GoneTrending

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.

Every week, Uproxx is rounding up the best new indie music from the past seven days. This week we got the the anticipated new albums from My Morning Jacket and Wet, a new track from Anjimile, and a nostalgic-sounding track from Ovlov. Check out the rest of the best new indie music below.

While we’re at it, sign up for our newsletter to get the best new indie music delivered directly to your inbox, every Monday.

My Morning Jacket – My Morning Jacket

My Morning Jacket are back with the jammiest record of their career, which is also a recipe for their most interesting release in years. In a recent interview with Steven Hyden, Jim James revealed that he hadn’t been actively engaged with My Morning Jacket for much of the 2010’s, but he felt more locked in on the band’s new self-titled album. The attention pays off, and My Morning Jacket just might be the record that revitalizes the veteran indie rockers.

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – B-Sides & Rarities (Part II)

After dropping the first volume of a massive archival project, Nick Cave is back with the second. B-Sides & Rarities (Part II) was compiled by Cave alongside longtime collaborator Warren Ellis, and comprises rarities, outtakes, covers & B-sides spanning from 2006’s Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! to Ghosteen. Together, both volumes show another side of Nick Cave’s creative process that is both revealing and enveloping.

Wet – Letter Blue

After a few years of flux that had members leave then return, as well as finding a new label home, New York indie-pop trio Wet are back with an excellent new record. Letter Blue is what Adrian Spinelli calls for Uproxx “Wet’s most diverse offering yet. Zutrau’s hallmark emotional pop lyricism is as sharp as ever.”

Super American – SUP

Listening to the new album Buffalo, NY punks Super American, it’s hard to believe the band is solely a duo. The songs on SUP feel so fleshed-out, there has to be more going on than just two people. But alas, the album features none other than multi-instrumentalists Matt Cox and Patrick Feeley, delivering a collection of massive pop-punk tracks that juxtapose the miracle of being alive with the constant sense of nagging fear.

Bedouine – Waysides

Azniv Korkejian sat in the co-producer chair alongside Gus Seyffert (Beck, Sia) for her third album under the name Bedouine. On Waysides, Bedouine delivers what Adrian Spinelli calls for Uproxx “downright gorgeous folk music for day dreamers and lovers alike.” The release of the album couldn’t be timed more perfectly, to throw on during a solipsistic fall walk.

Helado Negro – Far In

Two years after dropping his acclaimed 2019 effort This Is How You Smile, Roberto Carlos Lange is back with a brand new album. Announced earlier this year, Far In features collaborators like Jen Wasner of Flock of Dimes, Kacy Hill, Buscabulla, and Benamin and is another excellent addition to Lange’s prolific catalogue.

Parquet Courts – Sympathy For Life

On their seventh album, Parquet Courts once again prove their lasting consistency. Sympathy For Life was born out of unstructured jam sessions that were eventually distilled into more straightforward songs, and the freewheeling experimentation can be heard throughout its eleven tracks. Sometimes, it’s nice to hear a band get out of their head and just let loose, and Sympathy For Life does just that.

Hand Habits – Fun House

“Meg Duffy is considered one of the best guitarists working in contemporary indie rock, but the music they make as Hand Habits is less about solos than exploring the textural possibilities of the instrument,” Steven Hyden wrote in a recent issue of the Indie Mixtape newsletter. Duffy pushes these textural boundaries throughout Fun. House, the latest effort Hand Habits. It’s a fully enveloping LP, one that will reveal new sonic layers upon every listen.

Trace Mountains – House Of Confusion

After garnering quite a bit of attention with their 2020 debut, Lost In The Country, former LVL UP member Dave Benton is back with another new record under the name Trace Mountains. House Of Confusion is a declarative sonic step forward from the debut, but still “feels like a throwback to the rustic ‘out in the country’ acts of the classic-rock era,” according to Steven Hyden called in a recent issue of the Indie Mixtape newsletter.

Tonstartssbandht – Petunia

If you were a diehard Mac DeMarco fan in the mid-2010’s like me, then you’re definitely familiar with Florida duo Tonstartssbandht, who lended their vocalist Andy White to DeMarco’s band for a stint. With 17 records to their name in under 15 years, Tonstartssbandht have now unleashed Petunia, an experimental jam record that feels like it could be a breakthrough. Chock full of 12-string guitars and impressive vocal harmonies, Petunia sounds like “a jammier Radiohead,” wrote Steven Hyden in a recent issue of the Indie Mixtape newsletter.

