New Music Friday - April 27, 2018

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases

Half Waif - Lavender Synth-pop singer Nandi Rose Plunkett is a former member of Pinegrove and has been performing solo as Half Waif for six years. Lavender is her second album following last year's Probably Depths. Watch: "Keep It Out" Watch: "Torches"

Janelle Monáe - Dirty Computer Monáe steps away a bit from the thematic elements of her first two albums, though there's still some Cindi Mayweather around. In ways, it's a more typical pop album, but one only this artist could make. It's sexual, defiant, political, and (as she always is) amazing! Watch: "Make Me Feel" Watch: "Django Jane"

Okkervil River - In the Rainbow Rain In the Rainbow Rain is the ninth album from this band fronted by Will Sheff. The album follows 2016's Away, in which Sheff unpacked major changes to his personal and professional lives. This album sees the band incorporating a wide variety of new styles. Watch: "Don’t Move Back to LA" Watch: "Pulled Up the Ribbon"

Speedy Ortiz - Twerp Verse Twerp Verse is the third album from this Massachusetts band and follows 2015's amazing Foil Deer. The album and the videos that have accompanied it continue the DIY feel of their work. Watch: "Lucky 88" Watch: "Lean in When I Suffer"

Twin Shadow - Caer This is the fourth album from George Lewis, Jr., who performs as Twin Shadow. The album features collaborations with Rainsford and HAIM. Watch: "Little Woman" Watch: "Brace" (featuring Rainsford)

Other Full-Length Releases

Forth Wanderers - Forth Wanderers Watch: "Ages Ago" Watch: "Nevermine"

Post Malone - beerbongs & bentleys Watch: "Psycho" (featuring Ty Dolla $ign) Watch: "rockstar" (featuring 21 Savage)

Van Morrison and Joey DeFrancesco - You’re Driving Me Crazy Listen: "You’re Driving Me Crazy" Listen: "Everyday I Have the Blues"

We Are Scientists - Megaplex Watch: "One In, One Out" Watch: "Your Light Has Changed"

Willie Nelson - Last Man Standing Watch: "Me and You" Watch: "Bad Breath"

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

Buzzy Lee - Facepaint EP Watch: "Facepaint" Watch: "Coolhand"

Grouper - Grid of Points Listen: "Driving" Listen: "Parking Lot"

Kings: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Listen: Nick Cave & Warren Ellis - "Saying Goodbye" Listen: Nick Cave & Warren Ellis - "Waking Up"

SONTALK - SONTALK: Act 1 Watch: "I Am a War Machine"

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 December 4, 2015

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Full-Length Releases

Coldplay - A Head Full of Dreams Watch: "Adventure of a Lifetime" Watch: "Birds"

Deantoni Parks - Technoself Listen: "Our Shadows"

Leo Abrahams - Daylight Watch: "The Chain" Watch: "Halo Effect"

Matmos - Why Pay More

Pimp C - Long Live the Pimp Listen: "Friends" (featuring Nas & Juicy J) Listen: "3 Way Freak" (featuring Lil Wayne)

Plaitum - Plaitum Watch: "LMHY" Listen: "Carousel"

Rick Ross - Black Market Watch: "Sorry" (featuring Chris Brown) Listen: "D.O.P.E." (featuring Future)

Sunn O))) - Kannon Listen: "Kannon 2"

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

Bloodshot Six Pack to Go Listen: Deer Tick - "If I Should Fall Out of Grace with God"

Fleetwood Mac - Tusk Reissue Listen: "The Ledge" Listen: "Tusk"

Johnny Cash - Live in Denmark 1971 Watch: "Sunday Morning Comin’ Down" Watch: "I Walk the Line"

Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy Anniversary Edition Listen: "For Real" Listen: "So Come Back, I’m Waiting"

Phoenix - "Alone on Christmas Day" Listen: "Alone on Christmas Day" (featuring Bill Murray)

Polo - "Visions of Fortune" Listen: "Visions of Fortune"

Ringo Starr - Ringo Starr: The Lifetime of Peace & Love Tribute Concert Listen: Ben Folds - "Oh My My" Listen: The Head and the Heart - "Octopus’s Garden"

Swans - Love of Life Reissue Listen: "Love of Life" Listen: "God Loves America"

Swans - White Light from the Mouth of Infinity Reissue Listen: "Song for Dead Time" Listen: "Power and Sacrifice"

Them - The Complete Them Listen: "Gloria" (demo)