Upcoming Album of the Week (Ending November 25)

I hope that all of my wonderful readers had a great Thanksgiving. Myself, I spent the holiday in North Carolina with my mom, my boyfriend, and his family. Work and travel have given me less time to work on this blog lately, but I did finally get my Upcoming Releases page updated! So, go over and check it out!

Today's post actually covers the past two weeks. A couple of weeks ago, Brandi Carlile announced her sixth album, By the Way, I Forgive You.

npr.org

Brandi Carlile was one of the first artists who made me appreciate country music (or alt-country, the name for artists more indebted to '60s and '70s style country than to the modern sound). She's consistently released strong work over 13 years and five albums.

She announced her latest album just shy of two weeks ago. Though her music has always wavered between alt-country, folk, and americana, she describes this album as a "massive change" for her.

By the Way, I Forgive You is set for release on February 16.

Also announced over the past two weeks:

Art Feynman - Near Negative (December 15)
The Body - A Home on Earth (out now)
Charlotte Day Wilson - “Doubt” (out now)
Dream Wife - Dream Wife (January 26)
Echo & The Bunnymen - The Stars, the Oceans & the Moon (May)
Girlfriend Material - Girlfriend Material (out now)
Kehlani - “Already Won” (out now)
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard - Polygondwanaland (out now)
Loma - Mona (February 16)
MED, Blu, & Madlib - The Turn Up (out now)
N.E.R.D. - No_One Ever Really Dies (December 15)
Palehound - YMCA Pool 7” (January 26)
Panda Bear - A Day with the Homies (January 12)
Robert Earl Thomas - Another Age (February 16)
S. Carey -  Hundred Acres (February 23)
Saintseneca - “Moon Barks at the Dog” (out now)
The Staves & yMusic - The Way Is Read (November 24)
A Very Roc Christmas (out now)

New Music Friday - September 1, 2017

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases

Hercules and Love Affair - Omnion Hercules and Love Affair was started by producer Andy Butler in 2004. They saw their first success in 2008 with the track "Blind", a collaboration with Anohni. Since, they have released three albums, including Omnion. Their fourth records features both past collaborators, Rouge Mary, and some new featured voices, Sharon van Etten and Faris Badwan. Watch: "Controller" (featuring Faris Badwan) Watch: "Omnion" (featuring Sharon van Etten)

LCD Soundsystem - american dream Turns out LCD Soundsystem's 2011 farewell concert at Madison Square Garden was not the end for them, though they did take an extended break. In 2015, they released a Christmas single, then played a few shows (mostly festival appearances) through 2016. They released the first singles from the eventual comeback album in May. The return is a bit annoying following the spectacle of their farewell, but is still a welcome one. Watch: "tonite" Listen: "american dream"

Madeline Kenney - Night Night at the First Landing Madeline Kenney is a musician, and baker, and painter, and neuroscientist, hailing from Seattle. She released her debut EP, Signals, in 2016.  The EP was produced by Chaz Bear (better known as Chaz Bundick or Toro Y Moi). He returns to produced her debut full-length. Watch: "Rita" Watch: "Always"

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - The Echo of Pleasure The Pains of Being Pure at Heart have been around since 2007, making indie pop influenced by the shoegaze alt-rock of the 80s and 90s. They stripped their sound back a bit for their previous record, 2014's Days of Abandon, but return to the fuller sound of their earlier records for this follow-up, their fourth album overall. Watch: "When I Dance with You" Watch: "So True"

Other Full-Length Releases

Daughter - Music from Before the Storm Listen: "Burn It Down" Listen: "Glass"

Duds - A Nature or a Degree Listen: "Elastic Feel"

Maneka - Is You Is Listen: "Dracula" (featuring Katie Capri) Listen: "Tiger Baby" (featuring Jordyn Blakely)

Mogwai - Every Country’s Sun Watch: "Coolverine" Watch: "Party in the Dark"

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

The Knife - Live at Terminal 5

Upcoming Album of the Week (Ending November 11)

John Cale has announced a series of shows to celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Velvet Underground & Nico. In place of the dearly departed Lou Reed, the shows will features a number of other notable performers, including Sky Ferreira, Kurt Vile, Animal Collective, and Tunde Adebimpe. This will inevitably result in a live album sometime next year; when that happens, check it out over at my Upcoming Releases page!

