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Hear new songs from Bad Bad Hats, Vince Staples, Lala Lala, Strand of Oaks, Hovvdy and Peggy Gou

The Current: Music You Should Know
The Current: Music You Should KnowMPR graphic

by Jade

July 15, 2021

Minnesota's Bad Bad Hats are now signed to New Jersey label Don Giovanni Records, and they've got a new album on the way. This week's selection of new music includes the lead single from their forthcoming release. We'll also hear the latest from prolific Californian Vince Staples, Chicago singer Lille West's Lala Lala project, Austin duo Hovvdy, Tim Showalter's Strand of Oaks, and Germany-by-way-of-South-Korea DJ Peggy Gou.

Bad Bad Hats, "Detroit Basketball"


A big congrats going out to Minnesota band, Bad Bad Hats, on getting signed to Don Giovanni Records. With the news, the band also announced a new album, Walkman, coming out September 17. The first song off the new album, "Detroit Basketball," is about being caught up in a bad relationship, but sung with lead singer Kerry Alexander's optimistic shrug.

Vince Staples, "LAW OF AVERAGES"


The team-up with Kenny Beats continues for Vince Staples. The laid back 808 beats flow like waves on a Cali beach, settling you into the scene and then fitting samples over the top to add depth for Staples's straightforward storytelling. "LAW OF AVERAGES" brings in some Bon Iver-esque slippery horns and falsetto to create a trippy juxtaposition against Staples's blunt force.

Lala Lala, "DIVER"


Chicago artist Lillie West continues her projects as Lala Lala with I Want The Door To Open — the album is out October 8, but "DIVER" is a great offering of what's to come. It's dramatic and brutally human, allowing vocal flaws to rip raw. The harsh edges magnify the beauty of the glowing orb of horns, backing vocals, smashing drums, and keys that float and fade around West's lyrics.

Strand of Oaks, "Galacticana"


With his eighth Strand of Oaks album, In Heaven, Tim Showalter brought in members of My Morning Jacket, Remy Zero, Smashing Pumpkins, and more synth. The result is a shimmery album about finding a way to conquer grief. The song "Galacticana," Showalter said, "is the mission statement of the record. Acknowledging the dark times but seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and chasing that feeling."

Hovvdy, "True Love"


The Austin duo teamed up with Andrew Sarlo (Bon Iver, Big Thief) on their fourth album, True Love. The folksy sound of the title track is as solid and true as a pair of your favorite blue jeans, with lyrics about love a simple as "you comfort me."

Peggy Gou, "I Go"


Relive the '90s club scene with Peggy Gou's new single, "I Go." The Korean-born, Berlin-based artist slips into a trance with the new single that she said was her "re-imagination of the sounds [she] grew up loving."