Music: Top of The Drop

By Daniel J. Springer

Each month, Daniel Springer of the Gwangju Foreign Language Network (GFN) picks his favorite newly released tunes that you may not have heard yet, along with some upcoming albums and EPs that you might want to keep on your radar. — Ed.

This is the title track to the Chicinspired, NYC-based septet’s debut album, due out October 7. Few groups this summer have wowed as consistently as Say She She, with the vocal harmonies of the lead trio of Piya Malik, Nya Gazelle Brown, and Sabrina Mileo Cunningham being the especially choice accoutrement to the overall vibe. Be sure not to sleep on “Prism,” dropping once again on October 7 via Karma Chief Records! C’est Chi-Chi!

To be honest, with all the star power of the names and the hype surrounding Cheat Codes, it wouldn’t have been a surprise if it had its share of duds on the album. However, this album is some amazing vintage soul and head-nod glory, consistent from start to finish. Nowhere does the vision of Cheat Codes come together better than on “Belize,” with the dearly departed Supervillain himself spitting bars to perfection with Black Thought over an incredible arrangement that both glows with blackest dark matter and shimmers tantalizingly.

Few in the lo-fi rock genre do it more positively or more infectiously than the wildling from Oklahoma who went to school in NYC and now seems to just bounce uncontrollably all over the globe. This particular new single is “a love song about wanting to be something or someone else,” which I’m sure anyone can identify with. The artist will drop a new album sometime later this year or very early the next.

This is a great indie collab between two artists out of Chicago and Scotland. Cool Heat is the solo project of Eden Sierotnik out of Chicago, while on the other side of the Atlantic, Community Swimming Pool is the solo project of the man everyone calls BMac, who hails from Glasgow if you wanna get specific about it. The two artists both make hazy lo-fi indie rock, with Cool Heat being typically a bit dreamier about the sound, but the two working on the same tune works to perfection.

It has been a long time since the veteran indie folk outfit truly turned to a straight-out rock sound, but you cannot say that anymore. The band’s twentyfirst studio album, Bleed Out, dropped August 19 and is envisioned by lead man John Darnielle as a pastiche of familiar tropes to be found in action flicks, with each song hitting like a quick punch to the gut, or a surprising explosion, but without the protagonist running away in slow motion.

This is a band that only has a few years behind them but a ton of fans already behind them, with

their limited discography already clocking in a whopping 370 million streams alone. Originally from Utah, The Backseat Lovers have been playing to overflow crowds around the UK and US this summer at some of the biggest festivals around, so the sky is indeed the limit right now if they’re not touching it already.

The Latin indie rock darlings out of Chicago are out with their second career LP, The Last Spa on Earth, as of September 23. This single is a particularly adept arrangement, with the song opening in a very psyche rock fashion that flirts with funk, only to somehow morph into a borderline reggaeton track.

This band has been absolutely smashing it since their debut eight years ago, but like their home on Prince Edward Island, Canada, they’re not in a rush about it. This is one of the lead singles to Blue Rev, which comes out October 7 and is only the band’s third album. However, the fiveyear wait since their last LP, Socialites, looks like it’s going to be worth it.

This is a tune that appeared on one of the sneakiest, most sinister, and high-quality concept hip-hop albums of this year. The Elephant Man’s Bones was long on wait time and mega-hype but delivers in such complex fashion that it might take a few listens to get a glimpse into the creation from these two high art hip-hop purveyors.

Originally out of Pittsburgh but now residing in Los Angeles, Drauve is now a duo that’s driven both by togetherness and singer Victoria Morgan’s OCD. While that state might indeed help the final quality of what’s put out, one can’t help but be a little concerned listening to it, which only adds greatly to the experience.

For those who don’t like introspection or taking a deep look in the mirror, this isn’t the album for you. That being noted, Julia Jacklin on her third career LP, Pre-Pleasure, really dives deep on the introspective aspects, with the Melbournebased singer-songwriter completely disarming the listeners who are indeed paying attention. It’s a brilliantly written album top-to-bottom – full of surprising insights for those who care.

Two Door Cinema Club – Keep on Smiling (9/2) Built to Spill – When the Wind Forgets Your Name (9/9) Sampa The Great – As Above, So Below (9/ 9) John Legend – Legend (9/9) Santigold – Spirituals (9/ 9) Sudan Archives – Natural Brown Prom Queen (9/9) Blackpink – Born Pink (9/16) Death Cab For Cutie – Asphalt Meadows (9/16) Suede - Autofiction (9/16) The Beths – Expert in a Dying Field (9/16) The Mars Volta – s/t (9/16) Whitney – Spark (9/16) Alex G – God Save the Animals (9/23) Editors – EBM (9/23) Makaya McCraven – In These Times (9/23) Christine & The Queens – Redcar les adorables étoiles (9/23) Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Cool It Down (S9/30) OFF! – Free LSD (9/30) Titus Andronicus – The Will to Live (9/30)

Say She She – Prism (10/7) Alvvays – Blue Rev (10/7)