Well, boys and girls – here we are. Another week gone by and another weekend here with nothing to do. No movies to go see, no concerts to attend, no flea markets to shop. Just a trip to the grocery store and back home is to be the highlight of another quarantined weekend. The one highlight for your weekend is some new music and boy are there some great choices to choose from. Highlights include an impressive debut and an even more impressive return from one of the best songwriters of the last 25 years. Push play on some great music and have a great, safe weekend.
Rina Sawayama Sawayama
Pop song? Check. Nu-Metal song? Check. R&B song? Check. Country Pop song? Check. Rina Sawayama checks off those boxes and many more on her debut album Sawayama. The 29-year-old made a big splash in 2017 with her EP Rina that explored society through the eyes of social media.
In a time when our thoughts and time are held captive by the ongoing Covid-19 virus comes a brilliant pop album that is the wanted distraction we all need. Every song reminds you of another amazing pop star, whether it be Lady Gaga, Gwen Stefani or Charlie XCX – but at the same time sounds very new and refreshing.
“XS” leans heavily of the production stylings of N.E.R.D. with a beautiful blend of heavy rock guitars and acoustic strumming reminiscent of Justin Timberlake’s “Like I Love You.” Nu-Metal track “STFU!” comes across as a mix of Evanescence and Poppy while tackling the issue of racism. Rina sings “Have you ever thought about/ Taping your big mouth shut/ ‘Cause I have many times” on the song in response to white men that behave ugly towards Asian women.
The Japanese born Cambridge graduate has delivered an extremely smart debut and is about to put the pop music world on notice. @rinasawayama
Christian French “i think too much”
America’s prince of indie-pop Christian French is back with his new single “i think too much.” The former pre-med student put his medical dreams on hold to pursue his true passion of making music and the decision seems to be paying off.
French’s previous single “head first” has over 25 million streams worldwide and garnered him a ton of buzz within the music industry. Later this summer, French will release his EP good things take time which will include both “head first” and his new single.
“i think too much” is an introspective track that follows Christian as he struggles with his inner thoughts and self-doubt all while raising mental health awareness with a bright outlook. Christian sings about questioning things he can’t control and one thing that can’t be questioned is the relatability to the song. We have all been in his place where we become our own worst enemy with over thinking some things. @christianfrench
Check out the video for Christian French’s “head first” below and check out “i think too much” where ever you stream music.
Fiona Apple Fetch the Bolt Cutters
Never in my wildest dreams would I have believed you if you were to tell me that Fiona Apple would spend eight long years making the perfect album for a pandemic but yet here we are. Fiona returns this week with her fifth studio album Fetch the Bolt Cutters that was made largely in her California home.
Fetch may be her most defiant album to date. Apple takes on bullies, so-called ‘it’ girls and white male privilege throughout various songs on the album. The defiance reaches its apex on “Under The Table” as she proclaims that she won’t shut up no matter how many times she’s kicked under the table. The uncrowned leader of the self-isolation movement sings “I told you I didn’t want to go to this dinner” as her male companion is tapping her leg under the table in an attempt to quiet her.
There are three stars shining throughout this triumphant of an album. Her voice, her piano playing and most importantly her words. Fiona’s songwriting shines the brightest on the albums first song “I Want You To Love Me.” The song reads as a diary entry as Apple is coming to grips with mortality. She sings “And while in this body, I want somebody to want…and I want you to love me.”
Fetch the Bolt Cutters is a bare bones record featuring Fiona on piano, drummer Amy Wood and former Soul Coughing bassist Sebastian Steinberg. The album’s title track sounds as if someone was hitting a pair of drumsticks on what ever surface was in reach. Even five of Fiona’s dogs receive songwriting credits for their perfect pitch barking.
When Apple first hit the scene in 1996 with her debut album Tidal she became one of the beacons of feminism in popular music along with Alanis Morissette, Tori Amos, and Shirley Manson. Apple continues the charge on Fetch and attacks toxic masculinity through out the album and even wrote “For Her” after the fallout of the Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court confirmation hearings.
It may be too early to crown Fetch the Bolt Cutters as the album of 2020, but honestly now it feels like this year isn’t going to completely suck after all.
Check out some of the other amazing new albums out this week:
- Danzig Danzig sings Elvis
- Tech N9ne Enterfear
- The Black Dahlia Murder Verminous
- Natalie Shay Naked
- RJD2 The Fun Ones
- Billy Ocean One World
- Eddie Money Brand New Day
- Berner & B-Real Los Meros
Steven McCash is the Music Columnist for SoBros Network. He is the pioneer of New Music Friday, highlighting each week’s new releases in the world of music, in addition to the occasional live show review. Follow on Twitter: @MC_Cash75
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