This week, Van Morrison proved that he has no plans to quit anytime soon and announced his 38th album, Versatile.

vanmorrison.com

Morrison has a career spanning back more than 50 years, but has been especially busy the past couple of years, releasing albums in 2015, 2016, and 2017. That's right, he's already released an album this year; September's Roll with the Punches.

He announced this follow-up on Sunday and it will feature a mix of blues and soul reinterpretations as well as original songs.

Versatile is set for release on December 1.

Also announced this week:

Ashanti - “Say Less” (out now)
BC Unidos - Bicycle EP (out now)
Beastie Boys - The In Sound from Way Out! Reissue (December 8)
Beastie Boys - To the 5 Boroughs Reissue (December 8)
Bright: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (December 15)
Elbow - The Best Of (November 24)
Empire of the Sun - On Our Way Home (out now)
Field Music - Open Here (February 2)
Jidenna - Boomerang (out now)
Marlon Williams - Make Way for Love (February 16)
Poliça/s t a r g a z e - Music for the Long Emergency (February 16)
Superchunk - What a Time to Be Alive (February 16)

New Music Friday - August 25, 2017

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases

EMA - Exile in the Outer Ring This fourth album from Erika M. Anderson is written about the "outer ring", lower-income housing that has risen up around many large cities as the wealth has moved towards the center. Always socially- and politically-minded, Anderson sings about the poverty and lack of resources plaguing these areas. She works with Unknown Mortal Orchestra's Jacob Portrait on the record, which continues her streak of spectacular music. Watch: "Blood and Chalk" Watch: "Down and Out"

Filthy Friends - Invitation Filthy Friends is a band formed from members of Sleater-Kinney (Corin Tucker), Fastbacks (Kurt Bloch), R.E.M. (Peter Buck, Bill Rieflin), and The Young Fresh Fellows (Scott McCaughey). They formed in 2012 primarily to perform David Bowie covers, but have moved to their own material for their debut album together. Watch: "Despierta" Listen: "The Arrival"

Gordi - Reservoir Gordi is Sophie Payten, a musician from Sydney, Australia. She got her start a couple of years ago, getting attention from Australian radio stations Triple J and FBi before signing a record deal with (Bloomington, Indiana-based!) Jagjaguwar Records and releasing an EP, Clever Disguise, in May of last year. Reservoir is her debut full-length. Watch: "Bitter End" Watch: "On My Side"

Iron & Wine - Beast Epic Iron & Wine's last two albums, 2015's Sing Into My Mouth and 2016's Love Letter for Fire, were his first forays into full-length album collaborations, with Ben Bridwell and Jesca Hoop, respectively. This year, he's back as a solo artist for his sixth album. It is noted as a return to the artist's sound on his earliest work, with at least one critic comparing it to Our Endless Numbered Days, his second studio album. Watch: "Call It Dreaming" Watch: "Thomas County Law"

Queens of the Stone Age - Villains QotSA made a surprising (to me, at least) move for their seventh album, working with producer Mark Ronson. Ronson became known for his work with Amy Winehouse, as well as the groover he released in 2014 with Bruno Mars. It seems like a strange pairing, but one that allowed the band to greatly progress their sound. Villains isn't a huge departure from their past work, but does introduce a but of boogie to the mix. Listen: "The Evil Has Landed" Listen: "The Way You Used to Do"

Other Full-Length Releases

A$AP Mob - Cozy Tapes Vol. 2: Too Cozy Watch: "Feels So Good" Watch: "RAF" (featuring A$AP Rocky, Playboi Carti, & Quavo)

