In The Alternative Number Ones, I’m reviewing every #1 single in the history of the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks/Alternative Songs, starting with the moment that the chart launched in 1988. This column is a companion piece to The Number Ones, and it’s for members only. Thank you to everyone who’s helping to keep Stereogum afloat.
james K’s new album Friend is shaping up to be a celestial listen. The New York-based experimental-pop artist has offered four portals into its hypnotic world: “Blinkmoth (July Mix),” “Hypersoft Lovejinx Junkdream,” “Play,” and “Doom Bikini,” and today she’s back with one more called “Idea.2.”
It was quite jarring when Beyoncé played a Death Grips interlude at the Cowboy Carter tour opener in April, and now fans of the experimental band are freaking out about Jenna Ortega finally addressing her much-discussed appreciation of the band after years of being spotted in Death Grips merch.
The Grammys have never been the biggest fan of Morgan Wallen. It wasn’t until this year that The Recording Academy offered him his first nominations, and he won neither. Now, the controversial country star is reportedly not even submitting his new album I’m The Problem for consideration, per Hits Daily Double.
A terrifying scene broke out in the crowd during the Australian electronic band Rüfüs Du Sol’s concert Saturday night at the Rose Bowl. In footage shared by the festival-focused Twitter account @TheFestiveOwl, a man can be seen brutally beating up a woman, identified in his post as Shelby Elston, a follower of the Festive Owl account from Phoenix. Along with the footage, she shared this message seeking to identify her assailant:
We haven’t heard from Westerman since 2023, when he released An Inbuilt Fault, and then a deluxe edition shortly after. Since then, the previously London-based musician moved to Athens, Greece, and now he’s back to announce its followup A Jackal’s Wedding. The lead single “Adriatic” is out today.
In June, bar italia unleashed the snarky stunner “Cowbella.” It turns out there’s more in store: The London indie rock trio is announcing their new album Some Like It Hot, and “Fundraiser” serves as another enticing preview.
This past weekend, someone pulled off some unbelievable Ocean’s Eleven shit in Las Vegas. On Saturday night, the EDM DJ Gryffin was playing a set in the XS Nighclub, part of the Wynn Las Vegas casino, when he was told that Justin Bieber wanted to join him onstage. Someone who sure looked like Justin Bieber was there, with an entourage. The guy came out onstage and sang Bieber’s hit “Sorry” to a rapturous crowd. Only after the performance did the giddy Gryffin come to find out that the Bieber was a fake, an impersonator. Naturally, Gryffin turned the story into a video and posted it on Instagram.
The Machine is active once again. In 2022, Florence Welch’s project Florence + The Machine released Dance Fever, their most recent album. Florence + The Machine have been plenty active since then, releasing stray tracks and making guest appearances on records from a couple of superstars. Now, after some teasing, Florence + The Machine have announced that Everybody Scream, their sixth album, is coming out on Halloween. Beyond the title and the cover art, we don’t know anything about the new LP. Welch posted the cover art and a pre-order link on Instagram this morning, but the album’s tracklist, singles, and collaborators remain mysterious.
Sorry, Amanda Seyfried: It sounds like Anya Taylor-Joy and Meryl Streep will play Joni Mitchell in Cameron Crowe’s biopic, according to The InSneider. Rumors say Taylor-Joy will star as the legendary singer-songwriter during her peak years in the ’60s and ’70s while Streep will portray present day Mitchell.