New Music Friday - May 12, 2017

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases

Girlpool - Powerplant Girlpool started as a two-piece band (guitar and bass) with Harmony Tividad and Cleo Tucker in 2013. They released their debut album, Before the World Was Big in 2015 to a fair amount of critical acclaim. Since then, they've added a third member, Miles Wintner, providing drums. The addition helps them to round out the sound they started building on their debut. Watch: "It Gets More Blue" Watch: "Powerplant"

Other Full-Length Releases

B.o.B. - Ether Listen: "Xantastic" (featuring Young Thug) Listen: "E.T." (featuring Lil Wayne)

Kasabian - For Crying Out Loud Watch: "Are You Looking for Action?" Watch: "Bless This Acid House"

Todd Rundgren - White Knight Watch: "Tin Foil Hat" (featuring Donald Fagen) Watch: "Chance for Us" (featuring Daryl Hall & Bobby Strickland)

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

Amber Mark - 3:33 AM Watch: "Lose My Cool" Watch: "Monsoon"

The Bob’s Burgers Music Album Watch: "The Fart Song" Listen: "Electric Love"

Everything Is Recorded - Close But Not Quite Listen: "Close But Not Quite" (featuring Sampha) Listen: "Early This Morning" (featuring Giggs)

Hazel English - Just Give In / Never Going Home EP Watch: "Fix" Watch: "Never Going Home"

Hundred Waters - Currency Listen: "Currency" Listen: "Everywhere"

Jonathan Rado - Born to Run Listen: "Thunder Road"

LUXE Listen: Tei Shi - "One Thing"

Mellah - Liminality EP Watch: "Nada" Watch: "Round"

Nick Murphy - Missing Link Listen: "Forget About Me" Listen: "Your Time" (featuring Kaytranada)

New Music Friday - May 5, 2017

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases

The Afghan Whigs - In Spades The Afghan Whigs returned from a 16-year break with 2014's Do to the Beast. The wait for the follow-up has been, thankfully, much shorter. Beast was a good album, but did not quite rise to the level of their previous work. They've spent the three years since their comeback reissuing their earlier work. Perhaps going back over their past work helped on this record, it's more of a return to form. Watch: "Oriole" Watch: "Demon in Profile"

Blondie - Pollinator Blondie had their own recent return in 2011 with Panic of Girls, their first album in eight years. Pollinator is their third record since that return. The album sees the band moving towards some interesting writing collaborations. Nic Valensi, Sia, Charli XCX, Dev Hynes, David Sitek, and Johnny Marr all contributed to tracks. Watch: "Long Time" Watch: "Fun"

Juana Molina - Halo Juana Molina is an experimental artist from Argentina. She started her career as a sketch comedy actress, and achieved fame in the pursuit, but shifted to a music career in the mid-90s. Twenty-plus years into her music career, she has come to be regarded as one of the best of Argentine avant-garde music. Halo is her seventh album. Watch: "Lentísimo halo" Listen: "Cosoco"

Logic - Everybody Logic is Sir Robert Bryson Hall II, a mixed-race rapper from Maryland. His music often touches on the dynamics of being biracial and his experiences moving between both worlds. His third studio album includes features from Juicy J, Chuck D, and Killer Mike, among many others. Watch: "Black SpiderMan" (featuring Damian Lemar Hudson) Listen: "Everybody"

Perfume Genius - No Shape Perfume Genius, aka Mike Hadreas, began his career making music that was often quiet and reserved. His third album, 2014's Too Bright, saw him become more defiant and bombastic. The follow-up is a bit less so, but still light years away from his early sound. In many ways, it sounds happier than his past work, perhaps inspired, at least in part, by his settling into a long-term relationship. None of this is to say that the output has suffered, this is another incredible album from the artist! Watch: "Slip Away" Watch: "Die 4 You"

Other Full-Length Releases

Amanda Palmer & Edward Ka-Spel - I Can Spin a Rainbow Watch: "Beyond the Beach" Watch: "The Clock at the Back of the Cage"

Big Walnuts Yonder - Big Walnuts Yonder Listen: "Raise the Drawbridges?" Listen: "Sponge Bath"

Black Lips - Satan’s Graffiti or God’s Art? Watch: "Can’t Hold On" Listen: "Occidental Front" (featuring Yoko Ono)

Bonnie “Prince” Billy - Best Troubador Watch: "Mama Tried" Watch: "Bad Actor" (featuring Elsa Oldham)

Cayetana - New Kind of Normal Watch: "Mesa" Watch: "Bus Ticket"

Day Wave - The Days We Had Watch: "Promises" Watch: "Something Here"

Hoops - Routines Watch: "On Top" Listen: "On Letting Go"

Joan Shelley - Joan Shelley Listen: "Where I’ll Find You" Listen: "Wild Indifference"

Mac DeMarco - This Old Dog Watch: "One More Love Song" Watch: "On the Level"

Nightlands - I Can Feel the Night Around Me Watch: "Lost Moon" Listen: "Depending on You"

