Twostepcub's New Music Roundup 10/8/22...

 

 

Hey folks, thanks for giving my inaugural New Music Roundup a look last week, where I look at my picks for the new singles making the charts in the U.S. and the U.K.. I'm back again for another go this time out.

"Unholy" - Sam Smith and Kim Petras

from the single (2022)

#3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the British Singles Chart

Well this is an event record. The prospective lead single from Smith's fourth studio album is not your average pop-dance fluff, but a melange of eastern melody structures with slinky sexual lyrics that's more of a stage piece than radio fodder. Kim Petras rolls in her best Doja Cat, and her presence on the track makes this quite groundbreaking for its success. 

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"Star Walkin' (League Of Legends World Anthem) - Lil Nas X

from the single (2022)

#32 on the Billboard Hot 100

#29 on the Adult Top-40 chart

This week is a big one for queer representation, between Smith, Petras, and now Lil Nas X, whose one-off for the video game tournament combines current hip-hop with production that takes cues from Stranger Things-era synth-rock.

 

"World's Smallest Violin" by AJR

from the album OK Orchestra (2021)

#97 on the Billboard Hot 100

 

 The neurotic Brooklynite version of the Jonas Brothers always gave me a chuckle, and this year-old track that somehow became TikTok viral is no different. It's like pulled out of a local theater troupe about their own insecurities. The video is hilarious. And yes, I'd totally smash 2/3 of them.

"Oklahoma Smokeshow" - Zach Bryan

from the EP Summertime Blues (2022)

#98 on the Billboard Hot 100

After releasing his own music for a couple years, a song from his EP on Warner Brothers Records will please fans of gruff country-rock singer/songwriters like Chris Stapleton and Jason Isbell.

"Down Home" - Jimmie Allen

from the album Tulip Drive (2022)

#100 on the Billboard Hot 100

If mainstream Nashville country is more your speed, this song from the Dancing With The Stars alum delivers the tropes with a more nuanced voice.

"Forget Me" - Lewis Capaldi

from the single (2022)

#28 on the Adult Contemporary chart

Scottish singer/songwriter Capaldi, who dominated radio at the end of the last decade with "Someone You Loved" and "Before You Go", and while the plot of his preview of his sophomore album is just as dour, it's presented in a much more upbeat production, with his voice booming over pleasant adult-pop tones. The total anti-Styles knows how to grab attention, whether it be in his hilarious interviews or this self-effacing music video.

"This Is Why"- Paramore

from the album This Is Why (2022)

#18 on the Rock & Alternative Airplay chart

#22 on the Alternative Airplay chart

Hayley Williams and the boys have transformed themselves into an indie-rock trio with the title track from their upcoming sixth release. Possibly my favorite thing from them since I can't remember.

"Weird Goodbyes" - The National featuring Bon Iver

from the single (2022)

#50 on the Rock & Alternative Airplay chart

It's only natural that the two acts that worked recently with Taylor Swift's indie-folk reinvention would collaborate on something, and thankfully the result it more in their subdued electric emo vein. 

"Burning" - The Yeah Yeah Yeahs

from the album Cool It Down (2022)

#39 on the Alternative Airplay chart

Wow, it's been two decades since Karen O and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have emerged in the alt-rock scene, and this scorcher is a worthy addition. The mature tone that explodes with emotion by the end is a good encapsulation of their path. A lot of acts owe a lot to them.

"Soul Sweet Song" - Tedeschi Trucks Band

from the album I Am The Moon : IV. Farewell (2022)

#27 on the Triple-A (Adult Album Alternative) Rock chart

You know, I fell deep into this much more than the last Bonnie Raitt affair, which is as close to this as has been on the radio. But the band is tight and soulful as ever, with husband and wife Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks (of the Allman Band) giving a concise distillation of the jam band esthetic. 

"Saturdays" - Broken Bells

from the album Into The Blue (2022)

#32 on the Triple-A (Adult Album Alternative) Rock chart

 

 L.A. indie-rock trio take us back to the trippy Britpop of decades ago with their new song from their third album which came out yesterday. A great weekend outside jam.

"Problem With It" - Plains

from the album I Walked With You A Ways (2022)

#35 on the Triple-A (Adult Album Alternative) Rock chart

 

 Plains, a collaborative side-project of indie-folk singers Jess Williamson and Katie Crutchfield (the latter of the band Waxahatchee), uses country music storytelling and circular guitar hooks to wash over you with this lazy but seething talk-back.

