New Music Friday - April 25, 2025

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases

	Deerhoof - Noble and Godlike in Ruin Watch: "Return of the Return of the Fire Trick Star" Listen: "Overrated Species Anyhow"
	Maria Usbeck - Naturaleza Watch: "Mantarraya" Watch: "Current"
	Samia - Bloodless Watch: "Bovine Excision" Watch: "Lizard"
	SUMAC and Moor Mother - The Film Listen: "Scene 1" Listen: "Scene 2: The Run"
	Tennis - Face Down in the Garden Watch: "Weight of Desire" Watch: "12 Blown Tires"

Other Full-Length Releases

Billy Idol - Dream Into It Watch: "Still Dancing" Watch: "Dream into It"

Colin Miller - Losin’ Watch: "Cadillac" Watch: "Porchlight"

d4vd - Withered Watch: "Is This Really Love?" Watch: "Atomic Land"

Fib - Heavy Lifting Watch: "P.S." Listen: "Mutuals"

Fly Anakin - (The) Forever Dream Watch: "My N*gga" (featuring Quelle Chris, $ilkmoney, & Big Kahuna OG) Watch: "The Times"

Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra - Still Blooming Watch: "I Don’t Know Why (I Just Do)" (featuring Ariana Grande) Watch: "Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye"

Jerry David DeCicca - Cardiac Country Listen: "Long Distance Runner" Listen: "Frozen Hearts"

Maria Somerville - Luster Watch: "Garden" Watch: "Spring"

Neil Young - Oceanside Countryside Listen: "Field of Opportunity" Listen: "Sail Away"

The Raveonettes - Pe’ahi II Watch: "Killer" Listen: "SPEED"

SAULT - 10 Listen: "T.H." Listen: "L.U."

Sunflower Bean - Mortal Primetime Watch: "Champagne Taste" Watch: "Nothing Romantic"

Viagra Boys - viagr aboys Watch: "Man Made of Meat" Watch: "Uno II"

William Tyler - Time Indefinite Watch: "Cabin Six" Watch: "Concern"

Willie Nelson - Oh What a Beautiful World Watch: "Oh What a Beautiful World" (with Rodney Crowell) Watch: "Banks of the Old Bandera"

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

Adrianne Lenker - Live at Revolution Hall Listen: "i do love you" (live) Listen: "anything" (live)

Heart of Gold: The Songs of Neil Young Vol. 1 Watch: Courtney Barnett - "Lotta Love" Watch: Chris Pierce - "Southern Man"

The Legend of Ochi: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Listen: David Longstreth - "The Pond" Listen: David Longstreth - "Prelude"

This Is Lorelei - Box for Buddy, Box for Star (Deluxe) Listen: "Dancing in the Club" (MJ Lenderman Version) Listen: "Two Legs" (Snail Mail Version)

Wishy - Planet Popstar Watch: "Fly" Watch: "Over and Over"

New Music Friday - May 29, 2020

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases

Deerhoof - Future Teenage Cave Artists Deerhoof went in a different direction with their last album. 2017's Mountain Moves, bringing a large number of collaborators. The follow-up hearkens back to earlier work, with a title that indicates the band's isolationist approach and their conceptual view towards the future. Watch: "Future Teenage Cave Artists" Watch: "“Farewell” Symphony"

Lady Gaga - Chromatica Lady Gaga's sixth album was one of many that were delayed due to the coronavirus epidemic, originally scheduled for an April release. The album includes features from several other pop icons, including Ariana Grande and Elton John. Watch: "Rain on Me" (featuring Ariana Grande) Watch: "Stupid Love"

Mrs. Piss - Self-Surgery Mrs. Piss is a new project from Jess Gowrie and Chelsea Wolfe. The project started while the pair were touring for Wolfe's 2017 album, Hiss Spun. The project has given them a new opportunity to work together and a platform on which to bring in other female performers. Watch: "Knelt" Watch: "Downer Surrounded by Uppers"

Nicole Atkins - Italian Ice Italian Ice is the fifth album from this New Jersey artist, following 2017's Goodnight Rhonda Lee. On the album, Atkins collaborates with a number of her contemporaries, including McKenzie Smith (of Midlake), bassist David Hood, and Britt Daniel (of Spoon). Watch: "Captain" (featuring Britt Daniel) Watch: "Domino"

PINS - Hot Slick PINS became a fast favorite of mine after the release of their 2015 sophomore album, Wild Nights. I waited dutifully for a follow-up and gobbled up every interim project released, including the 2017 EP, Bad Thing, and frontwoman Faith Vern's collaborations with Iggy Pop. Finally, their third album is here, and I am beyond excited! Watch: "Hot Slick" Watch: "Bad Girls Forever"

