As we close out the year we shall never speak of again, it seems as though many are looking for the next to be —a salvation. Me? I’m banking on the fact that 2021 will be better — but I’m not looking to oversell it. Just — let the new year flow over you and see how it feels. Kinda like how people should approach new music. have some excitement & anticipation, but don’t overthink it. Good plan, right?
Here are a few of the most anticipated albums of 2021 — either confirmed or assumed:
Foo Fighters
Dave Grohl says the band pushed forward with the idea of releasing an album in the middle of pandemic — because “people need something to lift their spirits.” Agreed. Medicine At Midnight will be Foo Fighters 10th studio album and and it will be out on February 5th.
Queens Of The Stone Age
When the band announced their first show in like — three years, people started speculating that Queens Of The Stone Age would follow up their appearance at the 2021 Reading and Leeds Festival with new music. Besides speculation on the internet, that’s all we got to work with. The festival is in August and if we don’t see any new music from the band by then, I would be shocked. Shocked.
CHVRCHES
It feels like a hundred years since we last saw Lauren Mayberry and the trio at The Nights We Stole Christmas (in fact, its only been TWO). But this is how a pandemic messes with the brain. As for how it messes with a band? Lauren says the band haven’t seen each other in person since last spring, but have taken to video conferencing and screen sharing like most of the rest of the world in piecing together the rest of the new album.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
I’m not sure what people are anticipating more in 2021: the fact that new music will be coming from the Red Hot Chili Peppers….or the fact that John Frusciante will once again be playing with them. Regardless of whether you are more geeked for the live sets or for the recorded note, Frusciante says the chemistry is still there — and that he will be using just one guitar to lay down the new tracks.
Phoenix
Last December, we got Instagram confirmation that Phoenix had returned to the studio — and one of the end products of that session was a new song for the On The Rocks movie soundtrack (see below). So if you’re working on one song, why not work on more than one? While 2021 sounds like a good time to hear more from our French friends, it’s been just under three years since their Te Amo. They took four years between their last albums, so…. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The youngest musician to win the Big 4 at the Grammys is back with a new song, “Therefore I Am.” And while she revealed that yes, indeed, she is working on tracks for a new project, she was pretty secretive about details on what that project will look like with her annual Vanity Fair interview. If I’m a betting person, I’d bet on Billie in 2021.
The never-ending video of “Level Of Concern” has come to a close. And yes, while it is important to note that the user-generated content video is now a Guinness World Record holder — it’s way more fun to see the way that Josh accidently put a bow on the project this Christmas.
for the last 178 days fans have been generating a never-ending music video for Level of Concern. well, we thought it was never going to end. pic.twitter.com/FxoZVg2qi5
2020 isn’t going to let us leave until K. Flay covers Limp Bizkit’s “Break Stuff.” The cover comes from her recent covers EP, “Don’t Judge a Song By Its Cover,” which also includes covers of Green Day’s “Brain Stew” and the Offspring’s “Self Esteem.”
On the latest episode of the History of Alternative podcast, Jon Manley and James VanOsdol share their picks from the most recent year in the History of Alternative: 2020.
To recap…
Manley
Pearl Jam “Gigaton”
Car Seat Headrest “Making a Door Less Open”
Tame Impala “The Slow Rush”
Run the Jewels “RTJ4”
Mac Miller “Circles”
JVO
Idles “Ultra Mono”
Ganser “Just Look At That Sky”
Run the Jewels “RTJ4”
Rookie “Rookie”
Mark Lanegan “Straight Songs of Sorrow”
To catch up on the History of Alternative, click here!
We’ve had to adjust and change a lot this year. And not all the changes we’ve made are entirely healthy. A new survey looked at some of the bad habits we’ve picked up this year. Here are the top 10. And a LOT of them have to do with food and alcohol . . . I’m guilty of ALL OF THESE! – Tim Virgin
1. Snacking more throughout the day. 40% said yes to that one.
2. Eating more comfort foods, 39%.
3. Not eating enough fruits and vegetables, 33%.
4. Drinking too much caffeine, 32%.
5. More junk food, 32%.
6. Not eating three meals a day, 31%.
7. Too much alcohol, 26%.
8. Not exercising enough, 25%.
9. Staying in pajamas all day. 23% of us have done it during the pandemic.
10. Sleeping in, and being late for work while working from home. One in nine people who’ve had to work from home said they’ve done it. And just under half of us have bailed on work early to start drinking.
Aubrey thought a stray cat had snuck in the house through the doggy door and into the family’s Christmas tree, only to find out that “cat” was actually a huge raccoon. The journey is quite breathtaking… (p.s. there is a curse word or two in this video)
Her friend Kelsie was so inspired she wrote a song about it
Reminds me of this scene in Christmas Vacation
Which also reminds me all of us here at 101WKQX did a table read of the movie for you. Merry Christmas! <3 Lauren
As we near the end of Hanukah during an emotionally-draining year, it has been exciting to pull up the Foo Fighters Youtube channel with Dave Grohl and music producer Greg Kurstin covering different Jewish artists. The tandem of drums and keyboards in one room just having fun with a wide range of artists, all getting the touch of Grohl’s voice and beats. You have to hope they do this next year! We will update this post
SABOTAAAAAAGE! Imagine if we got to see this live again?!
This maybe the most surprising but catchiest in the group as a sendup to hip hop heavyweight Drake’s ‘Hotline Bling’ with a very unique yet on-point rendition. It’s still very catchy.
Mountain “Mississippi Queen” ya know what i mean!
The prolifically weird Peaches joined this cover of her sex anthem ‘**** the Pain Away’. Maybe use headphones on this one.
Influential song writing giant Bob Dylan gets a lively tribute here.
90’s alternative from lasting player who grew out of the 90s!
The Knack’s ‘Frustrated’ is a very underrated late 70’s treasure.
