Dave Gahan and Miley Cyrus re-sing Metallica, Radiohead shares rarities from 20 years ago and Lana Del Rey goes into space. The flow of vibrant new music, which is definitely worth listening to while you play online casino slots, doesn’t stop. But, if previous weeks were spent under the sign of new experimental rap, now it’s time to pay attention to music that has stood the test of time. We can help you navigate this diversity.
Single of the Week:
Radiohead — “If You Say the Word“
The band Radiohead has decided to re-release two of their albums of the early 2000s, Kid A and Amnesiac, under one cover. Besides the previously known material, the set will also include previously unreleased tracks collected on a separate disc — Kid Amnesia.
One of these tracks, “If You Say the Word”, was recently released as a single. And, it must be said, the song doesn’t seem outdated, even though over 20 years have passed since its inception. The rich, gloomy and melancholic sound fits perfectly into the stylistic canvas of Radiohead’s contemporary work. Yes, the traditional rock base is stronger than the experimental component that came to the fore on King of Limbs and later records. The melody, based on literally a few sounds, on the one hand, is simpler than now and it is associated with the ‘mantras’ of the 2010s.
You can’t say that “If You Say the Word” makes a powerful impression. And, it is understandable why it was not included in either Kid A or Amnesiac. All the same, the song is passé… if such a word is appropriate in principle for a great band. However, considering how rarely Radiohead has been releasing new material in the last 10 years, any such rarity is worth its weight in gold.
Clip of the Week:
Lana Del Rey — “Arcadia“
Lana Del Rey has re-announced her album, Blue Banisters. The release was scheduled for July 4th and in the Spring, the singer released three tracks from it. We used to notice the extraordinary productivity of Lana; in fact, her previous single “Chemtrails Over the Country Club” was released in February 2021.
Alas, it turned out to be like in the joke “I couldn’t make it”. Or, maybe it was just decided not to interfere with “Chemtrails”‘ sales. Anyway, the new date was announced for October 22nd and we can now listen to the fourth single, “Arcadia”. Importantly, unlike the previous three, it was honored with a music video.
Neither in the description on YouTube nor in the video itself are the creators of the video named; that gives the impression that it’s almost amateur work. At first, Lana simply sings in a hotel room, then her image is superimposed on cartoon space, as if from the cheapest special effects library while city views are projected onto the singer’s body itself.
Accusations of tastelessness would be quite fair, but we have to assume that this is a conscious decision to play a game of simplicity and sincerity, yet also naively retro. After all, this video could very well have been shot in the 1980s by some independent performer with a 16mm camera. And, that’s the beauty of it.
The song is beautiful: Lana’s trademark languid vocals, with piano accompaniment and delicate orchestral backing, envelop and lulls, allowing the melancholic melody to stick in your memory.
Album of the Week:
The Metallica — ‘Blacklist‘
Metallica celebrated the 30th Anniversary of their Blacklist album unprecedentedly. Not only did they release a gift box that includes 14 CDs (yes, 14), six DVDs and six vinyl records, two of which have the legendary 1991 concert in Moscow on them. In addition, a 53-track compilation of Metallica’s Blacklist appeared on the streaming sites: it features a host of stars — ranging from Slipknot’s Corey Taylor to jazz diva Imelda May — singing cover versions of all the album’s songs.
Some songs received two or three versions each, although some, like “Nothing Else Matters”, is presented 12 versions in total. Among them, there’s a gorgeous recording by Dave Gahan, who brings the metal ballad closer to the dark Depeche Mode motifs. Miley Cyrus’ cover is also noteworthy: the pop star, in recent years modulating more and more towards rock, shows her impressive vocal abilities.
Most remakes are very respectful of the originals, yet skew away in extraordinarily creative ways. What’s the point of singing “Enter Sandman” as tough and aggressive as Metallica itself? It won’t get any better, anyway. Wouldn’t it make more sense to sing it differently?
That’s why the artists who have rethought the material the most are the winners. Rapper J. Balvin turned “Wherever I May Roam” into a rap song. “It’s over,” hardcore metalheads will exclaim. But, even the original “black album” was criticized for pandering to mass tastes and commercial trends, which didn’t stop it from becoming great.
Broadcast of the Week:
Jazz à la Villette
Despite the coronavirus, the Paris Philharmonic held its annual Jazz à la Villette Festival. True, the concerts were no longer held in the Park La Villette, but in various halls of the Philharmonic, but in the public’s presence. For Russian music lovers, it is important that the events were broadcast on the official site and the recordings will remain freely available for several months.
At the time of writing, it was possible to watch five concerts: solos by multi-instrumentalist Emma-Jacques Thecray and Trinidadian musician Anthony Joseph, performances by French jazzman Vincent Le Quang’s quartet and the Neue Grafik Ensemble, and a tribute to saxophonist Manu Dibango, who passed away in 2020.
Although all the artists listed are related to jazz, the stylistic palette here is very wide. Perhaps the only unifying factor is the bias toward ‘black’ genres. But, this is a general trend of the festival. Jazz à la Villette is a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of a high-class jazz evening — one that is elitist and liberated at the same time.