Other Full-Length Releases

Christian Lee Hutson - Beginners Watch: "Lose This Number" Watch: "Talk"

Jade Hairpins - Harmony Avenue Watch: "J Terrapin" Watch: "(Don’t Break My) Devotion"

Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist - Alfredo Watch: "Frank Lucas" (featuring Benny the Butcher) Watch: "1985"

The Memories - Pickles & Pies Listen: "Second Try" Listen: "The Sign" (featuring Colleen Green)

Painted Zeros - When You Found Forever Watch: "Break" Watch: "Commuter Rage"

Thomas Wesley - Diplo Presents Thomas Wesley Chapter 1: Snake Oil Watch: "On Mine" (featuring Noah Cyrus) Watch: "Real Life Stuff" (featuring Julia Michaels, & Clever)

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

Alex Lahey - Between the Kitchen and the Living Room Watch: "Let’s Go Out" (Bedroom Version) Listen: "Every Day’s the Weekend" (Laundry Version)

Baths - Pop Music / False B-Sides II Watch: "Mikaela Corridor" Watch: "Wistful (Fata Morgana)"

Capone: Original Motion Picture Score Listen: "mama’s hurt" Listen: "this is Al that’s left"

Esther Rose - My Favorite Mistakes Listen: "Blue on Blue" Listen: "My Favorite Mistake"

Flying Lotus - Flamagra (Instrumentals) Listen: "Black Balloons Reprise" (Instrumental) Listen: "Yellow Belly" (Instrumental)

Iggy Pop - The Idiot/Lust for Life Reissue Watch: "Lust for Life" Listen: "Neighborhood Threat"

K-os - Boshido Listen: "Crucial" (Kaytranada Remix) Listen: "Free Style"

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Chunky Shrapnel Watch: "This Thing" Watch: "Mars for the Rich"

Lily & Horn Horse - Republicans for Bernie Watch: "Balloon" Listen: "Crosby, Stills and Nash"

The Soft Pink Truth - Am I Free to Go?

My Favorite Things of the Week

The future of live music seems uncertain right now. While numerous tours and festivals are being canceled or postponed and we're dealing with massive companies refusing to refund tickets already purchased, a new type of live concert seems to be emerging, the video game concert. Travis Scott recently performed on Fortnite, and Massive Attack, HEALTH, and Pussy Riot are set for the Block by Blockwest virtual concert sponsored by Minecraft in May.

There are a lot of artists still planning album releases for this year, we'll have to keep an eye out whether any more of them opt for the virtual model for promoting the records.

Self-isolation has continued to be a boon for new covers performed from the comfort of the artists' homes, including more home shows from Ben Gibbard, an entire Nirvana tribute concert from Post Malone, and a variety of karaoke-style covers from Rosalía. My favorite recently came from Bedouine, who covered an artist that I was previously unfamiliar with. The folk artist posted a cover of "The Hum," from Margo Guryan.

Self-isolation has also meant that a lot of new music videos are being filmed and produced by artists at home. There have been quite a few duds, including the video for a John Legend and Kane Brown collaboration, but one recent really stood out for its creative use of web-conferencing software. Thao & The Get Down Stay Down's "Phenom" takes advantage of the grid-view of Zoom to present a cohesive choreographed product.

It's not a brand new song, but Deerhoof's latest single has stuck around in my head since it was released a couple of weeks ago. I've listened to Deerhoof for a number of years, but can sometimes find their music hard to really get into. Occasionally, they make a song that finds the perfect balance of their experimental music and a pop groove. "Future Teenage Cave Artists," from their upcoming album of the same name (out May 29), is just that song!

And finally, here are some albums announced over the past week that I'm looking forward to!

