All focus was on the new Pearl Jam single that dropped on Tuesday, but certainly the attention got spread around a bit more with the release of the new IDLES, mega cat, and Middle Kids albums on Friday. Also in the last couple weeks, we’ve gotten new albums from J Mascis, Little Simz, Ducks Ltd, and Brittany Howard, as well as new singles from Byland, Amen Dunes, and a little-known artist called… Beyonce. We’re in a season of some great music!
Ah, the great debate on what is and isn’t Country Music is back. To be fair, Beyonce’s “Texas Hold’em” is far from pure country, but there is plenty played on commercial country stations that isn’ sonically “pure country”. There also are plenty of artists ignored by Commercial Country radio. This is a beef I have that extends to commercial radio in general, but it is country, in particular, that is overt in maintaining a curated culture. What gets played is a very narrow selection. Even celebrated artists are ignored by commercial country. It perpetuates the stereotypes of Country music because if you tune into Country radio, then you will likely hear songs about tight jeans and pickup trucks. Artists that write beyond these stereotypes are more likely to get played on Indie radio. All this to say, whatever non-Country elements there are to Beyonce’s new song, I like to see the challenge put to commercial radio why it won’t be played. Even celebrated artists have been dismissed by commercial radio, and it doesn’t make sense that you are unlikely to hear John Prine or Dolly Parton on country radio. Brandi Carlile isn’t played on country radio, Drive-By Truckers are ignored, Rhiannon Giddens is ignored. There’s a beautiful Waxahatchee song also included in this edition, and that won’t be heard on commercial Country radio. The homogenous culture doesn’t represent country music accurately. Beyonce fans calling to request “Texas Hold’em” already know the request will be denied just the same as Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” was denied, but good on them for challenging an institution long in need of a challenge. Okay, that’s my rant over.
A new Pearl Jam single is always cause for celebration, and this was a great one! Now they’ve had some great rockers in the last couple decades, but in the last 20 yrs or so their best songs have been their softer side. Songs like “Just Breathe” and “Sirens” and “Future Days” were beautiful songs with that they simply could not have written in their younger days. This new single, “Dark Matter”, hit hard, and it seems most fans feel it’s their best harder song since the Avocado album (actually, self-titled) in ’06. I think it may be my personal favorite harder song since Riot Act in ’02. Love that heavy main riff, and McCready’s solo sounds hot!
Some favorites in this edition are Torres, Middle Kids, Waxahatchee, and mega cat.
Tracklist:
Torres – Jerk into joy
Middle Kids – Highlands
TR/ST – Slug
Pearl Jam – Dark Matter
Byland – Two Circles
IDLES – POP POP POP
Sprints – Adore Adore Adore
Amen Dunes – Purple Land
Dina Ögon – Håll avstånd
mega cat – Don’t You Ever Get The Creeps?
Brittany Howard – Red Flags
Black Milk – Act Like
Chicano Batman – Fly
Little Simz – Mood Swings
Ibibio Sound Machine – Got to Be Who U Are
Beyonce – Texas Hold’em [acapella]
Waxahatchee, MJ Lenderman – Right Back to It
First-aid Kit – Turning Onto You – HNNY Remix
Ducks Ltd. – Cathedral City
Sleater-Kinney – Dress Yourself
J Mascis – Can’t Believe We’re Here
The Fortnightly Playlist 
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