In this edition of What We’re Listening To, Engadget’s writers and editors discuss the latest music releases we’ve had on repeat. It’s no exaggeration to say that there’s a lot of variety on this list.
Sierra Ferrell – flower path
Sierra Ferrell seems almost anachronistic in 2024, but in the best way possible. She has an easy, old-time country style reminiscent of the likes of The Carter Family or Flatt and Scruggs. (Her gorgeous cover performed by the latter duo is permanently imprinted in my brain), it really is. It’s refreshing. flower pathFerrell’s second studio album, moves a little closer to a more contemporary sound, but still maintains a deep American feel that seems to flow so naturally from the West Virginia-born artist.
Country music isn’t just one thing, it’s neither one nor the other. flower path. It meanders through a variety of flavors – folk, bluegrass, hints of jazz – but it’s all managed in a way that feels cohesive when put together. The wistful “American Dreaming” and “Wish You Well” are offset by funnier, quirkier numbers like “I Could Drive You Crazy” or a deep cover of “Chitlin’ Cookin’ Time in Cheatham County.” Tracks like “Money Train,” “I’ll Come Off the Mountain,” and “Lighthouse” are instantly catchy. “Why Haven’t You Loved Me Yet” and “No Letter” feel like classics in the making.
And then there is “Rosemary,” the lament of a shameless, wicked, and scorned lover. This is one of the songs that first got me hooked on Sierra Ferrell years ago. I think this is the case for many fans who have followed Ferrell’s career since his busking days or since his unforgettable GemsOnVHS performance. I was almost nervous when I heard that. flower path, in full production, has been playing on YouTube for a long time after loving the raw, simplified recording. But they did a beautiful job of capturing that magic, and “Rosemary” is probably my favorite track on the album. But it’s difficult to choose.
Castle Rat – into the realm
One day early last year, I discovered something I didn’t realize was missing from my life. It was medieval fantasy doom metal. I went to a show by the glorious Brooklyn Made and was watching the opener before the band I had gone to see, when I unexpectedly witnessed a choreographed sword fight on stage (well, it involved a scythe). A woman in chain mail and someone in a hooded rat mask and lingerie. I was already in love with the band’s heavy, immersive riffs and the singer’s hypnotic 1970s-esque vocals, but at that moment, yes, everything really clicked. This was my introduction to Castle Rat and it was a really good introduction.
I’ve been eagerly awaiting the release of their debut album ever since, and their second album, LP, released last month. into the realm — I’ve been playing it on a loop almost non-stop. If you check how many times you’ve listened to this album’s representative ballad song ‘Cry For Me’, you’ll actually feel embarrassed. It’s a haunting, emotional song that really takes you on a journey and I’m a bit obsessed with it. into the realm Starting off strong with “Dagger Dragger”, there are some real heavy hitters that follow with tracks like “Feed the Dream”, “Fresh Fur”, and “Nightblood”. “Red Sands” is a slow-developing powerhouse, and I even found myself liking the minute-long instrumental interlude that ties the entire album together.
Doom bands love a good theme (as do I), and weed, magic, sci-fi, and fantasy tend to feature a lot across the subgenres that fall into this category. Castle Rat certainly isn’t the first to irritate, but there’s a certain freshness to the band’s much more specific and self-descriptive parts. medieval Fantasy brands are probably because they try so hard. Their 70s and 80s influences are clear, but everything they’ve put out so far still feels original. Some people may think all of this is gimmicky, but I think it works. Especially since they have the capacity to back it up. I’m excited to see where Castle Rat goes from here.
standing statue:
faceless girl, Allie X— Another song I’ve been listening to to the point of embarrassment these days is strange worldFrom Allie X’s latest album, faceless girl. I’m not exhausted yet, and it makes me completely wild. faceless girl It’s full of synth-pop gems like “John and Johnathan,” “Black Eye” and “Staying Power,” a danceable, angsty anthem that’s sure to resonate with anyone who’s experienced body image dysphoria. ”
club Shy, Shy Girl — This is just a collection of people rambling. It’s less than 16 minutes, but it’s really touching. If you need an instant pick-me-up before a night out, this album is it.
Stampede: Volume 1Orville Peck — Orville Peck’s first release of the Fringeless era is a duet album, the first part of which was released on Friday and features artists including Willie Nelson, Noah Cyrus and Elton John. We didn’t have much time to spend together Stampede: Volume 1 Not yet, but I’m still into it. “Conquer the Heart” (ft. Nathaniel Rateliff and “How Far Will We Take It?”) feels like it combines the best elements of Noah Cyrus. pony (2019) and bronco (2022). bronco I came here twice Volume 2 for stampede And that too soon.
— Cheyenne McDonald, Weekend Editor
Hannah is sleeping – hole
Whenever I hear the words “banger” or “bop,” I don’t think of artists like Taylor Swift. I think of an obscure genre of music called bedroom pop. After all, Bop lives up to its name. Hannah Jadagu is a bedroom pop wizard of the highest order. Her first EP was produced entirely on an old iPhone, and although she’s since graduated to a real recording studio, she’s still a slap in the face. Jadagu’s latest Sub Pop full-length; hole, contains both bangers and bops, but my favorite is the lovely “Say It Now.” Listen to this. It could be a perfect pop song or it’s absolutely screaming road trip song. The shoegaze-adjacent “What You Did” is another classic and would be at home on any decent summer playlist.
