Gorillaz have finally unveiled details around their forthcoming album, The Now Now. In an interview with Beats 1’s Zane Lowe, Damon Albarn revealed that the new album was produced by Simian Mobile Disco’s James Ford and Remi Kabaka, and that the only featured guests are George Benson, Jamie Principle, and Snoop Dogg. The band has also shared two new songs, the Benson-featuring “Humility” and “Lake Zurich.” The former also has received the video treatment that sees Gorillaz’ cartoon entities hanging out on Venice Beach and contains an appearance from Jack Black. The Now Now drops June 29 via Warner Bros/Parlophone and follows last year's Humanz. [ Pitchfork ]
Yesterday afternoon, Jack White made a surprise appearance at Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington DC to play in their atrium during lunchtime. White was on the second day of a two-night stint playing sold-out shows at The Anthem. Apparently, the only people privy to White’s arrival at the high school was the principal and another school administrator. White’s set lasted 45 minutes and the kids really got into it during “Seven Nation Army.” White released Boarding House Reach earlier this year and will play the WaMu Theatre on Monday, August 13. [ Consequence of Sound ]
Jim James is gearing up to deliver a new solo album, Uniform Distortion. Today, the My Morning Jacket frontman shared the LP’s second single, “Throwback.” James penned a lengthy statement about the track: “wrote this song doing pretty much what you are probably doing right at this very second: scrolling thru social media. It struck me as SO wild – how, as you scroll back in time through someone’s account, you watch their face grow younger…but as you do this, REAL TIME IS RUNNING OUT!!!! The clock is ticking…instead of doing good work or creating love or taking a walk in nature, I am here STARING AT MY FUCKING PHONE!!!! ha ha ha. Don’t get me wrong – social media is an amazing tool…but I think we should look at it more like a tool, like a hammer you pick up for a little while to do a job, and then you PUT IT DOWN. You don’t sit there and keep hammering away or else pretty soon your entire world would be destroyed and fall apart! And I feel like that is exactly what is happening right before our very eyes to this precious real beautiful human-filled earth. So lets WAKE EACH OTHER UP PEOPLE! Lets stand up against injustice and use this tool of social media to fight for peace and love and equality! Let’s throwback for a minute, but try and live in the NOW for a better future. Thanks for listening.” Uniform Distortion is out June 29 via ATO. [ Stereogum ]
Yesterday, it was announced that Perfume Genius was releasing a new remix EP titled Reshaped that reworks songs off of last year’s No Shape. A remix of “Run Me Through” by King Princess was shared. Today, Mura Masa’s take on “Slip Away” has been unveiled. The EP also includes contributions from original No Shape producer Blake Mills, experimental composer Laurel Halo, serpentwithfeet collaborator mmph, and Night Slugs’ Jam City. Reshaped is out June 8 via Matador. [ Under the Radar ]
New music from Father John Misty, The Internet, and Kamasi Washington, plus Kendrick Lamar accepts the Pulitzer Prize for music, and Florence and the Machine, Lily Allen, and Young Fathers perform on Jools Holland.
New music from Lykke Li, Björk performs a rare song, Florence + the Machine announce tour, and Perfume Genius unveils remix EP.
K-pop group Loona released a teaser of a new song with Grimes, new music from Wooden Shjips and The Get Up Kids, plus Jim James takes the Late Show stage.
