New Music Friday - November 11, 2016

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases

Martha Wainwright - Goodnight City The Wainwright Family remains one of the most prolific families in the music industry. Just one year after the release of the debut album, Songs in the Dark, from the Wainwright Sisters (Martha and Lucy Wainwright Roche), Martha is back with a new solo effort. The album features contributions from Merrill Garbus, Glen Hansard, and several members of her family, including her brother Rufus Wainwright. Listen: "Around the Bend" Listen: "Take the Reins"

oddCouple - Liberation oddCouple, Zach Henderson, is the house producer for the Chicago record label Closed Sessions, which boasts signees Kweku Collins and Jamila Woods. His new album showcases some of the best that Chicago hip-hop has to offer, including labelmates Woods and Collins, as well as GLC and Joey Purp. Listen: "Love Above" (featuring Jamila Woods & Kweku) Listen: "Eidetic"

Sad13 - Slugger Sad13 is Sadie Dupuis, best known as the frontwoman for Speedy Ortiz, with which she has released two albums, including last year's excellent Foil Deer. The band hasn't gone anywhere, but Sadie has struck out on her own as a solo artist. She first debuted the Sad13 project earlier this year on a collaborative single, "Basement Queens," with rapper Lizzo. Her debut album takes on a poppier approach, but seeks to counter the typically misogynistic messages expressed in the genre. Watch: "Less Than 2" Watch: "Get a Yes"

Sleigh Bells - Jessica Rabbit Sleigh Bells could have easily been a gimmick and lasted no longer than one album. The duo is defined by heavily-distorted guitars and pop melodies. As they release their fourth album, they haven't lost what made their sound distinctive, and seem to almost defiantly continue to flout it. When in doubt, be extra, and Sleigh Bells are definitely extra (that's a compliment)! Watch: "It’s Just Us Now" Watch: "I Can Only Stare"

A Tribe Called Quest - We Got It From Here, Thank You for Your Service A Tribe Called Quest seemed like a done deal following the release of 1998's The Love Movement. With the death of central member Phife Dawg earlier this year, hopes for any full return were further diminished. It turned out that Phife had already rejoined his bandmates and a new album had been recorded. They even brought back original member Jarobi White, who had departed following their debut album. They have announced that this is their final album; if so, they've gone out on a high note, returning to the roots of their sound. Watch: "We the People"

Other Full-Length Releases

Daniel Bachman - Daniel Bachman Listen: "Brightleaf Blues I" Listen: "The Flower Tree"

GUM - Flash in the Pan Listen: "Gemini" Listen: "Flash in the Pan"

Luke Temple - A Hand Through the Cellar Door Watch: "Maryanne Was Quiet" Listen: "Birds of Late December"

The Men - Devil Music Listen: "Lion’s Den" Listen: "Devil Music"

Simian Mobile Disco - Welcome to Sideways Watch: "Remember in Reverse" Listen: "Far Away from a Distance"

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

A-Trak - In the Loop: A Decade of Remixes Listen: "Oh!" Listen: "Kilometer"

The Band - The Last Waltz 40th Anniversary Edition

Bob Dylan - The 1966 Live Recordings Listen: "Tell Me Mama"

Body/Head - No Waves Listen: "The Show Is Over"

Broken Social Scene - Feel Good Lost Reissue Listen: "I Slept with Bonhomme at the CBC" Listen: "Guilty Cubicles"

David Bowie - Legacy Listen: "Space Oddity" Listen: "Changes"

Forth Wanderers - Slop EP Watch: "Slop" Watch: "Know Better"

Hudson Mohawke - Ded Sec - Watch Dogs 2 (Original Soundtrack) Listen: "Shanghaied" Listen: "Play N Go"

Pink Floyd - The Early Years (1967-1972) Listen: "Arnold Layne" Listen: "See Emily Play"

The Rolling Stones - Havana Moon Watch: "Brown Sugar" Watch: "Paint It Black"

Yoko Ono - Unfinished Music No. 1: Two Virgins Reissue Listen: "Side One" Listen: "Side Two"

Yoko Ono - Unfinished Music No. 2: Life with Lions Reissue Listen: "Cambridge 1969" Listen: "No Bed for Beatle John"

Yoko Ono - Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band Reissue Listen: "Why" Listen: "Mother"

New Music Tuesday - October 15, 2013

New Full-Length Releases

The Avett Brothers - Magpie and the Dandelion I wasn't entirely crazy about The Avett Brothers the first time that I heard them. It was at the time that I and Love and You came out. The album had, at the time, been their biggest commercial success. I didn't quite get the hype; it wasn't until a good friend of mine introduced me to their earlier work, specifically Four Thieves Gone, that I really started to appreciate them. It remains my favorite of their records, but I'm always excited for new work. Listen/Watch: "Another Is Waiting"

Boldy James - My First Chemistry Set Boldy James is a young rapper out of Detroit. In true hip hop fashion, he is working with a number of other notable artists on this album, including Action Bronson, Da$h and Earl Sweatshirt (who is featured on the track below). Actually, Earl Sweatshirt is why I'm checking this guy out, he's been giving him a lot of praise. Perhaps fittingly (or maybe intentionally), this album was produced by The Alchemist. Listen: "Reform School"

Cass McCombs - Big Wheel and Others Two years ago, Cass McCombs released two albums, Wit's End and Humor Risk, both of which ended up being incredibly releases. He's releasing just as much material this year, but consolidating it onto one double album. I think he may be one of the best songwriters out there right now, and his music always feels incredible personal. I have to wonder, though, since this is a double album, if it ends up on my year-end list, does it count twice? Listen: "There Can Only Be One"

