Upcoming Album of the Week (Ending September 17)

Have you ever seen Lip Sync Battle? I've never watched a full episode, but often enjoy the performance clips that they post to YouTube. It's a pretty cool show and many of the celebrities featured are pretty convincing, other are...less so. Still, nothing compares to seeing your favorite bands perform their own music. Check out some of mine with new music coming out on my Upcoming Releases page!

This week, the Christmas album announcements started to come in, including She & Him, who announced their second holiday album, Christmas Party.

pitchfork.com

She & Him are Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward, who have been performing together for a decade and have released five albums. The project is hardly a celebrity ego project for Deschanel, who has become best known for acting; she is an incredibly talented songwriter and vocalist. Of course, it helps to partnered up with M. Ward, who has his own celebrated music career spanning 17 years.

She & Him released their first Christmas album, A Very She & Him Christmas, in 2011. Most recently, though, they released Classics, a collection of standards, two years ago.

Christmas Party is set to come out October 28, lest we forget that the Christmas season now starts before Halloween.

They weren't the only artist to announce a Christmas Record this week, Kacey Musgraves will also be releasing one in October.

Also announced this week:

Amanda Palmer & Jason Webley - Sketches for the Music JIB (out now)
Beastie Boys - License to Ill Reissue (October 14)
Damaged Bug - “Smoggy Terminus” (September 19)
The Game - 1992 (October 14)
Justice - Woman (November 18)
La Sera - Queens EP (September 30)
Lady Gaga - Joanna (October 21)
Lazarus Cast Album (October 21)
Lizzo - Coconut Oil EP (October 7)
Lou Reed - Lou Reed - The RCA & Arista Album Collection, Vol 1 (November 18)
Luke Temple - A Hand Through the Cellar Door (November 11)
The Men - Devil Music (November 11)
Miles Mosley - UPRISING (January 27)
Peter Silberman - Transcendless Summer (out now)
Polyvinyl Plays Polyvinyl (November 25)
Pretenders - Alone (October 21)
The Time Is Now (October 7)

New Music Tuesday - December 2, 2014

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

New Full-Length Releases

The Grates - Dream Team I'm not completely sure how I heard of them, but The Grates have been a favorite of mine for a pretty long while. They are, however, an Australian band who hasn't quite seemed to have their stride stateside, so I've usually found out about new albums long after they actually came out. I got lucky on this go-around and managed to find out about this new release before it happened. Watch: "Holiday Home" Listen: "Call Me"

Mary J. Blige - The London Sessions For her thirteenth studio album, Blige continues on a trajectory started in 2013, when she collaborated on new versions of songs from Sam Smith and Disclosure. She traveled to England to write and record with the aforementioned musicians, as well as Naughty Boy, Emeli Sandé, and others. The result is still her, but has an undeniable influence from modern British house music. Watch: "Right Now" Watch: "Whole Damn Year"

She & Him - Classics She & Him seem to be out of the habit of naming albums for the number release it is in their discography. The title, though, still tells you exactly what you're getting. For their fifth album, they've recorded their own versions of classic songs. Watch: "Stay Awhile" Listen: "Time After Time"

Walk the Moon - Talking Is Hard This young Cincinnati-based band continues to get a lot of positive press going into their third album. They also continue to do what they do best, make infectious dance-tinged indie pop. It's exciting to see them doing so well. Watch: "Shut Up and Dance" Listen: "Different Colors"

Willie & Bobbie Nelson - December Day Another year, another Willie Nelson album, it's pretty much guaranteed at this point. For his latest, he pairs with his sister, Bobbie, who plays piano throughout the record. Nelson was inspired by jamming with his touring band, and those members are also present on the record. Watch: "Laws of Nature" Watch: "Summer of Roses"

Wu-Tang Clan - A Better Tomorrow It's been a little while since we last heard from Wu-Tang as a whole, seven years since 8 Diagrams. This new one was announced as far back as 2012, but several members were unsure as to whether it would actually happen. Things seemed to be back on track last year, and now we have this new record whose message couldn't be more timely. Watch: "A Better Tomorrow" Listen: "Ruckus in B Minor"

