New Music Friday - August 23, 2024

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases

	Gillian Welch & David Rawlings - Woodland Watch: "Empty Trainload of Sky" Watch: "Hashtag"
	Heems - VEENA Watch: "Manto" (with Vijay Iyer & Sid Vashi) Watch: "Rakhi" (featuring Pavvan & Ajji)
	Ka - The Thief Next to Jesus Watch: "Such Devotion"
	Kishi Bashi - Kantos Watch: "Colorful State" Watch: "Icarus IV"
	Nicole Miglis - Myopia Watch: "Autograph" Watch: "Lure"

Other Full-Length Releases

Bryce Dessner - Solos Listen: "Lullaby for Jacques et Brune" Listen: "Tuusula"

Cash Cobain - PLAY CASH COBAIN Watch: "Act Like" Watch: "dunk"

Fontaines D.C. - Romance Watch: "Starburster" Watch: "Favourite"

Giant Day - Glass Narcissus Watch: "Ignore the Flood" Listen: "I Can Take It"

illuminati hotties - POWER Watch: "Didn’t" (featuring Cavetown) Watch: "Can’t Be Still"

Jeff Schroeder - Metanoia Watch: "Retour, Pt. 1" Watch: "Retour, Pt. 2"

Magdalena Bey - Imaginal Disk Watch: "Image" Watch: "Tunnel Vision"

Mura Masa - Curve 1 Watch: "FLY" (featuring Cherish) Listen: "Shuf (Adore U)"

SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE - YOU’LL HAVE TO LOSE SOMETHING Watch: "LET THE VIRGIN DRIVE" Watch: "SOMETHING’S ENDING” / “I’VE BEEN EVIL"

Uniform - American Standard Watch: "Permanent Embrace" Listen: "This Is Not a Prayer"

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

Brian Gibson - Thrasher Listen: "Magenta Machine" Listen: "Monolith"

Cocteau Twins - The Moon and the Melodies (2024 Remaster) Listen: "She Will Destroy You" Listen: "Why Do You Love Me?"

Mark Lanegan Band - Bubblegum XX Listen: "Union Tombstone" Listen: "Heard a Train"

New Music Friday - January 8, 2016

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases

David Bowie - Blackstar For the last record released during his lifetime, David Bowie turned to the subject of death. It seems a poignant subject matter for a man who would turn out to be near the end of his life. The album was released on his 69th birthday, then the legend died two days later. It is the latest in a long string of acclaimed albums from him, but if the rumors are to be believed, it won't be the last; he was planning to release even more material before the end. Watch: "Blackstar" Watch: "Lazarus"

Hinds - Leave Me Alone Hinds is an indie rock band from Madrid who were originally known as Deers. After threatened legal action from The Dears, they changed their name to the name for a female deer (I actually think it's a more interesting name). Despite the name change, they haven't shifted from their raucous garage-influenced sound that garnered praise from critics and fellow musicians. After a few singles released since 2011, this is their first album. Watch: "Garden" Watch: "Chili Town"

Other Full-Length Releases

Jaill - Wherever It Be Listen: "Paint Me Scary" Listen: "Flight Risks"

Villagers - Where Have You Been All My Life Listen: "Wichita Lineman" Listen: "Memoir"

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

The Revenant (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) Listen: Bryce Dessner - "Imagining Buffalo" Listen: "Killing Hawk"

New Music Tuesday - May 19, 2015

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases

Cale Parks - Lagoon Fool Cale Parks is a drummer who began performing with Yeasayer in 2012, but is perhaps best known for his time with Aloha. He has also performed on tour with Chet Faker and Tanlines. This year, he is releasing his third album under his own name after a long break from solo recording. He released solo albums in 2006 and 2008. Listen: "Lagoon Fool" Listen: "Appalachia"

Hot Chip - Why Make Sense? Why Make Sense? is the sixth album from this synthpop and electronic band, who most recently released their In Our Heads in 2012. The follow-up record features artwork with a moiré pattern and was printed in such a way that almost no two records would look exactly the same (501 different background colors were used and the lines were placed at various angles on the covers). Watch: "Huarache Lights" Watch: "Need You Now"

Shamir - Ratchet Shamir is a young singer out of Las Vegas who has taken the music world by storm throughout the early part of this year. He has become notable for his androgynous voice and wise-beyond-his-years (he's 20 years old) songwriting. Both his 2014 debut EP and this first full-length album have received rave reviews from critics. Watch: "Darker" Watch: "On the Regular"

Tanlines - Highlights For their sophomore album, this electronic duo seem to have been inspired by the movies. To promote the album, they created  Netflix-style website, complete with "movie" posters for each track, tour date, and previous release. Additionally, the music videos that they've released for the album have each had a cinematic edge. Watch: "Pieces" Watch: "Palace"

