New Music Friday - January 22, 2016

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases

Chairlift - Moth Following the release of a solo album and an EP from frontwoman Caroline Polachek (under the name Ramona Lisa) in 2014, it seemed that this band was in the midst of a break. Turns out, the band was still hard at work, preparing their third album. They continue making their special brand of artsy pop. The album was highly anticipated and received glowing reviews upon its release. Watch: "Romeo" Watch: "Ch-Ching"

Eleanor Friedberger - New View Eleanor Friedberger is a member of a band currently on hiatus. She was one-half of The Fiery Furnaces with her brother Matthew, but they went their separate ways in 2011, both embarking on solo careers. New View is her third album, on which she grapples with life as a solo artist and approaching 40. Watch: "Sweetest Girls" Watch: "He Didn’t Mention His Mother"

Savages - Adore Life Savages had a hard act to follow in their 2013 debut, Silence Yourself. In a statement released along with the album's announcement back in October, they seemed to acknowledge some of the inherent difficulty in following up a much celebrated record, stating it was about "recognizing your potential" and "self-doubt and inaction," and so on. Watch: "The Answer" Watch: "Adore"

Shearwater - Jet Plane and Oxbow Shearwater is one of those reliably consistent bands with a fairly well-defined sound and lyrical content. That consistency doesn't keep them from trying to expand and improve. On their latest, they've enlisted previous collaborators, tour mates, and film composer Brian Reitzell. The result is an album that still fits within my purview of the band's sound, but manages to add something new into that equation. Watch: "Quiet Americans" Listen: "Only Child"

Other Full-Length Releases

Adrian Younge - Something About April II Listen: "Memories of War" (featuring Laetitia Sadler) Listen: "Sittin’ By the Radio" (featuring Loren Oden)

The Besnard Lakes - A Coliseum Complex Museum Watch: "The Plain Moon" Listen: "Nightingale"

Bonnie “Prince” Billy - Pond Scum Watch: "When Thy Song Flows Through Me" Listen: "Rich Wife Full of Happiness"

Charlie Hilton - Palana Listen: "100 Million" (featuring Mac DeMarco) Listen: "Funny Anyway"

The I Don’t Cares - Wild Stab Listen: "Born for Me" Listen: "King of America"

Jesu & Sun Kil Moon - Jesu/Sun Kil Moon Listen: "America’s Most Wanted Mark Kozelek & John Dillinger" Listen: "Exodus"

Sam Means - 10 Songs Watch: "We’re Alone"

Tindersticks - The Waiting Room Watch: "Were We Once Lovers?" Watch: "Hey Lucinda"

Ty Segall - Emotional Mugger Listen: "Diversion" Listen: "Leopard Priestess"

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

METZ - "Eraser"/"Pure Auto" Watch: "Eraser" Listen: "Pure Auto"

SAD13 & Lizzo - "Basement Queens" Listen: "Basement Queens"

Sonic Youth - Experimental Jet Set, Trash, and No Star Reissue Listen: "Winner’s Blues" Listen: "Bull in the Heather"

Sonic Youth - NYC Ghosts and Flowers Reissue Listen: "Free City Rhymes" Listen: "Renegade Princess"

Upcoming Album of the Week (Ending October 24)

Always and forever (or at least until I am no longer able to keep up with blogging), you can see a subset of new albums, EPs and more set to come out at my Upcoming Releases page!

Since I started writing this feature, I've come across many albums that have been announced, but not really announced. The artist has stated that an album will be coming out next month, in two months, next year; but they provide no absolute date or name; but they do share a snippet of new music, new artwork, maybe even song names. I wondered to myself, "What if I write about one of these records, then it gets a more official announcement later down the road?" Well, I just got my first opportunity to answer that question, and my response is, "Write about it again!". So, here I go.

Almost exactly two months ago, Savages announced that they would be releasing an album early next year. They provided no album artwork, tracklisting, or official song clips. What they did provide was a pretty cool video of Henry Rollins honoring them with a classic poem. This week, we got a lot more information about the record; the name, artwork, a tracklisting, and the release date. They even released a music video for the album's first single, "The Answer."

Savages sophomore album, Adore Life, will be released on January 22.

pitchfork.com

Also announced this week:

Adele - 25 (November 20)
Junior Boys - Big Black Coat (February 5)
Merchandise - “Red Sun”/“Echo” (November 27)
Natalie Prass - Side By Side (November 20)
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Hell EP (November 13)
Shearwater - Jet Plane and Oxbow (January 22)

Upcoming Album of the Week (Ending August 22)

Click on over to my upcoming release page to get a fuller list of albums and such that I'm excited for!

