This Week’s Music is a weekly column that discusses the week’s best, worst, and most interesting songs. We select songs with different artists and genres to keep things interesting and to please a variety of music fans.
This week’s column features the return of The National, a primer on South Korean sensation BTS and a contemplative song from PJ Harvey. Check them out!
Rock
The National – Light Years
After a three year break, The National is back with a new album. “I Am Easy To Find” is the band’s eight record and will be released this May 17. “Light Years” is a gorgeous single and the perfect reintroduction to the band, held together by a melancholic piano and precise vocals. The single grows slowly with violin strings and second voices, never forgetting its initial simplicity. The National is one of the most reliable bands of the last decade. Eight albums in and their sound is just as beautiful and complex as ever.
Pop
BTS – Home
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Many people have heard of BTS and the hype that surrounds them, but they don’t really know their music and why they’re such a big deal. Originally from South Korea, BTS is made up of seven band members. They’re so beloved in their home town that it’s rumored that one in every 13 tourists visiting the country are doing so in order to get to know where the band comes from. If you’re not acquainted with K-pop, BTS’ music might be confusing; aside from the language barrier, their sound is a mix of electronic and hip hop that is jarring for the uninitiated. But it’s worth getting to know them, since everything suggests that they’re here to stay and that K-pop is a genre that’ll become influential in the music industry.
Soundtrack
PJ Harvey – The Moth
PJ Harvey is a beloved musician, known for her iconic albums and aesthetic. She has worked with plenty of recognized bands and has built a respectable career as a composer for stage plays, having done work on productions of “Hedda Gabbler” in New York and “Hamlet” in London. “The Moth” is one of two singles produced for “All About Eve,” the London production of the revered play and film. Featuring vocals from Lily James, the song is layered, haunting and moody, establishing a unique tone for this beloved story.