Other New Releases

Circulatory System - Made a Sound PIAPTK is trying out something new, releasing singles which can be played either on a turntable or in a CD player. Their latest release in the project comes from Elephant 6 member Circulatory System. Listen: "It Never Made a Sound"

Leonard Cohen - Live in Dublin Even at 80-years-old, Cohen is still going strong, he released his thirteenth album, Popular Problems, earlier this year and it following that up with a new live album. Live in Dublin was recorded in September of last year at the O2 in Dublin. Listen: "So Long Marianne" Listen: "Save the Last Dance for Me"

Los Campesinos! - A Los Campesinos! Christmas It seems like Christmas albums are usually the domain of pop musicians, but it's becoming more and more common to see them from a broader variety of performers. English band Los Campesinos! is adding their own to the mix. The EP brings together a number of holiday songs the band has recorded over the past few years, along with a cover of Mud's "Lonely This Christmas." Listen: "When Christmas Comes" Listen: "Lonely This Christmas"

M. Ward - Transistor Radio Reissue M. Ward isn't letting his new album with Zooey Deschanel be his only release today, he is also reissuing his fourth studio album, which was originally released in 2005. Listen: "Lullaby + Exile" Listen: "You Still Believe in Me"

Nicole Atkins - Slow Phaser: Expanded Deluxe Edition Nicole Atkins released her third album back in February. The record's reissue comes with a set of live songs recorded at the Masonic Temple in Detroit. Watch: "Who Killed the Moonlight" Watch: "Girl You Look Amazing"

Pixies - Doolittle 25 Expanded Reissue To celebrate the 25th anniversary of their sophomore album, the Pixies have released a remastered and expanded version of the record. The reissue includes the original album, along with b-sides, a couple of John Peel sessions, and demos. Watch: "Debaser" Listen: "Hey"

Songs: Ohia - Didn’t It Rain Deluxe Edition Songs: Ohia was a fairly-well-known but much-celebrated Ohio band fronted by the now-deceased Jason Molina. Didn't It Rain was their second-to-last album, originally released in 2002. This re-release comes with a second disc of demos. Listen: "Didn't It Rain" Listen: "Ring the Bell"

Sun Kil Moon - "The Possum" Mark Kozelek seems determined to make this a busy year for himself. He's already released an album under the name Sun Kil Moon, a live album under his own name, and a Christmas album. Now, for his final act for the year, he has a new single out. Listen: "The Possum"

Tall Tall Trees - The Seasonal EP Tall Tall Trees is the stage moniker for Mike Savino; and, while he plays banjo, produces a form of folk unlike anything I've ever heard. For his latest EP, he enlists the help of violinist Kishi Bashi, who lends vocals, production, and his own voice to the release. Listen: "Picture Picture" Listen: "How Did It Get Dark So Fast?"

Yo La Tengo - Extra Painful Yo La Tengo's sixth album, Painful, was originally released in 1993. This renamed reissue comes packaged with a bonus disc of live and demo versions of the album's tracks. Listen: "Nowhere Near" Listen: "Big Day Coming"

New Music Tuesday - 12/03/2013

New Full-Length Releases

bEEdEEgEE - SUM/ONE Brian DeGraw is a founding member of the experimental electronic group Gang Gang Dance. He is releasing his first solo album under the phonetic spelling of his initials (get it? B.D.G.). The sound takes on a more straightforward electronic sound than the work he does with his band. Watch: "Flowers" (featuring Lovefoxx) Listen: "Bricks"

Magic Trick - River of Souls Magic Trick is the side project of garage rock band The Fresh & Onlys' Tim Cohen. This is the third album from this project, which injects some psychedelia into the garage sound. Listen: "Come Inside" Listen: "The Store"

Other New Releases

Beck - "Gimme" Beck continues his run of 2013 single releases with "Gimme," the last of the year. He's set to release a new studio album, Morning Phase, in February! Listen: "Gimme"

