A whirlwind week such as this could only end with a bang. Suffice to say, that’s exactly what we have here. Jay-Z (and his child)? Leonard Cohen? The Shins? Three juggernaut names that could easily headline any number of top lists. But, alas, there’s more – plenty more.
On a side note, Jeremy Larson will no longer be spearheading this feature. Now that he’s become more involved with other CoS-related activities, he’s decided to pass on the reins to Möhammad Choudhery. Good things lie ahead.
-Winston Robbins
Senior Staff Writer
120 Days - “Dahle Disco”
With “Dahle Disco”, the first track off of their forthcoming 120 Days II, Norwegian outfit 120 Days do well to warrant their absence since 2006′s eponymous album. Produced by fellow Norseman dance producer extraordinaire Lindstrøm, it’s an extended 10 minute dance jam that’s destined to sneak its way onto plenty of summer mixtapes later this year. -Möhammad Choudhery
Jay-Z – “The Glory (Feat. B.I.C.)”
Jay-Z celebrated the birth of his daughter- Blue Ivy Carter – with the aptly titled track, “Glory”. It’s mushy, sure, but it’s straight from the heart, and it features the aforementioned heir to the Roc Nation throne crying during the outro. Clearly, Blue Ivy Carter has taken no time getting her music career started. -Winston Robbins
Jay-Z feat. B.I.C – “Glory”
Leonard Cohen – “Darkness”
Our second taste of Leonard Cohen’s forthcoming 12th studio album Old Ideas, “Darkness” is a strutting, Western-styled strummer that’s on par with anything he’s released in the past decade. Cohen’s weathered croon and signature barbed one-liners here are as good a testament as any to his legend. Old Ideas arrives January 31st via Columbia. -Möhammad Choudhery
Lianne La Havas - “Forget” (Shlohmo Remix)
Just weeks following her BBC’s Sound of 2012 nomination, British singer/songwriter Lianne La Havas announced the release of “Forget”, the first single from her forthcoming debut LP. Due out February 13th, the single will be backed by several remixes, the best of which is Shlohmo’s sprawling five-minute rework of the track. Reprising the meticulously crafted undercurrents of Places and Bad Vibes, Shlohmo wrings La Havas’ ballad of all its emotion and stretches it into a deep, cavernous groove. His new EP, Vacation, is out February 7th via Friends of Friends. -Möhammad Choudhery
Lianne La Havas – “Forget” (Shlohmo Remix)
of Montreal -”Dour Percentage”
“Dour Percentage” isn’t the first track we’re hearing off Paralytic Stalks, Of Montreal’s forthcoming album, but along with “Wintered Debts”, it sets the bar pretty high. Kevin Barnes’ typically morbid lyrics and the band’s loose groove carry the track, but it’s that sweet flute bit that’s the real star here. Paralytic Stalks is due out February 7th via Polyvinyl. -Möhammad Choudhery
Of Montreal – “Dour Percentage”
Nicolas Jaar - “With Just One Glance”
Fresh off the success of “Don’t Break My Love”, one of the most criminally overlooked singles of 2011, Brown University student/wunderkind producer Nicolas Jaar released “With Just One Glance” this week. With vocal and sax help from Scout LaRue (Demi Moore and Bruce Willis’ kid) and Will Epstein respectively, Jaar turns in a surprisingly jazzy effort that’s one of his finest releases to date. -Möhammad Choudhery
With-Just-One-Glance
School of Seven Bells – “Lafaye”
After having released two albums as a trio, SVIIB went back into the studio losing one member, Claudia Deheza, twin sister to now lead vocalist Alejandra Deheza. As a duo, the remaining Deheza sister and Benjamin Curtis toured out the remainder of their last album, Disconnect From Desire, and hit the studio. The result? What will be Ghostory. We’ve heard the intro to the album, but they’ve graced us with new single, “Lafaye”, that starts out fierce by their standards but falls into their sonic sphere about a minute in. Ghostory is out February 28th via Vagrant. -Winston Robbins
The Shins – “Simple Song”
This one’s been cooking for some time. It’s been almost five years since The Shins’ released Wincing The Night Away, and the wait has not been easy. In the time since, James Mercer has re-arranged about half the band, so the sonic results concerning this particular release have been in question. But the wait was not in vain. What begins as a building, aural beast quickly turns into the indie pop that we’ve become so accustomed to hearing over the years. Mercer’s still got it in spades. Port of Morrow is out March 20th via Columbia/Aural Apothecary. -Winston Robbins
Tanlines – “Brothers”
In what is thankfully not a cover of The Black Keys’ “Brothers”, Tanlines have dropped the driving, ethereal first look at their forthcoming debut album, Mixed Emotion. This Brooklyn duo has been around the blogosphere for a while, but they’e yet to release anything conclusive. Judging from this track, it’s safe to say this one will be worth hearing. Mixed Emotion drops March 20th via True Panther Sounds. -Winston Robbins
Tanlines – “Brothers”
Wavves – “Hybrid Moments” (Misfits cover)
Wavves returns with its latest batch of mischief, this time a fitting cover of the Misfits’ “Hybrid Moments”. It lacks the edge of the original, perhaps, but there’s a blissful high that accompanies the cover in a way that’ll have you singing along in no time. In its all too short 1:38, the distortion is heavy, and so are the good surf vibes. An unlikely match made in heaven. -Winston Robbins
Wavves – “Hybrid Moments” (Misfits cover)