Angel Du$t – YAK: A Collection Of Truck Songs

Baltimore outfit Angel Du$t have revealed their Jekyll and Hyde — 2016’s Rock The Fuck On Forever was a straight-ahead hardcore LP, while 2019’s Pretty Buff was an acoustic-forward power-pop effort. Now, the two sides of the band have met somewhere in the middle on the new album YAK: A Collection Of Truck Songs. Sometimes, the full spectrum of the band’s abilities are showcased within the span of one song, which makes for a thrilling and provocative listen.

Clinic – Fantasy Island

For the better part of two decades, Liverpool outfit Clinic have been pumping out some of the coolest, most inventive alternative music available. Now, the duo has delivered their ninth studio album, Fantasy Island. As the title indicates, the LP is chock full of literary references, with twelve tracks that explore time, music, and entertainment atop funky bass tracks and drum machines.

Mom Jeans – “Circus Clowns”

Mom Jeans are one of the most talked-about bands in the indie-emo scene. Given the quality of the two singles we’ve heard from the forthcoming album Sweet Tooth, it’s not surprising that people are buzzing about this band and “Circus Clowns” sets a high bar for the remainder of the album.

Ovlov – “The Wishing Well”

With their new album Buds set for release in November, Connecticut rockers Ovlov have shared another new single. “The Wishing Well” is what Derrick Rossignol describes for Uproxx as sounding “like a not-too-distant relative of early-2000s Death Cab For Cutie,” and deals with varying responses to mental health issues.

Anjimile – “Stranger”

Giver/Taker, last year’s full-length debut from Anjimile, was one of the year’s best albums and catapulted them into a deal with 4AD. Now, Anjimile has returned with more resources at their back in the form of “Stranger,” which kicks off with what Carolyn Droke calls for Uproxx “the emotive strumming of an acoustic guitar as Anjimile’s captivating voice floats in. The instrumentals swirl between nostalgic piano keys and boisterous horns, mimicking the tumult that’s detailed in the song’s lyrics.”

Dan Campbell – “Flight No. 5”

Early in the pandemic, The Wonder Years’ frontman Dan Campbell started taking commissions for original songs, for the first time looking to tell other people’s stories instead of his own (or ones he conjured up for his Aaron West character study project). The resulting LP Other People’s Lives is both startling and comforting in its delivery, and “Flight No. 5” is our first taste of what we can expect as Campbell provides a unique glimpse into the lives of strangers.

Ryan Pollie – “On The Nose”

Ryan Pollie’s new album Stars is set for a mid-December release, and he has shared a first look at the record in the form of “On The Nose.” Inspired by the parties that take over the parking lots outside of Dead & Co. shows during the summer, “On The Nose” is an engaging track about growing up and taking summers for granted.

Camp Trash – “Weird Florida”

Camp Trash’s brand of emo is instantly exciting and boasts incredible vocal melodies that make you want to sing along, even when you’re by yourself in your room (like I am right now). “Weird Florida” is a diatribe against my personal least favorite state in the union, and is supposedly the first proper taste of the forthcoming Camp Trash full-length due next year on Count Your Lucky Stars.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

The post All The Best New Indie Music From This Week appeared first on UPROXX.

Now that Megan Thee Stallion‘s got four Grammys to her name, her next accomplishment is set to be a college degree. The rapper has been taking classes at Southern Texas University and this semester, she’s slated to graduate with a degree in health administration. To celebrate her impending degree, Megan added some bling her graduation cap, but it wouldn’t be complete without her signature catchphrase.

The rapper shared photos of her sparkling hat on Instagram, showing that it reads “Real hot girl sh*t” in block letters. “2021 finna graduate collegeeee taking my graduation pics today,” she wrote in the post’s caption. “I can’t wait for y’all to see.” Of course, no look of Megan’s would be complete without a matching set of acrylic nails, which feature TSU’s letters and even a metal tassel.

Previously speaking about her degree in an interview with People last June, Megan said she is inspired to finish her degree not only for herself, but also for her late mother and grandmother. “I want to get my degree because I really want my mom to be proud,” she said. “She saw me going to school before she passed.” Megan added, “I want my big mama to be proud. She saw me going to school before she passed. My grandmother that’s still alive used to be a teacher, so she’s on my butt about finishing school. I’m doing it for me, but I’m also doing it for the women in my family who made me who I am today.”

