Every week on RELEVANT Recommends, we recommend a few new releases worth your time and attention. Here are our favorite things coming out this week.
The War on Drugs: I Don’t Live Here Anymore
Philadelphia’s finest are back with another batch of flawless rock and roll anthems to shaking off the pain and sorrows of yesterday and chasing brighter tomorrows. Adam Granduciel and his band find their joy in small things — memories of an old Bob Dylan concert, waking up the one you love — and clearly take a lot of joy in the meticulous production of this batch of songs you can’t help but sing with your chest.
CHVRCHES: Screen Violence: Director’s Cut
Screen Violence was a return to form for CHVRCHES, putting the Scottish trio’s pop music sensibilities back in the spotlight and providing a platform for frontwoman Lauren Mayberry to showcase her morally righteous lyrical chops. The new, extended version of the album includes several new songs that are every bit as good as the original lineup, suggesting the band’s best days may be yet to come.
Theon Cross: Intra-I
Theon Cross brings the tuba you didn’t know you needed into your life, championing a radical approach to his instrument of choice which, in his hands, is an instrument for revolution. Intra-I is part of his exploration of multiple themes, including the courage and resilience of post-war immigrants from the Caribbean to the UK. It’s the rock and roll glow-up the tuba has long deserved, and Cross is an artist you need to be paying attention to.
