Well, Kanye West has returned from his long slumber and been making headlines recently. Some of the reasons are cool, but a larger number of those are not so cool. Starting with the good stuff, he’s got a solo album coming in June alongside a separate side project with Kid Cudi, as well as some production credits that include a new Nas record.
However, in the past week, Ye’s also released two incredibly underwhelming “singles,” and been saying some intolerable stuff on Twitter. Most recently, he appeared in an interview with TMZ, and it’s quite an…interesting watch, to say the least. Suffice to say, it will be fascinating to see what comes of all this Kanye news in the coming months.
Moving on from Kanye, I want to give a shoutout to Janelle Monáe’s new album, Dirty Computer, which I’ve listened to non-stop since its release on Friday. I’ve included one of my favorite tracks from the album, “Screwed,” as the opening song on this week’s playlist, so you too can enjoy this masterpiece. Elsewhere, we have included tracks from Hall and Oates, The Internet, and Katy Perry.
— Michael Lane, Blog Editor
Yeah, you read that title right. If you’re not familiar with the pseudonym “K.Dot,” that’s just another stage name of today’s greatest rapping talent, Kendrick Lamar. And yes, yesterday he was announced as having won the Pulitzer Prize for music this past year for his album, DAMN. This makes him not only the first ever rap artist to be awarded the prize, but also the only musician to not belong to classical or jazz genres since Pulitzer began awarding prizes for music in 1943. Quite a feat, and a much deserved win.
So Arctic Monkeys finally announced a new album for May! Five years in the making, Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino releases exactly a month from the day this is posting, and I for one cannot wait to hear what Alex Turner has in store for fans with this record (especially with the song aptly titled “The World’s First Ever Monster Truck Front Flip”).
Well, Jake may have seen Lorde last week (which I can only assume was wonderful), but just last night, I went and saw a live show of my own. In the smallest venue I’ve ever been to, Schuba’s Tavern in Chicago, I saw a small indie band from New York called Public Access T.V., and they were great. Take your Lorde and shove it, Jake! (If you cannot tell, I’m just a bit upset that I too wasn’t seeing Lorde last week.)
What day is it? Jukebox day! What time is it? Time to listen to some great music, brought to you by Jake Johnson and I!
This is Janelle Monáe’s world — we’re just living in it. Ms. Monáe — whom you should already be aware of from her two previously released albums and starring roles in box-office hits — found it fitting to simultaneously release two electrifying singles this last week from her upcoming LP, Dirty Computer. I couldn’t not add both of these tracks, “Django Jane” and “Make Me Feel,” on the lineup this week, simply because they’re that good. Please be sure to watch their accompanying music videos, as well.
The beginning of the new year has turned out to be pretty great in terms of new music, and this past week was no exception. Courtney Barnett released a new single and announced her upcoming solo album for May. Meanwhile, Car Seat Headrest and Born Ruffians had entire full-length records that came out on Friday.
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