New Music Tuesday - December 17, 2013

New Full-Length Releases

Beyoncé - Beyoncé 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! Watch: "Drunk in Love" Watch: "XO"

Other New Releases

The Beatles - The Beatles Bootleg Recordings 1963 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. Listen: "Bad to Me" (Demo) Listen: "I'm in Love" (Demo 1963)

Burial - Rival Dealer 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. Listen: "Rival Dealer" Listen: "Hiders"

Charlotte Gainsbourg - "Hey Joe" 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. Listen: "Hey Joe"

David Lynch - The Big Dream Expanded David Lynch released his latest album in July of 2013. The deluxe edition of the album adds some bonus tracks and remixed versions to the record. Listen: "The Big Dream" (Venetian Snares Remix) Listen: "I'm Waiting Here"

Disclosure - Settle: The Remixes 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. Watch: "Apollo" Watch: "You & Me" (Flume Remix)

Lorde - "No Better" 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. Listen: "No Better"

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. Watch: "Running to the Sea" Listen: "Something in My Heart"

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. Watch: José González - "Stay Alive" Listen: Of Monsters and Men - "Dirty Paws"

New Music Tuesday - November 12, 2013

New Full-Length Releases

Cate Le Bon - Mug Museum Cate Le Bon is a Welsh singer-songwriter who's become noted for her dark lyrics and voice, which has garnered comparisons to Nico. Mug Museum is her third full-length album. Now, I haven't been previously familiar with Cate's music, but she recorded one of the songs on this album with a favorite artist of mine. "I Think I Knew" features Perfume Genius. I listened to and liked that song, so I knew I needed to check out her work. Listen/Watch: "Are You with Me Now"

Other New Releases

Andrew Bird - I Want to See Pulaski at Night EP Folk singer Andrew Bird keeps himself very busy. He seems to be constantly touring, but finds a way to put out many releases. In 2012, he managed to put out two albums and two EPs. This year has been comparatively quiet for him, but, late in the year, we are getting a short release of new material! Listen: "Pulaski at Night"

The Beatles - On Air - Live at the BBC Volume 2 From 1963 to 1965, The Beatles conducted a series of performances for the BBC Light Programme. In 1994, a collection of recordings from those sessions was released, which included songs and dialog. Volume 2 is intended as a rerelease of that 1994 compilation, but also includes previously unreleased material from those programs. Listen: "You Can't Do That"

David Lynch - "Bad the John Boy"/"The Big Dream" (Venetian Snares Remix) Director and musician David Lynch released his latest album, The Big Dream, in July of this year. "Bad the John Boy" is a B-side from the album's recording sessions. Included with the single is a remixed version of a song from that album. Listen: "Bad the John Boy"

Flume - Flume Deluxe Reissue Flume is a young producer who released a self-titled solo album last year. I wasn't previously familiar with his work, but heard a song featuring Autre Ne Veut and decided to check him out. The deluxe version of his album features some new tracks as well as remixed versions of some of the original songs. Listen/Watch: "Insane"

Grizzly Bear - Shields Expanded Grizzly Bear released Shields last year and it became one of my favorites of that year. Well, here is the (now, apparently) requisite deluxe edition. It features some demos from the band, as well as remixes and bonus tracks. Listen/Watch: "gun-shy"

The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Miami Pop Festival The Jimi Hendrix Experience performed at the Miami Pop Festival way back in May of 1968. A documentary, titled Hear My Train A Comin, was recently released and the release of this live album is in conjunction with that. Listen/Watch: "Foxey Lady"

Mount Eerie - Pre-Human Ideas Mount Eerie is the project of musician Phil Elverum. His latest release consists of previously-released songs that have been re-recorded using MIDI instruments and auto-tune. Listen: "House Shape"

Nat Baldwin - Dome Branches: The MVP Demos Dirty Projectors have kept Nat Baldwin busy lately (he is the bassist for that band). He has worked as a solo artist as well, though, most recently (before this, of course) releasing People Changes. This release consists of demos from his debut record, Most Valuable Player. Listen: "Look She Said"

Sampha - "Too Much"/"Happens" Sampha built his name as a guest vocalist for other artists, most notably, SBTRKT. He has been releasing a series and EPs and singles this year, though. He continues his move towards his own career with this latest single, a reworking of a song that he originally did with rapper Drake. Listen/Watch: "Happens"

Saint Heron Solange Knowles (also known as Beyoncé's little sister) recently started her own record label, Saint. She's developed a unique style that often incorporates many elements of indie music. While the songs on this record are mostly pre-recorded, it provides a good look at the music that she loves and that may be featured with her label. Listen: Solange - "Cash In"

Stornoway - You Don't Know Anything EP Stornoway is an indie folk band out of England who released an amazing debut album, Beachcomber's Windowsill, in 2010. I loved the band's music, but only found out about the release of their sophomore album a few months after its released. I was more on top of this one, though; I don't want these guys off my radar! Listen/Watch: "Farewell Appalachia"

The xx - HVNXX EP The xx have put out two albums and countless singles and EPs since they banded in 2005. Their latest EP consists of remixes of four of their previous songs. Listen: "Fiction" (Marc Pinol Remix)

New Music Tuesday - July 16, 2013

New Full-Length Releases

Chris Schlarb - Psychic Temple II Chris Schlarb is an artist and composer signed to Asthmatic Kitty. I hadn't actually heard his name until an early single for the album came out, which featured fellow AK-signee Sufjan Stevens (one of my all-time faves). I liked the single well enough, so I've decided to check out the album, as well. Maybe this will prompt me into checking out more of the Asthmatic Kitty artists! Listen: "'Til I Die"

David Lynch - The Big Dream Lynch is a legend in film, he directed Eraserhead, Blue Velvet and Mulholland Drive. He has many other creative endeavors, though, including painting, design and, of course, music. At 67, this is just his second solo album (the first was 2011's Crazy Clown Time), though he's done collaborative work for much longer. He's gotten some pretty awesome guest vocalists on his albums. His first featured a song with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Karen O. This one has a bonus track with Lykke Li (below)! Listen/Watch: "I'm Waiting Here"

Mayer Hawthorne - Where Does This Door Go Hmmm, is it just me or does it seem like a variety of styles of soul music have become incredibly popular in the past couple of years? As popular as the experimental sounds of Solange and Janelle Monae have become, artists looking to a past era have, as well. Mayer is the second kind, he has a bit of a throwback sound. This is his second album, but I've waffled a bit on checking him out. However, I am listening to the album right now and it is definitely a good one! Listen/Watch: "Her Favorite Song"

Other New Releases

Autre Ne Veut - "On and On" First, Cartoon Network's Adult Swim started moving away from animated programs. Now, they're starting to move away from the television medium. The network began releasing singles from a variety of bands and musicians recently. At first, many were with hip hop and garage bands, but they've become broader since. Autre Ne Veut, an R&B artist, is the latest offering from the network. Listen: "On and On"

The Joy Formidable - Silent Treatment EP The Joy Formidable released their second album, Wolf's Law, earlier this year, "Silent Treatment" is one of the songs on that record. Of course, a new album never means that's all the new music that a band has. This EP features an all new song from the band, "All This Promise," as well as a remix of the title track and a live version of another Wolf's Law cut, "Tendons." Listen/Watch: "Silent Treatment"