There are huge drops this week from Lizzo (feat. Cardi B), The Killers (feat. Phoebe Bridgers), Nathaniel Rateliff (back with the Night Sweats) and Lorde. Plus, discover England's PinkPantheress and Twin Cities buzz band VIAL.

Lizzo, "Rumors" feat. Cardi B

There's a good chance you've heard the — now viral — new Lizzo track, "Rumors." The first new song in two years finds Lizzo taking on the fame and social media spectacle that has been the last few years of her life. She brought in rapper Cardi B (both were in the movie Hustlers in 2019) to share some complaints about the gossip that won't stop.

The Killers, "Runaway Horses" feat. Phoebe Bridgers

Brandon Flowers and the rest of The Killers seem to be another band that spent the pandemic reflecting on their lives, getting nostalgic, and writing new music. Pressure Machine is the second record in a year from the band, and it's a Springsteen-esque tour of Flowers's hometown of Nephi, Utah, dealing with small-town issues: substance abuse, gossip, few opportunities, religion, and a sense of desperation. For "Runaway Horses," there's a dusty, sun-baked country sound with Phoebe Bridgers's vocals rounding out the desolation.

PinkPantheress, "Just for me"

In 2021 we are mostly living genre-free, but I love it when I see some new descriptor pop up, and lately I've been seeing "alt-girl rap." It seems like an offshoot of trip hop or emo rap, and British artist (and TikTok famous) PinkPantheress is one of the fore-figures on the scene. The Mura Masa-produced track is about an unhealthy obsession, and it sounds like a daydream.

Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, "Survivor"

The return of the Night Sweats version of Nathaniel Rateliff! It's good to hear the horns and deep jam backing Rateliff on the new single produced by Bradley Cook (Bon Iver, Kevin Morby, The War on Drugs). Rateliff's vocals bite with aggression at the view others may have of him on the new track, "Survivor."

VIAL, "Violet"

I walked into the Fine Line a couple weeks ago just in time to hear a crowd of young people screaming, "Eat my ass and suck my dick!" VIAL, who led the cry, are one of the Twin Cities' hottest groups, having just released their album Loudmouth on Get Better Records (and featured in a Billboard article about Riot Grrrl TikTok). Their Fine Line performance was all rage, giggles, and keytar: a set bound by breakneck tempos and Gen Z colère de vivre. Sadly, the song we've selected lacks any unscrupulous imperatives, but its melodies and refrain ("I would disappoint my mama for you!") certainly catch the ear.
– Cecilia Johnson

Lorde, "Mood Ring"

TV shows like White Lotus have turned a cynical view to self-care and holistic wellness, and Lorde seems to be giving some side eye to the crystals/astrology/self-care routine with her latest single, "Mood Ring." Her new album, Solar Power, comes out on Friday.

Playlist