The Early Bird: Top New Recorded Releases 4-8-22 – 4-14-22 Reviewed
Pink Floyd’s first release of an original song since The Division Bell is in aid of the Ukraine and features a sample of Andriy Khlyvnyuk, frontman of Ukrainian rock band BoomBox, who left a tour and returned to fight in Ukraine, singing a 1914 protest song in Ukrainian, that is sampled on “Hey Hey Rise”, with the two remaining Floyd’s, David Gilmour and Nick Mason, handling the instrumentals and sounding more like Gilmour than Pink (Grade: B+).
More singles, Arca, the Argentinian hyperpop genius, had this to say about her new and strange electronic brooder “Cayó” “It’s about exploring self states, non-binary modes of relating of that which is ‘other,’ creating new intersectional ways of mediating identity through exploring sensuality, and heightened communion with the sensual embodiment of self.” (Grade: B+), Pusha T is at his most melodic on “Neck And Wrist” with Jay- Z setting the record straight about his early days and Pusha pushing against Pharrell for a catchier sound and, can it be?, a chorus (Grade: B+), Steve Earle with a swinging , country sound like he is takin a ride in the General Lee with a full of fiddle middle eight as part of his upcoming Jerry Jeff Walker tribute album (Grade: A-), Jack Harlow is getting very close to the sort of fame second only to Justin Bieber, “First Class” is hip hop that fails to cash in the chips from his Lil Nas X feature (Grade: B), Lil Baby is the best rap pop star in the business with a flow second to none and if he was a better rhymer would be unbeatable, “Right On” is a great song (Grade: A-).
Over at albums, I reviewed the new Jack White, an electronic and experimental stinker Fear Of The Dawn, earlier today (here) (Grade: C), my favorite white rapper is the perfect and poetic Kae Tempest -they is also a poet and everything they’ve done has been exemplary with the possible exception of its 2019 The Book Of Traps And Lessons, The Line Is A Curve includes their finest moment, “More Pressure” (with Kevin Abstract) but it is all great, all emotional apocalypse and Brit politics and world horrors with an epigram to live by, “Nothing to prove but bread, Nothing to lose but sleep, Nothing to do but less, Nothing to want but peace” (Grade: A), Martha Wainwright adds a third more on the deluxe Love Will Be Reborn, an album I (amazingly, because I am a fan) missed last year. Her voice has never ever been stronger and while she has written a few better songs since 2008’s masterful I Know You’re Married But I’ve Got Feelings Too, “Love Will Be Reborn Part Two” is way, way, way up there (Grade: A-), Chloë and the Next 20th Century is a genre dusting jazz, swing, country and more, probably spacing on 20th century pop, and you tell me when Father John Misty’s tongue isn’t in his cheek… not that it matters (Grade: B+). Post-punk limeys Wet Leg are the latest in a presumably infinite line of rock bands trying to crack more New York than the States, Ur Mum shows they might have a chance, try personal best “Wet Dream” (Grade: B+).
Cayó – Arca – B+
Chloë and the Next 20th Century – Father John Misty – B+
First Class – Jack Harlow – B
The Line Is A Curve – Kae Tempest – A
Right On – Lil Baby – A-
Love Will Be Reborn (Deluxe) – Martha Wainwright – A-
I Burned LA Down – Noah Cyrus – B
Hey, Hey, Rise Up – featuring Andriy Khlyvnyuk of Boombox – Pink Floyd – B+
Neck & Wrist (feat. JAY-Z & Pharrell) – Pusha T
Gettin By – Steve Earle – A-
Ur Mum – Wet Leg – B+
