New Music Friday: The best releases out on Aug. 12
Bella Poarch's debut EP Dolls is on our shortlist of the best releases out on Aug. 12. Marcelo Cantu hide caption
Singer and social media phenom Bella Poarch was born in the Philippines, graduated from high school at 16, then joined the Navy, where she spent four years wrenching on helicopters and fighter jets. When her military stint ended, she landed in Hawaii and started posting videos online, amassing 91 million TikTok followers with clips of her lip synching and playfully posing for the camera. So, when she announced plans for an EP of original songs, it was easy to think it'd be some kind of vanity project. But now that the six-track Dolls is finally here, it's clear, as reviewer Christina Lee says on this week's show, that "Bella Poarch is not to be underestimated." Dolls is a thrilling, wildly infectious, slyly cool collection of songs that are both playful and creepy, or, as John Morrison says, there's a knife hiding in the cotton candy.
Hear The Songs
This week also brings the brilliant new collaboration between Black Thought and Danger Mouse called Cheat Codes, Hudson Mohawke's Cry Sugar, the 30th anniversary edition of Check Your Head from the Beastie Boys and more. Contributor Christina Lee joins WXPN's John Morrison, Radio Milwaukee's Tarik Moody and host Robin Hilton as they share their picks for the best new releases out on Aug. 12.
Featured Albums:
- Danger Mouse & Black Thought — Cheat Codes
Featured Songs: "Strangers," "Aquamarine" - Bella Poarch — Dolls
Featured Songs: "Dolls," "Build a Bitch" - Hudson Mohawke — Cry Sugar
Featured Songs: "Rain Shadow," "Ingle Nook," "Stump," "Behold" - Beastie Boys — Check Your Head (Deluxe Edition)
Featured Songs: "Jimmy James," "Gratitude," "So What'Cha Want (Butt Naked Version)," "Pass the Mic (Pt. 2, Skills To Pay The Bills)" - NIKI — Nicole
Featured Songs: "Keeping Tabs," "Take A Chance With Me," "Facebook Friends"
Lightning Round:
- Andy Bey — Experience and Judgment
- Peter Mulvey & SistaSrings — Love is the Only Thing
- Sylvan Esso — No Rules Sandy
- Tomu DJ — Half Moon Bay
Other notable releases out on Aug. 12:
- Boris — Heavy Rocks (2022)
- Girlpool — Forgiveness
- Pale Waves — Unwanted
- Panda Bear & Sonic Boom — Reset
- Pavement — Slanted and Enchanted (30th Anniversary Edition)
- Rat Tally — My Car