I’ll be honest: I haven’t been doing a great job scoping out new music. As I wade deeper into what will hopefully be my final year of undergrad, I find comfort in returning to the classics and playing the same three songs by The Smiths over and over again just to feel something.
I’ve managed to drag myself away from “Hatful of Hollow” long enough to compose an assortment of sick new releases by various much-beloved artists to kick off the start of the fall season.
“Infinite Fear Jets” by IAMX
Formerly of the acid-tinged cool kids band Sneaker Pimps, Chris Corner’s newest release continues to push IAMX in a vivid new direction.
“Infinite Fear Jets” maintains the moody seduction typical of an IAMX track, but Corner leans heavily into mesmerizing electronic beats infused with r&b rhythm. The track’s bright and gyrating, landing closer to pop than darkwave on the musical spectrum.
I totally dig this release. It’s got the kind of energy that pulls you in and leaves you to revel in an expanse of fun and danceable music, and Corner’s penchant for experimentation and the evocation of intense moods really shines through.
“Something is Wrong” by Melted Bodies
Grungy, nu-metal-ly and purely raucous, “Something is Wrong” is a track infused with foreboding, angst and absolutely sick guitar.
I’ve always been intrigued by the incongruous and eccentric sounds of Melted Bodies, and “Something is Wrong” proves to be just that — incongruous and eccentric; a song in multiple acts, weaving in and out of genres with seamless precision. And that guitar — chainsaw-sweet and growling like a wild animal — ties it all together.
“Kiltro” by Kiltro
There’s always an undercurrent of sadness in the music of Denver-based alt folk band Kiltro. The reverberating acoustic quality of their music is rivaled only by the work of vocalist Chris Bowers Castillo, whose lyricism weaves together a brilliant musical tapestry.
“Kiltro,” though written before Kiltro’s inception, captures the core essence of the band. An homage to Castillo’s hometown, the song is tinged with nostalgia so intense it hurts, conveyed so beautifully there are few words to truly capture its impact.
