5 albums you need to hear this week
With music from Lankum, Kate Nash, Gracie Abrams, Lola Young and Been Stellar.
In the age of streaming, it’s never been easier to listen to new music — but with over 60,000 new songs added to Spotify every day, it’s also never been harder to know what to put on. Every week, the team at Rolling Stone UK will run down some of the best new releases that have been added to streaming services.
This week, we’ve highlighted records by Lankum, Kate Nash, Gracie Abrams, Lola Young and Been Stellar.
Lankum – Live in Dublin
As we said in our review of their Primavera Sound set in Barcelona last month, Lankum have become “a must-see live act in 2024,” and for those that can’t make it to a show, their new live album – recorded at a hometown gig in Dublin last year – does a stellar job at recreating their eerie onstage magic. Live in Dublin is led by ‘The Rocky Road to Dublin’, a live staple of the band’s (and canonical Irish folk tune) that they never wanted to record in a studio so not to dilute its magic. On the new live album, it stands as testament to the quartet’s instinctive and unique musical chemistry.
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Music | TIDAL | Amazon Music
Kate Nash – 9 Sad Symphonies
On her fifth album, Kate Nash proves that she’s still the whip-smart, unrepentant voice that emerged some 17 years ago. “I’m not about it / I’m on my own shit,” she declares on the brilliantly defiant ‘Wasteman’. She *is* still on her own shit, it seems, and it continues to fit her like a glove.
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Music | TIDAL | Amazon Music
Gracie Abrams – The Secret of Us
Through slots on Taylor Swift‘s Eras Tour and a series of hype-building EPs, Gracie Abrams has built a rabid fanbase and a reputation for moody, affecting ballads. Abrams’ second album The Secret of Us sees her working once again with The National‘s Aaron Dessner, who lays beautifully murky layers of noise behind Abrams’ confessional storytelling.
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Music | TIDAL | Amazon Music
Been Stellar – Scream from New York, NY
If The Strokes‘ debut album Is This It painted the canonical portrait of turn-of-the-millenium New York City, Dirty Hit-signed quintet Been Stellar aim to do the same for the current day. Down to its title, Scream from New York, NY is a quintessentially New York album and fizzes with the same energy and intensity that all the best music from the Big Apple seems to do. Musically, it draws from the city’s famous musical sons – Interpol, Television – while feeling fresh and vibrant.
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Music | TIDAL | Amazon Music
Lola Young – This Wasn’t Mean For You Anyway
The barbed title of Lola Young’s second album doesn’t, thankfully, reflect the sound of that record in any way whatsoever. Instead, it’s a record where subtle pop and R&B stylings allow Young’s personal, oft-painful stories to become elevated and develop universal appeal. ‘Walk On By’ is defined by its unrepentant agency of defiance, while the unrepentant ‘Fuck’ is an empowering ode to sexual liberation. There’s a lot to admire and enjoy here.
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Music | TIDAL | Amazon Music