It’s been a pretty sweet week for pop music. Avril Lavigne finally made her long-awaited pop-punk comeback with the smashing album Love Sux, and Rosalía has continued to roll out her forthcoming album Motomami (whose artwork caught a lot of people’s attention) with a new single and video “Chicken Teriyaki.”
Los Angeles-based, up-and-coming artist Deb Never makes catchy tunes that blend pop, hip hop, and grunge. In “Crutches,” she deadpans about the exhaustion of waiting for life to get better and determines to gain some agency over her life. It’s not until the end that the optimism reveals itself, as the songs bursts into a brighter, refreshing sound.
Joshua Bassett — “Doppelgänger”
Joshua Bassett is realizing the magnitude of his heartbreak on “Doppelgänger.” “The song poured out of me immediately after seeing someone who I thought was my ex at a coffee shop,” he said about the track, and the racing, conflicting thoughts he experienced afterward are portrayed in this painfully honest single.
Avril Lavigne — “Cannonball”
The pop-punk revival into the mainstream is gaining even more momentum now that Avril Lavigne is back in the game. This killer opener to her new album Love Sux contains the same energy and personality that “Sk8er Boi” did back in 2002; it’s explosive, infectious, and irresistible.
Nessa Barrett — “Dying On The Inside”
TikTok star Nessa Barrett is showing off her ability to tackle serious topics with care and honesty and still make the track danceable and upbeat. The video captures the darkness of the situation with flocks of bats and lots of fire. Even though it’s depressing, there’s a sense of catharsis, too.
Juliana Madrid — “Madonna”
Juliana Madrid, a Texas-based singer-songwriter, is making her debut with this stunning track, “Madonna.” Her breathy vocals make the song shine, and the lyrics, which were co-written by her, Benjamin Ruttner of The Knocks, Simon Oscroft, and Alex Winston, are haunting and evocative and linger after the song finishes.
Kehlani — “Little Story”
Kehlani takes their music very seriously, moving from project to project. Blue Water Road is next on their agenda and its new single previews a carefully-constructed, brooding sound that lets their gorgeous vocals serve as the centerpiece. The build-up is worth it when violins create a soothing, all-encompassing soundscape at the end.
Cavetown, Beabadoobee — “Fall In Love With A Girl”
For this heartwarming ballad, Cavetown, the thriving project of Robin Skinner, teamed up with future Halsey opener Beabadoobee. The result is a cute love song about going after the one who treats you right: “I heard you fell in love with a girl / She makes you feel like the world is on your shoulder when you’re over your head.” It’s sweet and cinematic, as if it’s from the scene of resolution in an emotional movie.
Rosalía — “Chicken Teriyaki”
To prepare for the release of her forthcoming third studio album Motomami, Rosalía unveiled this bouyant track with an equally as fun music video full of dancing. It follows “La Fama,” her seductive collaboration with The Weeknd. Both songs point toward a playful album with a sharp edge.
Regina Spektor — “Becoming All Alone”
Along with Avril Lavigne’s comeback, there was the return of Regina Spektor, who announced her first album since 2016’s Remember Us To Life. This lead single is promising in its simple yet profoundly moving lyrics: “It makes me carsick / Stop the meter sir / You have a heart / Why don’t you use it?”
Bakar – “Free”
In Bakar’s dynamic new single, “Free,” synths hum and twinkle whenever the bouncing rhythm pauses, and Bakar is like a conductor, guiding the song with passionate, rich vocals. He raps and sings, using his voice as an instrument to declare his desire for freedom.
Some of the artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
After Netflix announced in February that its collection of Marvel series were leaving the platform at the end of the month, many presumed that the more adult-themed content would make its way to Hulu as Disney+ continued to pursue more family-friendly content where darker, more violent shows like The Punisher and Jessica Jones would feel out of place. Turns out Disney felt otherwise.
On March 1, Disney+ announced that all of the Marvel Netflix series (along with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) will be available for streaming on March 16. However, to prepare for the more graphic content, Disney+ also announced a new set of parental controls that will launch on the same day. Via Total Film:
“When opening Disney Plus for the first time on or after March 16, all subscribers in the U.S. will be prompted to update their Parental Controls,” reads a press release from Disney. “This includes the option to select content ratings restrictions for each profile as well as to add a PIN to lock profiles. Those that choose to keep their settings the same will continue to enjoy Disney Plus as they always have within a TV-14 content rating environment, with the option to make changes at any time under Profile settings.”
