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Music News: The Revolution play 'Raspberry Beret' in bed for charity

The Revolution perform 'Raspberry Beret' in bed, to fight cancer.
The Revolution perform 'Raspberry Beret' in bed, to fight cancer.MyMusicRx
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by Jay Gabler

November 30, 2018

Above, listen to an episode of The Current's daily Music News podcast. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, or wherever else you get your podcasts. You can also sign up for a daily Music News e-mail and join our Facebook group.


Bedstock is a virtual music festival that has artists recording performances in bed to raise funds to fight cancer. Why beds? In acknowledgement of children who are stuck in their own beds due to illness.

Among this year's performances: Walk the Moon do "Shut Up and Dance," Jeff Tweedy plays "Pecan Pie," TV On The Radio do "Satellite" on a beach-blanket bed, the Revolution play "Raspberry Beret" (yes, Dr. Fink wears his scrubs to bed), I'm With Her cover Adele's "Send My Love," Lisa Loeb plays "Say Hello," and "Weird Al" Yankovic brings his band to bed for his dark 1988 original "Good Old Days." (Pitchfork)

This week's new releases

Jeff Tweedy: Warm

Jeff Tweedy has released his second solo album (and second in two years), although his Wilco bandmate Glenn Kotche and his Tweedy bandmate Spencer jump in to help out on Warm. The album has a literary pedigree, too: Booker-Prize-winning author George Saunders wrote the liner notes.

Earl Sweatshirt: Some Rap Songs

When the controversial hip-hop collective Odd Future made a splash several years ago, you might or might not have predicted that its members would remain at the cutting edge of new music in 2018. Frontman Tyler, The Creator is behind the new Grinch movie soundtrack, and Odd Future spinoff project The Internet is lighting up the indie-soul world. Odd Future's most mysterious member — Earl Sweatshirt, who was famously "lost" for the first couple years of this decade — has now released his third studio album, and despite its modest title (Some Rap Songs), it's being hailed as the latest breakthrough that's knocking down walls between hip-hop and the rest of the music world. The album sounds unassuming, with lo-fi production and a crowded soundscape, but Earl's skills both on the mic and on the boards shine through on moody, jazzy tracks like "Nowhere2go."

Alessia Cara: The Pains of Growing

The Pains of Growing is an apt name for the sophomore LP by a 22-year-old pop R&B singer-songwriter who's been saddled with one reductive trope after another. First she was the party pooper known for her breakout single "Here," then she was the not-so-new artist who nonetheless won the Best New Artist Grammy earlier this year. On her new album, Cara sings about her newfound maturity on songs including opening track "Growing Pains."

Grimes feat. HANA: "We Appreciate Power"

After a year that's seen Grimes in the headlines more for her on-again, off-again relationship with Elon Musk than for her music, it's great to have a new track to talk about. "We Appreciate Power," a collaboration with synthpop singer-songwriter HANA, is the first new music led by Grimes since Art Angels, my favorite album of 2015. It's an industrial-flavored banger with Grimes's ethereal voice floating over razor-edged guitar — with a dark synth hook that would make Siouxsie and the Banshees proud.

You might hear it and think Nine Inch Nails, but Grimes says she was inspired by an all-female North Korean military band. She warns that you'd better listen to the song for your own good, since when our future robot overlords notice you've streamed it, they "will see that you've supported their message and be less likely to delete your offspring."

Mark Ronson feat. Miley Cyrus: "Nothing Breaks Like a Heart"

"Uptown Funk" hitmaker Mark Ronson says his next album is going to be full of "sad bangers" created in the wake of his recent divorce. The first one has arrived, and yep, it lives up to its billing. Miley Cyrus joins the superproducer to sing "Nothing Breaks Like a Heart."

Chance the Rapper: "The Man Who Has Everything" and "My Own Thing"

Chance the Rapper does what he wants. A record label? Whatever. A horror movie about pizza delivery? Why not? A movie musical? It's in the works. Being a judge a new hip-hop reality TV series? Yep, along with Cardi B and T.I. Speaking out for Chicago Public Schools? Yes! Running for mayor? Probably not! Oh, and he's getting married...sometime. Amidst all this, he's still making music. Will the two new songs appear on a forthcoming EP? Are they singles from a new album? Will there be a video game where you play Chance the anonymous rapping Lyft driver? Who can say? THERE ARE NO RULES.


Songs sampled in podcast
Jahzzar: "Comedie" (CC BY 4.0)
BoxCat Games: "Against the Wall" (CC BY 3.0)
"Weird Al" Yankovic: "Good Old Days"
Jeff Tweedy: "I Know What It's Like"
Earl Sweatshirt: "Nowhere2go"
Alessia Cara: "Easier Said"
Grimes feat. HANA: "We Appreciate Power"
Mark Ronson feat. Miley Cyrus: "Nothing Breaks Like A Heart"
Chance the Rapper: "The Man Who Has Everything"