We are approaching the Presidential Election at warped speed and are just a little over two weeks away from learning what old man gets to lead us for the next four years. Sorry if that sentence just sent you into a paralyzing depression. How about some new music to help cheer you up? This week there are releases from an ‘80s bad boy, a debut from singer that’ll have you wanting to binge Dawson’s Creek, and many more.
Tommy Lee Andro
If you are a longtime fan of Motley Crue and were greatly awaiting their reunion tour that was supposed to hit stadiums this summer but was cancelled due to the pandemic, I have some more bad news for you. Founding member and drummer Tommy Lee has a new album out this week.
Andro is the musician’s first solo release since 2005’s Tommyland: The Ride and one can only blame the coronavirus for its existence because if Motley Crue was on tour this year, you would have to think he would have been distracted enough not to make a new album. I am a little hard on the album because I have longed for him to repeat the brilliance that was the fun and entertaining first Methods of Mayhem record or his underappreciated debut solo album Never A Dull Moment. This album is full of electronica, Afrobeat, rap, pop and dance and Lee collaborates with some of the up-and-coming names in hip-hop. Rapper Killvein raps over some thunderous, hammering beats on lead track “Knock Me Down” and returns later in the album for the more subdued “Leave Me Alone.”
A couple of tracks even pay homage to Prince, “You Dancy” is a very dance floor friendly track with some sexy vocals from Lukas Rossi who returns for an inventive take on the Prince cover “When You Were Mine.” Electropop artist Brooke Candy is featured on the twerk friendly “Demon Bitches” and South African rapper Push Push on Lady Sovereign inspired “Tops.” It is easy to listen to Andro and completely forget it’s a Tommy Lee record as it plays more like The Neptunes album The Neptunes Present…..Clones. Clones is a Neptunes record that uses the beats Pharrell and Chad of N.E.R.D. made for some lesser known artist to shine on. Tommy Lee has done the same here as he has made tracks for artists he wanted to showcase.
Andro is not an album by legendary drummer Tommy Lee but rather by music lover Tommy Lee and deserves a listen. @MrTommyLee
Beabadoobee Fake It Flowers
If you close your eyes real tight while listening to Beabadoobee’s debut album, you’ll find yourself whisked away to the ‘90s and it’s a great feeling. Singer Beatrice Laus’ voice and writing is a fun mix of Lisa Loeb, Liz Phair and Letters to Cleo and the inspiration of those artist and others comes out in every note on Fake It Flowers.
“Care” the first song on the album is about not giving a fuck what anyone thinks of you and still singing your heart out. Bea wrote “Care” with the mindset that it could end a ‘90s rom-com like 10 Things I Hate About You. Listen to the song and tell me you cannot picture her on top of school building singing it in place of Letters to Cleo.
Laus bares her soul in “Sorry” as she sings about the struggles about some childhood friends had with drugs. Bea told Apple Music she wishes she would have been more capable of being there for her friends “but when something’s too hard to watch, you just kind of separate yourself from it.” The Philippines-born, London-raised singer was happy to be able to get it all off of her chest and use it as her version of an apology.
The 12 songs on the album play as diary entries covering emotions like insecurities, sadness, and love. Her debut is tremendous addition to what many critics refer to as ‘bubblegrunge’ and female fans of her early ‘bedroom pop’ will be happy to know that this album is for the girls. Fake It Flowers leaves the listener very nostalgic for a time when Party of Five ruled tv and everyone was wearing Tommy Hilfiger. @beabad00bee
There’s so much more amazing new albums and songs out this week so please check these other great choices….
- Better Than Ezra “In Your Eyes”
- Tom Petty Wildflowers& All the Rest (Super Deluxe Edition)
- Sturgill Simpson Cuttin’ Grass
- T.I. The L.I.B.R.A.
- Open Mike Eagle Anime, Trauma and Divorce
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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