Ethel Cain nightmare fuel.

Welcome to new music Friday.

I listened to the Ethel Cain album and accidentally conjured a centuries-old spirit hellbent on inflicting malice upon my soul 🤷🏻‍♂️

ALBUM OF THE WEEK

Ethel Cain — Perverts

I respect anyone who hits Obama’s playlist and descends to such unrelenting darkness knowing it’s going to alienate a majority of the new fans she’s gained in the wake of her 2022 breakout. Want to make everything a joke? Don’t complain when you get 90 minutes of creepy drone music.

Anyway, welcome to the music post. Every Friday I’m going to tell you what you need to hear:

• 5 new songs

• 1 new album

• 1 certified classic rec, because old songs need loving too

5 NEW SONGS

454 — “RIPLEY’S BELIEVE IT OR NOT”

This week, Florida rapper 454 announced his celebrated 2024 album CASTS OF A DREAMER was available everywhere. He also dropped a video for “RIPLEY’S BELIEVE IT OR NOT,” which also came out last year but was not on that tape, where it might have been the standout.

SKIIFALL — “Her World” ft. Jorja Smith

Born in St. Vincent and raised in Montreal, SKIIFALL made his name with a global rap sound designed to cross borders—heavily indebted to his Caribbean and Canadian influences, pulling from UK drill, dancehall, and R&B. For his new EP Lovers Till I’m Gone, he dives fully into laid-back reggae. Standout “Her World” is a sumptuous lovers rock duet with Jorja Smith. He’s also releasing a shirt with JJJJound on Monday.

Homixide Gang — “Free Agents”

Opium duo Homixide Gang have built their brand on the type of blown-out, metal-infused rage beats that could soundtrack Thunderdome, but they sound comfortable over a jubilant Pi’erre Bourne backdrop.

Neil Young — “Field of Opportunity”

It’s plowin’ time again. Good ol’ country livin’ from another Neil Young “lost” album, recorded in ‘77 around the release of American Stars ‘n Bars.

MIKE — “Belly 1 / Da Roc”

When the beat drops at 1:39 you can actually feel the clouds lift out of the sky and the heavens start to creep in.

OLD MUSIC

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In non-music news, the NFL playoffs start tomorrow. ESPN put this graphic out today:

And we have our first great tweet of 2025.

See you next week.