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Albums Out Today: Half Waif, The Goon Sax, Vince Staples, The Wallflowers

In this segment, we showcase the most notable albums out each week. Here are the albums out on July 9, 2021:


Half Waif, Mythopoetics

Half Waif, the project of Hudson Valley, NY-based artist Nandi Rose, has released her fifth album, Mythopoetics, via ANTI-. The follow-up to 2020’s The Caretaker was preceded by a series of singles, including ‘Horse Racing’, ‘Swimmer’, ‘Take Away the Ache’, ‘Orange Blossoms’, ‘Party’s Over’, and ‘Sodium & Cigarettes’. For the 12-track LP, Rose once again collaborated with multi-instrumentalist, film composer, and producer Zubin Hensler. “This is the record I’ve been trying to make for 10 years,” she said in a statement. “My voice is changing, and my confidence has reached a point where I feel that I can sing however I want; I’ve finally come to a place where I don’t have to conform to what I think other people want it to sound like.”


The Goon Sax, Mirror II

The Goon Sax – the Brisbane trio of Riley Jones, Louis Forster, and James Harrison – have dropped their third album and first for Matador, Mirror II. Recorded with longtime PJ Harvey producer John Parish at Geoff Barrow’s Invada Studios in Bristol, the album features the previously unveiled singles ‘Desire’, ‘Psychic’, and ‘In the Stone’. “The first two albums are inherently linked,” Forster said in a press release. “They had three-word titles; they went together. This one definitely felt like going back to square one and starting again, and that was really freeing.”


Vince Staples, Vince Staples

Vince Staples is back with a self-titled record, the rapper’s first full-length since 2018’s FM!. Out now via Blacksmith Recordings/Motown Records, the project was produced by Kenny Beats and was led by the singles ‘Law of Averages’ and ‘Are You With That’. In press materials, Staples said the new 10-track LP “really gives much more information about me that wasn’t out there before. That’s why I went with that title. I feel like I’ve been trying to tell the same story. As you go on in life, your point of view changes. This is another take on myself that I might not have had before.” He added: “I’m a mind more than I am an entertainer to a lot of people. I appreciate that my fanbase is willing to go on this ride with me. I’m ready to diversify what we’re doing and see how we affect the world.”


The Wallflowers, Exit Wounds

The Wallflowers have returned with their first new album in nine years. Jakob Dylan and company’s latest LP, titled Exit Wounds and out now via New West, follows 2012’s Glad All Over and includes the previously released songs ‘Roots and Wings’ and ‘Maybe Your Heart’s Not in It Anymore’. The record was produced by Butch Walker, mixed by Chris Dugan, and features singer-songwriter Shelby Lynne on four tracks. “The Wallflowers have always been a vehicle for me to make great rock ‘n’ roll records,” Dylan said in a statement. “And sometimes the lineup that makes the record transfers over into touring, and sometimes it doesn’t. But my intention is always to make the Wallflowers record I want to make, using the musicians I have beside me. This was not the type of thing where it’s a rotating cast and you call a different drummer for each song, or you pull out the Rolodex and ring the local session guys. The record was made as a band – the five Wallflowers.”


Other albums out today:

Twin Shadow, Twin Shadow; Museum of Love, Life of Mammals; Charlotte Day Wilson, Alpha; Koreless, Agor.

How to Style Yourself for the Casino

Casinos have always been associated with style and, when depicted in the media, players are often dressed in their finest attire. Historically, gambling houses were places of opulence, where the upper classes went to mingle and enjoy some downtime. Over the years, casinos have opened up to a wider clientele, but notions about gambling fashion have remained. Here are a few ideas about how to style yourself for the casino.

Where are You Going to be Playing?

Before you think about how to dress, you should consider where you’re going to be playing. The majority of casino players are online in 2021, thanks to the incredible rise of online casinos. The reasons for this are numerous, but it has a lot to do with the availability of these sites. Now there are pages like this one that exist purely to tell players where the best sites are. When these aggregator sites come about, it’s indicative of a flourishing industry.

