Upcoming Album of the Week (Ending September 8, 2018)

One of the unfortunate aspects of hip hop culture is the expectation of rivalry between artists, and the frequent delivery on that expectation. A long-brewing rivalry between Nicki Minaj and Cardi B came to a head last night with Cardi attacking Nicki at a Fashion Week event and then being kicked out of the event. Maybe they'll patch things up some day, but for now, I'm awaiting the inevitable barrage of diss tracks between the rappers.

Better things have happened in the music world recently, including a lot of new album announcements. One in particular that I am looking forward to is the upcoming posthumous album from soul man Charles Bradley, Black Velvet.

treblezine.com

Though he had a long performing career, Bradley had a late age surge in popularity and released his first album, No Time for Dreaming, at age 62. He would release two more albums before his death last year.

His latest, and reportedly final, album was announced on September 6. It collects session recordings from all three of his records. The first single and video, "I Feel a Change," was also released.

Black Velvet is set for release on November.

Also announced recently:

27: The Most Perfect Album (September 18)
AlunaGeorge - Champagne Eyes (October 5)
Blondie - BLONDIE: Heart of Glass (October 26)
Bohemian Rhapsody: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (November 2)
D+ - Destroy Before Listening (out now)
Dave Davies - Decade (October 12)
Empress Of - Us (October 19)
First Aid Kit - Tender Offerings (September 14)
Four Tet - Live at Funkhaus Berlin, 10th May 2018 (out now)
Gabby’s World - Beast on Beast (November 2)
Geotic - Traversa (October 19)
Meg Baird & Mary Lattimore - Ghost Forests (November 9)
HAERTS - New Compassion (October 5)
J Mascis - Elastic Days (November 9)
Jerusalem in My Heart - Daqa’iq Tudaiq (October 5)
Joey Purp - QUARTERTHING (September 7)
John Lennon - Imagine - The Ultimate Collection (October 5)
Julia Holter - Aviary (October 26)
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard - 12 Bar Bruise Reissue (November 2)
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard - Eyes Like the Sky Reissue (November 2)
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard - Float Along - Fill Your Lungs Reissue (November 2)
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard - Oddments Reissue (November 2)
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard - Willoughby’s Beach Reissue (November 2)
Liars - Titles with the Words Fountain (September 21)
Logic - Young Sinatra IV (September 28)
Loretta Lynn - Wouldn’t It Be Great (September 28)
LUH - Love Hates What You Become (January 18)
Marie Davidson - Working Class Woman (October 5)
Mark Kozelek with Donny McCaslin and Jim White - Mark Kozelek with Donny McCaslin and Jim White (March 2)
The Mountain Goats - Hex of Infinite Binding EP (out now)
NAO - Saturn (October 26)
Neneh Cherry - Broken Politics (October 19)
The Radio Dept. - “Going Down Swinging” (out now)
The Skiffle Players - Skiff (October 12)
Skylar Spence - “Carousel”/“Cry Wolf” (out now)
Thom Yorke - Suspiria (Music for the Luca Guadagnino Film) (October 26)
The Twilight Sad - It Won/t Be Like This All the Time (January 18)
Ty Segall - Fudge Sandwich (October 26)
The Watson Twins - DUO (October 12)
Will Oldham - Songs of Love and Horror (October 19)
Yumi Zouma - EP III (September 27)

You can also view a longer list of upcoming music at my Upcoming Releases page!

New Music Friday - April 1, 2016

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases

Ash Koosha - I AKA I Ash Koosha is an Iranian composer, producer and graduate of the Tehran Conservatory of Music. He is also a software designer for whom visuals and sound often overlap. He released his debut album, GUUD, in 2015 to critical acclaim. He has followed that up in short order with I AKA I, another collection of intricately-constructed tracks. Listen: "Mudafossil" Listen: "Biutiful"

Bleached - Welcome the Worms Welcome the Worms is the second album from this three-piece punk outfit out of California. Since the release of their 2013 debut album, Ride Your Heart, they've experienced the less-pleasant side of life with loss of homes and relationships; experiences which influenced the writing of this album. With producer Joe Chicarelli, their sound also matures greatly on this record. Watch: "Wednesday Night Melody" Watch: "Keep on Keepin’ On"

