Wednesday Music News

05/04/2016

Janice Headley

The Prince cover tributes keep coming; the latest is a surprisingly poignant performance of "It’s Gonna Be Lonely" from Mac DeMarco. DeMarco wrote on Instagram, "We lost a true hero of mine the other day. Although it's sad, I'm sure he's ripping a hot solo right now in the next dimension. RIP." Even with his Gimp pal in the background (last seen in the video for his James Taylor cover), the cover comes off sincerely loving. Watch below, and tune in at 3:07 PM PT today as KEXP participates in a nationwide tribute to Prince, playing "Nothing Compares 2 U" in simulcast at "seven hours, 13 days" since his passing. [Pitchfork]

Meanwhile, at the Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis, Beck gave his own tribute to Prince with a cover of the hit single "Raspberry Beret." Beck cites the track as an inspiration for his own song "Debra" off 1999's Midnite Vultures, making his rendition even more bittersweet. Watch fan shot footage below. [Consequence of Sound]

50 Foot Wave -- the hard-rockin' side project of beloved singer/songwriter Kristin Hersh -- share a new single today. Stream the track "God’s Not A Dick" below, which will appear on their forthcoming EP titled Bath White, out May 27th on HHBTM Records. This sixth release by the band was produced by famed Los Angeles producer Mudrock, who had this to say about them: "These are the best musicians I've ever worked with, easily the most facile...they're pros and they're good people. 50 Foot Wave is why I do what I do." [Stereogum]

Seattle director (and co-host of KEXP's short-lived Videoasis series) Bobby McHugh was tapped to create a clip for moody Montreal band Ought. Watch his video for "Beautiful Blue Sky" below, a fave from their latest Sun Coming Down, out now on Constellation Records. McHugh explains in a statement to NPR, "We wanted the camera work to feel like Tarkovsky’s The Mirror, which employs long loose shots that work like a stream of consciousness, similar to Tim’s lyrics in the song. And in the edit, we wanted to present a structure that felt like a surreal dream that paired with my interpretation of the ideas Ought presents in the song." Watch below: [Stereogum]

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