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Cass McCombs and Mr. Greg Announce Children’s Music Album, Release New Song

Konstantinos Pappis
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Cass McCombs and Mr. Greg Announce Children’s Music Album, Release New Song

Cass McCombs has teamed up with San Francisco preschool teacher Greg Gardner (aka Mr. Greg) for a new children’s music album. It’s titled Mr. Greg & Cass McCombs Sing and Play New Folk Songs for Children, and it’s out August 18 on Smithsonian Folkways. Listen to lead single ‘Wave a Flag for Harvey Milk’ below.

The album contains songs Garnder wrote for his own students, with arrangements by McCombs. It will be released with an illustrated booklet featuring liner notes by Dublabʼs Mark “Frosty” McNeill, as well as suggested activities for parents and teachers that correspond to each song. “A lot of what’s called children’s music is just folk music,” McCombs said in a statement. “So I don’t see a big difference between children’s music and adult music. To me, it’s the same.”

“A few years ago I created ‘Wave a Flag for Harvey Milk’ as a sing-along coloring book that I wrote and illustrated as a way to introduce my students to some of the positive things that Harvey Milk did for San Franciscans in particular and the LGBTQ+ community at large,” Gardner explained. “Cass and the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus then added their musical magic to the song. This year, my students were overjoyed to see the illustrations from the coloring book come to life in a rainbow of colors by the talented animator Cameron Burr. I hope that this video inspires children and their grown-ups to follow Harvey’s lead to make positive changes in the world.”

“Whenever we have a new project or we’re learning about something new in class, I try to make a little song about it,” Gardner continued. “I’ve noticed that it’s a fun way to introduce new vocabulary, learn about new subjects, and foster a positive and musical classroom community. And as a kid myself, the things that I remember most vividly are those things that I learned through song. At that age, not everyone wants to sit and listen to the teacher talk, or even listen to a book. But a lot of kids tend to become engaged when there’s movement and song and rhyme.”

Cass McCombs released his most recent album, Heartmind, last year.

Mr. Greg & Cass McCombs Sing and Play New Folk Songs for Children Cover Artwork:

Mr. Greg & Cass McCombs Sing and Play New Folk Songs for Children Tracklist:

1. Little Wilma Wiggly Worm
2. Friends from All Around the World (Hello Version)
3. J-O-B
4. Requiem for Ruth Bader Ginsburg
5. A Builder’s Got a Hammer and Nails
6. Each One of Us
7. What’s Your Favorite Kind?
8. I’m a Nocturnal Animal
9. Paper Airplane
10. My Skull is Made Outta Bone
11. Wave a Flag for Harvey Milk
12. Things That Go in the Recycling Bin
13. Roll Around Downtown
14. Deciduous Tree
15. We Build a Lot of Muscle as We Exercise
16. The Sounds that the Letters Make
17. Who Are You?
18. Together with You
19. Oona Louise, My Friend
20. Friends from All Around the World (Goodbye Version)

Beck and Phoenix Join Foces for New Song ‘Odyssey’

Konstantinos Pappis
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Beck and Phoenix Join Foces for New Song ‘Odyssey’

Ahead of their co-headlining the Summer Odyssey tour, Beck and Phoenix have teamed up for a new song called ‘Odyssey’. Check it out below.

Phoenix’s most recent album was last year’s Alpha Zulu. Beck hasn’t released a record since 2020’s Hyperspace. Their Summer Oddyssey tour kicks off on August 1 in Seattle, Washington, with Jenny Lewis, Japanese Breakfast, Weyes Blood, and Sir Chloe opening select dates.

Islands Announce New Album, Share Video for New Single ‘Life’s a Joke’

Konstantinos Pappis
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Islands Announce New Album, Share Video for New Single ‘Life’s a Joke’

Islands, the long-running indie-pop project of the Unicorns’ Nick Thorburn, has announced a new album called And That’s Why Dolphins Lost Their Legs. The follow-up to 2021’s Islomania comes out August 25. New single ‘Life’s a Joke’ comes paired with a video by Malt Disney, which you can check out below.