Last week's release turned out to be more than just speculative, Deerhunter did indeed announce a new album for release in October just the day after my post. This week's is not necessarily speculative, but we are still lacking a lot of information. The post-punk revival band Savages released a teaser video confirming a new album, set for release next year.

pitchfork.com

The all-female band released their debut album, Silence Yourself, in 2013 to mass critical acclaim. I didn't know anything about the band or the album at first, but thanks to high marks from a friend whose musical opinions I trust, I checked them out and loved them! The band is refreshingly presented without any artifice. They're not here to be sex symbols or fashionistas; they're not trying to reinvent the wheel or be woman's answer to anything. They just rock really hard.

The new album, which has neither a name or a release date yet, has already been mostly written and recorded, and the band has been playing some of them live. The teaser video combines video of one of their live performance with a voice-over from Henry Rollins reciting Phyllis Rose's "Jazz Cleopatra: Josephine Baker in Her Time." Although the words were originally written for someone else, they fit perfectly as an ode to this band.

Also announced this week:

Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill Reissue (October 30)
BOOTS - Aquaria EP (November 13)
Børns - Dopamine (October 16)
Childbirth - Women’s Rights (October 2)
Dumb Numbers - Split Series (September 25)
Jay Rock - 90059 (August 19, 2016)
Kamasi Washington - The Epic LP release (October 2)
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Paper Mâché Dream Balloon (November 11)
Oneohtrix Point Never - Garden of Delete (November 13)
Panda Bear - Crosswords EP (out now)
Saintseneca - Such Things (October 9)
Sylvan Esso - TBA (November 6)

New Music Tuesday - November 18, 2014

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

New Full-Length Releases

Andy Stott - Faith in Strangers Stott released his previous record, Luxury Problems, in 2012, but released a collaborative record, Drop the Vowels, with Miles Whittaker under the name Millie & Andrea earlier this year. His follow-up was recorded and mixed in the first half of this year, using various instruments, vocals, and found sounds. Listen: "Violence" Listen: "Faith in Strangers"

Ariel Pink - pom pom This is the tenth album from eclectic experimental pop performer Ariel Pink, though it's his first credited just to his own name and not to his band The Haunted Graffiti. Pink started slow in his career, but gradually built up acclaim and attention to the point that his two previous records are considered among the best of the decade (so far). His latest sees him sharing songwriting credit with Kim Fowley, a cult pop icon, who wrote songs for Ariel while in the hospital. Watch: "Picture Me Gone" Watch: "Put Your Number in My Phone"

Bryan Ferry - Avonmore Bryan Ferry is the former frontman for Roxy Music, which officially called it quits earlier this year (though many would argue that the actual end was long ago). He's been performing as a solo artist since the early 1970s. Avonmore is his fifteenth solo record, and sees him working with Todd Terje, Johnny Marr, Nile Rodgers, and even Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Watch: "Loop De Li" Listen: "Driving Me Wild"

Paul Smith & Peter Brewis - Frozen By Sight Smith is the frontman for Maxïmo Park, while Brewis fronts Field Music. The two have worked together in the past, Smith has been a frequent member of Brewis' side project The Week That Was. The two frontmen came together earlier this year to begin recording an album together, at Field Music Studio in Sunderland, England. Watch: "Los Angeles Street Cleaner" Listen: "Barcelona (At Eye Level)"

RL Grime - Void RL Grime is the stage name of LA-based producer Henry Steinway, who has made a name for himself with remixes for such acts as Shlohmoh, Chief Keef, and Jamie Lidell. He's released a number of singles and EPs throughout his short career, but this is his debut album. Here, he enlists some help from Big Sean, How to Dress Well, and a number of other guest artists. Watch: "Valhalla" (featuring Djemba Djemba) Watch: "Core"

Savages & Bo Ningen - Words to the Blind Savages became one of my new favorites with the release of last year's Silence Yourself. Their follow-up is a collaborative experimental album with another female-led group, Japanese acid rockers Bo Ningen. The album is one long (37 minutes) "simultaneous sonic poem" track. Watch: Trailer 1 Watch: Trailer 2