Check out photos of Megan’s handiwork above.

Megan Thee Stallion is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

The post Megan Thee Stallion Gears Up For College Graduation By Bedazzling Her Cap With Her Signature Catchphrase appeared first on UPROXX.

Jeff Tweedy is a fantastic cover artist, whether he’s taking on a Neil Young song or the Ted Lasso theme. Now he’s at it again, as Wilco have taken on a pair of Beatles songs from the Let It Be era: “Don’t Let Me Down” (released as a B-side to “Get Back”) and “Dig A Pony” (which appears on the album).

With the renditions (which are exclusive to Amazon Music), the band leans into the country elements of the former song and convey the bluesy rock balladry of the latter. The covers arrive as part of Amazon Music’s month-long [RE]DISCOVER campaign, which this month is focused on The Beatles during their Let It Be era.

In a 2014 interview with The Guardian, Tweedy spoke about his admiration of The White Album, saying, “My father had a record of old steam locomotive sounds and I still think about that all the time: the idea that you can sit and listen to anything and have a stimulating experience, just sitting and being bombarded by sound. I could make an equally forceful argument for The Beatles’ White Album. For me, as a child, that was the ideal situation: this collective of people who were not being held in the confines of a genre — a word I didn’t know at the time. It was really obvious that there was something much broader than the Monkees there (at that point I didn’t have those records where the Monkees were trying to be the later Beatles).”

Listen to Wilco’s covers of “Don’t Let Me Down” and “Dig A Pony” above.

The post Wilco Covers A Pair Of Beatles Songs For Amazon Music’s Celebration Of The Legendary Band appeared first on UPROXX.

Complex reports that Yeezy, the apparel brand founded by Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, is being sued in California for “failing to ship items within thirty days and failing to provide adequate delay notices” to customers. Recently elected L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón filed the suit last Friday, October 22 on behalf of the State of California, pointing out how Yeezy violated California state business codes.

Essentially, in California, any product purchased online must be shipped within 30 days. If there will be any delays, the merchant must either notify its customers, provide a refund, or inform consumers of any other possible solutions. Yeezy allegedly “made untrue or misleading statement regarding its ability to ship products within a certain timeframe, particularly where customers paid an additional charge for expedited shipping.”

Other counties included in the suit are Alameda, Napa, and Sonoma. The suit wants the company fined $2,500 per violation. The Yeezy brand has proven to be popular and lucrative for the artist, with Yeezy’s Gap deal approaching a $3-4 billion estimated value and items like the puffer jacket the producer wore at his Donda listening events and his Adidas sneakers sending fans clamoring and often selling out within hours of release.

The post Ye’s Yeezy Brand Is Being Sued Over Shipping Delays appeared first on UPROXX.

Over the years, Meghan McCain has been adamant that Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump crashed the funeral of her late father, Arizona Senator John McCain. In her defense, it tracks, as there’s no love lost between the Trumps and McCains, so Jared and Ivanka’s presence definitely felt odd. However, the couple is now pushing back with the help of Lindsey Graham after McCain resurfaced the funeral crashing accusation in both her book and a recent interview with Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live.

In a comment to the Washington Post, Graham, one of John McCain’s dearest friends in the Senate, set the record straight that Jared and Ivanka were invited and their presence was “approved” by Meghan’s mother, Cindy:

“She was upset they were there — I understand that, and she has hard feelings but I know what happened and nobody showed up uninvited,” Graham told The Early over the phone. “I love Meghan McCain and I understand how stressful all this has been for her and those who attack her dad will never be forgiven by her.”

As for Jared and Ivanka, they issued a scathing, Trumpian-like response via a source close to the couple: “Jared and Ivanka had about as much interest in attending the funeral as they did the half dozen or so dinner invitations that Ben [Domenech] and Meghan pestered them with after the funeral.”

When reached for comment on the conflicting accounts, McCain’s spokesperson said that she “stands by the accuracy of her memoir.” Of course.

(Via Washington Post)

The post Lindsey Graham, Jared Kushner, And Ivanka Trump All Shot Down Meghan McCain’s Claims Of ‘Funeral Crashing’ appeared first on UPROXX.

