Not-So-Dry January

I cannot remember a year where January has been so stacked with so many stellar new tracks and releases. I guess this is a case of pandemic backlog? I thought some of you might appreciate a roundup of my favorite new tracks from December and January especially if you have been too busy to keep up. So let’s start the year off with some excellent new music!

Belle & Sebastian are back and their newest single, the ultra catchy “I Don’t Know What You See In Me," and it is giving me so much joy. Their new album, Late Developers, is out now. Lætitia Tamko who records under the name Vagabon dropped her new single “Carpenter” a few weeks back and I haven’t stopped listening. I would say that one of my most anticipated albums of 2023 is the upcoming release from Everything But The Girl and the first single “Nothing Left To Lose” does not disappoint. I cannot wait to hear more. One of the best 2023 releases so far has to be Margo Price’s latest, Strays. I chose “Radio” for this playlist. If you feature Sharon Van Etten on a track, it is pretty much a no-brainer for me. Yo La Tengo is releasing This Stupid World next month. I am a sucker for a Georgia Hubley-sung track so I included their new one “Aselestine” on my playlist. boygenius are a band made up of thee of my very favorites: Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridges and Lucy Dacus. They released three tracks from their much anticipated album last week and the internet nearly exploded. In honor of David Bowie's birthday on January 8th, Spoon released a cover of “I Can’t Give Everything Away” off his final album, Blackstar and it is a fitting tribute. Quasi, the duo of Sam Coombes and Janet Weiss, will release their tenth album, Breaking the Balls of History, next month. “Nowheresville” is the third single from their new one. Gina Birch, from the legendary band The Raincoats, pays homage to her instrument with her new single “I Play My Bass Loud” and I am obsessed. SZA released her acclaimed album SOS in December which includes the latest single “Kill Bill.” Tarantino fans should check out the video. Avey Tare is the long-running solo project of David Portner from Animal Collective. He is releasing his new album 7s next month. Lana Del Rey put out the cinematic title track “Did you know there is a tunnel under Ocean Blvd” from her forthcoming album at the end of last year. “…Ocean Blvd” will be released in March. The final song on this playlist is a new version of the title track from Hurray for the Riff Raff’s 2022 album, LIFE ON EARTH. Released in December, this new version of the song features the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and it is a stunner.

Belle & Sebastian - I Don’t Know What You See In Me

Vagabon - Carpenter

Everything But The Girl - Nothing Left To Lose

Margo Price - Radio [Feat. Sharon Van Etten]

Yo La Tengo - Aselestine

boygenius - Emily I’m Sorry

Spoon - I Can’t Give Everything Away

Quasi - Nowheresville

Gina Birch - I Play My Bass Loud

SZA - Kill Bill

Avey Tare - The Musical

Lana Del Rey - Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd

Hurray For The Riff Raff - LIFE ON EARTH with Preservation Hall Jazz Band

What new tracks are you loving and what releases are you looking forward to the most? I must say, musically speaking, 2023 is off to a great start.