Friday Music Drops, 07/10/2026
Introducing a new series of posts that I'll likely abandon after just this FIFTH entry: it's Friday Music Drops! The idea is that every Friday I will listen to the handful of new release songs my Spotify account recommends to me based on my previous listens and write my quick, off the cuff thoughts on each, without really doing any research, so that these posts are as pure as possible. Here we go!
The Plot In You -- "Carved"
I have really enjoyed some of the singles The Plot In You have released over the last few years ("Left Behind") and not enjoyed some of the others ("Silence"). However, there's a surprising cohesion when they've now been put together into one self-titled album (today!), featuring an all new song, "Carved," as its conclusion. The band are billed as metalcore, but I think they sound much more like a heavy alternative band, and the surprisingly upbeat "Carved," with its electronic touches and pop sensibilities only furthers my argument.
U2 -- "Street of Dreams"
If I make it to my 80s, then I'm in the early part of the second half of my life....I guess technically, I'm nearly halfway to 90, an age I'd be privileged to reach. I spent a lot of the first half listening to U2. During the second half so far, I've found that politically preachy, billionaire bands like U2 or Bruce Springsteen are cockleburs to my ears. With "Street of Dreams," you've got the usual U2 vague references to God to rope in Christian listeners, so the band can prey on their empathy and push a toxic, globalist social justice message for thee and not for me (actual lyric from this song by the billionaire band, "Don't give up on your dreams, for the many and not just the few"), as they continue to rake in millions to their net worth. Musically, "Street of Dreams" is a treacly, overproduced pop song like everything U2 have released in the last decade. I can't believe I hate this band.
Interpol -- "Iron City"
Turn On the Bright Lights is one of my favorite all-time albums, even 24-years later, but for me Interpol have never neared those heights again. However, "Iron City" revives my hopes for the band. They've finally added a full-time bassist to their lineup again (as well as a keyboard player), and that presence is immediately felt in the dreamy, yet rhythmically grounded "Iron City," as Paul Banks sings about what he knows best, New York City.
Skillet -- "Scream"
Wasn't expecting John Cooper to quote Fight Club in a song's opening line, but here we are. "Scream" is a lyrical takedown of social media volatility, and while I appreciate that and the song's up-tempo pace, the music is a bit over-produced and generic. The song does rock at moments, but I wish Cooper would take the band back in more of an organic musical direction. The electronics have almost always been there, but the other instruments used to feel real.
Finally, apropos of nothing, here's Stephen Wilson Jr. performing the song "Gary" on the Theo Von show.
The Plot In You -- "Carved"
I have really enjoyed some of the singles The Plot In You have released over the last few years ("Left Behind") and not enjoyed some of the others ("Silence"). However, there's a surprising cohesion when they've now been put together into one self-titled album (today!), featuring an all new song, "Carved," as its conclusion. The band are billed as metalcore, but I think they sound much more like a heavy alternative band, and the surprisingly upbeat "Carved," with its electronic touches and pop sensibilities only furthers my argument.
U2 -- "Street of Dreams"
If I make it to my 80s, then I'm in the early part of the second half of my life....I guess technically, I'm nearly halfway to 90, an age I'd be privileged to reach. I spent a lot of the first half listening to U2. During the second half so far, I've found that politically preachy, billionaire bands like U2 or Bruce Springsteen are cockleburs to my ears. With "Street of Dreams," you've got the usual U2 vague references to God to rope in Christian listeners, so the band can prey on their empathy and push a toxic, globalist social justice message for thee and not for me (actual lyric from this song by the billionaire band, "Don't give up on your dreams, for the many and not just the few"), as they continue to rake in millions to their net worth. Musically, "Street of Dreams" is a treacly, overproduced pop song like everything U2 have released in the last decade. I can't believe I hate this band.
Interpol -- "Iron City"
Turn On the Bright Lights is one of my favorite all-time albums, even 24-years later, but for me Interpol have never neared those heights again. However, "Iron City" revives my hopes for the band. They've finally added a full-time bassist to their lineup again (as well as a keyboard player), and that presence is immediately felt in the dreamy, yet rhythmically grounded "Iron City," as Paul Banks sings about what he knows best, New York City.
Skillet -- "Scream"
Wasn't expecting John Cooper to quote Fight Club in a song's opening line, but here we are. "Scream" is a lyrical takedown of social media volatility, and while I appreciate that and the song's up-tempo pace, the music is a bit over-produced and generic. The song does rock at moments, but I wish Cooper would take the band back in more of an organic musical direction. The electronics have almost always been there, but the other instruments used to feel real.
Finally, apropos of nothing, here's Stephen Wilson Jr. performing the song "Gary" on the Theo Von show.
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