Illustration: Hayley Watson
Looking to warm up to summer with some new sounds? No matter your preference, we’ve got you covered. It could be hip-hop, the hip, pop, shoegaze, country, heavy punk with banjo, or even a big dance album from someone who calls himself half-horse, half-human. Let’s dig deeper.
Vince Staples – Cry Baby (Loma Vista/Section Eight Arthouse, June 5): The Long Beach, California rapper changed the way Cry Baby songs are written. Some commentators have likened the sound of his acoustic approach to punk, particularly in the case of the single “Blackberry Marmalade.” But Staples wisely dismissed this argument, pointing out both the breadth of guitar-based music and the often narrowed range of black expression. Still, Staples’ attitude is punk, using music to punish those in power. You can hear it loud and clear in Blackberry Marmalade’s condemnation of systemic racism.
HorsegiirL – Nature is Healing (RCA, June 5): This is not a training exercise. After years of singles and short releases, the person you’ve seen sporting horse facial prosthetics and makeup in party photos and on the runway releases her debut album. Let’s put the meme aside for a moment. This Berlin-based DJ-singer-songwriter delivers insatiable, manic Euro dancing reminiscent of the ’90s. who is she? How long does it take for her to dress up as a horse every time she appears in public? If the album turns out to be very good, do the answers to these questions matter?
Olivia Rodrigo – Looks Pretty Sad for a Girl in Love (Geffen, June 12): One of the biggest breakout pop stars of the last decade is back for her third album with collaborator Dan Nigro. The clear-eyed narrator teased to British Vogue that the record is full of “sad love songs.” It’s a song about the uneasy feeling in your stomach that often accompanies longing. The album’s influence was widespread on early singles. Drop Dead has a touch of Chapel Lawn, and Cure has a Smashing Pumpkins cup.
ZOON – Happy Thought School (Paper Bag Records, June 19): Zoon Gidewin, also known as Daniel Monkman, has emerged as one of Canada’s most fascinating sound sculptors. Shoegaze and dream pop projects expand the boundaries of these genres, flooding listeners’ ears with sounds and melodies. The song is captivating from beginning to end.
The Strokes – Reality Awaits (RCA, June 26): These New York scenesters long ago outgrew the myths that surrounded them in the early 2000s, establishing themselves as generational rock songwriters. An early single from Reality Awaits finds an off-pitched Julian Casablancas confronting existentialism and his place in the world (though you don’t have to guess which is the city) between Albert Hammond Jr. and Nick Valensi’s classic crystal clear licks.
Truck Violence – The Weathervane Is My Body (The Frenzer, June 26): One of the loudest and loudest acts making waves right now is Truck Violence. The Quebec Via Prairies band accents raucous post-hardcore punk with a flourish of folk, questioning power structures on songs like New Jesus and occasionally trading abrasion for banjo (including Your Name Is Walking). Montreal has a habit of bringing together fascinating scenes. Truck violence is just the latest, and perhaps most interesting, iteration of this trend.
Madonna – Confessions II (Warner, July 3): The pop queen re-emerged as a master of club music with 2005’s Confessions on a Dancefloor, returning in her 60s to cement her status once again. ‘I Feel So Free’ continues her career-long quest to share liberation with listeners, while ‘Bring Your Love’ shows how little effort it takes to bridge her life’s work and pop’s present, thanks to the help of Sabrina Carpenter.
Alison Russell – In The Hour of Chaos (Fantasy/Black Wonder, July 10): The Grammy-winning Montreal-by-Nashville singer-songwriter returns with a highly collaborative record that veers between Americana, country, folk, blues, and R&B. “These songs aim to reverse the trend that is moving us further and further away from even the songs we love most,” her team said in a news release announcing the album. “This is a record that’s meant to make you feel good, and feeling good in this day and age is a radical act.”
Shania Twain – Little Miss Twain (Republic, July 24): Canada’s national royalty is returning home. Little Miss Twain promises to be a return to Shania Twain’s Northern Ontario roots while showcasing the sarcastic humor that propelled her to superstar status. “I can drive a Hummer in the summer,” she sings in her single “Dirty Rosie.”
The Tragically Hip – Live July 22-August 20, 2016 (Universal, August 21): The Canadian house band held its last tour 10 years ago, just one year before frontman Gord Downie died of terminal brain cancer. It seemed like the whole country was clamoring for tickets, especially for the band’s last show in their home town of Kingston. Fans can take a piece of that history home with this nearly 30-song live album. This live album captures the breadth of touring that spanned a career and spanned Canada.
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