Southern California sisters, Este, Danielle and Alana Haim who make up the soft rock group, Haim, are back with their sophomore album, “Something to Tell You.” Haim, the breakout band of 2013, who charmed listeners with their laidback, quirky, SoCal style, caught the eye – or rather – ears, of The Godmother of Rock and Roll, Stevie Nicks, as well as pop music mogul, Taylor Swift (who they opened for on select stops of her mega-successful 1989 World Tour). The sisters grew up playing a diverse collection of instruments, and their musical proficiency is always on full display (check out a fantastic, live version of “Right Now” below to see how seamlessly they can switch instruments in a single song). Haim sounds unlike any other band out there, and “Something to Tell You” is a solid addition to the band’s growing opus. Highlights include playful opener “Want You Back;” the soulful “Nothing’s Wrong;” the bouncy “Little of Your Love;” and the stark, powerful track “Right Now.” In their short time in the spotlight, Haim has gathered somewhat of a cult following, and fans of their first album, “Days Are Gone,” will not be disappointed in the follow-up (or the return of Este’s beloved “bass face.”) Check out Haim’s website here: http://haimtheband.com/
New Jersey native, Jack Antonoff, has finally released, “Gone Now,” the highly anticipated Bleachers sophomore album. Antonoff began Bleachers as a side project while on tour and enjoying success as the lead guitarist for the indie-pop band, fun., who are best known for three hit singles in 2012: “We Are Young,” “Some Nights,” and “Carry On.” For Bleachers, Antonoff released a debut single, “I Wanna Get Better,” in early 2014 which became an instant chart topper. Since his Bleachers debut album, “Strange Desire,” Antonoff has been busy co-writing and producing for major artists like Taylor Swift and Lorde, as well as moved out of his parent’s house (at the age of 27) to live in Brooklyn with girlfriend Lena Dunham. With the release of “Gone Now,” Antonoff takes center stage once more. The album – which is about transitioning from adolescence into adulthood (and ultimately saying goodbye to childhood) – is filled with 80’s inspired melodies and synths, reprises, and spoken word interludes. There are a few highlights in “Don’t Take The Money” and “Everybody Lost Somebody,” but overall, the album feels one-noted. But don’t feel too bad: Antonoff has had some major successes in 2017, most notably, his producing and co-authorship of Lorde’s latest album, “Melodrama.” Sometimes your art soars; other times, it may fall flat. http://www.bleachersmusic.com/
Since the summer of 2008, San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park has played host to the Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival. Like other well-known outdoor festivals (like Coachella and Lollapalooza) Outside Lands takes place over the course of three days and boasts an abundance of high profile performers on multiple stages. Unlike other festivals, Outside Lands bills itself as a “celebration of Music, Food, Wine, Beer, Art, and Comedy,” meaning, there’s something there for everyone (even if that something is getting drunk off Napa Valley Merlots at the Wine Lands pavilion).
The festival will be taking place this weekend: Friday August 11th, Saturday August 12th, and Sunday August 13th. This year also marks the 10th anniversary for Outside Lands, and with an all-star lineup, it’s sure to be one big celebration.
The festival begins on Friday August 11th, with everyone’s favorite virtual group, Gorillaz, headlining. Their latest album, “HUMANZ” was released this past spring. Known for their creativity and unique performances, Gorillaz is the perfect group to kick off this year’s festivities. Also performing on Friday: legendary hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest; summer music festival indie favorites Alt-J and Fleet Foxes; as well as celebrated pop group Belle and Sebastian.
The Saturday lineup brings rock and heavy metal to the festival, with rock and roll hall of famers, Metallica, headlining in the evening. Queens of the Stone Age, and Alt/electronic pioneers, Empire of the Sun, are also taking the stage earlier that day. But Solange – whose late 2016 album, “A Seat at the Table,” debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart and earned her extensive critical acclaim – is the artist I’m most looking forward to seeing on Saturday.
On Sunday, the final day of the festival (which is typically the most laid back of the three), Jack Antonoff’s indie-pop side project, Bleachers, will perform. In addition to releasing a new Bleachers album, “Gone Now,” in June, Antonoff has been hard at work producing and writing for other artists over the past few years, most notably – Sara Bareilles, Taylor Swift, and Lorde. Speaking of Lorde – the twenty year-old music sensation who just released her sophomore album, “Melodrama” – will be sub-headlining that day. Lorde is known for her dramatic, captivating live performances, and to say I’m excited to see her is quite an understatement. The final act of Outside Lands 2017 will be classic English rock band, The Who, taking fans on a journey through their iconic body of work, from “My Generation” to “Tommy” and “Who’s Next.”
For more information on the festival and to purchase single day tickets or 3-day general admission, visit the Outside Lands Website.
The Leading Lady of Pop, Katy Perry, is out with her fourth album, “Witness,” a jumble of lackluster, out-of-touch singles trying to pass off as a cohesive pop album. Perry rose to prominence in the early 00’s when teens would download the latest chart-topping single off iTunes for .99 cents and play it back on their iPod Shuffles. Back then, it was all about the single, and Perry was the artist on top. Now, in the era of music streaming, the album is making a comeback, and it seems that Perry’s attempt at a throughline (empowerment and “wokefullness,” a timely motif) is overshadowed by cringe-worthy lyrics and tired, jumbled metaphors. That’s not to say Perry isn’t a talented performer, but when it comes to creating an album (as opposed to a catchy single) a certain subtlety is required to keep the album buoyant- and subtle, Perry is not. “Witness” is weighed down by clichéd lyrics and overproduced styles that are too much – even for pop music. The album’s first single, “Chained to the Rhythm,” (which was first released through a PR stunt of singing disco balls literally chained to park benches in Brooklyn) and accompanying music video, sets the stage for the album’s heavy-handedness. Ironically, on the one track that fans and critics would’ve allowed, even welcomed, an overzealous approach, Perry misses the mark completely. “Swish Swish,” Perry’s highly anticipated Taylor Swift diss track featuring Nicki Minaj, is a dull shot in the dark. Perry has been building up this rebuttal-track for years, and what should have been an album highlight (and tabloid fodder) winds up being just as lame and insignificant as the feud that inspired it. Perry’s lack of success off her fourth album and her awkward promotion of it (see: video of Katy Perry surprising fans but no one recognizes her/knows who she is/really cares) shows just how out-of-touch she is with the genre. In the wake of artists like Lorde and Beyoncé who have transcended pop music from catchy gimmicks made for radio to an all out, soul-bearing artform, Perry has stalled – chained to the rhythm of the prior decade.
