New Music Friday - October 12, 2018

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases

Anna St. Louis - If Only There Was a River Watch: "Understand" Listen: "The Bells"

Belly - Immigrant Watch: "What You Want" (featuring The Weeknd) Watch: "Xion"

Ella Mai - Ella Mai Watch: "Boo’d Up" Watch: "Trip"

The Watson Twins - DUO Watch: "Hustle and Shake" Listen: "Playing Hearts"

Other Full-Length Releases

Calvin Johnson - A Wonderful Beast Watch: "Like You Do" Listen: "Kiss Me Sweetly"

The Dodos - Certainty Waves Watch: "SW3" Watch: "Forum"

Elvis Costello & The Imposters - Look Now Watch: "Unwanted Number" Watch: "Under Lime"

Kurt Vile - Bottle It In Watch: "Bassackwards" Watch: "Loading Zones"

Matthew Dear - Bunny Watch: "Bunny's Dream" Listen: "Horses" (featuring Tegan and Sara)

Tom Morello - The Atlas Underground Watch: "We Don’t Need You" (featuring Vic Mensa) Watch: "Lead Poisoning" (featuring GZA, RZA, & Herobust)

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

Barrie - Singles Listen: "Michigan" Listen: "Canyons"

Bloc Party - Silent Alarm Vinyl Reissue Watch: "So Here We Are" Listen: "Positive Tension"

Dave Davies - Decade Listen: "Cradle to the Grave" Listen: "Same Old Blues"

David Bowie - Loving the Alien (1983 - 1988) Watch: "Loving the Alien" Listen: "Zeroes"

Django Django - Winter’s Beach Watch: "Swimming at Night" Listen: "Winter’s Beach"

Eric Clapton - Happy Xmas Watch: "White Christmas" Watch: "For Love on Christmas Day"

Flat Worms - "The Apparition"/"Melt the Arms" Watch: "The Apparition" Listen: "Melt the Arms"

Fleetwood Mac - The Dance Reissue Listen: "Rhiannon" Listen: "I’m So Afraid"

Fleetwood Mac - Say You Will Reissue Watch: "Say You Will" Listen: "Destiny Rules"

Los Campesinos! - Hold on Now, Youngster… Watch: "You! Me! Dancing!" Watch: "Death to Los Campesinos!"

Los Campesinos! - We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed Listen: "We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed" Listen: "Miserabilia"

The Monkees - Christmas Party Watch: "The Christmas Song" Listen: "Christmas Party"

St. Vincent - MassEducation Watch: "Savior" (piano version) Listen: "Slow Slow Disco"

New Music Tuesday - January 27, 2015

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

New Full-Length Albums

Amason - Sky City Amason is a Swedish band made up of members of a number of other Swedish acts (Idiot Wind, Little Majorette, Dungen, Miike Snow). The group met each other thru a mix of school, early collaborations, and seeing each other live. They officially came together in 2012, selecting the name Amason from a car brand popular in Sweden during the 1960s (which itself was named for Amazonian warriors). Sky City is the band's debut album. Watch: "Duvan" Listen: "Elefanten"

Aqualung - 10 Futures Aqualung, real name Matt Hales, has been on a bit of a hiatus for the past several years. It's been five years since his last album, Magnetic North. He has stayed active as a songwriter and producer, though. He contributed songs to Diane Birch, Jason Mraz, and Sara Bareilles, and has also provided produced for Laura Jansen, Diane Birch, and For King & Country. In 2012, he cowrote and produced Lianne La Havas' Is Your Love Big Enough?. She returns the favor on his latest record, with guest vocals on "Eggshells." Watch: "Eggshells" (featuring Lianne La Havas) Watch: "Tape 2 Tape"

Björk - Vulnicura Bjork's latest release came out of a place of pain; it was written following her split from artist Matthew Barnet. It wasn't meant to be released quite this early. The album was announced last month with no official artwork and no release date (it was set for sometime in March). Unfortunately, the album was leaked online not long after it was announced. Since the album was complete, and due to the emotional nature of the record, Björk made the decision to push up the digital release. Physical copies of the album are still set to be released in March. Listen: "Atom Dance" Listen: "Stonemilker"

The Body/Thou - You, Whom I Have Always Hated This is the second collaboration between these two sludge metal bands in as many years. Last year, they teamed up for the EP Released from Love. The Body is no newcomer to collaborating, having worked with The Haxan Cloak, Sandworm, and Braveyoung in the past. This may not be it for the two bands to collaborate, they will likely be touring together later this year. We'll just have to see if that leads to any more new music! Listen: "Her Strongholds Unvanquishable" Listen: "Lurking Fear"