"Blood On The Tracks" - Marcus King

from the album Young Blood (2022)

#36 on the Triple-A (Adult Album Alternative) Rock chart

 

 This is a good week for "Americana" music, with this blues-rock charmer from Grammy-nominated King setting up his second album. Lord, would King opening for Tedeschi Trucks be a killer concert.

"Gold" - The Lone Bellow

from the album Love Songs For Losers (2022)

#38 on the Triple-A (Adult Album Alternative) Rock chart

 

 Meanwhile, this new one from the group that used to herald the hipster country sound surprised me with a left turn that sounds more like the new Death Cab and its synthy bombast. I'm interested to see where this is going.

"I'm Baby" - Ambré featuring Jvck James

from the EP 3000 Degrees (2022)

#27 on the Adult R&B chart

 

New Orleans singer/songwriter India Perkins wrote a couple songs with H.E.R., and her own adventure is from the same fountain, with the dreamy production and sensual singing from her and newcomer James giving the right vibe for some bed turndowns, if you know what I mean.

"This Song" - Danny Boy
from the single (2022)

#30 on the Adult R&B chart

Daniel Steward, who used to record for Death Row Records, switches gears for this retro-neo-soul bedroom anthem that highlighted his smooth voice. 

"Day N Night" - Afrojack & Black V Neck featuring Muni Long

from the single (2022)

#30 on the Dance Airplay chart

R&B singer/songwriter Long is the star of this neo-house jam that comes and goes in a quick flash that is a cool add to a roadtrip playlist.

"Vibe Like This" - SG Lewis featuring Ty Dolla Sign & Lucky Daye

from the single (2022)

#31 on the Dance/Electronic Songs chart

But this is my fave dance track of the week, with the lush soul synths complimenting singer Daye and rapper Ty Dolla Sign nicely. Rolls off the speakers like butter.

"Lose It All" - Sam Tompkins

from the single (2022)

#81 on the British Singles chart

The British singer whose cover of Bruno Mars' "Talking To The Moon" was sampled for a top-40 pop hit in America by Jnr Choi returns with his own composition, and it's a simple and beautifully sung love ballad.

"How Do I Say Goodbye" - Dean Lewis

from the album The Hardest Love (2022)

#87 on the British Singles chart

A song for anyone whose lost someone dear recently, this confessional by the Australian singer-songwriter about his dad's passing is so direct that it's tear-inducing immediately. 

"When Someone Loves You" - Emeli Sande featuring Nile Rodgers

from the single (2022)

#20 on the British Airplay chart

After releasing a stellar album just this past spring, Sande slips in this sweet collab with the king of disco Nile Rodgers of Chic for this neo-disco twirler. Hearing his groove never gets old.

"Candyfloss" - Alfie Templeman

from the album Mellow Moon (2022)

#24 on the British Airplay chart

British DIY indie-pop artist Templeman delivers a wall of sound with this gem that will fit in nicely to break up the Harry Styles playlists.

"First You Jump" - Simple Minds

from the album Direction Of The Heart (2022)

#25 on the British Airplay chart

The Scottish new wave icons return with a track from their nineteenth album which comes out in two weeks. Jim Kerr's voice is shot, yes, but it's still nice to hear from them. 

"Waking Up Dreaming" - Shania Twain

from the single (2022)

#26 on the British Airplay chart

Canadian country veteran Shania completely eschews the twang for her synthpop excursion leading to her sixth album. She's definitely taken some cues from Pink and some drag queens.

"Forever Young" - Bananarama

from the album Masquerade (2022)

#31 on the British Airplay chart

Yes, these last three picks are more from nostalgia than anything, but Sara and Keren don't aim this time for the easy ghey target and try their own hand at neo-new wave co-written by Sara and her daughter.

"You're Too Much For One (Not Enough For Two)" - Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott

from the album N.K.-Pop (2022)

#40 on the British Airplay chart

On the other hand, this pairing of the singers from the Housemartins and the Beautiful South is absolutely a party, and deserving of Heaton's old band's legacy.

"The Cage" - Billy Idol

from the EP The Cage (2022)

#34 on the British Singles Sales chart

66-year-old punk-pop icon rocks just as hard as ever on this new one from his 2022 EP.

"Cure My Desire" - Hannah Wants featuring Clementine Douglas

from the single (2022)

#39 on the British Singles Sales chart

I'll close today's post out with this neo-house banger from the Defected label that should fill clubs in a more just world.

 

That's it for now, hope you've found something new and exciting to listen to. Tomorrow I'll bring out my picks for the best new albums on the sales charts. Cheers!