Now that Car Seat Headrest and Bob Saget are done feuding, the band has time to go on tour, and that’s just what they’re gearing up to do: Today, they announced a run of spring tour dates for North America in 2022. Furthermore, they’ll be joined by Bartees Strange on all but a handful of them.

The band wrote in a statement, “YOU are formally invited to a venue near you, to partake in THE CAR SEAT HEADREST MASQUERADE TOUR for a night of music, dancing, and identity loss. We are deeply excited to crawl out of our pit and onto the spotlit stage once more. For a few hours on a spring night, you too can slip out of your mind & into the ever-changing shared world of the theatre. We ask that you wear a mask (you know which kind), and invite you to accoutre yourself in whatever further costumery you please. Proof of COVID-19 Vaccine, or a negative test, will be required. At some venues, only proof of vaccine will be accepted. Check your local venue to receive details.”

On top of that, Car Seat Headrest will be releasing a limited edition, tour-only CD, The MADLO EPs, a compilation of the band’s digital-only releases MADLO: Influences and MADLO: Remixes.

Check out the full list of dates below.

03/16/2022 — St. Paul, MN @ Palace Theater #
03/17/2022 — Milwaukee, WI @ Pabst Theater #
03/18/2022 — Chicago, IL @ The Vic Theater #
03/20/2022 — Detroit, MI @ The Majestic #
03/22/2022 — Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall #
03/25/2022 — North Adams, MA @ MASS MoCA #
03/26/2022 — Boston, MA @ House of Blues #
03/27/2022 — Portland, ME @ State Theatre #
03/29/2022 — Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel #
03/30/2022 — Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel #
04/01/2022 — Philadelphia, PA @ Franklin Music Hall #
04/02/2022 — Washington, DC @ The Anthem #
04/04/2022 — Charlottesville, VA @ The Jefferson Theater #
04/05/2022 — Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel #
04/07/2022 — Raleigh, NC @ The Ritz #
04/08/2022 — Columbia, SC @ The Senate #
04/09/2022 — Atlanta, GA @ The Tabernacle #
04/10/2022 — Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl #
04/22/2022 — Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theater
04/23/2022 — Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater #
04/24/2022 — Eugene, OR @ McDonald Theater #
04/26/2022 — Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades #
04/27/2022 — San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield
04/29/2022 — San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
04/30/2022 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern #
05/01/2022 — Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren
05/04/2022 — Austin, TX @ Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater #
05/05/2022 — Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall #
05/06/2022 — Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater #
05/07/2022 — Oklahoma City, OK @ Tower Theater #
05/08/2022 — Kansas City, MO @ Grinders KC #
05/10/2022 — Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre #
05/11/2022 — Boulder, CO @ Fox Theatre #
05/20/2022 — Vancouver, BC @ The Commodore Ballroom %

# with Bartees Strange
% with Floral Tattoo

The post Car Seat Headrest Is Going On Tour In 2022 And Taking Bartees Strange With Them appeared first on UPROXX.

Last year, Kanye West went to war with Def Jam and Universal over the terms of his recording contract, demanding to have his masters returned to him and even going so far as posting several pages of contract amendments on Twitter. Of course, that didn’t stop him from receiving a fair amount of criticism on the terms of his own GOOD Music recording contracts when he announced he’d return his artists’ masters to them. Still, he apparently inspired Meek Mill, who announced his own intentions to make his contract public on Twitter in the interest of music industry transparency.

“Ask the record label,” he wrote. “How much have you spent on me as a artist? then you ask how much have you made off me as a artist? i’m about to make my record deal public by Monday just to let the world see what these people on!!!”

Kanye and Meek are just one of a few artists who’ve been taking the recording industry to task for its opaque processes lately. In early 2020, Megan Thee Stallion challenged her label, 1501 Certified Entertainment, over the profit splits in her agreement, while Taylor Swift began rolling out re-recorded versions of her early albums in order to circumvent Big Machine’s share of revenues after she said the label refused to return her masters.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

The post Meek Mill Wants To Do A Kanye West And Make His Record Deal Public appeared first on UPROXX.