“[Islomania] was exuberant and hopeful, and Dolphins is like the grim rejoinder,” Thorburn remarked in a press release. “The songs attempt to tap into some of our darker impulses. The grim, unshakeable feeling that we live in hell, that there is no future, that all hope is lost. I wanted to explore those depths and see where it lead me.”

Thorburn elaborated:

During my time off from Islands, before releasing Islomania, I was finished with rock music, bored of the lyrics I was writing. I was toying with the idea of making…I’m embarrassed to say… beats. I began tinkering at home, and quite quickly compiled a huge folder of instrumentals. I got together with my friend Fat Tony and we made a few songs together. But as things went along, I found myself getting increasingly excited by the possibility of a lyric here or there. At first it was just a hook, and then a verse. Before long, I was sitting on a big pile of Islands songs.”

I was interested in the idea of regression. Evolution in the opposite direction, you know? We think of fish evolving by growing legs—walking out of the primordial swamp towards an enlightened existence—but what if things went the other way? What if a four legged dolphin took one look around, saw what humans had done, and said ‘fuck it, I’m going back in’?”

And actually, the title itself came from a conversation I overheard between a couple of strange men in a friend’s backyard in Los Angeles, one of whom insisted that dolphins did in fact evolve to have legs at one point, but very quickly returned to the ocean, going back the other way.

Thorburn eventually worked on the new record with Chris Coady at Hollywood’s Sunset, in upstate New York with Ratatat’s Mike Stroud, and in Los Feliz with producer Patrick Ford.

And That’s Why Dolphins Lost Their Legs Cover Artwork:

And That’s Why Dolphins Lost Their Legs Tracklist:

1. Life’s a Joke
2. And All You Can Do Is Laugh
3. Headlines
4. Superstitious
5. Hard to Argue
6. Pelican
7. Driven Snow
8. Bite My Tongue
9. Violet
10. Too Far Gone
11. Up the Down Staircase

Album Review: Queens of the Stone Age, ‘In Times New Roman…’

Konstantinos Pappis
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Album Review: Queens of the Stone Age, ‘In Times New Roman…’

At first glance, the world Queens of the Stone Age have created on their new album feels curiously self-contained. After working with Mark Ronson on 2017’s Villains, easily the loosest and most danceable the band has ever sounded while maintaining a dark edge, they produced its follow-up on their own, with no high-profile guests to be found across its 10 tracks. It’s an approach not too unlike that taken by the Foo Fighters on But Here We Are, their 11th album released earlier this month: having leaned into their funk and disco influences on Medicine at Midnight and an EP of Bee Gees covers, they were forced to go back to basics on an earnest, down-to-earth record fearlessly bearing the scars of grief.

In Times New Roman… is not the same album. It’s no secret it was made during a time of personal turmoil for bandleader Josh Homme, including the loss of collaborators and friends like Foo Fighters’ Taylor Hawkins and Mark Lanegan, the fallout from his divorce from Brody Dalle, and his cancer diagnosis, which was revealed just days ahead of the album’s release. But as they dig into their roots, fully aware there’s no such thing as “going back,” it should come as no surprise that the songs are knottier and gnarlier in their intensity. Whether that’s an antidote to chaos or just part of their brand, it’s a thrill that makes them one of the most unusually, rather than just reliably, consistent bands in rock.

You just wish they’d allow themselves to get a little weirder, not least because the bulk of the record delivers every other key element of a classic QOTSA song: the groove, the hooks, the menace. The first sign that the band is playing it rather safe comes with the opener ‘Obscenery’, which threatens to disintegrate halfway through before sticking right back to the formula. Even with awkward lines like “Empty hole where the empathy used to be/ In the obscenery is where you’re happy to be,” the song does a good job of introducing the almost apocalyptic disdain and depression that pervades the rest of the record. It’s when Homme’s lyricism is more direct than inventive that the sentiment cuts through, though: “I am weightless, yet heaviness defines/ Between what home was and the yellow moon,” he sings on ‘Negative Space’ as the band drifts into that paradox of a sensation; in that moment, they sound like the only group of people capable of making sense of it. There’s catharsis in the constant malaise, but they seem less concerned with capturing it than finding different ways to grind, stomp, squelch, and occasionally shine through the mud.

