The best of New Music Friday:
Sen Morimoto – Diagnosis
Sen Morimoto’s magical year hits its highest point with the Chicago indie-musician’s third studio album. It might be the freeform jazz that makes Morimoto’s records feel as liberating as a live performance. There are few recordings from 2023 that really encompass and translate like a real concert. The authentic sound of Morimoto’s voice is another reason to appreciate what a year he’s had.
Several singles from Diagnosis have been eaten up by loyal listeners. The opener “If The Answer Is Love” has been streamed like crazy and sets the tone for an LP rich in sound and character. “Bad State” starts poppy and ends on a darker note with metallic guitars bellowing. The title track has a Parliament-Funkadelic-esque echo narration before immediately adding hip-hop-laced verses with indie-pop choruses.
Morimoto has several tour dates launching in November around the United States that are serving as release parties for Diagnosis. Many of them are at charming and intimate venues. It might serve as a great opportunity for musical fans of any style to see a rising artist that is sure to shine brighter.
The Serfs – Half Eaten By Dogs
The Serfs are a synth-punk band from Cincinnati, Ohio with an emphasis on the nasty part of the “Nasty Natti.” Their wavier-sounding tracks are dirty yet all songs on their third full-length record are futuristically clean.
Whether the lyrics in front of hypnotic-electronic loops are about dancing skin-to-skin or the instrumentation is smothered as the top layer, Half Eaten By Dogs is both an alternative and electronic music fan’s dream.
This trio describes their sound as neu-underground, whatever that means. Maybe it’s wavey-psych, semi-industrial or some other obscure third thing. It’s creative and good. It’s also a pessimistic record with a masking upbeat and dancey groove. The Serfs say they make doomed proclamations of natural and supernatural disasters on Half Eaten By Dogs. Perhaps the album’s title doesn’t shy away from that idea. This wild ride can be shared with friends but is also prime listening for people who enjoy getting nerdy alone.
New Music Friday top picks:
bar italia – the twits
elijah woods ft. MacKenzie Porter – “last girl”
Hotline TNT – Cartwheel
Jockstrap – I<3UQTINVU
Joy (Anonymous) – Cult Classics
Jung Kook – GOLDEN
Kevin Abstract – Blanket
Sir Chloe – “Home Where”
TORRES – “I got the fear”
Which of these tracks from New Music Friday will you be adding to your favorite playlists today? Any we missed? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!
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