March 2020 Madness

When it comes to music, the month of March this year has essentially been cancelled. 

There is music that has dropped this month though. Here are some new tunes that might help put a smile on your face while we're all sheltered in place.

Grouplove - I don't know about you but I've been waiting for a new album from Grouplove since 2018 when it was rumored they'd be releasing one in 2019. Well, last year came and went with no new music from Grouplove. This past January "Deleter"  was the first single off of their then upcoming album. Healer, their 4th studio album was finally released on Friday, March 13th. "Deleter" is definitely a repeater, it's so much fun to listen to. All of their upcoming shows have been postponed (just like every upcoming tour and festival) but seeing Grouplove perform songs from Healer (as well as old hits, too of course) is most definitely something to look forward to.
I can not wait! 

Phantogram - Last year Phantogram released "Into Happiness" their first new music since 2016. They said that the single "embodies the personal journey both of us have taken since we released Three." On March 6th the dreamy, electronic rock duo from New York released, Ceremony, their 4th studio album. There is no denying that this is a Phantogram album with its sparkling hooks, melodramatic drops and Barthel's velvety vocals but something is different. Phantogram has grown since their debut in 2010 and it's a growth you can hear.






It's the same Phantogram we were introduced to a decade ago only different. Not necessarily better but wiser.  The dark yet funky "Gaunt Kids", which offers more vocals from Carter than usual, has a serene break before it looping back briefly to it's more sinister sound, is my favorite track.

The Weeknd - Personally, After Hours, the 4th studio album from The Weeknd isn't my cup of tea BUT  it is for a lot of people and it was released this month. The highly anticipated follow up to 2016's Starboy was released March 20th under suspicion that it spawned from the musician's breakup with model Bella Hadid. "Blinding Lights" is a flashback to the eighties while "Heartless" is a catchy R&B jam with a lot of mentions of bitches and pussy. The rest of the album falls somewhere in between as The Weeknd works through inner turmoil by way of smooth beats and a range of falsettos. Even his faster tempo tracks carry a sullen vibe on this new album.

CocoRosie - The U.S. born, Paris raised sisters of CocoRosie have been giving a us a break from the norm since their debut in 2004. Almost sixteen years and 5 albums later they've given us a much needed breath of fresh air with, Put on the Shine. Their hauntingly romantic sound is uniquely theirs:  it's different, it's weird and that's what we like about them. Luckily, their 7th studio album's release date came on March 13th which happened to be Friday the 13th, right before the wave of country wide lock downs went into effect. Layers of jazzy synths, cool keys and even some samples of nature sounds paired with lullabies or juxtaposed with fast talking rap help the time pass like no time at all.

Deap Lips -  (Deap Vally + Flaming Lips) 

Lindsey Troy and Julie Edwards of Deap Vally teamed up with Flaming Lips' front-man Wayne Michael Coyne sometime last year: the ladies have two albums under their belt (2013's Sistrionix and 2016's Femejism) while the long time underground favorite has released 15 albums spanning over multiple decades.

This star-crossed, experimental rock collab released "Hope Hell High" at the tail end of 2019. In January they released the cosmic single  of "Home Thru Hell", which features all three musicians on vocals, and then came their self-titled debut album on March 13th. Obviously a politically fueled album, "Motherfuckers Got to Go" is the stand out track that screams purely Deap Vally to me and leaves me wanting album number three from the ladies.

Childish Gambino - 3.15.20 was originally released Sunday March 15th on donaldgloverpresents.com only to be taken down 12 hours later. The 4th studio album from the 36 year old Californian was officially re-released a week later on Sunday, March 22nd. The concept albums comes on the heels of last year's announcement that Donald Glover would be retiring his Childish Gambino alter-ego/stage name. So, one is left wondering, is this the last music we will hear from him? If he has more tracks like "Algorhythm" up his sleeve, I hope not.

Jessie Reyez - Before Love Came to Kill Us. The debut album from the 28 year old Canadian singer-song writer is listed as being released on Friday March 27th but it would seem it came a few hours early according to Pacific Standard time. As the title suggests, it is an album based around a breakup and Miss Reyez is the scorned lover. Her unique vocals are the focus point, standing out more profoundly than we've previously heard from her. Eminem is featured the bitter-sweet song, "Coffin" but I think the best song from Reyez's debut LP is "Dope". It's the right amount of raunchy fun, full of samples to get you dancing. "Dope" is pretty dope. 

Nine Inch Nails - albums number ten and eleven from Trent Reznor and Co. both dropped on the same day, Thursday March 26th.

The band released them as free downloads as a sign solidarity with their fans through the COVID-19 pandemic. Ghosts V. Together and Ghosts VI. Locusts come two years after Nine Inch Nails' ninth album, Bad Witch but they're a follow up to 2008's Ghosts I-IV. The respective album covers are solid white and solid black, like a ying-yang, it's a clever use of symbolism in a time where the world can see a little good within the bad and visa-versa. Both albums are completely instrumental but not completely industrial, like "A Warm Place" from 1994's infamous classic, The Downward Spiral. These new collections of songs from N.I.N allow you to emerge yourself in whatever you're feeling, giving you space to reflect and process all of it. 

Can't forget some of the hot singles that dropped this month, too!

Don't Slack - Justin Timberlake + Anderson Paak

Yankee and the Brave - Run The Jewels 

As You Move Through The World - MGMT 

Persona Non Grata - Bright Eyes

There have been rumors that Yeah Yeahs and Sleigh Bells are working on new music/albums so there are two things to be excited about! Lady Gaga and MNDR made last minute decisions to shelve their new music for now so that's more to look forward to once the lock down is lifted!

As we practice social distancing, music still has the magic of connecting people.
In times when we can't be together, music keeps us company.
Music unites people. It always has and for anyone looking for a sense of normalcy, music will always unite people.
 I can not wait to see all of you at the next show! Until then, enjoy the music.