New Music Friday - April 21, 2017

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases

The Raveonettes - 2016 Atomized Last year, The Raveonettes undertook a different kind of music release project. They released one track, each accompanied by a lyric video, once a month throughout the year. They considered the project to be their Anti-Album. Although the project was attempt to subvert the album, all of those tracks are combined for this more formal release. Watch: "Fast Food" Watch: "Choke on Love"

Ray Davies - Americana I recently learned that Davies' last name is pronounced like "Davis". I had always assumed the slightly more interesting sounding "Dave-ees" and was slightly disappointed by the information. Anyways, the former co-frontman for The Kinks embarked on his solo career a little over 20 years ago. Americana is his fifth solo record, and serves as a bit of a love letter to this land on the other side of the pond. Watch: "Americana" Listen: "Poetry"

Shamir - Hope After releasing his well-regarded debut, Ratchet, in 2015, Shamir had expressed some reticence about continuing his career. However, he had a spate of inspiration a few weeks back and wrote, recorded, and released his second album. He released the album himself, with no label support and no prior promotion. Listen: "What Else" Listen: "Hope"

Other Full-Length Releases

Cotillon - The Afternoons Listen: "Alex’s Room" Listen: "Black Sea"

Joe Goddard - Electric Lines Watch: "Home" Watch: "Music Is the Answer"

Maxïmo Park - Risk to Exist Watch: "Get High (No I Don’t)" Watch: "Risk to Exist"

Real Life Buildings - Significant Weather Watch: "No News" Listen: "Cold"

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

Cream - Fresh Cream Reissue Listen: "Sleepy Time Time" Listen: "Dreaming"

Exhibition - Last Dance EP Listen: "No One There" (featuring Julian Casablancas)

Föllakzoid - London Sessions Listen: "Earth" (featuring J. Spaceman)

Frank Zappa - Roxy by Proxy Reissue Listen: "Echnida’s Arf"

GRLMIC VOL1

J Dilla - Motor City Listen: "Motor City 1" Listen: "Motor City 2"

The JuJu - Exchange Listen: "We Good" (featuring Jamila Woods) Listen: "Glide"

Woods - Love Is Love Watch: "Hit That Drum" Watch: "Politics of Free"

New Music Friday - April 15, 2016

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases

Cate Le Bon - Crab Day This is the fourth album overall from this Welsh singer. Her last solo album was 2013's Mug Museum, though she partnered with Tim Presley as DRINKS and released Hermits on Holiday last year. She does not stray far from her usually unusual style on this record. Watch: "Wonderful"

J Dilla - Diary J Dilla's career spanned just over a decade and three albums. Though he passed away in 2006, more music has been released since his death than before. With this album, he intended to focus on vocals over production, and to work with some of his favorite producers. It was shelved due to record label frustrations, but many of those producers, and other rappers, came together to finally complete and release the record. Watch: "The Sickness" Listen: "Gangsta Boogie" (featuring Snoop Dogg & Kokane)

PJ Harvey - The Hope Six Demolition Project PJ Harvey has never been one to shy away from social issues and her latest album is no exception. She takes on the subject of housing projects in the US; specifically the HOPE IV project, which was seen to hinder affordable housing more than help it. Though her choice of subject did not come without criticism, the album has become the latest critically-acclaimed release in her celebrated career. Watch: "The Wheel" Watch: "The Community of Hope"

Sam Beam & Jesca Hoop - Love Letter for Fire I often forget that Iron & Wine is just a stage name, one that Sam Beam has been performing under for over a decade. This is actually the first album of his credited to his real name. He continues a recent streak of collaborations, this time working with Jesca Hoop, who has also been performing since the early aughts, as well (though under her own name). Watch: "Valley Clouds" Watch: "Every Songbird Says"

Suuns - Hold/Still I first became enthralled by Suuns' music five years ago, following their debut album, Zeroes QC. They've continued to impress me with their subsequent releases, including last year's self-titled collaboration with Jerusalem in My Heart. Their music remains hypnotic and pulsing, but they take on a more polished sheen on this record with the help of producer John Congleton. Watch: "Paralyzer" Watch: "Translate"

Other Full-Length Releases

Ashley Shadow - Ashley Shadow Watch: "Tonight" Listen: "Tired"

The Coathangers - Nosebleed Weekend Watch: "Nosebleed Weekend" Watch: "Watch Your Back"

Dave Harrington Group - Become Alive Watch: "White Heat" Listen: "Become Alive"

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros - PersonA Watch: "No Love Like Yours" Listen: "Wake Up the Sun"

Har Mar Superstar - Best Summer Ever Listen: "Youth Without Love" Listen: "Anybody’s Game"

Kevin Morby - Singing Saw Watch: "I Have Been to the Mountain" Watch: "Dorothy"

Sturgill Simpson - A Sailor’s Guide to Earth Watch: "In Bloom" Watch: "Brace for Impact (Live a Little)"

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

Doused in Mud, Soaked in Bleach Listen: Young Widows - "Negative Creep" Listen: Robotic Empire - "Love Buzz"

Eskimeaux - Year of the Rabbit EP Watch: "Drunk" Listen: "Power"

HAWK - HAWK EP Watch: "The Hunt"

John Frusciante - Foregrow EP Listen: "Unf" Listen: "Lowth Forgue"

Snakehips - All My Friends EP Watch: "All My Friends" (featuring Tinashe & Chance The Rapper) Listen: "Money on Me" (featuring Anderson .Paak)

Transformers Roll Out Listen: Mew - "Count to Ten" Listen: Mount Holly Art - "Roll Out"