Best New Tracks Of The Week: August 11th, 2024
After a week where the best new tracks were limited to just a video segment, they're back in written format in addition to the video this week.
5. Bright Lights - The Killers
Is this a sort of corny heartland rock epic from a band who just seemed like they were past this kind of thing on their surprisingly great last album, yes. But much like the record that preceded it the band continues to prove that being corny absolutely does not prevent you from being good. With nostalgic and life-affirming crescendos this is exactly the kind of song that makes The Killers who they are and they do it expectly.
4. Lacking The Ability To Process Empathy - NAILS
If you're familiar with Nails and their history, or you've even just heard some of the other singles from their forthcoming new record, you know what you're getting. The chugging heavy metal riffs drive through a short two-minute composition hardly ever stopping for a second and are accompanied by hefty screamed vocals. For my money, this is the best song released from the new album thus far.
3. WITHER AND WARP - Pharmakon
Pharmakon has never been one for onboarding. The lead single to her forthcoming album is a nearly 9-minute piece of pummeling noise with a title that is shockingly fitting for its swelling mess of garish, brutal sounds. While the song may do you the favor of working up slowly to its most stunning moments, those crushing arrays of blisteringly shrill noise will arrive whether you're ready for them or not.
2. Continuum 1 - Nala Sinephro
Nala Sinephro's sophomore record became one of my most anticipated releases of the year the moment she announced it. That's because a few years ago she dazzled with her ambient jazz debut Space. While this new single dabbles in some of the same reserved tones and expansive composition, it's a whirlwind of experiences with much more going on than meets the eye. From the soaring strings to the pulsating synths notes to a steady drum line transitioning between passages this is a surprisingly grand undertaking but one that feels expertly composed.
1. Don't Get Me Started - The Smile
Much like the excellent new Jack White album the first flashes of this song emerged online when it was being randomly given away at record stores. And much like that album, this is very good. The Smile continue to dabble in Radiohead-adjacent sounds this time with playful electronics reminiscent of both In Rainbows and some of Thom's solo work. It's a chilling an incredibly patient song but it finds so much beauty in those folds that I'm completely overtaken while listening to it.