Bringing the Netflix series to Disney+ marks an interesting move for Marvel Studios after the month of December saw both Charlie Cox‘s Daredevil and Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin officially join the MCU in Spider-Man: No Way Home and Hawkeye, respectively. However, what hasn’t been firmly established is whether the events of the Netflix series count as canon. This latest move could suggest that Marvel is leaning towards making the shows “official,” but then again, some assumed the Netflix series would make the jump to Hulu, and look what happened.
Okay, friends, our “bourbon by price point” odyssey is deep into the good stuff now. When it comes to bourbon, there are some killer bottles made at the big distilleries in the $70-80 range and a whole lot of sourced and contract distilled bourbons that also hit high marks. We’re talking about special bottles that don’t break the bank — we’re still a long way from unicorn territory, folks.
For this list of ten great bourbons under $80, I turned to my tasting notes and winnowed my favorites down to ten bottles that I regularly enjoy. I then ranked those based on how much I actually reach for each expression. Some of these bourbons are classic while others throw a curveball — all of them are bangers in their own way.
These are priced based on Total Wine’s prices in Louisville, Kentucky. That means these may cost a little more or less depending on where you’re living. Okay, let’s dive into some seriously fine bourbon whiskeys!
Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Bourbon Posts Of The Last Six Months
This is Barton 1792 Distillery’s low-ish rye bourbon mash. The barrels are pulled from various, undisclosed age ranges and vatted. That juice then goes into ex-port casks for an additional maturation of one to three years. The whiskey is then married, slightly proofed, and bottled.
Tasting Notes:
The nose is rich with hints of red berries, sweet and dry dates, a touch of vanilla tobacco, and a whisper of soft leather. The palate has a jammy presence with a plum compote spiked with cloves and allspice next to a touch of port-soaked cedar planks, vanilla cream, sultanas, and, mulled wine cinnamon sticks. That spice does start to build towards the medium-length finish but doesn’t overheat. The fade is nice and mellow with more dried and red fruit leading towards a creamy veneer of spicy vanilla custard with a very distant tobacco vibe on the end.
Bottom Line:
This feels like a classic “port” finish. It’s chewy and fruity with classic spicy depth. Overall, this makes for a nice on the rocks pour that pops in a cocktail too.
Paul Sutton is a new bourbon from an old family recipe. I know, we’ve all heard it before. The new whiskey is not a blend of sourced bourbons. The brand took the time to release its contract distilled juice. The bourbon mash bill has a touch of rye in it and it aged for up to five years in medium char barrels.
Tasting Notes:
The nose on this has a distinct barnyard funk tied to wet bales of straw that leads to a salted caramel sweetness with a hint of a pine box full of cherry pits. The taste veers away from most of that towards sweet corn cakes with a touch of vanilla cream and eggnog spice. A Caro syrup-soaked pecan sweetness and nuttiness drive the mid-palate towards a cherry tobacco finish with a hint of dark cacao powder.
Bottom Line:
You can feel the quality of this bourbon. It’s well-made while leaning into “classic” bourbon notes that feel comforting. Pour this over some rocks and enjoy.
This is sourced from Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee bourbons (though that’s likely to change since Heaven Hill bought the brand). The hand-selected barrels are sent to New York where they’re blended in small batches of no more than five barrels, proofed with New York limestone mine water, and bottled. What you’re paying for here is the exactness of a whiskey blender finding great barrels and knowing how to marry them to make something bigger and better.
Tasting Notes:
There’s a raw pancake batter note on the nose next to mulled red wine with plenty of spice and orange next to a vanilla pudding and light mint waxiness. The taste has a mix of marzipan next to dark chocolate and real, almost woody maple syrup. The finish adds some cherry to that dark chocolate and layers in woody birch water on the end.
Bottom Line:
This has really grown on me over the last year. I dig it on the rocks. There’s no “Oh My God!” factor, but there doesn’t need to be. This is just solid, crafty bourbon made well.
