New Music Friday - March 16, 2018

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases

Bishop Nehru - Elevators: Act I & II Bishop Nehru is young, born in 1996, but has been active for half a decade. He released his first album at 16; Elevators is his sixth solo release. On it, he reconnects with a past collaborator, MF DOOM, with whom he's performed as NehruvianDOOM, and partners with producer Kaytranada for the first time. Watch: "Rooftops" Listen: "No Idea"

The Decemberists - I’ll Be Your Girl No, The Decemberists' line-up has not changed and it is frontman Colin Meloy singing "I'll Be Your Girl". The latest record from The Decemberists is intentionally absurd, facing the current political state with a strange sort of humor. The album also sees the band moving away a bit from the epic folk rock they've become known for and introducing a bit a synth pop. It's an interesting combination... Watch: "Severed" Listen: "Once in My Life"

JB Dunckel - H+ JB Dunckel is best known as one-half of Air. Both members have struck out with solo work in recent years, though Dunckel was the first to do so in 2006, releasing an album under the name Darkel. H+ is his first album under his (mostly, considering the initialization) given name. It follows his partner Nicolas Godin's 2015 solo debut, Contrepoint. Come to think of it, it's been a long time since we last heard from Air, let's hope they rejoin forces soon! Watch: "Love Machine" Watch: "Hold On"

Yo La Tengo - There’s a Riot Going On The title of Yo La Tengo's 15th album is a nod towards a Sly & The Family Stone album of a similar name. In a way, it is the band's reaction to the current state of things, and like The Decemberists, they have chosen not to react with abject horror or despair. Instead, they employ the chilled-out, hushed sound they've become known for, with very calming results. Listen: "For You Too"

Other Full-Length Releases

Dungen / Woods - Myths 003 Listen: "Loop" Listen: "Turn Around"

The Fratellis - In Your Own Sweet Time Watch: "Stand Up Tragedy" Watch: "Starcrossed Lovers"

Mount Eerie - Now Only Listen: "Distortion" Listen: "Tintin in Tibet"

PRhyme - PRhyme 2 Watch: "Era" (featuring Dave East) Listen: "Flirt" (featuring 2 Chainz)

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

Alanis Morissette - Flavors of Entanglement Vinyl Reissue Watch: "Underneath" Watch: "Not as We"

Andrew Lloyd Webber - Unmasked: The Ultimate Collection Watch: Sarah Brightman & Paul Miles-Kingston - "Pie Jesu" Listen: Lana Del Rey - "You Must Love Me"

Cocteau Twins - Head Over Heels Reissue Listen: "When Mama Was Moth" Listen: "In the Gold Dust Rush"

Cocteau Twins - Treasure Reissue Listen: "Pandora" Listen: "Ivo"

Lady Bird: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Watch: HAIM - "Little of Your Love" Listen: John Cale - "Days of Steam"

Love, Simon: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Watch: Bleachers - "Alfie’s Song (Not So Typical Love Song)" Listen: Walk the Moon - "Surrender"

Roxy Music - Roxy Music Vinyl Reissue Listen: "Remake/Remodel" Listen: "Ladytron"

Thundercat - Drank Purple Listen: "Drink Dat" (featuring OG Ron & The Chopstars) Listen: "Jethro" (featuring DJ Slopped Up)

Sorority Noise - YNAAYT Listen: "No Halo" Listen: "Chelsea Hotel No. 2"

New Music Tuesday - May 12, 2015

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

This week, I will begin to try out a new format for these posts. Writing up an increasing number of releases weekly has become a time-consuming and often unrewarding (for me) process. Starting this week, I will select a number of "essential releases" for each week and provide more detailed write-ups on those, then present the remaining albums and other releases without commentary. My aim is threefold; first, I would like to re-energize myself and my blog. The second goal is to make it clearer which artists and albums I feel are a little more worth your time. Finally, I just want to get caught up.

Essential Full-Length Releases

Crocodiles - Boys Crocodiles is a lo-fi and new wave band out of San Diego, California. The band's last album, Crimes of Passion, was released in 2013, but since then, frontman Brandon Welchez released a collaborative album with Dee Dee Penny of the Dum Dum Girls (his wife) as Haunted Hearts. Now the band is back with their fifth album. Watch: "Foolin’ Around" Watch: "Crybaby Demon"

Pfarmers - Gunnera Members of The National haven't been especially active in side projects, with the exception of Bryce Dessner, who has become known as a composer. Now, drummer Bryan Devendorf is branching out on his own as well. His new projects partners him with members of Menomena, and the backing bands for St. Vincent and Sufjan Stevens. Listen: "The Ol’ River Gang" Listen: "You Shall Know the Spirit"

Roísín Murphy - Hairless Toys Roísín Murphy took a long break after her last album, 2007's Overpowered. Though she began work on a new album seven years ago, and recorded many tracks, it wasn't until last year that fans got any new music from her, in the form of her 2014 EP Mi Senti. Watch: "Exploitation" Listen: "Evil Eyes"

Surfer Blood - 1000 Palms 2015 has been a bit of a tough year for Surfer Blood. While he helped on the recording of this latest album, guitarist Thomas Fekete was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. The band went forward with a supporting tour, and collected money for his treatment on the road. Some of that money, as well as equipment, was stolen while they were near Chicago. Despite these setbacks, the band continues to make great music. Watch: "I Can’t Explain" Listen: "Grand Inquisitor"

The Tallest Man on Earth - Dark Bird Is Home The Tallest Man on Earth is the stage name of Kristian Matsson, a Swedish musician of average height. I loved his sophomore album, The Wild Hunt, when it was released in 2010 and he's already released one incredible follow-up to that record. His fourth record promises to be just as amazing. Listen: "Sagres" Listen: "Dark Bird Is Home"

Other Full-Length Releases

Blanck Mass - Dumb Flesh Watch: "Dead Format" Listen: "Detritus"

Novella - Land Watch: "Land Gone" Listen: "Sentences"

Prurient - Frozen Niagara Falls Listen: "Dragonflies to Sew You Up" Listen: "Greenpoint"

Spirit Club - Spirit Club Watch: "Duster" Watch: "Still Life"

Tyondai Braxton - HIVE1 Listen: "Scout1" Listen: "Gracka"

Urban Cone - Polaroid Memories Watch: "Sadness Disease" Watch: "Come Back to Me" (featuring Tove Lo)

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

The 2 Bears - Bears in Space Listen: "(Space) Money Man" (featuring Stylo G) Listen: "The Night Is Slow"

Bishop Nehru - The Nehruvian EP Watch: "User$" Listen: "Bishy in Japan 16 (Knowing Nothing)"

Holy Ghost! - Work for Hire Listen: Hanni El Khatib - "Two Brothers" (Holy Ghost! Remix)

Jordan Bratton - YOUTH EP Watch: "Danger" (featuring Fabolous) Listen: "Bound"

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Quarters EP Listen: "God Is in the Rhythm" Listen: "The River"

Leonard Cohen - Can’t Forget: A Souvenir of the Grand Tour Live Listen: "Never Gave Nobody Trouble" Listen: "Choices"

Lil Silva - Drumatic Listen: "Drumatic"

Mates of State - Greats Listen: "Palomino" Listen: "For the Actor"

Nicolas Jaar - Nymphs II Listen: "No One Is Looking at U"

Noel Gallagher's High-Flying Birds - "Riverman" Watch: "Riverman"

Sylvan Esso - H.S.K.T. Remix EP Watch: "H.S.K.T." Listen: "H.S.K.T." (Hercules & Love Affair Remix)