New Release Friday - October 21, 2016

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases

Leonard Cohen - You Want It Darker We didn't know it at the time, but this would be the last album that this musical genius would release during his lifetime. The 82-year-old singer and songwriter passed away on November 7 following a fall. He'd said some prophetic statements recently, but was in good health and just seemed like he should live forever. Thankfully, he graced us with another incredible collection of songs before he left us. Watch: "You Want It Darker" Listen: "Traveling Light"

NxWorries - Yes Lawd! NxWorries is Anderson .Paak and Knxwledge. The duo first formed last year and released an EP, Link Up & Suede. 2016 has been a big year for both artists individually; .Paak released a highly-regarded fourth album, Malibu, and Knxwledge released several albums, and provided production for tracks by Ghostface Killah, Action Bronson, and Earl Sweatshirt. Watch: "Link Up" Listen: "Lyk Dis"

Pretenders - Alone This album is a meeting of Akron minds. The Pretenders are back after an eight-year gap with an album produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys. In addition to providing production, Auerbach brings several members of his Arcs project to provide instrumentation on the record; Chrissie Hyndes and Martin Chambers are the sole original members that remain with the band. Watch: "Holy Commotion!" Listen: "Alone"

The Radio Dept. - Running Out of Love The Radio Dept. always flies under my radar when I think about my favorite artists and albums over the past few years, but their 2010 record Clinging to a Scheme, is an album I can always come back to and enjoy. Running Out of Love is an amazing follow-up. The album is inspired by dance and techno music, though they employ a more understated version of the styles. They also add a healthy dose of politics to their music. Listen: "Swedish Guns" Listen: "We Got Game"

Weyes Blood - Front Row Seat to Earth Weyes Blood is Natalie Mering, who started her career as the bassist for Jackie-O Motherfucker before going solo ten years ago. It wasn't until 2014 that she released her debut album, The Innocents, which debuted her 70s folk-inspired sound and use of distinct instrumentation. She doesn't stray far from the sound on her debut with this follow-up. Watch: "Do You Need My Love" Watch: "Seven Words"

Other Full-Length Releases

American Football - American Football Listen: "I’ve Been Gone for So Long" Listen: "Give Me the Gun"

Cakes Da Killa - Hedonism Watch: "New Phone (Who Dis)" Watch: "Talkin Greezy"

Crocodiles - Dreamless Watch: "Telepathic Lover" Listen: "Time to Kill"

D.R.A.M. - Big Baby D.R.A.M. Watch: "Cash Machine" Listen: "WiFi" (featuring Erykah Badu)

Jagwar Ma - Every Now & Then Watch: "O B 1" Listen: "Give Me a Reason"

Jimmy Eat World - Integrity Blues Watch: "Get Right" Watch: "Sure and Certain"

Kevin Devine - Instigator Listen: "No History" Listen: "Instigator"

Lady Gaga - Joanne Watch: "Perfect Illusion" Listen: "Million Reasons"

Malcolm London - Opia Listen: "Opia" (featuring Jamila Woods) Listen: "Northstar" (featuring Vic Mensa)

Spirit Club - Slouch Watch: "Broken Link" Listen: "Fast Ice"

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

Belle and Sebastian - The Jeepster Singles Collection Listen: "Dog on Wheels" Listen: "Jonathan David"

The Blow - "Think About Me" Watch: "Think About Me"

The Cinematic Orchestra - "To Believe" Listen: "To Believe" (featuring Moses Sumney)

felicita - a new family Watch: "a new family" Listen: "softly"

Iggy Pop - The Idiot Reissue Listen: "Sister Midnight" Listen: "Nightclubbing"

Iggy Pop - Lust for Life Reissue Listen: "Lust for Life" Listen: "Some Weird Sin"

Lazarus (Original Cast Recording) Watch: Sophia Anne Caruso - "Life on Mars?" Watch: Michael C. Hall - "Lazarus"

Really Big Pinecone - W.I.S.A.T.P. Listen: "Chorus Girl" Listen: "W.I.S.A.T.P."