It’s not until the record’s second half that songs build into something bolder and more substantial. They’re more equipped to sell the philosophy, as laid out in ‘Obscenery’, of giving in when faced with nothingness. “When there’s nothing I can do/ I smile,” Homme declares on ‘Carnavoyer’, and you can see it wryly forming on his face, a grim resignation that actually sounds freeing. Like every moment here that makes space for strings, ‘Sicily’ has a hypnotic pull to it, but it actually commits, and the orchestral swell ends up mirroring Homme’s foreboding outro: “Tangled and tied, now and forever.” And then there’s ‘Emotion Sickness’, the song that most effectively balances swagger and melody. Still, even the album’s most captivating choruses are hardly as memorable as the ones they cooked up ten years ago on …Like Clockwork, though you get the sense they might creep up on you over time.

If this is Queens of the Stone staying clear of anything that could be called triumphant, anthemic, or explosive – all descriptors But Here We Are immediately earned – it’s not without reason. Even the 9-minute closing track, ‘Straight Jacket Fitting’, is far from the stereotypical epic finale, slowly churning and gaining muscle until it transforms into an acoustic manifestation of the ellipsis in the album’s title. “The world, yeah, she don’t need saving,” Homme sings, “‘cept from you and me and our misbehaving.” He’s alone, and full of doubt, and goddamn sick of this place – and then, on the absolute brink of collapse, he belts out, “Bring on the healing.” People might not call In Times New Roman… a triumph, but they will be quick to describe it as a personal exorcism. Yet that sounds like the first time that prospect is even on the table, and haven’t we all just been waiting in line.

Aphex Twin Announces New EP, Releases New Song ‘Blackbox Life Recorder 21f’

Konstantinos Pappis
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Aphex Twin Announces New EP, Releases New Song ‘Blackbox Life Recorder 21f’

Aphex Twin has unveiled ‘Blackbox Life Recorder 21f’, his first official release since 2018’s Collapse EP. The track will appear on Blackbox Life Recorder 21f / In a Room7 F760, a new four-track collection that lands July 28 via Warp. Listen below.

The enigmatic producer born Richard D. James gave his first performance since 2019 last week at Barcelona’s Sonar festival. A social media post instructed fans to “LOOK OUT FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL IN SONAR +D PROJECT AREA AND AT THE MERCH DESK,” and posters with QR codes led to an augmented reality app called YXBoZXh0d2lu. It featured animated visuals along with a preview of ‘Blackbox Life Recorder 21f’.

Aphex Twin is set to headline London’s Field Day Festival on August 19.

Blackbox Life Recorder 21f / in a room7 F760 Tracklist:

1. Blackbox Life Recorder 21f
2. zin2 test5
3. in a room7 F760
4. Blackbox Life Recorder 22 [Parallax Mix]

Charly Bliss Return With New Song ‘You Don’t Even Know Me Anymore’

Konstantinos Pappis
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Charly Bliss Return With New Song ‘You Don’t Even Know Me Anymore’

Charly Bliss are back with ‘You Don’t Even Know Me Anymore’, their first new song in four years. Jake Luppen of Hippo Campus and Caleb Wright produced the track, which arrives with an accompanying video directed by Dan Shure. Check it out below.

“I moved to Australia and felt a million miles away from who I had been in New York. Like I had been reborn happy, carefree, and slightly less pale,” the band’s Eva Hendricks explained in a statement. “I was convinced that I had totally bypassed the ‘wherever you go, there you are’ thing. Lexapro also helped. I think this song is a farewell to how sad and tortured I felt during the Young Enough album cycle. It’s like the ‘fuck it!’ that you earn after burning your entire life down and starting over. Sam sent me the track and it felt exactly as joyous and silly and giddy as I felt inside. It came together quickly and set the tone for a new CB era.”

