Mitski released the beautiful, melodic Laurel Hell; Bartees Strange leapt genres and blew minds. Farm to Table; Wilco was warm and melodic with his songs, if not country. Cruel Country; Wet Leg revived the post-punk revival with their endlessly entertaining self-titled debut, ending up on Glastonbury’s main stage. These are just some highlights of an exciting year in indie music so far. Rolling Stone Music has the latest episode.
TListen to the entire episode with Simon Vozick–Levinson joining Brian Hiatt as host for the discussion Apple PodcastsOrSpotify,or press play above. Other albums under discussion include Big Thief’s Dragon New Warm Mountain, Soccer Mommy’s Sometimes, Forever, Black Midi’s Hellfire, Sunflower Bean’sA Headful of Sugar Empath’sVisitor,Alvvays’ upcomingBlue RevSay Sue Me’sThe Last Thing LeftInterpol’sThe Other Side of Make-BelieveAngel Olsen’sBig Time,Kurt Vile’sYou can watch my movements. and Spoon’sLucifer on the Sofa.
Brittany Spanos weighs-in on Justin Bieber’s current state, while Wolfgang Van Halen updates us on Mammoth WVH, his next album, and the status of his rumored tribute for his father, Eddie Van Halen.
Subscribe to Rolling Stone Music Now’s weekly podcast and download it now, hosted by Brian Hiatt Apple PodcastsOr Spotify (or wherever you get your podcasts), and check out six years’ worth of episodes in the archive, including in-depth, career-spanning interviews with Bruce Springsteen, Halsey, Neil Young, Snoop Dogg, Brandi Carlile, Phoebe Bridgers, Rick Ross, Alicia Keys, the National, Ice Cube, Robert Plant, Dua Lipa, Questlove, Killer Mike, Julian Casablancas, Sheryl Crow, Johnny Marr, Scott Weiland, Liam Gallagher, Alice Cooper, Fleetwood Mac, Elvis Costello, John Legend, Donald Fagen, Phil Collins, Justin Townes Earle, Stephen Malkmus, Sebastian Bach, Tom Petty, Eddie Van Halen, Kelly Clarkson, Pete Townshend, Bob Seger, the Zombies, Gary Clark Jr., and many others — plus dozens of episodes featuring genre-spanning discussions, debates, and explainers with Rolling Stone’s critics and reporters. Every Friday at 1:05 p.m., tune in. ET to hear Rolling Stone Music Now broadcast on SiriusXM’s Volume, channel 106.