After an offseason of speculation surrounding the potential for a consolidation trade, the Golden State Warriors largely brought the band back for the 2021-22 campaign. The Warriors did make moves on the margins, providing improved depth by mining the veteran minimum market, but Golden State stood pat in making two lottery picks and did not pull the trigger on a franchise-changing swap. Instead, the Warriors leaned on the development of young players like Jordan Poole and James Wiseman, as well as the pending return of long-time standout shooting guard Klay Thompson. Through three games and a week of play, the early returns are strong in San Francisco.

The Warriors are one of only a handful of unbeaten teams to this point, winning all three games against divisional opponents. Golden State opened with a very strong road win over the Los Angeles Lakers, pivoted to a home win over the L.A. Clippers, and then took care of business with a double-digit road win over the Sacramento Kings. Offensively, the team has enjoyed peak moments, headlined by a 45-point eruption by Steph Curry in the win over the Clippers. It has been the defense, though, that has carried the mantle in the early going.

Golden State finished as a top-five defense a season ago, propping up an offense that was tremendous with Curry on the floor and dire when he left the hardwood. In three games this season, the Warriors are allowing only 1.05 points per possession, mirroring the team’s breakout play down the stretch of last season. In that late push toward the playoffs, Golden State trailed only Utah in defensive rating (106.5), and Steve Kerr’s team still leans to defense in terms of its optimal personnel.

With Draymond Green anchoring the defense and a strong systematic approach, Curry continues to overwhelm offensively. He is averaging 31 points, nine rebounds and seven assists per game, getting up 12 three-pointers per contest, and attracting more defensive attention than any single player in the NBA. The hopes are high for Poole’s breakout after a tremendous preseason but, at present, Curry is carrying a substantial workload, and it will be interesting to see who can step up to join him. Still, Golden State’s offense has been more than passable and, while trying not to overreact to a three-game sample, the Warriors are on their way to keeping things going until Thompson can arrive and eventually ease back toward full-time deployment.

Where do the Warriors rank in the inaugural edition of our 2021-22 DIME power rankings? Let’s dive in.

1. Milwaukee Bucks (3-1, Last week — n/a)

Milwaukee hasn’t been the best team in the NBA through one week, but the Bucks are the champs and they’ve done what they needed to do to stay here. Yes, the Bucks lost by a million to the Heat, but that game occurred with half of Milwaukee’s roster resting, and the Bucks have a win over the Nets and back-to-back road wins to close the week. At the very least, we know Milwaukee is good.

2. Utah Jazz (2-0, Last week — n/a)

The Jazz were the NBA’s best regular season team a year ago. They could very well do that again. Utah is one of only two teams that have played two games at this point, but both were comfortable wins. The Jazz have insanely impressive metrics dating back to last season, and the team’s core is still in place.

3. Golden State Warriors (3-0, Last week — n/a)

As noted above, the Warriors are playing quite well, and their winning ways could continue. Golden State plays Oklahoma City twice this week, and they also host Memphis in a game that should favor the Warriors at full strength.

4. Chicago Bulls (4-0, Last week — n/a)

Only one team is 4-0, and it’s the Bulls. Granted, Chicago’s wins haven’t come against the stiffest competition (Pelicans, Raptors, Pistons twice), but the Bulls have defended well and taken care of business. This marked the first four-game winning streak of Zach LaVine’s entire career, and the vibes are good in Chicago right now.

5. Brooklyn Nets (2-2, Last week — n/a)

If we were focusing only on what happened this season, the Nets wouldn’t be this high. Kevin Durant looks great, which matters, but the Nets are operating without Kyrie Irving and James Harden doesn’t look like himself. Brooklyn’s ceiling remains sky-high, but everyone is projecting at this point.

6. Denver Nuggets (2-1, Last week — n/a)

Denver was woeful on Monday, scoring 87 points in a home loss to Cleveland. The Cavs have been giant killers early in the season, though, and the Nuggets looked good in the first two wins. Nikola Jokic is pretty good, folks.

7. Atlanta Hawks (2-1, Last week — n/a)

Just like Denver, Atlanta floundered in a weird loss to Cleveland. On either side of that, the Hawks dominated the Mavs on opening night and cruised to a breezy win over the Pistons on Monday. Trae Young looks great, the Hawks are deep, and Atlanta should be taken seriously.

8. Philadelphia 76ers (2-1, Last week — n/a)

With the ongoing Ben Simmons saga at the forefront, the Sixers are 2-1 with the No. 2 offense in the NBA. Granted, they lost a game to the Nets that they probably should have won, but Philadelphia is pretty good even without Simmons.