7. Wilderness Trail Wheated Bourbon Bottled In Bond 6 Year
The team over at Wilderness Trail continues to wow with their six-year-old Wheated Bourbon release. The juice is a mash bill of 64 percent corn, 24 percent wheat, and 12 percent malted barley and uses co-founder Dr. Pat’s (yes, he’s a real doctor) proprietary yeast. The juice is then aged in their main warehouse where it’s moved to a new floor every one of those six years, allowing a little extra magic to happen in the barrel.
Tasting Notes:
The nose draws you in with a cinnamon-heavy pecan pie with a lard-hewn crust next to hints of wet pine. The palate leans into the corn syrup of the pecan pie while the cinnamon draws you towards an apple tobacco chew with a touch of caramel and vanilla lurking in the background. The finish doesn’t overstay its welcome and holds onto the cinnamon and pie vibes, ending on a fruity tobacco buzz.
Bottom Line:
This is where science and alchemy collide. This feels special while still feeling familiar. It’s very easy-drinking whiskey and really wows in a cocktail. Try it in a Manhattan. Trust us.
Master Blender Dave Carpenter built this small-batch bourbon from barrels of very high-rye bourbon (60 percent corn, 36 percent rye, and four percent malted barley) from MGP of Indiana. Carpenter then moved that juice into cognac barrels from Ferrand Cognac which held cognac for 30 years. The bourbon spent 12 months finishing in those old-school barrels before vatting, proofing, and bottling.
Tasting Notes:
There’s a clear pecan pie vibe on the nose with a buttery crust, plenty of holiday spices, a touch of apricot, and a whisper of dried hibiscus petals. The palate takes the apricot and stews it with the spices to create a jammy compote next to an earthy and wet cellar beam dripping with cobwebs as the hibiscus brightens and leads towards a hint of raisin, prune, and white pepper. The mid-palate leans into that sweet dried fruit/peppery edge as the pecans return in a bowl of Caro syrup and dusted with nutmeg-heavy eggnog spices and a final flourish of that wet yet fruity wood.
Bottom Line:
Pecan pie and whiskey go together like peaches and cream. This is a wonderful, slow-sipping bourbon that’s as good neat as it is in a cocktail.
Smoke Wagon’s crew is masterfully blending some of the best barrels from MGP of Indiana that were made available. Case in point, the latest batch from the company was a high-rye bourbon (60 percent corn, 36 percent rye, and four percent malted barley) that was blended and bottled as-is out in Nevada. Like so many of Smoke Wagon’s releases, it was an instant hit.
Tasting Notes:
Expect a nose full of classic bourbon notes of orange oils, cinnamon-stewed apples, caramel with a touch of salt, and peachy wood chips. The palate really embraces the fruit and moves from that peach vibe towards a blackberry crumble that’s just kissed with nutmeg and clove that leads towards a hint of old leather, singed cedar planks, and a late hint of cherry-touched tobacco. That leather, berry tobacco, and cedar drives the finish towards a dry end.
Bottom Line:
This is kind of everything you want from a high-proof yet classic bourbon. It’s so dialed in yet accessible, without blowing your palate out with the ABVs. That said, those higher ABVs make this the perfect old fashioned or Manhattan candidate.
Or you can just pour it as a sipper with a rock. Dealer’s choice.
This now-standard edition from Barrell Spirit Company is a mix of whiskeys finished in pear brandy, Jamaican rum, and Sicilian Amaro casks that are then batched. The juice then goes into the bottle uncut to help highlight the disparate yet similarly cozy flavors given by each of the barrels.
Tasting Notes:
Pear drives the nose with a pear compote or pear butter made with plenty of dark spice and just a hint of dark chocolate and tobacco. The taste is warm but slightly rummy with a clear eggnog note acting as a driving force, leading towards hints of black licorice next to creamy toffee stacked beside hefty chocolate bars filled with nougat and walnuts. A slight black tea bitterness takes over on the end as the nuttiness, spiciness, and sweetness all come together for a big finish with plenty of warmth and boldness.
Bottom Line:
There’s beautiful fruit and spice at play that really draws you in. This is a special whiskey that’s not “classic” in any way, and that’s why it’s great. Really take your time with this one and add a little water to let it bloom in your glass to get into the deeper flavor notes.
