Music can unite an entire stadium of people with different beliefs.
Non-country fans will boot scoot boogie along with the crowd just as everyone not versed in Latin music can suddenly move their hips like Rita Moreno. That’s the power of music, baby!
Here’s this week’s new music you should be listening to.
Raekwon – “The Emperor’s New Clothes”
One of rap’s earliest names returns with an album that is so unlike the rap of today, younger listeners will probably disregard it when they really shouldn’t. Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon drops his eighth overall record that contains as much heat as ever. Features include fellow Wu-Tang members Method Man and Inspectah Deck alongside modern day rappers Conway the Machine and Benny the Butcher. Although this project is a lengthy 17 tracks, the total run time is a relatively short 40 minutes. It doesn’t overstay its welcome. Gym hits are here. Get ready to get swole.
Lord Huron – “The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1”
One the biggest indie rock bands that have essentially made the leap to traditional rock back – Lord Huron – returns with a record filled with the dreamy sounds fans are accustomed to (“Looking Back,” “It All Comes Back”). The guitar work bridges a gap between neo-americana and indie rock while the vocals ask (not beg) for attention. Songs like “Bag of Bones” venture to an area of folk whereas the Kristen Stewart featured “Who Laughs Last” hints at early 2000’s talk-sing indie music.
Trisha Yearwood – “The Mirror”
The country music landscape has seen a shift towards 808’s and a grunge-like aesthetic in the overuse of crunchy guitar cords. When an artist like Trisha Yearwood is able to toe the line of modern country while keeping her identity of veteran 90’s musician alive, fans should expect nothing short of good music. Songs like “Bringing The Angels” and “The Wall Of The Way Over” are analogous to “XXX’s And OOO’s (An American Girl)” with the exception that the former songs bring a contemporary feeling to the latter one’s nostalgia. “Girls Night In” is the closest wistful fans will get to Yearwood’s previous sound. But she’s always sounded like this. There’s just better production.
J Balvin – “Mixteip”
Put on “KLK” and try not to move. The song featuring Omega is high speed and infectious with it’s unrivaled patter of words. The surprise mixtape follows the singer’s performance at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final halftime show. While it does feature two songs that were already released – the aforementioned “KLK” and “Rio” – the tape provides nearly half an hour of typical J Balvin songs. Listeners get the singing, the rapping, the Latin hip hop beats. It’s a solid surprise all around.
Bush – “I Beat Loneliness”
“Glycerine,” “Comedown,” and “Machinehead” band Bush has been putting out music since 1992 and it feels as though they’ll never be more revered than they are for their first record, “Sixteen Stone.” The three previously named tracks live on that CD and stand the test of time because of the delightfully indulgent grunge nature. The band has been putting out similar sounding songs. “I Beat Loneliness” is their latest attempt as two singles – “The Land Of Milk And Honey” and “60 Ways To Forget People” – display that the band hasn’t lost its step. The British band finished the record in September 2024 and, giving a cursory listen to every record between the 90’s and now, fans will find there’s been no real shift in sound. Bush is Bush, for better or worse. The singles from this album are the best they’ve sounded in years.
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J Balvin’s Surprise Mixtape & Trisha Yearwood’s Comeback Lead New Weekend Releases