Of course, if you’re playing online, it doesn’t really matter what you choose to wear. If you want to get in the mood for the games and dress up, you certainly could do so. Indeed, the live dealers at online casinos are always wearing their best finery. If you want to head down to a land-based casino, you should definitely consider what you are going to wear beforehand.

A Chance to Dress to the Nines

Even non-gamblers enjoy a trip to the casino because it provides a chance to dress in extravagant threads. Some casinos have specific dress codes that players need to adhere to, so it is well worth checking this out before going anywhere. High-end places require men to dress in a suit or tuxedo, or at least a smart shirt with a sports jacket. Women normally wear evening dresses and floor-length gowns, but they can also go for suits if they wish to do so. In semi-formal gambling houses, you may also see women in cocktail dresses.

The Most Stylish Players

When choosing what to wear at a casino, many people look to Hollywood and some of the most famous casino-goers of all time. Both men and women can find inspiration from various James Bond films, where there tend to be casino scenes. In Casino Royale, for instance, Eva Green was sporting a purple halter backless evening dress, while Daniel Craig wore a charcoal grey Brioni suit. Other casino legends like Frank Sinatra can also provide some ideas about how to dress for the tables.

Different casinos have diverse rules when it comes to dress, and you should always attire yourself in line with the establishment. If you want to wear the most exquisite clothing imaginable, choose a high-end casino where this sort of dress is essential.

Planning a Big Event Soon? Here’s a List of Things You Might Have Missed

From weddings to graduation parties, bachelorette, birthdays, and anniversaries, special events and celebrations are part and parcel of life. Whether corporate or social, these events have one thing in common. The main idea is to make the day feel special to both the host and the guests while leaving a lasting memory of the special day.

When you have an upcoming event to plan or host, you will have a lot running through your mind. In this state, it is not unusual to skip some of the most essential details that your event depends on to achieve the intended goals and fulfill the purpose. This is why event planners will often start by creating a checklist at least a few weeks or months before the d-day depending on the size and type of the occasion. In case you are planning a big event soon, here is a list of things you might have missed.  

1. Reliable Music Entertainment 

To be honest, no event is ever complete without a good dose of music, play, and dance as part of the entertainment. The audience as well as the host or guest of honor will need to be entertained for the event to be lively and enjoyable. In most cases, this all boils down to the kind of music you choose for your event.

While playing a few mixtapes and recorded music from the DJ’s booth might do the trick, sometimes it gets boring and monotonous. In this case, a live band could be all you need to spruce things up. Depending on the guests you expect, you will rarely go wrong considering an orchestra. This means out to several jazz bands for hire so you can choose one that the crowd will best resonate with. Despite your event type, a popular jazz band can be a great way to add fun, energy, and enthusiasm to your big party.

2. Preparation for Overcrowded Sessions 

In any case, you should have someone on hand to talk to your visitors. The expected number of guests could be exceeded if your speaker is well-known or has an attractive topic to discuss. Most people fail to consider that the expected guests could exceed the projected numbers. It could be embarrassing if there are empty seats with no occupants, more so if some of your audiences are forced to stand throughout the event. This is why you must be prepared and have a contingency plan in place in case the figures go above your expectations.

3. Dietary Restrictions 

People have varied eating preferences in the world we live in. To some, they aren’t actually preferences, but rather limitations brought on by health issues. When you’re organizing an event, make sure to take this into consideration. Most people don’t do this since it’s impossible to predict how many people will take or prefer what’s on your menu. Also, you don’t want to have to make assumptions and come up with either too little or too much food for these people. Don’t put it off until the last minute. Don’t take a chance! It looks bad on you, makes guests feel unwelcome, and the worst part is that it will almost certainly result in complaints. Make a Google form and share the URL with all of your visitors so you know what to expect.

4. Device Charging Points 

We live in a technologically advanced society where most people can’t help but bring their phones, tablets, and even laptops wherever they go. While one may argue that power banks exist, we can all agree that people will need to recharge their devices at some point. Even if your event is super exciting, someone with a dead battery may not be able to fully appreciate the pleasure and excitement. This is why as you arrange your plans, you need to make sure there are charging stations available at various points. Also, make sure your visitors can find them easily. They must also be sufficient, as you do not want your guests to form lines and take turns using a single charging station. It can be really humiliating.

