My Favorite Things of the Week

The future of live music seems uncertain right now. While numerous tours and festivals are being canceled or postponed and we're dealing with massive companies refusing to refund tickets already purchased, a new type of live concert seems to be emerging, the video game concert. Travis Scott recently performed on Fortnite, and Massive Attack, HEALTH, and Pussy Riot are set for the Block by Blockwest virtual concert sponsored by Minecraft in May.

There are a lot of artists still planning album releases for this year, we'll have to keep an eye out whether any more of them opt for the virtual model for promoting the records.

Self-isolation has continued to be a boon for new covers performed from the comfort of the artists' homes, including more home shows from Ben Gibbard, an entire Nirvana tribute concert from Post Malone, and a variety of karaoke-style covers from Rosalía. My favorite recently came from Bedouine, who covered an artist that I was previously unfamiliar with. The folk artist posted a cover of "The Hum," from Margo Guryan.

Self-isolation has also meant that a lot of new music videos are being filmed and produced by artists at home. There have been quite a few duds, including the video for a John Legend and Kane Brown collaboration, but one recent really stood out for its creative use of web-conferencing software. Thao & The Get Down Stay Down's "Phenom" takes advantage of the grid-view of Zoom to present a cohesive choreographed product.

It's not a brand new song, but Deerhoof's latest single has stuck around in my head since it was released a couple of weeks ago. I've listened to Deerhoof for a number of years, but can sometimes find their music hard to really get into. Occasionally, they make a song that finds the perfect balance of their experimental music and a pop groove. "Future Teenage Cave Artists," from their upcoming album of the same name (out May 29), is just that song!

And finally, here are some albums announced over the past week that I'm looking forward to!

Absolutely Free - Two Cares Due None (April 29)
Brain - The World EP (May 15)
Esther Rose - My Favorite Mistakes (May 29)
GUM - Go Out in the World (June 12)
Kali Uchis - To Feel Alive (out now)
Kehlani - It Was Good Until It Wasn’t (May 8)
Sam Prekop - Comma (July 10)
Thomas Wesley Pentz - Diplo Presents Thomas Wesley Pentz Chapter 1: Snake Oil (May 29)

Upcoming Album of the Week (Ending March 30)

There were some exciting inductions this year to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, including The Cure, The Zombies, Radiohead, Janet Jackson (who called for more women to be inducted), and Stevie Nicks (who is the first woman to be inducted twice)! Most of the new inductees' careers are still going strong, so we can look forward to more new music from them. The Cure is already teasing their next record!

When that is announced, be sure to look for it on my Upcoming Releases page!

This week, Bedouine announced her sophomore album, Bird Songs of a Killjoy.

Bedouine is Azniv Korkejian, who released a spectacular self-titled debut in 2017. Her sound is a bit of a throwback to '70s folk which, for me, evokes a bit of Linda Perhacs and Joni Mitchell. She released a song and video, "When You're Gone," a few weeks ago before announcing the record, showing that she was not straying far from the sound of her first album.

The follow-up was announced on Thursday along with a second single, "Bird."



Bird Songs of Killjoy will be released on May 31.

Also announced this week:

Angelique Kidjo - Celia (April 19)
Broken Social Scene - Let’s Try the After - Vol 2 (April 12)
Calexico/Iron & Wine - Years to Burn (June 14)
Cate Le Bon - Reward (May 24)
Editors - The Blanck Mass Sessions (May 3)
Flume - Hi This Is Flume (out now)
Hanna: Season 1 - Music from the Amazon Original Series (out now)
Interpol - A Fine Mess (May 17)
Jane Weaver - Loops in the Secret Society (June 21)
Jenn Grant - Love, Inevitable (May 31)
Josephine Wiggs - We Fall (May 17)
Kelsey Lu - Blood (April 19)
Kevin Richard Martin - Sirens (June 7)
Lust for Youth - Lust for Youth (June 7)
Mavis Staples - We Get By (May 10)
Nico Segal - Intellexual (April 12)
Phil Cook - As Far As I Can See (out now)
P!nk - Hurts 2B Human (April 26)
Renata Zeiguer - Faraway Business (April 12)
Rhiannon Giddens - There Is No Other (May 3)
Sarah Davachi - Pale Bloom (May 31)
Tallest Man on Earth - I Love You. It’s a Fever Dream (April 19)

