Hit Singles

Hit Singles

Cassandra Jenkins – My Light, My Destroyer

When Cassandra Jenkins released her second album, 2021’s An Overview On Phenomenal Nature, it was in the spirit of a last hurrah. A little lost, a little disheartened, its collection of songs spoke to the dislocation of that particular time in Jenkins’ life when, following the death of David Berman, there came keen grief, a cancelled tour with Purple Mountains, a questioning of whether music was really the career for her. THE NEW UNCUT COMES WITH A FREE, ULTRA-COLLECTABLE JOHN LENNON CD – ORDER A COPY HERE She half-sang, half spoke, her voice slow and dusky and beguiling, and wound her storytelling with richly drawn characters and field recordings: birdsong, a guided meditation, a security guard discussing a Mrinalini Mukherjee exhibit at The Met Breuer. The effect was beautiful, intimate, inquisitive, wise; a record that felt so complete, one wondered how she might ever devise a follow-up. Advertisement Jenkins wondered the same thing. My Light, My Destroyer was not an easy album to make. The success of its predecessor had led to a gruelling tour schedule and a surge of media attention, all of which left the songwriter physically and emotionally drained. Still, there came a first attempt in the… Read More →

Hit Singles

Sean Ono Lennon: “Mind Games is my dad getting back on track”

The August 2024 issue of Uncut is packed full of goodies for the discerning John Lennon fan. As well as our cover story – a deep dive into Lennon’s creative but turbulent 1973/’74 – there’s a stunning Collector’s Cover, a mini Ultimate Music Guide to all Lennon’s solo albums and a unique, ultra-collective CD featuring new mixes, outtakes and more from the upcoming Mind Games deluxe edition box set. We also spoke to Sean Ono Lennon about his work on the Mind Games release, but due to space restrictions could only run part of the interview. Here it is now in full… THE NEW UNCUT COMES WITH A FREE, ULTRA-COLLECTABLE JOHN LENNON CD – ORDER A COPY HERE Advertisement UNCUT: Can you start by giving me your personal overview of Mind Games, the period in which it was recorded and where you feel it stands in your father’s canon? SEAN ONO LENNON: Mind Games was always one of my favourite of dad’s albums. I grew up listening to it without realising it had to some degree been overlooked when it came out. So to me it has always been one of his strongest records. The title track alone lives on… Read More →

Hit Singles

Send us your questions for Steve Cropper!

As one of the greatest and most influential guitarists of all-time, Steve Cropper hardly needs any introduction. Suffice to say, as in-house guitarist, songwriter and A&R man at Stax during the 1960s, Cropper’s fingerprints are all over numerous indelible classics by the likes of Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Wilson Pickett and many more. THE NEW UNCUT COMES WITH A FREE, ULTRA-COLLECTABLE JOHN LENNON CD – ORDER A COPY HERE As well as being a prominent member of Booker T & The MGs and The Blues Brothers band, the ludicrously in-demand Cropper has worked with almost everyone in music, from Neil Young to Dolly Parton, Rod Stewart to Frank Black. A couple of Cropper’s many famous admirers – namely Brian May and Billy Gibbons – turn up on his new album Friendlytown, due for release on August 23 via Mascot Label Group/Provogue. But before that, Cropper has kindly agreed to submit to a gentle grilling from you, the Uncut readers. So what do you want to ask a giant of the game? Send your questions to audiencewith@uncut.co.uk by Monday (July 15) and Steve will answer the best ones in a future issue of Uncut.

Hit Singles

Introducing the Ultimate Music Guide to…Rod Stewart and the Faces

Wouldn’t you? A legendary story about the footballer George Best concerns a room service delivery of caviar and the English papers to his Spanish hotel room. The waiter wheels his trolley into a suite where he discovers the sportsman reclining on a bed, where he is sipping a glass of champagne in the company of the recently-crowned Miss World. The bed is covered with large denomination banknotes, the result of the previous night’s substantial win at the casino. The headline on one of the papers is: “Best: where did it all go wrong?”. As you’ll read in this latest Ultimate Music Guide, in shops a week tomorrow, it wouldn’t be a stretch to retell this anecdote replacing George Best with Rod Stewart. After all, Rod’s career brought him a similar level of massive success – and many of the same fringe benefits. The incredible 60 years of his life in music so far have also been characterised by an exceptional talent, glamorous companions and untold wealth – but as with the footballer, there has always been a small constituency who feel Rod has acquitted himself in a manner which is not quite what they had in mind for him. Advertisement… Read More →