Jefferson’s Ocean is deeply skilled at crafting unique and very tasty drams. This expression uses a wheated mash bill (instead of high rye) that’s aged for six to eight years on land. Barrels are then loaded onto a ship and sailed around the world where the spirit and wood interact the whole time thanks to the choppy seas, creating an incredibly unique whiskey in the process.
Tasting Notes:
This has a very subtle nose, with hints of vanilla, dark salted caramel, and mild eggnog spice drawing you in. The palate holds onto those flavors fairly well, while adding in a touch of popped corn to the salted caramel as the vanilla becomes more of an eggnog spiced pudding that remains very airy and light. The end is slightly nutty with a touch of cedar as the spice and svelte vanilla slowly fade away.
Bottom Line:
The reason this isn’t a gimmicky bourbon is that it delivers. This is a seriously good wheated bourbon that has no errors on the nose or palate. It’s refined and engaging. Pour this over a rock or two and let the night slip away as you dream of sailing around the world.
2. Henry McKenna Aged 10 Years Single Barrel Bottled-in-Bond
This very affordable offering from Heaven Hill is hard to beat. The juice utilizes a touch of rye in the mash bill and is then aged for ten long years in a bonded rickhouse. The best barrels are chosen by hand and the juice is bottled with just a touch of water to bring it down to bottled-in-bond proof.
Tasting Notes:
Orange zest, caramel, vanilla, and nutmeg-heavy holiday spice are counterpointed by a flush of fresh mint and soft, wet cedar on the nose. The vanilla and caramel carry through as the wintry spices kick up the sharpness alongside a burnt orange feel, vanilla cream, and a slight hint of dry tobacco leaves. It all slowly fades out on the charred oak finish with a minor hint of smoke deep in the background.
Bottom Line:
This could easily cost twice as much and no one would blink. It’s an ultra-refined ten-year-old bourbon that is very easy-drinking while actually offering deep flavors. You cannot beat this neat or with a rock.
This is classic Beam whiskey with a low-ish rye mash bill of 77 percent corn, 13 percent rye, and ten percent malted barley. The juice is then left alone in the Beam warehouses for 12 long years. The barrels are chosen according to a specific taste and married to create this higher-proof expression.
Tasting Notes:
This opens with clear notes of cherry, dark chocolate, winter spices, and a hint of menthol. The palate leans into a red berry crumble with a hint of chili flake spice, salted caramels covered in dark chocolate, and a spicy/sweet note that leads towards a wet cattail stem and soft brandied cherries dipped in silky dark chocolate sauce.
Bottom Line:
This is a bourbon that you can kind of say, “no notes,” when drinking. There is no losing with this one. It’s incredibly well-priced for its age and quality while feeling special with every single sip. It also makes a killer Manhattan in case you want to mix up some awesome cocktails.
Meanwhile, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stood his ground, refusing to be evacuated by the U.S. and insisting that the fight is on the ground. Zelenskyy, who’s a bit of a Jon Stewart, has gone on to give an emotion-stirring speech to the European Union while also being held out in lighter contexts, including a DWTS stint and being a voice of Paddington, but today on CNN, another hero surfaced while Russian troops continued to advance towards high targets in Ukraine.
As tweeted by CNN’s Chief White House Correspondent Kaitlan Collins, here’s an incredible portrait of courage.
A grandmother and retired economist tells @clarissaward she learned how to make Molotov cocktails using Google. “Let those Russian sh*ts come here,” she says. “We are ready to greet them.” pic.twitter.com/t3URCCdkD6
Mediaite highlighted how CNN’s Clarissa Ward interviewed a Ukranian grandmother (and retired economist), Raisa Smatko, who showed off the molotov cocktails that she made after doing some internet searches. “Google helped,” Smatko declared. She also had a word for Putin’s troops: “Let those Russian sh*ts come here. We are ready to greet them…. We will beat them.”
Smatko is standing firm. “I believe in our Ukraine,” she declared. “I believe in Ukrainian people.” And the world is standing behind Ukranian grandmothers like Smatko.
My Ukrainian grandma believed wholeheartedly in helping others, and especially in feeding people (though she was honestly a menace in the kitchen). She’d absolutely be there ladling soup and/or tossing a Molotov cocktail if she was around
I’m old enough to be someone’s grandma. Still have a fairly decent throwing arm, if the Ukrainian grandmas need back up throwing Molotov cocktails at Russian tanks.
