New Music Friday – 11/15/19

Steven McCash hits all the highlights of the week's new music releases on the latest edition of New Music Friday.

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Ok, it’s just downright cold outside here in Nashville now and there is some new music out this week that is sure to help warm you up, especially if you have someone you can create some friction with. There is also new music that will get you so hyped that you’ll be ready to run outside in the morning and scrape your car windows in a pair of shorts. This week’s edition of New Music Friday will focus on some artists you may not be familiar with, even though there are some heavy hitters out with new music this week.

Despised Icon Purgatory

A band having dual lead singers isn’t the norm, but some of the biggest bands in the history of music have pulled it off. The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, The Monkees and The Pixies come to mind, but what about lesser known genres of music? Canadian deathcore band Despised Icon’s use of the lead vocalist is one of the band’s strengths.

Alex Erian is the growler of the band, while fellow singer Steve Marois is best known for his high-pitched screams and pig squeals. After disbanding in 2010, the band reunited in 2014 and are now back with their follow-up to their 2016 release Beast. What sticks out more than anything on their current offering Purgatory is the superb drumming of Alex Pelletier. I’m not going to pretend that I’m a drum connoisseur, but Pelletier has to be one of the fastest and hardest hitting drummers in all of rock music today.

The thick bass lines on the album compliment the drumming so well and the dual vocals of Alex and Steve put the finishing touches on what is a really fun album to listen to. Hardcore, metalcore or deathcore might not be your cup of tea, but if you need some adrenaline pumping music for the gym or just to help you get out of bed, then I can’t recommend Purgatory enough. @despisedicon

Milky Chance Mind The Moon

The third time is seeming to be the charm for German folk-pop band Milky Chance. The duo consisting of Clemens Rehbein and Philipp Dausch made their U.S. debut in October 2014 in support of their album Sadnecessary and had a great deal of success. The album was a critical smash and spent nearly six months on the Billboard 200.

Milky Chance’s follow up to Sadnecessary, Blossom, didn’t quite meet the success that its predecessor did, leaving many to think that maybe they would fall in a long line of European acts that couldn’t quite conquer the States. Mind The Moon could be make or break for the group and lead single “The Game” makes it very apparent that they aren’t going down without a fight. “The Game” uses the band’s very familiar mix of reggae and electro-pop and the album in whole encompasses sounds from throughout the world. From the vibes of South Africa and Portugal to Belgium and Australia, Milky Chance’s latest endeavor finds the band pushing all of the boundaries of the genre. @MilkyChance

Tei Shi La Linda

Tei Shi was looking for inspiration for her new album and easily found it while making a cross country move from Los Angeles to New York City. While closing the door on a chapter of her life that had become rife with negativity she was able to reconnect with herself in ways that she hadn’t in a very long time. From that came the album’s latest single “Even If It Hurts” with Blood Orange.

The silky smooth track is about the understanding and eventual acceptance that pain is a consequence of love. Love is the key theme of La Linda whether it’s the ups and downs of it. The Argentina native channels her best Arianna Grande impression on “Red Light” while singing about wasting nights on a love that wasn’t reciprocated. Earlier single “A Kiss Goodbye” has a bit of a sped up Sade vibe, which is very welcoming. @TeiShi

Fran A Private Picture

It’s rare that a band delivers a debut that is extremely personal and honest. Liz Phair comes to mind when thinking of one and now fellow Chicagoans Fran can be added to what appears to be a short list. I’m not sure if anything will match the brutal honesty of Phair’s Exile in Guyville but Fran’s A Private Picture holds its own minus the vulgarity of Exile. Fran’s debut is written so brilliantly that it’s like lead singer Maria Jacobson is sitting next to you just having a conversation.

On the band’s bio, it states “at its core, Fran’s music is about sharing a truth—telling it, confessing it, yelling it-in the service of human connection.” A Private Picture is covered in truth. Maria’s vocal delivery is clearly influenced by some of the great female vocalist in alternative music. The stylings of Aimee Mann, Chrissie Hynde, and the aforementioned Liz Phair can be heard throughout the album. Fran is definitely a new artist to keep a close watch on. You can catch Fran live at SXSW next March in Austin, TX or in Chicago November 23rd if you can’t wait that long.