TV on the Radio - Seeds This Brooklyn-based indie rock band has already released four amazing albums throughout their 13 year career. With an EP from frontman Tunde Adebimpe's side project Higgins Waterproof Black Magic Band last year and the passing of member Gerard Smith in 2011, I wasn't sure we'd be seeing anything new from them for awhile. They began hinting at a new album about a year ago, along with a new single. This is another great release from the band! Watch: "Careful You" Watch: "Happy Idiot"

Other New Releases

Angel Olsen - Burn Your Fire for No Witness Deluxe Edition This indie folk singer built a name for herself early in her career through working with more established artists like Bonnie "Prince" Billy and LeRoy Bach of Wilco. In that time, she's also garnered praise for her own music, releasing a number of albums since 2010. Her hard work paid off in the form of this highly-regarded record, released earlier this year. This Deluxe Edition includes five bonus tracks. Watch: "Windows" Watch: "Hi-Five"

Annie: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack The iconic movie and musical, Annie, has been remade for more modern audiences, starring Quvenzhané Wallis in the titular role. The movie's soundtrack is also reimagined, with new versions of the musical's songs from Sia, Beck, and the movie's cast. Watch: Sia - "You're Never Fully Dressed without a Smile" Listen: Sia & Beck - "Moonquake Lake"

The Art of McCartney Paul McCartney has had a long and celebrated career with a number of prominent groups, and as a solo artist. In that time, he's also inspired a lot of other musicians. Many of those artists come together here to present their own versions of his songs. We see contemporaries, like Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson, and relative newcomers, Jamie Cullum and Corinne Bailey Rae, contributing to the new record. Watch: Corinne Bailey Rae - "Bluebird" Watch: Billy Joel - "Maybe I'm Amazed"

Brian Eno - Nerve Net Reissue Brian Eno has been active for over four decades and is showing no signs of slowing down. This week, we're seeing a couple of re-releases of his early 90s work. Nerve Net was originally released in 1992 and saw him returning to a more rock-oriented sound. Listen: "Fractal Zoom" Listen: "Wire Shock"

Brian Eno - The Shutov Assembly Reissue The Shutov Assembly was also released in 1992 and came out a few months after Nerve Net. The album was a tribute to Russian artist Sergei Shutov, something that he could use as he created his work. Listen: "Stedelijk" Listen: "Lanzarote"

Charlie Cunningham - Outside Things EP Charlie Cunningham is a new one for me. I checked him out following a Stereogum article on him and was quickly reminded of one his fellow British folkster Fink. This is his debut release. Watch: "Lights Off" Listen: "Outside Things"

David Bowie - Nothing Has Changed Nothing Has Changed is a career-spanning compilation from Bowie. In order to highlight the progression in his career, the album moves in reverse chronological order from 2014 (and a new song) to 1964, then back to the present. Watch: "Where Are We Now?" Listen: "Lets Dance" (Single Edit)

David Bowie - "Sue (Or in a Season of Crime)" The new single from Bowie's new compilation is also getting its own release this week. The track book-ends the compilation, appearing at both the beginning and the end. Watch: "Sue (Or in a Season of Crime)" Listen: "'Tis a Pity She Was a Whore"

Depeche Mode - Live in Berlin This is the seventh live album from Depeche Mode, which was recorded at O2 World in Germany in November of last year. The album accompanies a concert film directed by Anton Corbijn. Watch: "Enjoy the Silence" Watch: "Should Be Higher"

Fugazi - First Demo This is one of the first recordings from the band, recorded after the band had performed only ten shows together in 1988. The demo is getting its first official release now, coming 13 years after the last studio album from the band. Listen: "Waiting Room" Listen: "Merchandise"

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Lorde may be young, but she's already being given some impressive tasks. She was recently  asked to curate the soundtrack for the first part of the final segment of the Hunger Games movie franchise. She's done an impressive job; she has a couple of incredible tracks of her own, and brings together work from Chvrches, Charli XCX, The Chemical Brothers, and a number of other impressive musicians. Watch: Lorde - "Yellow Flicker Beat" Listen: Chvrches - "Dead Air"

Kim Deal - "Biker Gone"/"Beautiful Moon" Kim Deal is best known as the bassist for the Pixies, which she left in 2013. Since then, she's been focusing on a series of singles. "Biker Gone" and "Beautiful Moon" are her ninth and tenth releases. Watch: "Biker Gone" Listen: "Beautiful Moon"

Manchester Orchestra - Hope Manchester Orchestra released their fourth studio album, Cope, in April of this year. Hope is the companion album to that release, with each track being an acoustic version of an accompanying track from Cope. Listen: "Trees" Listen: "Cope"