Absolutely Free - Two Cares Due None (April 29)
Brain - The World EP (May 15)
Esther Rose - My Favorite Mistakes (May 29)
GUM - Go Out in the World (June 12)
Kali Uchis - To Feel Alive (out now)
Kehlani - It Was Good Until It Wasn’t (May 8)
Sam Prekop - Comma (July 10)
Thomas Wesley Pentz - Diplo Presents Thomas Wesley Pentz Chapter 1: Snake Oil (May 29)

New Music Friday - September 8, 2017

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases

Alvvays - Antisocialites Alvvays released a spectacular self-titled debut album in 2014. That album was anchored by "Marry Me, Archie", a song about trying to cajole a reluctant lover into marriage. The first single from their sophomore album takes on a nearly opposite sentiment, mourning the end of a relationship. There's growth in their follow-up, but without the loss infectious jangle that made Alvvays such a delight. Watch: "In Undertow" Watch: "Plimsoll Punks"

Deerhoof - Mountain Moves Deerhoof have a distinct sound, one they've displayed on studio albums already four times this decade. They're doing something a bit different for this fifth album, bringing in a number of featured artists. Collaborators range from Awkwafina, to Juana Molina, to Jenn Wasner. Watch: "I Will Spite Survive" (featuring Jenn Wasner)  Listen: "Come Down Here and Say That" (featuring Laetitia Sadler)

The National - Sleep Well Beast The National are one of the most stylistically consistent bands in indie rock, but they've always maintained a timeliness that kept them from becoming boring. Things are no different on this latest record, their seventh, with some subtle and some not-so-subtle references to the current political environment. Watch: "Day I Die" Watch: "Carin at the Liquor Store"

Tony Allen - The Source African drummer Tony Allen has had a long and prosperous career, both as the drummer for Fela Kuti and as a solo artist. His latest album, and according to the artist himself, his best, is his first for famed jazz label Blue Note. Listen: "Push and Pull" Listen: "On Fire"

Zola Jesus - Okovi Okovi is the fifth album from this Wisconsin singer, long known for her goth pop sound and dark lyrics. The darkness continues on this latest record, written when the singer was back in hometown following a battle with depression. The result is an incredible album that has earned her some of her highest praise of her career. Watch: "Exhumed" Watch: "Soak"

Other Full-Length Releases

Alex Cameron - Forced Witness Watch: "Candy May" Watch: "Runnin’ Out of Luck"

Carmen Villain - Infinite Avenue Watch: "Red Desert" Listen: "Borders" (featuring Jenny Hval)

Death from Above - Outage! Is Now Watch: "Never Swim Alone" Watch: "Freeze Me"

Faith Healer - Try ;) Watch: "Try" Listen: "Light of Loving"

Julie & The Wrong Guys - Julie & The Wrong Guys Watch: "You Wanted What I Wanted" Listen: "Love & Leaving"

Lomelda - Thx Listen: "From Here" Listen: "Interstate Vision"

Lunice - CCCLX Watch: "Mazerati" Watch: "Distrust" (featuring Denzel Curry, JK The Reaper, & Nell)

Mount Kimbie - Love What Survives Watch: "Delta" Watch: "Blue Train Lines"

MuteMath - Play Dead Watch: "Break the Fever" Watch: "War"

Nosaj Thing - Parallels Watch: "U G" Listen: "All Points Back to U" (featuring Steve Spacek)

Partner - In Search of Lost Time Watch: "Play the Field" Listen: "Gross Secret"

Small Circle - Cyclical Listen: "Mornings" Listen: "Spinning"

Sparks - Hippopotamus Watch: "Edith Piaf (Said It Better Than Me)" Watch: "What the Hell Is It This Time?"

Susanne Sundfør - Music for People in Trouble Listen: "Mountaineers" (featuring John Grant) Listen: "No One Believes in Love Anymore"

Ted Leo - The Hanged Man Watch: "Can’t Go Back" Listen: "You’re Like Me"

Tori Amos - Native Invader Watch: "Reindeer King" Watch: "Cloud Riders"

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

Animal Collective - Sung Tongs Vinyl Reissue Listen: "Leaf House" Listen: "Winter’s Love"

David Bowie - The 1980 Floorshow Listen: "Jean Genie" Listen: "Time"

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Up from Below Vinyl Reissue Watch: "Home" Listen: "Janglin"

Jimi Hendrix - Experience Hendrix: The Best of Jimi Hendrix Vinyl Reissue Listen: "Hey Joe" Listen: "Fire"

Mas Ysa - Untitled Listen: "Face" Listen: "Mapquest"

Mazzy Star - So Tonight That I Might See Vinyl Reissue Watch: "Fade Into You" Listen: "So Tonight That I Might See"

Mourn - Over the Wall Listen: "Color Me Impressed" Listen: "Over the Wall"

Nico - Behind the Iron Curtain Reissue Listen: "Procession" Listen: "All Saints Night from a Polish Motorway"

Syd - Always Never Home Listen: "Moving Mountains" Listen: "On the Road"

Twin Peaks (Music from the Limited Event Series)

Zomby - GASP! Listen: "GASP!" Listen: "ZKITTLEZ"