ANCHR's Artist of the Week: MUNA

Photo By Isaac Schneider

MUNA’s music will not only make you want to dance, it will make you feel safe to be yourself—what more could you ask for?! If you’re a long-time ANCHR reader, you’re likely already well familiar with MUNA, but the trio just released their third album so they deserve another shout out as this week’s artist of the week.

Composed of Katie Gavin (she/they), Naomi McPherson (they/them), and Josette Maskin (she/they), the three members of the band have been friends for about ten years, and they started making music during their time in college at USC. MUNA released their first album About U in 2017, which features bops like the inclusive anthem “I Know A Place” and “Loudspeaker.” The group’s self-titled third album follows up their 2019 album Saves The World and is their first release on Phoebe Bridgers’ record label Saddest Factory Records. Despite the record label name, most of MUNA conjures up feel-good vibes, especially the first track “Silk Chiffon,” which is the ultimate summer road-trip soundtrack and features Bridgers as a collaborator.

The members of MUNA have said this record brings them out of a period of uncertainty that they faced due to everything going on in the world and other factors surrounding their career, but as I listen to these songs, I mostly hear confidence and an elevated level of maturity in the songwriting and artistry. The third album is essentially the result of MUNA acting as a phoenix rising from its ashes—Talking about this peculiar time, Gavin says, “You have to let things fall apart. And it was only possible because of this tremendous trust. I have so few relationships in my life where I have the kind of trust that I do with Naomi and Jo — where I can trust that there’s a higher purpose, that we can work through all the boundaries and compromises and mess that comes with long-term relationships, and then return to form.” 

If you’re ready to rejoice with MUNA in their latest era, be sure to listen to the new record in full, and catch them on tour soon. They’ll be in Chicago this month playing Lollapalooza, including an aftershow at Thalia Hall.

ANCHR's 21 Best Songs of 2021

As we’re all aware, 2021 has been a year of ups and downs, highs and lows, but through it all, new music got us through it at ANCHR. While the year winds down, ANCHR contributor Michael Perez and editor Rachel Zyzda put together a list of 21 of our favorite songs to come out of 2021. In no particular order, tune into the music that made our year.

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Michael’s picks

“The Divine Cord” by The Avalanches ft. MGMT & Johnny Marr

We Will Always Love You came out in mid December but that was not nearly enough time to process how lovely it was for an album released in 2020.  Plus, I was way too hung up on “Running Red Lights.” That song was beautiful.  “The Divine Cord,” however, is just as beautiful. Andrew VanWyngarden of MGMT on vocals and Johnny Marr of The Smiths and Modest Mouse on guitar make a wonderful pair to add to an Avalanches collaboration. 

Briefly, the song seems to be narrated from the VanWyngarden point of view about how he wasn’t all he was cracked up to be once the honeymoon phase of his romantic relationship eroded. The opening line of “I still remember you” seems to indicate that it didn’t work out and VanWyngarden is romanticizing the other person from memories they shared before his true self peered out. 

Maybe I'll Become the Person You Wished I Was Before You Ever Met Me

“Scratchcard Lanyard” by Dry Cleaning

I’m just going to be honest, I have no idea what this song is about. The lyrics seem nebulous and random, thus humorous. I do not have a clue why the woman in aviators is firing a bazooka, but I’m here for it. That being said, this song slaps. I’m talking “what did the five fingers say to the face?” type of slap. 

Do Everything and Feel Nothing

“Caroline” by Arlo Parks

My favorite song on Collapsed In Sunbeams is “Black Dog,” but it was released as a single in May of 2020 so I thought using that song would be cheating.  The album as a whole though is outstanding so it was very easy, and hard, to decide on a second favorite. “Caroline” is a smooth and soothing song where the lyrics paint a frustrating and angry picture of a couple fighting in public. One could listen to it while decompressing in a bubble bath as long as they tune out the words. 

I Swear To God I Tried

“Paprika” by Japanese Breakfast 

When this song comes on I feel like it should be playing for those crazy people that wake up in the morning feeling happy, energized, and refreshed as if it were a scene in a movie. I personally have never had one of those sunny and chipper mornings, but I’ve heard it’s not actually folklore. Some people actually experience them.  Anyway, “Paprika” is the fantastic opening track fit for one of the best albums of 2021 and I’m probably going to continue playing it throughout 2022 as well. 

Oh, It’s a Rush 

“Mystery” by Turnstile

In late summer when I kept seeing this album being talked about nonstop, I was like “that hardcore band I saw at Riot Fest a few years back?” I remember them being wild but I hadn’t ever given them an honest listen. When I finally listened to Glow On though, I saw what all the hype was about. This album is super fun whether you like the harder stuff or not. It’s great to listen to in the car, making pasta, working out, intense makeout sessions, or wherever you like listening to anything lively. 

