ListenUp
A sad goodby to Tom Petty, Queens of the Stone Age get dramatic, HAIM line-dances, and more in music
Artists for Puerto Rico: Almost Like Praying
Thoughts and prayers are welcome but action—service, donations, on-the-ground support (or in some instances, policy change)—really makes the most difference. Everyone’s favorite musical historian Lin-Manuel Miranda has done something stellar, and brought an all-star cast with him. Miranda recorded “Almost Like Praying” with Jennifer Lopez, Gloria Estefan, Fat Joe, Luis Fonsi, Camila Cabello, Ruben Blades, Dessa, Marc Anthony and Gina Rodriguez. It’s a benefit single and all proceed go to aid victims of Hurricane Maria by way of the Hispanic Federation UNIDOS Disaster Relief Fund.
Tom Petty: I Won’t Back Down
The remarkably talented musician, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Tom Petty passed at 66 years old this week. Best known for his bands Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and the supergroup the Traveling Wilburys, Petty was a dynamic performer who had just finished a three-night stint at the Hollywood Bowl last week. The song “I Won’t Back Down” was the lead single from Petty’s debut album Full Moon Fever as a solo artist. The 1989 tune delivers a positive message of endurance and resilience, as Petty croons, “In a world that keeps on pushin’ me around / But I’ll stand my ground / And I won’t back down.”
HAIM: Little of Your Love
Full of that signature HAIM-style sweetness, “Little of Your Love” bops along with a hook in tow. It’s a jubilant tune for sure, but the brand new supporting video, from acclaimed auteur Paul Thomas Anderson, puts all that joy to use. It’s bright enough to lift a dire day.
Little Dragon feat. Faith Evans: Peace of Mind
Joining forces with R&B legend Faith Evans, Swedish electronic outfit Little Dragon has released their video for the very pretty “Peace of Mind”—filmed at Raphael Saadiq’s LA studio. Saadiq also produced the slinky track, which sees Little Dragon’s Yukimi Nagan singing the verses and Evan’s taking on the hook. It’s a gauzy and glittery song that floats along delightfully.
Queens of the Stone Age: Villains of Circumstance (Live)
Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme and Dean Fertita were joined by a string quartet for a performance of “Villains of Circumstance” on the BBC’s “Later… With Jools Holland” and the result is stunning. With just the strings and piano, the rendition is sweeping, sexy and dramatic—with Homme’s vocals building beautifully. It’s a dynamic and unexpected performance.
Soulwax: Is It Always Binary
Opening with an epic and empowering uniform drum frenzy, “Is It Always Binary” hails from Soulwax’s recently released album FROM DEEWEE. A brand new video sheds light on the hands behind the sound—and it happens to be known as “The Transient Program For Drums and Machinery,” an installation imagined by the band and Ill-Studio to bring live performances to life in the fullest way possible. Fittingly, the video was recorded live in London.
ListenUp is a Cool Hunting series published every Sunday that rounds up the music we tweeted throughout the week, also found in Listen. Hear the year so far via Cool Hunting Spotify.
