Saturday, August 20, 2016

Upcoming Album of the Week (Ending August 20)

It's been one heck of a week. I've been working on a new house and work has been crazy. You may have noticed that I'm falling even further behind that I already have been on this blog, and for that, I apologize. I did manage to finally update my Upcoming Releases page, so check that out!

This week, Vince Staples announced his second EP, Prima Donna.

spin.com

Kendrick Lamar may have gotten most of the attention lavished upon the world of hip hop last year, but it was Vince Staples who shone brightest for me with his debut album, Summertime '06. It was, by far, my favorite hip hop album of 2015, as well as one of my favorites overall.

On Monday, just a little over a year since that album, he announced the new EP. He hasn't released any of the songs from the EP, but has revealed the tracklist. It has a pretty exciting list of featured artists, including Kilo Kish, A$AP Rocky, and James Blake.

The Prima Donna EP is set to be released on August 26.

Also announced this week:

American Wrestlers - Goodbye Terrible Youth (November 4)
Cory Hanson - The Unborn Capitalist (November 18)
Danny Brown - Atrocity Exhibition (September 30)
Dawes - We’re All Gonna Die (September 16)
Frank Ocean - Blond (out now)
Frank Ocean - Endless (out now)
Jagwar Ma - Every Now & Then (October 16)
Low - The Exit Papers Reissue (September 30)
Marching Church - Telling It Like It Is (October 28)
Mike Mills - Concerto for Violin, Rock Band and String Orchestra (October 14)
Sporting Life - Slam Dunk Vol. 1 (August 26)

Sunday, August 14, 2016

Upcoming Album of the Week (Ending August 13)

I just bought tickets to see an artist releasing one of my most anticipated albums in the second half of this year, Angel Olsen! She will be in Cincinnati in about a month and I'm already getting pretty excited. Her new album is also coming next month, check her out, along with much other new music at my Upcoming Releases page!

This week, Bon Iver made good on some recent hints and announced their third album, 22, A Million.

pitchfork.com

Bon Iver started after the breakup of Justin Vernon's previous project, DeYarmond Edison, and during period of recuperation. He wasn't expecting to embark on a new project, but ended up writing and recording new material, and starting one of the most-hyped new bands in 2007.

After two albums and an EP, the band went on hiatus in 2012. There were a few new songs during that time, but members spent the time focusing on other projects. The band reformed in June of last year with a one-off concert and announced a tour at the end of the year. A few weeks ago, they left hints of an album to come, with a mural of the number 22 in New York.

stereogum.com

This week, they confirmed the new record and released two new songs from the album. 22, A Million is set to be released on September 30.





Also announced this week:

Jack White - Jack White Acoustic Recordings 1998-2016 (September 9)
Lambchop - FLOTUS (November 4)
TOY - Clear Shot (October 28)
Transpecos: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (September 9)
Weyes Blood - Front Row Seat to Earth (October 21)
Wyclef Jean - J’ouvert (September 30)

Sunday, August 7, 2016

Upcoming Album of the Week (Ending August 6)

The Olympics have started! I look forward to the games every four years (tbh: the winter games just aren't interesting...except figure skating...I love figure skating) and, this year, my anticipation to watch the US girls gymnastics team dominate is matched only by my curiosity over how much of a disaster these games will be. Maybe none, but I'll be watching with my popcorn and music playing waiting to find out! Check out some of the music I may be listening to over at my Upcoming Releases page!

This week, Hamilton Leithauser and Rostam Batmanglij teamed up to bring us their debut album, I Had a Dream That You Were Mine.

pitchfork.com

Performing together as Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam, the two both leave other much beloved bands behind. Leithauser left The Walkmen two years ago as the band embarked on an "indefinite" hiatus, and Rostam recently parted ways with Vampire Weekend. Time will tell what kind of band Vampire Weekend is without their principal songwriter and guitarist, but the members of The Walkmen have made sure that their loss is not felt. So far, four (or all but one) members of the band have released other material in the past couple of years; the only hold-out is drummer Matt Barrick.

I've loved just about everything that Leithauser has touched and Rostam has released spectacular work both with his former band and on his own, so I have no doubt that this album will be amazing. The duo released a new song a few weeks ago, and gave us another new song with the album's announcement.




I Had a Dream That You Were Mine is set to be released September 23.



Also announced this week:

2 Chainz - Daniel Son, Necklace Don (out now)
Banks - The Alter (September 30)
Bob Weir - Blue Mountain (September 30)
Conor Oberst - Ruminations (October 14)
David Nagler & Friends - Carl Sandburg’s Chicago Poems (September 9)
GTA - Good Times Ahead (October 7)
M.I.A. - “Bird Song” (August 12)
Norah Jones - Day Breaks (October 7)
Parquet Courts - Performing Human 12” (August 12)
Restorations - “See”/‘Sea” (out now)
Swet Shop Boys - Cashmere (October 14)
Warpaint - Heads Up (September 23)
XOXO Soundtrack (August 26)

Saturday, August 6, 2016

New Music Friday - July 1, 2016

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases



Bat for Lashes - The Bride

Natasha Khan debuted a new project, Sexwitch, last year, but is already back with a new solo record. Following 2012's The Haunted Man, her new album is a conceptual piece, told from the perspective of a woman whose fiancé (spoiler alert) dies on the way to their wedding. The album was announced with materials that made me think that the artist may just be announcing her own wedding. I was pretty excited for her, but I guess this is cool, too!

Watch: "In God’s House"
Watch: "Sunday Love"




Blood Orange - Freetown Sound

Blood Orange is Dev Hynes and Freetown Sound is his third album under the name, which he has been his alias since putting Lightspeed Champion on hiatus in 2010. The album, which was released a few days ahead of time, is meant to speak to people who find themselves at odds between their identity and other people's expectations of them.

Watch: "Augustine"
Listen: "By Ourselves"




Sara Watkins - Young in All the Wrong Ways

Nickel Creek may have reunited two years ago for a new album, A Dotted Line, but that hasn't stopped its members from continuing in their solo careers. Both of her previous bandmates have released albums since and now Sara is back with her third solo record.

Watch: "Move Me"
Watch: "Young in All the Wrong Ways"


Other Full-Length Releases



GØGGS - GØGGS

Listen: "Glendale Junkyard"
Listen: "Needle Trade Off"


Metronomy - Summer 08

Watch: "Old Skool"
Listen: "Back Together"


Stephen Steinbrink - Anagrams

Listen: "Building Machines"
Listen: "Absent Mind"


Terry - Terry HQ

Listen: "Third War"
Listen: "Chitter Chatter"

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.



Adam Olenius - Looking Forward to the New Me

Watch: "Feels Like Feels Right"
Listen: "News Are Saying"


Nite-Funk - Nite-Funk

Listen: "Let Me Be Me"
Listen: "U Can Make It"


Porcelain Raft - Pressed Flowers EP

Listen: "That's What I See When I See You"



Thee Oh Sees - Live in San Francisco