Sarah Davachi - All My Circles Run

Sia - This Is Acting Deluxe Version Watch: "The Greatest" (featuring Kendrick Lamar) Watch: "Cheap Thrills"

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"

New Music Tuesday - 03/04/2014

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

New Full-Length Releases

The Men - Tomorrow's Hits The Men have been one of the most consistent bands during their fairly short tenure. They've released an album every year since the of the first record, Immaculada. Tomorrow's Hits is their fifth record in as many years.They're continuing their mix of punk and classic rock, but still introducing something new with every record. Watch: "Pearly Gates" Listen: "Settle Me Down"

Real Estate - Atlas Real Estate has always had a laid-back, beachy sound. While they maintain that aesthetic here, their third album sees them expanding their sound and lyrical content. I really came to love their 2011 album Days and can only hope that I love this record just as much! Watch: "Crime" Watch: "Talking Backwards"

Rick Ross - Mastermind While I've known who Rick Ross is for several years, I never really bothered to check his music out. However, he was featured on one my favorite albums from last year, Pusha T's My Name Is My Name. His verse on the track "Hold On" ended up being one of my favorite parts of the album; so I had to give his own work a listen. Mastermind is his sixth studio album. Watch: "War Ready" (featuring Jeezy) Watch: "Nobody" (featuring French Montana and Puff Daddy)

Roman Remains - Zeal In college, Duke Spirit became one of my favorite bands. Lead singer Leila Moss has a cool rocker-girl vibe and they seemed to serve as the perfect counter-part to all of the male-led indie bands we saw so much of. We haven't heard from that band since 2011's Bruiser, but Leila and bandmate Toby Butler emerged last year as Roman Remains with a less guitar-driven sound than their main act. This is their first full-length record. Watch: "This Stone Is Starting to Bleed" Listen: "Gazebo"

We Are Scientists - TV en Francais We Are Scientists are indie band out of California. Their music tends to take on a cheeky, silly vibe, but they prove themselves to be excellent musicians. TV en Francais is the band's fifth official studio album. Watch: "Dumb Luck" Watch: "Make It Easy"

Other New Releases

Divine Fits - Live at Third Man Records Jack White's Third Man Records seems to have become a requisite stopping point for many of today's hottest musicians. The label is almost constantly releasing live albums and singles recorded at their Nashville studio. The latest live release comes from my favorite indie supergroup, Divine Fits. They performed songs from their excellent debut album A Thing Called Divine Fits. Order: Third Man Records

Jagwar Ma - "Uncertainty" Jagwar Ma released a highly-regarded debut album, Howlin', in August of last year. I was a little late to their game, but have come to enjoy the record as well. The latest single and video are for the album track "Uncertainty." Watch: "Uncertainty"

Kimono Kult - Hiding in the Light EP Kimono Kult is a side project of John Frusciante (who will soon be releasing another solo record) and The Mars Volta's Omar Rodríguez-López. It's a brand new project from the musicians and this is their first release. Listen: "Todos Menos El Dolor" Listen: "La Cancion De Alejandra"

Lily Allen - "Air Balloon" Lily Allen is gearing up for the release of her third full-length album, Sheezus, in May. This is the third single released from the album, which sounds like it will be just as cheeky as her previous work. Watch: "Air Balloon"

Rufus Wainwright - Vibrate Rufus Wainwright is a part of the notable Wainwright/McGarrigle family of musicians, but has long established himself as a solo performer. This is a greatest hits album which compiles some of his more excellent work over the past twenty years of his career. Watch: "Vibrate" Watch: "Out of the Game"

St. Carolyn By Sea; Suite from There Will Be Blood Bryce Dessner of The National has really started to establish himself as a classical composer and performer. This split single sees him sharing the bill with Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood, who has also done some composing work, with five movie scores to his name so far. Listen: Johnny Greenwood - "Suite from There Will Be Blood"