Janet Jackson
scene from Janet Jackson's new video

10 New Songs Out Today

So many artists, so little time. Each week we review five new albums (of all genres), round up even more new music that we’d call “indie,” and talk about what metal is coming out. We post music news, show recaps, track premieres, and more all day. That includes a lot of tour announcements, a list of tonight’s NYC shows, and NY shows that just went on sale. We publish a monthly playlist of some of our favorite tracks. Here’s a daily roundup with a bunch of interesting, newly released songs in one place…

JANET JACKSON x DADDY YANKEE – “MADE FOR NOW”

Janet Jackson just dropped the first video from her yet-to-be-titled album, “Made For Now,” which features Daddy Yankee. Whether you like the song or not, the video is pretty spectacular, directed by Dave Meyers who made most of Missy Elliot’s classic videos (and more recent stuff like Kendrick Lamar’s “HUMBLE”) and playing out almost like a 30-year update of Janet’s “When I Think of You” video, zooming all over New York City in one seemingly seamless shot.

YOUNG THUG – “GAIN CLOUT”

Young Thug released a new “compilation” today called Slime Language, and one of the songs, “Gain Clout,” got the video treatment. Thugger goes back and forth between a faster, clearer rapping style and his more trademark sing-rapping style, and the whole thing is as delightfully weird as you’d hope.

LES BIG BYRD – “I FUCKED UP I WAS A CHILD”

Swedish psych heads Les Big Byrd, which features Joakim Åhlund (Caesars, Teddybears) and Frans Johansson (Fireside), will release their new album, Iran Iraq IKEA, on October 28 via PNKSLM. The new single from the LP is “I Fucked Up I Was a Child,” a look back at the follies of youth set to a very catchy ’80s-ish backing that’s anthemic and understated at the same time.

MERCY UNION (mem GASLIGHT ANTHEM, SCANDALS) – “CHIPS AND VICS”

The Scandals frontman Jared Hart and The Gaslight Anthem drummer Benny Horowitz are two fourths of new band Mercy Union (with guitarist Rocky Catanese and bassist Nick Jorgensen) and they’re releasing their debut album The Quarry, which was recorded with Pete Steinkopf of The Bouncing Souls, on October 19. Lead single “Chips and Vics” kinda sounds like The Gaslight Anthem mixed with a little ’80s pop rock guitar. They also have three upcoming shows: Jesse Malin’s Summer Strummerjam at NYC’s Bowery Ballroom on 8/25, a home state release show at NJ’s Crossroads on 10/18, and The Fest.

CUMULUS – “TOUGH CROWD”

Cumulus (the project of Seattle indie rock musician Alexandra Niedzialkowsk) have shared another single from their upcoming sophomore album Comfort World (due 9/28 via Chris Walla’s Trans- Records). “Tough Crowd” is more of a driving indie rock song than the atmospheric lead single, the title track. Alexandra told KEXP, “‘One of these days they’ll figure me out’ was my way of venting that insecurity… that any minute people could find out I don’t have my life as together as I make it look on the outside, and then kind of bringing it all together with a chorus that is unifying.”

BROOKE CANDY feat. PUSSY RIOT, MYKKI BLANCO & MNDR – “MY SEX”

Brooke Candy’s raunchy new mega-collaboration is co-written by Charli XCX, and produced by MNDR, Peter Wade, and TRAPCHAT. “I want people to feel powerful, confident, and in control when they listen to ‘My Sex,’ Brooke said about the song. “Sex can be a magical, transformative thing and I’d love for queer culture and all women to feel like they have the ability to experience that magic after listening.” Pastelae directed the accompanying vivid, NSFW video.

SHORTLY – “FINDERS KEEPERS”

After releasing her first single for Triple Crown, Shortly (aka Michigan singer/songwriter Alexandria Maniak) has now announced her debut EP, Richmond, which comes out on September 14 via that label. It includes recent single “Spare Time,” and like that song, the whole EP was produced by Hop Along’s Joe Reinhart. It also features the new song “Finders Keepers,” which sorta sounds like a slightly more “rock” version of Julien Baker.

DAUGHTERS – “THE REASON THEY HATE ME”

Noise rock vets Daughters announced their first album in eight years and shared the second single, and we wrote more about it HERE.

YOU TELL ME – “CLARION CALL”

You Tell Me is Peter Brewis of Field Music and Sarah Hayes of orchestral pop group Admiral Follow. Their debut single is a lovely piece of baroque folk and you can read more about it HERE

TIM COHEN – “GOODNESS”

Fresh & Onlys frontman Tim Cohen will release new album The Modern World in September and is his first self-recorded record in seven years. The first single, “Goodness,” is a delight and you can read more about it HERE.