The Dodos - Individ While I enjoyed The Dodos' 2013 album, Carrier, it didn't quite strike me as strongly as their previous release, No Color, had in 2011. After just a few listens through this latest offering, I feel this one may be, for me, a more worthy sonic follow-up. The album is a more polished one from the band, as well. They've gotten rid of the acoustic guitars in favor of electric and brought in one of indie rock's greatest producers, Phil Ek. While the result may be more polished, the album still hearkens to their earlier sounds. Watch: "Competition" Listen: "Goodbyes and Endings"

The Lone Bellow - Then Came the Morning Members from The National are beginning to become a reliable source for great new music from other bands. One of the band's twin guitarists, Aaron Dessner, helped Sharon Van Etten to gain a following and now he's giving his "bump" to folk band The Lone Bellow. This is the Brooklyn band's sophomore album, and it was produced by Dessner. Watch: "Fake Roses"

Natalie Prass - Natalie Prass Natalie Prass got her start as a member of Jenny Lewis' live band, a gig she got after auditioning demo recorded on an iPhone. She's also spent some time developing as a solo artist over the past couple of years. Her debut album, recorded with Matthew E. White as producer, has a bit of a throwback sound, with some comparing it to that of a vintage record. Her work and experience have paid off in one of the most highly-rated debut albums I've ever seen. Watch: "Bird of Prey" Watch: "Why Don't You Believe in Me"

Pond - Man It Feels Like Space Again Despite being a side project from members of Tame Impala, Pond has managed to become a significantly more prolific band, to the point that Tame Impala is pretty much the side project. This is their sixth album in nearly as many years together. It was originally intended to be their fifth album, it was written before 2013's Hobo Rocket, but the band instead chose to record and release Hobo Rocket first. At least this one wasn't a scrapped record, as it's another incredible release from the band. Watch: "Elvis’ Flaming Star" Watch: "Zond"

Punch Brothers - The Phosphorescent Blues This is the fourth album from, Punch Brothers, the folk/bluegrass supergroup. The band starting writing the record during the Telluride Bluegrass Festival in 2012, on the heels of Who's Feeling Young Now?, and were working on it almost right up until its release. It's their first album recorded with superstar producer T Bone Burnett and they will soon be touring in support of the release. Listen: "Julep" Listen: "My Oh My"

Twerps - Range Anxiety With a name like Twerps, it's easy to imagine a bunch of young musicians just learning to play their instruments, but these guys have been together for awhile. The Australian lofi/pop band formed in late 2008 and released their debut self-titled album in 2011. They spent the next few years touring and performing at some major festivals, and released an EP, Underlay, to tide fans over in 2013. Their sophomore album is their first on the Merge label. Watch: "Back to You" Watch: "Stranger"

Other New Releases

The Babies - Our House on the Hill Outtakes It's been a little while since we heard from this collaboration between Cassie Ramone and Kevin Morby, though they both released solo albums last year. They're making sure fans don't forget them with a couple of outtakes from their last record, 2012's Our House on the Hill. Listen: "Got Old" Listen: "All I Know"

The Body/Thou - Released from Love Reissue In addition to their new collaborative album, The Body and Thou are also reissuing their first collaboration. Initially, the album was released only on vinyl, but on its reissue, has also been made available via CD. Listen: "In Meetings Hearts Beat Closer" Listen: "The Wheel Weaves as the Wheel Wills"

Mike G - Award Tour II Mike G is one of the many members of Odd Future, and the first to release new music this year. This is a follow-up to his 2011 EP of the same name and features production and guest spots from other Odd Future members, including Left Brain, Tyler, the Creator, and Earl Sweatshirt. Watch: "Archer" (featuring Larry Susan) Listen: "James Bond"

Operators - "Ecstasy in My House" The latest project from former Wolf Parade member Dan Boeckner released their first EP, EP1, in August of last year. They've got just a little bit of new music to follow that up, but there's always hope for more from them this year! Listen: "Ecstasy in My House"

TRU Jack City The Real University is rapper 2 Chainz's new record label, which he announced just last month. Currently, Cap. 1, Skooly, Fresh, and 2 Chainz himself are signed to the label. As an introduction, he is releasing a mixtape featuring his artists. Listen: 2 Chainz - "Trap House Stalkin'" Listen: 2 Chainz - "Road Dawg"

