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Miley Cyrus Prepping 'Something Beautiful', A Visual Album Inspired By Pink Floyd’s 'The Wall'
In 2015, Miley Cyrus was coming off of the huge success of her post-Disney pop move Bangerz, the album that had “We Can’t Stop” and “Wrecking Ball.” She followed that record up with a hard zag: Miley Cyrus And Her Dead Petz, a wildly indulgent free-download surprise-release album that she largely recorded with the Flaming Lips. At the beginning of last year, Cyrus returned with the massive chart-topper “Flowers” and with Endless Summer Vacation, the album that turned her into a Grammy darling. Now, it looks like she’s once again ready to head into the trippy zone, making a Pink Floyd-inspired visual LP with the man who directed Mandy.
Conor Oberst & Craig Wedren Team Up On New Song "Justice To A Scream": Listen
People have been concerned about Conor Oberst lately. Earlier this fall, Oberst’s band Bright Eyes released their new album Five Dice, All Threes, and just before it came out, the band canceled all their tour dates for the year. The band cited Oberst’s “vocal problems,” but lots of fans worried that the problems were deeper than that, to the point where Oberst needed to share a statement about how he’s doing OK and the band will be back on the road next year. Today, there’s a new Conor Oberst song out, though it seems to be one that he recorded before any recent issues.
Everything Is Recorded Announces New Album 'Temporary', Teams With Sampha & More On New Single "Losing You": Listen
Richard Russell came aboard at the London label XL Recordings in the early ’90s, when it released “The Bouncer,” the rave anthem from his duo Kicks Like A Mule. Since then, Russell ascended to label-boss status and oversaw XL as it became a fixture in many different forms of left-of-center music. Since 2017, Russell has been making his own collab-heavy records under the name Everything Is Recorded, and now he’s got a new album on the way.
The Alternative Number Ones: R.E.M.’s “Drive”
In The Alternative Number Ones, I’m reviewing every #1 single in the history of the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks/Alternative Songs, starting with the moment that the chart launched in 1988. This column is a companion piece to The Number Ones, and it’s for members only. Thank you to everyone who’s helping to keep Stereogum afloat.
fish narc Announces New Album 'frog song,' Shares New Single "my ceiling": Listen
The Olympia, Washington musician Ben Funkhouser, better known as fish narc, is a key member of GothBoiClique, the storied emo-rap crew. He was one of the late GBC leader Lil Peep’s go-to producers, and he’s done a lot of work across genres, including collaborations with late post-punker the Soft Moon. Over the years, fish narc has self-released some solo albums, and he caught the attention of Calvin Johnson, leader of Olympia indie institutions like Beat Happening and K Records. Now, fish narc has joined the K Records roster, and he’ll release a new solo album called frog song early next year.
Coachella 2025 Also Has Lady Gaga, Green Day, & Travis Scott: Report
The lineup for next year’s Coachella festival seems to be coming together, and it’s looking… well, it’s looking weird. According to various reports, Coachella is going all-in on mainstream starpower for next year’s edition. Last month, Bloomberg claimed that both Kendrick Lamar and Rihanna turned down offers to headline, while Hits Daily Double reported that Fred again.. was a “lock” for the festival. When Post Malone announced his upcoming stadium tour yesterday, he confirmed rumors that he’ll headline Coachella’s two Sunday nights. Now, TMZ reports that three more big names will also join the fray.
New Massachusetts Bill Criticized For Strengthening Ticketmaster Monopoly
Earlier this year, the Department Of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation, the owner of Ticketmaster. Yet today, the Mass Leads Act was signed in Massachusetts, a bill that ultimately strengthens Ticketmaster’s monopoly.
Yes Singer Responds To “Blatant Lies” Of Former Bandmate’s Lawsuit
Last week, Riz Story filed a lawsuit against Yes, claiming the prog-rock legends stole portions of his song “Reunion” from his 2014 film A Winter Rose for their own tune “Dare To Know.” On Monday (Nov. 18), lead vocalist Jon Davison addressed the accusations with a statement, calling them “blatant lies.”