Charly Bliss’ most recent album, Young Enough, was released in 2019. The following year, they teamed up with PUP for the holiday single ‘It’s Christmas and I Fucking Miss You’.

Claud Releases New Song ‘It’s Not About You’

Konstantinos Pappis
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Claud Releases New Song ‘It’s Not About You’

Claud has shared ‘It’s Not About You’, the fourth single to be taken from their sophomore album Supermodels – out July 14 via Saddest Factory Records. It follows previous offerings ‘Every Fucking Time’, ‘Crumbs’, and ‘Wet’. Listen to it below.

“‘It’s Not About You’ is a song I wrote about people taking the things you’re going through personally,” Claud explained in a statement. “I experienced this heavily when I was first coming out and receiving reactions that solely centered on the other person focusing on how my identity was going to affect their life. It’s frustrating and isolating, so this song goes out to those who are experiencing backlash at times when they really need support.”

Girlpool’s Harmony Announces Debut Solo EP, Shares Video for New Song

Konstantinos Pappis
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Girlpool’s Harmony Announces Debut Solo EP, Shares Video for New Song

Harmony, formerly one half of Girlpool, has announced her debut solo EP. Dystopia Girl will be out August 25 via Fantasy Corp. Along with the announcement, Harmony has shared the lead single ‘Good Things Take Time’, which comes with a video from director Morgan Maher. The track was produced by Wyatt Bernard, 100 gecs’ Dylan Brady, Francis Brady, and Micah Jasper. Check it out below.

Speaking about the new song, Harmony said in a press release:

‘Good Things Take Time’ is a song that came to me in a dream January 12, 2022. It’s pretty ironic because I feel like throughout my life I have been a somewhat impatient person. In the dream I was playing a Girlpool show and people were asking me to play ‘Good Things Take Time.’ I felt awkward because I knew it wasn’t a Girlpool song. In the dream I began to gently play it on guitar and sing to it. I woke up with the melody in my head and texted my parents asking if it was a Sheryl Crow song cause I felt like with the chuggy guitar chord changes it kinda had her vibe (although lost in its current form.) They both responded that they had never heard that melody before and didn’t think it was from anywhere— it felt so crystal clear to me that I felt like it had to have come from somewhere else.

Within thirty minutes of them texting me back, I had written the entire song. Only a week and a half before writing it had I met my now long-term boyfriend, and this song had so much certainty in our relationship without me even knowing him. It’s the first really uplifted song I’ve written and felt like something that was coming from a place of higher understanding and acceptance for things. It’s also been funny as it’s the first song to roll out on this project; the mantra of it being the first song has been teaching me patience, as whenever I have felt like I need to put music out today, immediately!, etc (classic me), the song reminds me to find solace in the pause and know that things are happening in the time they are meant to.

Girlpool announced their breakup in August 2022. Their last album, Forgiveness, arrived earlier that year.

Dystopia Girl EP Tracklist:

1. Angel Kisses
2. Good Things Take Time
3. Shoplifting From Nike
4. I Am So Lucky And Nothing Can Stop Me
5. Dystopia Girl

8 Quirky Budget-Friendly Watches to Consider

Abbie Wilson
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8 Quirky Budget-Friendly Watches to Consider

The watch world loves individualism. Expressing style and beliefs through design is a key component that comes into play when buying a watch no matter if you’re buying a Patek Phillipe or a god-tier Casio. In this article, we’ve selected eight quirky and untraditional watches that are worth considering to buy.

Swatch Flower Hour

Swatch’s Flower Hour is a radiant ode to flower power with a ’60s-inspired flair. This watch blooms life with its solid light-grey bioceramic case, bio-sourced glass, and a light-grey silicone strap adorned with a charming pink flower print.

Powered by a quartz movement and boasting a water resistance of 3 bars, it combines style and reliability for essential lifestyle use.

Skagen Grenen Solar Halo

Another budget-friendly option that is fun in design is the Grenen Solar Halo watch by Danish company Skagen which established itself in 1989, embracing Scandinavian minimalism. The watch runs on a solar-powered disc with a power reserve of 6 months from a full charge and is held by a stainless steel bracelet. The dial is the central piece that makes this a merriment watch, with its green, red, and blue colour pallet reminding us of a retro era.

