New Music Friday - April 26, 2024

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases

	Adult Jazz - So Sorry So Slow Watch: "Suffer One" Watch: "Dusk Song"
	ellis - no place that feels like Watch: "obliterate me" Watch: "what i know now"
	Justice - Hyperdrama Watch: "One Night/All Night" (featuring Tame Impala) Watch: "Neverender"
	St. Vincent - All Born Screaming Watch: "Broken Man" Watch: "Flea"
	The Zutons - The Big Decider Watch: "Creeping on the Dancefloor" Watch: "The Big Decider"

Other Full-Length Releases

Bullion - Affection Watch: "Affection" Watch: "A City’s Never" (featuring Panda Bear)

Corridor - Mimi Watch: "Mourir Demain" Watch: "Mon Argent"

Eric Slick - New Age Rage Watch: "Lose Our Minds" Watch: "New Age Rage"

Full of Hell - Coagulated Blues Watch: "Doors to Mental Agony" Watch: "Gasping Dust" (featuring Ross Dolan)

Greg Saunier - We Sang, Therefore We Were Watch: "Grow Like a Plant" Listen: "Yeah You, Person"

Hovvdy - Hovvdy Watch: "Forever" Watch: "Bubba"

Iron & Wine - Light Verse Watch: "You Never Know" Watch: "Anyone’s Game"

Joyer - Night Songs Watch: "Softer Skin" Watch: "Drive All Night"

Mandy - Lawn Girl Watch: "High School Boyfriend" Watch: "Now That I’m a Woman"

Microwave - Let’s Start Degeneracy Watch: "Huperzine Dreamz" Watch: "Let’s Start Degeneracy"

Mister Goblin - Frog Poems Watch: "The Notary" Watch: "Run, Hide, Fight"

Neil Young with Crazy Horse - Fu##in’ Up Listen: "City Life [Country Home]" Listen: "Farmer John"

Owen - The Falls of Sioux Watch: "Beaucoup" Watch: "Virtue Misspent"

Porij - Teething Watch: "My Only Love" Watch: "Ghost"

PARTYNEXTDOOR - PARTYNEXTDOOR 4 Watch: "FOR CERTAIN" Watch: "REAL WOMAN"

Tara Jane O’Neil - The Cool Cloud of Okayness Watch: "Glass Island" Listen: "A Dash"

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

Confidenza: Music for the Film by Daniele Luchetti Watch: Thom Yorke- "Knife Edge"

Margaret Glaspy - The Sun Doesn’t Think Watch: "24/7" Listen: "The Sun Doesn’t Think"

The Power of the Heart: A Tribute to Lou Reed Watch: Keith Richards - "I’m Waiting for the Man" Listen: Rufus Wainwright - "Perfect Day"

Say Lou Lou - Dust, Pt. 1 Watch: "Wong Kar-Wai" Watch: "Dust"

Sen Morimoto - BONK! Watch: "American TV" Listen: "My Soul"

My Favorite Things of the Week

I hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving! We spent it, as usual, visiting family in North Carolina. New music tends to slow down during holiday weeks, but here are some of the things I've found recently and love!

I don't have a favorite cover this week, but instead a remix. Jlin is an IDM and electronic music artist from Indiana, known for a percussion-heavy, rhythmic sound. She has brought that sound to St. Vincent's "Smoking Section," from her most recent album.

Freddie Gibbs and Madlib released a collaborative album, Bandana, back in June. They've released numerous music videos for tracks from the album, most revolving around a drug lord character played by Gibbs. In the latest, for "Gat Damn," he plays a cantankerous 80s-style R&B frontman. What amuses me most about the video is the fictional band's violinist; whether intentional or not, I get a kick out of how he holds the instrument.

Dan Bejar sat out the most recent albums from The New Pornographers but will be returning with a new album from Destroyer in January. He has already released one new song, "Crimson Tide," from the album and returned last week with "It Just Doesn't Happen."

