New Music Friday - September 9, 2016

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases

Allah-Las - Calico Review I'm not too big into music radio, but with the benefit of satellite radio in a rental car a couple of years ago, I first heard this band on an indie rock station. I know I like a lot of music, but there's not much I like immediately, and I liked this band the moment that I first heard them. Calico Review is their third album and does not see them drifting far from the sound they established on their first two records. Watch: "Could Be You" Watch: "Famous Phone Figure"

Clipping. - Splendor & Misery Daveed Diggs has become a very busy and in-demand man. In addition to all of his projects, he looks to be adding "showrunner" to his resume, developing a pilot for ABC about a rapping mayor. Still, he sticks by his first musical venture. Splendor & Misery is the second album from Clipping., which also includes members William Hutson and Jonathan Snipes. He has also not compromised on the experimental sound of the band (and, of course, the incredible music videos)! Watch: "Air ‘Em Out" Watch: "Baby Don’t Sleep"

M.I.A. - AIM This album has had a long promotion cycle behind it. The first track that would appear on the record, "The New International Sound (Pt. 2)," was released in June of last year. Overall, in 2015, she would release three tracks; the assumed name of the album was Matahdatah and no specific release date had been set. She released a few more songs this year, before providing more album details this summer, including its final name. It might be her last record, but if it is, she's going out on a high note. Watch: "Go Off" Watch: "Borders"

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Skeleton Tree It's been a difficult couple of years for Nick Cave, with the loss of his teenage son, Arthur. On his latest record, the artist, who usually displays a stoic swagger, delves into the impact of his son's death on him and his family. The recording of the album was captured in the documentary, One More Time with Feeling, also released earlier this year. Watch: "Jesus Alone" Watch: "I Need You"

Okkervil River - Away Okkervil River's latest record, their eighth, was also partially inspired by death; in this case, it was the death of frontman Will Sheff's grandfather. The period of time since The Silver Gymnasium also marked changes in the band's backing line-up, which played into the making of the record. The album features contributions from yMusic, Marissa Nadler, and Jonathan Meiburg (who used to be a full member). Watch: "The Industry" Watch: "Okkervil River R.I.P."

Other Full-Length Releases

D.A.R.K. - Science Agrees Listen: "Curvy" Listen: "Loosen the Noose"

Drugdealer - The End of Comedy Watch: "Suddenly" (featuring Weyes Blood) Watch: "Easy to Forget" (featuring Ariel Pink)

Grouplove - Big Mess Watch: "Traumatized" Watch: "Welcome to Your Life"

The Head and the Heart - Signs of Light Watch: "All We Ever Knew" Listen: "Library Magic"

Ice Choir - Design in Rhythm Listen: "Unprepared" Listen: "Variant"

inc. no world - As Light as Light Watch: "Hymn 1" Listen: "Waters of You"

July Talk - Touch Watch: "Push + Pull" Listen: "Touch"

Local Natives - Sunlit Youth Watch: "Coins" Watch: "Fountain of Youth"

Nots - Cosmetic Listen: "Entertain Me" Listen: "No Novelty"

Omar Rodriguez-López - Umbrella Mistress Listen: "Tell Me What I Did Wrong" Listen: "Umbrella Mistress"

Psychic Twin - Strange Diary Watch: "Lose Myself" Listen: "Hopeless"

Robert Pollard - Not in My Airforce Listen: "Get Under It" Listen: "Maggie Turn to Flies"

Teenage Fanclub - Here Watch: "I’m in Love" Watch: "Thin Air"

Wilco - Schmilco Listen: "Someone to Lose" Listen: "If Ever I Was a Child"

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

Cold Cave - The Idea of Love Watch: "The Idea of Love"

David Nagler & Friends - Carl Sandburg’s Chicago Poems Listen: Jeff Tweedy - "Theme in Yellow"

Gang of Four - Live…In the Moment Watch: "Love Like Anthrax"

Jack White - Jack White Acoustic Recordings 1998-2016 Watch: "City Lights" Listen: "Carolina Drama" (Acoustic Mix)

New Order - Singles Listen: "Sub-Culture" (Edit)

The Rolling Stones - The Rolling Stones in Mono

Transpecos: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Listen: Aaron & Bryce Dessner - "Final Theme" Listen: Aaron & Bryce Dessner - "Brothers"

