Dolly Parton has announced that her album Rockstar will be released on November 17th, and will be filled with remakes of her hits, often featuring original performers. But she also brings in some of her own songs, including this one, in which she sang her anxious and outraged assessment of her lie- and strife-filled “World on Fire.” Dolly Gone arena rock goth with power chord blasts and gritty drums. A gospel-like bridge asks, “Can’t we climb/Show love?” , to return to minor chords. A harsh, stomping chant in the style of “We Will Rock You”: “What if everything burns out?” Mr. Parton concludes with the same question.John Pareles
Joni Mitchell “Both Sides Now (Live at the Newport Folk Festival 2022)”
Joni Mitchell’s surprise appearance at the 2022 Newport Folk Festival, bolstered and surrounded by devoted fans like Brandi Carlyle, will bring courage, support and resilience, but also enduring music. It was also a demonstration of sex and control. “Both Sides Now” is a preview of his official live album, “At Newport,” which will be released on July 28th. With piano ripples and strings billowing behind her, Carlisle and Lucius adding vocal harmonies, Mitchell makes each phrase purposeful, speculative and improvisational, while her low, grisly , but an accurate voice makes every word a lesson in life.parel
Rhiannon Giddens “You Are You”
Rhiannon Giddens, fresh off the Pulitzer Prize for the music to the opera Omar, releases the title track of her first full-length album, “You’re the One,” though she has written and adapted it extensively. , collaborating). As she sings about finding love that transforms “shades of gray” into “a new Technicolor world,” the song explodes from the foundation of her string band, banjo and fiddle, to a euphoric fullness. It becomes a tilt rock chorus.parel
Jorja Smith “Little Things”
Jazzy piano licks and frenetic beats drive British R&B artist Jorja Smith’s new single ‘Little Things’, capturing the atmosphere of a vibrant and intimate house party with a dense dance floor I’m here. “Just something for you and me,” Smith tightened his voice before shrugging coolly. “And if that’s what it’s meant to be, that’s fine.” Lindsey Zolaz
Fatoumata Diawara & Roberto Fonseca “Blues”
Malian-born Fatoumata Diawara plays “Blues” on a galloping six-beat modal groove topped by Cuban pianist Roberto Fonseca, from her new international fusion album, London Co. It’s the liveliest song out there. She produced the song with Damon Albarn of Gorillaz. The lyrics are in Bambara and English and express gratitude to her family. The mind is focused and intense.parel
Shakira “Acrostico”
Acrostico means acrostic, and the first letter of Shakira’s new song’s pentagram spells out the names of her sons Milan and Sasha. It’s her latest message following her breakup with footballer Gerard Pique, expressing her unwavering maternal devotion through her own pain. “Even if life treats me this way/I’ll be strong only for you,” she sings over steady piano chords. “All I want is your happiness/And to be with you.” Despite her scars, she is resolutely compassionate.parel
Christine and the Queens “Tears are so soft”
Songwriter and voice of Christine and the Queens, Eloise Lutissier, aka Chris, plunges into farewell and solace on “Tears Can Be So Soft.” It builds on the string arrangement samples from . “Feel All My Love Inside” by Marvin Gaye: A trembling plunge that jumps over octaves and changes from major to minor. Chris sings that her family, her friends, her lover are gone, crying as she drives down the highway, only her warmth and the release of her tears will comfort her. The string section will testify.parel
Rob Moose featuring Phoebe Bridgers, “Wasted”
Rob Moose’s violin echoes Phoebe Bridgers’ nocturnal angst on “Wasted,” from Moose’s upcoming EP Inflorescent. The plucked notes echo her tense nerves, and a bed of moaning strings lends further pathos to the lyrics. The lyrics were written by Bridgers co-creator Marshall Vore. “I used to have the energy to be angry, and I knew how to say sorry,” Bridger sings with bitter self-judgment and escalating intensity. “But now I’m back without any of that.” Zoraz
Natural Wonder Beauty Concept “Sword”
Harpsichord- and koto-like keyboard loops, off-pitched vocals, sporadic drum thumps, noises and unsheathed sword sounds are all stubbornly broken by singer Anna Roxanne and producer DJ Python. It runs through the easy track “Sword”. . They will be collaborating as Natural Wonder Beauty Concept to release an album due for release on July 14th. “Sword” is as elusive as it is transparent, with barely-understandable lyrics (“Everyone goes by,” Roxanne sneers) and a willingness to tweak everything. All the elements drop in the final section, slowing it down, but the mystery remains.parel
Ben Chasney & Rick Tomlinson “Waking of Insects”
Ben Chasney recorded: Six organs of admissionRick Tomlinson records, among other names: Voices of the Seven Forests. Both of them prefer minimal repetition and gradual development, and in 2017 they produced a duets album. “Waking of Insects” was recorded live with just two acoustic guitars. They share interlocking finger-picking patterns, prompting each other towards new patterns with moments of dissonance, transitioning from rapid flapping interplay to very slow crackling rest. I will continue.parel
