1. We started 2016 off on the right note.
Between new names and familiar faces, the New Year in music is looking so far, so good. We're getting hyped for sophomore albums from the 1975 and Porches., the debut of former Smith Westerns frontman Cullen Omori, and more from the electro–pop goddess that is Elohim.
2. We learned why Friday is THE best day of the week.
Rumor has it that G.O.O.D. Fridays (aka weekly Yeezus freebies to hold you over until Swish drops February 11th) may or may not be back. Here’s hoping…!
3. We lost a legend.
David Bowie passed away after an 18-month battle with cancer. He was truly a music pioneer, moving seamlessly between different music styles to create an unparalleled discography. He brought an assortment of characters to life to critique the lack of authenticity in the rockstar lifestyle, bringing comfort to freaks, geeks, and weirdos everywhere. Remember Ziggy Stardust/The Thin White Duke/Aladdin Sane/David Jones by listening to some of his best:
4. We welcomed back someone great.
Back in October, it was deemed too good to be true. But now, you better believe it—in a rambling blog post, James Murphy said sorry–not–sorry to fans as he revealed that LCD Soundsystem is, in fact, getting back together, making new music, headlining Coachella AND coming soon to a city near you. Don’t know about you, but we’re already dancing ourselves clean:
5. We ordered our flower crowns.
Festival season is rapidly approaching, which means lineups, lineups, lineups:
- Expect not one, but two reunions at Coachella: 1. Guns & Roses 2. The aforementioned LCD Soundsystem. Honorable mentions: Calvin Harris, Beach House, Ellie Goulding, A$AP Rocky, Sufjan Stevens.
- It’s what people are calling Governor’s Ball's best lineup ever: The Strokes. Kanye. The Killers. M83. Years & Years. Beck. HAIM. And that’s not even the half of it.
- Plus, there’s a new kid on the block, which leads us to…
6. We watched the Battle for New York unfold.
Back in September, we warned you about an imminent corporate threat (Read: a Coachella expansion) to the East Coast. Four months and one failed change.org petition later, Panorama will officially hit Randall’s Island in NYC a mere six weeks after incumbent Governor’s Ball takes the stage. The winner? TBD.
7. We strengthened our love of ramen.
Or: we sang along to Courtney Barnett’s dietary habits? The Aussie rocker sounds vaguely like a Penn kid in her new song ‘Three Packs a Day,’ as she and a harmonica serenade the economical noodle.
8. We had déjà vu.
If it were me Pitchfork reading the signs, they’d say they see Radiohead in your future. Between dropping a new single and establishing a new company, the band made familiar moves that point to an imminent album release. I was never one for fortune cookies, but this one’s too good to pass up.
Listen to ‘Spectre’ here:
