Below are some of the best tracks our critics have heard over the past week, alongside some news titbits from the industry. We update it every week, so make sure you save this page. Feel free to join the conversation in the comments with your own recommendations of what you’re listening to at the moment.
Gig to book
His days as heroin-taking, Kate Moss-dating, tabloid-baiting “Potty Pete” long behind him, Doherty gets back together with his old friend Carl Barât to remind everyone why the Libertines’ ragged, romantic, thoroughly British take on scuzzy stripped-back rock’n’roll cut through in the first place. Will Hodgkinson
Various UK venues, starting at Cyprus Avenue, Cork, on September 22 and ending at the O2 Academy, Bournemouth, on November 21
Musicians v Donald Trump
“I hate Taylor Swift!” Donald Trump announced this week after her endorsement of Kamala Harris. But who loves Trump in the world of music? He’s been ordered to pay damages to Eddy Grant for using Electric Avenue during his 2020 presidential campaign, and that follows Neil Young, the Rolling Stones, Rihanna and Adele all threatening legal action or distancing themselves from the politician. Who’s left? There’s always Kanye West. WH
Best new tracks
By Blanca Schofield
Bon Iver
Speyside
He’s been busy collaborating with, among others, a certain Taylor Swift. Now, in his first solo single in four years, the American indie folk voice of heartbreak returns to pared-back harmonic tear-jerkers with finger plucks and a side of crescendoing strings. Stunning.
Advertisement
Tom Misch
Better Days
More minimalist emotive listening here, this time from the English guitarist-singer who delivers a pick-me-up perfect for gloomy autumn days.
Disclosure, Chris Lake
In2minds
Now for a blast of British dance as the starry electronic duo Disclosure team up with the Scottish producer Chris Lake in a relatively brief but potent garage explosion.
Nelly Furtado
Honesty
Not the most complex, but there is some disco energy colliding with Britney in the Canadian Maneater singer’s best offering from her new album, 7. I defy you to listen to this and not bop around even just the slightest bit.
Pixies
Motoroller
Kurt Cobain once said that Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit was influenced by Pixies, the alt-rock group formed in Boston almost 40 years ago. On they go, announcing new UK and Europe tour dates for 2025 and dropping another grungy release from their forthcoming record, The Night the Zombies Came.
Follow @timesculture to read the latest reviews
