The Tubs: Cotton Crown
The Tubs deliver a vibrant half hour of anarchic jangle-pop with their sophomore album, Cotton Crown. This Welsh quartet follows up their previous release, Dead Meat, by blending elements from iconic influences. Drawing inspiration from the melancholic exuberance of The Smiths, the windswept energy of The Go-Betweens, and the spirited fervor of London punk, they create a sound that encapsulates disempowered power-pop. Their music transforms themes of insecurity and grief into bundles of melodic joy.
Listen to Cotton Crown
- Listen on Apple Music
- Listen on Spotify
- Listen on Tidal
- Listen on Amazon Music
- Listen/Buy at Bandcamp
- Buy at Rough Trade
Sasami: Blood on the Silver Screen
Sasami, a conservatory-trained artist renowned for her debut album that merged shoegaze and synth, takes a bold pop direction with her third release, Blood on the Silver Screen. Influenced by the likes of Britney Spears’ Femme Fatale and Lady Gaga’s Born This Way, this album showcases a lighter, more accessible sound. The standout single “In Love With a Memory,” featuring Clairo, melds contemporary pop sensibilities reminiscent of Muse and The Strokes. Sasami reflects on her journey, stating, “I was always a weirdo outsider… I’ve always felt this pressure or need to make something that’s mysterious or innovative.” With this album, she embraces a new lightheartedness.
Listen to Blood on the Silver Screen
- Listen on Apple Music
- Listen on Spotify
- Listen on Tidal
- Listen on Amazon Music
- Listen/Buy at Bandcamp
- Buy at Rough Trade
Tobacco City: Horses
Chicago’s cosmic-country band Tobacco City invites listeners to explore small-town life with their second album, Horses. The duo of vocalists Chris Coleslaw and Lexi Goddard infuse humor and lightness into their portrayal of America, as described by Linnie Greene in Pitchfork: “smells like diner grease and cheap weed, and it sounds like hope on minimum wage.” This album paints a vivid picture of life in small towns, filled with both struggle and optimism.
Listen to Horses
- Listen on Apple Music
- Listen on Spotify
- Listen on Tidal
- Listen on Amazon Music
- Listen/Buy at Bandcamp
- Buy at Rough Trade
Conclusion
With their latest albums, The Tubs, Sasami, and Tobacco City each venture into new territories of sound and expression. The Tubs infuse their jangle-pop with a sense of joyful melancholy, Sasami embraces pop with a newfound lightness, and Tobacco City offers a witty lens on small-town existence. These releases not only showcase their artistic growth but also highlight the diverse landscape of contemporary music today.
FAQs
What genre does The Tubs’ Cotton Crown belong to?
The Tubs’ Cotton Crown is primarily classified as jangle-pop, with elements of power-pop and punk.
What influences can be heard in Sasami’s Blood on the Silver Screen?
Sasami’s Blood on the Silver Screen draws influences from pop icons like Britney Spears and Lady Gaga, blending elements of contemporary pop with her unique style.
What themes are explored in Tobacco City’s Horses?
Tobacco City’s Horses explores themes of small-town life, combining humor, hope, and the struggles of everyday existence.
Where can I listen to these albums?
You can listen to these albums on various streaming platforms such as Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, Amazon Music, and Bandcamp.
