Images from left: The Armed (Luke Nelson); Animal Collective, "Buddies On The Blackboard" (Dave Portner); Yves Tumor & NINA, "WE DONT COUNT" (Warp Records)
Welcome to our weekly music post, where we spotlight our favorite new songs and albums. Hop in the comments and tell us: What new music are you listening to?
In June, Animal Collective released the standalone single “Love On The Big Screen.” “Buddies On The Blackboard” is the B-side to the “Love On The Big Screen” 7-inch (available August 1). “Buddies” is a nostalgic throwback that feels inspired by the Beach Boys, particularly during the three-part harmonies in the chorus. It’s been a few years since the last Animal Collective album (their last was 2023’s Isn’t It Now?), so it’s hard not to read into what these singles might portend. But even if there isn’t a new album on the way, “Love On The Big Screen” and “Buddies On The Blackboard” are still refreshing summer treats.
Experimental musician Yves Tumor teamed up with NINA (Nina Cristante of London-based band bar italia) for their new single, “WE DONT COUNT.” Their voices are a beautiful complement to one another as they trade off lines throughout the song. This is Yves Tumor’s first new release since their critically acclaimed 2023 album Praise A Lord Who Chews But Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds). No word on a new album yet, but “WE DONT COUNT” is an exciting new direction for the artist.
Fleshwater, “Jetpack”
“Jetpack” is the first single from Fleshwater’s newly announced sophomore album, 2000: In Search Of The Endless Sky (out September 5). The genre-bending heavy shoegaze band—which guitarist and vocalist Anthony DiDio started as a side project from his main gig in metalcore act Vein.fm—made their mark with their 2022 debut album, We’re Not Here To Be Loved. In a press release, DiDio said “Jetpack” is “…a really special song that takes me on an adventure every time I hear it. It was the main source of inspiration for this album and really encapsulates the entire vibe of it. I’m excited for people to finally hear it and have it take them on their own personal journey.”
The Armed, THE FUTURE IS HERE AND EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE DESTROYED
Breaking down the mythology of The Armed would be a relatively useless endeavor, since the hardcore band seems to delight in obfuscation. It remains unclear who, exactly, is behind all the chaos; the official lineup might be just a list of pseudonyms. Or it could be genuine. It’s hard to tell what’s real and what’s not with The Armed. (“Ironically, the more we tell the truth, the more people think we’re lying,” a band member told Revolver in 2021.) The one thing that’s not in question is that their music goes hard. Their new album, THE FUTURE IS HERE AND EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE DESTROYED, is particularly blunt. “It’s music for a statistically wealthy population that somehow can’t afford food or medicine—endlessly scrolling past vacation photos, gym selfies, and images of child amputees in the same feed. It reflects the dissociation required just to exist in that reality,” frontman Tony Wolski explained in a press release.
Wisp, If Not Winter
If Not Winter is the debut LP from 20-year-old shoegaze wunderkind Natalie Lu, a.k.a. Wisp. After her first single, “Your Face,” went viral on TikTok, she quickly signed to Interscope and released an EP, Pandora. If Not Winter gives Wisp the space to fully define her sound, which she says is informed by bands like Whirr and Cocteau Twins. Wisp’s sound leans toward the heavier side of shoegaze, with driving guitars that underscore her emotional lyrics.
Reneé Rapp, Bite Me
Reneé Rapp’s sophomore album, Bite Me, is the queer mainstream pop album we’ve been waiting for all summer. Rapp puts all her cards on the table with her honest, straightforward lyrics, calling out bad exes and embracing over-the-top party culture. Rapp proved she had no filter on the Mean Girls musical publicity tour, and it’s refreshing to see that attitude carry through to her music, too.
