New Music Friday - August 25, 2017

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases

EMA - Exile in the Outer Ring This fourth album from Erika M. Anderson is written about the "outer ring", lower-income housing that has risen up around many large cities as the wealth has moved towards the center. Always socially- and politically-minded, Anderson sings about the poverty and lack of resources plaguing these areas. She works with Unknown Mortal Orchestra's Jacob Portrait on the record, which continues her streak of spectacular music. Watch: "Blood and Chalk" Watch: "Down and Out"

Filthy Friends - Invitation Filthy Friends is a band formed from members of Sleater-Kinney (Corin Tucker), Fastbacks (Kurt Bloch), R.E.M. (Peter Buck, Bill Rieflin), and The Young Fresh Fellows (Scott McCaughey). They formed in 2012 primarily to perform David Bowie covers, but have moved to their own material for their debut album together. Watch: "Despierta" Listen: "The Arrival"

Gordi - Reservoir Gordi is Sophie Payten, a musician from Sydney, Australia. She got her start a couple of years ago, getting attention from Australian radio stations Triple J and FBi before signing a record deal with (Bloomington, Indiana-based!) Jagjaguwar Records and releasing an EP, Clever Disguise, in May of last year. Reservoir is her debut full-length. Watch: "Bitter End" Watch: "On My Side"

Iron & Wine - Beast Epic Iron & Wine's last two albums, 2015's Sing Into My Mouth and 2016's Love Letter for Fire, were his first forays into full-length album collaborations, with Ben Bridwell and Jesca Hoop, respectively. This year, he's back as a solo artist for his sixth album. It is noted as a return to the artist's sound on his earliest work, with at least one critic comparing it to Our Endless Numbered Days, his second studio album. Watch: "Call It Dreaming" Watch: "Thomas County Law"

Queens of the Stone Age - Villains QotSA made a surprising (to me, at least) move for their seventh album, working with producer Mark Ronson. Ronson became known for his work with Amy Winehouse, as well as the groover he released in 2014 with Bruno Mars. It seems like a strange pairing, but one that allowed the band to greatly progress their sound. Villains isn't a huge departure from their past work, but does introduce a but of boogie to the mix. Listen: "The Evil Has Landed" Listen: "The Way You Used to Do"

Other Full-Length Releases

A$AP Mob - Cozy Tapes Vol. 2: Too Cozy Watch: "Feels So Good" Watch: "RAF" (featuring A$AP Rocky, Playboi Carti, & Quavo)

Action Bronson - Blue Chips 7000 Watch: "The Chairman’s Intent" Watch: "Let Me Breathe"

Baby in Vain - More Nothing Watch: "To Heaven and Back" Watch: "Lowlife"

Blank Range - Marooned with the Treasure Listen: "Ember in the Ash" Listen: "Opening Band"

CYMBALS - Light Your Mind Watch: "Decay" Listen: "Car Crash"

The Fresh & Onlys - Wolf Lie Down Watch: "One of a Kind" Watch: "Impossible Man"

Game Theory - Supercalifragile

A Giant Dog - Toy Watch: "Bendover" Listen: "Photograph"

Joseph Shabason - Aytche Watch: "Westmeath" Listen: "Aytche"

Liars - TCFC Watch: "Staring at Zero" Watch: "Cred Woes"

The Mynabirds - Be Here Now Watch: "Golden Age" Watch: "Cocoon"

Oh Sees - Orc Watch: "Night Expo" Listen: "The Static God"

Shock Machine - Shock Machine Watch: "Lost in the Mystery" Watch: "Open Up the Sky"

The War on Drugs - A Deeper Understanding Watch: "Pain" Watch: "Holding On"

Widowspeak - Expect the Best Watch: "Dog" Listen: "When I Tried"

Wiki - No Mountains in Manhattan Watch: "Mayor" Watch: "Pretty Bull"

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

D’Angelo - Brown Sugar Reissue Listen: "Cruisin’" (Who’s Foolin’ Who Mix) Listen: "Brown Sugar" (Incognito Molasses Remix)

Dan Deacon - Spiderman of the RIngs 10-Year Anniversary Reissue Watch: "The Crystal Cat" Listen: "Big Milk"

Hand Habits - "Yr Heart" 7” Listen: "Yr Heart" Listen: "Carpenter’s Daughter"

King Krule - "Czech One" Watch: "Czech One"

Philia: Arists Rise Against Islamophobia Listen: The Dodos - "Mirror Flake" Listen: Hamilton Leithauser - "The Song with No Name"

Superchuck - Superchunk Reissue Watch: "Watery Hands"

Underworld - Beaucoup Fish Super Deluxe Edition Listen: "Jumbo" Listen: "Cups"