“Mystery” is the opening track and it is easily my favorite from the album. It makes me think about head banging, stage diving, non-stop mosh pit types of shows. I will definitely be seeing them again next time they come around. If you don’t usually listen to this type of stuff and what you usually listen to is starting to get stale and you’re looking for something outside of your usual music bubble, maybe check this one out. The album is just over half an hour so it’s a quick listen. 

I Know You're Scared of Running Out of Time, But I'm Afraid Too

”Take 3” by Inner Wave

Apoptosis by Inner Wave is another album where I enjoyed listening start to finish. I saw their show at Cobra Lounge in August and the song that stood to me the most was “Take 3,” and I’ve been stuck on it ever since. It’s impossible for me to blast this song in my house or car and not dance and sing along. The entire song causes me to groove, but once the music drops after the bridge, it’s over for your boy. I’m full on dancing like John Travolta in Pulp Fiction.

Someone Helped Me Out Today. I Hope I Could Do the Same

“Afrique Victime” by Mdou Moctar

I, as I assume a large percentage of ANCHR’s readers, do not speak Tamasheq. That, however, did not stop me from loving “Afrique Victime” by Mdou Moctar. I enjoy music that’s going to make me move my body and this song accomplishes that. This song is melodic, anthemic, and simply rocks even though it covers the very serious topic of corruption in Africa. If I didn’t already have a show the night they stop by Chicago again with Parquet Courts I would be all over it.  

If we stay silent it will be the end of us (translation)

“Canary Islands” by Goth Babe

“Canary Islands” is possibly the song I listened to the most this year. It came out in January and I’m still not sick of it.  Griff Washburn aka Goth Babe paints a scene of jubilation and delight while on the seashore. It’s very dancey and wonderful to just sit and listen to. I was sad when Goth Babe had to back out of Lollapalooza but hopefully he is all healed up so he can bring all of his catchy tunes back to Chicago.  

I’m Waiting For You

“How Can I Make It Ok?” by Wolf Alice

My absolute favorite song from 2021 is this bop from Wolf Alice. When I saw my Spotify wrapped a few weeks ago, in not as many words, Spotify basically told me “You should chill out with this song dawg.”  It starts off soft, picks up in the middle, and has one shouting “I Just Want You To Be Happy!” in the last third of the song.  I view it as a song on motivation and encouragement. There isn’t a lousy track on the entire album so it’s best to listen to the whole thing, but when you get to this song, imagine you’re sharing the microphone with Ellie Rowsell. She seems like the type of person that would just laugh off how tone deaf you are. 

To Live In Fear Isn’t To Live At All

“Anything At All” by Bachelor

Let’s all be thankful Palehound and Jay Som realized how good they sound together. In my opinion, their friendship and chemistry is made clear in “Anything At All.” I wonder if their kinship was realized in the making of this song. It sounds so good. The rhythm section and the guitar meld so well. Bachelor, if you’re reading this, please reschedule your show at the Bottle. We need you. 

Every Dirty Word Becomes Your Name

“Sinking” by VNSSA & Lenny Kiser

Going against what ANCHR usually covers, I can not leave out this absolute banger.  Years ago I used to love listening to DJs like Kaskade and Deadmau5, and that love still lies deep in me. “Sinking” brings me back to those days where you would get lost in warehouse dance parties and not care that you couldn’t find your friends. (Do kids still do those?)  I swear, I could listen to this song 20 times in a row and not be tired of it. I’m sad I had to miss the VNSSA set at Lollapalooza but maybe she’ll come around again so I can shake my booty. 

When You Speak, I Get Weak.  I Cant Think, And I Sink

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Rachel’s picks

“Wet Dream” by Wet Leg

After Covid vaccines, Wet Leg may very well be the best thing to come out of 2021. Needless to say, we’re very glad that musical artists Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers rode a Ferris wheel together in their native Isle of Wight and decided to start a band— and subsequently released their debut single in June of this year. “Wet Dream” followed as the pair’s sophomore single, but it’s just as peppy and quirky as their first song “Chaise Longue.” The upbeat and repetitive nature of the song only lends to the stickiness and unforgettable nature of Wet Leg’s short but sweet music catalog to date. If you take one piece of advice from ANCHR this year, make sure it’s listening to Wet Leg’s upcoming record and attending their shows in 2022.

“The Motions” by Gustaf

Here at ANCHR, our appreciation for NYC’s Gustaf has not gone unknown, so having to pick just one song from their debut record as a favorite was tough. One of the band’s most endearing facets is their authentic and raw energy that’s often embodied by rallying call-and-response style vocals. Gustaf made a name for themselves by jumping on gig opportunity after gig opportunity, and being flexible in live arrangements, and they’ve come up with a knack for improvising and pushing boundaries.