5. Readiness for Emergencies 

For the most part, an event is meant to be about having fun and meeting new people. Others refuse to plan for emergencies because they do not believe they will occur. However, you can’t predict the future, and it’s never a bad idea to be cautious. Multiple things can happen at a large event, and there may be multiple emergencies at the same time. For instance, someone may have health problems that are unrelated to the party. It would be such a shame if you never anticipated such issues and took the necessary precautions to confront them.

Planning a huge event can be an extremely tedious task. However, it gets easier if you have a comprehensive checklist to guide you. With the above few pointers in mind, you can ensure you don’t miss some of the most important things that make the event fun and enjoyable.

Album Review: The Go! Team, ‘Get Up Sequences Part One’

The Go! Team has always had a knack for embracing 1970s and 1980s nostalgia without a hint of mockery or irony. It’s part of what has given their discography — including the highlights Thunder, Lightning, Strike and Rolling Blackouts — a particular kind of endurance. The latest album from the Ian Parton-headed project, Get Up Sequences Part One, is no different. These 10 songs, though at times more streamlined than most of their previous projects, never lack in enthusiasm. The opening track ‘Let the Seasons Work’ feels like an overture that hits on several of the band’s trademark musical devices — shiny horn lines, rolling percussion, laser-shooting electronic sounds. “Stay right here/ ‘Cause it’s coming/ ‘Round again,” Ninja declares as if she’s singing not only of the seasons but of the band itself.

And around again they’ve come. ‘A Memo for Maceo’, despite starting with a winding rush of noise, quickly pivots into a sunny urgent instrumental featuring grooving rhythms and Parton’s playful harmonica. The single ‘Pow’ turns to another time-tested formula: Ninja rapping verses over a catchy hook that are broken up by hard-hitting drumlines. ‘A Bee Without Its Sting’, which features Detroit vocalist Jessie Miller, is among the album’s brightest songs despite its exploration of the darker dynamics of power (“We’ll keep trying to take it away/ After all, it’s all wе can do”).

The album also contains more sparse and straightforward moments. ‘Cookie Scene’ relies on little more than a bouncing recorder melody and some percussion. Though a fun song — one that listeners could imagine playing hopscotch to — it sounds like a stripped-down version of ‘A Bee Without Its Sting’ (the song still succeeds thanks to Indigo Yaj’s unyielding delivery). Instrumental ‘Tame the Great Plains’, despite its rallying horn lines, never evolves across its three-minute runtime: it’s a song that could be trimmed a minute and be just as effective. That it’s also the album’s penultimate track makes its placement all the more puzzling.

Yet The Go! Team still throws in some twists throughout Get Up Sequences Part One. ‘Freedom Now’ is the most sonically experimental on the album; the song trades in hook-laden melodies for a whirlwind of percussion and teasing vocal samples. The band also doesn’t spare on its trademark blend of go-lucky aesthetics with lyrical depth or emotion. ‘We Do It But Never Know Why’ captures a fresh relationship at a crossroads: “Just let me know/ Say the word and we’ll never be lonely,” Ninja sings, her delivery free of pressure or sadness. The album ends with the thumping ‘World Remember Me Now’, a title that would be too on-the-nose if not for the existential weight of its lyrics. “Flip the calendar and pop the toast/ World remеmber me now,” Ninja sings alongside a parade of steel drums and brass lines that echo her melodies.

In the time between 2018’s Semicircle and this record, Parton suffered severe hearing loss and the loss of his father. These are significant and devastating events, which makes the arrival of Get Up Sequences Part One all the more special: at just over a half-hour, the album packs enough fun to make for an enjoyable listen. Six albums and counting, The Go! Team’s endurance has yet to falter.

Thurston Moore to Release New Memoir ‘Sonic Life’

Sonic Youth founder Thurston Moore is set to release a new memoir entitled Sonic Life. According to thepublishing industry site The Bookseller, the book will explore the “wild music and endless wonder” of Moore’s life and career and will come out in 2023 through Faber in the UK and Doubleday in the US.