Vashti Bunyan Announces 'Lookaftering' 20th Anniversary Edition With Previously Unreleased Tracks
Vashti Bunyan’s reemergence might’ve been the first real miracle of the early-’00s freak-folk movement. The English folk musician Bunyan released her debut album Just Another Diamond Day in 1970, and when it didn’t sell, she disappeared from music and went off to raise her kids. Over the years, Just Another Diamond Day became a cult favorite and an inspiration to younger folk musicians like Devendra Banhart, who wrote to Bunyan to ask for advice. Pretty soon, Bunyan was working again, collaborating with artists like Bunyan and Animal Collective.
Phil Cook Shares Cover Of Gillian Welch's "I Made A Lovers Prayer": Listen
In 2003, the alt-country hero Gillian Welch and her musical partner David Rawlings wrote a beautiful acoustic reverie called “I Made A Lovers Prayer,” and Welch included it on her Rawlings-produced album Soul Journey. Now, the Megafaun member and Bon Iver/Waxahatchee collaborator Phil Cook has shared his own solo version of that song.
Amber Mark Announces New EP 'Loosies': Hear "Wait So Yeah"
Over the past couple of months, Amber Mark generously offered us the songs “Won’t Cry” and “Sink In.” Turns out they’re a part of a new EP titled Loosies, which arrives this Friday (Nov. 22). Today, the genre-bending singer is releasing the sultry new single “Wait So Yeah.”
The Weather Station Shares New Song "Window": Listen
The Weather Station kicked off October with the announcement of Humanhood, the follow-up to 2022’s How Is It That I Should Look At The Stars. The project of Toronto musician Tamara Lindeman released the lead single “Neon Signs,” which was so wonderful that it topped our Best Songs Of The Week list. Now, she’s back with “Window.”
Aminé Shares "s2wik" & "Wingz" (Feat. Cardo Got Wings): Listen
Hey, two more new Aminé songs! Just shy of a month ago, the Portland rapper released “Adam” and the Smino-assisted “Passenger Princess“; now, he’s back with another two-fer with “s2wik” and “Wingz,” the latter of which features Twin Cities producer/rapper Cardo Got Wings. Together, all four songs comprise Aminé’s new EP .mp.3s.
Greg Freeman Reissues Debut Album 'I Looked Out': Hear New Merce Lemon Collab
The Vermont rocker Greg Freeman has been growing in stature lately, in large part thanks to the slow-burn success of his 2022 debut album I Looked Out. (His ripping performance at our Austin party this year did not hurt.) Today Freeman has announced his signing to Canvasback/Transgressive Records, who’ll reissue I Looked Out in with two bonus tracks. The digital reissue is out now, with the physical to follow in January.
Paul Simon Has Only 6% Hearing In One Ear, Working With Researchers Who’ve Successfully Treated Hearing Loss In Zebrafish
At 83, Paul Simon is a living legend of American popular music. Simon has remained artistically active later in life, but he’s been suffering from catastrophic hearing loss in the past few years. Simon has been open about his problems with hearing, which helped inspire his most recent record, last year’s Seven Psalms. This morning, Simon discussed his treatment on CBS Mornings.
Courting Announce New Album 'Lust For Life': Hear "Pause At You"
Verbose album titles are back in. It’s all thanks to Courting, who earned our revered Band To Watch title for the release of their album New Last Name in January and are already announcing its follow-up today, called Lust For Life, Or: ‘How To Thread The Needle And Come Out The Other Side To Tell The Story.’
