New Music Friday - April 18, 2025

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases

	Julien Baker & TORRES - Send a Prayer My Way Watch: "Sylvia" Watch: "Tuesday"
	Rhiannon Giddens & Justin Robinson - What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow Watch: "Rain Crow" Watch: "Brown’s Dream"
	Tunde Adebimpe - Thee Black Boltz Watch: "Magnetic" Watch: "God Knows"
	ZORA - Z D A Y Listen: "HI-FI" Listen: "ZZZZZZZ"

Other Full-Length Releases

Beirut - A Study of Losses Watch: "Geuricke’s Unicorn" Watch: "Caspian Tiger"

CHIME OBLIVION - CHIME OBLIVION Listen: "NEIGHBORHOOD DOG" Listen: "KISS HER OR BE HER"

The Convenience - Like Cartoon Vampires Watch: "Opportunity" Watch: "Western Pepsi Cola Town"

Real Lies - We Will Annihilate Our Enemies Listen: "Arielle" Listen: "Finding Money" (featuring Jessica Barden)

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

Fontaines D.C. - Romance (Deluxe Edition) Watch: "Starburster” / “In Heaven (Lady in the Radiator Song)" Watch: "Before You I Just Forget"

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Watch: Ruth Radelet, Nat Walker, Adam Miller - "The Veil" Watch: Nora Kelly Band - "See You in Hell"

Neil Young - Coastal: The Soundtrack Listen: "Vampire Blues" (Live) Listen: "Throw Your Hatred Down" (Live)

Sinners: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Watch: Hailee Steinfeld - "Dangerous" Listen: Miles Caton - "I Lied to You"

SOFT PLAY - Heavier Jelly Watch: "Slushy" (featuring Kate Nash) Watch: "Punk’s Dead"

TAKAAT - Is Noise, Vol. 1 Listen: "Amidinin"

Witch Post - Beast Watch: "Spell-w" Watch: "The Wolf-w"

New Music Friday - February 24, 2017

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases

Dirty Projectors - Dirty Projectors While it's been clear that this band was primarily the brain-child of Dave Longstreth, this is the first album on which the group is just him. The most notable departure leading into this record is that of Amber Coffman, who left after a break-up with Longstreth. That break-up informs just about every track on the record. Although Dirty Projectors are down to just one member, this album is far from a solo effort. Old friends like Tyondai Braxton and Solange helped write and record, and a new friend, D∆WN features on a track. Watch: "Cool Your Heart" (featuring D∆WN) Watch: "Little Bubble"

Emel Mathlouthi - Ensen Emel Mathlouthi is a Tunisian performer who became known in the earlier part of this decade for protest music that came to soundtrack her country's revolution. She is influenced both by artists who inspired her desire to protest (Joan Baez), as well as those who informed her sound (Björk, Massive Attack). She released her debut album, Kelmti Horra in 2012, and continues to speak out on her sophomore record, written with the mistreated people of the world in mind. Watch: "Ensen Dhaif" Listen: "Lost"

Rhiannon Giddens - Freedom Highway Giddens is a folk singer who got her start with the Carolina Chocolate Drops. She went solo in 2014 with the release of the We Rise EP. Freedom Highway is her sophomore album, which stands in contrast from her debut, 2015's Tomorrow Is My Turn. That album was primarily a covers album, this album is all original songs. Still, she is heavily informed by the past, exploring the history of folk and African-American music traditions. Watch: "Hey Bébé" Listen: "Freedom Highway" (featuring Bhi Bhiman)

Thundercat - Drunk Stephen Bruner is a funk bassist who has worked with a wide array of artists, from Erykah Badu to Mac Millers. He is perhaps most recognized for his work with Flying Lotus and Kendrick Lamar; he won a Grammy for "These Walls" with Lamar. His third solo album features a few of those past collaborators, as well as a couple of unexpected voices; two heroes of his, Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald. Listen: "Friend Zone" Listen: "Show You the Way" (featuring Michael McDonald & Kenny Loggins)

