ListenUp
Fashion Week cameos galore in A$AP Ferg’s video to outer-space songs in memory of Leonard Nimoy in this week’s look at music
The Tallest Man on Earth: Sagres
Reminiscent of the early American folk of Bob Dylan and Woodie Guthrie, The Tallest Man on Earth’s previous albums featured analog recordings of his voice, a guitar or banjo and little else. “Sagres” from Kristian Matsson’s forthcoming Dark Bird is Home—due out 12 May 2015 on Dead Oceans—is a step in a new direction. The Swede’s heartfelt, often nature-heavy lyrics remain, but this time he is backed with a full band and the production is noticeably sharper.
Ghostwise: Golden Calves
Three years in the making, Ghostwise’s aptly titled debut album Storm Winds lives up to its name, with moody folk music driving through the entire album. While most of the songs follow the classic Americana narrative form, “Golden Calves” deviates from the rest, with a hard-nosed flow reminiscent to that of alt-rock queen Karen O.
A$AP Ferg: DOPE WALK
Shot entirely on an iPhone camera, though directed and edited by fine artist Matt Starr, A$AP Ferg’s latest video “DOPE WALK” offers an amped up, insider angle on New York Fashion Week with model Cara Delevingne in a tiny FaceTime box for the entirety of the video—just one of many cameos.
The Living Statues: Blackout
Milwaukee garage rock band The Living Statues’ newest single “Blackout” is an energetic, polished jam that will get your feet tapping and head bobbing. It’s a throwback to a time when bands like The Strokes and The White Stripes and more had a monopoly on the radio waves.
Leonard Nimoy: By Myself
This week, news broke that Leonard Nimoy passed away at the age of 83. Beyond bringing the half-human, half-Vulcan Mr Spock to life, Nimoy was a film director, writer, poet, photographer—and even a singer. In 1967, he released Leonard Nimoy Presents Mr Spock’s Music From Outer Space, which is full of campy, outer-space-themed songs and spoken word. “By Myself” is one track that sticks out as a particularly touching ballad.
ListenUp is a Cool Hunting series published every Sunday that rounds up the music we tweeted throughout the week, also found in Listen. Hear the year so far via Cool Hunting Spotify.