Hit Singles

Laura Marling shares new track, “Patterns”

Laura Marling has shared a track, “Patterns”, from her new album, Patterns In Repeat, which is released on October 25 through Chrysalis/Partisan Records. THE NEW UNCUT COMES WITH A FREE, ULTRA-COLLECTABLE JOHN LENNON CD – ORDER A COPY HERE You can hear “Patterns” below: Advertisement [embedded content] The record – her eighth solo album – was recorded almost entirely at Marling’s home studio and co-produced by Dom Monks, with additional assistance from Rob Moose. “Over the course of nine months, I had happily prepared myself for the fact that my life as a songwriter would be put on hold while I adjusted to life as a new parent,” says Marling. “How delighted then was I to discover that for the first few months of a baby’s life, you can bounce them in a bouncer and play guitar all day. For the first time in my life, I was able to gaze into another human’s eyes as I wrote. Of course, new parents feel like they discovered that feeling – one of the very finest that life has to offer, of looking into the eyes of your child and feeling the enormity of the picture as a whole, the enormity of a… Read More →

Hit Singles

J Spaceman & John Coxon announce Music for William Eggleston’s Stranded In Canton

Jason Pierce and John Coxon have announced details of an instrumental score for Stranded In Canton, William Eggleston’s 1970s art film, which is released October 18 via Fat Possum and available to preorder here. THE NEW UNCUT COMES WITH A FREE, ULTRA-COLLECTABLE JOHN LENNON CD – ORDER A COPY HERE To accompany the announcement J Spaceman & John Coxon have shared the track “Mother’s milk” from the album: Advertisement [embedded content] In 2015, Spaceman, Coxon and friends – including Spiritualized alumni Tony “Doggen” Foster, and drummer Rupert Clervaux – performed a new original score live at a special film screening at London’s Barbican Gallery. The recording sat on a shelf for 10 years, and will finally be unveiled through this release. In addition, Spaceman and Coxon will perform the work in London, New York, Los Angeles and Eggleston’s hometown of Memphis, on the invitation of the photographer’s son Winston Eggleston. All dates are listed below. Stranded In Canton is a black-and-white film portrait of Memphis in 1974, shot in bars and on street corners, showing Eggleston’s friends carousing, playing music and firing pistols into the night sky. “With Memphis, I grew up with and I fell in love with that whole part of the world and the music that came from there,” explains Spaceman. “Memphis… Read More →

Hit Singles

Uncut’s New Music Playlist for July 2024

With much talk of promise and renewal in the air, you might want to seek out some exciting new music to match the mood – as always, there’s no shortage of it around. Witness the impressive returns of Laura Marling, Field Music, Mercury Rev, Osees, King Gizzard and Public Service Broadcasting for starters. THE NEW UNCUT COMES WITH A FREE, ULTRA-COLLECTABLE JOHN LENNON CD – ORDER A COPY HERE Meanwhile Ty Segall lives out his drum fantasies, Seun Kuti and Damian Marley extend their respective musical dynasties in fine style, and Chrystabell shows you can’t get any more Lynchian than collaborating with the actual David Lynch. Enjoy… Advertisement LAURA MARLING“Patterns”(Chrysalis/Partisan) [embedded content] NAIMA BOCK“Kaley”(Sub Pop/Memorials Of Distinction) [embedded content] MERCURY REV“Ancient Love”(Bella Union) Advertisement [embedded content] STEVE WYNN“Making Good On My Promises”(Fire) [embedded content] MJ LENDERMAN“She’s Leaving You”(Anti-) [embedded content] SEUN KUTI & EGYPT 80“Dey feat. Damian Marley”(Record Kicks) [embedded content] PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING“Electra”(SO Recordings) [embedded content] MEMORIALS“Cut It Like A Diamond”(Fire) [embedded content] FIELD MUSIC“Six Weeks, Nine Wells”(Memphis Industries) [embedded content] TY SEGALL“The Dance (Edit)”(Drag City) [embedded content] OSEES“Earthling”(Castle Face) [embedded content] KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD“Le Risque”((p)doom) [embedded content] SEX SWING“Kings Romans Casino”(God Unknown) [embedded content] CHRYSTABELL… Read More →

