4 albums you need to hear this week
With music from Coldplay, Geordie Greep, Finneas and The Smile
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 Coldplay, The Smile, Geordie Greep and Finneas.
Coldplay – Moon Music
As Lennon and McCartney famously told us in 1967: All You Need Is Love. Almost fifty years later and Chris Martin wants you to know that’s still very much the case. Moon Music, the tenth album from the biggest band in the world, is practically seeping with the stuff. It’s there on the euphoric highs of ‘feelslikeimfallinginlove’ – which captures the heady highs of early romance – and it’s there on the suitably Beatles-tinged ‘All My Love’ which rounds off the record. Life might not be all sunshine and rainbows but with a track on this record that literally uses the 🌈 emoji as a title, Martin wants it known that all we can do is try. There’s a seriously impressive array of guest stars too – Nigerian stadium filler Burna Boy, UK rap royalty Little Simz and Palestinian singer Elyanna all feature on the thumping ‘We Pray’. It’s unlikely to convert hardened cynics, but long-time Coldplay devotees will no doubt lap it up.
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Music | TIDAL | Amazon Music
Geordie Greep – The New Sound
Geordie Greep’s breakout band Black Midi were known for delivering uncompromising, and unapologetically bold moments of prog and experimental rock that inspired devoted enthralment and revulsion in equal measure. On his solo album, Greep doubles down on that mantra. It won’t be for everyone, but those who push through will find there’s plenty to enjoy. The title track sees him successfully delivering a slow-burning 70s tinged epic, while the demented yacht-rock of ‘Holy Holy’ is a complete treat. It’s an album delivered seemingly entirely on Greep’s own terms, and one that sounds all the better for it.
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Music | TIDAL | Amazon Music
The Smile – Cutouts
It might be arriving a mere eight months after The Smile’s second album Wall Of Eyes, but this third effort is crystal clear proof, not that it was ever needed, that Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood and drummer Tom Skinner are having the time of their lives. It’s the sound of a band becoming alchemists – mixing together their own unique blend of experimentalism that results in something truly special. There’s the prog-flecked escapism of ‘Zero Sum’ and the unrepentant, fun funk of ‘The Slip’. Radiohead may have been recently meeting for “really fun” rehearsal sessions, but you’d bet against anything solid emerging when the side project sounds as consistently brilliant as this.
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Music | TIDAL | Amazon Music
Finneas – For Cryin’ Out Loud!
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Music | TIDAL | Amazon Music
On his second album, Billie Eilish’s brother and co-producer takes a subdued, mellow take on things. There’s the dramatic slow burn of ‘What’s It Gonna Take To Break Your Heart’ and the raw emotion of the title track. He knows it won’t transform him into the stadium-filler that his sister is, but he’s entirely at peace with that. Here, you’ll find a powerful reflection of the artist he clearly wants to be.