Stormzy announced a new album!

factmag.com

He is a grime and hip hop artist from London. He developed an appeal far beyond his home country with his debut album, 2017's Gang Signs & Prayer. After releasing a handful of songs, he recently announced his follow-up, Heavy Is the Head, which is set for release on December 13.

Some more albums to get excited about!

Avey Tare - Conference of Birds/Birds in Disguise (December 5)
Max Bloom - “Bottle” (out now)
Morrissey - I Am Not a Dog on a Chain (March)
Nada Surf - Never Not Together (February 7)
Nicolas Godin - Concrete and Glass (January 24)
PARTYNEXTDOOR - TBA (January)
Rebecca Foon - Waxing Moon (February 21)
Selena Gomez - TBA (January 10)
The Turning (Original Music Picture Soundtrack) (January 24)

Upcoming Album of the Week (Ending September 9)

It's only been 13 years since the song was released, but Kelis finally gave us her recipe for a milkshake that will bring all the boys to the yard. It involves chocolate ice cream, ginger, chili powder, and Bailey's, and it sounds delicious. So get out there and start collecting those boys!

Kelis is a trained chef who has released one food-related album. If she comes back with another, be sure to check it out over at my Upcoming Releases page!

This week, we got an announcement that was widely expected, St. Vincent announced her fifth solo album, MASSEDUCTION.

pitchfork.com

It's been just three years since Annie Clark's last album, 2014's St. Vincent, though she's hardly been silent since. She released a one-off single, "Teenage Talk", covered the Rolling Stones for the A Bigger Splash soundtrack, and appeared on The Chemical Brothers' latest record.

She released "New York" earlier this year and it first it seemed like it would be another one-off. Following her appearance on Hrishikesh Hirway's Song Exploder and a few strange promotional videos, a new album seemed likely. We got the announcement on Wednesday along with another new single, "Los Ageless".

MASSEDUCTION is set for release on October 13.

Also announced this week:

Björk - “The Gate” (September 18)
Brian Wilson - Playback: The Brian Wilson Anthology (September 22)
Charlotte Gainsbourg - Rest (November 19)
Dvsn - Morning After (October 13)
Jessie Ware - Glasshouse (October 20)
King Krule - The Ooz (October 13)
Margo Price - All American Made (October 20)
Mas Ysa - Untitled EP (out now)
Michael Jackson - Scream (September 29)
Queen - News of the World 40th Anniversary Reissue (November 17)

New Album Tuesday - February 10, 2015

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

New Full-Length Albums

Caught on Tape - Full Bleed Former Sonic Youth frontman Thurston More engages in some freak-out noise rock improvisational sessions with John Moloney (who he collaborated with as Chelsea Light Moving). It follows his 2014 solo album and the album with Chelsea Light Moving released the year before. Listen: "Full Bleed" Listen: "Age Limit"

Death Grips - The Power That B This should, theoretically, be the last release from Death Grips, who "broke up" last year (though this is their second release this year). The new album completes a double album project, the first half of which, Niggas on the Moon, was released in June of last year. Technically, its companion record, Jenny Death, has not yet been released, but presumably those tracks are featured here. Watch: "Inanimate Sensation" Listen: "Up My Sleeves"

The Dø - Shake Shook Shaken The Dø is a French/Finnish indie pop group with a fairly obvious nod towards Björk's unique brand of pop. I found out about them following a feature of lead singer, Olivia Merilahti, in Lucky magazine. I didn't know anything about them, but was intrigued by the magazine's description of their music. I've loved them ever since. Shake Shook Shaken is their third album. Watch: "Despair, Hangover & Ecstasy" Listen: "Miracles (Back in Time)"

Father John Misty - I Love You, Honeybear Father John Misty, real name Josh Tillman, continues his swaggering indie folk persona on his second album under the newer name. The album is a concept record about himself; it deals with his personal life, regretted behaviors, and his relationship with his wife. Watch: "Chateau Lobby #4 (in C for Two Virgins)" Listen: "Bored in the USA"