Hit Singles

Hear two tracks from Galaxie 500’s new rarities compilation

Galaxie 500 have announced details of Uncollected Noise New York ’88-’90, a new double LP compilation released by Silver Current on September 20. The set – curated by Dean Wareham, Noami Yang and Damon Krukowski – will feature outtakes, B-sides and assorted standalone recordings including their deathless cover of The Rutles‘ “Cheese And Onions”. “Opening up these tape boxes was like looking into an old journal or datebook — I had forgotten most of this happened at all, but it only took a few quick details to put me right back in the drum seat,” says Krukowski. “There are songs from all the Galaxie 500 recording sessions included here.” Advertisement “There is a sweetness in hearing the progression of us finding our own sound, our own collective voice. The Proustian power of music,” adds Yang. “Listening to these early recordings I can hear myself figuring out how I wanted to play bass –- finding my way up the neck to where the notes would cut through, where there could be a counter-melody to the singing. Making the bass my singing voice.” THE NEW UNCUT COMES WITH A FREE, ULTRA-COLLECTABLE JOHN LENNON CD – ORDER A COPY HERE You can pre-order the… Read More →

Hit Singles

Mark Lanegan’s Bubblegum to get the deluxe reissue treatment

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Mark Lanegan’s 2004 album Bubblegum is to be expanded into a 4-LP / 3-CD boxset containing 40 remastered tracks, 12 of which are previously unreleased. The limited-edition Bubblegum XX 4-LP box contains a 64-page hardcover book with essays by Troy Van Leeuwen, Josh Homme, Chris Goss, Alain Johannes, David Catching, Greg Dulli, Duff McKagan and Brett Netson, along with studio notes and previously unseen photographs by Steve Gullick. Bubblegum has been cut as a double LP and remastered by Geoff Pesche at Abbey Road. The set also includes a remastered edition of Here Comes That Weird Chill (Methamphetamine Blues, Extras & Oddities) to which three bonus tracks have been added. Advertisement The fourth LP contains demos and unreleased tracks, comprised of outtakes from the Bubblegum sessions and tracks recorded, produced and mixed by Troy Van Leeuwen in various hotel rooms with Lanegan singing and Van Leeuwen playing all the instruments. As per Lanegan’s original wishes, the track “Union Tombstone” has been recently updated to include new vocal and harmonica parts by Beck. “These hotel demo sessions were basically forgotten,” says Van Leeuwen. “When I heard the news of Mark’s passing, these memories started rushing back… Read More →

Hit Singles

Bob Dylan and The Band’s 1974 tour chronicled in colossal 27-disc boxset

Bob Dylan’s legendary 1974 tour with The Band was previously captured for posterity on the contemporaneous live album, Before The Flood. Now that double live album has been expanded to an enormous 27-CD boxset including 417 previously unreleased performances. THE NEW UNCUT COMES WITH A FREE, ULTRA-COLLECTABLE JOHN LENNON CD – ORDER A COPY HERE Bob Dylan – The 1974 Live Recordings will be released by Columbia Records / Legacy Recordings on September 20. There will also be a somewhat more manageable 3-LP boxset issued via Third Man Records’ Vault mail-order series, featuring songs from the 1974 run not included on Before The Flood. Hear a previously unreleased version of “Forever Young”, live at the Seattle Center Coliseum on February 9, 1974: Peruse the full tracklisting for Bob Dylan – The 1974 Live Recordings and pre-order here.

