My Favorite Things of the Week

Another decade is coming to a close, which means music sites are posting lists of the best music of the decade. Pitchfork posted their 200 best albums of the 2010s this week. There's still a lot of music to come this year, so check out my Upcoming Releases page to see some of the potentially overlooked records!

Caroline Polachek has an album coming out in just over a week, and released several singles from it well before announcing the record. She released another last week, "So Hot You're Hurting My Feelings," another great showcase for her otherworldly vocals.

Last week, NPR shared video snippets of their Turning the Tables concert, which sought to honor eight influential women who helped shaped popular music. The women recognized were Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Maybelle Carter, Marion Anderson, Ella Fitzgerald, Mary Lou Williams, Celia Cruz, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Contemporary females musicians were brought in to cover some of their most notable songs, including an incredible cover of "Strange Fruit" from Lizz Wright.

Finally, when he passed in 2016, Leonard Cohen was working on an album with his son, Adam. Last week, the resulting record, Thanks for the Dance, was announced. The album will include a number of guest musicians, including Beck, Damien Rice, and Feist. The first single, "The Goal," was also released.

Also announced recently:

Anna of the North - Dream Girl (October 25)
The Band - The Band 50th Anniversary Edition (November 15)
Bob Dylan - Travelin' Thru, 1967–1969: The Bootleg Series Vol. 15 (November 1)
Brooke Candy - SEXORCISM (October 25)
Bryce Dessner - Tenebre (October 11)
Caroline Polachek - Pang (October 18)
Cate Le Bon & Bradford Cox - Myths 004 (November 1)
CUP - Spinning Creature (November 1)
Cursive - Get Fixed (October 11)
DaBaby - KIRK (out now)
DJ Shadow - Our Pathetic Age (November 15)
Dry Cleaning - Boundary Road Snakes and Drinks (October 25)
Field Music - Making a New World (January 10)
Frozen 2 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (November 15)
Georgia - Seeking Thrills (January 10)
Harry Nilsson - Losst and Founnd (November 22)
Hemlock Ernst & Kenny Segal - Back at the House (October 26)
Holy Fuck - Deleter (January 17)
Jimmy Eat World - Surviving (October 18)
Johnny Marr - Single Life (December 6)
Jonathan Fire*Eater - Tremble Under Boom Lights Reissue (October 18)
Josienne Clarke - In All Weather (November 8)
Josh Homme - Desert Sessions Vol. 11 (October 25)
Josh Homme - Desert Sessions Vol. 12 (October 25)
Lee Scratch Perry - Life of the Plants (October 25)
Leonard Cohen - Thanks for the Dance (November 22)
Little Wings - Wonderue Reissue (November 29)
LOOR - Nightland (November 22)
Mariah Carey - Merry Christmas (Deluxe Anniversary Edition) (November 1)
Mount Eerie - Lost Wisdom pt. 2 (November 8)
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Ghosteen (out now)
Nirvana - MTV Unplugged in New York (November 1)
Pick a Piper - Sight (October 18)
Pink Floyd - The Later Years (November 29)
Pluralone - To Be One with You (November 22)
Poppy - I Disagree (January 10)
Robert Glasper - Fuck Yo Feelings (out now)
Robert Plant - Digging Deep (December 13)
Ryuichi Sakamoto - Thousands Knives Of Reissue (November 8)
Smoke Fairies - Darkness Brings the Wonders Home (January 31)
Stars - LaGuardia (December 6)
Sufjan Stevens - The Decalogue (October 18)
Teebs - Anicca (October 25)
Tei Shi - La Linda (November 15)
Ty Segall - Pig Man Lives Volume 1 (November 1)
Van Morrison - Three Chords and the Truth (October 25)
Wished Bone - Sap Season (November 1)

R.I.P. Leonard Cohen

On November 7, at the age of 82, musician and poet Leonard Cohen passed away.

Throughout much of his career, Cohen was not a top-selling artist, but many of his songs have become widely recognized due to myriad covers and he is considered to be one of the greatest songwriters of his generation.

Cohen started as a writer, but pursued a music career starting in 1967. He's released 14 albums over those almost-50 years. He enjoyed a late career resurgence with three albums released since 2012 that were among his most celebrated and successful. Old Ideas, Popular Problems, and You Want It Darker all cracked the top 20 on the US charts and saw the highest sales ever in his career.

Though not intended to be his final record, You Want It Darker, released in October just a few weeks before his death, feels like a prophetic release, with thematic elements of religion and death.

So long, Mr. Cohen!