Jefre Cantu-Ledesma - A Year with 13 Moons Jefre Cantu-Ledesma is a multi-instrumentalist and record label owner who has been involved with a number of bands during his career. He has also worked with many other artists in the drone and ambient community, including Grouper and Oneohtrix Point Never. Cantu-Ledesma is extremely prolific and A Year with 13 Moons follows a long string of both solo and collaborative work. Watch: "Pale Flower" Watch: "Love After Love"

Rhiannon Giddens - Tomorrow Is My Turn Rhiannon Giddens made a name for herself as a member of the Grammy-winning Americana group, the Carolina Chocolate Drops. She was also the sole female member of The New Basement Tapes, who released an album of songs based off of unrecorded Bob Dylan lyrics last year. She is following that up with her first solo album, which consists of songs previously made famous by other female artists. Listen: "Black Is the Color" Listen: "Shake Sugaree"

Rone - Creatures Rone is a French electronic musician with three studio albums and six EPs under his belt. In 2013, he collaborated with The National on their album Trouble Will Find Me, providing electronic instrumentation. He gets some help in return for his latest album; one of the band's twin guitarists, Brian Dessner, features on a track. Listen: "Elle" (featuring Brian Dessner) Listen: "Ouija"

William Ryan Fritch - Revisionist William Ryan Fritch is one of an increasing number of musicians affiliated in some way with Justin Vernon (aka Bon Iver). He played with Volcano Choir member Jon Mueller in Death Blues. This is his sixth studio album. Watch: "Thankless Deeds" Watch: "Still" (featuring Esmé Patterson)

Other New Releases

St. Vincent - St. Vincent Deluxe Edition St. Vincent released one of, if not the best album last year, and won her first Grammy earlier this year for it! The album is getting the reissue treatment this year, with the two songs she released for Black Friday Record Store Day, along with a few other new tracks, added to the record. Listen: "Bad Believer" Listen: "Pieta"

The Twilight Sad - "I Could Give You All That You Don’t Want" The Twilight Sad released the long-winded Nobody Wants to Be Here and Nobody Wants to Leave in October of last year. The second longest song (title-wise) after the title track is getting released as a single this year, backed with a much shorter new song from the Scottish band. Watch: "I Could Give You All That You Don’t Want" Listen: "The Airport"

Zola Jesus - "Hunger"/"Compass" Zola Jesus also released her latest album in October of last year. Her newest single release comes with a brand new song of her own. Watch: "Hunger" Listen: "Compass"

My Favorite Albums of 2014

20. Spoon - They Want My Soul
19. Lykke Li - I Never Learn
18. The New Pornographers - Brill Bruisers
17. Jessie Ware - Tough Love
16. Tennis - Ritual in Repeat
15. D'Angelo & The Vanguard - The Black Messiah
14. tUnE-yArDs - Nikki Nack
13. Peter Matthew Bauer - Liberation!
12. Sharon Van Etten - Are We There
11. Afghan Whigs - Do to the Beast

10. Chet Faker - Built on Glass

I wish I had become acquainted with this Australian artist with the release of his first EP, Thinking in Textures, and his incredible cover of Blackstreet's "No Diggity." I came in earlier this year, though, just before the release of this debut album. I listened to, and watched the video for "Talk Is Cheap;" I was immediately reminded of Jamie Lidell at his best (around 2005's Multiply). Faker does a similarly masterful job of blending electronica, trip hop, and R&B. Watch: "Talk Is Cheap" Watch: "1998" Watch: "Gold"

9. Mac DeMarco - Salad Days

Prior to this year, I had dismissed Mac DeMarco as little more than a goofball with a guitar. However, after seeing how much praise his previous album, 2, received on 2012 year-end lists, as well as the praise heaped on this record when it was released, I decided I would be wise to check him out. While I have found a silly, irreverent attitude (and sometimes just gross) in many of his interviews, and especially in his music videos, I've also found laid-back, well-written work. I certainly regret underestimating this guy in the past, he's proof that a goofy persona doesn't equate to goofy music. Watch: "Chamber of Reflection" Watch: "Passing Out Pieces"

