INDISPENSABLE NEW MUSIC PICKS
September 2024
Kristine England
September 30, 2024 at 4:00:00 PM
Bones UK
Soft
When I heard the featured track, I was excited about the dynamism on display, with foreboding guitars and intriguing vocals. After a 5-year wait for the follow-up to the group’s eponymous debut, many critics were excited to hear what they’d been up to. Tinnitus was so excited, it named Soft as its album of the week: “The unapologetically rebellious duo return with a visceral, anthemic take on their future-rock mélange of swaggering guitars, gritty electronics.”
FEATURED TRACK: “Bikinis”
Tony Levin
Bringing It Down to the Bass
Tony Levin is my favorite rock bassist. He’s just so cool. Now that King Crimson has said its farewells, Levin has claimed center stage with this solo album. There are too many musical luminaries to mention here, but Robert Fripp is definitely one of them. Levin is also currently a member of Beat, featuring ex-Crimson members like Fripp and Adrian Belew along with Steve Vai and drummer Danny Carey.
FEATURED TRACK: “Bringing It Down to the Bass”
The Calamatix
The Calamatix
The Calamatix brings a contemporary sensibility to its ska and reggae sound, with a powerful pop flair from vocalist Raylin Joy. Sunny and breezy, it’s not surprising this band is from southern California. The music is perfect to listen to when you’re off to the beach.
FEATURED TRACK: “Love, Lies and Alibis”
Being Dead
EELS
Austin duo Being Dead is quirky and fun, evoking a twisted unholy union of the Mamas and the Papas and the B52s, or maybe X. Great vocals, harmonies, and jangling guitars abound. The members are Shmoofy (formerly Gumball) and Falcon Bitch (these names should give the listener a rather large clue about their disposition). EELS is their second album, with a paean to Godzilla, fuzzy tunes about cowboys, and other songs about ballerinas, dragons, and cows.
FEATURED TRACK: “Goodnight”
Tindersticks
Soft Tissue
Tindersticks have been around the block a few times. Formed in Nottingham, UK in 1991, the band seemed on the verge of breakout success after its first two albums in the mid 90s, but keeping true to themselves relegated the band to cult status instead. Steady perseverance has kept the group alive through long breaks and personnel changes, and their 14th album has some glorious 70s soul, Latin and experimental touches that make for great listening.
FEATURED TRACK: “New World”