Keeping up with new music can be exhausting, even impossible. From the weekly album releases to standalone singles dropping on a daily basis, the amount of music is so vast it’s easy for something to slip through the cracks. Even following along with the Uproxx recommendations on daily basis can be a lot to ask, so every Monday we’re offering up this rundown of the best music released in the last week.
This week saw Weyes Blood deliver what might be the album of the year, Khalid prove that he can do things on his own, and Vampire Weekend offer up their best new song from this cycle thus far. Yeah, it was a pretty great week for new music. Check out the highlights below.
Weyes Blood — Titanic Rising
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There might not be a better album this year. Los Angeles-based indie artist Weyes Blood has crafted a gorgeous new record, one where her deft songwriting and powerful voice equally showcase her artistic majesty. Writing about the record, Uproxx’s Steven Hyden called it “millennial-themed, new age-accented soft rock, in which the stoicism of Mering’s stirring voice plays against the conversational nature of the lyrics.”
Khalid — Free Spirit
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Khalid is known for how well he works with other artists, but on his latest album, he’s mostly on his own. But when you are sub-headlining Coachella and playing arenas, finding success of your own is exactly what you need to be doing. John Mayer does show up for good measure on Free Spirit, Disclosure pops up to produce “Talk,” and Father John Misty wrote on “Heaven,” but on tracks like “Self” and “My Bad,” it’s Khalid’s time to shine.
Pup — Morbid Stuff
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Pup’s steady rise from the Canadian punk scene toward rock notability has made them a band that is fun to root for, and their latest record pushes that narrative further than before. Writing about the album, Uproxx’s Steven Hyden said, “On Morbid Stuff, Babcock’s lyrics are more despairing, but the music is also catchier. It’s the darkest and poppiest record Pup has ever made, and also the best.”
Blackpink — Kill This Love
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One of the biggest Korean pop acts is about to make a major American splash, getting prime billing at Coachella in a way that no one from their country ever has. Just in time for that and their massive arena tour is this new EP, featuring four new songs and a remix. Years from now, we could very well look back at 2019 as the year that pop from around the world found a permanent foothold in America.
The National — “Light Years”
The National surprised fans with the announcement of their upcoming album, I Am Easy To Find, in that their last record, Sleep Well Beast, is less than two years old. But with songs like “Light Years,” which they’ve been playing live for a while, and other new songs that have yet to be debuted, the band appears to be capitalizing on a particularly fertile period. No contemporary rock band has such a consistent output (Spoon is close), and The National continue to expand their sound and experiment in the process.
Anderson .Paak — “Make It Better” Feat. Smokey Robinson
While The National are releasing music at a surprising clip, Anderson .Paak is in straight “hold my beer” mode. He’s about to drop his second album in about six months, and songs like “Make It Better” show him at the top of his game. This is a little more sentimental than his previous singles, as he tries to save a relationship while getting an assist from legend Smokey Robinson.
Vampire Weekend — “This Life”
With Vampire Weekend’s advance releases ahead of their fourth album, Father Of The Bride, we’ve heard jam band influences, choir choruses, and Haim backing vocals. But what we’ve yet to hear is provided by “This Life,” which is a razor-sharp, hyper-hooky, comforting nod to their past work, and one that can stand firmly up to their previous output.
Big Thief — “Cattails”
First with “UFOF” and now with “Cattails,” Big Thief is making big statements with their latest music. It’s not necessarily meant to hit you over the head, but it’s clear that Adrianne Lenker has found big inspiration with her songwriting, letting her fragile, damaged vocals exude a subtle take on indie folk that doesn’t quite sound like anyone else making As Uproxx’s Derrick Rossignol writes, “The tender track is led by fingerpicked acoustic guitar and Lenker’s wispy vocals, and as the song progresses, it builds into a subtle and satisfying climax.”
Yuna — “Forevermore”
Pop music feels more welcoming to diverse voices now than ever (even if there is still a long way to go), which makes the return of Yuna such an exciting proposition. The Malaysian pop singer has been turning heads for more than a decade, and it feels like the right time for her to expand her audience even wider. “Forevermore” is deeply intertwined with her roots, both lyrically and in its video show in her home country, but the song also stands out firmly without its context.
Noname — “Song 32”
Even with her sophomore release coming out last year, the great Room 25, Noname hasn’t stopped putting out new music. Following the recent “Song 31,” is, appropriately, “Song 32.” Writing about it for Uproxx, Jordan Coley said, “It’s a three-minute celebration of herself and all the other young, black creatives finding independent success.”
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. .
