Phoenix stopped by Jimmy Kimmel Live last night (October 5) to perform ‘Alpha Zulu’, the title track off their upcoming album. Check it out below.
Alpha Zulu is due for release on November 4 via Loyaute/Glassnote Records. Phoenix recently previewed the LP with the Ezra Koenig-featuring ‘Tonight’, which they performed on Colbert last month.
Chicago artist and poet Jamila Woods is back with a new song, ‘Boundaries’. Marking her first new music since 2020’s ‘SULA (Paperback)’, the track was recorded at Complex Studios in LA and produced by BLVK. Listen to it below.
“‘Boundaries’ is a song about the negotiation between private and shared space in a new relationship, the risk involved in letting someone get close enough to see your rough edges,” Woods explained in a press statement. “I think a lot about the Prentice Hemphill quote, ‘Boundaries are the distance at which I can love you and me simultaneously.’ The song is about learning the difference between erecting boundaries out of fear versus out of love.”
Although she didn’t release any solo music last year, Woods collaborated with oddCouple on the song ‘Reflections’ and joined Miloe and Vagabon on ‘Winona’. Her last album was 2019’s LEGACY! LEGACY!.
Lowertown have shared ‘No Way’, the final advance single from their upcoming debut album. It follows the earlier cuts ‘Bucktooth’ and ‘Antibiotics’. Give it a listen below.
“We wrote ‘No Way’ after our first time visiting LA together when we were 19,” the duo’s Olivia Osby explained in a statement. “We were staying in a remote AirBnB with no way to get around besides hyper inflated and unreliable Ubers. We didn’t know anyone in the city except a few surface level acquaintances. Avsha and I are both outwardly cynical and dark people so the positive, white, polished nature of the places, people and events we experienced in that time made our stomachs sour.”
She continued: “The culture shock from the slow paces, authentic style of living we knew in Atlanta to the primped, nuanced, and aggressive way people were in LA astounded me. It was a whole other way of talking, thinking, and breathing. I felt extreme disgust with how parasitic and superficial so many interactions were. Every conversation felt like a way to uncover information about who we were, who we knew, and what we had to offer. In the end I was so tired of all the pleasantries, the forced smiles and the obsession with status and appearances. LA is beautiful, I like the hills and the sunsets but most of what I experienced in those weeks made me want to hurl.”
Lowertown’s I Love to Lie is out October 21 on Dirty Hit. Check out our Artist Spotlight interview with Lowertown.
Richard Dawson has announced his new album, The Ruby Cord, which is due for release on November 18 via Weird World. The record’s opening track, the 40-minute epic ‘The Hermit’, will also be accompanied by a short film by director James Hankins. Watch a trailer for it below.
Dawson’s seventh studio album is billed as the final part of a trilogy that includes 2017’s Peasant and 2020, delving into “a (sort of) sci-fi world where human society has collapsed and morphed into something distinctly less solid,” according to a press release. “So many of us are moving into these fantasy worlds,” Dawson explained. “Whether it’s actual constructed virtual realities, computer worlds, or retreating into even more fantastical realms…. conspiracy theories, nationalism, amateur football punditry. People construct their own world because this one is so flawed.”
The Ruby Cord follows Dawson’s 2021 collaboration with Finnish metal outfit Circle, Henki.
The Ruby Cord Cover Artwork:
The Ruby Cord Tracklist:
1. The Hermit
2. Thicker Than Water
3. The Fool
4. Museum
5. The Tip of an Arrow
6. No-one
7. Horse and Rider
The Los Angeles-based band Militarie Gun have signed with Loma Vista Recordings, marking the news with the announcement of the deluxe edition of the All Roads Lead to the Gun EPs. Set for release on October 21, the deluxe edition will include the previously released EPs as well as four new tracks. One of those songs, ‘Let Me Be Normal’, is out today alongside a video directed by frontman Ian Shelton and animated by guitarist William Acuña. Check it out below.
All Roads Lead to the Gun (Deluxe) Cover Artwork:
All Roads Lead to the Gun (Deluxe) Tracklist:
1. Ain’t No Flowers
2. Don’t Pick Up The Phone
3. Fell On My Head
4. Stuck In A Spin
5. Big Disappointment
6. Disposable Plastic Trash
7. Background Kids
8. All Roads Lead To The Gun
9. Let Me Be Normal
10. Can’t Get None [feat. MSPAINT]
11. I Can’t Stand Busy People [feat. Woolworm]
12. Pull It Out [feat. Woolworm]
Clara Mann has announced her new EP Stay Open with the new single ‘Go Steady’. Check it out below.
