Upcoming Album of the Week (Ending July 22)

Arcade Fire recently published their own spoof of Stereogum's "Premature Evaluation" feature with a "Premature Premature Evaluation" of their upcoming album, Everything Now, on the "site" Stereoyum. They've been none-too-happy with Stereogum since the site published a less-than-glowing review of one of the tracks from the new album. I guess this is their version of a take-down.

Arcade Fire do have an album coming out soon, along with many other amazing artists; check them out at the Upcoming Releases page!

This week, Wolf Parade announced their fourth album, Cry Cry Cry.

pitchfork.com

Wolf Parade is an post-punk/indie band, co-fronted by Spencer Krug and Dan Boeckner, who released three amazing albums between 2005 and 2010. The members went their separate ways in 2011 with an "indefinite hiatus".

That time off was a boon for their various side and solo projects. Spencer Krug started recording under Moonface, releasing two EPs, two collaborative albums with Siinai, and two studio albums. Boecker has been similarly prolific, with his final album with Handsome Furs, an album with Divine Fits (co-fronted with Britt Daniel of Spoon), and an EP and LP with another new band, Operators.

Other members were relatively less fruitful outside of the band, though guitarist Dante DeCaro released a solo EP, Kill Your Boyfriend, late last year.

The band reunited last year with a tour and a fourth self-titled EP. I was able to catch the band at the otherwise disappointing Midpoint Music Festival last September. The announcement of their first full-length back together came with a new song, "Valley Boy".

Cry Cry Cry is set to be released on October 6.

Also announced this week:

Andrew Hung - Realisationship (October 6)
Carmen Villain - Infinite Avenue (September 8)
The Cornshed Sisters - Honey & Tar (November 3)
Jaws of Love - Tasha Sits Close to the Piano (September 22)
The Lemon Twigs - Brothers of Destruction (September 22)
Mark Kozelek - Mark Kozelek with Ben Boye and Jim White (October 6)
The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead Super Deluxe Reissue (October 20)
Superchunk - Superchunk Reissue (August 25)

Upcoming Album of the Week (Ending October 29)

Well, the saga is perhaps over and Bob Dylan has officially acknowledged his Nobel prize! He claims that he does want to attend the ceremony and will "if possible." Maybe the experience will influence some new work from the iconic artist; keep an eye out on my Upcoming Releases page to see if that happens!

This week, a member of the recently reformed Wolf Parade, Dante DeCaro, announced his first solo release, Kill Your Boyfriend.

exclaim.ca

Prior to his work with Wolf Parade, DeCaro was a member of Hot Hot Heat, which he left in 2005 when he joined Wolf Parade as guitarist. During his time with Wolf Parade, he also fronted Johnny and the Moon. He recorded two albums with Wolf Parade (he was not yet around for Apologies to the Queen Mary) and one with Johnny and the Moon.

He is hardly the only member of Wolf Parade to engage in side projects; Spencer Krug has Moonface, Dan Boeckner had Handsome Furs and is a member of Divine Fits and Operators. Of the members with side projects, though, he's the only that remained silent during the band's hiatus from 2011 to 2016. He returned with the rest of the band for their self-titled return EP earlier this year and their subsequent tour.

With the EP announcement on Wednesday, DeCaro also released a new song, "Love Like Thieves."



Also announced this week:

2 Chainz - Hibachi for Lunch (out now)
A$AP Mob - Cozy Tapes Vol. 1: Friends (October 31)
Allison Crutchfield - Tourist in This Town (January 27)
The Avalanches - Since I Left You Reissue (January 27)
Barbagallo - Grand Chien (October 28)
The Decemberists - The Crane Wife Box Set (December 9)
Drake - More Life (December)
Frankie Cosmos - Covers (November 13)
Hand Habits - Wildly Idle (Humble Before the Void) (February 10)
Lady Lamb - Tender Warriors Club (December 1)
Meek Mill - DC4 (out now)
Minor Victories - Orchestral Variations (November 25)

New Music Friday - May 20, 2016

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases

Adult Jazz - Earrings Off! While I appreciate when bands take some time between albums, I do love it when there's a quick return on a great record. Adult Jazz's debut, Gist Is, was one of my favorites of 2014, and they are back in almost no time with this new album. They haven't lost any bit of their strange, jazz-inflected brand of indie rock. It's a short album at just seven songs, but still a sweet listen. Watch: "Earrings Off!" Watch: "Eggshell"

Ariana Grande - Dangerous Woman Maybe it's my tastes that are changing, but I think pop music is better now than it has been in 20 years and miss Ariana herself is one of the bright points. She's attempting a "bad girl" re-branding on her third album. It's not very convincing, but that doesn't mean the music's not good, or that she doesn't sound the best she ever has. Watch: "Dangerous Woman" Watch: "Into You"

