Every Friday, the staff at Atwood Magazine discusses what has been capturing their attention that week – be it a song, an album, or an artist that resonates with them at the moment. This week's compilation includes music from Mt. Joy, Adrianne Lenker, Caleb Kunle, Nature TV, Mistine, Fright Years, Dancer, Alejandro Aranda, Madame Gandhi, Chris Pierce, SINK, Zweng, Ali J. Hassan, Izzy Mahoubi, Runnner, dacelynn, Tomás del Real, Julie Arsenault, Dean Batten, Mikel Rafael, Hannah Stokes, Mimi’s Revenge, AViVA, The Straights, Szou, Jaylon, Òrain, Reigns, Giampaolo Pasquile, Peso the Misfit, & Dailla!
•• •• •• ••
Follow WEEKLY ROUNDUP on Spotify
•• ••
:: Hope We Have Fun – Mt. Joy ::
Mitch Mosk, Beacon, New York
Mt. Joy’s fourth album is a chaotic, beautiful merging of sound and feeling released today through Futures x Bloom Field Records. Titled Hope We Have Fun, it embodies intensity, emotional depth, excitement, and catchiness, creating a sense of longing in various directions. The album reflects a mix of fragility and ferocity, showcasing Mt. Joy at their peak nearly ten years into their journey, fearlessly exposing their essence. These 13 tracks serve as both a culmination and a reckoning, symbolizing the band's evolution from self-releasing tracks on SoundCloud to performing in Madison Square Garden, presented with both whisper-like intimacy and commanding force.
Hope We Have Fun feels profoundly human; perhaps it’s the raw sentiment of “God Loves Weirdos,” a delicate gem that finds beauty in transient connections, or the compelling electricity of “In the Middle,” a collaboration with the emerging artist gigi perez. The fleeting yet explosive 70-second “Scared I’m Gonna F** You Up” resonates just as deeply, leaving a lasting impression. Even songs like “More More More,” which I previously discussed, feel vibrant and new – infused with haunting heartbreak while seeking liberation. This record pulses with life.
The band expresses that these songs encompass themes from “road-weary intimacy to post-tour blues, spiritual yearning, and the sacred experience of creating music with loved ones,” and that perfectly captures the essence of the album. Mt. Joy isn’t merely creating music; they’re crafting meaning collaboratively. The high points are dizzying; the lows are heart-wrenching, intertwined with the joy, doubt, and unpredictability of existence.
Although it's titled Hope We Have Fun, it's essential to recognize that Mt. Joy has created not just a fun album – but a bold, comprehensive one. It’s going to be on repeat for a while.
:: “wake me up to drive (outside)” – Adrianne Lenker ::
Emma Schoors, Los Angeles
I’ve always regarded Big Thief’s “Wake Me Up to Drive” as the more straightforwardly sensual sibling to “Vegas.” There’s a tenderness to “Vegas” that transcends the physical; Adrianne Lenker sings, “Turned up the volume and you started to weep / And I thought you a lamb,” transforming a song about a desert drive into a reflection on their loved one’s inner child. “Wake Me Up To Drive” carries an impulsiveness and sentimentality, rooted in a quasi-hazy commitment to live fully: “Even if I’m tired / I don’t wanna miss the ride.”
Lenker’s newly released live album, Live at Revolution Hall, concludes with “Wake Me Up To Drive,” beginning with a spontaneous discussion about a full moon. In this higher-key rendition, Lenker croons, “Exit on a whim / Hopefully we’ll find it again / Tired of turning back / Let’s keep on moving down the track.” The straightforwardness of lines like “We take the gamble on instead / If they turn us down / Find a warm bed in the next town” carries an intimacy that defines both this track and “Vegas,” emphasizing that we’ll navigate as we proceed.
Lenker’s lyrical beauty intertwines themes of nature, community, love, and loss. The song “forwards beckon rebound” from 2020’s songs topped my playlist in 2024 for many reasons, encapsulated in lines like, “Letting my eyes close / Shedding my soft clothes,” surrendering fully to vulnerability.
:: “Healing” – Caleb Kunle ::
Rachel Leong, France
Caleb Kunle’s single “Healing,” released in February, serves as a fitting introduction for those unfamiliar with him. The track opens with a gentle jazzy piano riff, showcasing Kunle’s vocals as additional instrumental layers build. His voice takes center stage amid a choral backdrop, radiating clarity and a strong sense of unity.
The choir
Singer-songwriter Matt Maltese is a true romantic, as evident in his lyrics, vocal delivery, and his latest single, “Buses Replace Trains.” This track stands out on his newly released sixth studio album, ‘Hers.’
The beloved cult favorite has released its lead single, "Afterlife."
Last week, she released the dreamy lead single from the record, titled 'Nice To Each Other'.
He is stepping in for Kings Of Leon, who are no longer able to perform this summer.
The star's latest album, 'Wishbone', is set to be released on August 15th.
The staff at Atwood is sharing the music they've been enjoying lately: This week's selection features Mt. Joy, Adrianne Lenker, Caleb Kunle, Nature TV, Mistine, Fright Years, Dancer, Alejandro Aranda, Madame Gandhi, Chris Pierce, SINK, Zweng, Ali J. Hassan, Izzy Mahoubi, Runnner, dacelynn, Tomás del Real, Julie Arsenault, Dean Batten, Mikel Rafael, Hannah Stokes, Mimi's Revenge, AViVA, The Straights, Szou, Jaylon, Òrain, Reigns, Giampaolo Pasquile, Peso the Misfit, and Dailla!