New Music Friday - November 1, 2024

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases

	The Cure - Songs of a Lost World Watch: "Alone" Watch: "A Fragile Thing"
	Flying Lotus - Spirit Box Watch: "Let Me Cook" (featuring Dawn Richard) Listen: "Ingo Swann"
	Haley Heynderickx - Seed of a Seed Watch: "Foxglove" Watch: "Seed of a Seed"
	mxmtoon - liminal space Watch: "the situation" (featuring Kero Kero Bonito) Watch: "dramatic escape"
	Tyler, the Creator - CHROMAKOPIA Watch: "Noid" Watch: "Thought I Was Dead"

Other Full-Length Releases

Autre Ne Veut - Love, Guess Who?? Watch: "About to Lose" Watch: "Itchy Blood"

Contour - Take Off from Mercy Watch: "Theresa" Watch: "Mercy"

EarthGang - Perfect Fantasy Watch: "U Gotta" (featuring @Pharrell) Watch: "Godly" (featuring Damon Albarn)

Freddie Gibbs - You Only Live 1nce Watch: "On the Set" Watch: "Cosmo Freestyle"

Jennifer Castle - Camelot Watch: "Lucky #8" Watch: "Earthsong"

Katrina Ford - H.E.A.R.T. Watch: "Cry Wolf" Watch: "Killing It"

Mount Eerie - Night Palace Watch: "Broom of Wind" Watch: "I Saw Another Bird"

Sarah Neufeld / Richard Reed Parry / Rebecca Foon - First Sounds Watch: "Maria" Watch: "Circular"

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

deary - Aurelia Watch: "The Drift" Watch: "Selene"

Elvis Costello - King of American & Other Realms Listen: "Only Daddy That’ll Walk the Line" (Live) Listen: "I’ll Wear It Proudly"

Hosono House Revisited Watch: Haruomi Hosono & Mac DeMarco - "Boku Wa Chotto" Listen: Haruomi Hosono & Sam Gendel - "My Love Is Peach-Colored"

J Spaceman & John Coxon - Music for William Eggleston’s Stranded in Canton Watch: "Mother’s Milk" Listen: "I Was Stranded"

Sleater-Kinney - Little Rope Deluxe Watch: "Here Today" Listen: "Nothing to Lose"

Weezer - Blue Album (30th Anniversary Edition) Watch: "Undone - The Sweater Song" (Third Practice) Listen: "My Name Is Jonas"

Willie Nelson - Last Leaf on the Tree Watch: "Do You Realize??" Watch: "Last Leaf"

New Music Friday - February 26, 2016

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases

Santigold - 99¢ It took awhile, but I've finally started thinking of Santigold as Santigold, as opposed to her former stage name Santogold (though it still pisses me off that she had to change it). 99¢ is the artist's third album, and on it she explores the commercialization of music; hence the album's title and artwork. It's another absolute banger of an album from an artist who's perfected her style! Watch: "Chasing Shadows" Watch: "Who Be Lovin’ Me" (featuring iLoveMakonnen)

Sarah Neufeld - The Ridge Since contributing to Arcade Fire's Reflektor in 2013, Neufeld has gone all in on her solo career. She released her debut, Hero Brother, that same year, a collaborative album with Colin Stetson, Never Were the Way She Was, last year, and now her second solo record. In the past, her work as a solo artist has been purely instrumental, but this album is her first foray into incorporating vocals. Watch: "We've Got a Lot" Listen: "Where the Light Comes In"

School of Seven Bells - SVIIB Some bands come to an end so its members can focus on other projects, others come by it acrimoniously. Only rarely is it pure unfortunate circumstance. This band became a twosome after the departure of one founding member left in 2010. Three years ago, one of those two members, Benjamin Curtis, passed away from T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma. Work was mostly completed on the record before Curtis' passing. Their likely last record may also be their best. Watch: "Open Your Eyes" Watch: "On My Heart"

Yuck - Stranger Things With this third record, Yuck has released more music without their founding frontman, Daniel Blumberg, than with him. The band had drifted into a shoegaze-influenced sound on their previous album and EP, but were looking back to a 90s indie rock-tinged (think Dinosaur Jr., Built to Spill) sound they were noted for on their debut. They're still trying to find their footing without Blumberg, but garnered immense praise for some of the tracks from this record. Listen: "Hearts in Motion" Listen: "Hold Me Closer"

Other Full-Length Releases

Bullion - Loop the Loop Listen: "Loop the Loop" (featuring Sampha) Listen: "Never Is the Change"

Death Index - Death Index Watch: "FUP" Watch: "Little ’N’ Pretty"

Glenn Kotche - Drumkit Quartets Listen: "No. 54" Listen: "No. 50"

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - This Unruly Mess I’ve Made Watch: "Downtown" Watch: "Kevin" (featuring Leon Bridges)

Willie Nelson - Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin Watch: "Summertime" Watch: "Someone to Watch Over Me"