Don’t f*ck with Ukrainian grandmas. She almost cracks their near the end but then gathers the strength to compose herself and maintain her brave face. These people are terrified but courageous. Hats off to them. Praying that she doesn’t have to use those Molotovs.
Amazing. People here throwing fits because they have to wear a mask, supposedly defending their freedoms and here’s a woman actually defending her freedom. Ukraine is becoming a model for us all.
Early last month, indie singer-songwriter Sharon Van Etten shared the more upbeat, ambitious anthem “Porta,” which was about overcoming dark moments. Last year, she teamed up with Angel Olsen for the beloved “Like I Used To,” but “Porta” was her first solo material since 2020. Now she’s back with another track of her own, “Used To It,” a sparkling ballad with an ominous, cinematic video. Her voice is airy while stretching out words against a synthy, ethereal soundscape.
It was originally written for Baby God, an HBO documentary centering on a fertility specialist who impregnates women with his own sperm. “Ultimately, the film team changed their musical direction, but I found myself welcomely challenged to the idea of writing a song about the concept of family, connection through blood, nature vs nurture, while attempting to incorporate ideas of love and the complexities of science and technology,” Van Etten said. “I am grateful for this song to be able to have a new life, relating more to the times we have all been living through and redefining the meaning of this song by focusing on the positives of seeking connection and understanding what family means to the individual.”
Chance The Rapper fans haven’t heard much from the Chicago MC in the last few years as he’s concentrated most of his energy on being a dad and the living embodiment of the wife guy meme, but that may soon change. After being featured on Supa Bwe’s “ACAB” posse cut last month, today, Chance shared a teaser of a new song with fans via social media. Doubling the excitement, the song appears to be another reunion with his longtime friend and collaborator Vic Mensa, with whom he reconciled after a few years of tension on last year’s “Shelter.”
“Felt cute might delete later,” Chance wrote in the caption of the video containing the snippet. Over a lush, soulful beat, the two rappers discuss the ills of the world, with Chance recounting an apocryphal theory about President George Washington’s death from a possible throat infection due to antiquated, unhygienic treatments that were used at the time. The fiery verse also appears to include references to various uprisings of Black people against oppression and cuts off just before Chance gives former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover a piece of his mind.
The presentation of the new song appears in line with the rollout for “Shelter” and another (relatively) recent Chance single, “The Heart & The Tongue.” Although Chance hasn’t yet announced a follow-up to his 2019 “debut” album The Big Day, Chance’s increased activity — and a mysterious video posted by DJ Khaled on Instagram a few weeks ago — suggest that one could very well be in the works. Check out the snippet above.
One of the coolest parts of this year’s All-Star weekend in Cleveland was seeing the stars of past and present come together as the league honored its 75 Greatest Players for the league’s diamond anniversary.
There were some incredibly cool moments captured on video between the current stars of the league and their heroes, like Michael Jordan sharing an embrace with LeBron James (and later Luka Doncic). On Tuesday, we saw another such moment that showed just how much that 75th anniversary team meant to those current players who landed on it, as Giannis Antetokounmpo was like a giddy little kid when he saw Allen Iverson before the team photo shoot, running up to The Answer to tell him that he was the reason he started playing basketball.
It’s always cool to see how some of the most famous people on the planet shed all of that in these moments and can’t help but be in awe of the stars of the past that inspired them to play basketball. It’s an incredible moment and shows the influence that Iverson had on this generation of players, even a big man like Giannis. Iverson, in particular, has long been one of the NBA’s legends that has been quick to give flowers to this generation — most recently evidenced by him putting a Ja Morant jersey on his MVP award after Morant’s 52-point game on Monday night — and it’s great to see Giannis showing him respect and love in return.
Hot off the release of her seventh studio album Love Sux, Avril Lavigne has just delivered a fiery performance of “Love It When You Hate Me” on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Joined by the song’s collaborators Blackbear and Travis Barker, Lavigne bounces with high energy and thrives on the musical chemistry between herself and Blackbear.
After the first chorus, Lavigne briefly flips off the audience.
Love Sux sees a return to Lavigne’s pop-punk roots with the help of Barker, who produced “Love It When You Hate Me” and “Bite Me” from the album.
