• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Travel
  • Sports
  • Law/Justice
  • Celebrities
  • Film/TV/Stream
  • Republicans
  • Madonna
  • Books
  • Men
  • Trans Rights
  • Tech/Science
  • Royals
  • Monkeypox

NEW MUSIC: John Grant, Mercury Rev, Bjork, pinkshinyultrablast

Michael Fitzgerald October 6, 2015 Leave a Comment

John Grant

This week in new music: John Grant finds some – but thankfully not too much – peace of mind in Iceland, Russian shoegaze act pinkshinyultrablast reinvent a genre with a euphoric return, Mercury Rev are back with the crowd pleasing The Light In You and Bjork announces an orchestral version of Vulnicura.


 

John Grant – Grey Tickles, Black Pressure

John Grant - Grey Tickles, Black PressureJohn Grant (top and right) has always had a way with words and the title of his new album is no exception. Grey Tickles, Black Pressure apparently comes from an Icelandic term for a midlife crisis and a Turkish term for nightmares.

Known for his savage, introspective lyrics (“Why don’t you take it out on somebody else, why don’t you bore the shit out of somebody else, why don’t you tell somebody else that they’re helpless, a weakling, coward and pathetic troll”) Grant is everything you might expect from a musician finally finding his feet – and voice – in his 40s.

The former frontman with the Czars, Grant is in fine form here.

Formerly meditating on his HIV diagnosis, a nasty breakup (“It doesn’t matter to him / I could be anything but I could never win his heart again / It doesn’t matter to him / He took away my Triple-A pass / I am invisible to him”) and depression, Grant is now settled in Iceland and fully partnered once more.

So what’s on his mind this time? Mostly settling into middle age it would seem. “And let’s be clear,” he sings, “Joan Baez makes GG Allin look like Charlene Tilton.” On his favorite things, Grant is particularly taken with the German genitive case and earlier is concerned that “I did not think I was the one being addressed / In haemorrhoid commercials on the TV set.”

One of few event albums of the year and one of the best to boot, Grey Tickles, Black Pressure mixes Grant’s beautiful baritone voice with his trademark genre-hopping sound and deep, deep sense of himself. And it would appear that he’s correct in his observation that he gets better looking as he ages.

video
Link
typorama 6 copy


 

Pinkshinyultrablast – “Kiddy Pool Dreams”

pinkshinyultrblast“Russian shoegaze” is a phrase you don’t hear too often. If you’re expecting some dark subgenre from pinkshinyultrablast (above), think again.

Shoegaze yes, but with heads tilted upwards the St. Petersburg natives employ a Lush-style sound that is in fairness something like a Pink Shiny Ultrablast of the much maligned genre with dashes of math rock and synth pop.

Their first new music since debut album Everything Else Matters, “Kiddy Pool Dreams” is a euphoric reinvention of a classic sound.

video
Link
typorama 6 copy


 

Mercury Rev – The Light In You

Mercury Rev are likely a band you love or hate. It’s often been suggested that Jonathan Donahue’s airy, fragile vocals are close to irritating. 

While The Light In You doesn’t contain anything close to unexpected and at times seems repetitive it is nonetheless a better than expected addition to the back catalog and that rare thing – an album that get’s better in it’s second half.

video
Link
typorama 6 copy


 

Bjork – Vulnicura Strings

Released back in January, Bjork’s Vulnicura is one of her best albums to date. Detailing personal heartbreak, it’s also one of her most stripped back and accessible.

With a new orchestral version of the album set for release on CD in November and out on vinyl in December, have a listen to the new version of “Lionsong” below.

video
Link
typorama 6 copy

Topics: Music, towleroad More Posts About: Bjork, John Grant, Mercury Rev, New Music, Pinkshinyultrablast

Related Posts
  • ‘Hot Summer’ and Podcast Drop to Promote 1st Album from the Prince Vault,’Welcome 2 America,’ ‘a laser-focused assault on the condition of America;’
  • Olly Alexander Starstruck. It’s Not A Sin. It’s a Poptastic Anthem about Human Connection…with Years and Years
  • NEW MUSIC: Praise, Courtney Barnett, Sun Kil Moon, Superorganism
  • Newsom’s attack ad on DeSantis could be 2024 presidential preview

