“Weird!” by YUNGBLUD (Nov. 13)
British rocker YUNGBLUD has been on the rise lately. He’s released four singles in preparation for his sophomore album, “Weird!” His latest, “cotton candy,” is one of the best, boasting a sickly sweet, addictingly catchy chorus. Another single he’s released is “strawberry lipstick” and has a similar edgy pop vibe. YUNGBLUD’s voice and lyrics are more aggressive in this track and it really works. One of his best singles so far is called “god save me, but don’t drown me out,” and is very different from “cotton candy” and “strawberry lipstick.” It’s extremely raw and personal, plucking at the listener’s heartstrings. It’s passionate and relatable, and despite the hard topics YUNGBLUD sings about, he still delivers an ear wormy hook. Finally, the title track, “Weird!” is the best of the bunch. YUNGBLUD sings of his usual topics of anxiety and sadness, but these lyrics are pleasantly drenched in optimism. It has a sunshine-like sound, making it the type of the song you’d always want to listen to to boost your mood. Each of these singles is strong, so pop rock fans should be on the lookout for “Weird!” to drop in a few days. YUNGBLUD definitely has more to impress us with.
“Covers” by Marika Hackman (Nov. 13)
Marika Hackman is following her fantastic 2019 album, “Any Human Friend,” with a cover album set to be released Nov. 13. The album will feature covers of songs by artists such as Alvvays, MUNA and Radiohead. So far, Hackman has released three covers; her rendition of Elliot Smith’s “Between The Bars” is a beautiful, atmospheric take on the classic heartbreaking song. Her cover of Beyoncé’s “All Night” is incredibly different from the original, but pays it a fantastic homage. It’s slower and more subtle, so the listener can really appreciate the well-written, thoughtful lyrics. Finally, her cover of “Realiti” by Grimes is perhaps the best of the three. Marika did a wonderful job of altering the song enough to set her version apart while respecting the original artistry. This covers album seems like it’ll be a chill, ambient listen that anyone can play and get lost in.
“Hello, It’s You” by Bearings (Nov. 20)
Last year, Bearings established themselves in the punk scene with their diverse, virtually flawless debut album “Blue In The Dark.” Soon after this impressive release, they shared the first two singles off their upcoming 2020 album. “So Damn Wrong” and “I Feel It All” are good examples of their catchy pop punk music, but they’re slightly less memorable than the band’s previous releases. This year, they’ve released two more singles. “Sway” is definitely a step up. It’s an incredibly fun, charming song. The listener can hear Bearings incorporating more pop into their music, but given how well it sounds on them, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. “Super Deluxe,” the latest single they’ve released, has a similar musical and lyrical style to “Sway.” Both songs show promise, so any punk fan should be excited for the other potential hits on “Hello, It’s You.”
Check out these debut albums, too
This year’s wrapping up with some strong musical releases. These are only three anticipated releases and 2020 has already seen some wonderful musical ventures. For example, three incredible debut albums that have recently come out include I Don’t How But They Found Me’s “Razzmataazz,” beabadoobee’s “Fake It Flowers” and boy pablo’s “wachito rico.” Between all these projects, it looks like quarantine can’t stop art.
