Top of The Drop

By Daniel J. Springer

This is the latest installment of “Top of The Drop,” by Daniel Springer of the Gwangju Foreign Language Network (GFN). Each month, “Danno” picks his favorite newly released tunes that you may have missed, along with some upcoming albums and EPs that you might want to keep on your radar. — Ed.

Say She She – “Prism”

This is the title track to the Chic-inspired, NYC-based septet’s debut album, due out October 7. Few groups this summer have wowed as consistently as Say She She, with the vocal harmonies of the lead trio of Piya Malik, Nya Gazelle Brown, and Sabrina Mileo Cunningham being the especially choice accoutrement to the overall vibe. Be sure not to sleep on “Prism,” dropping once again on October 7 via Karma Chief Records! C’est Chi-Chi!

Danger Mouse & Black Thought (feat. MF Doom) – “Belize”

To be honest, with all the star power of the names and the hype surrounding Cheat Codes, it wouldn’t have been a surprise if it had its share of duds on the album. However, this album is some amazing vintage soul and head-nod glory, consistent from start to finish. Nowhere does the vision of Cheat Codes come together better than on “Belize,” with the dearly departed Supervillain himself spitting bars to perfection with Black Thought over an incredible arrangement that both glows with blackest dark matter and shimmers tantalizingly.

JW Francis – “I Wanna Be Your Basketball”

Few in the lo-fi rock genre do it more positively or more infectiously than the wildling from Oklahoma who went to school in NYC and now seems to just bounce uncontrollably all over the globe. This particular new single is “a love song about wanting to be something or someone else,” which I’m sure anyone can identify with. The artist will drop a new album sometime later this year or very early the next.

Cool Heat (feat. Community Swimming Pool) – “All the Time”

This is a great indie collab between two artists out of Chicago and Scotland. Cool Heat is the solo project of Eden Sierotnik out of Chicago, while on the other side of the Atlantic, Community Swimming Pool is the solo project of the man everyone calls BMac, who hails from Glasgow if you wanna get specific about it. The two artists both make hazy lo-fi indie rock, with Cool Heat being typically a bit dreamier about the sound, but the two working on the same tune works to perfection.

The Mountain Goats – “Wage Wars Get Rich Die Handsome”

It has been a long time since the veteran indie folk outfit truly turned to a straight-out rock sound, but you cannot say that anymore. The band’s twenty-first studio album, Bleed Out,dropped August 19 and is envisioned by lead man John Darnielle as a pastiche of familiar tropes to be found in action flicks, with each song hitting like a quick punch to the gut, or a surprising explosion, but without the protagonist running away in slow motion.

The Backseat Lovers – “Growing/Dying”

This is a band that only has a few years behind them but a ton of fans already behind them, with their limited discography already clocking in a whopping 370 million streams alone. Originally from Utah, The Backseat Lovers have been playing to overflow crowds around the UK and US this summer at some of the biggest festivals around, so the sky is indeed the limit right now if they’re not touching it already.

Divino Niño – “XO”

The Latin indie rock darlings out of Chicago are out with their second career LP, The Last Spa on Earth,as of September 23. This single is a particularly adept arrangement, with the song opening in a very psyche rock fashion that flirts with funk, only to somehow morph into a borderline reggaeton track.

Alvvays – “Easy on Your Own?”

This band has been absolutely smashing it since their debut eight years ago, but like their home on Prince Edward Island, Canada, they’re not in a rush about it. This is one of the lead singles to Blue Rev, which comes out October 7 and is only the band’s third album. However, the five-year wait since their last LP, Socialites,looks like it’s going to be worth it.

Roc Marciano & The Alchemist – “JJ Flash”

This is a tune that appeared on one of the sneakiest, most sinister, and high-quality concept hip-hop albums of this year. The Elephant Man’s Bones was long on wait time and mega-hype but delivers in such complex fashion that it might take a few listens to get a glimpse into the creation from these two high art hip-hop purveyors. 

Drauve – “Distraction”

Originally out of Pittsburgh but now residing in Los Angeles, Drauve is now a duo that’s driven both by togetherness and singer Victoria Morgan’s OCD. While that state might indeed help the final quality of what’s put out, one can’t help but be a little concerned listening to it, which only adds greatly to the experience.

Julia Jacklin – “Ignore Tenderness”

For those who don’t like introspection or taking a deep look in the mirror, this isn’t the album for you. That being noted, Julia Jacklin on her third career LP, Pre-Pleasure,really dives deep on the introspective aspects, with the Melbourne-based singer-songwriter completely disarming the listeners who are indeed paying attention.  It’s a brilliantly written album top-to-bottom – full of surprising insights for those who care.

September LPs

• Two Door Cinema Club – Keep on Smiling (September 2)
• Built to Spill – When the Wind Forgets Your Name (September 9)
• Sampa The Great – As Above, So Below (September 9)
• John Legend – Legend (September 9)
• Santigold – Spirituals (September 9)
• Sudan Archives – Natural Brown Prom Queen (September 9)
• Blackpink – Born Pink (September 16)
• Death Cab for Cutie – Asphalt Meadows (September 16)
• Suede – Autofiction (September 16)
• The Beths – Expert in a Dying Field (September 16)
• The Mars Volta – s/t (September 16)
• Whitney – Spark (September 16)
• Alex G – God Save the Animals (September 23)
• Editors – EBM (September 23)
• Makaya McCraven – In These Times (September 23)
• Christine & The Queens – Redcar les adorables étoiles (September 23)
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Cool It Down (September 30)
• OFF! – Free LSD (September 30)
• Titus Andronicus – The Will to Live (September 30)

October LPs

• Say She She – Prism (October 7)
• Alvvays – Blue Rev (October 7)
• Bonny Light Horsemen – Rolling Golden Holy (October 7)
• Broken Bells – Into the Blue (October 7)
• Caribou – Cherry (October 7)
• Charlie Puth – Charlie (October 7)
• King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Ice, Death, Planets, Lungs, Mushrooms, and Lava (October 7) …along with two other albums that same month (no big deal)
• The Orielles – Tableau (October 7)
• Sorry – Anywhere but Here (October 7)
• Alaskalaska – Still Life (October 14)
• Brian Eno – ForeverAndEverNoMore (October 14)
• Tove Lo – Dirt Femme (October 14)
• Skullcrusher – Quiet the Room (October 14)
• Arctic Monkeys – The Car (October 21)
• Nick Hakim – Cometa (October 21)
• Loyle Carner – Hugo (October 21)
• Dry Cleaning – Stumpwork (October 21)
• Drugdealer – Hiding in Plain Sight (October 28)
• Junior Boys – Waiting Game (October 28)

The Author

Daniel J. Springer (aka “Danno”) is the creator, host, writer, editor, and producer of “The Drop with Danno,” broadcasting nightly on GFN 98.7 FM in Gwangju and 93.7 FM in Yeosu from 8–10 p.m. Prior to this, he was a contributor to several shows on TBS eFM in Seoul, along with being the creator and co-host of “Spacious” and “White Label Radio” on WNUR in Chicago. You can find “The Damyang Drop,” his monthly collaborative playlist with The Damyang House, on YouTube and Spotify.

Instagram, Twitter, Facebook: @gfnthedrop

Show RSS Feed: https://feeds.transistor.fm/the-drop-with-danno

Main photograph by Fringer Cat on Unsplash.