The Verve - A Northern Soul Box Set Watch: "History" Listen: "A Northern Soul"

The Verve - A Storm in Heaven Box Set Watch: "Slide Away" Listen: "Star Sail"

New Music Friday - August 12, 2016

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases

of Montreal - Innocence Reaches For his 14th album with of Montreal, Kevin Barnes seems to be bringing his style of music in line with his image. Through a variety of musical styles, ranging from folk to punk, his own persona has always had a glam element to it; the band's latest album finally sees him incorporating glam-pop. Barnes dropped names like Chairlift, Arca, and Jack Ü as influences on the record, a surprising statement from an artist who claims to have eschewed modern pop music. Watch: "it’s different for girls" Watch: "let's relate"

Rae Sremmurd - Sremmlife 2 I'm really not sure whether this young hip-hop duo is actually good, but I find their music to be fun as hell. They're part of a new wave a hip-hop, one that includes iLoveMakonnen and Future, that often feels more dedicated to style than substance. Things don't get any deeper than girls, drugs, and partying. That's ok though; sometimes I just want to bob my head and not think of anything. This is the perfect soundtrack for that. Watch: "Look Alive" Watch: "By Chance"

Other Full-Length Releases

Brendan Canning - Home Wrecking Years Watch: "Keystone Dealers" Watch: "Book It to Fresno"

JEFF The Brotherhood - Zone Listen: "Punishment" Listen: "Idiot"

Pfarmers - Our Puram Watch: "Our Puram" Listen: "Red Vermin"

Thee Oh Sees - A Weird Exits Listen: "Plastic Plant" Listen: "The Axis"

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

Day of the Dead 12”

Ducky - Don’t Give Up Yet Watch: "Bliss"

Florence + The Machine - Songs from Final Fantasy XV Listen: "Stand By Me" Listen: "Too Much Is Never Enough"

Hell or High Water: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Listen: "Comancheria" Listen: "Lord of the Plains"

M.I.A. - "Bird Song" Listen: "Bird Song"

Pete’s Dragon: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Watch: Lindsey Sterling - "Something Wild" (featuring Andrew McMahon) Listen: St. Vincent - "Something on Your Mind"

Radiating Light: Orchid Tapes & Friends Listen: Foxes in Fiction - "Extinguisher" Listen: Owen Pallett - "Weird Honey"

Upcoming Album of the Week (Ending May 21)

The indie-fication of late night is upon us! Although I haven't yet watched the episode, Courtney Barnett was the musical guest on Saturday Night Live this weekend! She released an amazing album last year, but there is more amazing music to come. Check out what I'm excited for on my Upcoming Releases page!

This week, M.I.A. confirmed what many fans felt was coming and announced plans to release her fifth album, possibly titled Matahdatah. The announcement came during a Periscope Q&A.

stereogum.com

M.I.A.'s last album was 2013's Matangi, but she's released a number of songs in the time since. Last summer, she released a video, "Matahdatah Scroll 1 Broader Than a Border," that featured two new songs. Later in the years, she put out "Borders" and earlier this year, two more new songs, "Boom ADD" (a diss track directed at the NFL) and "Rewear It" (to promote H&M's clothing recycling program).

The album, which will have 12 tracks, has been submitted to her label. Hopefully, the album will be coming in July.

Also announced this week:

Alt-J - Live at Red Rocks (June 24)
Clams Casino - 32 Levels (July 15)
Likely Stories Soundtrack (May 27)
M.I.A. - Matahdatah (July)
The Temper Trap - Thick as Thieves (June 10)
Trentemøller - Fixion (June 24)

New Music Tuesday - November 5, 2013

New Full-Length Releases

Bryce Dessner & Kronos Quartet - Aheym The Kronos Quartet is a Seattle-based string ensemble which has been around for about forty years. They have put out 43 studio albums in their time together. For their latest record, they've partnered with The National guitarist Bryce Dessner, who composed all of the songs on the record. Listen/Watch: "Aheym"

Cut Copy - Free Your Mind For their fourth studio album, Cut Copy sought inspiration from various "Summers of Love;" specifically San Francisco's 1967 and Britain's 1988 (perhaps that explains the somewhat trippy artwork). They really wanted to push the concept of freedom with this latest release. What's important to me, though, is that this is an album that I can love as much as their previous, Zonoscope. Based on the early singles, I don't doubt that I will. Watch: "Free Your Mind"