9. Phoenix Suns (1-2, Last week — n/a)

This is similar to Brooklyn. Phoenix hasn’t played very well this season, but we’re trusting the larger sample. The Suns also won a road game against the Lakers to show some life.

10. Charlotte Hornets (3-1, Last week — n/a)

The Hornets nearly opened at 4-0, but Charlotte lost to Boston in overtime on Monday. The offense has been very strong for the Hornets, scoring 1.14 points per possession, and LaMelo Ball’s star turn is in the works. Can the Hornets play defense? We’ll see, but it’s been a fun start.

11. Memphis Grizzlies (2-1, Last week — n/a)

Ja Morant is out of his mind. The third-year guard is scoring in the mid-30’s every night and leading the Grizzlies to the NBA’s best offense through one week. Neither of those are fully sustainable, but the Grizzlies are wildly entertaining. They’re also good.

12. New York Knicks (2-1, Last week — n/a)

The Knicks would’ve been higher if not for a loss at home to the Magic. That won’t help anybody, but New York’s metrics look just fine. They probably sacrificed some defense for offense with offseason transactions, but the balance could lead to more overall success.
13. Miami Heat (2-1, Last week — n/a)

Miami hasn’t played a close game yet. They are 2-1 with blowouts on all sides, and it’s tough to get a full read of what is happening with the Heat. They do have a good defense and one can be confident in that, but trying to figure out where the regular season baseline is might be tough.

14. Los Angeles Lakers (1-2, Last week — n/a)

Honestly, it was never going to go well offensively in the first week. And it didn’t. The Lakers have a lot of work to do, and they’d be lower than this on results-only. I’ll trust LeBron and Frank Vogel to figure it out, but there are real flaws.

15. L.A. Clippers (1-2, Last week — n/a)

L.A. got on the board with a 30-point win on Monday after a couple of uneven performances to start the season. The 30-point blowout swings the Clippers’ metrics to a more favorable place, but we’ll have to see how things break with a light week that includes only two games in the next six days.
16. Dallas Mavericks (1-1, Last week — n/a)

A two-game sample leaves a lot to be desired in trying to figure out what’s real and what isn’t. Dallas looked horrible offensively against Atlanta and scuffled against Toronto for a while. Then, they found something and picked up a win. They’ll be favored in three of four games this week, and that should tell us more.

17. Minnesota Timberwolves (2-1, Last week — n/a)

The buzz was very, very strong on the Wolves before Minnesota crashed in a home loss to New Orleans on Monday. Anthony Edwards looks the part, though, and Karl-Anthony Towns may be back to his superstar level. The supporting cast is still lacking, but the Wolves are playing defense and showing promise.

18. Boston Celtics (2-2, Last week — n/a)

Facing Charlotte in an overtime game on Monday boosted Boston from the bottom tier offensively to the middle of the pack. The Celtics still aren’t showing much offensively, however, and that may be a problem as constructed. The favorable view is that they managed to be 2-2 through four games, even with challenges.
19. Portland Trail Blazers (1-2, Last week — n/a)

Portland was leading the NBA in offense through two games, then they turned in an 86-point clunker on Monday in Los Angeles. Trying to make sense of that is a fool’s errand. Still, the Blazers are a bit of an enigma right now.

20. Washington Wizards (2-1, Last week — n/a)

Weirdly, the Wizards have been notably better on defense than offense through three games. They’ve got some tests this week, with two games against Boston and one against Atlanta. That should paint a clearer picture of the new-look situation in Washington.

21. Cleveland Cavaliers (2-2, Last week — n/a)

The Cavs got blitzed in the first two games of the season, with their defense struggling mightily. Then, they flummoxed the Hawks with a 3-2 zone on Saturday and defeated the Nuggets on the road on Monday. It’s tough to know what to make of that. The Cavs are very weird.

22. Toronto Raptors (1-3, Last week — n/a)

Offense is going to be a problem for Toronto, even at full strength. Right now without Pascal Siakam, it’s ugly. The Raptors can certainly defend, holding opponents to fewer than a point per possession, but it’s gonna be a grind to get wins at the outset.