Action Bronson - Blue Chips 7000 Watch: "The Chairman’s Intent" Watch: "Let Me Breathe"

Baby in Vain - More Nothing Watch: "To Heaven and Back" Watch: "Lowlife"

Blank Range - Marooned with the Treasure Listen: "Ember in the Ash" Listen: "Opening Band"

CYMBALS - Light Your Mind Watch: "Decay" Listen: "Car Crash"

The Fresh & Onlys - Wolf Lie Down Watch: "One of a Kind" Watch: "Impossible Man"

Game Theory - Supercalifragile

A Giant Dog - Toy Watch: "Bendover" Listen: "Photograph"

Joseph Shabason - Aytche Watch: "Westmeath" Listen: "Aytche"

Liars - TCFC Watch: "Staring at Zero" Watch: "Cred Woes"

The Mynabirds - Be Here Now Watch: "Golden Age" Watch: "Cocoon"

Oh Sees - Orc Watch: "Night Expo" Listen: "The Static God"

Shock Machine - Shock Machine Watch: "Lost in the Mystery" Watch: "Open Up the Sky"

The War on Drugs - A Deeper Understanding Watch: "Pain" Watch: "Holding On"

Widowspeak - Expect the Best Watch: "Dog" Listen: "When I Tried"

Wiki - No Mountains in Manhattan Watch: "Mayor" Watch: "Pretty Bull"

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

D’Angelo - Brown Sugar Reissue Listen: "Cruisin’" (Who’s Foolin’ Who Mix) Listen: "Brown Sugar" (Incognito Molasses Remix)

Dan Deacon - Spiderman of the RIngs 10-Year Anniversary Reissue Watch: "The Crystal Cat" Listen: "Big Milk"

Hand Habits - "Yr Heart" 7” Listen: "Yr Heart" Listen: "Carpenter’s Daughter"

King Krule - "Czech One" Watch: "Czech One"

Philia: Arists Rise Against Islamophobia Listen: The Dodos - "Mirror Flake" Listen: Hamilton Leithauser - "The Song with No Name"

Superchuck - Superchunk Reissue Watch: "Watery Hands"

Underworld - Beaucoup Fish Super Deluxe Edition Listen: "Jumbo" Listen: "Cups"

Upcoming Album of the Week (Ending November 4)

SZA's Ctrl is getting its vinyl release in just a couple of weeks! I pre-ordered it just this week and will be waiting eagerly for its arrival. The talented singer also recently announced that she is working on a new album with Mark Ronson and Kevin Parker of Tame Impala, something that is sure to be amazing!

When that album comes to fruition, be sure to check it out over at my Upcoming Releases page! Hopefully, it won't also come with a five-month wait for a vinyl version.

This week, Björk announced her ninth album, Utopia.

amazon.com

The album follows 2015's Vulnicura, an album Björk wrote in the aftermath of her breakup from Matthew Barney. She started work on the follow-up shortly after the release of Vulnicura and has described the album as "paradise" in contrast to Vulnicura's "hell."

The first single from the album, "the gate", was released back in September. Though the album itself was announced a ways back, Björk announced its release date on Halloween.

Utopia is set for release on November 24.

Also announced this week:

Bahamas - Earthtones (January 19)
Bat Fangs - Bat Fangs (February 2)
Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago 10th Anniversary Reissue (February 16)
Bonnie “Prince” Billy - Wolf of the Cosmos (November 17)
Cadence Weapon - Cadence Weapon (January 19)
Glen Hansard - Between Two Shores (January 19)
Gorillaz - “Garage Palace” (out now)
Jim James - Tribute to 2 (December 8)
Mickey Hart - RAMU (November 10)
Miguel - War & Leisure (December 1)
N.E.R.D. - “Lemon” (out now)
Nick Hodgson - Tell Your Friends (January 26)
Ought - Room Inside the World (February 16)
Palm - Rock Island (February 9)
Pinegrove - “Intrepid” (out now)
Skepta - Vicious (out now)
Twin Peaks - “With You”/“Just Because” (out now)