In “The Motions,” the song starts out with a smattering of drum rolls followed by a grooving bass line before vocalist Lydia Gammill chimes in and she’s met by the echoes of her bandmates. Talking about the story that the song tells, Gammill said, “‘The Motions’ is a rip on the motions we go through every day, and I thought of it as someone having their inner monologue and set of rules to try to keep them on track as they go through their life, but not being able to suppress the hysteria inside.”

“Alphabet” by Shame

*Technically* this song was released as a single in late 2020, but since its official release was on Shame’s sophomore album Drunk Tank Pink, it had to be included on our 2021 round up. The album was released on January 15th, 2021—which honestly feels like ages ago at this point, but many of the songs from this record remain in my regular rotation. “Alphabet” opens with a faded guitar distortion that bleeds into steady drum beats and vocalist Charlie Steen’s punchy musings. The track, along with its counterparts on Drunk Tank Pink has an air of built up maturity and ferocity from the group’s earlier material, which allows for it to still hold up nearly a year later.

“G.S.K.” by Squid

When I think of the band Squid, I think fluidity and shape-shifting because they’re a band that truly refuses to be pinned to one style or genre. Their music pulls in touches of punk, jazz, new wave and experimental rock to deliver a refreshing take on the influences that brought the members together.

The track “G.S.K.” from Squid’s debut album Bright Green Field does an excellent job of highlighting the controlled chaos that is their sound. The song features punchy vocals layered over a brass-infused groove, and it has so much to unpack that you discover something new with each listen.

“Color of the Pool” by Lala Lala

The second track off of Lala Lala’s new album I Want The Door To Open, “Color of the Pool” stands among some of my other favorite songs of this year, so again it was tough to pick just one from this record.

Lala Lala is the brainchild of Chicago based songwriter, producer, and musician Lillie West, but West expands upon her creativity and artistic boundaries by often collaborating with other musicians. Throughout this album, Lala Lala features musicians like Sen Morimoto, OHMME, Kara Jackson, and Benjamin Gibbard, but this song in particular features a saxophone moment from Adam Schatz of Landlady. West describes “Color of the Pool” as being about the feeling of wanting to embody the characteristics of something pure and uncatchable, like a flame, and she was able to depict that in the tones and texture of the song.

“Bunny Is A Rider” by Caroline Polachek

There are many components of “Bunny Is A Rider”— from the whistling preamble to the avant-garde musical production to Caroline Polachek’s operatic vocalizations, these elements combine to make the track a masterpiece. The sonic territory of “Bunny Is A Rider” reaches far, and blends with lyrics that explore the mysterious and intriguing protagonist: Bunny.

At Pitchfork Festival this year, I heard part of an interview with Polachek where she discussed drawing influence from Celine Dion in her newer material, and while that definitely comes across in her vocal delivery, Polachek shares a unique flair that’s entirely her own in this song.

“Across That Fine Line” by Nation of Language

Nation of Language is a trio from Brooklyn consisting of Ian Devaney, Aidan Noell and Michael Sue-Poi, and the group has an aptitude for pairing pondering and vulnerable lyrics with melodies that make you want to dance. The lead single “Across That Fine Line” from their sophomore record A Way Forward is no different, as it showcases hypnotic synths and an infectious hook that can help listeners like us escape from reality for a brief moment in time.

Songwriter and vocalist Devaney describes the lyrics as being a story about a non-romantic relationship crossing over to something different. “Sonically, it’s meant to feel like running down a hill, just out of control. I had been listening to a lot of Thee Oh Sees at the time of writing it and admiring the way they supercharge krautrock rhythms and imbue them with a kind of mania, which felt like an appropriate vibe to work with and make our own,” he adds.

“Silk Chiffon” by MUNA with Phoebe Bridgers

Besides being a stellar collaboration between two artists ANCHR loves, this track had to be included in this round up for being the bright glimmer of sunshine we needed for this roller coaster of a year. The song’s hook that begins with “life’s so fun, life’s so fun” may have been the antithesis of how most of us felt at any given point in 2021, but it also embodied the sliver of hope some of us felt when vaccines rolled out and the world started opening up more.

“Silk Chiffon” also joins a list of Tik Tok trends from this year, so that provided us all with further entertainment and happiness during a dim time. When in need of a pick me up, MUNA has never let ANCHR down.

“Like I Used To” by Sharon Van Etten & Angel Olsen

I, like many people, am a sucker for nostalgia. Not only do the title of this song and the lyrics call back to that feeling of recalling former habits, but the musicality of “Like I Used To” is drenched with nostalgic riffs that sound like they were plucked from the credits of a teen movie in the 1980’s.

On top of that, Sharon Van Etten and Angel Olsen’s voices meld together in a harmonic and powerful blend, providing another iconic collaboration we didn’t know we needed. The studio version of this song is amazing on its own, but ANCHR had the opportunity to witness the duo perform it live at Pitchfork Music Festival earlier this year, and you can all relive that magic below.