Hit Singles

Introducing…The Ultimate Genre Guide to Glam

Get down and get with it! The UGG Glam is in shops on Friday! As you will discover when you read this stomping new publication, there were many ways to be glam. Conceptual, like Roxy or Bowie. Flashy, and made for colour television, like Slade. Theatrical, like Alice Cooper or chaotic like the New York Dolls. For our cover star Brian Eno, it was the start of a 50-year career in experimental ideas – currently being celebrated in an excellent new documentary. Perhaps more than anything else, glam could be a key to reinvention and self-discovery. Roy Wood was a joint-passing hippy before he became the glitter-bearded star of Wizzard. Mott The Hoople were longtime triers about to quit, given another shot when they performed Bowie’s “All The Young Dudes” – essentially glam’s national anthem. Elton John began the 1970s as an earnest balladeer, and was possibly more a glam rocker from expediency than anything else. Still, it allowed him to access elements of his showmanship, sexuality and general high-spirits than he had previously managed. Advertisement There was no one way to be glam. There were some recognizable features – the intersection of ambiguous sexuality and hard, often1950s-inspired rock; an… Read More →

Hit Singles

New film about Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Lady Studios to open in August

Electric Lady Studios: A Jimi Hendrix Vision, a new film from Experience Hendrix LLC, is due to open at The Quad in New York City on August 9. A global rollout will follow, distributed by Abramorama. The documentary chronicles the building of what became the first ever artist-owned commercial recording studio, in the heart of Manhattan – although Hendrix had originally envisioned Electric Lady as a nightclub and jam space. “Jimi loved jamming at The Generation nightclub in the Village and when it went bankrupt, he and [manager] Mike Jeffery purchased it with a view to making it a place for him and his friends to relax and possibly record their jams on an 8-track tape machine in the corner,” explains Hendrix’s engineer and long-time collaborator Eddie Kramer, a key contributor to the documentary. Advertisement “I knew at once that a club would be disastrous. I remember saying something like ‘You guys must be out your #$%^&ing minds! Do you have any idea of what Jimi spends in studio time in a year?’ Let’s build the best studio in the world for him so when he walks in, he can relax and record whenever he wants. “The club idea was… Read More →

Hit Singles

Send us your questions for Thurston Moore!

The first time Thurston Moore ever sang into a microphone, it was to scream back the lyrics of “Oh Bondage! Up Yours!” to Poly Styrene when X-Ray Spex played CBGB in 1978. It was a moment of teenage catharsis that he’s seemed to carry through his whole career, consistently advocating for noisy rock’n’roll and expressive free music of all kinds as the best vessel for transcending workaday existence and sticking it to the man. After looking back over his storied career in last year’s memoir Sonic Life, Moore is once again facing forward on new solo album Flow Critical Lucidity – although devotees of the dazed guitars and jagged street poetry of Sonic Youth touchstones Sister and Daydream Nation will find plenty to love in this new material. To celebrate its release in September, Moore has kindly consented to undergo a gentle grilling from you, the Uncut readers. So what do you want to ask the godfather of alternative rock? Send your questions to audiencewith@uncut.co.uk by Monday July 15 and Thurston will answer the best ones in a future issue of Uncut.

Hit Singles

J’Moris Shares a Powerful Saga in Latest Track ‘MPO’

Hailing from the dynamic Texas hip-hop scene, J’Moris from Hillsboro has dropped his latest single, “MPO”, reaffirming his standing as a significant figure in rap music today. This track goes beyond the usual fare, serving as a powerful testament to J’Moris’s journey of perseverance and ambition. Opening with a deep, pulsing bassline, “MPO” immediately sets a commanding tone. J’Moris complements this strong foundation with lyrics that vividly depict the intricacies of his life experiences, delivered with a passion that captivates listeners. His direct approach pays homage to the greats of Southern rap while infusing his own distinct style, creating a blend of authenticity and personal introspection that sets “MPO” apart. The song’s lyrics paint a vivid picture of resilience, with J’Moris recounting his unwavering determination to overcome challenges and chase his dreams. Lines like, “Lost in the times, lost in the vibes, either way goes, I’m still outside, got thrown off the porch, but I still survived and made it through the trenches,” not only detail his personal journey but also resonate with universal themes of struggle and triumph. J’Moris showcases his storytelling prowess by skillfully weaving sharp wordplay with timely cultural references, all delivered through a rhythmic and assertive… Read More →

