Every week, our Songs of the Week column highlights the greatest new tracks from the final seven days. This week, we’re celebrating the newly-released Spinal Tap II and its Paul McCartney-featuring rework of “Cups and Desserts.”

Very similar to their new film Spinal Tap II: The Finish Continues, the new album from the best fictional rock band of all time attracts lots on the previous in addition to the future. There are a number of unique tracks on The Finish Continues, but additionally featured are a number of covers of Spinal Tap classics, together with Elton John on “(Take heed to the) Flower Folks” and the beforehand launched “Stonehenge,” in addition to Paul McCartney main a brand new model of “Cups and Desserts” that brings with it a pleasant meta ingredient.

“Cups and Desserts” was initially launched on the 1984 mockumentary’s soundtrack (although by no means heard in the movie), and in a 2009 interview with The AV Club, Spinal Tap star Michael McKean admitted to being “a bit of sentimental” about it, referring to the music as “sort of like their string-laden ‘Eleanor Rigby’ sound.” So what might be higher than having a gosh-darn Beatle visitor on it?

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The album model is, naturally, way more produced than the rendition heard in the film, which options McCartney sitting in on a jam session with the band as they squabble over chords. In each circumstances, although, it’s genuinely pleasant to witness one of rock’s nice legends partaking with Spinal Tap as if they’re the rock legends that… Effectively, perhaps technically, they’re. They did simply launch a brand new album, in spite of everything, their fourth studio album so far, and are nonetheless taking part in collectively after literal a long time. Not so many bands can say the similar.

Maybe half of that longevity is due to the band not being too treasured about sticking to any particular style or format: In that AV Membership interview, McKean did word that “Cups and Desserts” is “definitely not textbook Spinal Tap,” nevertheless it does signify the lads taking part in round whereas perhaps flippantly parodying The Kinks, with all the goofy instrumental thrives you would ever ask for. It speaks to an enormous half of the sequel movie’s allure — the method it showcases how McKean, Harry Shearer, and Christopher Visitor are nonetheless discovering the pleasure in making music collectively, after these years. (Additionally, after listening to it quite a lot of occasions… I’m now craving a conventional British teatime.)

— Liz Shannon Miller
Senior Leisure Editor

mud — “Alastair”

Australian rock quintet mud have a gem with “Alastair,” their new music and the newest from their upcoming debut album Sky Is Falling (out 10/10). It begins off in dreamland with crystalline guitars, a winding bass line, and a seashore pop really feel. They attain their stride in the refrain, oscillating between a extra pushed method and a resigned haze. Then, the band collapses right into a fraught, fuzzy groove for the outro, the drums escalating in power whereas co-vocalist Justin Teale squeezes in a single final verse. Even of their sweetest modes, mud haven’t any downside complicating their sound to maintain us on our toes. Trying for one other nice rock band with a saxophonist? They’re proper right here. — Paolo Ragusa

Rachel Bobbitt — “Hush”

Rachel Bobbitt has shared “Hush,” the newest providing from her upcoming debut album Swimming In direction of the Sand (out 10/17). Holding with the album’s oceanic theme, “Hush” is a buoyant, tender dream pop reduce, the wading of waters symbolized by the ebb and movement of Bobbitt’s melodies. Most stark is the refrain, the place Bobbitt is surrounded by thick harmonies, too bitter for serenity however full sufficient to elicit highly effective feelings. When she enters a full-voiced belt, like when she sings “Eye to eye,” she appears like nobody else. — P. Ragusa

Rapsody, Madlib — “Avon Via the Wire”

Rapsody has all the time been in a league of her personal. On “Avon Via the Wire,” a textured, soulful observe of pensiveness impressed by the character Avon Barksdale from the revered HBO sequence The Wire, Rapsody manipulates her voice to inform an evocative story of a number of characters. Opening with a pitched-down vocal, Rapsody takes on the position of a hustler considering the penalties of getting caught up in the avenue life, and expressing appreciation for a longtime buddy who reserved judgment. The North Carolina rapper blends the deepened voice together with her personal pure tone, weaving a story of private reflection and emphasizing the significance of assist amongst individuals of completely different trajectories. “It’s for you to consider, it’s for you to realize/ It’s nonetheless time for you/ In your life, I by no means grieved,” Rapsody spits close to the finish. Not in contrast to The Wire itself, Rapsody makes use of this music to emphasize the significance of seeing flawed people as people in want of compassion and grace. — Kiana Fitzgerald

Ragana, Drowse — “In Everlasting Woods Pts. 2-3”

Labelmates and fellow gloomy music makers Ragana and Drowse have formally joined forces for a full-length challenge. Their collaborative album, Ash Memento, drops November 14th on The Flenser, and judging by the lead single, avant-metal heads are in for a deal with. Enticingly titled “In Everlasting Woods Pts. 2-3,” the observe is crushing, heavy, and extremely emotive. There are hints of black steel in the tremolo guitars and the guttural screams of the lead vocals, whereas the again half provides transient glimpses of Drowse’s extra atmospheric, slow-core tendencies. All the whereas, lyrics coping with loss, love, and sacred locations match the instrumental’s epic scope. — Jonah Krueger

Rochelle Jordan — “Candy Sensation”

Rochelle Jordan is mounting her comeback. The British-Canadian singer-songwriter has been teasing her upcoming album, By means of the Wall, since this spring. Her newest providing, “Candy Sensation,” is yet one more occasion of Jordan firing a flare gun into the night time sky, signaling her extremely anticipated return. She hasn’t launched an unique album since 2021’s Play With the Modifications, and previous to that, her breakthrough album 1021 was launched in 2014.

Jordan could also be sparing in her musical output, however each time she chooses to allow us to into her inventive world, we be taught extra about what drives her. “Candy Sensation” seems like an homage to Evelyn “Champagne” King, Cherrelle, and different R&B divas of the ’80s. With West Coast legend DāM-FunK and Jordan’s longtime inventive director and govt producer KLSH behind the boards, the music is carried by a rugged bass line, twinkling manufacturing, and Jordan’s ethereal, sensual vocals. Settling squarely in the area of disco-inflected pop&B, “Candy Sensation” appears like a summer season vibe, regardless of its near-fall launch date. To not fear: Simply play this on repeat for the subsequent 9 months. — Ok. Fitzgerald

TiaCorine — “Yard” that includes JID

When TiaCorine launched her viral single “FreakyT” in 2022, she put us all on alert and tell us what to anticipate. On that music, we realized the North Carolina rapper is a grown-ass girl who’s not afraid to speak about her desires and wishes. TiaCorine retains that very same power on the JID-assisted “Yard,” the newest single dropped forward of her forthcoming album CORINIAN. Over propulsive manufacturing that options thrumming bass and a looped soulful interjection, TiaCorine pops her shit about her preferences and capabilities in the bed room. JID understands the task, contributing lyrics like “I rise up on this bih, I’m like the governor in Atlanta/ Put a planet on my wrist, she made a puddle in the passenger.” Whereas the music largely caters to carnal impulses, each artists nonetheless discover the time to ascertain themselves as sought-after MCs who can spit amongst the greatest of their area.  — Ok. Fitzgerald