Oliver Ray Gets Darkly Political in “Black Budget”
Oliver Ray’s “Black Budget” is neither cheap nor chintzy but rather apocalyptic.
Singles Going Steady
Bill Callahan Gets Busy Living on “The Man I’m Supposed to Be”
Bill Callahan’s “The Man I’m Supposed to Be” is a call to action, a carpe diem for the advanced middle-age malaise that will eventually come to us all.
Boy Golden Finds Love in His “Cowboy Dreams”
Alt-country’s Boy Golden duets with newcomer Cat Clyde in the search for the meaning of love.
Gorillaz Innovate on “The God of Dying”
This is the sound of Gorillaz at their most innovative yet reassuringly familiar.
Shudder to Think – “Thirst Walk”/”Playback”
Shudder to Think pick up where they left off with two new singles.
Dua Lipa – “Break My Heart” (Singles Going Steady)
Dua Lipa knows that what makes a diva special is her willingness to feel. She emotes for the rest of us on "Break My Heart".
Glass Animals – “Your Love (Déjà Vu)” (Singles Going Steady)
British psych-pop band, Glass Animals' "Your Love (Déjà Vu)" is tasty for a minute or two, then curiously flavourless.
Paul Weller – “Earth Beat” (Singles Going Steady)
Paul Weller's singular modes as a soul man, guitar hero, and techno devotee converge into a blissful jam about hope for the earth on "Earth Beat".
Run the Jewels – “Ooh LA LA” (Singles Going Steady)
Run the Jewels' "Ooh LA LA" may hit with old-school hip-hop swagger, but it also frustratingly affirms misogynistic bro-culture.
Protomartyr – “Processed by the Boys” (Singles Going Steady)
Protomartyr's "Processed By the Boys" is a gripping spin on reality as we know it, and here, the revolution is being televised.
JARV IS… – “House Music All Night Long” (Singles Going Steady)
"House Music All Night Long" is a song our inner, self-isolated freaks can jive to. JARV IS... cleverly captures how dazed and confused some of us may feel over the current pandemic, trapped in our homes.
The Killers – “Caution” (Singles Going Steady)
The Killers go for the big hooks and singable anthems on "Caution", but opinion is sharply divided about the song's merits amongst our Singles Going Steady panel.