Hit Singles

Robyn Hitchcock’s guide to 1967: “‘Let’s get the kaftans out…’” – listen

Robyn Hitchcock’s first book, a memoir titled 1967: How I Got There and Why I Never Left, is out now. In Uncut’s July issue, he spoke about the book and his memories of that pivotal year in his youth – from the strange customs of Winchester College to the mind-blowing new music he was hearing – and here Hitchcock exclusively takes us through a playlist of some of his favourite tracks from ’67. Comprising 10 songs by British artists and another nine by Americans, the list has been curated by the singer-songwriter to best encapsulate the feel of that psychedelic period. He’s also kept away from the songs he covers on his accompanying album, 1967 – Vacations In The Past. Take a listen here, and scroll down to read Robyn’s commentary… Advertisement THE NEW UNCUT COMES WITH A FREE, ULTRA-COLLECTABLE JOHN LENNON CD – ORDER A COPY HERE ROBYN HITCHCOCK: These are not necessarily the best songs by those artists. Like “Hole In My Shoe” isn’t my favourite Traffic song from that period – I’d rather listen to “Mr Fantasy” or “Heaven Is In Your Mind”, and I cover “No Face, No Name, No Number” on my [1967] record –… Read More →

Hit Singles

Dolby Atmos on mobile

he first time Joni Mitchell heard her voice in Dolby Atmos, she was thrilled by the way it sounded. “I can’t believe how good it sounds!” she said in June 2022 while listening to a playback of her classic Court And Spark album. That same Dolby Atmos experience can now be enjoyed through mobile phones and tablets, ensuring classic albums are available in unprecedented audio quality for those on the move using any brand of headphones or earbuds. A technology that was initially designed for the most cutting-edge cinemas in 2012, can now be enjoyed through a device that fits in your pocket, bringing studio-quality sound direct to your ears. Dolby Atmos technology allows any single sound to be manipulated and moved around within an overall sonic landscape. For film, TV and games, this means the sound of a helicopter can appear to come from overheard or the noise of a car horn or gunfire can be moved around during the scene to create a wholly immersive experience. Dialogue might start behind you and then move to the front as a scene unfolds. Now imagine the potential of this when applied to music. A Dolby Atmos remix gives the artist,… Read More →

Hit Singles

How Dolby can power up your home entertainment

Whether listening to your favourite album, watching a great movie or settling back with a new box set, home entertainment has never looked or sounded better in Dolby. Playing a classic album mixed in Dolby Atmos on your stereo can be like rediscovering it all over again, reminding you of why you first fell in love with it in the first place, while Dolby Vision can turn every living room into a home cinema. You just need to bring the popcorn. Before making its way into your home, Dolby Atmos has been elevating sound in cinemas since 2012. The revolutionary spatial audio technology was first introduced as an upgrade on the traditional 5.1 and 7.1 surround-sound setups, but has since rapidly been rolled out for Blu-ray film and music releases as well as video games. That’s because Dolby Atmos creates truly immersive, three-dimensional sound, using groundbreaking technology to place the listener at the centre of a bubble of sound. It gives sound engineers unprecedented elements to play with, safe in the knowledge most major brands are able to deliver this experience to the listener. Companies like Philips, Sony and Hisense have developed compatible devices and home entertainment equipment at a… Read More →

Hit Singles

Margo Guryan – Words And Music

During the last 10 or so years of her life, while Margo Guryan was working as a piano teacher, she was given several opportunities to reflect on a career in which her brilliance went unnoticed. There was no bitterness in Guryan’s responses; if anything, she evinced a sense of mild amusement that her demo recordings were being excavated decades after the release of her 1968 album, Take A Picture (once obscure, now hailed as a baroque masterpiece). THE NEW UNCUT COMES WITH A FREE, ULTRA-COLLECTABLE JOHN LENNON CD – ORDER A COPY HERE If there was any blame to be attributed, it was Bob Dylan’s fault. Well, not Bob exactly, but his success. After Dylan, Guryan told one interviewer, the music industry changed from a model in which good singers could employ talented songwriters, to the situation in which the songwriter was supposed to be the singer too. This led to a glut of good singers with bad songs, and bad singers with good songs. For Guryan, a brilliant songwriter with limited confidence in the power of her voice, it was a recipe for obscurity. Advertisement Guryan’s telling of her own story allows for one moment of ironic disappointment. She… Read More →

