Over the weekend, the alternative and pop scene released a plethora of new music. Ranging from unexpected, moody beats to stripped-back acoustics, as well as oddly charming music videos all the way to a dystopian pop album accompanied by a comic book series. Vision has narrowed down our top five favorite releases:
“Skin&Earth” by LIGHTS
Indie-electronic artist LIGHTS released her fourth album, “Skin&Earth,” along with a six-part comic book mini-series. The comics follow along with the dystopian society that LIGHTS created for the dark, electro-pop concept album, as do the music videos. The blending of media is seamless — the album, music videos and comics tell the same story, proving how diverse LIGHTS is as a musician and artist.
“Burst & Decay” by The Wonder Years
Pop punk is often about anger and heartbreak, though with “Burst and Decay,” The Wonder Years focused on the latter. This 25-minute acoustic EP features seven renditions of songs spanning from 2011 to 2015. The stripped back vocals and lack of heavy instruments allow the focus to shift to the lyrics — and without the usual aggressive vocals, the sadness shines through. The pop punk undertones are still present, but “Burst & Decay” triumphs by revisiting and reimagining old wounds.
“Week Without You” by Miley Cyrus
With “Younger Now” coming out this Friday, the second promotional single “Week Without You” dropped just in time to remind everyone what to expect from the new album. Following 2015’s psychedelic venture, “Miley Cyrus and Her Dead Petz,” “Younger Now” is Cyrus returning to her country roots. “Week Without You” is a retro-romance ballad that imagines life without her lover.
“Mad Hatter” by Melanie Martinez
Two years after the release of her debut album “Cry Baby,” Melanie Martinez has completed writing, directing and styling music videos for all thirteen tracks. “Mad Hatter,” the final music video from “Cry Baby,” is arguably her best work so far. The video follows Martinez on what appears to be an acid trip, falling into dark fantasies from the classic fairytale “Alice in Wonderland.”
“How Do You Feel?” by The Maine
Following the success of their sixth album, alternative rock band The Maine released a Beatles-inspired music video for the single, “How Do You Feel?” The upbeat, fast-paced track is paired with a clean, simplistic video. It has a clear ‘60s vibe, with the band donning white suits, performing in front of a wall of red roses while cutting to 8mm film shots of the band members.
