What to listen to this week: from Mace to the Black Keys

From the psychedelia of Mace's new album to the rock of the Black Keys, who return two years after the last “Dropout boogie”, passing through the debut of the phenomenon Benson Boone, who with his “Beautiful things” has depopulated everywhere: here the records to listen to this week.

Mace – “Maya”

“Maya” is the title of the producer's new album, which can be translated as “deception”: it is a term that comes from Hindu philosophy to express the great illusion that envelops what we commonly define as “real”, a veil that hides true nature. Mace's new album is also born from this vision. On the one hand, the multi-platinum producer's desire to accompany the listener into immaterial dimensions, to take a real journey through the psychedelic atmospheres of the productions and to lead the numerous guest voices out of their comfort zone. On the other hand, the desire to return to a creative process that favors collective work: for the musical writing of the album the artist has in fact gathered 15 of the best Italian instrumentalists.

Black Keys – “Ohio players”

The Black Keys' is one of the most anticipated rock albums of 2024.

The duo composed of Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney returns two years after “Dropout boogie” with fourteen songs that aim to once again confirm the Black Keys as one of the most impactful realities of blues rock of the last twenty-five years. The album was preceded by the singles “Beautiful people (Stay high)”, “I forgot to be your lover” and “This is nowhere”: Auerbach and Carney worked on the album together with Dan the Automator, real name Daniel M. Nakamura, Californian producer born in 1966 who during his career has worked on the records of – among others Primal Scream, Gorillaz, Kasabian and Miles Kane. Beck is also in “Paper crown”. .

Benson Boone – “Fireworks & Rollerblades”

For the 21-year-old American singer-songwriter who in recent months has climbed the charts around the world with the hit “Beautiful things”, 440 million streams on Spotify alone, the time has come to demonstrate that he is not a one hit wonder: “Fireworks & rollerblades” is Benson Boone's long-distance debut album, which in addition to the hit that changed his life also contains the previous singles “Ghost town” (released in 2021) and “In the stars”. Among the authors of the fifteen songs included in the album there is also a hitmaker like Jason Evigan, already alongside Maroon 5 for “Gilrs like you”, Madonna for “Ghosttown”, Demi Lovato for “Heart attack”. Between rock and ballads, Boone aims to consecrate himself. Will he succeed?

Vampire Weekend – “Only God was above us”

Eleven years after the previous “Modern Vampires of the city”, the symbolic band of American indie rock of the 2000s returns.

In this long period the group certainly did not remain idle: in 2019 “Father of the bride” was released, which however was essentially a solo project by frontman Ezra Koening, with bassist Chris Baio and percussionist Chris Tomson involved mostly on tour, more than in the studio. This “Only God was above us”, however, was born as a group album, even if compared to “Modern Vampires of the city” something has changed in Vampire Weekend: the departure of keyboardist Rostam Batmanglij from the band has in fact made Vampire Weekend a trio. Produced by the faithful Ariel Rechtshaid, “Only God was above us” contains ten songs that will officially mark the group's long-awaited return to the scene.

Rondodasosa – “Blue Tape”

“Blue Tape” is Rondodasosa's new recording project: the mixtape of the rapper born in 2002 has the ambition to tackle dark and introspective nuances while continuing a musical research. With a combination of raw lyrics and evocative productions with an international flavour, the San Siro artist wants to paint an intense portrait of life on the streets, offering an engaging sound experience accompanied by a lucid and ambitious message of revenge. A few months after the surprising “Motivation 4 The Streetz”, the joint album with Artie 5ive and the single “Face To Face 2”, Rondodasosa is preparing for a comeback.

La Sad – “I hate La Sad”

In the tracklist of “Odio La Sad”, there will be “Autodistruttivo”, the single that Theø, Plant and Fiks presented at the 74th edition of the Sanremo Festival. For their new album, the trio chose a provocative title, “Odio La Sad”, to remember that personal attacks on weaknesses and fragilities can often become a point of strength to face the present but above all the future. As already done throughout their career and during the performances on the Ariston stage, in the album La Sad will return to talking about mental health. Then, in the summer, the trio will present the new songs of “Odio La Sad” live with the dates of the “Summersad Tour 2024”.