New Music Tuesday - December 2, 2014

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

New Full-Length Releases

The Grates - Dream Team I'm not completely sure how I heard of them, but The Grates have been a favorite of mine for a pretty long while. They are, however, an Australian band who hasn't quite seemed to have their stride stateside, so I've usually found out about new albums long after they actually came out. I got lucky on this go-around and managed to find out about this new release before it happened. Watch: "Holiday Home" Listen: "Call Me"

Mary J. Blige - The London Sessions For her thirteenth studio album, Blige continues on a trajectory started in 2013, when she collaborated on new versions of songs from Sam Smith and Disclosure. She traveled to England to write and record with the aforementioned musicians, as well as Naughty Boy, Emeli Sandé, and others. The result is still her, but has an undeniable influence from modern British house music. Watch: "Right Now" Watch: "Whole Damn Year"

She & Him - Classics She & Him seem to be out of the habit of naming albums for the number release it is in their discography. The title, though, still tells you exactly what you're getting. For their fifth album, they've recorded their own versions of classic songs. Watch: "Stay Awhile" Listen: "Time After Time"

Walk the Moon - Talking Is Hard This young Cincinnati-based band continues to get a lot of positive press going into their third album. They also continue to do what they do best, make infectious dance-tinged indie pop. It's exciting to see them doing so well. Watch: "Shut Up and Dance" Listen: "Different Colors"

Willie & Bobbie Nelson - December Day Another year, another Willie Nelson album, it's pretty much guaranteed at this point. For his latest, he pairs with his sister, Bobbie, who plays piano throughout the record. Nelson was inspired by jamming with his touring band, and those members are also present on the record. Watch: "Laws of Nature" Watch: "Summer of Roses"

Wu-Tang Clan - A Better Tomorrow It's been a little while since we last heard from Wu-Tang as a whole, seven years since 8 Diagrams. This new one was announced as far back as 2012, but several members were unsure as to whether it would actually happen. Things seemed to be back on track last year, and now we have this new record whose message couldn't be more timely. Watch: "A Better Tomorrow" Listen: "Ruckus in B Minor"

Other New Releases

Circulatory System - Made a Sound PIAPTK is trying out something new, releasing singles which can be played either on a turntable or in a CD player. Their latest release in the project comes from Elephant 6 member Circulatory System. Listen: "It Never Made a Sound"

Leonard Cohen - Live in Dublin Even at 80-years-old, Cohen is still going strong, he released his thirteenth album, Popular Problems, earlier this year and it following that up with a new live album. Live in Dublin was recorded in September of last year at the O2 in Dublin. Listen: "So Long Marianne" Listen: "Save the Last Dance for Me"

Los Campesinos! - A Los Campesinos! Christmas It seems like Christmas albums are usually the domain of pop musicians, but it's becoming more and more common to see them from a broader variety of performers. English band Los Campesinos! is adding their own to the mix. The EP brings together a number of holiday songs the band has recorded over the past few years, along with a cover of Mud's "Lonely This Christmas." Listen: "When Christmas Comes" Listen: "Lonely This Christmas"

M. Ward - Transistor Radio Reissue M. Ward isn't letting his new album with Zooey Deschanel be his only release today, he is also reissuing his fourth studio album, which was originally released in 2005. Listen: "Lullaby + Exile" Listen: "You Still Believe in Me"

Nicole Atkins - Slow Phaser: Expanded Deluxe Edition Nicole Atkins released her third album back in February. The record's reissue comes with a set of live songs recorded at the Masonic Temple in Detroit. Watch: "Who Killed the Moonlight" Watch: "Girl You Look Amazing"

Pixies - Doolittle 25 Expanded Reissue To celebrate the 25th anniversary of their sophomore album, the Pixies have released a remastered and expanded version of the record. The reissue includes the original album, along with b-sides, a couple of John Peel sessions, and demos. Watch: "Debaser" Listen: "Hey"

Songs: Ohia - Didn’t It Rain Deluxe Edition Songs: Ohia was a fairly-well-known but much-celebrated Ohio band fronted by the now-deceased Jason Molina. Didn't It Rain was their second-to-last album, originally released in 2002. This re-release comes with a second disc of demos. Listen: "Didn't It Rain" Listen: "Ring the Bell"

Sun Kil Moon - "The Possum" Mark Kozelek seems determined to make this a busy year for himself. He's already released an album under the name Sun Kil Moon, a live album under his own name, and a Christmas album. Now, for his final act for the year, he has a new single out. Listen: "The Possum"

Tall Tall Trees - The Seasonal EP Tall Tall Trees is the stage moniker for Mike Savino; and, while he plays banjo, produces a form of folk unlike anything I've ever heard. For his latest EP, he enlists the help of violinist Kishi Bashi, who lends vocals, production, and his own voice to the release. Listen: "Picture Picture" Listen: "How Did It Get Dark So Fast?"

