You know what? 2021 has been quite a great year for music! Yes, an extended period of time indoors probably allowed for max creativity for some, but I almost feel spoiled a little bit. Regardless, over the course of the last couple weeks some excellent singles have been released, and I’m going to tell you all about them!
Underoath – “Damn Excuses”
After a crazy long hiatus, Underoath released perhaps my favorite album of theirs in 2018, Erase Me. Now, some three odd years and a pandemic later, we’re getting new music from the band again! Underoath surprise dropped this single and I loved every second of it! From my perspective, and commenters on all social media platforms, this song seems to be a mix of all their other previous album styles combined, so that means we get screaming, clean vocals, and a beat that punches you in the throat from the go. I think I listened to this on repeat at least fifty times and it makes me so pumped that I get to see them live in September (hopefully)!
“Hallelujah” – With the release of their most recent single, Underoath also announced the release of their latest album, Voyeurist, coming out in the middle of January. I am so excited! Also, just like “Damn Excuses,” this single also goes hard in the best way possible. I always love when Spencer and Aaron harmonize or switch up vocal duties, so this song was pretty great. Also, it seemed to be exploring similar themes that made up most of Erase Me, which is really brave of Spencer to be baring himself like that. I look forward to some more singles on the way to the full album release, but in the meantime, I’ll just have these two bangers on repeat.
Sleigh Bells – “Locust Laced”
Speaking of songs being on repeat, this new single from Sleigh Bells is unbelievable! I’ve always had a soft spot for this “noise pop” duo since I first heard “Kids” back in the day, but now we’re approaching their fifth full-length release this September! Like I said, 2021 seems to be the gift that keeps on giving for music. “Locust Laced” is the first single for Texis, and if it’s anything to go by, the record is going to crush! I’ve always loved the mix of singer Alexis Krauss’ clean and almost angelic vocals with the raw and aggressive shredding done by bandmate Derek Miller. This song is no exception! There’s even a fun music video to accompany the single (featuring a very adorable basset hound). Go check this song out as well as their entire catalog!
Foster the People – “Broken Jaw”
It’s been ten years since Foster the People’s debut album Torches was released, and man do I feel freaking old! That album was on a never-ending repeat in me and my sister’s car for a very long time. Anyways, with the anniversary approaching, the band is celebrating by re-releasing the album with some new tracks from that time and some reimagining of the originals. While we all wait for that re-release though, they did drop “Broken Jaw!” After listening to it, I can understand why it didn’t make the final cut of the album. It really sounds like nothing else on their, but it does still sound like a Foster the People track. In fact, it reminds me a lot of the collaboration Mark Foster did with Kimbra and A-Trak for Converse called “Warrior” (go check it out!). It’s been a while since the bands last release, so I’ll take what I can get!
Bullet for My Valentine – “Parasite”
Sigh, this is the kind of heavy metal that just doesn’t really appeal to me. My sister, however? This is right up her alley and makes her even more pumped for their upcoming self-titled album coming out at the end of October. She had felt the last few albums from them had gotten pretty “soft” and the two singles they’re released in the past couple months seem to be a return to form. I’m glad she’s happy about it, but there isn’t enough melody there for me to really jive with it. With that being said, I did enjoy “Knives,” so I do have some hopes for the record, too!