Car Seat Headrest - Teens of Denial Car Seat Headrest's Will Toledo may be young, but he's been incredibly prolific in his six-year career. At 23 years old, he'd already self-released 11 albums on his Bandcamp before his debut, Teens of Style, for Matador last year. While he doesn't regard his earliest releases as representative of his musical approach now, he does not shy away from their existence and they remain available for fans. While similar in name to his previous record, this album is not a sequel or outtakes record, but a new album in its own right. Watch: "Vincent" Watch: "Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales"

Marissa Nadler - Strangers Marissa Nadler employs a dreamy, doomed-sounding style of folk that makes her one of my favorite female folk singers. Her previous record, July, was a favorite of mine a couple of years ago. On her follow-up, she departs from telling her own personal stories of love and heartbreak, and focuses on stories of other characters, losing the first-person perspective. Watch: "All the Colors of the Dark" Watch: "Janie in Love"

Yuna - Chapters Yuna is a Malaysian pop singer who first started writing and performing songs as a creative outlet while she was in law school. Obviously, it has since become her career. She released her first album in 2008 in her native country. Over the past eight years, she has alternated between native and international releases. Chapters is her third international album, following the Malaysian release of Material, last year. Watch: "Crush" (featuring Usher) Watch: "Places to Go"

Other Full-Length Releases

Bob Dylan - Fallen Angels Listen: "Melancholy Mood" Listen: "All the Way"

Eric Clapton - I Still Do Watch: "Can’t Let You Do It" Watch: "Spiral"

Richard Ashcroft - These People Watch: "This Is How It Feels" Watch: "Hold On"

William Ryan Fritch - New Words for Old Wounds Listen: "Vantage Point" Listen: "Conflicted"

Xiu Xiu - Plays the Music of Twin Peaks Watch: "Into the Night" Listen: "Falling"

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

Boys - Love on Tour EP Listen: "Happy Hour" Listen: "All My Friends"

Braids - Companion Watch: "Companion" Watch: "Joni"

Day of the Dead Watch: Perfume Genius, Sharon van Etten, & Friends - "To Lay Me Down" Watch: Phosphorescent, Jenny Lewis & Friends - "Sugaree"

The Highwaymen - Live: American Outlaws Watch: "Desperados Waiting for a Train" Listen: "I Still Miss Someone"

The Highwaymen - The Very Best Of Watch: "Highwayman" Listen: "Big River"

MF DOOM - Live from Planet X Reissue

Songs from Lahore

Wolf Parade - EP 4 Listen: "Automatic" Listen: "Mr. Startup"

Upcoming Album of the Week (Ending May 14)

Well, Azealia Banks sure had herself an eventful week on Twitter (and then on Instagram, and then back to Twitter). She has long passed the point that she can still make music and have people talk about only that. There are still plenty of artists, though, who haven't made themselves unlistenable through terrible attitudes, so head over to my Upcoming Releases page and check some of them out!

It was a fairly slow week for new announcements, at least those that caught my eye. Perhaps with all the surprise releases lately, no other artists want to compete for our attention.

Earlier this year, Wolf Parade, who had disbanded in 2011, got back together and announced a series of reunion shows. Fans were anticipating the announcement of new music, as well, and this week, the band delivered. On Friday, they announced EP 4, their first new collection of music in six years.

pitchfork.com

During their initial run, Wolf Parade released three albums togethers, the last being 2010's Expo 86. Their decision to go on hiatus was due to the members' desire to focus on other projects. Fans weren't lacking for new music from band members, as each dived right into those other projects. Dante DeCaro and Arlen Thompson both maintain side projects; Dan Boeckner released one more album with Handsome Furs, partnered with Spoon's Britt Daniel as Divine Fits for an album, and started Operators, releasing one EP and one album with them; Spencer Krug released two albums and one EP as Moonface (with another on the way).

Despite the breadth and quality of all of those other projects, I maintain a soft spot for the Wolf Parade line-up. I hope that they continue past this EP with more new music (and maybe schedule a tour date in Cincinnati)!

EP 4 is set to come out Tuesday.

Also announced this week:

Clarke:Hartnoll - 2Square (June 10)
Fleetwood Mac - Mirage Deluxe Reissue (July 19)
MSTRKRFT - Operator (July 22)
Metronomy - Summer 08 (July 1)
River Tiber - Indigo (June 24)
Speedy Ortiz - Foiled Again (June 3)
Thee Oh Sees - Thee Oh Sees - Live in San Francisco (July 1)
Will Butler - Friday Night (June 17)
YG - Still Krazy (June)