— Lawrence Bonk, Contributing Reporter
Justification – hyperdrama
Justice’s first full-length album The Cross This album came out in 2007 and is one of my favorite albums. Not only did they define the crunchy electronic sound of the blog house era of the late 2000s and early 2010s, it also felt like the new French duo was picking up where Daft Punk left off after 2005. Human after all. Now Justice is back with their fourth album. hyperdrama. But rather than being inspired by a specific genre of music, as we’ve heard, audio, video, disco Stadium rock track or For women With its disco-infused beats, the album feels more like the soundtrack to a moody sci-fi thriller, and feels like Justice’s reinterpretation of the real world. Tron: Legacy soundtrack.
“Generator” is a certified banger and probably the song that sounds most like classic Justice. “Neverender” and “One Night/All Night” are also highlights, but I think Justice may have relied too much on Tame Impala to give this album its personality. “Dear Alan” delivers a very mellow vibe and Thundercat makes a cheerful appearance, ending things strong in “The End”.
One thing I really miss is that there’s at least one really danceable track like on all of the band’s previous albums. I also have to admit that some of the songs in the middle are mixed up in a memorable way. So while hyperdrama Isn’t it a masterpiece from top to bottom? The Cross That was 15 years ago. More justice is not a bad thing.
—Sam Rutherford, senior reporter
Utada Hikaru – science fiction
Over the past few weeks I’ve mainly been listening to the following songs: science fiction, the first hit album by J-Pop artist Hikaru Utada. I’ve been a fan since his debut album. first love In 1999, people were much more likely to find it strange that they could enjoy music with lyrics in a language they didn’t understand. Utada has been in and out of the J-Pop scene ever since, and we haven’t heard anything about them in a long time. All new music is a gift. Especially since this album is tied to their upcoming concert tour, which they are doing once only in the blue moon.
Utada experienced a resurgence in 2022 when their songs “First Love” and “Hatsukoi” (also translated as “First Love”) were featured in Netflix’s popular Japanese drama series. first love. Of course those tracks science fictionIt also includes songs about various points in Utada’s career.
This album will take you on a journey from the days when they primarily wrote R&B-inspired pop to the era when their music became more experimental, and will introduce you to their current sound that is both mainstream and unique. Some of the re-recorded versions of older songs, such as “Traveling”, did not perform as well, but still represent well who Utada is as a musician. But as a long-time fan, this album is not just a collection of songs for me, but a collection of memories from different stages of my life.
— Mariela Moon, contributing reporter
Caroline Polacek – “No more than starlight and no kissing”
There are a few reasons why “Starburned and Unkissed” stands out from the rest. I saw the TV shining The soundtrack features beloved staples like Broken Social Scene’s “Anthems For A Seventeen-Year Old Girl” as well as original songs by celebrities like Phoebe Bridgers and Hop Along’s Frances Quinlan. When pushed into a corner, the great thing about “Starburned and Unkissed” is that it’s so slow.
Every note stretches and yearns with adolescent impatience, right before it runs out of air and snaps in two. It’s very similar to the exact same brilliant scene. I saw the TV shining It was written to capture the sleepy anxiety of a high school that was too warm, overcrowded, and isolated. The heaviness of the crashing guitar ebbs and flows unsteadily, mimicking Callow Hand’s experiments. (The chorus requires a second attempt to get both the drums and guitars on cue.)
Unsettling and hopeful. Caroline’s voice, softly muffled by an intentional auto-tuned pitch shift, goes out of her key in the song’s last few refrains, threatening to derail the dreamy beauty of the last three minutes. It ends abruptly as she pleads to be heard once again, another return to a time that cannot be captured.
Honorable Mentions:
“Lover’s Spit is playing in the background.” Claire Rousay — of rusei emotion This album is perfect for reading outside on a cloudy day. I’m not sure I’ll be able to pick a standout track since the experience is really all about getting it all to you, but this one is close enough.
“Brian’s Stickers”, Hot Mulligan — It’s a classic pop-punk theme (“My job sucks and I hate everyone”), but oh my god, it really bugs my ears.
“On Brand”, Ekko Astral — A level of runny nose previously considered unattainable. It’s hard not to love the beautiful chaos these guys create.
“There’s a Storm Coming”, High on Fire — Most of High on Fire’s 20-plus years of output sounds like axe-wielding baton-ripping barbarians and other D&D nonsense they do, and lyrically it probably is. (I say this lovingly. I love High on Fire.) The title song of the new album… has a particularly dirge-like feel to it, doesn’t it? At first it felt like a very “old band showing its age” but it has grown into a deliberate and welcome change. But they aren’t shy about using AI in their “Burning Down” music video. Come on guys.
— Avery Ellis, Associate Editor, Reports