Total Babes - Heydays Total Babes is a Cleveland band who share at least one member with another great band from the area; Jayson Gerycz, who is also the drummer for Cloud Nothings. The band released their debut in 2011. For their follow-up, they get some help from another member of Cloud Nothings, lead singer Dylan Baldi. Watch: "Heydays" Listen: "Circling" (featuring Dylan Baldi)

Other Full-Length Releases

Barbarossa - Imager Watch: "Imager" Listen: "Home" (featuring José González)

Bryce Dessner - Music for Wood & Strings Listen: "Section 8" Listen: "Section 1"

Du Blonde - Welcome Back to Milk Watch: "Black Flag" Listen: "Mind Is on My Mind" (featuring Samuel T. Herring)

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

Far from Men: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Listen: "Loin des hommes"

Fink - Horizontalism Watch: "Fall into the Light" Watch: "Pilgrim"

Pavo Pavo - "Ran Ran Run"/"Annie Hall" Listen: "Ran Ran Run" Listen: "Annie Hall"

While We're Young: Motion Picture Soundtrack Listen: James Murphy - "Only the Stars Above Welcome Me Home" Listen: James Murphy - "We Used to Dance"

New Music Tuesday - 03/04/2014

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

New Full-Length Releases

The Men - Tomorrow's Hits The Men have been one of the most consistent bands during their fairly short tenure. They've released an album every year since the of the first record, Immaculada. Tomorrow's Hits is their fifth record in as many years.They're continuing their mix of punk and classic rock, but still introducing something new with every record. Watch: "Pearly Gates" Listen: "Settle Me Down"

Real Estate - Atlas Real Estate has always had a laid-back, beachy sound. While they maintain that aesthetic here, their third album sees them expanding their sound and lyrical content. I really came to love their 2011 album Days and can only hope that I love this record just as much! Watch: "Crime" Watch: "Talking Backwards"

Rick Ross - Mastermind While I've known who Rick Ross is for several years, I never really bothered to check his music out. However, he was featured on one my favorite albums from last year, Pusha T's My Name Is My Name. His verse on the track "Hold On" ended up being one of my favorite parts of the album; so I had to give his own work a listen. Mastermind is his sixth studio album. Watch: "War Ready" (featuring Jeezy) Watch: "Nobody" (featuring French Montana and Puff Daddy)

Roman Remains - Zeal In college, Duke Spirit became one of my favorite bands. Lead singer Leila Moss has a cool rocker-girl vibe and they seemed to serve as the perfect counter-part to all of the male-led indie bands we saw so much of. We haven't heard from that band since 2011's Bruiser, but Leila and bandmate Toby Butler emerged last year as Roman Remains with a less guitar-driven sound than their main act. This is their first full-length record. Watch: "This Stone Is Starting to Bleed" Listen: "Gazebo"

We Are Scientists - TV en Francais We Are Scientists are indie band out of California. Their music tends to take on a cheeky, silly vibe, but they prove themselves to be excellent musicians. TV en Francais is the band's fifth official studio album. Watch: "Dumb Luck" Watch: "Make It Easy"

Other New Releases

Divine Fits - Live at Third Man Records Jack White's Third Man Records seems to have become a requisite stopping point for many of today's hottest musicians. The label is almost constantly releasing live albums and singles recorded at their Nashville studio. The latest live release comes from my favorite indie supergroup, Divine Fits. They performed songs from their excellent debut album A Thing Called Divine Fits. Order: Third Man Records

Jagwar Ma - "Uncertainty" Jagwar Ma released a highly-regarded debut album, Howlin', in August of last year. I was a little late to their game, but have come to enjoy the record as well. The latest single and video are for the album track "Uncertainty." Watch: "Uncertainty"

Kimono Kult - Hiding in the Light EP Kimono Kult is a side project of John Frusciante (who will soon be releasing another solo record) and The Mars Volta's Omar Rodríguez-López. It's a brand new project from the musicians and this is their first release. Listen: "Todos Menos El Dolor" Listen: "La Cancion De Alejandra"

Lily Allen - "Air Balloon" Lily Allen is gearing up for the release of her third full-length album, Sheezus, in May. This is the third single released from the album, which sounds like it will be just as cheeky as her previous work. Watch: "Air Balloon"

Rufus Wainwright - Vibrate Rufus Wainwright is a part of the notable Wainwright/McGarrigle family of musicians, but has long established himself as a solo performer. This is a greatest hits album which compiles some of his more excellent work over the past twenty years of his career. Watch: "Vibrate" Watch: "Out of the Game"

St. Carolyn By Sea; Suite from There Will Be Blood Bryce Dessner of The National has really started to establish himself as a classical composer and performer. This split single sees him sharing the bill with Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood, who has also done some composing work, with five movie scores to his name so far. Listen: Johnny Greenwood - "Suite from There Will Be Blood"

