I'm continuing to update my "New New York Songs" playlist, with only new songs from artists operating in New York City right now. My inspiration this week: Juan Hernandez, a migrant from Ecuador who stole a privately owned fireboat and a sailboat for a late-night joyride on the Hudson. The New York Post's commenters are calling for him to be literally summarily executed for that, but they're always doing that, and anyway, here at Hell Gate, we have level heads that can recognize an awesome thing when we see it. If you feel like stealing a boat and vibing, here are some songs you can listen to while doing so, and you can see all of the artists performing in the city when you come ashore.
In case you're wondering what's going on with the quote-unquote "Indie Sleaze Revival" (people I talk to always say how much they dislike that name, but this scene has made its bed, sorry) that seemed so central to the city's music scene a couple of years ago, there's a new crop of 20-somethings trying to write fleeting feelings onto eternal mp3s. Of these, one of my favorites is "Jane Goodall," a solo bid from the band Michelle's Sofia D'Angelo. In the verses, she "sits back" like the titular primatologist, sing-talking about a faceless party, until she ascends for a chorus where she's "climbing a fire escape over Houston." "Is it gonna be like this forever?" she asks. Of course not!
Meanwhile, in Brooklyn, we are still doing post-punk. The stalwarts in GIFT typically lean a little more goth, but they sound as good as any synth-toting outfit in Kings County on "Wish Me Away," the lead single from their upcoming, to-be-announced album from Captured Tracks. They sound glossier than ever before, with TJ Freda's silky dream pop vocals locked in over a groove that melts into a stadium-sized bridge. Cute!
"Ain't from New York, but I'll show you the town," says MIKE on the lead single from his excellent joint mixtape with Brooklyn producer Tony Seltzer, but he's being modest. One of the major exports from New York's "abstract rap" scene (again, you don't get to choose your scene's name, that's just the game), the question about MIKE has always been how he will match his gnarly, morose style to a glossier production. Here's a potential answer, a team-up with MIKE's mentor Earl Sweatshirt that's as ready for the car speakers as any drill cut.
Follow the playlist and keep checking along to keep up with the best new sounds in the city.
—Adlan Jackson
And keep up with these links:
- Juan Hernandez's excursion might have something to do with the fact that the situation for asylum seekers remains inhumane.
- Brian Benjamin, the former lieutenant governor of New York, wants to send his bribery case to the Supreme Court, after a lower court reinstated the charges against him.
- The NAACP Legal Defense Fund wrote a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul and the leaders in the state legislature in support of Good Cause Eviction provisions (the Legal Defense Fund is a separate organization from the NAACP, whose New York leadership has opposed Good Cause protections).
- A Vanity Fair writer was kicked off the jury for a Brooklyn murder trial for tweeting about a "hot FBI agent."
- New York restaurants, now featuring cashiers Zooming in from the Philippines.
- Councilmember Shekar Krishnan was the sole "no" vote against the Willets Point soccer stadium plan that underdelivers on affordable housing promises.
- The City is auditing a City-funded Queens BID that has some questionable spending, including to its former executive director's consultancy.
- The Bronx is issuing more summonses to street food vendors.
- Mayor Adams is trying to bring back the sale of delinquent property tax debt to private investors, and community advocates are trying to stop it.
- "NY Elvis impersonator allegedly killed after being chloroformed during sexual encounter"
- The City Council has approved body armor for FDNY EMTs.
- The New York Times profiled Gale Brewer on her one-woman campaign against the Upper West Side weed store Zaza Waza, which I always misread as "Zaza Wawa," like a Wawa for Zaza. Shows how much I know.
- And finally, my god...