Mr Jones A Perfectly Useless Afternoon

With more of a wacky than practical look on the list, we have A Perfectly Useless Afternoon by Mr Jones Watches. The piece is a terrific conversation starter and can be an entertaining addition to a more weighty watch collection that embraces unique dials over movements.

Diesel Solar Red

While not primarily a watch brand, Diesel, among other fashion brands, is known for producing watches that suit the general public. The Solar Red by Diesel is no exception, with its striking red colour, that is certainly different to typical daily watches. The watch carries a quartz movement and is made from castor oil which is also common in Fossil watches.

Swatch Hollywood Africans by JM Basquiat

Hollywood Africans by JM Basquiat certainly presents a unique reproduction of the renowned artist’s work. The distinctive design showcases Basquiat’s “Hollywood Africans” painting, seamlessly printed across the watch’s dial, case, and strap. Incorporating crossed-out words and faces from the artwork creates a captivating visual contrast on the front. In contrast, the vibrant turquoise back and printed loop proudly display the artist’s name. With a price tag of £91, it offers an opportunity to own a piece of iconic art on your wrist.

Swatch Proudly Yellow

This delightful timepiece by Swatch boasts a yellow-print dial and features bio-sourced glass and a bio-sourced case, demonstrating Swatch’s commitment to sustainability — once again. With its striking yellow hue, this watch is a lot of fun and costs a reasonable £73.

Bulova & D-Cave Computron

Computron D-Cave fuses the iconic and nostalgic Bulova Computron timepiece with all the elements of the gamer lifestyle. The unique LED display displays hours, minutes, seconds, months, dates, and days. For avid gamers and Bulova-fanatics alike, this timepiece features luminous green accents, an automatic calendar up to 2099, and a silicone strap that makes it a worthwhile purchase.

Mr Jones The Accurate

The Accurate, also sometimes named “Remember You Will Die”, is one of the most favoured watches by Mr Jones. The piece is simplistic but memorable as the hour hand reads “remember,” and the minute hand reads “you will die.” Truthful, deeply meaningful, and indeed a little funny, this watch is my personal favourite from the list.

The Best Beauty Apps And Virtual Try-On Makeover Tools

Our Culture Mag & Partners
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The Best Beauty Apps And Virtual Try-On Makeover Tools

The world of beauty is a captivating realm, where colors, brushes, and a touch of sparkle hold the power to elevate us into our most glamorous and confident selves. However, the quest for the perfect look can sometimes resemble searching for a needle in a haystack. We have all experienced those moments of standing before the mirror, armed with a multitude of products, hoping that this time, just maybe, we will achieve flawless winged eyeliner or master the art of the perfect contour.

Fortunately, we have been blessed by the beauty gods with a modern marvel that fills our makeup-loving hearts with joy: beauty apps, virtual try-on makeover tools, and the magic of AI makeup. These digital wonders allow us to experiment, play, and unleash our inner makeup artists without ever needing to reach for a makeup wipe. They are akin to magical genies, granting our beauty wishes and unveiling a world brimming with boundless possibilities and transformations. So, take a moment to relax, inhale deeply, and prepare to embark on an exhilarating voyage through the realm of beauty apps and virtual try-on makeover tools. Brace yourself for a whole new level of beauty that will undoubtedly leave you in awe.

Banuba’s TINT

Banuba’s TINT stands as an awe-inspiring web-based virtual makeover software, capable of revolutionizing your beauty experience like never before.

At the core of TINT’s marvel lies its patented face tracking technology, an embodiment of sheer magic. Boasting an astonishing 3.308 vertices, this state-of-the-art technology ensures unparalleled precision in tracking your facial movements, bidding farewell to any wonky or misaligned virtual makeup applications. TINT’s face tracking technology elevates accuracy to unprecedented heights, guaranteeing that each stroke of virtual makeup seamlessly aligns with your distinctive features.

