Saturday, July 30, 2016

Upcoming Album of the Week (Ending July 30)

Jack White is launching a record into outer space in an attempt to play the first record in space. We'll have to wait and see if he's successful, but there are a lot of records available here on Earth. Check out my Upcoming Releases page to see some of what's coming in the next few months!

This week, Clipping announced their third album, Splendor & Misery.

pitchfork.com

Clipping has been Daveed Diggs' primary outlet since 2009. The rap group has released two albums and four EPs since. Diggs has also become known, in recent months, for his roles as Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson on Broadway's Hamilton. He's also been a member of yet another rap group, True Neutral Crew, which released a new album just this past week.

With all of his other projects, it seemed like we wouldn't be hearing from Clipping again for awhile. That was until they released a new EP, Wriggle, earlier this year. With that, I wasn't also expecting a whole new album, but sometimes we get lucky! The announcement came with a new song and video, "Baby Don't Sleep."



Splendor & Misery is set to be released on September 9.

Also announced this week:

Brian Wilson - Brian Wilson and Friends (out now)
Chivalrous Amoekans - Fanatic Voyage (September 16)
Communions - “Don’t Hold Anything Back”/“Eternity” (September 16)
Donny McCaslin - Beyond Now (October 14)
Douglas Dare - Aforger (October 14)
Father John Misty - “Real Love Baby” (out now)
How to Dress Well - Care (September 23)
Jesu/Sun Kil Moon - 30 Seconds to the Decline of Planet Earth (June 1, 2017)
The Luyas - Says You (September 16)
Mac Miller - The Divine Feminine (September 16)
Mass Gothic - Sub Goth (August 5)
Massive Attack - “The Spoils”/“Come Near Me” (out now)
Nouvelle Vague - Athol Brose (September 2)
Pfarmers - Our Puram (August 12)
Pink Floyd - The Early Years 1965-1972 (November 11)
The Radio Dept. - Running out of Love (October 21)

New Music Friday - June 24, 2016

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases



Broods - Conscious

Broods is a duo out of New Zealand who released their first album, Evergreen, in 2014. On their second album, they get some help from some other pop superstars; including Tove Lo and fellow New Zealander Lorde, who co-wrote one of the album's singles, "Heartlines."

Watch: "Free"
Watch: "Heartlines"




Deerhoof - The Magic

Deerhoof has always enticed fans with their experimental noise pop sound. They began to scale that back a bit over the past couple of albums, opting for a simpler sound, but never straying far from what they've become known for. They take it back another notch on this record, looking to the music they listened to as kids for inspiration. Of course, they have different backgrounds with members from both the States and Japan. The result is bound to still recall a variety of styles and genres.

Watch: "Criminals of the Dream"
Watch: "Debut"




Delorean - Muzik

Delorean's music has always had elements of dance music to, though they still primarily used guitars in their work. Their latest album, which follows 2013's Apar, abandons guitars almost completely. Instead, they incorporate synths and rely more on Ekhi Lopetegi's vocals.

Watch: "Crystal"
Watch: "Muzik"




Nice as Fuck - Nice as Fuck

Nice as Fuck (also known as NAF or Nice as F***) is Jenny Lewis' latest project since the end of Rilo Kiley five years; she previously released a solo album, The Voyager, in 2014. Her new band also includes Erika Forster of Au Revoir Simone and Tennessee Thomas of The Like. The debut album was surprise-released following a few performances in the earlier part of the year.

Watch: "Door"
Listen: "Guns"


Other Full-Length Releases



The Avett Brothers - True Sadness

Watch: "Ain’t No Man"
Listen: "True Sadness"


DJ Shadow - The Mountain Will Fall

Watch: "Nobody Speak" (featuring Run the Jewels)
Watch: "The Mountain Will Fall"


Marian Hill - ACT ONE

Watch: "I Want You"
Watch: "I Know Why"


Mick Harvey - Delirium Tremens

Watch: "Dont Say a Thing (Ne Dis Rien)" (featuring Xanthe Waite)
Listen: "A Violent Poison Thats What Love Is"


River Tiber - Indigo

Watch: "West" (featuring Daniel Caesar)
Listen: "Acid Test"

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.



Alt-J - Live at Red Rocks

Watch: "Left Hand Free"


Jay Som - "I Think You’re Alright"/"Rush"

Listen: "I Think You’re Alright"
Listen: "Rush"


Jim O’Rourke & Fennesz - It’s Hard for Me to Say I’m Sorry

Listen: "I Just Want You to Stay"
Listen: "Wouldn’t Wanna Be Swept Away"


Lion Babe - Sun Joint

Listen: "Endless Summer"
Listen: "Rain Drums"


Marvin Gaye - What’s Going On

Listen: "What’s Going On" (featuring BJ the Chicago Kid)


Tyondai Braxton - Oranged Out EP

Watch: "Oranged Out"

Saturday, July 23, 2016

New Music Friday - June 17, 2016

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases



case/lang/veirs - case/lang/veirs

In a holy trinity of strong female folk/country, Neko Case, k.d. lang, and Laura Veirs came together three years ago. It all started with a short, but quickly-replied-to email. It's a collaboration that comes after dozens of albums and decades in the music industry between its members; and one that saved k.d. lang from retirement.

