This week: new music from Sufjan Stevens, Blur, Earl Sweatshirt, and more, new videos from Charli XCX and the YouTube Music Awards, and a new book from Elvis Costello.
New music
Blur have released another new track from their upcoming album. “Lonesome Street” was written about Sydney’s Martin Place last December. There’s also “There Are Too Many of Us,” released a few days ago.
Florence and the Machine have a new video for the track “St. Jude” off the upcoming album set to release in June. The song is a slow burn that’s so good–jump on it already.
NPR featured Shamir in its SXSW showcase, and for good reason: Everyone thinks he’s about to break out. His debut album, Ratchet, comes out May 19.
Let’s just say that Charli XCX‘s new “Famous” video (which debuted at the YouTube Video Awards–see below) is a selfie and emoji nightmare, and leave it at that.
Here’s the second song, “No Trouble,” from the Weepies’ upcoming album. The WSJ has an interesting backstory about the song, which was finished right before singer Deb Talan was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Also:
- The second YouTube Music Awards were held on Monday, with Beyoncé, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Drake, and Kendrick Lamar all winning awards. The virtual ceremony featured video premieres from artists including Ed Sheeran, Charli XCX, FKA Twigs, Action Bronson, and Martin Garrix. Here are the videos from the show.
- Built to Spill have a new song, “Never Be the Same.”
News:
- Jay Z hasn’t wasted any time after buying Aspiro, the company behind the music streaming services WiMP and Tidal. The two services have now merged under the Tidal name. So, chances are you’ll start to see a bigger push for Tidal now.
- Elvis Costello‘s memoir, Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink, is coming this fall.
Advance Streams
- Both Death Cab for Cutie and Sufjan Stevens‘s new albums are streaming over on NPR. The veteran artists have upped the ante and put out some of their best material. Go listen.
- iTunes is streaming the new album from the Prodigy, The Day Is My Enemy.
Available Today
- Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
- James Bay – Chaos and the Calm
- Hit the Lights – Summer Bones
- Smallpools – Lovetap!
- Kodaline – Coming Up for Air (US release)
- Laura Marling – Short Movie
- The Go! Team – The Scene Between
- Earl Sweatshirt – I Don’t Like S***, I Don’t Go Outside