“Keep Moving” by Jungle

We’re all familiar with the line “keep swimming” from Finding Nemo, and for me, “keep moving” has been a sort of mantra for 2021 and the entire pandemic era. It’s been easier to cope with hard times when keeping busy, and it’s even better when bands like Jungle provide the soundtrack for distraction tactics.

The song “Keep Moving” from the London-based group’s third album Loving in Stereo starts off with a cinematic intro that’s reminiscent of a horror movie score, but then their signature funky and disco vibes kick in and lighten up the move. Like the vast majority of Jungle’s discography, it’s impossible not to start dancing when “Keep Moving” comes on.

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Honorable mention: “All Too Well” (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) by Taylor Swift

It’s no secret that we tend to cover less mainstream music and artists at ANCHR, but yes even we are Swifties and can’t let the year go by without acknowledging Red (Taylor’s Version) and the glory that is the 10-minute version of “All Too Well.” The song and the album re-release speak for themselves, but it’s too great not to be included as an honorable mention.

Listen to all of these songs on our Spotify Playlist below and stay tuned for more music coverage in 2022.

New Music Friday 9/15

New Music Friday this week bring new singles from lots of our favorites! To Kill a King released a new original single following a few covers, and Space4lease released their final single from their new EP. MUNA and NAO both put out their first singles following up their latest albums, and Cut Worms has also announced a new EP with a debut single. On the album front, Hippo Campus has a new EP out, while Ariel Pink and Angus & Julia Stone put out full LPs. Get your weekend started by listening to all that and more below!

Cut Worms- "Like Going Down Sideways"

The Lemon Twigs- "Why Didn't You Say That?"

To Kill A King- "Spiritual Dark Age"

Space4Lease- "I Tried Calling"

LÉON- "I Believe In Us"

NAO- "Nostalgia"

MUNA- "In My Way"

The Killers- "Some Kind of Love"

Now, Now- "Yours"

King Krule- "Dum Surfer"

Hippo Campus- "Warm Glow" EP

Angus & Julia Stone- Snow

Ariel Pink- Dedicated to Bobby Jameson

New Music Friday 2/3

Once again, lots of good tunes out this week, and a few albums from our favorites are out today! And thank gosh, because ANCHR is going abroad to Barcelona this weekend. These are the albums we'll be listening to during the flight today.  

MUNA- About U

Sampha- Process

TEN FE- Hit The Light

Official video for "Overflow," taken from the album Hit The Light. You can stream the full album on Spotify. 

Kevin Garrett- False Hope EP

P.S. Stay tuned for a review of Kevin Garrett's show at Lincoln Hall last night. 

Now for some singles that came out this week...

Rag'N'Bone Man- "Grace"

London Grammar- "Big Picture"

New Music Friday: 1/20

Listen to our favorite new tracks from this week, featuring some of our favorite artists like Maggie Rogers and Rationale.

Maggie Rogers- "On + Off"

Maggie Rogers released her third single earlier this week, in the midst of her first tour ever.  The new tune "On + Off' features her signature whimsical production style and sweeping vocals. The song comes from Rogers's upcoming EP Now That The Light Is Fading, set to be released on February 17th.  

Rationale- "Reciprocate" 

After releasing "Prodigal Son" and "Vessels" at the end of 2016, Rationale has kicked off 2017 with the third track off his Vessels EP, "Reciprocate."  Co-written with Grades, the dynamic tune possesses a hypnotic melody and showcases Rationale's vast vocal range.  "Reciprocate" further solidifies Rationale's unique sound and immense talent as a producer, songwriter, and vocalist.  We're sure that his upcoming debut will not disappoint his growing fan base. 

Kevin Garrett- "Stranglehold"

In advance of his upcoming US tour, Kevin Garrett gifted us new tune "Stranglehold" earlier this week.  Soft and soulful, the new track stays true to Kevin's style, while pushing to boundaries on the production side.  Make sure you grab your tickets to see Kevin on tour next month-- he confirmed he'll be playing this one on the road. 

MUNA- "Crying on the Bathroom Floor"

Female trio MUNA's latest single "Crying on the Bathroom Floor" comes two weeks before the release of their debut album About U. The new track starts off with thick 80's-influenced synthesizers and delicate vocals from lead singer Katie Gavin.  True to MUNA-form, the song delivers a pop exterior that will make you want to dance, while also containing thoughtful lyrics with a message.  

COTE- "Cruel"

Singer-songwriter COTE dropped a new track "Cruel" earlier this week.  Perfect for a Sunday afternoon, the track starts off soft with COTE's soothing vocal style, building up with the chorus.  Sonically, the song branches out from COTE's first three singles, proving the versatility of this newcomer.