Yo La Tengo - Extra Painful Yo La Tengo's sixth album, Painful, was originally released in 1993. This renamed reissue comes packaged with a bonus disc of live and demo versions of the album's tracks. Listen: "Nowhere Near" Listen: "Big Day Coming"

New Music Tuesday - 06/24/2014

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

New Full-Length Releases

Ab Soul - These Days Ab Soul is a member of the Black Hippy hip hop collective along with SchoolBoy Q, Jay Rock, and Kendrick Lamar. He has been active in music since 2003 and this is his third studio album. His latest record features other members of Black Hippy, along with Rick Ross, Mac Miller, and SZA. Watch: "Closure" Listen: "Changes"

Circulatory System - Mosaics within Mosaics Circulatory System is a member band of the Elephant Six collective, which also includes of Montreal, Olivia Tremor Control, and Neutral Milk Hotel. The band even shares members with other acts on the label. This is the psychedelic band's third studio album. Listen: "If You Think About It Now" Listen: "Stars and Molecules"

How to Dress Well - "What Is This Heart?" When I first heard about How to Dress Well (aka Tom Krell), I was mostly intrigued by his name. Over time, though, I became a huge fan of his music, as well. Krell is able to create music that is immensely heartfelt and personal, all with his unique indie R&B style. Watch: "Repeat Pleasure" Watch: "Face Again"

Mastodon - Once More Round the Sun Mastodon is a progressive metal band out of Atlanta, Georgia. They've released six studio albums in their 14 years together. For their latest, the band sought to continue on their previous album, 2011's The Hunter, but also to advance their sound. Watch: "High Road" Watch: "Chimes at Midnight"

Peter Matthew Bauer - Liberation! Peter Matthew Bauer was the bassist for The Walkmen before the band went on an "extreme hiatus" earlier this year. Following Walter Martin and Hamilton Leithauser earlier this year, he is releasing his first solo album. It's his first foray as a primary songwriter and vocalist, but he doesn't sound like a newbie. The members of The Walkmen have all proven themselves to be as capable solo as they are together. Watch: "Philadelphia Raga" Watch: "Latin American Ficciones"

Strand of Oaks - Heal Strand of Oaks (Tim Showalter) is a bearded, emotional folk rocker who first came to prominence with the release of his 2010 album Pope Killdragon. His follow-up was inspired by a realization that he needed to heal following the break-up of a marriage and the pressures of being on the road for two years. Watch: "Shut In" Watch: "Goshen '97"

A Sunny Day in Glasgow - Sea When Absent A Sunny Day in Glasgow is a Philadelphia-based band who have been active since 2006. The band is led by Ben Daniels, but with rotating backing musicians. Sea When Absent is the band's fourth album, which I first became familiar with when the band was featured in a "best of the week" column on Stereogum! Watch: "In Love with Useless" Listen: "Bye Bye Big Ocean (The End)"

Other New Releases

22 Jump Street: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack 22 Jump Street is the sequel to the movie version of 21 Jump Street, which was released 2012. The soundtrack features new tracks from Wiz Khalifa, Duck Sauce, and Angel Haze. Listen: Angel Haze - "22 Jump Street"

Ghostface Killah - "Six Degrees" Ghostface Killah is a member of the Wu-Tang clan and a critically-acclaimed solo performer. For his latest single, he has teamed up with BADBADNOTGOOD and Danny Brown. Listen: "Six Degrees"

They Came Together EP They Came Together is a new rom-com starring Amy Poehler and Paul Rudd. A short soundtrack (just EP length) is being released for the film. Contributors include Craig Wedren, Amy Miles, and Norah Jones. Watch: Norah Jones - "It Was the Last Thing on Your Mind"