8. FKA twigs - LP1

This young lady has had quite the year. Some interesting things have happened in her personal life, but her music has been supremely impressive. She often gets pigeon-holed with the label of R&B (perhaps because of her race), but her music incorporates elements of trip hop, experimental, electronic, even choral music. All of that combines to make slow-burning, ethereal, and sensual songs. Her music didn't quite strike me on first listen; it's subtle, but over time I was able to parse out her influences and intricacies and ultimately come to love the release. Watch: "Two Weeks" Watch: "Video Girl"

7. Lia Ices - Ices

I loved Lia Ices' previous album, 2011's Grown Unknown, and found this to be a worthy follow-up, perhaps even more loved than that record. She took what she's done so well in the past and built upon it, while displaying more levity and a bit of international flair. This one of the few albums this year that, after listening through, I would allow to start back over at the beginning and listen through again. Watch: "Thousand Eyes" Watch: "Higher"

6. Adult Jazz - Gist Is

Adult Jazz is one of my absolute favorite new finds of the year. This Leeds band shows that the British do experimental rock just about the best. There are elements of so many things that I love here; vocals sometimes reminiscent of Yellow Ostrich, other times of Wild Beasts, and the occasional jangly guitar that reminds me of WU LYF. Oh, and trombones (if you know anything about me, you know that was my instrument of choice in high school and college). However, this also sounds like almost nothing else I've heard before. There was perhaps no other album this year that I was so excited to share with other people. Watch: "Springful" Watch: "Am Gone"

5. Sylvan Esso - Sylvan Esso

I'm sometimes a bit wary when musicians make a major shift from the genre in which they started. In Mountain Man, Amelia Meath created harmonious folk music. Her work here, with Megafaun's Nick Sanborn, is very different. The sound is a electronic-tinged indie pop. The backgrounds of the two musicians keep the output interesting and artsy, while Amelia's smoky vocals completely seal the deal. The album's opener "Hey Mami" was my own personal song of the summer. Watch: "Coffee" Watch: "Play It Right" Watch: "Dreamy Bruises"

4. Future Islands - Singles

It's not usually a live television performance that interests me in a band, but after hearing so much about Future Islands' Letterman appearance (and after an interesting NPR interview), I had to check this band out. I was not disappointed; the band looks so unassuming in pictures and, at first glance, their music seems to be the same way. But then, much as lead Samuel Herring busts into an odd dance move, he lets out a metal-style growl. The music is great, but it's those surprising touches that make it just a little more memorable. Watch: "Seasons (Waiting on You)" Watch: "A Dream of You and Me"

3. Run the Jewels - Run the Jewels 2

So many of today's hip hop talent is so young, with many artists having been born in the 1990s, but these two (El-P and Killer Mike are both pushing 40) set out to prove that it's not just a young man's game. They succeed, easily showing just about everyone else up. No album this year has made me feel so many emotions; anger, joy, sadness. Just for good measure, the duo also throws in a good amount of humor and sexuality. This could easily be my favorite hip hop album ever and another record that I would let repeat and listen to multiple times in a row. Watch: "Blockbuster Night Part 1" Watch: "Oh My Darling (Don't Cry)"

2. Hamilton Leithauser - Black Hours

At first, the announcement that The Walkmen were talking an "extreme hiatus" was terrifying news to me. No sooner than that news was released, though, several members had already announced their own solo records. They're all great, but frontman Hamilton Leithauser's stood out the most for me. His album could have come across as bare, lacking the band's other members, but he gets help from a number of other great musicians, and some of his bandmates are featured, as well. I still miss The Walkmen, but the solo albums are great to have in their absence. Watch: "11 O'Clock Friday Night" Watch: "I Don't Need Anyone" Watch: "Alexandra"

