Upcoming Album of the Week (Ending November 24, 2018)

The Creed II soundtrack was released this past week (the movie came out on Wednesday). I'm excited for the movie, but looking at the tracklist, the soundtrack should be good, as well. The album includes contributions from Rae Sremmurd, Bon Iver, Vince Staples, and Kendrick Lamar.

I hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving! As always, check out the new music I'm looking forward to over at my Upcoming Releases page!

Recently, DAWN announced her fifth solo album, new breed.

bandcamp.com

DAWN (aka D∆WN, aka Dawn Richard) started her career as a member of the made-on-TV girl band, Danity Kane. The group disbanded in 2009, at which point she embarked on a solo career and proved her work to be far more interesting than the R&B/pop of Danity Kane.

While still in the general R&B space, her own work is more experimental, punctuated by a trilogy of concept albums ending with 2016's Redemption. She's released various one-off singles and videos since, and featured on the closing track of Dirty Projector's 2017 self-titled album.

The new album was announced on November 7, along with a new song, "new breed." The album will be released on January 25.

Also announced recently:

And the Kids - When This Life Is Over (February 22)
Cherry Glazerr - Stuffed & Ready (February 1)
Chvrches - Hansa Session EP (December 14)
Conor Oberst - “No One Changes”/“The Rockaways” (February 1)
The Decemberists - Traveling On (December 14)
Earl Sweatshirt - Some Rap Songs (November 30)
Emily King - Scenery (February 1)
FEELS - Post Earth (February 22)
Frakkur - Frakkur 2000-2004 (out now)
Ghostface Killah - Ghost Files (November 30)
Girlpool - What Chaos Is Imaginary (February 1)
Guided By Voices - 1000 Dougs (December 7)
Guided By Voices - 1901 Acid Rock (March)
Guided By Voices - Umlaut Over the Özone (March)
Guided By Voices - Warp and Woof (April)
Guided By Voices - Winecork Stonehenge (December 7)
Guided By Voices - Zeppelin Over China (February 1)
Helado Negro - This Is How You Smile (March 8)
Homeshake - Helium (February 15)
Julia Jacklin - Crushing (February 22)
Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith - Tides: Music for Yoga and Meditation (January 11)
Karen O & Danger Mouse - Lux Prima (December 14)
Kodak Black - DYING TO LIVE (December 14)
Meek Mill - Championships (November 30)
Mercury Rev - Bobbie Gentry’s Delta Sweete Revisited (February 8)
Panda Bear - Buoys (February 8)
Rustin Man - Drift Code (February 1)
The Saxophones - Singing Desperately Suite (February 12)
These New Puritans - “Into the Fire” (out now)
Tyler, The Creator - Music Inspired by Illumination & Dr. Seuss' The Grinch (out now)
Vic Mensa - Hooligans (December 14)
Weezer - The Black Album (March 1)
William Tyler - Goes West (January 25)

New Music Friday - November 18, 2016

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases

D∆WN - Redemption Dawn Richard left the made-on-TV band Danity Kane behind in 2009 (disregarding a short-lived reunion four years later), and embarked on a string of critically-acclaimed solo releases starting with 2013's Goldenheart. Redemption completes a trilogy started with that album; exploring a theme of self-realization. Listen: "Renegades" Listen: "Vines" (Interlude)

Justice - Woman The duo Justice became the poster boy for modern French house music when they released their debut album in 2007. Woman is their third album, following a five year break in new studio recordings. The album isn't much of a departure, their sound is still epic, with hard rock riffs, choirs, and industrial sounds. Watch: "Alakazam!" Watch: "Fire"

Pink Martini - Je Dis Oui! Pink Martini is a 20+ year-old music group whose sound is a combination of jazz, Latin, and pop. Known for featuring other prominent artists on their recordings, their seventh album has contributions from Ari Shapiro, Kathleen Saadat, and Rufus Wainwright. Listen: "Al Bint Al Shalabiya" Listen: "Joli garçon"

Other Full-Length Releases

2Leaves - Every Ocean Tells a Story Listen: "Napo" Listen: "Ene"

Cory Hanson - The Unborn Capitalist from Limbo Listen: "Ordinary People"

Floating Room - s u n l e s s Listen: "Fun" Listen: "Bed"

Split Single - Metal Frames Watch: "Blank Ribbons" Listen: "Leave My Mind"

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

Frankie Cosmos - Covers

Jay Som - Turn Into Reissue Watch: "Ghost" Listen: "Turn Into"

Jhené Aiko - "Maniac" Listen: "Maniac"

Lanikai - Lanikai Watch: "I’m Glad" Watch: "I Need Love"

Let All the Children Boogie: A Tribute to David Bowie Listen: Ted Leo - "Heroes" Listen: Antibalas - "Let’s Dance"

Lou Reed - Lou Reed - The RCA & Arista Album Collection, Vol. 1 Listen: "Perfect Day" Listen: "No Money Down"

PC Music - Volume 2 Watch: Danny L Harle - "Super Natural" (featuring Carly Rae Jepsen) Watch: Hannah Diamond - "Fade Away"

Pink Floyd - Animals Reissue Listen: "Dogs" Listen: "Sheep"

R.E.M. - Out of Time Reissue Listen: "Half a World Away" Listen: "Belong"

Sylvan Esso - "Radio" Watch: "Radio"

Thee Oh Sees - An Odd Entrances Listen: "Poem" Listen: "You Will Find It Here"

This Is the Kit - "Christmastime Is Here"/"La Peregrinacion" Listen: "Christmastime Is Here" Listen: "La Peregrinación"

Tori Amos - Boys for Pele Reissue Listen: "Hey Jupiter" Listen: "Little Amsterdam"

The Who - My Generation Super Deluxe Reissue Listen: "My Generation" Listen: "Baba O’Riley"

Upcoming Album of the Week (Ending October 8)

I'll admit to being somewhat old-fashioned and have been stubbornly attempting to continue using my iPod two years after it has been discontinued. I discovered this week that Apple has made it incredibly difficult to organize and maintain my music the way that I want to. Oh well, I will be re-evaluating my music listening methods over the coming months, which will impact how I listen to some of the new music coming out soon. {Hold for shameless plug}, check out some of that new music over at my Upcoming Releases page!

This week, Dawn Richard (aka D∆WN) announced her third studio album, Redemption.

josepvinaixa.com

It took me a little while to come around to Dawn's music. She got her start on the third season of Making the Band, eventually becoming a member of the loathsome Danity Kane. When I started hearing about her solo career about three years ago, I figured it had to be more of the same.

But, I kept hearing praise for her work. Her debut, Goldenheart earned rave reviews from some of my most trusted resources and that praise continued through her sophomore effort, Blackheart. When I finally did check her out, which admittedly wasn't until earlier this year, I was blown away by her music. Her style is more fitting in with a newer class of R&B, that makes use of experimentation and incorporates disparate genres, rather than simply representing the status quo of the genre.

Redemption completes a trilogy which started with Goldenheart, one that covers love, loss, and redemption. Yesterday's announcement of the record was accompanied by a new song, "Renegades."



Also announced this week:

Alicia Keys - Here (November 4)
D.R.A.M. - Big Baby D.R.A.M. (October 21)
Gone Is Gone - Echolocation (January 6)
Pink Floyd - Animals Reissue (November 18)
The Rolling Stones - Blue & Lonesome (December 2)
Thee Oh Sees - A Strange Entrances (November 18)
Uniform - Ghosthouse (October 28)