Friday 3 February 2017

BEST AND WORST NEW TRACKS OF THE WEEK 03/02/2017: Father John Misty, Thundercat, Mastodon and more...


It’s one of those weeks where I have absolutely nothing witty to say in the intro that hasn’t already been said, so let’s just dive straight in shall we…

THE BEST:


‘The Missing Sucker’ - Horse Massage


Musical discoveries like this remind me why I run a music blog. Parping clarinets and demented guitar noodling provide a backdrop for babbling music industry spiel in this new single from Chicago weirdos Horse Massage. As if the whole thing wasn’t mad enough, the track then trails off ungracefully into a gradually slowing detuned mess. I also, love their take on playing the keyboard.

‘Silent Treatment’ – Blanck Mass



Blanck Mass is one half of elegantly-named electronic duo Fuck Buttons. According to the press release, his latest release is about the ‘problems that arise when we don’t communicate’, although there are no lyrics to support this theme (I guess that’s the point). Opening with some choral vocals the whole thing suddenly thrusts into a noisy wall of electronica before stripping itself all the way back. It’s quite the roller-coaster, so buckle up.

‘Two Wildly Different Perspectives’ – Father John Misty


Father John Misty’s upcoming album Pure Comedy is going to be a largely humourless affair judging from the cuts we’ve heard so far. As sad as I am to say goodbye to the singer’s comedic side, he does still seem to showing some sharp wit in this new track: ‘one man says ‘man, take what’s yours’/ the other says ‘live on no more than you can afford’/but either way we just possess/and everyone ends up with less’. Witty or preachy, depending on the wildly differing perspective you choose (SEE WHAT I DID THERE).

‘Show You The Way’ – Thundercat ft. Michael McDonald & Kenny Loggins


Funky singer and bassist Thundercat is back for some slinky basslines, jazzy chord sequences and dreamy falsettos. It’s as gorgeously satisfying as getting that piece of sweetcorn out from between your teeth, as gorgeously satisfying as finding a fiver in an old jacket pocket, as gorgeously satisfying as relieving your bladder after a long car journey. You get the picture.

‘Show Yourself’ – Mastodon


The general consensus from metalheads seems to be that this sucks – but personally I’m digging the Foo-Fighters-esque vocal melodies and lack of bells and whistles. It may not be the Georgia group’s traditional death/sludge/prog brew, but it’s hardly pop balladry either. That strumming and drumming still has attitude.

THE WORST:


‘I’m Better’ - Missy Elliot ft. Lamb


You’re right – you are better than this.