NIIA - I Watch: "Hurt You First" Watch: "Sideline" (featuring Jazmine Sullivan)

Nite Jewel - Real High Watch: "The Answer" Watch: "2 Good 2 Be True"

Pond - The Weather Watch: "30000 Megatons" Watch: "Sweep Me Off My Feet"

Walter Martin - My Kinda Music Listen: "Hey Matt" (featuring Matt Berninger) Listen: "Trip on a Ship" (featuring Laura Gibson)

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

Cover Stories: Brandi Carlile Celebrates 10 Years of The Story — An Album to Benefit War Child Watch: Dolly Parton - "The Story" Listen: Pearl Jam - "Again Today"

DANGERDOOM - The Mouse & the Mask Reissue Listen: "The Mask" (featuring Ghostface Killah) Listen: "Mad Nice" (featuring Black Thought & Vinny Price)

Flasher - "Winnie"/"Burn Blue" Listen: "Winnie" Listen: "Burn Blue"

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Lovely Creatures: The Best of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds 1984-2014

Small Circle - melatonin EP Reissue Listen: "We Belong Here" Listen: "Please Don't Touch the Moon"

Southern Poverty Law Center Listen: Bonnie “Prince” Billy - "Treasure Map"

Upcoming Album of the Week (Ending June 24)

Earlier this week, St. Vincent announced that she was going on tour, which is exciting news for two reasons. For one, it will be another opportunity to see one of my favorite artists live (and she's pretty awesome live). Second, it might mean that she'll be releasing a new album soon. Keep an eye out on my Upcoming Releases page if an album announcement does follow!

This week, in a move that probably surprised exactly zero people, Guided By Voices announced a new album, How Do You Spell Heaven.

consequenceofsound.net

GBV is a rock band out of Dayton, Ohio that was first founded in 1983. The band has gone through a couple of break-ups (in 2004, reuniting in 2010, then again in 2014) and numerous line-up changes, but frontman Robert Pollard has always been a consistent presence. It is likely because of him that the band has been so prolific.

In their first 20 years of existence, the band released 15 albums. Following their first reunion, they released six albums over three years. How Do You Spell Heaven will be their third since reuniting again last year.

The new album was announced yesterday, along with a new song, "Just to Show You".



The album is due out on August 14.

Also announced this week:

Ariel Pink - Dedicated to Bobby Jameson (September 15)
Clams Casino - Instrumentals 4 (June 26)
The Duke Spirit - Sky Is Mine (August 18)
Filthy Friends - Invitation (August 25)
Jay-Z - 4:44 (June 30)
LCD Soundsystem - American Dream (September 1)
Liam Gallagher - As You Were (October 6)
Madeline Kenney - Night Night at the First Landing (September 1)
Philia: Artists Rise Against Islamophobia (August 19)

Upcoming Album of the Week (Ending June 17)

Be sure to view a full list of upcoming releases here!

This week, Rostam Batmanglij announced his debut album, Half-Light!

pitchfork.com

Rostam was a founding member of Vampire Weekend and stayed with the band through their three studio albums before departing last year.

His new album is far from his first bit of work outside of Vampire Weekend. He formed Discovery with Wes Miles of Ra Ra Riot in 2005 and released LP with the band in 2009. In 2011, he released his first solo single, "Wood". And just last year, he partnered with Hamilton Leithauser, formerly of The Walkmen, to release the excellent I Had a Dream That You Were Mine.

He released the first single, "EOS", that would appear on this album early last year, even before his departure from Vampire Weekend and his album with Leithauser were announced. That single was followed by a couple more released more recently, "Gwan" and "Bike Dream".

Half-Light was announced on Wednesday and is set to be released on September 8.

Also announced this week:

Brian Eno - Another Green World Reissue (August 4)
Brian Eno - Before and After Reissue (August 4)
Brian Eno - Here Come the Warm Jets Reissue (August 4)
Brian Eno - Taking Tiger Mountain Reissue (August 4)
Chelsea Wolfe - Hiss Spun (September 22)
Everything Everything - A Fever Dream (August 18)
Frankie Rose - Cage Tropical (August 11)
The Fresh & Onlys - Wolf Lie Down (August 25)
Gordi - Reservoir (August 25)
Joseph Shabason - Aytche (August 25)
Lee Ranaldo - Electric Trim (September 15)
The Lone Bellow - Walk into a Storm (September 15)
Nosaj Thing - Parallels (September 8)
Queens of the Stone Age - Villains (August 25)
Washed Out - Mister Mellow (June 30)

Upcoming Album of the Week (Ending June 10)

My birthday, August 25, falls on a Friday this year! It's shaping up to be a good day for new music with albums announced, so far, from EMA, Iron & Wine, Oh Sees, and The War on Drugs. Check out my Upcoming Releases page for some ideas for birthday gifts! ;)

This week, Alvvays announced their sophomore album, Antisocialites.

pitchfork.com

Alvvays (pronounced as "always") became a new favorite of mine in 2014 with their self-titled debut record. The Toronto band, which formed in 2011, impressed with jangly guitars and wistful vocals.

