Baby Driver

Director: Edgar Wright Writers: Edgar Wright Stars: Ansel Elgort (Baby), Kevin Spacey (Doc), Jon Hamm (Buddy), Eiza González (Darling), Lily James (Debora) Baby Driver is the latest film from director Edgar Wright, who is perhaps best known for his "Cornetto trilogy" films starring Nick Frost and Simon Pegg. This film takes on a decidedly less comedic turn, focusing instead on the action and soundtrack. Ansel Elgort stars as the titular Baby, a young man who is a hell behind the wheel. He works as a getaway driver for a mob boss, Doc, and is in some mysterious debt to the man. He believes that he just needs to complete one last job to be rid of his life of crime and return to more noble pursuits (mostly, a pretty girl). Turns out, he's wrong and gets pulled in even deeper than he could have anticipated. I really enjoyed this movie, far more than I thought I would. Yes, the action is good and the soundtrack is amazing, but I was also surprised, and impressed, by Elgort. There's always something smarmy and smug about him in interviews. When I first heard of the film, I dismissed it given he was the lead. The actor himself may still be a bit insufferable, but he's also pretty talented. The real star, though, is the film's soundtrack. Music was used exceptionally well throughout the film and there was a great mix of genres and eras. Wright did a great of using an stupefying array of songs without any of them sounding misplaced in the action. 8/10, would totally see again!

Mini soundtrack:

Queen - "Brighton Rock"
The Commodores - "Easy"
Simon & Garfunkel - "Baby Driver"

Upcoming Album of the Week (Ending July 15)

As tends to be the case every year, September is shaping up to be a big month for new music. There's a race on between the 8th and the 22nd as to which day will be the biggest, but just based on this past week's new album announcements, September 22 is looking to be that day. Check out my Upcoming Releases page to see what you can expect!

This week, Moses Sumney announced his debut album, AROMANTICISM.

stereogum.com

Sumney is a singer and songwriter from LA who has been releasing bare bones soul music since 2014. He's released a handful of singles and EPs; his most recent was last year's Lamentations.

He announced his debut album on Monday, but had previously released the first single from the album, "Doomed".

AROMANTICISM is planned for release on September 22.

Also announced this week:

A. Savage - Thawing Dawn (October 13)
The Blow - Brand New Abyss (September 22)
D’Angelo - Brown Sugar Reissue (August 25)
David Bowie - A New Career in a New Town ( (September 29)
Hundred Waters - Communicating (September 14)
Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith - The Kid (October 6)
Kllo - Backwater (October 20)
Lambchop - “The Hustle Unlimited”/“When You Were Mine” (August 11)
Meek Mill - Wins & Losses (July 21)
METZ - Strange Peace (September 22)
Mount Kimbie - Love What Survives (September 8)
The Radio Dept. - Teach Me to Forget (out now)
Protomartyr - Relatives in Descent (September 29)
Tony Allen - The Source (September 8)
TORRES - Three Futures (September 29)
Van Morrison - Roll with the Punches (September 22)
Vic Mensa - The Autobiography (July 28)

New Music Friday - May 26, 2017

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases

Molly Nilsson - IMAGINATIONS Molly Nilsson is a Swedish synth-pop artist with a DIY approach. She's also fairly prolific. Since debuting in 2008, she has released six records and at least one EP. She's done this all either on her own label or in collaboration with Night School, another small label. She had a long wind-up to her latest album, releasing tracks from the records starting back in July 2016. Watch: "About Somebody" Watch: "Not Today Satan"

Other Full-Length Releases

Cende - #1 Hit Single Listen: "Bed" Listen: "Don’t Want To"

The Charlatans - Different Days Watch: "Plastic Machinery" Listen: "Different Days"

Justin Townes Earle - Kids in the Street Watch: "Maybe a Moment" Watch: "Champagne Corolla"

Pet Symmetry - Visions Listen: "LTCTLYB" Listen: "Stare Collection"

Sam Amidon - The Following Mountain Listen: "Blackbird" Listen: "Juma Mountain"

Thunder Dreamer - Capture Listen: "Capture" Listen: "Living Like the Rest"

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band 50th Anniversary Reissue

Bert Jansch - Living in the Shadows, Part Two Listen: "Chambertin" (featuring Gordon Giltrap)

Carl Barât & The Jackals - Harder They Fall Watch: "Sister"

Cover Your Ass, Vol. 1 Listen: Speedy Ortiz - "Young Liars"

New Order - NOMC15

Swet Shop Boys - Sufi La EP Listen: "Sufi La"

War Machine (A Netflix Original Film) Listen: Nick Cave & Warren Ellis - "Be Lovely" Listen: Nick Cave & Warren Ellis - "War Machine"

My Favorite Albums of 2017 (So Far)

2017 has been a decent year for music so far, some amazing releases, some surprising duds, and a few new loves. In alphabetical order, here are my favorite albums of the year, so far!

