Saturday, May 19, 2018

Week in Review: New Songs / Music Videos You Need to Check Out (May 13-19, 2018)


Happy weekend! With another work week in the books, it’s time to kick back, relax and enjoy whatever time you have to yourself. What better way to do that than to catch up on all the new music you may have missed.

This week saw the release of a lot of great new songs and music videos. In pop, the Backstreet Boys released their first new song in five years while Christina Aguilera released yet another new song from her upcoming album. The Black Eyed Peas also released a politically charged new song and video. On the rock side, Nine Inch Nails returned with the first single from their upcoming album. Indie rockers Arctic Monkeys released a video for the latest single from their number one-selling new album. We also got some new jams from pop-punkers New Found Glory, Broadside, As It Is, Against the Current and Mayday Parade, as well as synth-pop band Years & Years and rock legends Cheap Trick and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, has once again been scouring the internet for the week’s best new songs and music videos. Here are nine we think will be worth checking out.


1.       Nine Inch Nails, “God Break Down the Door”: The first single from their upcoming album, ‘Bad Witch,’ “God Break Down the Door” takes elements of industrial rock and new wave and puts them together into a layered sound that keeps you on your toes. At its base, there is the constant drone of the saxophone, weaving through every part of the song keeping time and pace. On top of that, the melody comes in with a very new-wave-y vibe, which is a bit softer than their usual sound, but at the same time feels very calculated. The melody is muted by the top layer of electronic buzzing that overpowers everything else at times, but in the end joins up with the saxophone to bring the song full circle. (video)

2.       Broadside, “Summer Stained”: “Summer Stained” is a heavy song to take in. The acoustic-led track talks about vulnerability and self-consciousness in social situations, a very relatable them for a lot of people. You can tell that this was written from the heart and sung from the soul because of the passion with which the lead singer emotes in it. This is the kind of song that you would sing at the top of your lungs as a form of catharsis. (video)

3.       New Found Glory, “Call Me Anti-Social”: From the deluxe edition of their latest album ‘Makes Me Sick,’ “Call Me Anti-Social” takes it back to the early 2000s pop-punk sound, but with a much more refined twist. The lyrics are filled with that teenage angst that defined a generation of high schoolers. Its melody is perhaps a little lighter than what New Found Glory is known for, but the band has also been showing a lot of more growth lately, so doesn’t sound too out of the box for them. (video)

4.       Mayday Parade, “Never Sure”: There is a lot going on in this song. The first part, with its fast pace and stiff, heavy guitars, trying to remain stoic in the face of an ending relationship. By its midpoint though, the mood changes and the pace noticeably slows, letting out more emotion, admitting that he’s not over the girl and that she will always have his heart. (video)

5.       Arctic Monkeys, “Four Out Of Five”: Starting out with a beautiful piano introduction, “Four Out Of Five” immediately takes a dark turn, with the beauty giving way to an uneasy, dissonant mix of piano and synth. The song ultimately lightens up slightly to become a bluesy cultural commentary led by fuzzy guitars. (video)

6.       Years & Years, “If You’re Over Me”: “If You’re Over Me” is a radio-ready pop song with a very catchy hook. While it is a break-up song, the tone is decidedly more defiant than sad, keeping it more upbeat and strangely empowering. (video)

7.       Backstreet Boys, “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”: The Backstreet Boys are at it again. The band’s first single in five years, “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” was released this week. To be honest, it didn’t really meet my expectations upon first listen, lacking the energy this kind of song needs. However, it does grow on you with multiple listens. It has a decent dance beat with a decent melody and lyrics that evoke the group’s late 90s style. (video)

8.       Dan + Shay, “Speechless”: The third single from country duo Dan + Shay’s upcoming self-titled third album, “Speechless” is another stunning, heartfelt love song that will make you swoon. Written about their seeing their wives on their wedding days (both Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney got married this year), you can hear and feel the joy in their voices. The video brings the swoon factor over the top, showing footage from each of their respective weddings. (video)

9.       Christina Aguilera feat. Demi Lovato, “Fall In Line”: No stranger to using her voice to empower women, Christina Aguilera does it again with “Fall In Line.” The most melodic of her new singles yet, the song is a bluesy, jazzy reminder that all women are unique and shouldn’t change who they are for anyone. Aguilera really shows the boldness and power of her voice here. And with just the guitar to back her up, the song becomes even more powerful. (video)


From rock to pop, a lot of great new songs and music videos were released over this week. Start your weekend off right by catching up on some of these new tracks. Check out some of our favorites above, and then let us know what new songs you’ve been digging from this past week.

---

Discover music new and old at Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s favorite new independent record shop. We have thousands of titles to choose from in a wide array of genres. Browse our selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs and memorabilia in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. Whether you’re looking for something new or to rediscover the classics, we have you covered. And with more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

No comments:

Post a Comment