Watch: "Atomic Number"
Listen: "Best Kept Secret"




Laura Mvula - The Dreaming Room

Artists like Beyoncé often get all of the black girl magic credit, but some attention is due to Laura Mvula. The British singer released her debut album, Sing to the Moon, in 2013 to a fair amount of praise. On her follow-up, she worked with a number of producers, including herself, Troy Miller, and members of the London Symphony Orchestra.

Watch: "Phenomenal Woman"
Watch: "Overcome" (featuring Nile Rodgers)




Margaret Glaspy - Emotions and Math

Glaspy is an artist from California who honed her skills while a student at Boston's Berklee College of Music. Influenced by Joni Mitchell and Weezer, she released her debut EP, Homeschool, in 2012. She recorded this record twice; the first was done as a home recording, but when she got signed to ATO Records, she rerecorded the tracks in a studio. Emotions and Math is her first album.

Watch: "You and I"
Listen: "Emotions and Math"




Mitski - Puberty 2

Mitski is a Japanese-American artist who's lived all over the world with her family (Japan, Turkey, Congo, etc.) before settling in New York. She released her debut album, Bury Me at Makeout Creek in 2014, garnering a great deal of praise. I wasn't on that bandwagon, but caught on with this sophomore album. So far, I am loving it!

Watch: "Happy"
Watch: "Your Best American Girl"




Weaves - Weaves

Weaves is a four-piece based in Toronto who have been riding a wave of success following their 2014 self-titled EP. The release got them named a "band to watch" by Rolling Stone. Leading into their self-titled debut album, they got that same honor from Stereogum and have been featured heavily on NPR. Their whimsical brand of rock has earned them continued praise with this album.

Watch: "Tick"
Watch: "One More"


Other Full-Length Releases



Ali Beletic - Legends of These Lands Left to Live

Listen: "Band of Outsiders"
Listen: "Dead Serious"


Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers - Rehab Reunion

Watch: "Over the Rise" (featuring Justin Vernon)
Listen: "Celestial Railroad" (featuring Mavis Staples)


Netsky - 3

Listen: "Thunder" (featuring Emeli Sandé)
Listen: "TNT" (featuring Chromeo)


Nite Jewel - Liquid Cool

Watch: "Kiss the Screen"
Watch: "Boo Hoo"


Peter Bjorn and John - Breakin’ Point

Watch: "Breakin’ Point"
Watch: "What You Talking About?"


Red Hot Chili Peppers - The Getaway

Watch: "Dark Necessities"
Listen: "We Turn Red"


Sarah Jarosz - The Undercurrent

Watch: "House of Mercy"
Listen: "Take Another Turn"


Swans - The Glowing Man

Listen: "When Will I Return"


Told Slant - Going By

Watch: "Tsunami"
Listen: "High Dirge"


Twin River - Passing Shade

Watch: "Antony"
Listen: "Knife"


YG - Still Brazy

Watch: "Still Brazy"
Listen: "Who Shot Me"

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.



Clipping - Wriggle

Watch: "Wriggle"
Listen: "Shooter"


Dan Mangan - Unmake

Watch: "Race to the Bottom"
Listen: "Whistleblower"


Disclosure - Moog for Love

Listen: "Boss"
Listen: "Moog for Love"


The Dove & The Wolf - I Don’t Know What to Feel

Listen: "The Smell of Us"
Listen: "Seven Days"


Finding Dory: Music by Thomas Newman




Mumford & Sons with Baaba Maal, The Very Best, & Beatenberg - Johannesburg

Watch: "Wona"
Listen: "Ngamila"


Phantogram - "You Don’t Get Me High Anymore"

Watch: "You Don’t Get Me High Anymore"


Son Lux - Stranger Forms EP

Watch: "Cage of Bones"
Listen: "Redone" (featuring Olga Bell)


Sonic Youth - Spinhead Sessions

Listen: "Theme with Noise"
Listen: "Ambient Guitar & Dreamy Theme"


Todd Terje & The Olsens - The Big Cover Up

Listen: "Baby Do You Wanna Bump?"
Listen: "Firecracker"


Waxahatchee - Early Recordings

Listen: "Home Game"
Listen: "Clumsy"


Will Butler - Friday Night

Watch: "Take My Side" (Live)
Listen: "Encore"

Upcoming Release of the Week (Ending July 23)

The Republican National Convention was this week, which means another round of politicians using artists' music without permission or approval. This time, we got some Rolling Stones and George Harrison. I'm not convinced it's not done for any other reason than to generate more publicity for the politicians through the temporary outrage that it generates. But, it's the artists who deserve that publicity! So, check out some new music over at my Upcoming Releases page!

This week, rapper Mykki Blanco announced his debut album, Mykki.

pitchfork.com

Blanco has made a big name for himself over the past several years by defying the norms both of hip hop music and hip hop personas. He is openly gay and often plays with the idea of gender non-conformity.