The Afghan Whigs - In Spades
Aldous Harding - Party
Allison Crutchfield - Tourist in the Town
Bedouine - Bedouine
Cloud Nothings - Life Without Sound
Dirty Projectors - Dirty Projectors
Feist - Pleasure
Fleet Foxes - Crack-Up
Japandroids - Near to the Wild Heart of Life
Johnny Flynn - Sillion
Kendrick Lamar - DAMN.
Laura Marling - Semper Femina
The New Pornographers - White Out Conditions
Perfume Genius - No Shape
Real Estate - In Mind
Run the Jewels - Run the Jewels 3
Sampha - Process
Spoon - Hot Thoughts
Sylvan Esso - What Now
SZA - Ctrl
Tei Shi - Crawl Space
Tennis - Yours Conditionally
Tim Darcy - Saturday Night
Vince Staples - Big Fish Theory

The rest of the years holds some promise for great music, as well. Already, we know we'll be getting new records from Avey Tare, Arcade Fire, Frankie Rose, LCD Soundsystem, The National, and so many more amazing artists!

Upcoming Album of the Week (Ending July 8)

I must say, I've been loving the new album from SZA, Ctrl. Spoiler alert, it may end up being my favorite of the year. I will be putting out my favorite of the year (so far) soon. Until then, check out my Upcoming Releases page to see what some of my favorites for the second half of the year may be!

This week, the indie pop band Cults announced their third album, Offering.

stereogum.com

My first exposure to Cults was in a small coffee shop in Bloomington when a friend suggested we check out a show. Neither of us really knew who they were and I kind of forgot about them until they released their debut album, 2011's Cults. The album ended up being one of my favorites of that year.

They followed that record up in 2013 with Static, but have been fairly quiet since, though frontwoman Madeline Follin released a single, "Roxy",  with her brother, Richie James, last year. The band released a teaser video for the track "Gilded Lily" last Saturday. Yesterday, they announced the album and released its title track.

Offering is set to be released on October 6.

Also announced this week:

DJ Shadow - The Mountain Has Fallen (out now)
Kele Okereke - Fatherland (October 6)
Loney dear - Loney dear (September 29)
Lost Horizons - Ojalá (November 3)
Mark Lanegan Band - Still Life with Roses (September 29)
Olga Bell - America (out now)
Omni - Multi-task (September 22)
Ringo Starr - Give More Love (September 22)
Ted Leo - The Hanged Man (September 8)
Tyler, The Creator - Scum Fuck Flower Boy (July 21)

New Music Friday - May 19, 2017

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases

Aldous Harding - Party My first exposure to Harding was back in September, when she opened for Deerhunter in concert. I was immediately blown away both by her music and her unique stage presence. It took a little while for me to find her self-titled debut album on vinyl. Not long after, she announced her follow-up. She's already worked her way up from a New Zealand-based label (she's from the country) to one of the more major of the British indie labels, 4AD. Her first outing with them is spectacular! Watch: "Imagining My Man" Watch: "Horizon"

Casey Dienel - Imitation of a Woman to Love Casey Dienel is better known as White Hinterland, but first released music under her given name. She released her first album, Wind Up Canary, in 2006 before becoming White Hinterland. She's taking on multiple roles in her return to her name, serving as the singer, writer, producer, and engineer on this record. Listen: "High Times" Listen: "Thrasher"

Land of Talk - Life After Youth Land of Talk is a Canadian band fronted by Elizabeth Powell. They first formed in 2006, but have not released new music since 2010's Cloak and Cipher. The band started teasing their return two years ago on their website. Their first album in seven years features vocals from Sharon van Etten on several tracks. Watch: "This Time" Watch: "Inner Lover"

The Mountain Goats - Goths The Mountain Goats have long been well-known for John Darnielle's highly-conceptual lyrics. The singer-songwriter often references his loves in his music; including songs about heavy metal, and an entire album, 2015's Beat the Champ, devoted to his love of professional wrestling. Their latest is inspired by his teenage love of music by 80s goth bands like The Cure, Bauhaus, and Joy Division. Listen: "Andrew Eldritch Is Moving Back to Leeds" Listen: "Rain in Soho"

Other Full-Length Releases

!!! - Shake the Shudder Watch: "Dancing Is the Best Revenge" Watch: "The One 2"

(Sandy) Alex G - Rocket Watch: "Sportstar" Watch: "Proud"

The I.L.Y.’s - Bodyguard Watch: "Gargoyle”/“Bobo" Watch: "I Love You Man"

Wavves - You’re Welcome Watch: "Million Enemies" Watch: "Stupid in Love"

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

Danny L Harle - 1UL Watch: "1UL"

The Kooks - The Best Of… So Far Watch: "Be Who You Are" Watch: "Forgive & Forget"

Kurt Vile - So Outta Reach EP Reissue Listen: "The Creature" Listen: "It’s Alright"

Kurt Vile - Square Shells EP Reissue Listen: "Ocean City" Listen: "The Finder"

MC Buddy & Kaytranada - Ocean & Montana Watch: "World of Wonders" Listen: "Love or Something"

Yung - Yung

R.I.P. Dave Rosser

On Wednesday, Dave Rosser, guitarist for The Afghan Whigs, passed away at the age of 50.

npr.org

Rosser was a newer edition to the band, joining them for the 2014 reunion, Do to the Beast, though he had previously worked with Greg Dulli in The Gutter Twins and the Twilight Singers. He was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2016, but stayed with the band to record their latest, In Spades, released two months ago. His fellow bandmates announced his passing on Facebook.

Goodbye, Mr. Rosser!

Songs to remember him by:

The Twilight Singers - "She Was Stolen"
The Internet - "Under Control"
The Afghan Whigs - "I Got Lost"