San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Ava Max, Neil Young among this week’s hottest tunes.
The Chronicle’s guide to notable new music.
NEW ALBUMS
Keith Urban, “The Speed of Now Part 1” (Hit Red/Capitol): The superstar and former “American Idol” judge is almost 30 years into his recording career and is coming off backtoback Entertainer of the Year awards from the Academy of Country Music. Songs like “Superman” and “Polaroid” are popcountry compositions, while “God Whispered Your Name” feels like an Ed Sheeran hit (and gets a cowrite from contemporary Christian artist Chris August).
Osees, “Protean Threat” (Castle Face): It’s another album (the 23rd) and another name change for John Dwyer and bandmates of the now formerlyknownas Thee Oh Sees, but the San Franciscofounded garage rockers are true to their sound on tracks like “Scramble Suit II” and “Canopnr ’74.”
Those jonesing for the live versions of these tracks can find an empty room “rehearsal” show on YouTube and play it as loud as possible to replicate the concert experience.
Cults, “Host” (Sinderlyn): It’s the indie pop band’s fifth fulllength release, but it’s a departure from the duo’s original dynamic. Lead singer and multiinstrumentalist Madeline Follin brought some of her own music to the band for the first time, leading to a more collaborative process. Cults also recorded mostly using live instruments, a rarity in the past. The resulting sound is more organic than previous records.
It’s hard to imagine that the same duo recorded the breakout hit “Go Outside” (created completely on a $100 MIDI keyboard) and the hornsandstringsforward “8th Avenue.” Ava Max, “Heaven & Hell” (Atlantic): The debut for the dancepop artist, who broke through in 2019 with “Sweet But Psycho,” continues with the dichotomy theme of “addressing the dualities of the challenges we face each day,” according to the artist. The songs she has released to date borrow heavily from the more mainstream moments of early Lady Gaga — don’t expect any meat dresses, but don’t expect the pure catharsis of a “Bad Romance,” either.
Steve Arrington, “Down to the Lowest Terms: The Soul Sessions” (Stones Throw):
The singersongwriter has had an epic career in funk and soul music, including as a drummer and singer for Slave. For his latest, he’s enlisted a full roster of producers from Stones Throw’s loaded roster to give each song unique sonics. His first track, “The Joys of Love,” could be a “Songs in the Key of Life” B side, while “You’re Not Ready” has an industrial intro and a sloweddown drumandbasslike rhythm.
Neil Young, “The Times” (Warner): The legendary singersongwriter has had a busy 2020, with the June release of “Homegrown” and the upcoming November release of “Neil Young Archives Volume 2” in addition to his “Fireside Sessions” live streams during quarantine. For anyone who has tuned in, this EP may sound familiar: It is a recording of a July “Fireside Sessions” episode that included his cover of Bob Dylan’s “The Time They Are AChangin’ ” and “Lookin’ For a Leader 2020.”
#ICYMI
Painted Shield, “I Am Your Country” (Loosegroove): This new rock quartet includes Stone Gossard of Pearl Jam, indiefolk troubadour Mason Jennings, drummer Matt Chamberlain (who has played with Bob Dylan, Elton John and Fiona Apple, among many others), and keyboardist Brittany Davis.
The first single, which Gossard has called “the least workedover song on the record,” showcases grunge elements but adds an almostindustrial electronic edge, like a more organic version of early Nine Inch Nails.
SONG OF THE MOMENT
Stormzy, “Superheroes” (Atlantic): The song comes from the British hiphop artist’s 2019 album “Heavy Is the Head,” but a new animated video premiered within classrooms in the U.K. has brought the track back to the spotlight. And considering that one of the song’s first lines is “young Black king don’t die on me,” the timing couldn’t be more appropriate. The video’s postsong shoutout even acknowledges Chadwick Boseman, the “Black Panther” actor who recently died of cancer. It’s a strong reminder that the Black Lives Matter movement doesn’t stop at the American coasts.
YOUR STAYATHOME DANCE BREAK
Major Lazer and Mr. Eazi, featuring Nicki Minaj and K4mo, “Oh My Gawd” (Mad Decent): After releasing his country album earlier this year under his real name, Diplo returns to the electronic dance/ dancehall/trap trio for an ode to the derriere that would get everyone in the club twerking. Nicki Minaj lets her Trinidadian flag fly, but it’s Nigerian singersongwriter Mr. Eazi who steals the show on the chorus.