Apr 25: Week 16 sees records from the likes of Viagria Boys, Self Esteem, HIMALAYAS and Ghost aswell as new works from the likes of Samia and Coco Jones. Plus bonus titles from The Cure, Palace and Sam Fender.
Viagr Aboys
Viagra boys
Off-kilter art-punk Swedes Viagra Boys bring out a somewhat sincere offering in fourth. A record all about the outlandish lyricism and its gut-punching instrument workings-out, viagr aboys lears away from the socio-political madness of previous Cave World and darts into a more inane principle of day-to-day existence. It’s fun and stupid, similar to their chosen title of chaos – and held up by Man Made of Meat and Uno II. It’s also damaging in equal parts with Medicine for Horses and River King. Now into their fourth release, Viagra Boys show us once again why they are the kings of punk rock for cavemen.
A Complicated Woman
Self Esteem
An unapologetic pop star in her own right, Self Esteem‘s fearless female-empowered anthems have garnered a new audience since her acclaimed Prioritise Pleasure in 2021. Now the icon is back with a reshuffling of the deck – and the same full house of self love. An effortless load of lyrical bark and choral bite, A Complicated Woman is another mighty soundtrack for those lost and uncertain. Deftly aware, Rebecca Taylor provides a pinnacle voice that is all the more wrought with every project she delivers on. Clear standouts go from Focus is Power, In Plain Sight <feat. Moonchild Sanelly> and ascending concluding notes The Deep Blue Okay.
BAD STAR
HIMALAYAS
Cardiff alt-rock four rifle through their second with Bad Star – a record as dark and power-hungry as their first. When will this band receive their deserved flowers? Sharing a mutual love for Josh Homme of QOTSA and Mike Derr of Royal Blood, it’s an album wrought with tension with their juggernaut riffs and cutthroat lyrics through favourable, Cave Paintings and Afterlife.
Bloodless
Samia
An alt-country montage of discovering nostalgic riff-raff in the cottage attic, Samia’s Bloodless is a beautiful lesson in harnessing the might of vocal and acoustic. Carousel and Pants are a joy to listen to.
POPULAR NOTES___
Fontaines D.C. expand their boxset with a Deluxe edition of Romance, featuring a rompus forget-me-not and an acoustic Starbuster. Elsewhere, Myles Smith charts a greater course with new single, My First Heartbreak, his most recent since his Brit Award novella. Lana Del Rey delivers a bluesy-acoustic in Bluebird while Lorde stops galavanting off with Charli and sends out her own in lacklustre What Was That. I wonder if this will be another song where you’re not allowed to sing along to too.
manvmusic.com 
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