New Music Tuesday - April 8, 2014

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

New Full-Length Releases

Avey Tare's Slasher Flicks - Enter the Slasher House Animal Collective has been a very active band since their inception in 1999. Each member has also had active solo careers. Avey Tare released his own solo record, Down There, in 2010 and is following it up with Enter the Slasher House. He gets some help this time around with Angel Derodoorian (formerly of Dirty Projectors) and Jeremy Hyman (formerly of Ponytail). Watch: "Little Fang" Watch: "Strange Colores"

EMA - The Future's Void EMA is the stage name of Erika M. Anderson, who's been working as a musician since 2006. She started as a guitarist for Amps for Christ, then released her first album in 2010. She started to gain more attention following the release of her sophomore album, Past Life Martyred Saints. It's been three years since that, but she's made the wait well worth it with her latest release. Watch: "So Blonde" Watch: "Satellites"

OFF! - Wasted Years OFF! is a hardcore punk supergroup made up of members of Burning Brides, Hot Snakes, Redd Kross and Black Flag. They formed in 2009 and have been incredibly active since. This is the combination's third album. Watch: "Void You Out" Watch: "Hypnotized"

Ratking - So It Goes Ratking is a young hip hop band out of New York City. I first checked out the band when they released the King Krule-featuring "So Sick Stories." The song, like many others on the record, is a gritty story of their city. The band further proves that the newest class of rappers are ready and able to change the hip hop game. Watch: "Canal" Watch: "So Sick Stories" (featuring King Krule)

Sweet Apple - The Golden Age of Glitter Sweet Apple is another supergroup, this one made of Dave Sweetapple, Robert Pollard, Mark Lanegan and J Mascis. The group formed in 2009 and released Love and Desperation. Five years, and countless other releases from members of the collective, they are releasing a follow-up. Watch: "Wish You Could Stay (A Little Longer)" Watch: "Boys in Her Fanclub"

SZA - Z SZA is the stage name of R&B chanteuse Solana Rowe. I first became familiar with her when I heard the Kendrick Lamar-assisted "Babylon" (I'm thinking I should make that man my music-finding assistant...if he weren't a world-famous recording artist, that is). Her style, similar to many other contemporary R&B artists, is a mix that includes genres that always associated with R&B. In her case, she brings in some synthpop. Watch: "Warm Winds" (featuring Isaiah Rashad) Watch: "Babylon" (featuring Kendrick Lamar)

Wilko Johnson & Roger Daltrey - Going Back Home Wilko Johnson and Roger Daltrey are both British classic rocks icons; Johnson as the guitarist for Dr. Feelgood and Daltrey as the frontman for The Who. The pair had no intention of recording together, nor had they met, when they were seated next to each other at a 2010 awards ceremony. They quickly hit it off and recorded this album together. It's become the first big hit either of them have had for over thirty years! Listen: "Going Back Home" Watch: "I Keep It to Myself"

Other New Releases

Franz Ferdinand - "Fresh Strawberries"/"Erdbeer Mund" Franz Ferdinand released their fourth album, Right Thoughts, Right Words Right Action, in August of last year. "Fresh Strawberries" is a track from that release, being released now as a single backed with "Erdbeer Mund." The latter is sung fully in German. Watch: "Fresh Strawberries" Watch: "Erdbeer Mund"

Girl Talk & Freeway - Broken Ankles EP Girl Talk has long been a lone artist, putting out five mashup albums, mainly consisting of classic rock and modern hip hop. He's lending his considerable production skills to rapper Freeway to release this collaborative EP. Watch: "Tolerated" (featuring Waka Flocka Flame) Listen: "Lived It"

Iggy Azalea - "Fancy" We've had white rappers and we've had female rappers for a long time now. White female rappers have been a rarer breed, but Iggy Azalea is out to prove that she can play with the big boys. She will be releasing her debut album, The New Classic, on April 22, which will feature this Charli XCX-assisted track. Watch: "Fancy" (featuring Charli XCX)

Jagwar Ma - Uncertainty Remixes EP Jagwar Ma released their debut album Howlin' last year and now one of the record's best tracks is getting the necessary remix treatment. Featured on this EP are contributions from Ewan Pearson, Missngno, Charles Murdoch, and Cut Copy. Listen: "Uncertainty" (Cut Copy Remix) Listen: "Uncertainty" (Missngno Remix)

Linda Ronstadt - Duets Linda Ronstadt had a career spanning nearly 35 years (she retired in 2011). During that time, she performed and recorded a number of duets with other vocalists. This release collects some of her better-known collaborations. Listen: "I Never Will Marry" (with Dolly Parton) Listen: "Don't Know Much" (with Aaron Neville)

Willis Earl Beal - Curious Cool Willis Beal Earl came out swinging when he released his debut album, Acousmatic Sorcery, in 2012. He released a follow-up, Nobody Knows, last year, but has been far more prolific than just that. Despite being signed to XL Recordings, he has put out several free releases. This is his second just this year. Listen: "Lust" Listen: "Why"