Marissa Nadler - Before July EP Marissa Nadler released the incredible July in February of this year; safe to say that it is one of my favorites of the year. Before July comprises a number of b-sides and demos, including a cover of Elliott Smith's "Pitseleh." Listen: "Pitseleh"

Noel Gallagher's High-Flying Birds - "In the Heat of the Moment"/"Do the Damage" This former Oasis lead guitarist and vocalist will be releasing his sophomore album, Chasing Yesterday, with his project High-Flying Birds in March of next year. "In the Heat of the Moment" is the lead single from the album. Its B-side was initially intended to be the lead track off of the new record, but was later dropped from the release. Watch: "In the Heat of the Moment" Watch: "Do the Damage"

Ty Segall - $ingle$ 2 It seems almost just yesterday that Segall released his seventh album Manipulator. He is quickly following that up with a new singles compilation, bringing together non-album tracks recorded over the past few years. Listen: "Spiders" Listen: "Hand Glams"

While No One Was Looking: Toasting 20 Years of Bloodshot Records Bloodshot Records, founded in 1993, is an independent label with a focus on roots indie and punk rock, and alternative country. This is a compilation of covers of songs originally performed by artists on the label, predominantly by artists not on the label. The record includes contributions from Andrew Bird, Split Single, Ted Leo, and Blitzen Trapper. Listen: Blitzen Trapper - "To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High)" Listen: William Elliott Whitmore - "I Wish I Was the Moon"

Whirr/Nothing - Split Single Whirr and Nothing share a member, guitarist Nick Bassett (who is also a former member of Deafheaven). Whirr released their latest album in September, while Nothing released theirs in March. Now, the two sibling bands have come together for this split single and a few new tracks. Watch: Nothing - "Chloroform" Listen: Whirr - "Ease"

Wilco - Alpha Mike Foxtrot Wilco (the band) has been together for two decades. To celebrate their entry into their third decade as a band, they have a couple of new releases. Alpha Mike Foxtrot is a four-disc pressing of studio rarities from the band. Listen: "Handshake Drugs" (First Version) Listen: "I Shall Be"

Wilco - What's Your 20? Wilco's second anniversary release is a "greatest hits" of sorts. It pulls together some of the most celebrated tracks from the band's twenty years and eight studio albums. Listen: "I Must Be High" Listen: "Box Full of Letters"

Savages - "Strife"

In the video for Savages' "Strife," two half-naked men come together on the beach for an intense bare knuckled fight to the death. Will the young or old man come out on top?

Savages released their amazing debut album, Silence Yourself, in May of last year.

New Music Tuesday - 05/06/2014

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

New Full-Length Releases

Eno · Hyde - Someday World Brian Eno has made a name for himself as a producer, artist and solo musician. Over the past few years he's been releasing collaborative albums and EPs with other artists, and not always musical artists. He put out an album and EP in 2011 with poet Rick Holland following a 2010 album recorded with Leo Abrahams and Jon Hopkins. His latest collaborative project sees him partnering with Underworld frontman Karl Hyde. Listen: "The Satellites" Listen: "Daddy's Car"

The Horrors - Luminous The Horrors have come a long way from their start as a gothic/horror punk band with the 2007 album Strange House. Every album that they release seems to be lighter than the previous; the band has described Luminous, their fourth studio album as being "fun and danceable," which is definitely not something anyone could say for their earlier work. Somehow, though, Faris Badwan's voice is still able to lend a doomy sheen over all of it. Watch: "So Now You Know" Watch: "I See You"

The Icypoles - My World Was Made for You The Icypoles is made up of, in part, of two former members of Architecture in Helsinki. The band's founder, Isobel Knowles, was inspired by 60s girl pop and there's certainly a bit of that in the band's sound. However, I still hear some elements of that other band in here, especially from their earlier work. Watch: "Babies"

King Dude - Fear I wouldn't know the name King Dude if it weren't for his collaborations, Sings Songs Together..., with Chelsea Wolfe. I liked the sound that they were able to create together and decided that I should check out the guy on the other side of the duo. The artist, real name T.J. Cowgill, has released four solo records during his career. Watch: "Fear Is All You Know"