Remarkably, TINT goes beyond the ordinary by championing inclusivity. This virtual makeup try-on solution showcases authentic-looking products designed to embrace all skin colors. Irrespective of your complexion, TINT ensures that you can experiment with makeup products that genuinely represent and accentuate your natural beauty. Moreover, it presents an extensive array of digitized products, an ever-expanding collection exceeding 22,000 options. With such an immense selection at your disposal, the realm of creativity and self-expression becomes boundless.

YouCam Perfect

Imagine the sheer convenience of having a personal stylist readily available at your fingertips, capable of conjuring your dream looks with a touch of enchantment. This remarkable experience is precisely what YouCam delivers. Harnessing the power of augmented reality, this extraordinary app breathes life into the virtual makeover realm. From flawlessly applied foundation to captivating eye makeup, YouCam stands as your steadfast companion throughout your beauty journey.

But that’s not where the magic ends. YouCam presents an extensive library of makeup products, shades, and styles, beckoning you to immerse yourself in the world of boundless creativity. Whether you seek a natural everyday look or aspire to embrace bold and glamorous transformations, YouCam caters to every mood and occasion. Longing to don a fiery red lip or explore the allure of shimmering blue eyeshadow? With YouCam, your desires know no limits. So, venture forth, embrace your adventurous spirit, and unleash the inner makeup artist that resides within you.

Mary Kay Mirror Me

Step into the captivating digital wonderland of Mary Kay, where the ordinary mirror is magically transformed into a portal that leads to a world brimming with infinite makeup possibilities. With the remarkable Mirror Me app, a mere mortal can effortlessly evolve into a resplendent beauty queen with just a gentle tap of a finger. It’s as though you carry a benevolent fairy godmother in your pocket, granting you the extraordinary power to craft mesmerizing makeup looks with a sprinkle of enchanting pixie dust.

Whether you are a curious makeup novice seeking expert guidance or a seasoned beauty enthusiast yearning for a touch of digital sorcery, the Mirror Me app stands as your coveted golden ticket to a realm of breathtaking transformation. Prepare to unleash the depths of your inner beauty queen, allowing your creativity to ignite and flourish as the magic of the Mirror Me app unfolds before your eyes. Always remember, in the enchanting realm of Mary Kay, each and every face is an exquisite canvas eagerly awaiting adornment with colors that effortlessly reflect the captivating beauty that resides within.

Sephora Virtual Artist

Immerse yourself in the captivating world of Sephora Virtual Artist, where the entire Sephora store materializes at your fingertips. With just a few taps, a vast universe of beauty products unfolds before your eyes. From foundations that effortlessly match your unique skin tone to lipsticks that adorn your pout in captivating hues, the app unveils a realm of endless possibilities.

But the app offers more than just makeup try-ons; it is a gateway to unlocking your true beauty potential. Immerse yourself in tutorials, gain valuable tips, and receive personalized recommendations that navigate you through the intricate labyrinth of beauty trends and techniques. Unveil the art of contouring, unlock the secrets to achieving a flawless base, and learn the coveted tricks that bring forth a radiant glow. Consider the Sephora Virtual Artist app your very own digital beauty academy, ready to elevate your skills and inspire the makeup artist within you.

Revieve

Revieve‘s cutting-edge AR virtual try-on technology introduces a new era of excitement, allowing you to indulge in the thrill of trying on makeup before making a purchase. Bid farewell to uncertainties surrounding how a specific shade of lipstick or eyeshadow will appear on you. With just a few clicks, you can immerse yourself in a virtual realm where individual makeup products come to life or partake in a complete virtual makeover experience. It’s akin to having your own personal digital beauty counter, poised to fulfill your makeup fantasies.

However, what truly sets Revieve apart is its unwavering commitment to delivering the most realistic end-results. Meticulous attention to detail is at the core of Revieve’s philosophy, ensuring that the virtual application of makeup accurately mirrors real-life outcomes. By meticulously considering shadows, mid-tones, and highlights through a three-step process, Revieve achieves the pinnacle of emulation across all devices, setting a new standard of authenticity in the virtual beauty realm.

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