New Music Friday - May 5, 2017

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases

The Afghan Whigs - In Spades The Afghan Whigs returned from a 16-year break with 2014's Do to the Beast. The wait for the follow-up has been, thankfully, much shorter. Beast was a good album, but did not quite rise to the level of their previous work. They've spent the three years since their comeback reissuing their earlier work. Perhaps going back over their past work helped on this record, it's more of a return to form. Watch: "Oriole" Watch: "Demon in Profile"

Blondie - Pollinator Blondie had their own recent return in 2011 with Panic of Girls, their first album in eight years. Pollinator is their third record since that return. The album sees the band moving towards some interesting writing collaborations. Nic Valensi, Sia, Charli XCX, Dev Hynes, David Sitek, and Johnny Marr all contributed to tracks. Watch: "Long Time" Watch: "Fun"

Juana Molina - Halo Juana Molina is an experimental artist from Argentina. She started her career as a sketch comedy actress, and achieved fame in the pursuit, but shifted to a music career in the mid-90s. Twenty-plus years into her music career, she has come to be regarded as one of the best of Argentine avant-garde music. Halo is her seventh album. Watch: "Lentísimo halo" Listen: "Cosoco"

Logic - Everybody Logic is Sir Robert Bryson Hall II, a mixed-race rapper from Maryland. His music often touches on the dynamics of being biracial and his experiences moving between both worlds. His third studio album includes features from Juicy J, Chuck D, and Killer Mike, among many others. Watch: "Black SpiderMan" (featuring Damian Lemar Hudson) Listen: "Everybody"

Perfume Genius - No Shape Perfume Genius, aka Mike Hadreas, began his career making music that was often quiet and reserved. His third album, 2014's Too Bright, saw him become more defiant and bombastic. The follow-up is a bit less so, but still light years away from his early sound. In many ways, it sounds happier than his past work, perhaps inspired, at least in part, by his settling into a long-term relationship. None of this is to say that the output has suffered, this is another incredible album from the artist! Watch: "Slip Away" Watch: "Die 4 You"

Other Full-Length Releases

Amanda Palmer & Edward Ka-Spel - I Can Spin a Rainbow Watch: "Beyond the Beach" Watch: "The Clock at the Back of the Cage"

Big Walnuts Yonder - Big Walnuts Yonder Listen: "Raise the Drawbridges?" Listen: "Sponge Bath"

Black Lips - Satan’s Graffiti or God’s Art? Watch: "Can’t Hold On" Listen: "Occidental Front" (featuring Yoko Ono)

Bonnie “Prince” Billy - Best Troubador Watch: "Mama Tried" Watch: "Bad Actor" (featuring Elsa Oldham)

Cayetana - New Kind of Normal Watch: "Mesa" Watch: "Bus Ticket"

Day Wave - The Days We Had Watch: "Promises" Watch: "Something Here"

Hoops - Routines Watch: "On Top" Listen: "On Letting Go"

Joan Shelley - Joan Shelley Listen: "Where I’ll Find You" Listen: "Wild Indifference"

Mac DeMarco - This Old Dog Watch: "One More Love Song" Watch: "On the Level"

Nightlands - I Can Feel the Night Around Me Watch: "Lost Moon" Listen: "Depending on You"

NIIA - I Watch: "Hurt You First" Watch: "Sideline" (featuring Jazmine Sullivan)

Nite Jewel - Real High Watch: "The Answer" Watch: "2 Good 2 Be True"

Pond - The Weather Watch: "30000 Megatons" Watch: "Sweep Me Off My Feet"

Walter Martin - My Kinda Music Listen: "Hey Matt" (featuring Matt Berninger) Listen: "Trip on a Ship" (featuring Laura Gibson)

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

Cover Stories: Brandi Carlile Celebrates 10 Years of The Story — An Album to Benefit War Child Watch: Dolly Parton - "The Story" Listen: Pearl Jam - "Again Today"

DANGERDOOM - The Mouse & the Mask Reissue Listen: "The Mask" (featuring Ghostface Killah) Listen: "Mad Nice" (featuring Black Thought & Vinny Price)

Flasher - "Winnie"/"Burn Blue" Listen: "Winnie" Listen: "Burn Blue"

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Lovely Creatures: The Best of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds 1984-2014

Small Circle - melatonin EP Reissue Listen: "We Belong Here" Listen: "Please Don't Touch the Moon"

Southern Poverty Law Center Listen: Bonnie “Prince” Billy - "Treasure Map"

Upcoming Album of the Week (Ending February 4)

This week, next generation's most celebrated musicians were announced; Beyoncé and Jay-Z are having twins! It will probably be a while before the two young-uns start releasing any music of their own, so until then, check out my Upcoming Releases page for my listing of new music!