“’Go Steady’ is about letting go of the past, and standing on your own two feet, firmly in the present,” Mann explained in a press release. “It’s also a thank-you song to everyone who’s shown me love, and kept an arm around me when I’ve needed it.” She continued:
I used to be scared of letting go of things- of people, of stories from other times in my life- because I thought it meant leaving parts of myself behind, too, but I’ve recently realised that I’m happiest when I’m just being present in the Now. The marks those times left on me remain, but I don’t have to carry the whole of my story with me all the time, it’s heavy and it slows me down.
After some very strange, dark times, Go Steady is a break in the clouds, and the closing of a chapter.
Stay Open, the follow-up to last year’s Consolations EP, arrives November 1 via 7476. It includes the previously released single ‘Thread’.
Guided by Voices have announced a new album, La La Land, which will be out on January 20. It marks their third studio LP of the year, following Crystal Nuns Cathedral and Tremblers and Goggles By Rank. Listen to the lead single ‘Instinct Dwelling’ below.
In a statement, Robert Pollard told Rolling Stone the new album “is somewhat of a companion piece to Tremblers and Goggles By Rank and continues to explore a path of diversity in styles and in longer, more adventurous song structures.”
On October 28, Guided by Voices are also putting out Scalping the Guru, an archival compilation collecting rare EPs and singles from the ’90s.
Fauness has shared a new track, ‘High’, the third preview of her forthcoming debut album The Golden Ass. It follows the already released singles ‘Hours’ and ‘Mystery’. Check out its Jourdan Dove-directed video below.
“Musically, ‘High’ is an homage to the music I love from the late 1970s, particularly the songs of Nicolette Larson, one of my favourites from that era,” the London-based musician explained in a statement. “But the spirit of the song is deeply personal. It speaks to the fact that my life so far has been all about journeys. Bus stops, train stations, even airports are comforting places to me where I strangely feel a sense of home. My entire sense of self was shaped as something that could easily fit into a suitcase. ‘High’ captures the essence of one of these journeys, only this time with no particular destination. The song is meaningful to me because it describes the joys of aimlessness, of possibility, and the feeling of quiet self-containment that comes with always being on the move.”
The Golden Ass is out October 28 via Cascine.
Abraxas – the project of Carolina Faruolo (ex-Los Bitchos) and Danny Lee Blackwell (Night Beats) – have released a new single, ‘Göbekli Tepe’. It’s taken from their debut album, Monte Carlo, which is set to drop on October 28 via Suicide Squeeze. They’ve already previewed the LP with the songs ‘Sunrise State (Of Mind)’ and ‘Mañana’. Listen to ‘Göbekli Tepe’ below.
“A dense, electricity filled fog hovers over the grounds of ‘Göbekli Tepe’,” the band said in a statement. “A dark samba emerges, drifting through the vines covered monolithic halls; while in rhythm with the sleeping jaguars and chirping cicadas. The beckoning choruses lull our traveler into a bossa nova induced trance, while the hand rhythms keep the pulse of the jungle.”
With so many exciting players coming every year and the change of popular styles, the left-back position has never been more exciting in the game of football. In this list of the best young left-back wonderkids, we look at some of the most promising football talents in FIFA 23 and why you should add them to your dream team.
Alphonso Davies is no stranger to FIFA fanatics. In fact, he is so good that he ends up in pretty much every dream team that’s building for now and the future. As a footballer, Davies has established himself as arguably already the best in the world in his position. All of this at the young age of 21. With over 87 appearances for Bayern Munich and 34 appearances for Canada’s national team, Davies is no joke and certainly a wonderkid.
In terms of the game, Davies is definitely respected by the EA Gods, being rated an excellent 84 overall rating with a positive potential of 89. Though a 90-plus rating could be argued for Davies, 89 is undoubtedly a world-class level. Davies is perfect for fast-paced formations and those in need of a pressing player. If you’re playing 4-4-3 with a constant pressure system that relies on a quick counter-attack, then Davies is the player for your side. Davies has a market value of €60.5 million which will naturally rise with his progression.