Vagabon - Infinite Worlds Vagabon is Laetitia Tamko, a Cameroonian who relocated to New York just in time to start high school. She is heavily influenced by American indie music, with noted similarities to Allison Crutchfield, Jay Som, and Mitski. She is a multi-threat, playing most of the instruments on this record. Her musical talents and strong songwriting have made this one of the most critically-acclaimed debuts of the past few years. Watch: "The Embers" Listen: "Force & Fear"

Other Full-Length Releases

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - The Tourist Listen: "Down (Is Where I Want to Be)" Listen: "Fireproof"

Crystal Fairy - Crystal Fairy Listen: "Chiseler" Listen: "Crystal Fairy"

Dams of the West - Youngish American Watch: "Tell the Truth" Watch: "Death Wish"

Dear Reader - Day Fever Watch: "I Know You Can Hear It" Watch: "Then Not Now"

Future - HNDRXX Listen: "I Thank U" Listen: "Damage"

Hippo Campus - Landmark Watch: "Way It Goes" Watch: "Boyish"

John Hassall & The April Rainers - Wheels to Idyll Watch: "Given Time" Watch: "Intercity 125"

Karriem Riggins - Headnod Suite Listen: "4Es’J & Oddness"

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Flying Microtonal Banana Watch: "Rattlesnake" Listen: "Nuclear Fusion"

Kingdom - Tears in the Club Watch: "Nothin" (featuring Syd) Listen: "What Is Love" (featuring SZA)

Los Campesinos! - Sick Scenes Watch: "5 Flucloxacillin" Listen: "I Broke Up in Amarante"

The Luyas - Human Voicing Watch: "Self-Unemployed" Listen: "Fed to the Lions"

NE-HI - Offers Watch: "Offers" Watch: "Stay Young"

Oddissee - The Iceberg Listen: "Like Really" Listen: "Things"

Peter Silberman - Impermanence Watch: "New York" Watch: "Ahimsa"

Pick a Piper - Distance Watch: "Geographically Opposed" Watch: "Still Awake"

Skyway Man - Seen Comin’ from a Mighty Eye Watch: "Creation // Someday" Listen: "Mighty Eye"

Summer Moon - With You Tonight Watch: "Happenin’" Watch: "With You Tonight"

Taylor Bennett - Restoration of an American Idol Listen: "Play My Part" (featuring Aubree Jenai) Listen: "Grown Up Fairy Tales" (featuring Chance The Rapper & Jeremih)

Xiu Xiu - Forget Watch: "Get Up" Watch: "Jenny GoGo"

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

Adam Torres - I Came to Sing the Song Listen: "Hatchet" Listen: "I Came to Sing the Song"

darkDARK - Heathered Listen: "Restless" (featuring Haley Bonar) Listen: "Stay Close"

George Harrison - George Harrison: The Vinyl Collection

Half Waif - form/a Listen: "Frost Burn" Listen: "Night Heat"

La Neve - American Sounds EP Watch: "American Sounds" Listen: "Needs It"

Luxury Death - Glue EP Watch: "Glue" Listen: "Listerine"

No Joy - Creep EP Watch: "Califone" Listen: "Hellhole"

Steve Lacy - Demo Watch: "Some" Watch: "Ryd"/"Dark Red"

Upcoming Album of the Week (Ending December 17)

Christmas is coming soon, and it's the season for ugly sweater parties. Rapper 2 Chainz created the perfect sweater for showing everyone else up; it will only set you back a cool $90,000 (proceeds go to charity). Head over to my Upcoming Releases page to see a list of more reasonably-priced releases from some of my favorite artists!

This week, Rhiannon Giddens announced her second studio album, Freedom Highway.

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Giddens started her career in 2005 as a member of Sankofa Strings, which eventually morphed into the Carolina Chocolate Drops. She's released seven albums with the Carolina Chocolate Drops, as well as multiple albums with other projects.

She first went solo last year, releasing Tomorrow Is My Turn in February. Unlike that debut, this record will be made up primarily of original songs, though the title track, which she also released this week, is a cover of a song by The Staples Singers.

Freedom Highway will be released February 24.