This week Blondie announced their 11th album, Pollinator.

pitchfork.com

Blondie is one of the great punk and new wave bands, at least in my opinion. They were also often one of the most inventive, incorporating disco, and later even hip hop into their music. Following a run of six incredible albums, the band broke up in 1982, with members moving on to pursue other projects.

The band reformed in 1997 and wasted no time getting back into the swing of things. They've released four albums since reformation, most recently, 2014's Ghosts of Download.

The new album will include contributions from other punk icons like Joan Jett and Johnny Marr, as well as some younger musicians; Charli XCX, Dev Hynes, and Sia will also appear. The album was announced on Wednesday, along with a new track, "Fun."

Also announced this week:

Bleached - Can You Deal? (March 3)
BNQT - Vol. 1 (April 28)
Bob Dylan - Triplicate (March 31)
Cold War Kids - L.A. Divine (April 7)
Danny Brown & Paul White - Accelerator (February 10)
Day Wave - The Days We Had (May 5)
Depeche Mode - Spirit (March 17)
Future Islands - The Far Field (April 7)
Jidenna - The Chief (February 17)
Mac DeMarco - This Old Dog (May 5)
Nathan Fake - Providence (March 10)
Wiki & your old droog - What Happened to Fire? (March 10)

New Music Tuesday - May 13, 2014

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

New Full-Length Releases

Amen Dunes - Love Amen Dunes is the stage name of musician Damon McMahon and the third studio album from the project. For his latest release, he is working with members of Iceage, Godspeed You! Black Emperor!, and Colin Stetson. Watch: "Lilac in Hand" Listen: "Green Eyes"

The Black Keys - Turn Blue With each progressive release The Black Keys, who started out with a blues-heavy garage rock sound, have gained greater popularity and moved further away from the style that they became known for. The band re-teamed with Brian Burton (aka Danger Mouse) for this latest album. It's their fourth collaboration with the producer, which takes them in a more psychedelic direction. Watch: "Fever" Listen: "Turn Blue"

Blondie - Ghosts of Download Blondie has been together for forty years and has released ten albums in that time. Their previous, Panic of Girls, was a return after an eight-year hiatus. They continue to work with artists for whom their own work has influenced over the years. This time around, it's Systema Solar and Beth Ditto. Watch: "I Want to Drag You Around" Listen: "A Rose By Any Name"

Chromeo - White Women Chromeo is an electronic pop band who have become known for performing on a pair of keyboards with white women's legs as the bases. Perhaps it's appropriate, then, that they named their fourth and latest album White Women. The duo first came onto my radar with the release of a few tracks from this album, featuring other artists that I've come to love, Chaz Bundick of Toro Y Moi and Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend. Watch: "Jealous (I Ain't With It)" Watch: "Come Alive"

Hiss Tracts - Shortwave Nights Hiss Tracks is a project of Kevin Doria (known for work as Total Life and Growing) and David Bryant (who works with Godspeed You! Black Emperor!). The project is devoted to created intricate "soundscapes;" the band duo even describe themselves as "sound sculptors." Shortwave Nights is the debut album from the pair. Listen: "...shortwave nights" Listen: "for the transient projectionist"

Killer Be Killed - Killer Be Kileld Killer Be Killed is another side project made up of members from other prominent bands, in this case, it is members of Mastodon and The Mars Volta. The group formed in 2011 and this is their debut album, described as politically-charged merging of all of the members' individual styles. Listen: "I.E.D."

Kishi Bashi - Lighght Kishi Bashi is the stage name of Kaoru Ishibashi created by combining his first initial and last name. He first came to prominence with his debut album 151a and the track "Bright Whites," which was featured in a Microsoft commercial. He uses his considerable skills as a violinist to create classical-tinged pop music. Watch: "Philosophize in It! Chemicalize with It!" Watch: "The Ballad of Mr. Steak"

La Sera - Hour of the Dawn La Sera, real name Katy Goodman, is a former member of Vivian Girls, who called it quits earlier this year. She's well-established as a solo artist, though. This is her third studio album as La Sera, though she's also worked with Matthew Mondanile (of Real Estate) in his Ducktails project. Her sound doesn't tend to veer far from the indie/noise pop of her former band, but on her latest release, she promises something more punk, invoking Black Flag in describing her goal for the record. Listen: "Losing to the Dark" Listen: "Hour of the Dawn"

Michael Jackson - XSCAPE Michael Jackson has been dead for five years now and we are getting the second (of probably countless more to come) posthumous release of his work. The release collects and completes songs initially recorded from 1983 to 1999. Additional artists have been brought in to help complete vocals, including Justin Timberlake on "Love Never Felt So Good." Watch: "Love Never Felt So Good" (with Justin Timberlake) Listen: "Blue Gangsta"

