For many musicians, the time spent in quarantine is an opportunity to create new music. Take Charli XCX for example: The pop singer is recording an entire album from home with the help of fans. But other musicians, like Angel Olsen, are similarly trying out new tunes. Angel Olsen recently hosted the livestream concert Angel Olsen: Still At Home to benefit her touring crew and MusiCares’ COVID-19 Relief Fund. During the livestream, Olsen debuted two brand new songs.
The singer performed a full 18-song set live from her living room. With only a guitar, a piano, and her resounding vocals, Olsen pulled from her wide catalog for an array of hauntingly beautiful tunes. Along with playing her hits like “All Mirrors,” the singer performed a cover of Roxy Music’s “More Than This” and one of Bruce Springsteen’s classics. But fans who purchased admission to the livestream were in for an exclusive treat: Olsen debuted two new untitled ballads during the performance.
One of the new tracks was accompanied by warm piano chords. “You can take everything / I’m not looking back,” Olsen crooned. For her second new song, the singer opted for an acoustic guitar. “I don’t have an ending yet,” she said as she abruptly finished the preview.
Watch Angel Olsen perform two new songs as well as a rendition of her All Mirrors title track above.
Some of the artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Playboi Carti was recently arrested on drug charges in his native Atlanta after being pulled over by deputies over expired tags on his car. Now, those deputies are accusing the rapper of using some pretty vulgar language during his arrest, according to TMZ. According to a police report, Carti was fed up before he was even placed under arrest, telling the officer who pulled him over he “had a hot wife” and telling him he’d “f*ck” his daughter.
Carti was also reported as saying he didn’t care about the expensive sports car and that he’d just buy a new one anyway. Allegedly, he told the officers to take him jail, because he “didn’t even care anymore.” A press release shared by Sheriff Victor Hill of the Clayton County Sheriff’s Department advised that the rapper’s car contained 12 bags of weed, the drugs codeine, oxycodone, and xanax, and three guns. Carti was booked on charges of failing to display an updated license plate decal, improperly passing an emergency vehicle, and possession of marijuana before being released on bond.
The Die Lit rapper likely had plenty of reason to feel grumpy — after all, we’ve all got the quarantine blues — but also apparently has at least one thing to look forward to. During a recent livestream, Drake previewed a track that will apparently feature Carti, which will likely give the younger rapper the lift he needs to take his upcoming album, Whole Lotta Red, to mainstream levels of success.
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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The Strokes — The New Abnormal
On their first full-length album since 2013’s disappointing-but-then-reappraised Comedown Machine, The Strokes deliver some truly strange and ’80s-inspired synth-pop numbers, and a few undeniable bangers. While the band’s previous two LPs were criticized for documenting a band at their point of least engaged, Steven Hyden writes for Uproxx thatThe New Abnormal seems to have been “consciously constructed to be another ‘disappointing Strokes album’ that will sound better in about three years.” Now that’s a different, borderline genius type of forward-thinking.
Trace Mountains — Lost In The Country
After the disbandment of beloved New York indie rock outfit LVL UP in 2018, guitarist and vocalist Dave Benton didn’t take long to pivot to his solo sporadic project Trace Mountains. Lost In The Country is the debut full-length from the newly full-time project, and showcases Benton’s knack for catchy songwriting. Where Benton is usually writing about himself in his songs, the ten tracks on Lost In The Country see Benton turning the focus even more inward than on past projects.
Laura Marling — Song For Our Daughter
Song For Our Daughter marks Laura Marling’s fourth release since 2013, and seventh overall. Only thirty years old, Marling is still exceptionally reflective, perhaps aided by her pursuit of a master’s degree in psychoanalysis. Her newfound knowledge comes through in her music, and transforms Daughter into what Steven Hyden calls for Uproxx “a song cycle addressed to the child that she might have one day, in which the prospective mother unloads wisdom and warnings.”
Hamilton Leithauser — The Loves Of Your Life
You might know Hamilton Leithauser from his work with The Walkmen. The Loves Of Your Life is his second solo album, and each song was written about a specific person. In this way, the record works similarly to a photo album, documents of people, places, and things that you wanted to capture. It is chock-full of beautiful vocal melodies and harmonies that sound like they are soaked with love. Among the guest backing vocalists on the record are Leithauser’s wife Anna Stumpf, their daughters Georgiana and Frederika, and Lacrisha Brown, the girls’ former preschool teacher. More than an album, The Loves Of Your Life is a document of a tight-knit community.
Phoebe Bridgers — “Kyoto”
Phoebe Bridgers has been so busy collaborating with other artists recently — Julien Baker, Lucy Dacus, Conor Oberst, and The 1975, to name only a small handful — that it would be easy to forget that nearly three years have elapsed since Stranger In The Alps landed in our laps, the best indie album of the 2010s. Finally, Bridgers has announced her sophomore solo LP, Punisher. “Kyoto” features a soaring chorus and orchestral arrangements courtesy of Bright Eyes’ Nathaniel Walcott. “This is Bridgers’ first solo album in a few years, but she’s not going about it alone,” writes Derrick Rossignol for Uproxx.
The Beths — “Dying To Believe”
The Beths’ debut album Future Me Hates Me was one of our favorite indie albums of 2018, and we can barely contain our excitement for its follow-up. “Dying To Believe” is a very promising entry to The Beths’ catalogue, a beautifully-arranged power pop number wherein “vocalist Elizabeth Stokes reckons with the distance that inevitably comes between friends as life passes by,” writes Carolyn Droke for Uproxx.