23. Sacramento Kings (1-2, Last week — n/a)

The Kings have two competitive losses and an uninspiring win in which they nearly blew an 18-point lead. Sacramento’s defensive metrics are ugly, which doesn’t surprise anyone, but there is room for some level of optimism. For one thing, Davion Mitchell is hounding opposing guards on a nightly basis.

24. Indiana Pacers (1-3, Last week — n/a)

Indiana’s only win came in overtime against the Kyle Lowry-less Heat. The losses haven’t been hideous, but the Pacers have a long way to go.
25. San Antonio Spurs (1-2, Last week — n/a)

It will be interesting to see if the Spurs can find a balance. If San Antonio plays the team’s best defensive players, they can be stellar on that end of the floor, but will undoubtedly struggle to score. If the Spurs lean on shooting, they might lose an identity of a potentially elite defense. They are just okay right now, if that, but we’ll see how that progresses.

26. New Orleans Pelicans (1-3, Last week — n/a)

New Orleans opened 0-3, kicking the ball all over the place and struggling mightily without Zion Williamson. The Pelicans did win on Monday to avoid the bottom four, but it’s not as if this is a team that is flying high right now.

27. Houston Rockets (1-2, Last week — n/a)

The Rockets deserve credit for picking up a win over Oklahoma City but, as you’ll see momentarily, that isn’t exactly difficult to do. Jalen Green flashed in a 30-point performance, but Houston’s positive point differential isn’t likely to last very long unless schedule makers pivot to having the Rockets play the Thunder twice a week.
28. Orlando Magic (1-3, Last week — n/a)

Orlando has the second-worst net rating (-15.7) in the NBA, but they do have a win over the Knicks. New York kind of gave that one away, to be fair, and the Magic were projected as a bottom-tier team for a reason. It’s been an early struggle for the team’s young perimeter players, and Orlando has been solidly below-average on both ends.

29. Detroit Pistons (0-3, Last week — n/a)

Detroit has the NBA’s worst offense to this point, and it really shows. The Pistons do have excuses, with Cade Cunningham still on the sideline and Jerami Grant not playing in Atlanta on Monday. However, Detroit’s perimeter creation is underwhelming to say the least, and the team’s productive frontcourt can only taking things so far.

30. Oklahoma City Thunder (0-3, Last week — n/a)

The Thunder were projected by many to be the worst team in the league, and the early returns back up that expectation. They are being outscored by more than 20 points per 100 possessions, losing 11 of 12 quarters to this point, and Oklahoma City’s roster is truly a wasteland right now. They are now just 2-26 in the last 28 games when you take it back to the 2020-21 campaign, and that is indicative of the brutality.

The post NBA Power Rankings Week 1: A Strong Start In San Francisco appeared first on UPROXX.

This week in pop music saw some sizzling collaborations and soulful releases. The Weeknd teamed up with electronic trio Swedish House Mafia for a highly anticipated track, DJ Snake tapped some of today’s top stars for a certified banger, and Khalid offered another taste of his upcoming album with an earnest single.

Each week, Uproxx rounds up the best new pop releases. Listen up.

The Weeknd, Swedish House Mafia — “Moth To A Flame”

After weeks of teasing, The Weeknd and Swedish House Mafia’s slow-burning collaboration “Moth To A Flame” is finally here. Swedish House Mafia, who were just confirmed to play a Coachella 2022 set, offer a thumping and dance-ready chorus, creating the perfect backdrop to The Weeknd’s comforting vocals.

DJ Snake — “SG” Feat. Ozuna, Megan Thee Stallion, Lisa

DJ Snake revealed he would be teaming up with Blackpink’s Lisa for a new tune, and this week it arrived along with verses from Ozuna and Megan Thee Stallion. The star-studded track “SG” draws influences from Reggaeton while Megan and Lisa add refreshing refrains that flaunt their self-worth.

Khalid — “Present”

After an eventful year that included preparing a new album and performing at a rocket launch, Khalid is back with another instant hit. His new track “Present” opens up space for him to enjoy life as it comes alongside a hip-swinging beat.

Lana Del Rey — “If You Lie Down With Me”

Lana Del Rey’s album Blue Banisters debuted this week. The LP sees the singer going back to her Americana roots, perhaps best showcased by the track “If You Lie Down With Me.” The song is a forlorn piano ballad that features Lana’s resonating vocals reclaiming her reputation of singing about unhealthy relationships and recycles several verses from her previous releases.

