fka twigs recently announced a 10-city tour. While, of course, none of the dates are anywhere near me, a tour is a decent indication that new music is on the way. It's been five years since her incredible LP1. If a new album is announced, look for it on my Upcoming Releases page!
This week, Beyoncé announced and released a live album, Homecoming.
Homecoming was recorded at Coachella, where Beyoncé put on a massive set as the festival's 2018 headliner. Her set featured a marching band, step team, her Destiny's Child bandmates, and her sister Solange.
Netflix recently dropped a documentary covering her Coachella performance, also called Homecoming. That is available to stream now if you have Netflix (or access to someone's account).
Homecoming is out now.
Also announced this week:
Flying Lotus - Flamagra (May 24)
Kevin Abstract - Ghettobaby (out now)
Matt Martians - The Last Party (April 26)
ScHoolboy Q - CrasH Talk (April 26)
The Soft Cavalry - The Soft Cavalry (July 5)
YG - 4REAL 4REAL (May 3)
I've been watching a lot of Queer Eye on Netflix lately and noticed that the food and wine expert, Antoni, seems to be a pretty big fan of The National. So far, I've counted him rocking the band's shirts three times. Maybe in exchange for the publicity, the band should compile a soundtrack for the show! If that happens, I'll have it over at Upcoming Releases page!
This week, Beyoncé not only announced a new album, but went ahead a released it, as well. Her latest surprise release, EVERYTHING IS LOVE, was a collaboration with her husband, recorded as The Carters.
At this point, I would be more surprised if Beyoncé were to release an album on a more standard roll-out schedule, i.e. announce an album, release a few singles and perhaps videos, go on tour, then release the album. Her previous two records, Beyoncé and Lemonade, were also surprise releases.
This latest seems to serve as an end to a trilogy for the Carters, one that began with Lemonade and continued with Jay-Z's 4:44. Each record has referenced the couple's relationship. The record was released last Saturday, along with a video for the single "APESHIT".
Also announced last week:
Bermuda Triangle - “Till the End of Days” (out now)
Buddy - Harlan & Alonda (July 20)
DJ Muggs - Assassination Day (June 29)
DJ Shadow - Live in Manchester: The Mountain Has Fallen Tour (July 13)
Elvis Presley - Where No One Stands Alone (August 10)
Foxing - Nearer My God (August 10)
Freddie Gibbs - Freddie (out now) KIN: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (August 31)
Led Zeppelin - The Song Remains the Same Reissue (September 7)
Mass Gothic - I’ve Tortured You Long Enough (August 31)
Menace Beach - Black Rainbow Sound (August 31)
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Distant Sky - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Live in Copenhagen (September 28)
Paul McCartney - Egypt Station (September 7)
Purling Hiss - “Out Tonight” (out now)
Restorations - LP5000 (September 28)
Saintseneca - Pillar of Na (August 19)
Steve Hauschildt - Dissolve (August 3)
Underworld & Iggy Pop - Teatime Dub Encounters (July 27)
Idris Elba is well known as an actor, but has also been building up a career as a musician over the past eight years. His fourth album is inspired by his work as Nelson Mandela in the 2013 film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.
Ross wasted no time in putting together his follow-up to March'sMastermind. He made no apologies in releasing two albums this year, telling The Breakfast Club that it was "how bosses do it." While I appreciate what he does, I continue to think that his work as a guest artist (for example on Pusha T's "Hold On") is more impressive than his own solo work.
Africa Express' latest release is a tribute to a piece written by Terry Riley 50 years ago. The organization brings together a number of musicians, including Damon Albarn, Brian Eno, and Nick Zinner, to produce a 41-minute long version.
Beyoncé released her epic surprise album around this time last year, which seemed to leave many music publications scrambling to include it in their year-end lists. Her reissue of the album comes with a few new tracks and also sees a broad release of the music videos released in conjunction with the record (videos were made for each of the album's tracks).
Björk released her eighth studio album, Biophilia, in October of 2011. More recently, she has released a live-recorded concert film from her tour for the record. The set was recorded at London's Alexandra Palace on September 3, 2013. The film itself was directed by Nick Fenton and Peter Strickland.
Cursive's fourth studio album was originally released in 2003. The reissue includes a number of b-sides from the album's singles and tracks from one of the band's EPs. Additionally, the album has been repressed on vinyl.
Flake Music - When You Land Here, It’s Time to Return Reissue
Before The Shins were The Shins, they were known by Flake Music, a name they retired in 1999. They released one album under the name in 1997. With the reissue, several of the tracks with were originally left untitled now have names.
It's been awhile since we last heard from Male Bonding, three years since Endless Now, to be exact. Two of the band's members, Kevin Hendrick and Robin Christian, have started a new project. This is the band's second single.
Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back Deluxe Edition
This long-running hip hop group has been around since the early 1980s. They'll have a couple of reissues this year, the first is of their 1988 album. The reissue includes new liner notes written by ?uestlove of The Roots.
Swans released an incredible thirteenth studio album, To Be Kind, in May of this year. "Oxygen" was one of the tracks from the record. This new EP contains a handful of new versions of the song, including a version shortened from its original eight minute length, along with live, demo, and acoustic versions.
The Velvet Underground - The Velvet Underground Super Deluxe Box Set
It's been 45 years since the original release of this iconic record. It's anniversary release comes packaged with a "lost album" from the band and a two-disc recording from The Matrix club in San Francisco.
This past weekend, Solange Knowles, little sister of Beyoncé and burgeoning indie R&B elderstateswoman, married her music video director beau Alan Ferguson. Ferguson has directed videos for many pop icons, including Solange's own sister.
Solange, who has become quite the fashion icon, wowed once again and broke tradition with a gorgeous cream-colored jumpsuit and cape.
For one of the many videos for tracks from her surprise 2013 album, Beyoncé enlisted a small army of gorgeous black supermodels to join her. Featured in the video are Joan Smalls, Chanel Iman and Jourdan Dunn.
Beyoncé, the album, was released in December of last year.
This was an amazing Christmas gift for Beyoncé fans. Beyoncé dropped her fifth album by surprise on December 13; no announcement, no promotion. Everything else became invalid in an instant. Beyoncé may have proven herself to be the queen of modern pop/soul/R&B!
There's a copyright outstanding on The Beatles' catalog, some of which was set to expire very soon due to revised copyright law in Europe. In order to pre-empt that, UMG released a series of recordings that the band made during recording sessions in 1962.
Burial's star power may not be anywhere near Beyoncé's, but the musician has a very loyal following. His own surprise end-of-year released certainly excited his fan base. Burial intends for the tracks on this album to send an anti-bullying message.
Lars von Trier's latest, already controversial, film Nymphomaniac is set to be released in March. Charlotte Gainsbourg is one of the stars of the film, and also contributes a song to the soundtrack.
Disclosure made a big splash this year with their excellent debut album Settle. Though their sound is already full of sythesizers, computer-created beats and looping, it is still getting the remix treatment. Contributors include Kaytranada, Baauer and Flume.
Lorde may have had a big year, but her attempt at the Beyoncé-style surprise release fell a little flat. Of course, all eyes were elsewhere. That doesn't mean her latest non-album single isn't worth a listen, though.
Royksöpp - "Running to the Sea"/"Something in My Heart"
Royksöpp continues their 2013 string of new songs, but have yet to announce the release of a new album; the last, Senior, was out way back in 2010. I guess we'll have to live with these one-off tracks, but I'm hoping for something more soon.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty: Music from and Inspired By the Motion Picture
Ben Stiller's latest movie came out this past Christmas. The soundtrack from the film features contributions almost exclusively from José González and his band, Junip.