New Music Friday - June 23, 2017

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases

Algiers - The Underside of Power When a band is named for the location of one of the first anti-colonialism struggles, you know their music is going to be politically-tinged. The Atlanta-born band released their debut album in 2015 in the midst of race struggles here in the U.S. Events over the intervening two years have only served to bolster their anger, but also focus their music. They serve as the perfect post-punk/gospel voice to all of our collective anger. Watch: "The Underside of Power" Watch: "Cleveland"

Bedouine - Bedouine Bedouine is Azniv Korkejian, a Syrian-born, Saudi Arabia- and U.S.-raised singer and songwriter who immigrated to the United States as a child. With a folk sound reminiscent at times of Joni Mitchell or Nick Drake, she sings both of her childhood in Syria and Saudi Arabia, and also responds to the current climate in her country of birth. This incredible album has made Korkejian one of my favorite newcomers of the year! Watch: "One of These Days" Watch: "Solitary Daughter"

Laurel Halo - Dust Halo is an electronic artist from Ann Arbor, Michigan, influenced in part by the techno scene in nearby Detroit. She's released three albums (including this one) on the influential Hyperdub label, all of them earning her high praise. She often works with artists from a variety of disciplines, including John Cale and Julia Holter. Watch: "Jelly" Listen: "Moontalk"

Love Theme - Love Theme Love Theme is the new project from Alex Zhang Hungtai, formerly of Dirty Beaches. The new project is in collaboration with Austin Milne and Joshua Frank. The project is far from being Hungtai's only undertaking since ending Dirty Beaches. Two years ago, he released a music video as Last Lizard; last year, he released a record, Knave of Hearts, under his own name; and just earlier this year, he appeared on "Twin Peaks" as a member of the band Trouble with David Lynch's son, Riley. Listen: "Desert Exile" Listen: "She's Here"

Vince Staples - Big Fish Theory Vince Staples released an incredible debut album, Summertime '06, in 2015. While no doubt a modern hip hop album, it was reminiscent (to me, at least) to West Coast hip hop from the mid-90s. His follow-up is a more experimental album, pulling styles from club music and techno. He also brings an impressive list of guests to this album, including Kendrick Lamar and a returned favor from Damon Albarn (Staples appeared on Gorillaz' latest album, Humanz). Watch: "Big Fish" Watch: "Rain Come Down"

Other Full-Length Releases

DJ Khaled - Grateful Watch: "I’m the One" (featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance The Rapper, & Lil Wayne) Watch: "Wild Thoughts" (featuring Rihanna & Bryson Tiller)

Ex Eye - Ex Eye Watch: "Xenolith; The Anvil" Listen: "Opposition/Perihelion; The Coil"

Guerilla Toss - GT Ultra Watch: "The String Game" Watch: "Skull Pop"

Jeff Tweedy - Together at Last Listen: "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart" Listen: "Laminated Cat"

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Murder of the Universe Watch: "The Lord of Lightning vs. Balrog" Watch: "Invisible Face"

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

The Aces - I Don’t Like Being Honest EP Watch: "Physical" Listen: "Baby Who"

Baby Driver: Music from the Motion Picture Watch: Danger Mouse - "Chase Me" (featuring Run the Jewels & Big Boi) Listen: Kid Koala - "Was He Slow?"

Crumb - Locket Listen: "Plants" Listen: "Locket"

Daphni - fabriclive 93 Listen: "Face to Face" Listen: "Tin"

LateNightTales: BADBADNOTGOOD Listen: BADBADNOTGOOD - "To You" Listen: Boards of Canada - "Olson"

Mutual Benefit - Just Another Diamond Day Listen: "Diamond Day" Listen: "Glow Worms"

Prince - Purple Rain Reissue Listen: "Electric Intercourse" Listen: "Father’s Song"

Radiohead - OKNOTOK Watch: "I Promise" Watch: "Man of War"

Silicon Valley: Music from the HBO Original Series Listen: Danny Brown - "Kool Aid" Listen: Wu-Tang Clan - "Don’t Stop"