Weekly Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2i94QkTx3h2gkea0YOLMPb 

Jacob’s picks 

1. Clairo – “Bambi”
2. Slipknot – “My Plague”
3. Fulci – “Voices” 
4. Fulci, TV-CRIMES – “Cemetery”

In music, nothing beats a great intro track. Singer-songwriter Clairo has matured exponentially on her new album “Sling,” and the intro track “Bambi” is masterful and elegant. Multi-instrumentalist, singer and producer Jack Antonoff’s instrumentation on the track’s clavinet, mellotron, drums, bass, piano and electric guitar pair nicely alongside Clairo’s angelic voice for some soothing introspection. 

The metal world sadly lost one of the greatest drummers to step into the scene, founding drummer Joey Jordison of nu-metal band Slipknot, July 26. It was natural to revisit the era Jordison was with Slipknot. “My Plague” is laced with great performances across the board, but Jordison’s drum work is pristine for such an aggressive and dark nu-metal track. 

Death metal outfit Fulci dropped their newest album, “Exhumed Information,” on July 23, with the first side of the album being purely their brand of death metal while the second side construed as a movie soundtrack by soundtrack project TV-CRIMES. 

Track two, “Voices,” is a zombie-infested death metal track with an emphasis on extremity, perfectly aligning the band with the 80’s gore flicks the band is based on. The vocals are nasty, and the guitar riffs are lacerating. “Cemetery” by TV-CRIMES makes the listener feel defeated, like death is just around the corner, through an ominous and doomy sound passage. This track perfectly resides in the horror realm of film. 

Brandon’s picks

1. Fox Teeth – “Yellow Houses”
2. Turnstile – “Blackout”
3. Soft Blue Shimmer – “Chihiro” 
4. Creeks – “Bluffin’”

Fifth-wave emo band Fox Teeth brings an incredibly raw feel to their track “Yellow Houses,” the single from their album “Tite!.” This song is mellow yet covertly energetic as it’s backed with bouncing drums, math rock guitar and lovelorn lyricism. The melodies on this record are also extremely catchy, with an adhesive chorus that will be stuck in your head. 

“Blackout” is the latest single from Baltimore hardcore band Turnstile; the band released a series of singles earlier this week, including this abrasive, high-octane track. “Blackout” starts with a building intro that quickly turns into a driving hardcore track that utilizes unique percussion instrumentation. This song feels like being in a mosh pit and provides a shot of adrenaline to the listener.  

Soft Blue Shimmer holds true to their name with their shimmering song “Chihiro” from their album “Heaven Inches Away.” The Los Angeles dream-pop trio has been steadily breaking out since this album’s release for good reason, as it’s an album brimming with vibrant and capturing songs. “Chihiro” is no different with the track blooming in soft whispered vocals, jangling effects-heavy guitar, and impactful drums.  

L.A. musician Jon Simmons, better known under the musical alias Creeks, recently released an acoustic EP titled “The Pain You Took On.” The EP is a perfect late-night drive listen. The single track “Bluffin’” showcases Simmon’s smooth vocals as they lay over top warm acoustic guitar and simplistic shaking percussion. 

Madelaine’s picks

1. Beach House – “Other People”
2. Jakob, Clairo – “You Might Be Sleeping”
3. Tennis – “Swimmer”
4. The Japanese House – “Cool Blue”

Beach House is a dream pop/rock duo that formed in 2004 in Baltimore. “Other People” showcases Victoria Legrand’s velvety voice as well as the control she has over it. The duo shows off their skill for editing post-production to deliver a sound that is both melancholy and upbeat. The soft harmonies added in make this song a masterpiece.

“You Might Be Sleeping” is very catchy, so listeners should expect to have this melody stuck in their heads. Clairo’s angelic voice perfectly harmonizes with Jakob’s and creates a relaxing love song. Jakob’s voice is comparable to alternative/indie artist Mac Demarco, and the two voices blend together seamlessly.

Formed in 2010, Tennis consists of married couple Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley. This indie pop band never releases a mediocre song. Each of their songs has its own unique vibe, and Moore’s voice is always on par. The drums come through strongly on “Swimmer,” which complements the main guitar riff that repeats throughout.

Indie pop musician Amber Mary Bain, also known as The Japanese House, uses lots of synth in order to achieve their unique sound. “Cool Blue” contains beautifully desolate lyrics about loss and love, which comes from the band’s second EP, “Clean.”