1. St. Vincent - St. Vincent

My number one favorite album for last year was a pretty easy choice to make. I've loved St. Vincent for a number of years and she hasn't has a misstep of an album yet. Her latest is probably her best yet. She's spent her career as the quintessential cool indie girl, but transformed herself in 2014; starting with an unexpected hair bleaching. She's become an almost superhuman figure, with music and a live persona to match. Albums released towards the beginning of the year tend to get forgotten once December rolls around,  this one was released in February, but I kept returning to this one all year long. Watch: "Birth in Reverse" Watch: "Digital Witness"

Honorable Mentions:
Alvvays - Alvvays
Azealia Banks - Broke with Expensive Taste
Cloud Nothings - Here and Nowhere Else
Marissa Nadler - July
Timber Timbre - Hot Dreams

New Music Tuesday - June 17, 2014

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

New Full-Length Releases

Alexis Taylor - Await Barbarians Alexis Taylor is primarily known for his work in the electronic group Hot Chip, with which he has been performing since 2000. Many members of the band have been engaged in side projects such as LCD Soundsystem, About Group and The 2 Bears. Alexis, however, has sidelined as a solo act. He released his debut in 2008 and a follow-up EP in early 2013. Watch: "Elvis Has Left the Building" Watch: "Without a Crutch (2)"

The Antlers - Familiars Familiars is The Antlers' follow-up to the incredible 2011 release Burst Apart. Each release from the band has, in a metaphorical way, approached a different subject, from heartbreak, to sexual frustration, to sadness. Their latest is no different; it explores the subject of death, using self-discovery as the metaphor (man, that's dark). Their use of sound remains largely consistent, if not at least becoming more solid in their approach. Watch: "Hotel" Watch: "Palace"

Kasabian - 48:13 There are some typical avenues artists take to name albums; the name of an album track, the artist's name, a lyric on the album, or even the number of the album in the artist's discography. British indie rock outfit Kasabian is taking a fairly new, or at least infrequently used approach; the album's title is also its length, 48 minutes and 13 seconds. The tracks on their latest have actually been given names, the artwork does show the length of each track, though. Watch: "Eez-eh" Listen: "Explodes"

Klaxons - Love Frequency The Klaxons manage to create music that sounds like a futuristic indie punk, yet still incorporates distinctive styles from the past few decades; including new wave and psychedelia. Predictably, their music is extremely enjoyable to listen to; though not extremely deep. Love Frequency is their third album and a follow-up to 2010's Surfing the Void. Watch: "Show Me a Miracle" Watch: "There Is No Other Time"

Lana Del Rey - Ultraviolence I have been extremely apprehensive to check out Lana Del Rey's music. She seemed to be a pop chanteuse manufactured specifically for the hipster crowd and, after seeing a lackluster SNL performance of hers, I was convinced she had nothing really to offer. I was intrigued, though, when it was announced that her sophomore album was produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys. While I'm not convinced she's a great artist, after a few listens I consider to be an interesting artist and one worth listening to. Watch: "Shades of Cool" Listen: "Pretty When You Cry"

Sam Smith - In the Lonely Hour Sam Smith first shot to fame as a guest vocalist for other artists, most notably on "Latch" by Disclosure and "La La La" by Naughty Boy. Last year, he began releasing his own solo material, and proved that he can stand on his own and possibly heralding in a new era for British crooners. In the Lonely Hour is his debut record. Watch: "Money on My Mind" Watch: "Leave Your Lover"

Say Hi - Endless Wonder Say Hi may be thought of as a band, but is really the solo work of musician Eric Elbogen, who sings and plays all of the instruments on his records. He began his career in 2002 and has fairly consistently released one album per two years since. Endless Wonder is his eighth album. Listen: "Such a Drag" Listen: "Critters"

Siinai - Supermarket Siinai is a Finnish rock band who contributed to Moonface's (Spencer Krug) 2012 album Heartbreaking Bravery. This is perhaps very fitting, as their music is unique, but all instrumental. They served as a good accompaniment to Krug's vocals. They are back to being just Siinai, though; Supermarket is their first record since that collaboration. Watch: "Shopping Trance" Watch: "Entrance"