“It’s just been really great to see him evolve,” Lavigne said of Barker in a previous interview with Uproxx. “He’s so much more than a drummer. He has a great sense of production. He knows a lot about songwriting. He’s a businessman. He’s a studio wizard. Like, there’s so much more to him than being a drummer. He spends every waking moment — like, he’s always working, he’s always in the studio. He loves music, he’s so passionate about it, and really shows. I’m really enjoying working with him, because he’s also an artist, so he understands. He’s been around for a long time and doing his thing for a long time, and so have I, and so we can really relate to each other”
Check out the performance of “Love It When You Hate Me” above.
Avril Lavigne is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Over the course of his nearly-20-year career, Compton rapper The Game has been renowned, respected, and ridiculed for his charismatic storytelling, which can range from introspection on intimate moments between himself and his rap game associates to wild, borderline unbelievable tales of late-night shootouts with compatriots such as 50 Cent. Even more of the same is undoubtedly on the way when he appears on NORE’s Drink Champs podcast this week, which the cast’s Instagram page announced along with a teaser of one of the more outrageous moments to come.
In the teaser clip, Game asserts that Kanye West, with whom he recently collaborated on the song “Eazy,” famous for featuring Kanye’s line about beating up his ex’s new man, has done more for Game than Dr. Dre did in the Compton rapper’s whole career. This is, of course, after he spends at least part of the interview with a black balaclava and winter coat before overheating and removing both.
That said, the wild claim has Twitter buzzing, because even accounting for recency bias, there’s no way Game can truly believe that — his sophomore album is called Doctor’s Advocate, for crying out loud (even if it was released on Geffen after Game left Aftermath over his falling out with 50 Cent). Some have attributed the comment to Game’s supposed bitterness over being left off Dre’s recent Super Bowl halftime show performance, but he shot down that supposition early, saying, “I don’t feel no way about not being included.” Then again, Drink Champs has kind of become the go-to podcast for making over-the-top claims to promote new work — even for Game’s benefactor Kanye.
You can check out the clip, as well as some of the reactions to it, below.
The Game said Kanye did more for him in the last 2 weeks than Dre did for his entire career.
Shit like that is why Game wasn’t a special guest at the Super Bowl. He can be mad at Dre, but everyone knows what Dre did for him outweighs what Kanye is doing for him currently. pic.twitter.com/aX79ginVHj
— Ruben || Check the Rhyme (@checktherhyme1_) March 1, 2022
The Game is going viral for down playing Dr. Dre’s role in his career compared to his recent interactions with Kanye.
There’s no loyalty within the music industry. It’s really disgusting at the end of the day.
The Game said Kanye has done more for him in the Last two weeks than Dr Dre did for him his entire career. This motherfucka herrrh! Your whole career you mention Dre in 99% of yo songs and just because he didn’t put you in the super bowl line up you salty. Bruh what da Fwck!
I now understand why 50 kicked the Game out of G Unit as he comes always across as ungrateful and bipolar. Game is so salty that Dre never asked him to perform at the Super Bowl and him saying that Kanye did more in his career than Dre ever did is bullshit. He’s such a clown. https://t.co/Dk5NDCZpwz
Name dropping Dre has nothing to do with Dr. Dre actually helping him or mentoring him. Kanye from day 1 has been all over Game’s albums and still is, can’t say that about Dr.Dre https://t.co/U1qaMwta81
Indie music has grown to include so much. It’s not just music that is released on independent labels, but speaks to an aesthetic that deviates from the norm and follows its own weirdo heart. It can come in the form of rock music, pop, or folk. In a sense, it says as much about the people that are drawn to it as it does about the people that make it.
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Gang Of Youths — Angel In Realtime
Aussie five-piece band Gang Of Youths has been gaining traction in the US for the past several years, but their latest LP Angel In Realtime is sure to be their most-talked-about release to date. Lead singer David Le’aupepe infuses witty lyrics and self-effacing jabs over cascading chords and bright melodies for a release which Uproxx’s Steven Hyden calls a “real achievement.”