Though not primarily a left-back, Gvardiol can be played and switched from CB to LB, making him adaptable — perfect for the new generation of Croatia’s up-and-coming talent when players like the legendary Modric make way. As a pro, he made his debut for RB Leipzig back in 2020, making 37 appearances and scoring two goals. During that time, Gvardiol was also on loan to his former team Dinamo Zagreb. For the national team, Gvardiol made 12 appearances with one goal over the tiny San Marino in their 10-0 win (their biggest ever win).
Before we get into stats, Gvardiol has finally got a face scan in the game, making him even more attractive for serious career players. In FIFA 23, he is rated a solid 81 and can quickly rise to an 89-rated player. With the age of 20, he certainly doesn’t lack aggression and defensive stats in the game and can come up for corners with 77-heading accuracy. Speed-wise he can run quite fast with an 80 acceleration and 84 sprint speed. As an established player in the game, Gvardiol has a market value of €53 million which will rise as he gets better. We should also mention he is only 20, making him a long-term solution for the top Premier League, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1 sides.
Saseta is another exciting player that can be adapted from LM to LB, depending on your formation and tactics. With a quite well-rounded stat pallet, Saseta has established himself as a solid player in the English Premier League, having played 35 games for Brighton back in the 2021-22 season. As of 2022, Saseta has played six games for his new side Chelsea. Internationally, Saseta is yet to be fully established, having only played one game as a 24-year-old for the Spanish side.
When it comes to playing with Saseta, a pressing game works well with him as he has a high working rate defensively and offensively. Potential-wise Saseta reaches a solid 85 with an initial overall rating of 81. Transfer value of Saseta is a respectable €34.5 million. He also has a face scan and has a release clause of €66.4 million; if you don’t want to negotiate and simply sign him from the get-go.
PSG’s Nuno Mendes has become a big talking point since joining PSG in 2021 on loan. With over 35 appearances for the French side and 16 appearances for the Portugal national team, he certainly has what it takes to become a world-class player.
There is no doubt that pace is the key element that makes Mendes tick. Like Davies, he is exciting on that front, though arguably not as well cemented within the football globe. Offensively, he isn’t as exciting as some of his counterparts but certainly has a substantial defensive stat line that grows with his progression in the game. Mendes starts with an overall rating of 80, which would make him good enough even for some of the top sides in the Prem or Champions League regulars (Unsurprisingly, he plays for PSG). Mendes really becomes more exciting when you realise his potential is an astounding 88, which is one below Davies, making it a harder choice between the two as Mendes’s initial market value is much lower at €44 million.
Let’s step away from the expensive lot and find something for those battling promotions to the top leagues or those simply wanting a player that can become their regular in the next few seasons. This is where the German Luca Netz steps in. The Berlin-born 19-year-old is no joke and has already made appearances for the Germany U17 and U21 sides. Club-wise, Netz currently plays for Borussia Mönchengladbach, who finished 10th in the Bundesliga last season (indeed not the best season for them). He has only made five appearances for the first team, which he joined from the second team, where he played one game and scored one goal.
With an overall rating of 73, Netz doesn’t seem as exciting as Davies or Mendes. The overall stats suggest a mid-table team placement in any of the top 5 leagues of the world. Yet, he can certainly grow into a beast with a huge potential jump of 85. Netz is most exciting because of his potential and the fact that his market value is only…€7 million. Also, he has a real face scan.
Another relatively underrated and the last piece to our guide to the best young left-backs in FIFA 23 is Aaron Hickey, the Brentford left-back. Brentford is known to have signed some truly underappreciated players that fit well within their mould, and Hickey is undoubtedly one of them. The Scottish international, who has already made seven appearances for his country, has already played throughout Europe at the age of 20. Hickey made his debut for the Scottish side Hearts in 2019, scoring one goal and appearing 24 times. In 2020, he signed for the Italian Seria A side Bologna for £1.5 million and made a respectable 47 appearances. In 2022, he made his latest move to the Premier League side Brentford which is currently managed by the Danish theatrical manager Thomas Frank.
In terms of FIFA 23, Hickey is certainly promising with a great potential of 85. With players like Kieran Tierney competing for the same spot, it certainly makes the Scottish national team an exciting prospect in the next few years. Though it should be mentioned either of them can switch to RB. Hickey’s overall rating is a little low if you’re looking for a straightaway starter for a top side like Liverpool, Real Madrid, or even Manchester United. Sadly, he only starts at the rating of 75. But this also means Hickey is valued at a relatively cheap transfer value of €12 million with a wage bill of €28K. In terms of downfalls, Hickey does not have a real face in the game yet.
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