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Days of Abandon Days of Abandon is the third studio album from this New York shoegazing band, produced by Andy Savours. The album was completed in London and features album artwork by Korean artist Lee Jin Ju. Watch: "Until the Sun Explodes" Watch: "Simple and Sure"

Swans - To Be Kind Swans was founded in 1982 and were active until 1997. After a 13 year hiatus, they returned with 2010's My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky., which was followed in 2013 with The Seer. With both albums, they were quickly back on the indie radar. Their latest is an epic two-hour double album. Listen: "A Little God in My Hands" Listen: "Oxygen"

Sylvan Esso - Sylvan Esso Sometimes, it's the most unlikely of pairing that create the most interesting collaborations. Sylvan Esso is made up of Amelia Randall Meath of folk band Mountain Man and producer Nicholas Sanborn. The pair first came to prominence with a re-recorded version of Mountain Man's "Play It Right," and are now putting out their first record together. Watch: "Play It Right" Watch: "Coffee"

Thollem + Chase - Dub Narcotic Session Thollen + Chase is made up of pianist Thollem McDonas and Brian Chase, drummer for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. The pair first worked together in trio that included James Ilgenfritz. Their first album together was meant to include a guitarist, who fell ill shortly after recording began. They continued on without him, resulting in the Dub Narcotic Session. Listen: "Dis-Mis-Education" Listen: "After One"

Tori Amos - Unrepentant Geraldines Tori Amos has been a long-performing and prolific artist, who has released 14 albums during her 22-year solo career. The latest record follows a period of disaffection with pop and rock music, during which Amos experimented with classical music and musicals. While her work outside of her typical genre has been interesting to experience, her return is most welcome. Watch: "Trouble's Lament" Listen: "16 Shades of Blue"

Walter Martin - We're All Young Together I was sad when one of my favorite bands, The Walkmen, announced an indefinite hiatus earlier this year. I was happier, though, to discover that several of the band members would be releasing their own solo records during the year. The first comes from bassist Walter Martin, who has released a collection of kid-friendly tunes. Watch: "We Like the Zoo" Listen: "Sing to Me" (featuring Karon O)

Other New Releases

Blondie - Blondie 4(0) In addition to the new solo record detailed above, Blondie has put out a greatest hits record to celebrate their 40 years together. Rather than just collecting some of their more popular songs, the band has re-recorded them for this release. Listen: "Heart of Glass" Listen: "The Tide Is High"

Cold Cave - Full Cold Moon It's been a decent while since the release of Cold Cave last studio record Cherish the Light Years. In the three years since that album, though, Wes Eisold has put out a number of singles. This release collects many of those singles and comes before an anticipated 2014 record, Sunflower. Watch: "A Little Death to Laugh" Listen: "Oceans with No End"

Django Django - Late Night Tales Late Night Tales has become a popular way for popular artists to present music that has influenced them in their own careers. The latest (number 35!) is curated by British indie pop outfit Django Django. The album features songs by The Beach Boys, Primal Scream and Harry Nilsson. It also includes a Monkees cover by the band and the final installment of the short story Flat of Angles, read by Benedict Cumberbatch. Listen: Django Django - "Porpoise Song" Listen: Harry Nilsson - "Coconut"

The Gay Nineties Old Tyme Music: Daisy Bell And the award for weirdest release of 2014 goes to Mark Ryden for this compilation. Ryden, who designed the cover art for Tyler, The Creator's Wolf, brings together a plethora of artists to record versions of the 1892 song "Daisy Bell." Contributors include Tyler, The Creator, Katy Perry and Nick Cave. Watch: Nick Cave - "Daisy Bell" Watch: Tyler, The Creator - "Daisy Bell"

I Saved Latin! A Tribute to Wes Anderson I Saved Latin! brings together a number of musicians to cover songs that have been featured on the soundtracks of various Wes Anderson films. This compilation includes contributions from Telekinesis, Juliana Hatfield and Margot & The Nuclear So and So's. Listen: Tele Novella - "Stephanie Says" Listen: Generationals - "Making Time"

Mac Miller - Faces Mixtape Mac Miller is a producer and hip hop artist who came to prominence with the release of last year's Watching Movies with the Sound Off. On his latest mixtape, he is enlisting the help of many other rappers, including SchoolBoy Q and Earl Sweatshirt. Listen: "New Faces" (featuring Earl Sweatshirt & Da$h) Listen: "Friends" (featuring SchoolBoy Q)

Morrissey - "World Peace Is None of Your Business" Morrissey's voice has made the sound of both his solo work and his work with The Smiths unique and distinctive. On his latest record, though (due later this year), he is doing something a little bit different. The record will be mostly spoken word. "World Peace Is None of Your Business" is the first single from that upcoming release. Listen: "World Peace Is None of Your Business"