New Music Tuesday - November 5, 2013

New Full-Length Releases

Bryce Dessner & Kronos Quartet - Aheym The Kronos Quartet is a Seattle-based string ensemble which has been around for about forty years. They have put out 43 studio albums in their time together. For their latest record, they've partnered with The National guitarist Bryce Dessner, who composed all of the songs on the record. Listen/Watch: "Aheym"

Cut Copy - Free Your Mind For their fourth studio album, Cut Copy sought inspiration from various "Summers of Love;" specifically San Francisco's 1967 and Britain's 1988 (perhaps that explains the somewhat trippy artwork). They really wanted to push the concept of freedom with this latest release. What's important to me, though, is that this is an album that I can love as much as their previous, Zonoscope. Based on the early singles, I don't doubt that I will. Watch: "Free Your Mind"

M.I.A. - Matangi M.I.A. has never been one to shy away from controversy. For her latest album, named for her own birth name as well as a Hindu goddess, she addresses one directly. At the 2012 Super Bowl half-time show, she threw up a middle finger live on air, which she references in the track "Boom Skit." I don't expect controversy to stop following this artist anytime soon, but it's a large part in what makes her work so compelling. Listen/Watch: "Bring the Noize"

MellowHigh - MellowHigh The Odd Future juggernaut continues to ride along! MellowHigh, which features members Domo Genesis, Hidgy Beats and Left Brain, is one of many subgroups within the Odd Future gang, and itself is an offshoot of another subgroup, MellowHype. This is their debut album. In contrast to the sometimes violent lyrical content of other Odd Future records, this one takes a more, well, mellow approach. Which means, if you can't tell from the album artwork, that smoking is frequently discussed. Listen/Watch: "Extinguisher"

Other New Releases

Birdsmell - "Throw My Mess Around"/"Tulsa" I'll try to ignore the absolutely horrible name that Ben Bridwell chose for his solo project and instead focus on what an incredible musician I think that he is. The Band of Horses frontman is stepping out on his own and just completed a short tour as a solo artist. This is his first single and I hope it's indicative of even more great music to come! Listen: "Throw My Mess Around"

Bright Eyes - A Christmas Album Bright Eye's Christmas album was initially released eleven years ago and rereleased on vinyl four years ago. Now, just in time for Christmas 2013, it is getting another vinyl rerelease! Listen: "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"

Colin Meloy - Colin Meloy Sings The Kinks EP Colin Meloy, frontman for The Decemberists, is about to embark on a short solo tour starting in January. He's recorded as a solo artist since 2005, mostly releasing covers EP. In the past, he has covered Morrissey, Shirley Jones and Sam Cooke. Iconic rock band The Kinks are next on his radar. Listen: "Do You Remember Walter?"

David Bowie - The Next Day Extra David Bowie released his 24th studio album, The Next Day, in March of this year. As seems to be becoming more and more frequent, it's already getting a bonus track-packed rerelease within the same year. Extra features a couple of remixes and several brand new tracks. Listen/Watch: "The Next Day"

Music from and Inspired By 12 Years a Slave 12 Years a Slave was released on November 8 and is already being heralded as a potential frontrunner in next years Academy Awards. A number of prominent artists have contributed to the film's soundtrack, including Laura Mvula, Alabama Shakes and John Legend. Listen: John Legend - "Move" (featuring Fink)

No Joy - Pastel and Pass Out EP No Joy released their latest full-length, Wait to Pleasure, in April of this year. They've wasted no time in releasing a follow-up EP. It's meant to serve as an extension of that last release, to expand and grow upon the sounds introduced there. Listen: "Last Boss"

Roman Remains - Energy You EP If there was ever a younger band that I think carried on the torch lit by Blondie in the late 1970s, it is The Duke Spirit. The British band, fronted by Leila Moss, had a similarly diverse sound and an amazing frontwoman. It's been a couple of years since their last album, but in the meantime, Leila, along with bandmate Toby Butler are exploring a new project. Listen/Watch: "This Stone Is Starting to Bleed"

Sore Eros & Kurt Vile - Jamaica Plain EP Kurt Vile has been a very busy artist this year. He's released a solo album, an EP and an expanded version of that same solo album. Here, he's putting out a collaborative EP with solo indie musician Sore Eros (Robert Robinson). Listen: "Jamaica Plain"

Tennis - Small Sound EP Tennis is a husband-wife duo who have become known for putting out catchy, but very twee music. Something happened when I first listened to this new EP, though, I realized that they are starting to expand beyond that sound. Small Sound is more grown up and confident, a shift that can only make their music even better. Listen: "Mean Streets"

Yo La Tengo - "Super Kiwi"/"A Day in the Life of a Tree" "Super Kiwi" is a track from the deluxe edition of Yo La Tengo's Fade (released in January). It's getting released as a stand-alone single with the B-side "A Day in the Life of a Tree." Listen: "Super Kiwi"