The Coachella 2025 Lineup Is Here
It has arrived. The Coachella Festival, America’s largest and most consequential live-music marathon, has announced the lineup for its 2025 edition, complete with a poster full of fascinating font-size politics. Coachella usually doesn’t unveil its lineup until January, but rumors have been swirling for weeks, and now the whole thing is here. Yesterday, Post Malone gave away the news that he’ll do Sunday night headliner duty. As TMZ reported earlier today, the bill also includes headliners Lady Gaga, Green Day, and Travis Scott. (Scott gets the same bottom-of-the-poster spot as No Doubt last year, and it’s billed as “Travis Scott designs the desert,” which looks goofy.) Contrary to previous reports, Fred again.. is not on this bill, but plenty of other people are.
Open Head Share New Song "N.Y. Frills": Listen
Based on name alone, you might assume that Kingston, New York’s Open Head make extremely gnarly beatdown. That would be incorrect. Open Head’s music isn’t devoid of gnarl, but it falls more on the blurry post-punk side of things. Early next year, they’ll release their new album What Is Success, and we’ve posted their tracks “Catacomb” and “House.” Today, they’ve also shared the seething, clanking new track “N.Y. Frills.” Here’s how Open Head describe it:
Drive-By Truckers' Patterson Hood Announces First Solo Album In 12 Years
Patterson Hood’s last solo album Heat Lightning Rumbles In The Distance arrived way back in 2012. Today, the Drive-By Truckers co-founder has announced its follow-up Exploding Trees & Airplane Screams, arriving in February. The lead single “A Werewolf And A Girl” is out now.
Genesis Announce 'The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway' 50th Anniversary Edition
Genesis’ landmark album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway turns 50 years old this year. Today, they’ve announced they’re marking the occasion with a new Super Deluxe Edition of the double LP, featuring a full remaster, a new Dolby ATMOS mix, a recording of an entire 1975 concert, three previously unheard demos, and various other ephemera from the era.
The Pogues Announce First Tour In 11 Years, First Since Shane MacGowan's Death
The Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan died almost a year ago to the day. He had a lot of health issues towards the end of his life, and the Pogues retired from touring in 2014. Today, however, the band has announced their first tour in over a decade, celebrating 40 years of their landmark album Rum Sodomy & The Lash.
Frog Eyes Share New Song "E-E-Y-O-R-E (That’s Me!)": Listen
Vancouver indie rockers Frog Eyes announced their breakup in 2018, and then they came back to release the 2022 reunion album The Bees. Now, Frog Eyes have released their first new song since that LP dropped, and it has the attention-grabbing title “E-E-Y-O-R-E (That’s Me!).”
Morrissey Says Nobody Will Release His New Album Because Free Speech Is “Criminalized”
Way back in 2021, Morrissey announced a new Andrew Watt-produced LP called Bonfire Of Teenagers, and he called it “the best album of my life.” That record still hasn’t come out, and Morrissey has some big ideas as to why. Morrissey parted ways with Capitol, the label that was supposed to release Bonfire Of Teenagers, in 2022. Last year, he accused Capitol Music Group Chair and CEO Michelle Jubelirer of trying to wreck his career. A few months ago, Morrissey said that the label wouldn’t release the LP because of the title track, which references the 2017 terrorist attack on an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester. At a recent New Jersey show, Morrissey had more to say.
Coachella 2025: Post Malone Set To Headline
It’ll probably be a few weeks before Coachella announces their 2025 lineup, but little birds have been giving us clues here and there about who might perform. Last month, we heard that Fred again.. was a “lock” for the festival. Today, Post Malone has announced his forthcoming Big Ass Stadium Tour — his words, not mine — in support of his recent country-crossover album F-1 Trillion. And would you look at that? He’s got shows in Indio, California scheduled for Apr. 13 and 20.
Cher Says Sonny Bono “Took All My Money,” Is Still Fighting With His Widow Over Royalties
Cher was 16 when she met the 27-year-old record producer Sonny Bono. She was 18 when she married Bono — her first marriage, his second — and 19 when the couple released the smash 1965 single “I Got You, Babe.” Sonny and Cher went through a bitter divorce in 1975, and Bono went on to marry twice more and become a Congressman before dying in a 1998 skiing accident. Today, Cher remains plenty busy. She was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame last month, and she published the first of two planned memoirs today. Also, she’s still apparently fighting Bono’s widow over royalties.
