While many artists have preferred to delay the release of their new album with the Covid-19 epidemic, others courageously try their luck during confinement. Here is a small selection of discs coming out this Friday, or just published, and of course available on the purchase platforms, in physical or digital version, and streaming.
The Weeknd is everyday
And to think that seven years ago, this boy played in Paris in a Trianon not even complete. Since then, it has filled the AccorHotels Arena in a few hours, and will even chain three in November. After his participation in the soundtrack of "50 Nuances de Gray", in 2015, and his hits "Starboy" and "I Feel it Coming", in collaboration with Daft Punk a year later, Abel Tesfaye, alias The Weeknd, child rap and r'n'b, has become, at 30, one of the new stars of world pop. The kind to stamp his fans for months with enigmatic messages announcing a future album. Here is finally this "After Hours", assumed reference to Scorsese's film. Do not trust his hideous cover where the Canadian plays bloody psychopaths. This fourth album is a marvel of pop that is both futuristic and retro, capable of imagining new sounds, but also of drawing in 1980s electro Human League or A-ha style, as in his irresistible hit "Blinding Lights " Formidable.
"After Hours", The Weeknd, Universal, in concert from 11 to 13 November 2020 at the AccorHotels Arena in Paris.
Rock (of the Strokes) is not dead
Each generation has its rock heroes. Thanks to two impeccable albums, the first, “Is This it? ", And the third," First Impressions of Earth ", the Strokes were those of the 2000s. Lacking competition in new guitar groups, the New Yorkers then alternated between medium and failure. But with these gifted musicians, however sometimes irritating in a casual manner, one is never immune to a good surprise. Like a furious concert two months ago at the Olympia. And an excellent sixth album, released this Friday in digital. "The New Abnormal", as new and abnormal as the health crisis we are going through, suffers from no downside. Produced by the brilliant Rick Rubin, the Strokes return to what they know how to do best, sharp riffs, arpeggios that intertwine, effective melodies, a few electro keys, while vibrating our sensitive chord with also stakeholders introspective ballads as "At The Door" and "Ode To The Mets".
"The New Abnormal", The Strokes, RCA / Sony.
Louis-Jean Cormier, Quebec friend
We are a few like that here in France. Watch for Louis-Jean Cormier, star at home, unknown to us, apart from a few fans. The musician is a star in Quebec where he triumphed with his group Karkwa, impressive cousin of Radiohead in French, or solo with two multi-awarded albums. To the point of joining the jury of "La Voix" - their "The Voice" - for a season. At 39, Louis-Jean Cormier thus succeeds in combining popular success and artistic ambition, as in his impressive new disc "When the night falls". Ten dense, intense tracks, where the artist has abandoned his guitars to get to the piano, to synthesizers, to play intimate or epic. Cormier always explores, searches and finds, while taking care of his amazing compositions and his unique texts. There is only one Quebecer to make French sound like this. What if we also made him a star at home?
"When night falls", Louis-Jean Cormier, Yotanka / Pias, in concert on November 25 in Paris.
Dance and run with Dua Lipa
Lady Gaga's highly anticipated "Chromatica" should have been released this Friday. No date is announced, but ultimately it is not so serious. We will be patient while dancing (and running) with Dua Lipa and his brilliant second album. "Future Nostalgia" is aptly named. Drawing on the disco-funk nostalgia of the 70s and 80s and the electro-pop sound of 2020, he brings color, energy and groove to this dark period. At 24, the rising British pop star is still influenced by her elders, especially Katy Perry, but she knows how to make or generate hits. His record begins and ends very strongly: "Future Nostalgia", "Don't Start Now", "Cool" written with Tove Lo, "Physical", "Break My Heart", built around the sample of "Need You Tonight" d 'INXS, "Hallucinate", "Love Again", to the flamboyant feminist hymn "Boys Will Be Boys".
"Future Nostalgia", Dua Lipa, Warner, in concert in Paris on February 8, 2021.
Nightwish shares in other spheres
During his last tour, Nightwish announced to play for the last time on stage many of his first symphonic metal titles. Clearly, the group, and especially its leader, keyboard player Tuomas Holopainen, wanted to move on. Five years after his last studio disc, the latest, a double album with a convoluted title, "Human: II: Nature", the step is taken. So much so that a number of fans risk being damn destabilized, if they believed that the first clip, the punchy "Noise", was representative of the rest of the work. Little metal in this new opus, but a lot of instrumental passages, calm moments, progressive or folk atmospheres, like the very pretty Celtic ballad "How's the Heart", which reminds of Mike Oldfield of the great era. The second CD, 90% instrumental, is only a long ethereal sequel, like the soundtrack of a documentary devoted to the beauties of the Earth.
"Human: II: Nature", Nightwish, Nuclear Blast, in concert on June 30 in Nîmes, on November 25 in Paris.