A synopsis reads: “From his infatuation and engagement with the Seventies punk and ‘no wave’ scenes in New York City to the 1981 formation of his legendary rock group to 30 years of relentless recording, touring, and musical experimentation, birthing the Nirvana-era of alternative rock, and beyond, it is all told via the personal prism of the author’s intensive archives and research.”

Angel Olsen Announces New ‘Aisles’ EP, Shares Cover of Laura Branigan’s ‘Gloria’

Angel Olsen has announced a new EP of ’80s covers called Aisles. The project, which is out August 20, features her takes on songs by Laura Branigan, Billy Idol, Men Without Hats, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, and Alphaville. Check out Olsen’s cover of Branigan’s ‘Gloria’ below, and find the EP’s cover artwork and tracklist.

The Aisles EP was recorded in the winter of 2020 with co-producer and engineer Adam McDaniel at Drop of Sun Studios in Ashville. “I told Adam I had an idea to record some covers and bring some of the band into the mix, or add other players,” Olsen said in a press release. “I needed to laugh and have fun and be a little less serious about the recording process in general. I thought about completely changing some of the songs and turning them inside out. I’d come over to find Adam had set up 5 or so synthesisers, and we’d get lost on a part for a while messing with some obscure pedal I knew nothing about. We’d spend a good amount of time going through sounds before finding one or two, sometimes we’d get real weird and decide to just go with it.”

Speaking about her decision to cover ‘Gloria’, she added: “I’d heard ‘Gloria’ for the first time at a family Christmas gathering and was amazed at all the aunts who got up to dance. I imagined them all dancing and laughing in slow motion, and that’s when I got the idea to slow the entire song down and try it out in this way.”

Aisles will be released via Olsen’s new Jagjaguwar imprint somethingscosmic. “I’m very excited to be introducing somethingscosmic, an imprint that will serve as the home for all my covers, collaborations, and one off singles,” said Olsen. “In this time away from touring I have been inspired to create more, and somethingscosmic will give the me flexibility to release when and how I want to with the help from my longtime partners at Jagjaguwar. The hope is that it will become a place for all of my creative endeavors, music and otherwise.”

This past spring, Olsen released the Song of the Lark and Other Far Memories box set. More recently, she joined forces with Sharon Van Etten for the song ‘Like I Used To’.

Aisles EP Cover Artwork:

Aisles EP Tracklist:

1. Gloria (Laura Branigan Cover)
2. Eyes Without A Face (Billy Idol Cover)
3. Safety Dance (Men Without Hats Cover)
4. If You Leave (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Cover)
5. Forever Young (Alphaville Cover)

Halsey Reveals Release Date and Cover Artwork for Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross-Produced Album

After announcing that her fourth album would be produced by Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, Halsey has now revealed the project’s release date and cover artwork. If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power arrives August 27 via Capitol Records. Check out the album artwork, which was unveiled in a video shot at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, below.

“This album is a concept album about the joys and horrors of pregnancy and childbirth,” Halsey explained on Instagram. “It was very important to me that the cover art conveyed the sentiment of my journey over the past few months. The dichotomy of the Madonna and the Whore. The idea that me as a sexual being and my body as a vessel and gift to my child are two concepts that can co-exist peacefully and powerfully. My body has belonged to the world in many different ways the past few years, and this image is my means of reclaiming my autonomy and establishing my pride and strength as a life force for my human being.”

She added: “This cover image celebrates pregnant and postpartum bodies as something beautiful, to be admired. We have a long way to go with eradicating the social stigma around bodies & breastfeeding. I hope this can be a step in the right direction!”

 

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Self Esteem Announces New Album ‘Prioritise Pleasure’, Unveils Title Track

Self Esteem – aka Rebecca Taylor – has announced her second album, Prioritise Pleasure. The follow-up to her 2019 debut Compliments Please will be released on October 22 via Fiction Records. Today, Self Esteem has shared the album’s title track, alongside a self-directed video. Check it out below and scroll down for the LP’s cover artwork and tracklist.

