Despite it being a short week because of Memorial Day weekend, this week was anything but short on new music. Tame Impala unveiled another video for “Cause I’m a Man,” this time with puppets, Chance the Rapper‘s highly anticipated album with Donnie Trumpet and The Social Experiment, Surf, dropped, and we also got new tracks clips from Jenny Lewis and Disclosure.
Even with all that, there’s still so much great music that we couldn’t get to. Here are the songs and music videos you may have missed this week.
Neon Indian – “Annie”
With his first official release since 2011’s Era Extraña (not counting the group’s contribution to the GTA V soundtrack), “Annie” is the very much welcomed return of synthpop prince Alan Palomo, leader of Neon Indian. An ’80s funk creeper, the track radiates humid summer vibes combined with their trademark electrofunk touches. Now is the absolute perfect time for Neon Indian to come back.
MS MR – “Painted”
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New York indie pop duo MS MR are dropping their second studio album How Does It Feel in July, and “Painted” is our first taste of the new record. With visuals inspired by the sci-fi film The Secret Life of Plants, the group told the FADER of the video, “We wanted to explore the juxtaposition of natural and unnatural environments and what happens when they’re forced to reckon with one another.” Well, obviously what happens is trippy AF and perhaps we shouldn’t mess with nature… unless it makes for a cool video.
Mikal Cronin – “Say”
https://www.funnyordie.com/videos/7e1796b04c/mikal-cronin-say
Mikal Cronin has already proven that he’s capable of making an actually funny music video with his Kristen Schaal-led “Torn” remake “Turn Around.” Now he’s back with another clip from his new album MCIII, this time for “Say.” Doing a meta remake of Paul Simon’s “You Can Call Me Al,” the clip features Jonah Ray, Nick Thune, Kurt Braunohler, and more all wanting to play Chevy Chase’s part until things get way too out of hand.
Julian Casablancas + The Voidz – “Human Sadness”
What music do you play when the world ends? Well, if not R.E.M. or Britney Spears, Julian Casablancas hopes you’ll play his 13-minute epic “Human Sadness.” In development since 2013 says Rolling Stone, the mini-movie set right smack dab in the middle of the apocalypse shows a bunch of different stories and perspectives as the end of days arrives. While The Strokes frontman is willing to play as the proverbial ship goes down, we get the feeling he’ll still somehow survive.
Refused – “Françafrique”
When we heard the news of Swedish hardcore punks Refused reuniting — for real this time — we were over the moon. “Elektra” was our first taste and this week we’ve got “Françafrique.” Almost with a punk funk sound like Faith No More or early Red Hot Chili Peppers, Refused don’t let their foot off the gas pedal at all in this brutal screamer asking for the heads of dictators and genocidal governments. They haven’t given up a inch.
Taio Cruz – “Do What You Like”
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And lastly, for something completely different, here is English pop star Taio Cruz with “Do What You Like.” Probably best known stateside for his absolute earworms “Dynamite” and “Break Your Heart,” he’s back releasing music after a three-year layoff. Taking the George Michael of letting supermodels sing your song for you, “Do What You Like” is a fantastic post-disco thumper drawing influences the Pet Shop Boys and Off the Wall-era Michael Jackson. Not too hard to like this.