Also announced this week:

BJ the Chicago Kid - The Lost Files: Cuffing Season (out now)
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - The Tourist (February 24)
Fancey - Love Mirage (January 27)
Julia Holter - In the Same Room (March 31)
Michael Angelakos - Merry Christmas, Mr. Fields OST (out now)
NOISE (December 20)
P.O.S. - Chill, dummy (January 27)
Paul McCartney - Flowers in the Dirt Deluxe Reissue (March 24)

New Album Tuesday - February 10, 2015

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

New Full-Length Albums

Caught on Tape - Full Bleed Former Sonic Youth frontman Thurston More engages in some freak-out noise rock improvisational sessions with John Moloney (who he collaborated with as Chelsea Light Moving). It follows his 2014 solo album and the album with Chelsea Light Moving released the year before. Listen: "Full Bleed" Listen: "Age Limit"

Death Grips - The Power That B This should, theoretically, be the last release from Death Grips, who "broke up" last year (though this is their second release this year). The new album completes a double album project, the first half of which, Niggas on the Moon, was released in June of last year. Technically, its companion record, Jenny Death, has not yet been released, but presumably those tracks are featured here. Watch: "Inanimate Sensation" Listen: "Up My Sleeves"

The Dø - Shake Shook Shaken The Dø is a French/Finnish indie pop group with a fairly obvious nod towards Björk's unique brand of pop. I found out about them following a feature of lead singer, Olivia Merilahti, in Lucky magazine. I didn't know anything about them, but was intrigued by the magazine's description of their music. I've loved them ever since. Shake Shook Shaken is their third album. Watch: "Despair, Hangover & Ecstasy" Listen: "Miracles (Back in Time)"

Father John Misty - I Love You, Honeybear Father John Misty, real name Josh Tillman, continues his swaggering indie folk persona on his second album under the newer name. The album is a concept record about himself; it deals with his personal life, regretted behaviors, and his relationship with his wife. Watch: "Chateau Lobby #4 (in C for Two Virgins)" Listen: "Bored in the USA"

Jefre Cantu-Ledesma - A Year with 13 Moons Jefre Cantu-Ledesma is a multi-instrumentalist and record label owner who has been involved with a number of bands during his career. He has also worked with many other artists in the drone and ambient community, including Grouper and Oneohtrix Point Never. Cantu-Ledesma is extremely prolific and A Year with 13 Moons follows a long string of both solo and collaborative work. Watch: "Pale Flower" Watch: "Love After Love"

Rhiannon Giddens - Tomorrow Is My Turn Rhiannon Giddens made a name for herself as a member of the Grammy-winning Americana group, the Carolina Chocolate Drops. She was also the sole female member of The New Basement Tapes, who released an album of songs based off of unrecorded Bob Dylan lyrics last year. She is following that up with her first solo album, which consists of songs previously made famous by other female artists. Listen: "Black Is the Color" Listen: "Shake Sugaree"

Rone - Creatures Rone is a French electronic musician with three studio albums and six EPs under his belt. In 2013, he collaborated with The National on their album Trouble Will Find Me, providing electronic instrumentation. He gets some help in return for his latest album; one of the band's twin guitarists, Brian Dessner, features on a track. Listen: "Elle" (featuring Brian Dessner) Listen: "Ouija"

William Ryan Fritch - Revisionist William Ryan Fritch is one of an increasing number of musicians affiliated in some way with Justin Vernon (aka Bon Iver). He played with Volcano Choir member Jon Mueller in Death Blues. This is his sixth studio album. Watch: "Thankless Deeds" Watch: "Still" (featuring Esmé Patterson)

Other New Releases

St. Vincent - St. Vincent Deluxe Edition St. Vincent released one of, if not the best album last year, and won her first Grammy earlier this year for it! The album is getting the reissue treatment this year, with the two songs she released for Black Friday Record Store Day, along with a few other new tracks, added to the record. Listen: "Bad Believer" Listen: "Pieta"

The Twilight Sad - "I Could Give You All That You Don’t Want" The Twilight Sad released the long-winded Nobody Wants to Be Here and Nobody Wants to Leave in October of last year. The second longest song (title-wise) after the title track is getting released as a single this year, backed with a much shorter new song from the Scottish band. Watch: "I Could Give You All That You Don’t Want" Listen: "The Airport"

Zola Jesus - "Hunger"/"Compass" Zola Jesus also released her latest album in October of last year. Her newest single release comes with a brand new song of her own. Watch: "Hunger" Listen: "Compass"