Varsity — “Runaway”
On their new album Fine Forever, Varsity decided to take some risks sonically. “Runaway” previews this approach, anchored by a driving bass line that lends itself to a dance-ready number with big guitars and shimmering guitars. Singer/keyboardist Stef Smith’s vocals really shine here, doused in reverb and complimented by a luscious saxophone solo.
2nd Grade – “Velodrome / My Bike”
You might be inclined to call 2nd Grade a Philadelphia supergroup, featuring members of Free Cake For Every Creature, Remember Sports, and Friendship. “Velodrome / My Bike” are technically two tracks, but they work together nicely, with the former flowing seamlessly into the latter. On the tracks, the band are “as honest as they are sarcastic,” writes Carolyn Droke for Uproxx. It’s this unique balance that makes 2nd Grade a band to keep an eye on in 2020.
Washed Out — “Too Late”
Although Washed Out has not announced a new album, “Too Late” marks Ernest Greene’s first new release since a handful of standalone singles in 2018. It’s a breezy, fun track that acts as a nice, temporary respite from the world around us. Maybe one day we’ll be able to listen to it on the beach, where it belongs.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
After previously announcing that it would suspend Kyle Larson indefinitely without pay, Chip Ganassi Racing has opted to “end its relationship” with Larson altogether. Larson had come under serious fire in recent days following his actions during an iRacing event on Sunday afternoon — while testing the audio on his stream, Larson used a racist slur. The video of the incident is accessible here, but of course, viewer discretion is advised.
The fallout was swift, as multiple sponsors — such as Credit One Bank and McDonald’s — dropped the former Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year. NASCAR, citing its commitment to “diversity and inclusion,” suspended Larson indefinitely, as did his team, which called his actions “offensive and indefensible.”
Now, Chip Ganassi Racing has taken things a step further, releasing a statement on Tuesday morning that announced it is severing ties with the 27-year-old California native.
“After much consideration, Chip Ganassi Racing has determined that it will end its relationship with driver Kyle Larson,” Ganassi said in a statement. “As we said before, the comments that Kyle made were both offensive and unacceptable especially given the values of our organization. As we continued to evaluate the situation with all the relevant parties, it became obvious that this was the only appropriate course of action to take.”
Larson had been a member of the team since 2013. NASCAR, on its official website, indicated that for Larson to potentially get reinstated, he would need to go through sensitivity training. In addition to losing his team on Tuesday, Chevrolet announced that it was also terminating its partnership with Larson.
After Knives Out fans enjoyed sequel-teasing, hopes were high for Chris Evans (and that sweater) to somehow make a return. Rian Johnson has since revealed that the followup will not, in fact, revolve around Ransom Drysdale, but instead, around Daniel Craig‘s Benoit Blanc and a mostly-new surrounding cast. Yet there’s simply no telling when Johnson will be able to lift-off on a sequel, since Hollywood productions have ground to a halt for the forseeable future due to you-know-what happening in this world.
If you are really needing a quick fix, though, and you also love trashy, soap-operatic takes, then Netflix might have an alternative for you very soon. Dangerous Lies doesn’t have sweater porn, but it does have Jessie T. Usher wearing tight Henley shirts. The theme looks awfully familiar, too, with Camila Mendes (Riverdale) being sucked into an intricate web of lies after “inheriting” an estate. From the synopsis:
Katie Franklin (Camila Mendes) takes a job as a caretaker to a wealthy elderly man in his sprawling, empty Chicago estate. The two grow close, but when he unexpectedly passes away and names Katie as his sole heir, she and her husband Adam (Jessie T. Usher) are pulled into a complex web of lies, deception, and murder. If she’s going to survive, Katie will have to question everyone’s motives — even the people she loves.
Admittedly, this doesn’t look like high-quality cinematic fare, but I don’t think that was the goal here, either. Some good news? Sasha Alexander also appears in this movie. I hope she’s the killer. The film also includes Jamie Chung, Cam Gigandet, and Elliott Gould. Look for this imitation Knives Out movie to arrive on April 30.
NPR’s long-running video series Tiny Desk highlights both popular and up-and-coming artists from the claustrophobic comfort of a confined office desk. But, as everyone is urged to remain at home, talk shows and late-night television alike are making do by filming from home. NPR’s Tiny Desk follows suit by tapping various musicians to film a 20-minute set from their living rooms. While there may not be a tiny desk in sight, Waxahatchee and Kevin Morby share soulful renditions of their music for NPR’s series.
“Hello everyone, we’re going stir crazy — this is take number 55,” Morby quips during the set. Morby and Waxahatchee’s Katie Crutchfield have been partners and collaborators for several years. The couple got together to perform at-home renditions of some of their most popular songs, including two tracks from Waxahatchee’s recently-released record Saint Cloud.
The setlist includes songs from Waxahatchee’s recent effort, as well as a track from Kevin Morby’s breakout single and a cover of the late Jason Molina. The duo kicks things off with a stripped-down performance of Waxahatchee’s Saint Cloud soaring lead single “Fire.” Next, the duo exchange acoustic guitars and launches into Morby’s heartbreaking ballad “Beautiful Strangers,” which was recorded to benefit the charity organization Everytown For Gun Safety.
Switching gears, the two harmonize gentle strumming for Waxahatchee’s “Lilacs” before paying homage to one of their “favorite musicians” Jason Molina. Covering Molina’s “Farewell Transmission,” Morby said: “Hearing any song and applying it to your current situation, you can bend the meaning of songs. But, there’s something about this song that seems appropriate right now.”
Watch Waxahatchee and Kevin Morby’s Tiny Desk At-Home performance above.
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