Lily Allen - Sheezus Perhaps obviously, the title of Lily Allen's third album was inspired by last year's Yeezus from Kanye West. Allen claims to be a big fan of West, but does still incorporate themes of girl power into her music. The new album is a welcome return from an artist who threatened to quit the music industry following 2009's It's Not Me, It's You. Watch: "Our Time" Watch: "Sheezus"

Lykke Li - I Never Learn When announcing the release of her latest album, Lykke Li explained that it would be final entry in a trilogy that began with her 2008 debut Youth Novels and continued in 2011 with Wounded Rhymes. Each album from her has had a different vibe, Youth Novels was her album of naivete, with vocals sung high-pitched. She was more self-assured and aggressive on the follow-up. On the latest, she seems calmer and more introspective. Despite the changing sounds, though, I've loved everything that she's done. Watch: "No Rest for the Wicked" Watch: "I Never Learn"

Ray LaMontagne - Supernova Ray LaMontagne has developed a signature soulful folk sound over his past four studio albums. For his latest record, he has changed up his style considerably with the help of the record's producer, The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach. The sound is more psychedelic and the lyrics less personal. The shift is bound to alienate some of his fans, but may also allow him to add some new ones. Watch: "Supernova" Listen: "Airwaves"

Rodrigo Amarante - Cavalo Brazilian musician Rodrigo Amarante has been a member of some great bands; Los Hermanos, Orquestra Imperial and Little Joy. I still have my fingers crossed for a sophomore album from that last project. But I will gladly accept a solo record from the band's primary singer. And hopefully, it means more of that bossa nova-tinged folk I've loved so much from his other work. Listen: "Hour Glass" Listen: "Cavalo"

tUnE-yArDs - Nikki Nack tUnE-yArDs, aka Merrill Garbus, released an amazing sophomore album, w h o k i l l, in 2011. The album was such an incredible collage of sounds, it was easy to wonder how she would be able to follow it up. She found a way to do it. Her style is still eclectic and kinda crazy, and that's just the way I like her! Watch: "Water Fountain" Listen: "Wait for a Minute"

Other New Releases

2 Chainz - Freebase EP 2 Chainz turned himself from just another Atlanta rapper to one of the most popular hip hop artists out today. He's done so while releasing super-catchy songs and saying his name...a lot. For his latest mixtape, though, he employed a grittier sound which shows that he has some serious cred, too. Watch: "Trap Back" Listen: "Wuda Cuda Shuda"

Axels & Sockets: The Jeffrey Lee Pierce Sessions Project Axels & Sockets is the latest entry in the Jeffrey Lee Pierce Sessions Project, to which various artists have contributed covers of Jeffrey Lee Pierce's work. Pierce was the frontman of Gun Club who passed away in 1996. Contributors to this installment include Mark Lanegan, Thurston Moore, Nick Cave and Iggy Pop. Listen: Iggy Pop & Nick Cave - "Nobody's City" Listen: Mark Lanegan & Bertrant Cantat - "Desire By Blue River"

Baths - Ocean Death EP Baths, real name Will Wiesenfeld, is one of the new purveyors of electronic music. I first became familiar with him following the release of his third album, Obsidian, last year. He is following that release up with a new EP. Listen: "Ocean Death"

Bleep10 Bleep is an online music store, founded by Warp Records, that has now been around for 10 years. To celebrate their decade in business, they compiled a collection of new songs and remixes from a number of current electronic artists. Listen: Modeselektor - "I'm not into Twerk, I'm into KrafTwerk" Listen: Lone - "Lizard King"

Dave Harrington - Before This There Was One Heart but a Thousand Thoughts EP Dave Harrington is one-half of the electronic duo DARKSIDE with Nicolas Jaar. He is stepping away from his partner to release this latest EP. Listen: Before This There Was One Heart but a Thousand Thoughts

Jamie xx - "Girl"/"Sleep Sound" Jamie xx made his name as a member of the London indie band The xx. He's also become known as a producer and remix artist. He shows off some of what he can do with a sampler and computer in his latest single. Watch: "Sleep Sound" Watch: "Girl"

Savages - "Fuckers"/"Dream Baby Dream" Savages came out with their debut album, Silence Yourself, last year and quickly established themselves as one of the best new post-punk artists. To coincide with the release of that album, they are releasing a new song backed with a cover of a track by Suicide. Listen: "Fuckers"

SBTRKT - Transitions I We haven't gotten a new album from this British electronic artist since his 2011 self-titled debut. This year, we'll be getting about an album's worth of new material from him. He will be putting out three Transitions EPs over the next few months. Watch: "Kyoto"