New Music Friday - September 8, 2017

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases

Alvvays - Antisocialites Alvvays released a spectacular self-titled debut album in 2014. That album was anchored by "Marry Me, Archie", a song about trying to cajole a reluctant lover into marriage. The first single from their sophomore album takes on a nearly opposite sentiment, mourning the end of a relationship. There's growth in their follow-up, but without the loss infectious jangle that made Alvvays such a delight. Watch: "In Undertow" Watch: "Plimsoll Punks"

Deerhoof - Mountain Moves Deerhoof have a distinct sound, one they've displayed on studio albums already four times this decade. They're doing something a bit different for this fifth album, bringing in a number of featured artists. Collaborators range from Awkwafina, to Juana Molina, to Jenn Wasner. Watch: "I Will Spite Survive" (featuring Jenn Wasner)  Listen: "Come Down Here and Say That" (featuring Laetitia Sadler)

The National - Sleep Well Beast The National are one of the most stylistically consistent bands in indie rock, but they've always maintained a timeliness that kept them from becoming boring. Things are no different on this latest record, their seventh, with some subtle and some not-so-subtle references to the current political environment. Watch: "Day I Die" Watch: "Carin at the Liquor Store"

Tony Allen - The Source African drummer Tony Allen has had a long and prosperous career, both as the drummer for Fela Kuti and as a solo artist. His latest album, and according to the artist himself, his best, is his first for famed jazz label Blue Note. Listen: "Push and Pull" Listen: "On Fire"

Zola Jesus - Okovi Okovi is the fifth album from this Wisconsin singer, long known for her goth pop sound and dark lyrics. The darkness continues on this latest record, written when the singer was back in hometown following a battle with depression. The result is an incredible album that has earned her some of her highest praise of her career. Watch: "Exhumed" Watch: "Soak"

Other Full-Length Releases

Alex Cameron - Forced Witness Watch: "Candy May" Watch: "Runnin’ Out of Luck"

Carmen Villain - Infinite Avenue Watch: "Red Desert" Listen: "Borders" (featuring Jenny Hval)

Death from Above - Outage! Is Now Watch: "Never Swim Alone" Watch: "Freeze Me"

Faith Healer - Try ;) Watch: "Try" Listen: "Light of Loving"

Julie & The Wrong Guys - Julie & The Wrong Guys Watch: "You Wanted What I Wanted" Listen: "Love & Leaving"

Lomelda - Thx Listen: "From Here" Listen: "Interstate Vision"

Lunice - CCCLX Watch: "Mazerati" Watch: "Distrust" (featuring Denzel Curry, JK The Reaper, & Nell)

Mount Kimbie - Love What Survives Watch: "Delta" Watch: "Blue Train Lines"

MuteMath - Play Dead Watch: "Break the Fever" Watch: "War"

Nosaj Thing - Parallels Watch: "U G" Listen: "All Points Back to U" (featuring Steve Spacek)

Partner - In Search of Lost Time Watch: "Play the Field" Listen: "Gross Secret"

Small Circle - Cyclical Listen: "Mornings" Listen: "Spinning"

Sparks - Hippopotamus Watch: "Edith Piaf (Said It Better Than Me)" Watch: "What the Hell Is It This Time?"

Susanne Sundfør - Music for People in Trouble Listen: "Mountaineers" (featuring John Grant) Listen: "No One Believes in Love Anymore"

Ted Leo - The Hanged Man Watch: "Can’t Go Back" Listen: "You’re Like Me"

Tori Amos - Native Invader Watch: "Reindeer King" Watch: "Cloud Riders"

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

Animal Collective - Sung Tongs Vinyl Reissue Listen: "Leaf House" Listen: "Winter’s Love"

David Bowie - The 1980 Floorshow Listen: "Jean Genie" Listen: "Time"

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Up from Below Vinyl Reissue Watch: "Home" Listen: "Janglin"

Jimi Hendrix - Experience Hendrix: The Best of Jimi Hendrix Vinyl Reissue Listen: "Hey Joe" Listen: "Fire"

Mas Ysa - Untitled Listen: "Face" Listen: "Mapquest"

Mazzy Star - So Tonight That I Might See Vinyl Reissue Watch: "Fade Into You" Listen: "So Tonight That I Might See"

Mourn - Over the Wall Listen: "Color Me Impressed" Listen: "Over the Wall"

Nico - Behind the Iron Curtain Reissue Listen: "Procession" Listen: "All Saints Night from a Polish Motorway"

Syd - Always Never Home Listen: "Moving Mountains" Listen: "On the Road"

Twin Peaks (Music from the Limited Event Series)

Zomby - GASP! Listen: "GASP!" Listen: "ZKITTLEZ"

New Music Tuesday - May 5, 2015

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

New Full-Length Releases

Best Coast - California Nights On their second album since becoming a duo, Best Coast is making sure that fans don't forget where they're from. The album follows up 2012's The Only Place and the 2013 EP Fade Away. Watch: "Heaven Sent" Watch: "California Nights"