“The song is a wide screen mantra, remembering to put myself first and in turn making myself a better, more present person,” Taylor explained in a press release. “My journey to accept myself is far from over, but over the last few years some of the age old simple shit has started to finally kick in. Love yourself, be in the moment, put your needs first – that all used to feel so abstract and impossible but with a bit of will power (and writing a tonne of songs about it), I finally not only see the benefits but am actively enjoying them.”

Taylor added: “The video is of course a homage to Madonna’s blonde ambition tour and also a testament to how hard work pays off. Me and the girls in the band did lots of zoom rehearsals and us nailing this choreo was a really triumphant moment for us, and choreographer Stuart Rogers who never doubts we’ll get there.”

Taylor describes Prioritise Pleasure as “13 songs of cleansing myself of the guilt and fear of being a woman who is ‘too much’ and replacing that very notion with a celebration of myself, of you, of being a human and the way that isn’t always easy or perfect, and that’s ok. Sorry to my parents for the lyric “shave my pussy, that’s just for me” but i think it’s maybe my finest hour!”

Prioritise Pleasure Cover Artwork:

Prioritise Pleasure Tracklist:

1. I’m Fine
2. Fucking Wizardry
3. Hobbies 2
4. Prioritise Pleasure
5. I Do This All The Time
6. Moody
7. Still Reigning
8. How Can I Help You
9. It’s Been A While
10. The 345
11. John Elton
12. You Forever
13. Just Kids

The Goon Sax Share Video for New Single ‘Desire’

The Goon Sax have shared a new single from their upcoming album Mirror II ahead of its release tomorrow (July 9). Written by drummer Riley Jones, ‘Desire’ arrives with an accompanying music video directed by Eddie Whelan. Check it out below.

Jones said of the new track in a statement:

When I wrote ‘Desire’, I lived with James and Louis in a share house in Paddington, Brisbane called Fantasy Planet. Technically, it was written out like “$  a Planet”, it was my friend Tim Green’s reference to the psychoanalytic theory of Jacques Lacan. In my basic understanding of the way Lacan theorised fantasy, desire is founded upon a lack. The diamond () represents all the ways we relate to a lost object: everything above, below, around, more than, less than, with, without, in spite of, and because of it. The cause of our desire is a gap that we are always trying to fill, even while it constantly evades us.

Desire is complex. Unconscious attachments hang on invisible threads. Fantasies and daydreams emerge, dangerous hallucinations cause reckless actions, mis-remembrance causes total distortion. I think that’s why we have to resort to symbols to express it. This song is my symbol (). I wanted it to feel as expansive as a Les Rallizes Dénudés song – to reverberate beneath waters that flood all the crevices of the earth, to leave no gap unfilled and I wanted it to be as universal as one of those crushing Elvis songs – so poignant that its sentiment seems to ring out forever, just like Desire.

‘Desire’ follows previous singles ‘In the Stone’ and ‘Psychic’, both of which landed on our Best New Songs segment.

Watch the Trailer for ‘Woodstock ‘99: Peace, Love, and Rage’

HBO has unveiled the trailer for Woodstock ‘99: Peace, Love, and Rage, an upcoming documentary about the infamous three-day music festival. The film, directed by Garret Price and executive-produced by The Ringer’s Bill Simmons, is part of the network’s Music Box documentary series, which includes films about Alanis Morissette, DMX, Kenny G, and Juice WRLD. Watch the trailer below.

Woodstock ‘99: Peace, Love, and Rage features interviews with Woodstock organizers Michael Lang and John Scher as well as musicians including Moby, The Roots’ Black Thought, Korn’s Jonathan Davis, the Offspring, and Creed’s Scott Stapp. Music journalist Steven Hyden, whose Woodstock ‘99 podcast Break Stuff: The Story of Woodstock ’99 debuted on Simmons’ Ringer podcast network two years ago, is the consulting producer on documentary and a talking head in the trailer.

Woodstock ‘99: Peace, Love, and Rage premieres July 23 on HBO and HBO Max.