    Newsom’s attack ad on DeSantis could be 2024 presidential preview

    Published by Orlando Sentinel ORLANDO, Fla. — Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s $100,000 Fox News ad on Monday urging Floridians to “join the fight” against Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis “or join us in California” has drawn …Read More »
  • Friends co-creator Marta Kauffman admits pronouns ‘mistake’

    Friends co-creator Marta Kauffman admits pronouns ‘mistake’

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Marta Kauffman has admitted ‘Friends’ bosses made a “mistake” by using the wrong pronouns to describe a transgender character. In the show, Chandler Bing’s parent is referred to as his “dad” …Read More »
  • In Chicago, killings of transgender women of color often go unsolved. ‘There’s no justice,’ relatives say

    In Chicago, killings of transgender women of color often go unsolved. ‘There’s no justice,’ relatives say

    Published by Chicago Tribune CHICAGO — Speaking through tears, Rosemary Gamble returns again and again to the questions she would like to ask her granddaughter’s killer: Why did you do this? What could she have possibly …Read More »
  • Savage Garden star Darren Hayes was in a ‘dark place’ before coming out as gay

    Savage Garden star Darren Hayes was in a ‘dark place’ before coming out as gay

      Published by BANG Showbiz English   Darren Hayes was in a “dark place” before he came out as gay. The 50-year-old star – who is best known as frontman and singer of the pop duo …Read More »
Previous Post: « Confusing Southern Baptist Statement Rejects ‘Ex-Gay’ Therapy, Embraces ‘Biblical Conversion Therapy’
Next Post: Indiana Governor Mike Pence Wants Business Leaders to Back ‘Utah Compromise’ on LGBT Rights: VIDEO »

Primary Sidebar

News

  • Margot Robbie & Ryan Gosling Skate Through A Day Of Filming ‘Barbie’ In Venice Beach: Photos

    Margot Robbie & Ryan Gosling Skate Through A Day Of Filming ‘Barbie’ In Venice Beach: Photos

  • Six killed in shooting during US July 4 parade

    Six killed in shooting during US July 4 parade

  • US drought exposes murky mob past of Las Vegas

    US drought exposes murky mob past of Las Vegas

RSS Partner Links

  • R. Kelly Is Suing The Detention Center He’s Living In For Putting Him On Suicide Watch
  • OMG, baby, you’re a fire! Werk: Katy Perry tweets out in support of a woman’s right to choose on the 4th of July
  • Harry Styles Canceled His Copenhagen Show After A Shooting At A Mall Close To The Venue
  • Texas AG Wants To Re-Ban Gay Sex + Crimo Got His Gun Legally + Dem State Senator Twerks For Votes + Bette vs. Trans-Inclusive Language + MORE! — 12-PACK
  • WATCH: Brittney Griner’s wife calls for White House to do more to free WNBA star held in Russia
  • Billie Jean King, Roger Federer and other Wimbledon legends celebrate 100th anniversary of Centre Court
  • Elle Macpherson Brings Son Flynn Busson, 24, to Dior Fashion Show in Paris (Photos)

Most Recent

  • U.S. Justice Dept sues Arizona over restrictive voting requirements

    U.S. Justice Dept sues Arizona over restrictive voting requirements

  • Newsom’s attack ad on DeSantis could be 2024 presidential preview

    Newsom’s attack ad on DeSantis could be 2024 presidential preview

  • Friends co-creator Marta Kauffman admits pronouns ‘mistake’

    Friends co-creator Marta Kauffman admits pronouns ‘mistake’

  • In Chicago, killings of transgender women of color often go unsolved. ‘There’s no justice,’ relatives say

    In Chicago, killings of transgender women of color often go unsolved. ‘There’s no justice,’ relatives say

  • Savage Garden star Darren Hayes was in a ‘dark place’ before coming out as gay

    Savage Garden star Darren Hayes was in a ‘dark place’ before coming out as gay

  • Ohio city Akron imposes curfew after protests over police killing of Black man

    Ohio city Akron imposes curfew after protests over police killing of Black man

  • Elliot Page: ‘Never thought I would love a passport photo’

    Elliot Page: ‘Never thought I would love a passport photo’

  • Adele gifts VIP concert access to fan in exchange for Pride flag

    Adele gifts VIP concert access to fan in exchange for Pride flag

Most Commented

Social

Twitter @tlrd | Facebook | Instagram @tlrd
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy
[towleroadmr] [towleroadtn]

Footer

Copyright © 2022 · Log in