M.I.A. - Matangi M.I.A. has never been one to shy away from controversy. For her latest album, named for her own birth name as well as a Hindu goddess, she addresses one directly. At the 2012 Super Bowl half-time show, she threw up a middle finger live on air, which she references in the track "Boom Skit." I don't expect controversy to stop following this artist anytime soon, but it's a large part in what makes her work so compelling. Listen/Watch: "Bring the Noize"

MellowHigh - MellowHigh The Odd Future juggernaut continues to ride along! MellowHigh, which features members Domo Genesis, Hidgy Beats and Left Brain, is one of many subgroups within the Odd Future gang, and itself is an offshoot of another subgroup, MellowHype. This is their debut album. In contrast to the sometimes violent lyrical content of other Odd Future records, this one takes a more, well, mellow approach. Which means, if you can't tell from the album artwork, that smoking is frequently discussed. Listen/Watch: "Extinguisher"

Other New Releases

Birdsmell - "Throw My Mess Around"/"Tulsa" I'll try to ignore the absolutely horrible name that Ben Bridwell chose for his solo project and instead focus on what an incredible musician I think that he is. The Band of Horses frontman is stepping out on his own and just completed a short tour as a solo artist. This is his first single and I hope it's indicative of even more great music to come! Listen: "Throw My Mess Around"

Bright Eyes - A Christmas Album Bright Eye's Christmas album was initially released eleven years ago and rereleased on vinyl four years ago. Now, just in time for Christmas 2013, it is getting another vinyl rerelease! Listen: "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"

Colin Meloy - Colin Meloy Sings The Kinks EP Colin Meloy, frontman for The Decemberists, is about to embark on a short solo tour starting in January. He's recorded as a solo artist since 2005, mostly releasing covers EP. In the past, he has covered Morrissey, Shirley Jones and Sam Cooke. Iconic rock band The Kinks are next on his radar. Listen: "Do You Remember Walter?"

David Bowie - The Next Day Extra David Bowie released his 24th studio album, The Next Day, in March of this year. As seems to be becoming more and more frequent, it's already getting a bonus track-packed rerelease within the same year. Extra features a couple of remixes and several brand new tracks. Listen/Watch: "The Next Day"

Music from and Inspired By 12 Years a Slave 12 Years a Slave was released on November 8 and is already being heralded as a potential frontrunner in next years Academy Awards. A number of prominent artists have contributed to the film's soundtrack, including Laura Mvula, Alabama Shakes and John Legend. Listen: John Legend - "Move" (featuring Fink)

No Joy - Pastel and Pass Out EP No Joy released their latest full-length, Wait to Pleasure, in April of this year. They've wasted no time in releasing a follow-up EP. It's meant to serve as an extension of that last release, to expand and grow upon the sounds introduced there. Listen: "Last Boss"

Roman Remains - Energy You EP If there was ever a younger band that I think carried on the torch lit by Blondie in the late 1970s, it is The Duke Spirit. The British band, fronted by Leila Moss, had a similarly diverse sound and an amazing frontwoman. It's been a couple of years since their last album, but in the meantime, Leila, along with bandmate Toby Butler are exploring a new project. Listen/Watch: "This Stone Is Starting to Bleed"

Sore Eros & Kurt Vile - Jamaica Plain EP Kurt Vile has been a very busy artist this year. He's released a solo album, an EP and an expanded version of that same solo album. Here, he's putting out a collaborative EP with solo indie musician Sore Eros (Robert Robinson). Listen: "Jamaica Plain"

Tennis - Small Sound EP Tennis is a husband-wife duo who have become known for putting out catchy, but very twee music. Something happened when I first listened to this new EP, though, I realized that they are starting to expand beyond that sound. Small Sound is more grown up and confident, a shift that can only make their music even better. Listen: "Mean Streets"

Yo La Tengo - "Super Kiwi"/"A Day in the Life of a Tree" "Super Kiwi" is a track from the deluxe edition of Yo La Tengo's Fade (released in January). It's getting released as a stand-alone single with the B-side "A Day in the Life of a Tree." Listen: "Super Kiwi"