International Luxurious Art) release.

Check back in tomorrow for more of the newest in new(s), and visit the AllFreshSounds Twitter account throughout the day for news updates.