“You are the music while the music lasts.” -T.S. Eliot
Animal Collective – “Today’s Supernatural”
The first track to see light from their upcoming Centipede Hz, “Today’s Supernatural” is Animal Collective at their trippy, propulsive best. Released on the first of their weekly “radio programs”, the tune is an epic in the vein of Strawberry Jam standout “Fireworks”, only wobblier, driven by Avey Tare’s stuttered shouts about how we have to “let-let-let-let-let-let-let-let-let-let-let-let go!” Dripping electronics, panning effects, and Panda Bear’s rich percussion push the track into a cathartic rush, the lyrics reminding everyone that “sometimes you have to go get mad.” While this has been a live staple for a while now, its recorded version bodes well for another stellar LP from these Baltimoreans. Centipede Hz is out September 4th via Domino. -Adam Kivel
Calexico – “Splitter”
The lusciously produced “Splitter” is the second single from Calexico’s eighth album, Algiers, out on September 11th via ANTI- Records. The seasoned alt-country outfit plays with tact here; Joey Burns’ singing, the simple-yet-effective strumming, the understated horn section that peeks out from the bottom of the mix. It’s all arranged so nicely. “Moving on, moving on,” Burns repeats optimistically during the song’s refrain. He’s aided by gentle harmonizing, a Calexico staple. -Jon Hadusek
Captain Murphy – “The Ritual”
While theories fly about the true identity of the rapper known as Captain Murphy (including talk of a mashed together Earl and Tyler), we can all sit back with a nice can of Bebop Cola and enjoy the recently released “The Ritual”. The second track from the man (men?) of mystery, “The Ritual” features a swanky, Madvillain-esque beat, and drives to an creepy conclusion with a virgin sacrifice. While many have attached the line “Learned how to Dougie with the devil in the moonlight” to Earl’s “Moonlight”, the connection is still inconclusive. Until we get another track and/or learn otherwise, we’ll keep letting the theories fly while clicking the repeat button on this one. -Adam Kivel
Corin Tucker sounds a lot like PJ Harvey on “Neskowin”, the latest cut from her band’s upcoming LP, Kill My Blues. Though she’s toned down the shrillness in her voice, Tucker still sings with swagger to the beat of propulsive drumming and punk-blues riffage, all of which evokes Dry-era Harvey. Lyrically, it’s lighter and less angsty than either Dry or Tucker’s past work. “Hit the arcade and pizza place/ So much to see, so much to taste,” she sings. This is a great tune for cruising around on a Friday night.-Jon Hadusek
Deerhoof – “The Trouble With Candyhands”
Deerhoof’s insane musicality lends to almost any genre crossover imaginable, but the first person to come forward guessing that they’d take a turn for the swing with Latin horn stabs gets five bucks. On “The Trouble With Candyhands” (from their upcoming Breakup Song, due September 4th from Polyvinyl), guitarists Ed Rodriguez and John Dieterich rip off chords that match those horns, all while bassist/vocalist Satomi Matsuzaki lilts out simple lines about a “bad boy.” As always, drummer Greg Saunier anchors things perfectly, splashing out bass-heavy fills. -Adam Kivel
Desaparecidos – “MariKKKopa”
Earlier this year, Conor Oberst reunited his post-hardcore band Desaparecidos. The MariKKKopa/Backsell 7”, currently available on the group’s official site, is their first new material in a decade, and the single’s A-side targets the anti-immigration politics of Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, AZ. Through pointed lyrics and angular guitars, Oberst blasts Arpaio’s bigotry: “They say, ‘It’s time we had some justice for the white race on this earth’/This place is strange and getting stranger.” The song ends with an interview snippet of Arpaio saying that he’s proud of being compared to the KKK.-Jon Hadusek
Dum Dum Girls – “Lord Knows”
Whoa. Dee Dee’s vocals on this track. Seriously. With every new release, the Dum Dum Girls frontwoman sounds stronger, more confident on the mic, but on “Lord Knows”, she reaches new highs. Or maybe lows. It’s a downbeat ballad, a regretful letter to a lost love, and Dee Dee sings with brooding intensity. Once, she used to drench her voice in tons of reverb, but she isn’t hiding behind effects anymore. “Lord Knows” is the lead single off of the Dum Dum Girls’ upcoming EP, End of Daze, out on September 25th via Sub Pop. -Jon Hadusek
Melvins – “Psycho-delic Haze”
Sure, a handful of bands will put out three or more releases in a single year, but not many will have altered lineups for each of those releases. That’s pretty ho-hum for the Melvins, though, and “Psycho-delic Haze” is the first taste of the third of their configurations, on 1983. Featuring the band’s high-school lineup (with Mike Dillard on drums to accompany guitarist/vocalist Buzz Osborne and usual drummer Dale Crover on bass), the track is a sludgy mind-melt heavily reliant on Osborne’s skycracking vocals. The upcoming 10″ follows their most recent full-band work on The Bulls and the Bees EP, and their Melvins Lite album, Freak Puke. -Adam Kivel
The Sea and Cake – “Harps”
The Sea and Cake frontman Sam Prekop was on a synthesizer kick when he composed the band’s 10th album, Runner, due out September 18th (via Thrill Jockey). Lead single “Harps” proves as much; it’s palpitating synths are the song’s most distinguishing element, skimming calmly beneath Prekop’s frail delivery. “I was interested in writing songs that started not with guitar, but with synthesizer and sequencer ideas,” Prekop explained on the press for the album. The resulting track shows it, and the “pleasantly out of control” feeling he also explained fits perfectly. -Jon Hadusek
St. Vincent and David Byrne – “Weekend in the Dust”
The team-up of guitar goddess St. Vincent (AKA Annie Clark) and the legendary David Byrne finally previewed the second taste of their collaborative album Love This Giant, and “Weekend in the Dust” is a funky gem. The track features Clark’s lush vocal arrangements and Byrne’s internationally-indebted genius, all set to a swinging, horn-heavy wobble. The full album isn’t due until September 11th (from 4AD/Todo Mundo), but this head-bobbing wonder should make that wait a little easier to handle. Along with the album opener “Who”, you can now hear the track “Weekend in the Dust” at the duo’s website. -Adam Kivel.
