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. New Modest Mouse single Only thirty eight days til the Modest Mouse album comes out (not...

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. New Modest Mouse single
Only thirty eight days til the Modest Mouse album comes out (not like I’m counting down or anything) and we already have three singles. I hope you’ve been listening to “Lampshades on Fire” and “Coyotes” over the past couple weeks…the latest is “The Best Room,” which came out on Monday. The new single is punchy, but is “The Best Room” the best? Well, I don’t wanna play favorites…but take a listen and decide for yourself. Pros: it uses the word “mycelium” (like what? I had to Wikipedia that.) and claims (rightly) that “we’re the sexiest of all primates.” Cons: no music video yet, and it just makes us more excited for the album. In the meantime, go watch the gorgeous “Coyotes” video on repeat.   2. Sasquatch Festival line-up announced In other Modest Mouse news…they’re set to headline Sasquatch in May. I know, I know, we’re all getting reallyreally tired of looking at festival line-ups and feeling sad because they’re like a million miles away and tickets cost like a million dollars (which is a good reason to enter to win Boston Calling tickets ASAP!), but here’s the latest announcement. BRU faves Milky Chance, Modest Mouse, St. Vincent, Of Monsters and Men, Lana del Ray, and The Decemberists are playing. If you happen to be in Seattle memorial day weekend and can’t hit up Boston Calling, why not? But you should probably leave the Gronk jersey at home.   3. Grammy performers announced

Last year’s Grammys gave us such memorable moments as the Jay-Z/Beyonce Surfboart performance and an introduction to Lorde’s “I’m singing” look.

We’ll be watching the Grammys this weekend and rooting for Jack White, Coldplay, Alt-J, and Paramore, among others, but we’re also pretty psyched about some of the artists who are scheduled to perform. Madonna, Beyonce, Sam Smith, Kanye, and then some crazy mash-ups: Annie Lennox + Hozier? Um…cool! Why not? Beck + Chris Martin? Yahsss why hasn’t this happened before now. Ed Sheeran + Herbie Hancock + John Mayer + Questlove? Whattttt.  Who thought of those four together? I don’t think I can make sense of this, but I’m so excited to see it.   4. New Gorillaz project confirmed
Back in October, we reported that Damon Albarn, the creator of Gorillaz, was hinting at a new project for 2016. Last Friday, though, we got a sneak peek at some images for future Gorillaz work when virtual artist/co-creator Jamie Hewlett posted new band-member drawings on Instagram. His reply to a twitter question about the group’s imminent resurfacing was simple: “Yes, Gorillaz Returns.” We don’t know when, we don’t know what, but we know that Gorillaz will Return, with a Capital Letter.
 
5. Fun. deny breakup rumors It has been three years since Fun. released Some Nights, the huge album that featured singles like “We Are Young” and “Carry On.” Although you’ve probably been anxiously waiting for the trio’s follow-up album and hearing various breakup rumors, Fun. released a statement on Facebook that assured fans that they are not breaking up and will “make records and tour when we are inspired to do so.” Check out the full statement from Fun. below and if you’re still feeling a little down about the wait for Fun., just check out WBRU’s visit from Jack Antonoff.
hi guys! A lot of you have been asking us for an update on when to expect new music from fun. As you know, we like to give you guys news and updates when they are ready, but there has been a lot of recent chatter and we hear you and wanted to speak to you directly to explain a few things. so here goes- first and foremost to answer the question that has been raised most often: fun is not breaking up. fun was founded by the 3 of us at a time when we were coming out of our own bands. one thing that has always been so special about fun is that we exist as 3 individuals in music who come together to do something collaborative. we make fun records when we are super inspired to do so. currently nate is working on his first solo album, andrew is scoring films and jack is on tour and working on bleachers music. the 3 of us have always followed inspiration wherever it leads us. sometimes that inspiration leads to fun music, sometimes it leads to musical endeavors outside of fun. we see all of it as part of the ecosystem that makes fun, fun. you guys are EVERYTHING to us. honestly. We want to treat YOU GUYS (our amazing fan base) with the respect you deserve; and that is by making music when we are fully ready to make it and never giving you guys anything that is less than 100%. “Some Nights” was a successful album and it would have been very easy for us to jump back in the studio and capitalize on our momentum. but making records and touring when its “good for business” means nothing to us. we make records and tour when we are inspired to do so. that is the very reason why we have built such a special connection with all of you. that is how we can be the most honest to the people who support our music. It’s also important for you guys to know that the 3 of us are very involved and supportive of all these different projects going on within the fun family at the moment. that fact that our tiny club can produce so many different kinds of music together and as individuals is very special to us. as always, we’ll keep you guys updated! all our love nate, jack and andrew

And here are your 12 CUTS ABOVE THE REST from this week!

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