They announced their new album on Tuesday, and also released its first single, "In Undertow".

Antisocialites is set to be released on September 8.

Also announced this week:

Ariana Grande - One Love Manchester (out now)
Avey Tare - Eucalyptus (July 21)
Emily Haines - Choir of the Mind (July 7)
Good Time: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (August 11)
ILOVEMAKONNEN - Fun Summer Vol. 1 EP (out now)
Iron & Wine - Beast Epic (August 25)
Manchester Orchestra - A Black Mile to the Surface (July 28)
Oh Sees - Orc (August 25)
Susanne Sundfør - Music for People in Trouble (August 25)
Toro Y Moi - Boo Boo (July 7)
Vic Mensa - The Manuscript (out now)
Zola Jesus - Okovi (September 8)

New Music Friday - April 28, 2017

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases

Feist - Pleasure It's been six years since the release Feist's previous record, Metals, and it's seemed like a long wait. She started promoting this record with cryptic posts on Instagram in March, referencing the album's title and lead single. The album was recorded with Mocky and Renaud Letang, and features a contribution from Jarvis Cocker (formerly of Pulp). Watch: "Pleasure" Listen: "Century" (featuring Jarvis Cocker)

Gorillaz - Humanz Damon Albarn maintains a lot of projects. He has long been the frontman of Blur, has had an active solo career, and is the primary creator behind Gorillaz. Blur and Gorillaz were both fairly quiet in the first part of the decade. In 2015, he reunited with Blur to release The Magic Whip, their first album in over a decade. The return of Gorillaz was also long-promised. It's out now, only a relatively-short six years following their last output, and with a variety of features, ranging from Savages' Jehnny Beth to Vince Staples. Watch: "Andromeda" (featuring D.R.A.M.) Watch: "Ascension" (featuring Vince Staples)

Mary J. Blige - Strength of a Woman Blige's music has always reflected aspects of her personal life. Strength of a Woman is no different; it follows her 2016 divorce from Martin Isaacs. Also a consummate collaborator, her thirteenth album sees her working with a wide variety of contemporaries (Missy Elliott) and younger artists and producers (Jazmine Sullivan and Kaytranada). Watch: "Love Yourself" (featuring Kanye West) Listen: "U + Me (Love Lesson)"

Mew - Visuals Visuals is the seventh album from this Danish band, following 2015's + -. The album was written while the band was touring in promotion of that last record. The album is the first that the band has recorded following the departure of guitarist Bo Madsen. Even in his absence, the band manages to retain their distinctive prog-influenced sound. Watch: "Twist Quest" Watch: "85 Videos"

Sylvan Esso - What Now This duo of Mountain Man's Amelia Meath and Megafaun's Nick Sanborn released an incredible self-titled debut album in 2014. The success of the album shifted the focus of both members away from their other projects. Much of the time since their debut has been spent touring and recording together. They started releasing tracks for this follow-up back in September with the double single "Radio" and "Kick Jump Twist". Watch: "Kick Jump Twist" Watch: "Radio"

Other Full-Length Releases

BNQT - Vol. 1 Listen: "Mind of a Man" Listen: "Restart"

Cashmere Cat - 9 Watch: "Trust Nobody" (featuring Selena Gomez & Troy Lanez) Watch: "9 (After Coachella)" (featuring MØ & Sophie)

Colin Stetson - All This I Do for Glory Watch: "In the Clinches" Watch: "Spindrift"

JMSN - Whatever Makes You Happy Watch: "Where Do U Go" Listen: "Drinkin’"

Mark Lanegan Band - Gargoyle Watch: "Beehive" Listen: "Nocturne"

Morning Teleportation - Salivating for Symbiosis Watch: "Re-wiring Easily" Listen: "Calm Is Intention Devouring Its Frailty"

Thurston Moore - Rock ’n’ Roll Consciousness Watch: "Smoke of Dreams" Listen: "Cease Fire"

Wale - SHINE Watch: "Running Back" (featuring Lil Wayne) Watch: "Fashion Week" (featuring G-Eazy)

Willie Nelson - God’s Problem Child Watch: "He Won’t Ever Be Gone" Watch: "Old Timer"

Wilsen - I Go Missing in My Sleep Watch: "Centipede" Watch: "Garden"

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

The Circle: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Listen: Jonsí - "Simple Gifts" Listen: Danny Elfman - "Happy Little Robots"

Kweku Collins - grey Listen: "Lucky Ones"

Majid Jordan - "Phases" Watch: "Phases"

Ryan Adams - Prisoner B-Sides Listen: "Stop Talking" Listen: "What If We’re Wrong"

Sufjan Stevens - Carrie & Lowell Live

Swans - The Great Annihilator Reissue Listen: "Killing for Company"

Van Morrison - The Authorized Bang Collection