Lav's Music Corner

Review by Lavender: Squid are a UK post-punk outfit who debuted earlier this decade alongside contemporaries Black Country New Road, Black Midi and Shame in a movement dubbed by some (and I hate this term for the record) as "post-Brexit core." Despite that awful title the music has been astoundingly good and the band's often get off to a quick start. Squid was included in that as I loved and still really love their 2021 debut album Bright Green Field . Even though their 2023 follow-up was a slightly sophomore slump, there was still plenty I liked about the album and combined with some solid singles I was looking forward to Cowards  a lot.  Two of those singles come right at the start of the record and it's a great way to begin. "Crispy Skin" was the first and still my favorite of the bunch feeling like a throwback to the vibes of some of the wandering compositions and oddball vocalizations of the band's first record. "Building 650" is more stra...

A massively hype week with some huge new releases this late in the year is a surprise, but I'll take it! 5.  The Laugh Is In The Eyes  - Julia Holter Julia is back following a remarkable new album earlier this year and in this new single she finds herself playing with similarly indulgent palettes of space. The song has a dreamy sauntering demeanor with an imprecise poise but all of the instrumental sounds that do seep through are wonderful and wrapped around the core of Julia's beautiful vocals.  Listen 4.  Luciferine  - Ichiko Aoba The charm and whimsy of folk music has officially returned with a new Ichiko Aoba album on the way next year. She's teeing the record off with this fittingly beautiful lead single which deploys gentle strings and ornate backing vocals. It all swells to life around Ichiko's girlish vocals and swaying poetry, to great results. She may not be rewriting the book, but it works for a good reason.  Listen 3.  Crispy Skin  - S...

Getting back into a normal routine for 2024 this week we're actually going to look back at the best new songs released this week again. Though there were some high-profile drops, it's a surprising array of best tracks that result.  5.  Instincts  - Erick The Architect (feat. WESTSIDE BOOGIE) While I think I may prefer the previous Erick single more than this one I've always had a soft spot for when he strips things back to tell it like it is. There's one lyrical highlight after another on this song and I love how uncompromising he manages to keep the subject matter while curating such a gentle and touching vibe on the song.  Listen 4.  See you soon  - Wisp Wisp is an artist I've been hearing ABOUT a lot more recently than actually hearing from. That was sorted out quickly by this murmuring hazy shoegaze jam. From the eerie girlish vocals that seem like a midpoint between Nicole Dollanganger and Vyva Melinkolya to a bridge that manages to conjure a surprisin...

Squid are a UK post-punk act who broke out a few years ago alongside contemporaries like Black Midi, Black Country, New Road, and Shame.  O Monolith  is the band's second album following their 2021 debut and sees them expanding the influences and style of their sound significantly.  Review by Lav: I enjoyed Squid's debut album quite a bit. It came out in a year that was absolutely STACKED with great post-punk most of which I liked a lot. While Squid may not have been my absolute favorite of the bunch, I think they bring a punky freneticism that their contemporaries often stray away from. Fittingly enough on this record, despite their willingness to wander in different compositional directions my favorite moments remain those peaks of raw intensity.  I liked the lead single Swing (In A Dream)  a lot and it's still one of my favorite tracks here. The extremely catchy vocal refrains and creative little instrumental additions and flourishes add up to a wonderful son...

5.  Alone  - Kim Petras (feat. Nicki Minaj) Even though I've liked both of these artists a lot in the past, to say I was skeptical of this song would be a huge understatement. While I did think each of their previous two songs were okay it felt like they were both headed for some kind of slump and hearing the relatively lazy sampling on display in the previews for this track didn't help remedy that. Ultimately though this song is also pretty decent with an exciting performance from Nicki and a hook that is sticking with me more and more. It's far from the best either are capable of but it's a plenty serviceable collaboration.  Listen 4.  Undergrowth  - Squid If hearing the funk rock riffs and the repeated Limp Bizkit ass "melt" hook on this song immediately activated your gag reflex, you're not alone. My first reaction to the song was pretty garish as well. In fact it took me a few times of hearing it with completely shifted expectations to realize there a...

Yes this list is late, it was a busy weekend, let me live. Enjoy <3 5.  Sixers - The Hold Steady Am I gonna like this new Hold Steady album? For the second single in a row I feel like I should be docking points because it sounds so much like so many of their other songs but when push comes to shove for some reason the songwritery details Craig Finn weaves into everything just works on me. The only thing I'm not crazy about is the bar rocky piano finale to the song which feels even a bit too corny for The Hold Steady. Listen 4.  The Court  - Peter Gabriel I like parts of this song a LOT, the stark hook with its distant punches of echoing percussion is tailor-made for me to appreciate. While some of the song's intimate whispers can come off goofier than I think is intended I'm surprised just how much of this song stuck in my head after only a few times hearing it. It's not perfect but it definitely does enough.  Listen 3.  Swing   (In A Dream)  - Squi...

Black Midi are a British post-punk and experimental rock band who emerged in 2019 dropping a debut album to massive critical acclaim. Now two years later their contemporaries in British post-punk have dropped acclaimed debut albums of their own with both Black Country, New Road and Squid delivering projects earlier this year. Continuing to be ahead of the curve Black Midi released a selection of singles that seemed to transcend the conventions of the post-punk genre all together resulting in massive fan hype for the bands sophomore record in the rock underground.  Review By Lav: Man was I excited for this record. While I did enjoy the bands debut I don't think I was quite as head over heels for some of its most popular tracks as many of their fans were and this resulted in me just thinking the album was good rather than one of the best of 2019. Despite that discrepancy the singles leading up to this record really excited me. Despite being just 8 tracks, Cavalcade  shows off an...

Squid are a British post-punk outfit who have been active for a few years now and are coming on the back of a couple of widely acclaimed singles and EPs. They have been discussed in the same circles as other British post-punk acts who have emerged recently, namely Black Country New Road and Black Midi, both of whom have found enormous critical success.  Review By Lav: Man was I excited for this record. I first heard about Squid from their Town Centre  EP which was on my list of stuff to review way back in 2019 but I unfortunately didn't end up getting around to it. Now I wish I had because in the time since both Black Country, New Road and Black Midi have released great debut albums and Squid dropped a couple of absolutely killer singles. In a year where we've already seen so much great experimental rock and specifically post-punk from the likes of Shame, Iceage and Viagra Boys, Squid is yet another major hit for the genre that is having quite a grandiose revitalization. ...

Black Country, New Road are a London based post-punk band who turned heads with their debut single in 2019. After releasing a few more songs to continued masses of critical acclaim their debut album was one of the most highly anticipated in years. With a mere 6 song tracklist and some controversial re-recordings of fan favorite songs For The First Time  has already become one of the most talked about records of 2021.  Review By Lav: Just about a month ago when I listed my most anticipated releases of 2021, For The First Time  was right up there at the top, at least among records that had been announced up to that point. Numerous times over the last 3 years the band has released singles I thoroughly enjoyed which had me beyond excited for the record despite the fact that there were only two new songs coming. This was before I learned that the bands first two singles, including their acclaimed breakout his Sunglasses , we're being re-recorded for album versions. Despite som...