The Wrap-Up: This Week in Music + 12 Cuts

The Wrap-Up brings you the 5 largest music news stories of the week as well as information about new album and music video releases.

HEADLINES OF THE WEEK

1. 14-year-old Dave Grohl fan letter revealed

Dave Grohl was young and innocent once, as we were reminded this week by a Foo Fighters tweet. Ian Mackaye, producer, frontman of punk bands Minor Threat and Fugazi, and, apparently, guitar idol, unearthed a fan letter Grohl wrote when he was fourteen. The future Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighters frontman complimented Mackaye on his “thrash,” asks for industry connections, and signs the letter with a flourish…although not quite the autograph of his full-fledged career.  

2. Vampire Weekend bassist to go solo under DJ name Baio

On Tuesday, Vampire Weekend bassist Chris Baio announced that his debut, an album of nine electronic dance music tracks, will come out in September. The project is called “The Names.” On the first single, titled “Brainwash yyrr Face,” we definitely detect some Vampire Weekend influences in the breathy, staccato vocals and clear percussion, but Baio has his own sound: a little trance, a little experimental, a little pop-rock, with some choral elements thrown in for good measure, and a whole lot of dance-ready beats. Stay tuned for the official release on September 18th.  

3. Beach House album Depression Cherry due in August

We still turn to Beach House hits Myth and Lazuli, both off the 2012 album Bloom, whenever we need an atmospheric, dreamy summer soundtrack, but we haven’t heard much from the Baltimore duo since then. That’s about to change: the band announced earlier this week that their fifth album will arrive on August 28th and that they’ll be touring the US and Europe this fall. And guess where one of those first stops will be? That’s right… our very own Lupo’s on August 25th. Get your tickets now for the chance to catch some of the songs live three days before the album is released!

4. Jenny Lewis video features Fred Armisen, Vanessa Bayer, Zosia Mamet

On Wednesday, Jenny Lewis, long-time indie-rocker and a former child actor, shared a new video for “She’s Not Me,” the second track off of 2014’s The Voyager. The video features an all-star cast, including Fred Armisen and Vanessa Bayer, acting out some of Lewis’ childhood roles in “Golden Girls” and “Troop Beverly Hills.” The hilarious video doesn’t overshadow Lewis’ masterful lyrics, though: as she repeats “She’s not me,” Lewis seems to be exploring the ways in which acting and childhood fame affected her identity. 5. Ed Sheeran plays “Photograph” live at Good Morning America concert Ed Sheeran took the Good Morning America stage in Central Park on Friday to play a few songs and talk about his latest single, “Photograph.” Check out the video of the “Photograph” performance above and follow the links to see “Don’t” and “Thinking Out Loud.” In other Ed Sheeran news, his new Madame Tussauds wax work was unveiled last week.  

And here are your 12 CUTS ABOVE THE REST!