This is the first week of this, the new year of 2021, where every musician and their momma dropped some music today. Don't know where to start? That's the point of this column, Fresh Friday, where we tell you what we loved and what to avoid so you can stay relevant at the virtual water cooler.
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1. Freddie Gibbs: "Gang Signs" ft. ScHoolboy Q
The return of R&B Gibbs. Woof, this is a heater and a team-up the rap game has been waiting on for years now. Freddie is my favorite rapper when Kendrick isn't around (which is most days) so I might be a little biased.
2. Hayley Williams (of Paramore): FLOWERS for VASES / descansos
If you missed Hayley's first solo album of 2020, go listen after her newest solo album (this!). Maybe now she'll remove the "from Paramore" from her Twitter handle?
3. Eve 6: "black nova"
The madmen really did it. After a very hilarious and ongoing Twitter campaign where Eve 6 just decided we're going to burn down society and everyone will applaud us they announced new music. And it's good! Still a very relevant band, don't let Eve 6 tell you otherwise.
4. Rostam - "These Kids We Knew"
Former Vampire Weekend bandmate Rostam is up to no good and we're here for it. "These Kids We Knew" is another exceptional outing by the indie artist and we hope it means a new LP is in sight...
5. Cardi B: "Up"
Better than WAP? Worse? Who is to say. While "Up" is certainly not going to be the same societal controversy or fixation for the next two months, Cardi is an act that will never stop being entertaining to me. Hopefully, an album is looming...
6. Conway the Machine: IF IT BLEEDS IT CAN BE KILLED
Wait, is this right? This is the first Griselda release of the year? After 13 albums last year? And this time last year, the label hadn't released anything? What's 2021 gonna be like...? A drop every other week? I'd be concerned if the output ever felt over-saturated, but good lord. Conway kills it, what else can I say. (PS, the album should be available on Spotify for free next week)
7. Iceage: "The Holding Hand"
Copenhagen punk-rockers Iceage seem to be rolling out the follow-up to their excellent 2018 LP, Beyondless. The first single is stirring and builds into a wild explosion of percussive excellence. Whatever they're teasing, consider me invested to the fullest extent.
8. Foo Fighters: Medicine at Midnight
Just a week after alt-rockers Weezer released their newest album, the other last alt-rockers the Foo Fighters fight for relevancy. Y'all let us know if either one of them succeeded or not in the comments below!
9. The Staves: Good Woman
Frequent Bon Iver collaborators The Staves are consistently good, even without the magic touch of Justin Vernon. The new album is nothing deviating from their norm, but is nonetheless entertaining.
10. H.E.R.: "Fight For You"
Semi-mysterious singer H.E.R. always breathes new life into the repetitive R&B scene, and does it with the best vocals since Beyoncé arrived in the 90s. Her new single from the upcoming movie Judas and the Black Messiah is accompanied by a stellar performance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
(THE LOCAL BONUS) Eric Bolander: "Cold Men"
Occasionally on Fresh Fridays, we'll highlight a local band or artist's new music. Please enjoy Kentucky native and country crooner Eric Bolander's excellent new single and show him some love!
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Did we miss anything? Did you hate all our suggestions? Let us know in the comments below or hit us up on Twitter @channelWAV.
- Ritter
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