Hit Singles

The Folk Implosion – Walk Thru Me

For those who’d been hankering after a Lou Barlow/John Davis status update, it came in 2022 with the (unannounced) release of “Feel It If You Feel It”. Hatched during pandemic isolation and featuring two tracks plus a remix of each, it was their first recording of new material in 23 years. This constituted a fair-sized tremor on the US indie-rock landscape, yet it landed without fanfare, its familiar mix of lo-fi synth-pop, heartfelt alt.rock and beats-based atmospherics packaged under a title both gnomic and diffident. It also arrived with the promise that a full album was on the way. THE NEW UNCUT COMES WITH A FREE, ULTRA-COLLECTABLE JOHN LENNON CD – ORDER A COPY HERE This 10-song set, then, is the follow-through, though last year there was a limited-edition EP, “It Just Goes With…”, which rather than a cautious edging forward suggests that after such a long lapse, the pair saw no reason to rush. However, they’ve also made it clear that Walk Thru Me is part of a continuum, by riffing on the title of their debut EP, 1993’s “Walk Through This World With The Folk Implosion”. That emphatic intent is underlined by the music, which pushes rhythm to… Read More →

Hit Singles

Ewura Abena’s “Warrior” – A Testament to Spiritual Resilience

Ewura Abena, a prominent figure in the gospel music scene, has launched the eagerly awaited music video for “Warrior,” a powerful track from her latest album, REBIRTH (Mary’s Child). Ewura, originally from Takoradi, Ghana and now residing in Birmingham, UK, consistently connects with international audiences through her moving lyrics and soulful compositions. The song “Warrior” serves as a hymn of victory against inner conflicts, bolstered by steadfast faith. Created during a time of reflection and spiritual deepening, the track reflects Ewura Abena‘s strong faith in God, providing comfort and motivation to those facing their own trials. The music video for “Warrior” features an inspiring narrative of overcoming challenges. It beautifully portrays Ewura Abena‘s intense presence and fervent performance, drawing from the song’s themes of courage and overcoming adversity. The music video intersperses impactful musical sequences with visual stories of struggle and success, such as a man rising from poverty to prosperity through sheer determination and faith. This visual representation underlines the message that no obstacle is insurmountable with perseverance and belief. Ewura Abena’s commitment to conveying hope through her music has not only garnered her wide acclaim but also a deep connection with her audience. She often draws from biblical… Read More →

Hit Singles

Rich Ruth on Pharoah Sanders, Sunn 0))) and more!

For the current issue of Uncut, I interviewed Rich Ruth at his home studio in Nashville, where we dug into the roots of his mind-expanding cosmic jazz-rock. For the feature, I asked Michael – his real name – to compile a list of five artists who’ve influenced his latest album, Water Still Flows, to provide some further anchors to his music. With typical generosity, he gave me a lot of thoughts on a bunch of great artists – too much for the issue, as it turned out. So below, you can read his insights in full… THE NEW UNCUT COMES WITH A FREE, ULTRA-COLLECTABLE JOHN LENNON CD – ORDER A COPY HERE TIM HECKER Advertisement Sometime during the pandemic I got really into Tim Hecker. Particularly his albums Harmony In Ultraviolet and Ravedeath 1972. He blurs the lines between experimental and ambient, creating extremely active and visceral soundscapes that are a huge inspiration, particularly on tracks of mine like God Won’t Speak. Hecker’s music also veers into quite heavy territory despite its abstract nature. ASH RA TEMPEL / MANEL GOTTSCHING Gottsching is one of my all time favourite guitarists. I constantly find inspiration in his playing and productions, as it… Read More →