50% Hipster: Nots

Sunday, August 20, 2017

New Music Friday - June 30, 2017

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases

Jay-Z - 4:44

In case you didn't know, Jay-Z is married to Beyoncé. Last year, she released, Lemonade, which seemed to reference his infidelity. 4:44 serves in part as a response to that record, owning up to those transgressions. Similar to records released by his wife and sister-in-law last year, the album mixes the laying bare of personal issues with a broader community message. It also features some surprising collaborators, particularly James Blake, who also worked on Lemonade.

Watch: "The Story of O.J."
Watch: "Moonlight"

Moon Diagrams - Lifetime of Love

Moon Diagrams is the project of Deerhunter drummer Moses Archuleta. He's recorded his debut over the course of a decade. To construct the record, he chose thrifted LPs, based only on their covers. He took samples from the records, broke them apart and put them back together. Finally, he layered vocals on top, but never pulls away from the unique tapestry created with his ransom samples.

Watch: "Bodymaker"
Listen: "End of Heartache"

Public Enemy - Nothing Is Quick in the Desert

Though no longer the most immediate group to come to mind in the modern hip hop landscape, Public Enemy has been going strong for more than 30 years and have reliably released new music every few years. The 14th studio album follows their 2015 effort, Man Plans God Laughs. Time has made them no less political, though this is not Chuck D's only channel of rage. He has also recently joined with former members of Rage Against the Machine/Audioslave and B-Real from Cypress Hill as Prophets of Rage.

Listen: "Yesterday Man"
Listen: "Toxic"

Terry - Remember Terry

Terry is a supergroup of sorts. The Melbourne, Australia-based indie pop band consists of members from UV Race, Total Control, Eastlink, and Dick Diver. Remember Terry is their sophomore album, following last year's TERRY HQ.

Watch: "Take Me to the City"
Watch: "Glory"

Other Full-Length Releases

Baio - Man of the World

Watch: "PHILOSOPHY!"
Watch: "Man of the World"

Calvin Harris - Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1

Watch: "Feels" (featuring Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry, and Big Sean)
Listen: "Prayers Up" (featuring Travis Scott & A-Trak)

Lapalux - Ruinism

Watch: "Rotted Arp" (featuring Louisahhhh)
Watch: "Flickering" (featuring JFDR)

Washed Out - Mister Mellow

Watch: "Get Lost"
Watch: "Instant Calm"

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

The Beach Boys - 1967 - Sunshine Tomorrow

Listen: "Aren’t You Glad"
Listen: "All Day All Night" (Whistle In)

Beach House - B-Sides and Rarities

Watch: "Chariot"
Listen: "Baseball Diamond"

Clams Casino - Instrumentals 4

Listen: "Wavey"
Listen: "Summertime"

The Coathangers - Parasite EP

Watch: "Captain’s Dead"
Listen: "Parasite"

Echo & the Bunnymen - It’s All Live Now

Listen: "Crocodiles"
Listen: "She Cracked"

Nots - Cruel Friend/Violence 7”

Listen: "Cruel Friend"
Listen: "Violence"

of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? Reissue

Watch: "Heimdalsgate Like a Promethean"
Watch: "Gronlandic Edit"

Trouble - "Snake Eyes"/"Mother’s Gone” 7"

Listen: "Snake Eyes"
Listen: "Mother’s Gone"

Sunday, October 23, 2016

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