New Music Friday 10/21: Taylor Swift, Carly Rae Jepsen, Arctic Monkeys and more. From pop-heavyweights to fresh indie finds, here is a recap of five exciting album drops from this week.
Taylor Swift “Midnights” (Republic)
Swift’s oven-fresh tenth record “Midnights” is her first effort full of new material since 2020’s “Evermore,” followed by releases of re-recorded versions of her iconic albums “Fearless” and “Red.”
Hardcore Swifities were treated on TikTok all through this fall by mini-series titled “Midnights Mayhem with Me” teasing song titles of all 13 new tracks released today. Produced by the legendary Jack Antonoff, Swift continues to reinvent herself staying fresh and exciting for not only her hardcore fans but also a wider audience.
Highlights of the record: “Snow On The Beach” featuring Lana Del Rey and “Lavender Haze”
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRHqj7Ss/
Carly Rae Jepsen “The Loneliest Time” (School Boy/Interscope/604)
Her first full album since her 2019 – In support of the record, Jepsen has embarked on a North American tour and played The Greek Theater earlier this week.
Today, ten years ago the name Carly Rae Jepsen could only be associated with the era-defining earworm “Call Me Maybe,” which broke the charts in the summer of 2012. Changing her artistic core with her 2015 album “Emotion,” Jepsen redefined herself to become a modern age icon serving her fans pure pop perfection. The fresh record “The Loneliest Time” surely fills its predecessor’s shoes and can definitely be called a no-skips-album.
Highlights of the record: “Western Wind,” “Joshua Tree,” “So Nice”
Arctic Monkeys “Drive” (Domino)
Preceded by singles “There’d better be a mirrorball” and “Body Paint,” Arctic Monkeys’ “Drive” might just be one of the most highly anticipated drops this year.
Their seventh set of fresh tunes is produced by James Ford of the Last Shadow Puppets and expectedly explores a brand new, untouched sound palette.
Also – act fast, because there are some tickets left for their North American Tour’s show on the Kia Stadium in October 2023:
Highlights of the record: “Body Paint,” “Perfect Sense”
Tegan & Sara “Crybaby” (Mom+Pop)
2022 has surely been a busy year for Canadian twins Tegan and Sara Quin. Their fresh (tenth!!) album “Crybaby”, out today on Mom+Pop is just a cherry on top of their accomplishments this year.
Called a “wild ride” by Rolling Stone’s Maura Johnston, there is no better way to describe the new record.
The album’s lead single “F*****g Up What Matters” was released in late April to critical acclaim and was followed by the drop of a biopic-series “High School,” produced by Plan B and Amazon Studios, starring HIMYM’s Cobie Smulders and Railey and Seazynn Gilliland as the younger versions of the famous twins.
“Crybaby” is also the first T&S record to be released through Mom+Pop, since their departure from Sire Records, who had been their home since 2007’s “The Con.”
Re-release: Christina Aguilera “Stripped 20” (RCA)
20 years later, the message of Christina Aguilera’s blockbuster hit “Beautiful” seems to sound more relevant than ever. The fresh video for her 2002 song focuses on self-image and empowerment in modern times and reflects the issues the (not only) youth faces in the digital era, proving the song’s evergreen message.
In honor of the track’s 20th anniversary, the singer took to Twitter by saying: “Tune out and turn in. Take your space, log off, put your mind, body, and soul first.”
Watch the singer’s updated 2022 version, which doubles down on self-acceptance, positive self-esteem and personal empowerment.
Christina Aguilera – Beautiful (2022 Version)