New Music + Music News For Apr. 7

Man, we almost got to the end of the week without provoking World War III. So close. And in case you had any doubts of the severity of what’s happening right now, Russia suspending an agreement preventing direct U.S. conflict should clear that right the hell up.

The new AQ Podcast is live, covering tons of new music and some incredible stories – like the one where people are getting murdered for singing Sinatra’s My Way in the Philippines. Get upon it.

On with today’s musical indulgences and distractions, and goddamn are there a lot of them…

1. The new Jack White song Battle Cry is an enthralling instrumental that begins with Indian chanting and howls of “hey!” and ends in applause and some laughter. Wonder if he’s still trying to write like Michael Jackson. Whatever the case, the track will be used for walk-up music for Detroit Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler, who co-owns the baseball bat company Warstic with White. There’s an accompanying short film as well.
2. Kendrick Lamar’s new album hits 4/14, and a track was co-written by U2. Or maybe it’s a sample. We’ll see.
3. The Kendall Jenner Pepsi commercial is the single worst ad of our lifetimes, but it’s far from the first time this has happened. Here’s a history of ways brands have co-opted protest over the years.
4. Listen to Beck cover Elvis’ Can’t Help Falling In Love for the “Man In The High Castle” show. It literally sounds precisely the way you imagine it.
5. LCD Soundsystem played three new songs last night in NYC, and you can’t hear them. Because the band asked nicely.
6. New Queens of The Stone Age record on the way, as promised. August is the first month with 25 hitting on a Friday. Let’s call it a guess.
7. This story of the worst Radiohead show of all time is short but hilariously great.
8. If this bill passes, labels will have the ability to pull their music off radio entirely. Which would be goddamned incredible, because then we might hear something other than a 25 year-old Nirvana song in between the latest soft serve from RHCP.
9. Liam’s an asshole, but this one was funny – even if it’s not true. Also, we’re definitely getting an Oasis reunion before 2020. Calling it right now.
10. Meanwhile, dear Liam has been fighting the good fight all along, threatening to stab a member of Third Eye Blind at a bar.
11. Karen O leads the pack on Amazon’s Resistance Radio collection.
12. Elton John has been named the first-ever Worldwide Record Store Day Legend, whatever the fuuuuck that means. This arbitrary designation nonsense is straight-up retarded, and we don’t need new pronouns and awards and designations to sell more vinyl.
13. The Ghost infighting is screwing up the imagery, boys.
14. For those who haven’t heard it yet, Father John Misty’s sardonically lovely new album Pure Comedy is now streaming. But Jesus with that fucking mustache…
15. It’s getting harder for shitty YouTube personalities to make money.
16. Slash will play a virtual reality gig at the Los Angeles Zoo. As one does.
17. The dipshit DJ who played a Muslim call to prayer during one of his nightclub sets will now sit in prison for a year as a result.
18. Are Incubus incapable of writing outside their tiny box anymore? This new song is flaccid formulaic garbage, just like the previous two.
19. How bout a Melvins double album and short film?
20. Gorillaz enlist Bonobo and Claptone for new remixes.
21. Taran Killam recounts the unpleasant cast+staff experience of Trump hosting SNL.

Keep up with new music on the Firecloud’s Fresh Blood playlist on Spotify, updated damn near every day.

Story ideas? Gripes? Send ’em over.