#it's probably going to be like the vevo live performance from 2021 but i am so not ready for her new performances...

[newmusickarl]

2021 has officially begun and so far it looks that unfortunately the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to disrupt our daily lives at least a little while longer. For the first half of this year it looks like another lockdown will be in place here in the UK, however the silver lining is that the new music cycle has officially started again. New albums are starting to be announced and just over a week into the new year, there has already been seen some fantastic new releases to enjoy.

Tracks of the Week

Medicine (Live) by Gus Dapperton

There is no Album of the Week this week, instead I am once again recommending the record that I named my Album of the Year for 2020 – the brilliant Orca by Gus Dapperton. To give you just a small taste of just how stunning this record is, Gus this week released several new dazzling live performances for VEVO discover, with his performance of one of the album’s highlights – Medicine - the pick of the bunch. Emotionally stirring and just sensational, you can watch it above.

Save Your Tears by The Weeknd

Elsewhere this week, another one of my favourite Albums of 2020 was kept alive thanks to a music video that offered plenty of shock factor. The Weeknd continues to delight with the visual presentation of After Hours, and the cinematic accompaniment to Save Your Tears is no different. 

The video sees Abel sporting an entirely new face and performing at a glitzy, highbrow dinner, with his wild antics throughout the performance seemingly not suited to the audience in attendance. Likely a dig at his recent, inexplicable Grammy Awards snub, the outlandish video is further proof that Abel continues to operate in a whole league of his own.

The Bandit by Kings of Leon

However, it wasn’t just about visuals for last year’s releases this week, there was plenty of new music to get excited about too. First up, the mighty Kings of Leon returned with their first new music in five years, with two tracks offering the first taste of their forthcoming album, When You See Yourself. The pick of the two is The Bandit, which doesn’t feature any dramatic change in sound for the Followill family but does offer a welcome return to the band and their vintage rock sound.

Keeper by Lonely The Brave

One of the albums I am most looking forward to this month is the third album from Cambridge rockers Lonely The Brave. The Hope List looks set to be the stepping out party for the band, who recently rebuilt themselves following the departure of lead singer Dave Jakes and the arrival of his replacement Jack Bennet. 

All the teaser tracks for the record so far have been reminiscent of their anthemic ways of old, yet giving a glimpse of the forthcoming triumphant rebirth, which drops in full next week. Keeper, the latest single and first track the band wrote with Jack, is no different. Featuring their signature soaring guitar riffs and emotional, heartfelt lyricism delivered emphatically through Jack’s growly vocal tones, anticipation for what looks set to be the first major album release of 2021 continues.

Nudge It by Sleaford Mods

At the other end of the spectrum looking to take that title from Lonely The Brave, enigmatic Nottingham duo Sleaford Mods released the final teaser track for their latest album Spare Ribs this week, which drops in full this Friday. Featuring an infectious beat, a catchy refrain, a cameo from Amyl & The Sniffers’ Amy Taylor and Jason Williamson’s signature brand of sharp, witty, observational lyricism and spoken word delivery, it may just be one of my favourite Mods’ tracks to date.

MAZZA by slowthai & A$AP Rocky

Slowthai’s follow up to his Mercury-Prize nominated debut may not be out for another few weeks yet, but the hype for TYRON already seems to be reaching fever pitch. This hasn’t been helped this week by the release of his fantastic A$AP Rocky collaboration, MAZZA, which again shows signs that the British rapper’s artistry is hitting maturity with his forthcoming sophomore effort. If these preview tracks are anything to go by, this one is shaping up to be something incredibly special.

Chemtrails Over The Country Club by Lana Del Rey

And finally, probably the biggest announcement of the week was Lana Del Rey revealing the tracklist and artwork for her next album, Chemtrails Over The Country Club, which is due to arrive in March. Having delivered career-best moments on instant classic Norman Fucking Rockwell, one of my top albums of 2019, expectations are certainly high for Lana’s next venture. 

However, the singer-songwriter is off to the best possible start as the subtle instrumentation and gorgeous, waltzing melody of the album’s title track is already one of the best songs she has ever produced. Best experienced with the track’s accompanying music video, which drastically shifts from Hollywood chic to trashy B-movie horror midway through.