Sean Paul, Sia — “Dynamite”

DJ Snake wasn’t the only producer to make a collaborative single this week. Early aughts club playlist mainstay Sean Paul teamed up with Sia for the infectious tune “Dynamite,” their first joint track in five years. “‘Dynamite’ started out as just a good vibe song,” Paul said in a statement. “After recording ‘Cheap Thrills,’ Sia and I knew we would record another single and ‘Dynamite’ is the second installment.”

Dreamer Boy — “Are You Letting Go?” Feat. Benee

It’s been about a year since New Zealand pop newcomer Benee took the world by storm with her debut album, Hey U X. Now, the singer returns to team up with Nashville singer/songwriter Dreamer Boy for the endlessly wistful tune “Are You Letting Go?” The collaboration was written in the stars, as both singers’ dreamy vocals melt over a shuffling beat.

Parcels — “TheWorstThing”

Boundary-pushing electropop artists Parcels debuted another song from their upcoming album Day/Night with the nostalgia-inducing slow jam “TheWorstThing.” The track features Parcels’ signature groovy bassline, but this time infused with a hint of morose. The song was born out of an hours-long practice session during quarantine that refined the groove with a “touch of country.”

Morgen — “Sweet 16”

While most teenagers are spending their Sweet 16 party hoping for a new car, bedroom pop songwriter Morgen spent hers gearing up for her debut EP, Unaccompanied Minor, with the track “Sweet 16.” The lush and catchy song highlights an all-too-common existential crises over a shimmering beat. “I wrote a song to convince myself that parties and being social sucked because even if I could go out and party, I probably wouldn’t enjoy it,” she said about the single. “That being said partying isn’t horrible…all of the time

Honne — “Three Strikes” Feat. Khalid

Honne dropped their mouthful of an album this week, titled Let’s Just Say The World Ended A Week From Now, What Would You Do?. But just before its debut, the bold London duo shared the heartwarming tune “Three Strikes” featuring Khalid. The song gives just a taste of what the album has in store, showing off Honne’s slow grooves and soulful lyrics.

Charlotte Cardin — “Scorpio Season”

This week officially marked the beginning of Scorpio season, and Charlotte Cardin celebrated by dropping the perfect anthem for doomed lovers. Her single “Scorpio Season” showcases her captivating vocals while telling the story of a painful ending to a ill-fated relationship.

Some of the artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

The post All The Best New Pop Music From This Week appeared first on UPROXX.

A grumpy Dave Chappelle listed demands for meeting with trans Netflix employees, and in the process, he took a low blow at Hannah Gadsby. That’s essentially what happened when Chappelle posted a Instagram clip of a live set, during which he complained about being cancelled by everyone but Ted Sarandos at Netflix for a string of homophobic “jokes” in his The Closer. During that stand-up special, he declared that he is “Team TERF” and in agreement with author J.K. Rowling’s TERF-aligned remarks. He’s also proclaimed, “gender is a fact,” and let’s just say that the backlash (including a Netflix employee walkout) continues.

Part of that pushback included the Emmy-winning Hannah Gadsby (of Netflix’s Emmy-winning Nanette special) calling out Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos for an “amoral algorithm.” She expressed disappointment in Netflix handing Chappelle “20 million dollars to process his emotionally stunted partial world view,” and Gadsby declared that Sarandos’ namecheck of her meant, “Now I have to deal with even more of the hate and anger that Dave Chappelle’s fans like to unleash on me.” Well, Dave wasn’t thrilled with Hannah standing up for herself. He pushed back while announcing that one of his conditions for meeting with Netflix employees would be to “admit that Hannah Gadsby is not funny.”

Yeah, that wasn’t a necessary remark, but Dave just couldn’t (or rather, wouldn’t) restrain himself. Social media, by and large, rose to Gadsby’s defense.

Meanwhile, Dave also changed his tune, apparently. Previously, he declared (of being “cancelled”) that “I love it.” His defensiveness and issuing of demands toward Netflix employees (who aren’t biting yet) sure feels like a shift.

The post People Are Rolling Their Eyes At Dave Chappelle For Swinging At Hannah Gadsby While Demanding Conditions To Meet With Netflix’s Trans Employees appeared first on UPROXX.