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

Charli XCX - Vroom Vroom EP Listen: "Trophy" Listen: "Paradise" (featuring Hannah Diamond)

George Fest: A Night to Celebrate the Music of George Harrison Watch: "Handle with Care" Listen: "Here Comes the Sun"

God Don’t Never Change: The Songs of Blind Willie Johnson Listen: Tom Waits - "John the Revelator"

Michael Jackson - Off the Wall Reissue Watch: "Rock with You" Watch: "Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough"

Mr. Dan - "Firewater" Listen: "Firewater"

Upcoming Album of the Week (Ending November 21)

As ever, my Upcoming Releases page is up and ready for perusing! Check out the albums, EPs, compilations and more that will have me excited over the coming months.

While just about everything in music may have been overshadowed this week by one particular release (Hello!), there were some spectacular new music announcements made. Among the news was Sarah Neufeld, Arcade Fire's former violinist, who announced her second solo record, The Ridge.

stereogum.com

Although many of the band's collaborators are well-known for their solo work (i.e. Colin Stetson, Owen Pallett, David Bowie), Neufeld led a charge of solo work from the band's members when she released Hero Brother in 2013. She was shortly followed by Richard Reed Parry and Will Butler. She stepped back from being a full member of Arcade Fire following 2010's The Suburbs, though still contributed to the follow-up, Reflektor, and joined the band on the supporting tour.

After her debut album, she had two new releases last year; an EP, Black Ground, and a collaborative album, Never Were the Way She Was, with Stetson. But she will be back with a new solo full-length early next year.



The Ridge is set to be released February 26.

Also announced this week:

Cavern of Anti-Matter - Void Beats/Invocation Trex (February 19)
John Cale - M:FANS (January 22)
Major Lazer - Peace Is the Mission Extended (November 27)
Mass Gothic - Mass Gothic (February 5)
Ra Ra Riot - Need Your Light (February 19)
Ty Segall - Ty-Rex (November 27)
Wolfmother - Victorious (February 9)

New Music Tuesday - April 28, 2015

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

New Full-Length Albums

Blur - The Magic Whip Given that Damon Albarn just released his first (technically) solo album last year, it's somewhat surprising to see him already restarting his former projects. Returns for both Blur and Gorillaz were rumored going into this year, and now we're seeing the first album in 12 years from his first band. It's a great return to form and should bode well for a new Gorillaz album, should that actually happen. Watch: "Go Out" Watch: "There Are Too Many of Us"

Braids - Deep in the Iris Braids is an electronic and dream pop band out of Calgary. On their third album, they are looking to change up their sound. They have previously relied largely on programmed sounds, but on this album, they sought to tone it down a bit, partially inspired by more performance-oriented musicians. They haven't completely abandoned electronic instrumentation, but piano is more heavily used here. The result is no less wonderful than their previous records, but is a bit more accessible. Listen: "Miniskirt" Listen: "Taste"

Colin Stetson and Sarah Neufeld - Never were the way she was Both Stetson and Neufeld have been frequent collaborators with Arcade Fire; Stetson is a saxophonist and Neufeld a violinist. They've also each had vibrant solo careers and have both recently released solo albums. This is their first collaborative album with just the two of them, which should be an interesting combination of both of their experimental playing styles. Watch: "The rest of us" Listen: "The sun roars into view"

George FitzGerald - Fading Love We seem to be living in an age where producers are more involved with making their own music rather than simply working on others' albums. Such is the case for young British producer George FitzGerald. He's become known for his DJ sets; this is his first album. Watch: "Crystallise" (featuring Lawrence Hart) Watch: "Full Circle" (featuring Boxed In)

Kehlani - You Should Be Here Kehlani is just the latest in what's becoming a long list of Chance The Rapper collaborators (which is also a good list of who to check out). She is from a Bay area and was initially looking to become a dancer. After a knee injury, she switched to making music and released her debut mixtape last year, premiering her unique take on hip hop and R&B. Watch: "You Should Be Here" Listen: "The Way" (featuring Chance The Rapper)

Mew - + - Mew was probably my first introduction to weird Scandinavian indie pop when they released And the Glass Handed Kites in 2005. It's been awhile since their last record, 2009's No More Stories..., so I had forgotten about them lately. Their new album, which sees bassist Johan Wohlert back after being absent from their previous record, should be a good return to form for the band. Watch: "Water Slides" Watch: "Satellites"

MG - MG Martin Gore began his career with Depeche Mode in 1980 and it's been his primary creative output ever since. He has also dabbled in solo work; he released his first album, Counterfeit in 2003. The work he creates on his own differs significantly from Depeche Mode; it's more upbeat and "glittery" and, although he occasionally provides vocals for his band, is entirely instrumental. Watch: "Europa Hymn" Watch: "Brink"