He is both a musician and a poet, he released a book of poetry in 2011 before making his musical debut with his 2012 EP, Mykki Blanco and the Mutant Angels. He's released a variety of singles, EPs and mixtapes since, but seemed poised to retire from music to focus on activism and journalism.

For now, he's staying in the music biz. A couple of months prior to the album announcement, he released a new track and video for "High School Never Ends" and released another single, "The Plug Won't" this week, as well.



Mykki is set to be released on September 16.



Also announced this week:

Ablebody - Adult Contemporaries (October 14)
Alex Bleeker - Bet Your Ass (July 23)
Bright Eyes - The Studio Albums 2000-2011 (September 16)
David Bowie - Who Can I Be Now? (September 23)
Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam - "A 1000 Times" (out now)
I.L.y. - Scum with Boundaries (out now)
JEFF The Brotherhood - Zone (August 12)
Kestrels - Kestrels (September 30)
Led Zeppelin - Complete BBC Sessions (September 16)
Merchandise - A Corpse Wired for Sound (September 23)
Mono - Requiem for Hell (October 14)
Oasis - Be Here Now Reissue (October 7)
Partynextdoor - P3 (August 16)
Regina Spektor - Remember Us to Life (September 30)
Sun Kil Moon - Common as Light and Love Are Red Valleys of Blood (February 28)
Wilco - Schmilco (September 9)

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

New Music Friday - June 10, 2016

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases



Amy Klein - Fire

Amy Klein was a member of Titus Andronicus, and even took the name Amy Andronicus, from 2009 to 2011. Despite leaving, in part, to work on her MFA, she continued her music career, releasing Reasons to Live in 2013 with the band Hilly Eye, as well as performing with an forming an additional three bands. Through all of these projects, she had never recorded under her own name. This is her debut album performing as herself.

Watch: "Valerie"
Watch: "Fire"




Fitz and the Tantrums - Fitz and the Tantrums

With each album, Fitz & the Tantrums have adopted a more modern sound. They started with 60s-inspired soul on their 2011 debut, Pickin' Up the Pieces, and moved to an 80s-tinged sound in 2013 with More Than Just a Dream. On their third album, they're fully within the modern age. I still love the Motor City sound most of all, but can appreciate that a band needs to avoid being too pigeon-holed into one style.

Watch: "HandClap"
Watch: "Roll Up"




Garbage - Strange Little Birds

After more than 20 (almost-continuous) years together, Garbage still look and sound amazing. Strange Little Birds is their second album since returning from hiatus in 2011 and their second under their own label, Stunvolume. The album has been described by some band members as a move back toward their debut, and by others as a departure from their previous work.

Watch: "Even Though Our Love Is Doomed"
Watch: "Empty"




Oyinda - Restless Minds

Oyinda is a British singer, born to Nigerian parents, and currently based in New York City. Combining R&B, electronic, and shoegaze sounds, she's made a pretty big splash to her short career so far. After a couple of years of hype built on her early singles, she is releasing her debut record.

Watch: "Never Enough"
Listen: "Flatline"




Wye Oak - Tween

Surprise records are par for the course these days, and even independent acts are not immune to the practice. Wye Oak's fifth album pulls together tracks initially written for their previous two records, 2011's Civilian and 2014's Shriek.

Watch: "Watching the Waiting"
Listen: "No Dreaming"


Other Full-Length Releases



Alexis Taylor - Piano

Watch: "I’m Ready"
Listen: "Repair Man"


Astronoid - Air

Watch: "Air"
Watch: "Up and Atom"


Band of Horses - Why Are You OK

Watch: "Casual Party"
Watch: "In a Drawer"


Clarke:Hartnoll - 2Square

Watch: "Better Have a Drink to Think"
Listen: "Single Function"


The Invisible - Patience

Listen: "So Well" (featuring Jessie Ware)
Listen: "Love Me Again" (featuring Anna Calvi)


Jackie Lynn - Jackie Lynn

Listen: "Alien Love"
Listen: "Chicken Picken"


The Monkees - Good Times!

Watch: "She Makes Me Laugh"
Watch: "You Bring the Summer"


Mumblr - The Never Getting Down

Watch: "Three Leg Dog"
Watch: "Microwave"


Nick Jonas - Last Year Was Complicated

Watch: "Close" (featuring Tove Lo)
Watch: "Bacon" (featuring Ty Dolla $ign)


The Temper Trap - Thick as Thieves

Watch: "Fall Together"
Watch: "Burn"


Yung - A Youthful Dream

Listen: "Pills"
Listen: "Uncombed Hair"

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.



Air - Twentyears

Watch: "So Light Is Her Footfall"
Watch: "Sing Sang Sung"


M83 - "Do It, Try It"

Watch: "Do It, Try It"
Listen: "Do It, Try It" (Loframes Remix)


Paul McCartney - Pure McCartney

Watch: "Say Say Say"
Listen: "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey"