New Music Friday - August 25, 2017

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases

EMA - Exile in the Outer Ring This fourth album from Erika M. Anderson is written about the "outer ring", lower-income housing that has risen up around many large cities as the wealth has moved towards the center. Always socially- and politically-minded, Anderson sings about the poverty and lack of resources plaguing these areas. She works with Unknown Mortal Orchestra's Jacob Portrait on the record, which continues her streak of spectacular music. Watch: "Blood and Chalk" Watch: "Down and Out"

Filthy Friends - Invitation Filthy Friends is a band formed from members of Sleater-Kinney (Corin Tucker), Fastbacks (Kurt Bloch), R.E.M. (Peter Buck, Bill Rieflin), and The Young Fresh Fellows (Scott McCaughey). They formed in 2012 primarily to perform David Bowie covers, but have moved to their own material for their debut album together. Watch: "Despierta" Listen: "The Arrival"

Gordi - Reservoir Gordi is Sophie Payten, a musician from Sydney, Australia. She got her start a couple of years ago, getting attention from Australian radio stations Triple J and FBi before signing a record deal with (Bloomington, Indiana-based!) Jagjaguwar Records and releasing an EP, Clever Disguise, in May of last year. Reservoir is her debut full-length. Watch: "Bitter End" Watch: "On My Side"

Iron & Wine - Beast Epic Iron & Wine's last two albums, 2015's Sing Into My Mouth and 2016's Love Letter for Fire, were his first forays into full-length album collaborations, with Ben Bridwell and Jesca Hoop, respectively. This year, he's back as a solo artist for his sixth album. It is noted as a return to the artist's sound on his earliest work, with at least one critic comparing it to Our Endless Numbered Days, his second studio album. Watch: "Call It Dreaming" Watch: "Thomas County Law"

Queens of the Stone Age - Villains QotSA made a surprising (to me, at least) move for their seventh album, working with producer Mark Ronson. Ronson became known for his work with Amy Winehouse, as well as the groover he released in 2014 with Bruno Mars. It seems like a strange pairing, but one that allowed the band to greatly progress their sound. Villains isn't a huge departure from their past work, but does introduce a but of boogie to the mix. Listen: "The Evil Has Landed" Listen: "The Way You Used to Do"

Other Full-Length Releases

A$AP Mob - Cozy Tapes Vol. 2: Too Cozy Watch: "Feels So Good" Watch: "RAF" (featuring A$AP Rocky, Playboi Carti, & Quavo)

Action Bronson - Blue Chips 7000 Watch: "The Chairman’s Intent" Watch: "Let Me Breathe"

Baby in Vain - More Nothing Watch: "To Heaven and Back" Watch: "Lowlife"

Blank Range - Marooned with the Treasure Listen: "Ember in the Ash" Listen: "Opening Band"

CYMBALS - Light Your Mind Watch: "Decay" Listen: "Car Crash"

The Fresh & Onlys - Wolf Lie Down Watch: "One of a Kind" Watch: "Impossible Man"

Game Theory - Supercalifragile

A Giant Dog - Toy Watch: "Bendover" Listen: "Photograph"

Joseph Shabason - Aytche Watch: "Westmeath" Listen: "Aytche"

Liars - TCFC Watch: "Staring at Zero" Watch: "Cred Woes"

The Mynabirds - Be Here Now Watch: "Golden Age" Watch: "Cocoon"

Oh Sees - Orc Watch: "Night Expo" Listen: "The Static God"

Shock Machine - Shock Machine Watch: "Lost in the Mystery" Watch: "Open Up the Sky"

The War on Drugs - A Deeper Understanding Watch: "Pain" Watch: "Holding On"

Widowspeak - Expect the Best Watch: "Dog" Listen: "When I Tried"

Wiki - No Mountains in Manhattan Watch: "Mayor" Watch: "Pretty Bull"

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

D’Angelo - Brown Sugar Reissue Listen: "Cruisin’" (Who’s Foolin’ Who Mix) Listen: "Brown Sugar" (Incognito Molasses Remix)

Dan Deacon - Spiderman of the RIngs 10-Year Anniversary Reissue Watch: "The Crystal Cat" Listen: "Big Milk"

Hand Habits - "Yr Heart" 7” Listen: "Yr Heart" Listen: "Carpenter’s Daughter"

King Krule - "Czech One" Watch: "Czech One"

Philia: Arists Rise Against Islamophobia Listen: The Dodos - "Mirror Flake" Listen: Hamilton Leithauser - "The Song with No Name"

Superchuck - Superchunk Reissue Watch: "Watery Hands"

Underworld - Beaucoup Fish Super Deluxe Edition Listen: "Jumbo" Listen: "Cups"

New Music Friday - September 11, 2015

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases

Beirut - No No No Though he became known for a sound heavily influenced by Balkan folk, Zach Condon sought to distance from that style for Beirut's latest album. Following an artistic lull, he wanted to bring in other styles that he had been influenced by, as well as allow other members of his band so to have input on the writing. While that may risk sacrificing some of the band's unique charms, the result is a lighter and more accessible album. Watch: "Gibraltar" Watch: "No No No"

The Libertines - Anthems for Doomed Youth Pete Doherty seems to be in a reuniting mood lately. After six years essentially as a solo musician (with one album, Grace/Wastelands and a handful of singles bearing his name), he got back together with one band, Babyshambles, for 2013's Sequel to the Prequel. Now, he's reunited his other popular band, The Libertines. Their first album album in more than a decade follows more a year of the band performing together again. Watch: "Gunga Din" Watch: "Heart of the Matter"

Low - Ones & Sixes Husband and wife team Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker have been performing together as Low (along with Steve Garrington) for more than two decades. They have perfected a sparse, harmony-focused, slow-moving sound over those years. On their 11th studio album, they get some additional help from Wilco's Glenn Kotche. Watch: "No Comprende" Watch: "Lies"

Other Full-Length Releases

Ben Folds & yMusic - So There Listen: "Phone in the Pool" Listen: "So There"

Fresh Snow - Won Watch: "Proper Burial" Watch: "Don't Fuck a Gift Horse in the Mouth"

Petite Noir - La Vie Est Belle/Life Is Beautiful Watch: "Down" Watch: "La Vie Est Belle/Life Is Beautiful" (featuring Baloji)

Phil Cook - Southland Mission Watch: "1922" Listen: "Great Tide"

Prince - HITNRUN

Richard Hawley - Hollow Meadows Watch: "Nothing Like a Friend" Watch: "Heart of Oak"

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

Devinyl Splits No. 3 Listen: Tiger Jaw - "In Between Days" Listen: Kevin Devine - "Lovesong"

The Fresh & Onlys - Early Years Anthology

The Fresh & Onlys - The Fresh & Onlys Listen: "Feelings in My Heart" Listen: "Fog Machine"

Jim Adkins - Singles Series Listen: "Hell" Listen: "Love Don’t Wait"

New Music Tuesday - 06/10/2014

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

New Full-Length Releases

First Aid Kit - Stay Gold For such a young duo, the Söderberg sister act hit the ground running. This is their third studio album; their first, The Big Black & Blue, in 2010, when the younger sister, Johanna, was just 17 years old. Stay Gold is their most personal album yet, perhaps influenced by a young adulthood spent on the road away from other family. Watch: "My Silver Lining" Watch: "Cedar Lane"

The Fresh & Onlys - House of Spirits The Fresh & Onlys create an interesting mix of genres, spanning from psychedelic folk to garage rock. They've been an incredibly prolific band, releasing five albums over the past six years. Their latest was written by frontman Tim Cohen on an isolated Arizona horse ranch. Listen: "Animal of One" Listen: "Bells of Paonia"

Jack White - Lazaretto Jack White had spent so much time in bands, it started to seem like it was his comfort zone. It's been four years, however, since the release of his last record in a band, The Dead Weather's Sea of Cowards. He released his first solo record in 2012 so I guess solo his his new milieu! Watch: "Lazaretto" Watch: "High Ball Stepper"

Stagnant Pools - Geist When I decide to check out a new artist, it's usually because I've heard a song that they were featured on or have heard a lot about them from a variety of publications. I only heard about Stagnant Pools once, on the AVClub, but the headline mentioned that there were an Indiana band. Reading the story, I discovered they were from Bloomington. I did actually listen to the music and really liked it, but Hoosier pride people! Listen: "Intentions"

Other New Releases

How to Train Your Dragon 2: Music from the Motion Picture Now, I haven't actually seen the How to Train Your Dragon films, though I did see snippets of the first and it looked cute. I'm including the soundtrack on my weekly list, however, due to a contribution to the soundtrack from Jónsi, lead singer for Sigur Rós. Listen: Jónsi - "Where No One Goes"

Pepsi Beats of the Beautiful Game As I'm sure everyone knows, the 2014 World Cup began this week in Brazil. To celebrate the world's most popular sport, Pepsi has put together a collection of songs (some new, some old) to represent the various cultures also present in the Cup. Listen: Santigold - "Kicking Down Doors" Watch: Janelle Monáe - "Heroes"

Poliça - Shulamith Deluxe Edition Poliça released one hell of an album last year. This year, it's getting its re-release with a few newer songs and an awesome cover of the Lesley Gore classic, "You Don't Own Me." Watch: "Raw Exit" Listen: "You Don't Own Me"

Real Estate - Spotify Sessions: Live at SXSW The band Real Estate performed at this year's SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas. The performance was a part of a series of Spotify Sessions and is now getting a release (exclusively through the music streaming service, of course) this summer. Listen: "Crime" Listen: "Had to Hear"

New Music Tuesday - September 24, 2013

New Full-Length Releases

Au Revoir Simone - Move in Spectrums Au Revoir Simone is a dream pop band out of Brooklyn (where so much good indie music comes from). They've released three albums before this latest, though they've never been a huge love of mine. Dream pop can often be fairly timid and they seemed especially so. The songs I've heard from this record so far, though, feel a lot more bombastic and confident than those on past releases. Listen/Watch: "Crazy"

Chvrches - The Bones of What You Believe Every band's best friend (or worst enemy), hype, pops up big time for this act. Chvrches is a Glaswegian electronic/pop band. They started getting attention in 2012 with the release of the singles "Lies" and "The Mother We Share," which brought them a lot of positive press. They released an excellent EP, Recover, earlier this year, but the release of their debut album is especially exciting. It's gotten some great reviews and I expect it to be one of my favorites, as well. Listen/Watch: "The Mother We Share"

Deer Tick - Negativity 2012 was a stressful year for Deer Tick's John J. McCauley III. His father went to prison and his marriage engagement ended. Rather than withdraw and wallow in self-pity (which is what I would probably do), he converted his emotions into writing this record. The best music is often the most personal, but it can sometimes also be the hardest to listen to. I do hope that the same can be said of this record (being among the best of Deer Tick's work, not being difficult to listen to). Listen/Watch: "The Rock"

Drake - Nothing Was the Same If you had told me six years ago that Jimmy from DeGrassi: The Next Generation would become one of the 2010s most popular rappers, I probably would have laughed. Drake's popularity, and the quality of his work, have come as a great surprise to me, and I'm sure, many other former DeGrassi fans. I guess there is a precedent for former child stars making good music, just look at Jenny Lewis. Drake's rap career have brought him three excellent albums (this one included). Listen/Watch: "Hold On, We're Going Home"

Frankie Rose - Herein Wild Frankie Rose released one of my favorite albums, Interstellar, last year. I was not surprised to find out that she had once been a part of a couple of my other favorite bands, Vivian Girls and Dum Dum Girls. I'm a little nervous for this release. You see, sometimes, when a fan and an album fall in love, a certain type of bond is formed. It isn't always easy to convert that love when a new album is released. Frankie is so amazing, though, that I know I shouldn't fear too much! Listen: "Sorrow"

The Internet - Feel Good The Odd Future gang became so associated with sexism and homophobia a couple of years ago, that it was, and still is, easy to ignore that there are members of the collective that are both gay (Frank Ocean) and female (Syd tha Kid). Along with Matt Martians, Syd forms The Internet, one of the many Odd Future subgroups. This group creates music containing elements of trip hop and neo-soul. It provides a good reminder that the collective creates a truly diverse variety of music. Listen/Watch: "Don'tcha"

Oh Land - Wishbone Oh Land is a new artist for me. By chance, I checked out her song and video for "Renaissance Girls" and few weeks ago and really liked the sound. She reminded me a lot of Sia, which is fitting, since Sia is a featured artist here. It's been awhile since I've listened to this style of pop, so I'm thinking Oh Land will bring me back into it! Listen/Watch: "Renaissance Girls"

Pink Martini - Get Happy This band may seem like an odd choice for someone mostly interested in indie rock and starting to appreciate hip hop and electronics, but Pink Martini has been a long-time love for me. They make jazzy, classical, almost lounge-type music. I started listening to them in college since they made such great studying music and have loved them ever since. Listen: "Ich Dich Liebe"

Other New Releases

The Fresh and Onlys - Soothsayer EP I haven't listened much to The Fresh & Onlys yet, but ever since I fell in love with Cloud Nothing's sophomore album last year, I've been searching for more great noise/punk rock. The Fresh & Onlys released a full-length album, Long Slow Dance, last year. I've been listening to that some and really liking the sound. And no, I don't know the story behind this cover art. Listen: "God of Suez"

Grand Theft Auto V Soundtrack I started playing serious video games last year when I discovered that they were a great distraction from real-life problems. I haven't had the pleasure to play the latest GTA game yet, but I can already appreciate the music in the game. The gamemakers recruited some great rock, hip hop and electronic artists for the game. It features Wavves, A$AP Rocky and Flying Lotus, among others. Who knew you could discover new music from video games? Listen: Clams Casino - "Crystals"

Haim - "The Wire" Haim has been subject to a lot of hype over the past year. The sister trio are preparing their debut album for next week, but, in anticipation, here's a single from the record! Listen/Watch: "The Wire"

Nirvana - In Utero 20th Anniversary Edition Most people's first thought with Nirvana is usually "Smells Like Team Spirit" and the album Nevermind. While that was a great album, it's sometimes easy to forget that In Utero was almost as iconic an album from the band. 20 years after it was originally released, it is getting the requisite anniversary release. Listen/Watch: "Heart Shaped Box"

Peter Gabriel - And I'll Scratch Yours In 2010, Peter Gabriel released Scratch My Back, in which he covered songs from a wide range of artists, including Bon Iver, Randy Newman and Arcade Fire. This album features many of those artists returning the favor. The artists that he covered three years ago cover his songs on this release. Listen/Watch: Bon Iver - "Come Talk to Me"

Smashing Pumpkins - Oceania: Live in NYC The Smashing Pumpkins are still going strong after 25 years, although Billy Corgan is the only member remaining from the original line-up. They released their eighth studio album, Oceania, last year. In December of last year, they performed the album in full at the Barclay's Center in New York. This is the recording of that concert. Listen/Watch: "Quasar" (Live)