Cults - Static I'm able to act like a true hipster when talking about this band; I have been listening to them before they were even moderately big. I saw them perform at a tiny coffee shop in Bloomington about a year before their self-titled debut album was released. Yes...I'm bragging. That album ended up being one of my favorites of 2011, and I was able to see them perform a second time this past year at Bonnaroo. I don't recall any new songs being played, but that doesn't make me any less excited for this follow-up! Listen/Watch: "High Road"

Diane Birch - Speak a Little Louder It's been four years since this singer-songwriter released her debut album, Bible Belt. That's a long time to wait for a follow-up, but great musicians always make it worth the wait. Her sophomore album sees her moving away somewhat from her roots base towards a more "atmospheric" sound It seems she's done something different with each release, an EP released in 2010 featured covers of mostly post-punk songs. It's always good to see an artist who's willing and able to perform various styles. Listen/Watch: "All the Love You Got"

The Dismemberment Plan - Uncanney Valley D-Plan didn't have a huge following when they were together. After breaking up in 2003 to return to other careers, their music started to gain a cult following. They embarked on a reunion tour in 2011, during which I caught their performance at Pitchfork. Apparently, seeing the fan response to those performances inspired them to record again. So, twelve years after Change, we are finally getting a follow-up! Listen/Watch: "Waiting"

The Head and the Heart - Let's Be Still This band got a massive amount of hype coming off of their debut in 2011. While it wasn't a critical success, they developed a strong and loyal fan following. They were like The Lumineers before their debut last year (or Mumford & Sons a few years earlier), a folk rock band that the critics don't always love, but the fans can't get enough of. We'll have to wait a bit to see if, like Mumford, they can replicate the success of their debut a second time. Listen/Watch: "Another Story"

Kevin Devine - Bulldozer For his latest album, singer-songwriter Kevin Devine started a Kickstarter campaign to raise the funds. He reached his goal fairly quickly and was able to create two albums from the funds. This release will be his seventh solo studio album. Listen: "Little Bulldozer"

Kevin Devine and the Goddamn Band - Bubblegum The is the second of the two albums Devine funded with his Kickstarter campaign. On this, his eighth studio album, he's gotten the contribution of his backing band. Listen/Watch: "Bubblegum"

Luke Temple - Good Mood Fool Temple is a member of the band Here We Go Magic, who released their latest, A Different Ship, in May of 2012. He's been recording with that band since 2009, but he's recorded as a solo artist since 2004 and this is his fourth full-length release. Listen/Watch: "Florida"

Paul McCartney - New Paul McCartney has been around for 55 years and shows absolutely no signs of slowing down. I got the chance to see him perform live at Bonnaroo this past year; he had more energy than many of the performers a third or even a quarter of his age. Watching him, it's easy to understand why he became and remains a superstar. What's even more incredible is that, after nearly six decades, he still puts out great music! Listen/Watch: "Queenie Eye"

Tim Hecker - Virgins Tim Hecker's last album, Instrumental Tourist, was released with fellow ambient artist Daniel Lopatin. Lopatin released his own follow up with a couple of weeks ago. Now, it's his friend's turn. I first got into Hecker's music after seeing him perform here in Cincinnati at the MusicNow festival about two years ago. It was my first real foray into ambient music and I'm pretty happy that I took that leap. Listen/Watch: "Black Refraction"

Willie Nelson - To All the Girls The ever-active Willie Nelson's latest album consists of duets with a variety of female singers (hence the name). A wide swath of artists are represented, from Loretta Lynn to Carrie Underwood and Mavis Staples to Norah Jones. Like McCartney, Nelson has had a very long career and often puts many younger artists to shame. Listen: "Grandma's Hands"

Other New Releases

Bloc Party - Tapes Bloc Party may have broken up for the second time this past summer, but that hasn't really prevented the release of new music from the band. They released an EP in August, and now here's an album of tracks curated and mixed by Kele Okereke. I guess the Bloc Party name will never truly die! Listen: Bloc Party - "Obscene" (Kele Okereke remix)

Fanfarlo - The Sea EP Fanfarlo put out an absolutely incredible album, Rooms Filled with Light, in 2012. The band's first album was great, too, and they  have managed to grow their sound with each successive release. Thought this is just an EP, I expect even more growth here! Listen/Watch: "A Distance"

Felled Trees - Where We Been Felled Trees is a group of musicians who came together just for this album, which serves as a tribute to Dinosaur Jr.'s Where You Been. It has been 20 years since that album was released and this album honors that anniversary. Listen: "Get Me"

The Kinks - Muswell Hillbillies Reissue Muswell Hillbillies was originally released in November of 1971. The album, named for an area where the Davies brothers grew up wasn't a commercial success for the band, but garnered them some critical praise. We're not really hitting an anniversary for the album, but if you have the opportunity to remaster a great album, why not take it? Listen: "Muswell Hillbilly"

The Men - Campfire Songs EP This punk band released their fourth album, New Moon (no relation to the Twilight series), earlier this year. This EP was recorded at the same time that they recorded that album, though the songs were all recorded around an actual campfire. Listen/Watch: "I Saw Her Face"

Poliça - "Chain My Name" This band seemingly came out of nowhere last year with an incredible debut album Give You the Ghost. They will release a new album next week, but here's a single from the LP in advance! Listen: "Chain My Name"

School of Night - School of Night EP The Antlers have become one of my favorite bands over the past couple of years. Unlike a lot of bands these days, there hasn't been much in the way of side projects from the members. School of Night is the solo side project of Darby Cicci, who plays just about every instrument for the band. The project sounds much like the main band, I guess time will tell whether it evolves beyond that sound. Listen/Watch: "Fire Escape"