Nai Harvest - Hairball The first time I heard Nai Harvest, I was pretty immediately reminded of Wavves. Their sound is driving, manic, and loud; quite different than what I would normally expect from a modern British band. This is the third album from them. Listen: "All the Time" Listen: "Hairball"

Nick Catchdubs - Smoke Machine Nick Catchdubs is a collaborator of the producer A-Trak and co-founder of the Fool's Gold label with him. Like his partner (and many producers these days), he is breaking out as a solo artist. His debut album features contributions from B.I.C., IAMSU!, and Heems. Watch: "Wuts That" (featuring B.I.C.) Listen: "Full House" (featuring Troy Ave & Heems)

Paul de Jong - IF Paul de Jong used to be one-half of The Books with Nick Zammuto (also a talented musician who released a solo record last year). He and Zammuto went their separate ways in 2012, and he's been readying his debut solo record since then. His music, which makes extensive use of found sounds, is quite strange at times, but well worth a listen. Watch: "Auction Block" Watch: "This Is Who I Am"

Raekwon - F.I.L.A. Of all the members of the Wu-Tang Clan, Ghostface Killah has been the most prolific of late (a solo record, a collaborative record, and another solo record to come), but Raekwon is also taking advantage of the momentum following their recent comeback album. His latest album, which is an anagram of Fly International Luxurious Art, is meant to represent his more stylish side. Watch: "All About You" (featuring Estelle) Listen: "F.I.L.A. World" (featuring 2 Chainz)

Other New Releases

Eric Clapton - Forever Man Forever Man is the latest greatest hits compilation celebrating the career of Eric Clapton. The record collects 51 tracks and spreads them out over three discs. The collection comprises classic studio releases and some of his better-known live recordings. Listen: "Forever Man" Listen: "Gotta Get Over"

Faux Real Faux Real was intended to be Father-Daughter Records exclusive Record Store Day release. For some reason, though, it didn't make the cut (it seems like it would be an ideal release for the organization). It's a shame as it collects covers from some talented young artists of songs originally written for movies. Never fear, the label is releasing the compilation as a limited edition release through their website. Listen: Allison Crutchfield - "Special to Me" Listen: Chumped - "Threshold"

Future Islands - "The Chase"/"Haunted By You" "The Chase" and "Haunted By You" are the first tastes of new music from Future Islands since the release of their excellent album, Singles, last year. After some interesting (to say the least) features from the band's frontman, this is a welcome return for the band and hopefully a sign of more great music to come. Listen: "Haunted By You"

Joni Mitchell - Los Angeles 26 January 1995 With her recent health issues, it seems unlikely that we'll be getting any more new music from this iconic singer. The best we can do now is look back on her career in celebration. We can start with the release of the now-20-year-old performance at the Wells Fargo Theater in Los Angeles. Listen: "Cherokee Louise"

Ryan Adams - "I Do Not Feel Like Being Good" This is where I insert the now-standard "Ryan Adams has been insanely prolific since his last album" spiel. At this point, he could easily release two or three full albums with the singles and EPs he's released as a part of his Pax-Am series. Here's his latest. Listen: "I Do Not Feel Like Being Good"

Sia - Big Girls Cry Remixes While she's been around for quite awhile, Sia finally reached true pop stardom with last year's 1000 Forms of Fear. Now, as has become standard, one of the album's tracks is getting the remix treatment. This collection features versions of the "Big Girls Cry" from Odesza, Bleachers, and E.A.S.Y., among others. Listen: "Big Girls Cry" (Bleachers Remix) Listen: "Big Girls Cry" (E.A.S.Y. Remix)

Split Single - Live EP The debut album from this indie rock supergroup (including members of Superchuck and Spoon) was released just last year. They are following that up with a short collection of live tracks recorded in Chicago and Brooklyn. Listen: "Glori"

Spoon - Inside Out Remix EP Britt Daniel is making this week a busy one for new releases (he is a member of Split Single) and is also giving a recent album track the remix treatment, collecting contributions from Brian Reitzell, Operators, The Strokes' Fabrizio Moretti, and Tycho). Watch: "Inside Out" (Fabrizio Moretti Remix) Listen: "Inside Out" (Tycho Remix)

Towkio - .Wav Theory Like Kehlani, Towkio is also a collaborator of Chance The Rapper. He is a rapper and childhood friend of Chance who is also looking to meet some high expectations with this debut mixtape. The released features contributions from Chance, as well as Lido, Kaytranada, and Vic Mensa. Watch: "Reflection" (featuring Kaytranada) Listen: "Heaven Only Knows" (featuring Chance The Rapper, Lido, & Eryn Allen Kane)

Wye Oak - Shriek Deluxe Edition Released just last year, Wye Oak's excellent third album is quickly getting reissued. There are no new tracks on the reissue, but it does include a few album track remixes. Listen: "Despicable Animal" (Moss of Aura/Future Islands Remix) Listen: "Sick Talk" (Matmos Remix)