Horsegirl Announce New Album 'Phonetics On and On': Hear "2468"
When Horsegirl signed to Matador in 2021, their debut EP Ballroom Dance Scene et cetera (best of Horsegirl) earned the young indie rockers a Band To Watch title, and their 2022 LP Versions Of Modern Performance got them an Album Of The Week honor. Today, the beloved group is announcing its follow-up, Phonetics On And On, produced by Cate Le Bon. The meditative lead single “2468” is out now.
Friko Share New Song "Pride Trials": Listen
Last month, Friko — one of the Best New Artists Of 2024 — announced a deluxe expanded edition of their debut album Where we’ve been, Where we go from here. It arrives this Friday with 11 new bonus tracks, including studio outtakes, exactly one My Bloody Valentine cover, and today’s new single “Pride Trials.” The band say it’s probably the oldest song of the bunch, with an almost Sufjan Stevens-like acoustic guitar instrumental. Listen below.
Quincy Jones Given Posthumous Oscar: Watch Daughter Rashida Deliver His Acceptance Speech
About two weeks ago, Quincy Jones, one of the giants of American popular music, died at the age of 91. Before his passing, Jones was set to receive and honorary lifetime achievement Oscar. On Sunday night, the Academy held its annual Governors Awards, where both Quincy Jones and casting director Juliet Taylor were scheduled to receive the Academy Honorary Award. (Writer/director Richard Curtis and James Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson also received honorary Oscars.) Quincy’s daughter Rashida Jones, a movie star in her own right, accepted her father’s posthumous Oscar in his place.
Moses Sumney & ANOHNI Share Cover Of SOPHIE's "Is It Cold In The Water?": Listen
For months now, we’ve been awaiting the release of TRAИƧA, the massive new 46-song Red Hot benefit compilation, and we’ve heard contributions from people like Sade, André 3000, Julien Baker, and Yaeji. The album finally comes out on Friday, and now we get to hear Moses Sumney and ANOHNI get together for a layered, emotive new version of a song that the late SOPHIE released six years ago.
Watch Primal Scream Cover Lana Del Rey
Personally, I would rather watch Lana Del Rey covering Primal Scream. Del Rey doing a languid breakbeat version of “Movin’ On Up”? Could be pretty good! But that’s not what we got. Instead, we got Bobby Gillespie asking up when it’s gonna be his tuuuuuurn. Could be worse!
Watch Robin Pecknold Cover Elliott Smith, Joni Mitchell, Karen Dalton, & More In NYC
Fleet Foxes’ Robin Pecknold is currently on a solo tour where he is playing a whole bunch of Fleet Foxes songs. But he’s been working in a good number of covers into his setlists, too: His recent sets have regularly included renditions of Karen Dalton’s “Katie Cruel” (which is a cover of an old traditional folk tune itself), Arthur Russell’s “Close My Eyes,” Elliott Smith’s “Pitseleh,” Judee Sill’s “Lopin’ Along Thru The Cosmos,” and more. And on Sunday night at Bowery Ballroom, he also did two Joni Mitchell songs — “Amelia” and “The Silky Veils Of Ardor” — which I’m sure Pecknold is extra familiar with now that he’s performed with Mitchell live. See some clips of Sunday’s show below, and find more here.
Al Green Shares Cover Of R.E.M.'s "Everybody Hurts": Listen
Well, this is cool! When R.E.M. released their classic album Automatic For The People in 1992, they were not exactly in the business of writing straightforward, heart-swelling power ballads. Their single “Everybody Hurts” might be the most straightforward song in the band’s long history. When they wrote it, R.E.M. attempted to channel the classic Stax Records soul that they loved. Now, one of the all-time greats of that Southern soul sound has shared his own version of “Everybody Hurts.”