The Soft Pink Truth - Why Do the Heathen Rage The Soft Pink Truth is a house band that was started by Matmos frontman Drew Daniel as a dare (someone didn't believe that he could create house music). Albums were released in 2003 and 2004 from the project, then they went quiet for awhile. They return this year with an album of heavy metal covers, done in a house/electronic style. The album features contributions from M.C. Schmidt, Antony Hegarty and Jenn Wasner. Watch: "Black Metal" Listen: "Ready to Fuck"

Willie Nelson - Band of Brothers Despite his age, Willie Nelson has been an incredibly prolific recorder and performer. He's released four albums just in the past two years and estimates that he performs around 150 concerts per year. Despite this, it's been a long time since he's released an album of songs that he himself has written, nearly 20 years. Band of Brothers marks his return to writing. Watch: "The Wall"

Other New Releases

Cocteau Twins - Blue Bell Knoll Reissue Cocteau Twins were a highly-influential dream pop band active from 1979 and 1997. Two of their better known albums are getting reissued this week; Blue Bell Knoll was initially released in 1988 and was the band's first album to receive major-label distribution. Watch: "Carolyn's Fingers" Listen: "Blue Bell Knoll"

Cocteau Twins - Heaven or Las Vegas Reissue Heaven or Las Vegas was the 1990 follow-up to Blue Bell Knoll. It would go on to be included in a number of "best of the decade" lists and has often been considered to be Cocteau Twins' best work. Watch: "Heaven or Las Vegas" Watch: "Iceblink Luck"

Dave Sitek - "God Damn Beauty" Dave Sitek is primarily known as a multi-instrumentalist for TV on the Radio and as a producer. He has also started making a name for himself as a solo artist. He released his debut, Maximum Balloon, in 2010 and is following up with a new single. Listen: "God Damn Beauty"

Detroit Swindle - 64 Ways: The Remixes (featuring Mayer Hawthorne) House band Detroit Swindle released a full-length album, Boxed In, in March of this year. That album included a track with vocal contributions from Mayer Hawthorne. That track has been remixed by a number of producers, including Kraak & Smaak. Those remixes have been compiled onto this release. Listen: "64 Ways" Listen: "64 Ways" (Kraak & Smaak Remix)

Joakim - "Bring Your Love" (featuring Luke Jenner) Joakim, another house producer, also released an album earlier this year. Luke Jenner, formerly of The Rapture, was included on a track off the album, which is now seeing its single release. Watch: "Bring Your Love"

The Knife - Shaken-Up Versions The Knife released an incredible fourth album last year following a seven-year new music hiatus for the band. Songs from that album are getting "shaken-up" with reworkings of the original compositions. Watch: "Without You My Life would Be Boring" (Shaken-Up Version)

Red Hot + Bach The Red Hot Organization is an association dedicated to fighting AIDS. To support their mission, they have released a number of themed albums, featuring contributions from many prominent musicians. In the latest, musicians use Bach compositions to create new music. Contributors here include Shara Worden (My Brightest Diamond) and Julianna Barwick. Watch: Julianna Barwick - "Very Own" Listen: Shara Worden - "Time Drinks Three Shots" (from "You Us We All")

St. Vincent - "Digital Witness" St. Vincent released what may turn out to be the best album of the year this past February. "Digital Witness" was a stand-out from the album and is getting released as a single backed with a remix of the track done by Darkside. Watch: "Digital Witness" Listen: "Digital Witness" (Darkside Remix)

Sufjan Stevens - Enjoy Your Rabbit Reissue There's a connection between these last two artists. Before breaking out on her own, Annie Clark (aka St. Vincent) spent time in the touring band for Sufjan Stevens. This was after he released this album in 2001. The musician's sophomore album, based on the Chinese zodiac, is getting a reissue this week. Listen: "Enjoy Your Rabbit" Listen: "Year of the Ox"