Charli XCX - "SuperLove" Charli may have just released her debut, True Romance, in April of this year, but she's already at work on a follow-up (excited to get more adult ideas out there). "SuperLove" will likely be a single from that album. Watch: "SuperLove" Watch: "SuperLove" (Yeasayer Remix)

Daft Punk - Random Access Memories Box Set Daft Punk released their highly-regarded fourth album in May. The box set version of the album is now out (for a mere $275) and features artwork, extended tracks and film. Watch: "Instant Crush" (featuring Julian Casablancas) Listen: "Get Lucky" (Daft Punk Remix)

The Flaming Lips - Peace Sword EP The entirety of the Peace Sword EP was written for the film Ender's Game, which was released in early November. The producer's only took the EP's title track, but featured it in the credits of the film. Listen: "Peace Sword (Open Your Heart)" Listen: "Think Like a Machine, Not a Boy"

Franz Ferdinand - Right Action Remixes Franz Ferdinand released their highly-anticipated (by me, at least) fourth album just in time for my birthday in August. The title track is getting the remix treatment with contributions from Liv Spencer, Matias Aguayo, Zero Set and Golden Teacher. Watch: "Right Action" Listen: "Right Action" (Liv Spencer Remix)

Glen Hansard - Drive All Night EP Glen Hansard become known for the Swell Season and the film Once. He released his debut solo album, Rhythm & Repose, last year and is following it up with a short set of songs. Listen: "Drive All Night" Listen: "Pennies in the Fountain"

Inside Llewyn Davis: Original Soundtrack Recording The latest film from The Coen Brothers tells the story of a down-on-his-luck folk musician in the 1960s. The soundtrack follows suit to the style of the time. It features tracks from the film's star, Oscar Isaac, as well as Justin Timberlake and Marcus Mumford. Listen: Oscar Isaac & Marcus Mumford - "Fare Thee Well" Listen: Justin Timberlake & Carey Mullian - "Five Hundred Miles"

Josh Tillman - The History of Caves Josh Tillman (aka Father John Misty) has a wife, Emma, who is a film-maker. She recently released a film, trailer and information here, and enlisted her man to do the film's score and soundtrack. Listen: "Finish Those Cigarettes & Go to Bed" Listen: "Of Course I Live with Them"

Kate Nash - Have Faith with Kate Nash This Christmas EP British singer Kate Nash invites us to spend Christmas with her. Her EP features new songs along with holiday classics. Watch: "I Hate You This Christmas" Listen: "Auld Lang Syne"

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Live from KCRW Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds released an incredible album earlier this year. In promoting the album, they recorded a session with KCRW in April. It features a few song from that album, as well as earlier work. Listen: "Higgs Boson Blues" (live) Listen: "Wide Lovely Eyes" (live)

ONXRT: Live from the Archives, Vol. 15 Chicago-based radio station WXRT has been releasing highlights from in-studio sessions for 20 years. The latest collection features Jim James, The National and Passion Pit, among others. Listen: The Postal Service - "Such Great Heights" Listen: The National - "Don't Swallow the Cap"

She & Him - The Capitol Studios Session Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward released their third album as She & Him, earlier this year. They visited Capitol Studios to record new versions of four tracks off of that album. Listen: "I Could Have Been Your Girl" Listen: "Shadow of Love"

The Velvet Underground - White Light/White Heat Reissue The Velvet Underground  released this iconic album more than 45 years ago. This reissue is coming along with mono, instrumental and live versions of many of the album's tracks. Listen: "Sister Ray" Listen: "I'm Not a Young Man Anymore" (Live in New York City/1967)

The Velvet Underground - White Light/White Heat Tribute Album To go along with the above reissue is a covers album. Featured artists here include Natural Child, Gap Dream and many others! Listen: Gap Dream - "Sister Ray" Listen: Natural Child - "White Light/White Heat"

For my list of upcoming releases, click here!