Songs to remember him by:

"So Long Marianne"
"Hallelujah"
"You Want It Darker"

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 - December 2, 2014

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

New Full-Length Releases

The Grates - Dream Team I'm not completely sure how I heard of them, but The Grates have been a favorite of mine for a pretty long while. They are, however, an Australian band who hasn't quite seemed to have their stride stateside, so I've usually found out about new albums long after they actually came out. I got lucky on this go-around and managed to find out about this new release before it happened. Watch: "Holiday Home" Listen: "Call Me"

Mary J. Blige - The London Sessions For her thirteenth studio album, Blige continues on a trajectory started in 2013, when she collaborated on new versions of songs from Sam Smith and Disclosure. She traveled to England to write and record with the aforementioned musicians, as well as Naughty Boy, Emeli Sandé, and others. The result is still her, but has an undeniable influence from modern British house music. Watch: "Right Now" Watch: "Whole Damn Year"

She & Him - Classics She & Him seem to be out of the habit of naming albums for the number release it is in their discography. The title, though, still tells you exactly what you're getting. For their fifth album, they've recorded their own versions of classic songs. Watch: "Stay Awhile" Listen: "Time After Time"

Walk the Moon - Talking Is Hard This young Cincinnati-based band continues to get a lot of positive press going into their third album. They also continue to do what they do best, make infectious dance-tinged indie pop. It's exciting to see them doing so well. Watch: "Shut Up and Dance" Listen: "Different Colors"

Willie & Bobbie Nelson - December Day Another year, another Willie Nelson album, it's pretty much guaranteed at this point. For his latest, he pairs with his sister, Bobbie, who plays piano throughout the record. Nelson was inspired by jamming with his touring band, and those members are also present on the record. Watch: "Laws of Nature" Watch: "Summer of Roses"

Wu-Tang Clan - A Better Tomorrow It's been a little while since we last heard from Wu-Tang as a whole, seven years since 8 Diagrams. This new one was announced as far back as 2012, but several members were unsure as to whether it would actually happen. Things seemed to be back on track last year, and now we have this new record whose message couldn't be more timely. Watch: "A Better Tomorrow" Listen: "Ruckus in B Minor"

Other New Releases

Circulatory System - Made a Sound PIAPTK is trying out something new, releasing singles which can be played either on a turntable or in a CD player. Their latest release in the project comes from Elephant 6 member Circulatory System. Listen: "It Never Made a Sound"

Leonard Cohen - Live in Dublin Even at 80-years-old, Cohen is still going strong, he released his thirteenth album, Popular Problems, earlier this year and it following that up with a new live album. Live in Dublin was recorded in September of last year at the O2 in Dublin. Listen: "So Long Marianne" Listen: "Save the Last Dance for Me"

Los Campesinos! - A Los Campesinos! Christmas It seems like Christmas albums are usually the domain of pop musicians, but it's becoming more and more common to see them from a broader variety of performers. English band Los Campesinos! is adding their own to the mix. The EP brings together a number of holiday songs the band has recorded over the past few years, along with a cover of Mud's "Lonely This Christmas." Listen: "When Christmas Comes" Listen: "Lonely This Christmas"

M. Ward - Transistor Radio Reissue M. Ward isn't letting his new album with Zooey Deschanel be his only release today, he is also reissuing his fourth studio album, which was originally released in 2005. Listen: "Lullaby + Exile" Listen: "You Still Believe in Me"

Nicole Atkins - Slow Phaser: Expanded Deluxe Edition Nicole Atkins released her third album back in February. The record's reissue comes with a set of live songs recorded at the Masonic Temple in Detroit. Watch: "Who Killed the Moonlight" Watch: "Girl You Look Amazing"

Pixies - Doolittle 25 Expanded Reissue To celebrate the 25th anniversary of their sophomore album, the Pixies have released a remastered and expanded version of the record. The reissue includes the original album, along with b-sides, a couple of John Peel sessions, and demos. Watch: "Debaser" Listen: "Hey"

Songs: Ohia - Didn’t It Rain Deluxe Edition Songs: Ohia was a fairly-well-known but much-celebrated Ohio band fronted by the now-deceased Jason Molina. Didn't It Rain was their second-to-last album, originally released in 2002. This re-release comes with a second disc of demos. Listen: "Didn't It Rain" Listen: "Ring the Bell"

Sun Kil Moon - "The Possum" Mark Kozelek seems determined to make this a busy year for himself. He's already released an album under the name Sun Kil Moon, a live album under his own name, and a Christmas album. Now, for his final act for the year, he has a new single out. Listen: "The Possum"

Tall Tall Trees - The Seasonal EP Tall Tall Trees is the stage moniker for Mike Savino; and, while he plays banjo, produces a form of folk unlike anything I've ever heard. For his latest EP, he enlists the help of violinist Kishi Bashi, who lends vocals, production, and his own voice to the release. Listen: "Picture Picture" Listen: "How Did It Get Dark So Fast?"

Yo La Tengo - Extra Painful Yo La Tengo's sixth album, Painful, was originally released in 1993. This renamed reissue comes packaged with a bonus disc of live and demo versions of the album's tracks. Listen: "Nowhere Near" Listen: "Big Day Coming"