Release Radar: February 2020

February has brought us some amazing new releases from bands we know and love, especially from artists we haven't heard from in many years, i.e. The Strokes and Real Estate. If this months releases are anything to go by, 2020 is looking to be an incredible year for new music.

The Strokes - At The Door (Single)

★★★★☆

The first single from the seminal alt-rock kings since 2013, The Strokes are coming back with a bang (at the door). This song has been stripped back completely; there are no drums from Fabrizio Moretti, no guitar solos from Albert Hammond Jr., just pretty synths, the twangy pitter-patter of guitar and Julian Casablancas' dreamy vocals. This song tells a story of a man's metaphorical journey through love and life, his most powerful line being "Use me like an oar/and get yourself to shore". 'At The Door' is melancholic and melodic, distancing itself from The Strokes signature alternative rock sound.

Tame Impala - The Slow Rush (Album)

★★★★☆

A high contender for album of the year, Tame Impala's Kevin Parker has truly outdone himself with this one. Emotional lyrics, psychedelic riffs, pounding drums, and chunky bass make up this terrific, genre-bending release. Parker spent five years on this album and released five tunes in the lead-up to its Valentine's Day debut. The Slow Rush is a rumination on the concept of time, namely its inability to be captured. The best tunes are 'One More Year', 'Is It True', and 'It Might Be Time'. Suss my entire album review for a more in-depth look at the album.

Hockey Dad - Itch // I Missed Out (Single)

★★★★★

Hockey Dad's new single 'Itch' is a full 180° for the dynamic duo, channeling the likes of 90s alternative rock wizards Radiohead and Silverchair. "I'm okay/I feel safe," singer Zach Stephenson bellows while he rhythmically plucks his electric guitar. 'I Missed Out' is an entirely different tone, its chirpy bass and guitar melodies melt perfectly with Billy Fleming's throttling of the drums. These songs have been extremely well-received by fans following their 2018 release Blend In. The band's follow-up album Brain Candy is due out on May 29.

San Cisco - Reasons (Single)

★★★☆☆

Yet another banger from this Freo-based band, 'Reasons' is a thumping dance track. The chorus includes a funky, high-tempo synth sequence alongside the lines: "Could you let it go, let it go? (You should let it go)". Similar to their smash debut single 'Awkward', singer Jordie Davieson works alongside drummer Scarlett Stevens to create a male/female relationship-like dynamic in their vocals, singing together in a conversational way. Davieson told NME 'Reasons' is a song about "letting the person you love know that you feel their pain and it is okay to be vulnerable."

King Krule - Man Alive! (Album)

★★★★★

Man Alive! is a 14-track long, 41 minute long album produced halfway between a deep depression and fatherhood. The man behind King Krule, Archy Marshall, is a 25-year old from Southwark, London. His British drawl and heavily angsty lyrics come out in Marshalls' third full-length LP, developing a despondent and sleepy vibe. Replacing some of his jazz roots for more electronic and atmospheric sounds, music reviewer Anthony Fantano reckons Man Alive! has been plucked from a Twin Peaks episode. Album favourites include 'Cellular', 'Stoned Again', 'Alone, Omen 3', and '(Don't Let The Dragon) Draag On'.

Good Boy - It Takes A Lot Of Skill To Milk A Mare (Album)

★★★★☆

Good Boy have recently announced their impending disbandment following a final show at The Triffid in April; and with this horrifying news came a final album: It Takes A Lot Of Skill To Milk A Mare, released February 28. Riff-filled pop dance-along tracks make up the the majority of the album, while tasteful Aussie hollering, dancing basslines, and crashing drums make up the signature Good Boy sound. The song 'Sodabread' features a refreshing saxophone squeak reminiscent of a drunk jazz busker, a beguiling addition to an otherwise Good Boy classic. Songs to look out for are 'Sodabread', and 'Teens Of The Stoned Age'.

Real Estate - The Main Thing (Album)

★★★★★

In case you haven't been keeping up to date on the band's Instagram page, the New Jersey boys have been premiering their upcoming album all week; playing songs straight from the record player for our aural enjoyment. The Main Thing is an answer to the world's current anxieties about our impending doom, but feels like a hug, warm, comforting, and full of soul. Some songs to look out for are 'Paper Cup' for its enthusiastic violin solos and shreds, 'Also A But' for its lush and brooding vibe, and 'Brother' for its hypnotic psychedelic instrumentation.

Methyl Ethel - Majestic AF (Single)

★★★☆☆

'Majestic AF' is a contradiction in its lyrics and sound. It is a descriptive look at a person's life spent stuck in a cycle of nine-to-five work, small talk and forced interactions, mental illness, and impending health issues. Back-dropped against these lyrics are jingly and unearthly swirling synths, funk-filled bass, and singer Jake Webb's angelic and church choir-like falsetto voice. 'Majestic AF' is just a small taste of what we can expect from Methyl Ethel's upcoming EP titled Hurts To Laugh due April 10.