Bombino - Azel Omara Moctar is a Nigerian Tuareg guitarist whose music often addresses issues impacting his people. He risked his life in pursuit of art. The Nigerian government banned guitars for the Tuareg following the Tuareg Rebellion in 2007, and he saw fellow musicians executed. During a three-year exile, he met filmmaker Ron Wyman, who urged him to formally record his music. He released Agadez in 2011 and the Dan Auerbach-produced Nomad in 2013. His latest record was produced by David Longstreth of Dirty Projectors. Watch: "Inar" Listen: "Akhar Zaman"

Charles Bradley - Changes Charles Bradley became a new recording artist around the same age that other musicians are thinking retirement. Though he had performed for over 40 years, he released his first album, No Time for Dreaming, in 2011 at the age of 62. Positive response to the record kicked off a wave of success for Bradley, who followed it up with 2013's Victim of Love and this latest record, which (of all things) includes a Black Sabbath cover! Watch: "Changes" Watch: "Change for the World"

Frankie Cosmos - Next Thing Frankie Cosmos is the stage name of Greta Kline, daughter of actors Phoebe Cates and Kevin Kline. Despite famous parents, she has been making a name for herself since 2011. She has performed with the band Porches and released her debut album, Zentropy, in 2014. Watch: "It Is Possible/Sleep Song" Listen: "Sinister"

Other Full-Length Releases

Andrew Bird - Are You Serious Watch: "Left-Handed Kisses" (featuring Fiona Apple) Watch: "Capsized"

Babyfather - BBF Hosted by DJ Escrow Watch: "Shook"/"Motivation" Listen: "Meditation" (featuring Arca)

Black Mountain - IV Watch: "Florian Saucer Attack" Watch: "Mothers of the Sun"

The Field - The Follower Listen: "Raise the Dead" Listen: "Reflecting Lights"

The Heavy - Hurt & the Merciless Watch: "Since You Been Gone" Watch: "Turn Up"

Japanese Breakfast - Psychopomp Listen: "Everybody Wants to Love You" Listen: "That Woman Loves You"

John Congleton & The Nighty Night - Until the Horror Goes Watch: "Until It Goes" Listen: "Your Temporary Custodian"

Kaada/Patton - Bacteria Cult Watch: "Imodium" Listen: "Red Rainbow"

The Last Shadow Puppets - Everything You’ve Come to Expect Watch: "Everything You’ve Come to Expect" Watch: "Aviation"

Moderat - III Watch: "Reminder" Listen: "Running"

Operators - Blue Wave Listen: "Cold Light" Listen: "Blue Wave"

Sasha - Scene Delete Listen: "Bring on the Night-time" (featuring Ultraísta) Listen: "View2"

Starwalker - Starwalker Watch: "Le President" Watch: "Holidays"

Terrace Martin - Velvet Portraits Listen: "Think of You" Listen: "Valdez Off Crenshaw"

Weezer - Weezer (White Album) Watch: "California Kids" Watch: "L.A. Girlz"

Yeasayer - Amen & Goodbye Watch: "I Am Chemistry" Listen: "Silly Me"

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

Battles - EP C/B EP Reissue Listen: "B+T" Listen: "SZ2"

Battles - Gloss Drop Reissue Listen: "Ice Cream" (featuring Matias Aguayo) Listen: "Futura"

Battles - Mirrored Reissue Listen: "Atlas" Listen: "Tonto"

Chelsea Wolfe - "Hypnos"/"Flame" Watch: "Hypnos" Listen: "Flame"

Fool’s Gold Presents: Night Shift Listen: A-Trak & Ookay - "Only One" Listen: KRNE - "I’ll Be Good"

Sia - Colour the Small One Reissue Listen: "Breathe Me" Listen: "Numb"

Small Circle - Melatonin EP Listen: "Please Don’t Touch the Moon"

Sufjan Stevens - Illinois Reissue Listen: "Chicago" (Demo) Listen: "Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois"

Twenty88 - Twenty88 Watch: "Out of Love" Listen: "Déjà vu"

Willis Earl Beal - Through the Dark Watch: "Through the Dark" Listen: "Lost in a Dream"