Sasami — Squeeze
Sasami first arrived on the indie scene with her gentle and acoustic guitar-driven self-titled debut LP. But for her sophomore album Squeeze, released this week, Sasami shows off a harder edge. Throughout eleven tracks, the singer absolutely shreds on electric guitar and toes the line between metal and EDM with tracks like “Say It” and the raucous “Sorry Entertainer.”
Bakar — Nobody’s Home
UK musician Bakar has been creating buzz around his name ever since his 2018 debut. With this week’s album Nobody’s Home, Bakar cements himself as an indie star. The release sways between his playful and his vulnerable side, critiquing people’s biases in on the track “Not From Here” while showing off his catchy songwriting on “NW3.”
Caroline — Caroline
Fans of Black Country, New Road are probably still reeling from the lead singer’s departure and the band’s canceled North American tour. Thankfully, UK group Caroline’s self-titled LP similar enough to BCNR to keep fans entertained. The London-based eight-piece collective shared their entrancing debut this week, an album that at times builds momentum through a flurry of instruments while also appreciating the importance of a quiet, string-driven ballad.
Florence + The Machine — “King”
It’s been several years since Florence + The Machine last released an album, but that’s all about to change as this week, the band returned to kick off a new era of music with the ballad-like track “King.” Not only does the song offer space for Welch to show of her insanely powerful vocals, but it’s also a heady commentary on gender roles in the music industry, as Welch herself reflects on how she used to model herself after male performers in her early career days.
Toro Y Moi — “The Loop”
Toro Y Moi‘s Chaz Bear has been releasing music under the moniker for nearly 12 years, and it doesn’t look like he’s slowing down anytime soon. Continuing to prepare for his eighth studio album Mahal, which is slated for a late April release, the musician drops the groovy number “The Loop.” The track is driven by a funky bass line and buoyant keys and features lighthearted lyrics about staying up-to-date with friends in different time zones.
Mdou Moctar — Afrique Victime (Deluxe)
Niger-based Mdou Moctar earned a massive US following last year with the release of the delightful album Afrique Victime last year. After touring around the world behind the release, the band return to beef up the LP with a deluxe release. The neo-psychedelic rock project adds a few demos and live tracks from the time since the original album’s release, showing Mdou Moctar’s ability two create captivating and intoxicating tunes.
Girlpool — “Dragging My Life Into A Dream”
Duo Girlpool continue teasing the follow up to their 2019 album with “Dragging My Life Into A Dream,” another single from their forthcoming fifth studio album Forgiveness. The brooding and melodic track explores the themes of insecurity and isolation, as singer Avery Tucker confronts his tendency to romanticize the past.
Jean Dawson — “Porn Acting”
After making countless end of year lists in 2020 for his Pixel Bath album, Jean Dawson shares the refined track “Porn Acting” as his first release of the year. With the new single, Dawson once again proves himself an endlessly innovative songwriter, combining confident with a chaotic mix of heavy melodies and piercing guitars. About the song, Dawson explains: “We are all the same, we are all bags of flesh, tryna prove that we’re not as bad as we know we are.”
Talker — “My Meds”
LA-based musician Talker has shared a number of playful tracks ahead of her upcoming In Awe of Insignificance EP, but with her latest track “My Meds,” Talker shows off a more intimate side to her songwriting. The blissed-out track is a way of understanding the ups-and-downs of mental health and the fact that even though becoming medicated is sometimes necessary, it can still be difficult to accept.
Giant Waste Of Man — “Swim”
Following up their 2019 release The Politics Of Lonely, LA-based group Giant Waste Of Man shares the gripping ballad “Swim.” The song showcases the vocalist’s textured lyrical delivery, very reminiscent of The National’s Matt Berninger.
Cola — “So Excited”
Cola, the new band formed by a few members of the recently broken up group Ought, officially announced their debut album Deep In View this week with the shuffling song “So Excited.” The single is a more detached look at their songwriting, combining drowned out vocals with urgent instrumentation to create a song which the band sees as a “capstone” of their upcoming debut.
Enumclaw — “2002”
Washington group Enumclaw have quickly positioned themselves as ones to watch with a handful of songs released in 2021. Now armed with a new label and new material, the group share the aloof single “2002.” As the self-proclaimed “best band since Oasis,” Enumclaw sure have a lot to live up to. But if their upcoming music is anything like “2002,” their assertions don’t seem so lofty.
Some of the artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
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