Django Django - Born Under Saturn That first album from this jangly Scottish band earned them a Mercury nomination and saw placement on several year-end lists. They are looking to make good on the momentum created that incredible self-titled album. Watch: "First Light" Watch: "Beginning to Fade"

Mac MacCaughan - Non-Believers Mac MacCaughan is the lead singer for Superchunk, which formed more than 25 years ago. He founded a second band, Portastatic, in the mid-90s and has been active with both bands since their inceptions. This is his debut solo album. Watch: "Wet Leaves" Listen: "Lost Again"

METZ - METZ II METZ is another band looking to follow-up on a successful and well-received debut album; they released METZ in 2012. That debut saw them nominated for Canada's national music prize (the Polaris awards) and placement on many best of lists at the end of the year. Watch: "Acetate" Watch: "The Swimmer"

Mikal Cronin - MCIII Mikal Cronin has been a member of several bands, such as Okie Dokie, Party Fowl, and Moonhearts, while also providing bass and backing vocals for Ty Segall's touring band. Additionally, he has performed as a solo artist since 2011, releasing three albums in that time. Watch: "Turn Around" Watch: "Say"

Mumford & Sons - Wilder Mind Mumford & Sons heralded in a new level of popularity for vaguely-folkish indie rock. They released two albums of that style, then decided that they wanted to do something different. Wilder Mind is their first foray into more typical (read: generic) alternative rock. Watch: "The Wolf" Watch: "Believe"

My Morning Jacket - The Waterfall It's been a minute since MMJ's last record, 2011's Circuital; an album which is my personal favorite of theirs. In that time, though, we've gotten a couple of solo projects from frontman Jim James, most notably his 2013 record Regions of Light and Sound of God. The band is back with this new album. Watch: "Spring (Among the Living)" Watch: "Big Decisions"

Nosaj Thing - Fated Nosaj Thing, real name Jason Chung, is a hip-hop producer who has worked with artists like Chance The Rapper, Kid Cudi, and Kendrick Lamar. He has also been an active solo artist, releasing his debut, Drift, in 2009. Fated is his third album, and features contributions from Chance. Listen: "Cold Stares" (featuring Chance The Rapper) Listen: "Don’t Mind Me" (featuring Whoarei)

Scallops Hotel - Plain Speaking Scallops Hotel is Rory Ferreira, who also performs under the name Milo. This is his second release under the alternate name. The album features a surprising guest verse from Samuel T. Herring of Future Islands, performing as Hemlock Ernst. Listen: "Lavender Chunk" (featuring Hemlock Ernst) Listen: "Gnosis, Black Nationalism, Rice"

Todd Rundgren, Emil Nikolaisen, Hans-Peter Lindström - Runddans Todd Rundgren is a well-established producer and musician with an almost half-century long career. In a somewhat surprise move, he has partnered with a pair of younger Norwegian musicians, more known for their work in indie rock and electronic music, for this new project. Listen: "Put Your Arms Around Me" Listen: "B for Birth"

Torres - Sprinter Torres is the stage name of indie rock musician Mackenzie Scott. The 24-year-old started her career in 2012, and released her debut album, Torres, the next year. Watch: "Sprinter" Watch: "Strange Hellos"

Other New Releases

Arborist - "Twisted Arrow" Arborist is a country project started by Irish folk musician Mark McCambridge. He gets some help in the project from an American musician, albeit one more known for her work in indie and alternative rock; Kim Deal, formerly of The Pixies. Watch: "Twisted Arrow" (featuring Kim Deal)

The Arcs - "Stay in My Corner/Tomato Can" Dan Auerbach primary work through his career has been with The Black Keys. He took his first break from that band was in 2009, when he released his solo debut, Keep It Hid. He's branching out again with a new band and a couple of tracks inspired by the sport of boxing. Listen: "Stay in My Corner" Listen: "Tomato Can"

Cillie Barnes - Friendly Witch Cillie Barnes is a young singer from LA who describes her music as "gyp hop." Production on her latest EP was provided by two members of Bright Eyes, Mike Mogis and Nathaniel Walcott. Listen: "Facework" Listen: "Earthquake Season at the Crystal Convention"

iSHi - Spring Pieces iSHi is a Swedish production who has been described as "mysterious." While we may not fully know who he is, he does have some impressive guests on his new mixtape; which includes Raekwon and Pusha T. Watch: "Push It" (featuring Pusha T) Listen: "Long Gone" (featuring Georgia Ku)

Kelela - Hallucinogen EP Kelela is an American singer-songwriter who earned a great deal of praise for her 2013 debut mixtape, Cut 4 Me. She reissued that release in March with a few new tracks, but is back with even more new music with this follow-up EP. Watch: "A Message"

Live at Pickathon, Vol. 2 The first volume of Live at Pickathon, which was recorded at the festival last year, was released as a special Record Store Day offering. The second offering of live tracks contains recordings from Ty Segall and King Tuff. Listen: Ty Segall - "The Keepers" Listen: Ty Segall - "Girlfriend"

Vince Staples - "Señorita" Vince Staples is gearing up to release his debut album later this year. First, though, we get a little taste of new music with the first single from the forthcoming release. Watch: "Señorita"