Young Ejecta - The Planet The perpetually-naked Ejecta recently had to change their name due to a legal notice from DJ Ejecta (this seems to be happening a lot lately). This is their first release with the new name, a follow-up to 2013's Dominae. Listen: "Welcome to Love" Listen: "Into Your Heart"

New Music Tuesday - August 27, 2013

New Full-Length Releases

The Dodos - Carrier One sure way to make sure I will check out a band is for them to have aligned themselves with an artist that I love. The Dodos did just that with their last album, No Color, which featured Neko Case on a few songs. I came to love that album and the band quickly became one of my favorites. As soon as they announced this new album, I pre-ordered it (which is always risky, but I am confident in their work)! I'm anticipating another much-loved album. Listen: "Confidence"

Franz Ferdinand - Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action Franz Ferdinand has one of my favorite bands since high school. Nine years and three albums later, they're still making some of my favorite music. Frontman Alex Kapranos recently told The Observer that he considered breaking the band up two years ago, feeling as though he had lost enthusiasm. We should all be happy that he decided to keep going since we get a brand new album with tinges of their first record and a continually evolving sound! Listen/Watch: "Love Illumination"

Goodie Mob - Age Against the Machine I first became familiar with Cee Lo Green in the Gnarls Barkley duo. After two albums in that project, he released his third solo album, The Lady Killer, which included the monster hit "F*** You." With those other projects, it's easy to forget where he started, with the hip hop group Goodie Mob. The group, which started in 1990 had been on a recording hiatus since 2004. This is their big return and something to sip on until Cee Lo's next solo release! Listen/Watch: "Special Education"

King Krule - 6 Feet Beneath the Moon I tried to get into King Krule a couple of years ago following the release of his self-titled debut EP, which garnered a lot of hype. For some reason, I couldn't really get into it. I decided to give him another try when it was announced that he would be releasing his first album. I listened to the single "Easy Easy" and absolutely loved it. It reminded me of another British musician, Jamie T (who's been off the radar for a few years). I'm glad I gave him a second chance! Listen/Watch: "Easy Easy"

Naughty Boy - Hotel Cabana Naughty Boy is a electronic producer and musician who's been working with some of Britain's top singers, including Tinie Tempah and Leona Lewis. This album features vocals from Emeli Sandé and Sam Smith. The Smith song is actually the big reason I'm checking this album out! I really started to enjoy his work after he was featured on another electronic producer's album, Disclosure's Settle. Looks like he's going to be my in for more British music! Listen/Watch: "La La La"

Other New Releases

Andy Stott - "Anytime Soon" The Adult Swim single series continues! The latest installment comes from electronic musician Andy Stott. By the way, if you're interested in downloading any of the Adult Swim singles, you can get them here. Listen: "Anytime Soon"

Babyshambles - "Nothing Comes to Nothing" About six years since their last record, British indie rock band Babyshambles will be releasing a new album next week! In anticipation, they are releasing a new single. Listen/Watch: "Nothing Comes to Nothing"

The Beach Boys - Made in California Although they've recently failed in their latest attempt to reconcile (though it did result in a live album, tour and album), The Beach Boys aren't done with new releases. The latest is a career-spanning box set featuring previously unreleased demos, alternative takes and outtakes. Listen/Watch: "Surfin' USA"

Belle and Sebastian - The Third Eye Centre This is another b-sides and rarities release, but from a band that's still together (and a bit shorter than a full box set). This is the second compilation album from the band, the first being 2005's Push Barman to Open Old Wounds. Listen/Watch: "Your Cover's Blown" (Miaoux Miaoux Mix)

Bob Dylan - The Bootleg Series: Vol. 10 This is the 10th release in The Bootleg Series from Bob Dylan. This one comprises demos and outtakes from his Self Portrait and New Morning albums in 1970. Listen/Watch: "Pretty Saro"

John Frusciante - Outsides EP John Frusciante is continuing his extensive solo career with the release of his latest EP. Red Hot Chili Peppers may not be the same without him, but it's great to still be able to hear his work. Listen: "Sol"

Zero 7 - "On My Own"/"Don't Call It Love" It seems like it's been awhile since we heard from Zero 7. They were one of my favorite bands in college, but they haven't released an album since 2009. The delay makes this release pretty exciting, it's great to be getting something new from them! Listen: "On My Own"