We went to a wedding last night and, while the ceremony was beautiful and the food delicious, the real stand-out was the night's entertainment. The couple hosted live band karaoke and invited the guests to perform their favorite songs. I went with my new favorite karaoke go-to, Mark Ronson's and Bruno Mars' "Uptown Funk"!
I keep hearing small updates about Ronson teaming up again with some of his collaborators from his most recent album, including Tame Impala's Kevin Parker. If we get anything concrete, check it out over at my Upcoming Releases page!
Last week, Dutch artist Amber Arcade announced her sophomore album, European Heartbreak.
It's always interesting to hear about musicians who didn't just start recording and releasing music as teenagers, but instead held other careers before. Arcades has a masters in law and worked for the United Nations on war crimes tribunals.
She recorded her first release while still working in law, self-funding a session in New York City. That caught the right ears and she released her debut, Fading Lines, in 2016.
She announced the new album on Monday and released a new track and video, "Simple Song". The album is scheduled for release on September 28.
Also announced this week:
The Breeders - Last Splash Vinyl Reissue (May 18)
The Breeders - Mountain Battles Vinyl Reissue (May 18)
The Breeders - Pod Vinyl Reissue (May 18)
The Breeders - Title TK Vinyl Reissue (May 18)
Flaming Lips - Greatest Hits Vol. 1 (June 1)
Phil Cook - PEOPLE ARE MY DRUG (June 1)
Westworld returned for season two this weekend! One of the promos for the season featured a beautiful piano cover of Nirvana's "Heart-Shaped Box". The show became known in its first season for its player piano-style covers of popular music, so I'm sure the second season soundtrack will be pretty awesome. When it's announced, be sure to check it out over at my Upcoming Releases page!
Last week, Lykke Li announced her fourth album, so sad so sexy.
I've been a fan of Li's since the release of her amazing debut album, Youth Novels. She's only gotten better with each record, with a perfect mix of pop, indie, and electronic music.
Although it's been four years since her last record, I Never Learn, I wasn't expecting a new album from her quite yet. In 2016, she formed a band, LIV, with her partner, producer Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Wyatt and Pontus Winnberg of Miike Snow, and Björn Yttling of Peter Björn and John. They released four singles together, so I expected to get a full-length album soon. I'm more than happy to get a new solo record!
Li released two new singles, "hard rain" and "deep end", last week, as well. The new album will be released on June 8.
Also announced last week:
The Coral - Move Through the Dawn (August 17)
Deafheaven - Ordinary Corrupt Human Love (July 13)
Drake - Scorpion (June 28)
Father John Misty - God’s Favorite Customer (June 1)
Jim James - Uniform Distortion (June 29)
Jorja Smith - Lost & Found (June 8)
Kanye West - TBA (June 1)
Kanye West & Kid Cudi - Kids See Ghosts (June 8)
Mazzy Star - Still (June 1)
Post Malone - Beerbongs & Bentleys (April 29)
Pusha T - King Push (May 25)
Tokyo Police Club - “New Blues” (out now)
August Greene is a new project from Common, which sees him working again with longtime collaborators Karriem Riggins and Robert Glasper. Bringing pianist Glasper into the fold underscores Common's longtime interest in marrying jazz and hip hop. The debut album from the trio also brings in a new collaborator, and a name that I had not heard in a while, Brandy!
Fine But Dying is the third album from this artist from Georgia (the U.S. state). On the record, she deals head-on with past struggles with mental illness and the various interpersonal effects, as well as the conflict between internal state and outward appearance.
Resolution was a surprise release from Shamir. He had previously announced an EP, Room, and released a few songs from that project. It's not his first surprise release; last year, he released Hope before the more traditional release cycle of Revelations.
Young Fathers - Cocoa Sugar
Young Fathers are a trio from Edinburgh. Their music is generally described as hip-hop, though that's a limiting descriptor for them. They also incorporate elements of pop, club music, and industrial. Cocoa Sugar is their third record.
I used to have the goal to hit every major music festival in the US, and maybe even a few abroad. Now, I prefer to stick with festivals hosted in my city (of which there are plenty!). Despite my change of priority, and my issues with the festival, Beyoncé makes a strong case for a future pilgrimage to Indio, CA for Coachella (provided she plays the fest again).
Praise is high for her recent performance there, so if a recording of it ever gets an official release, be sure to check it out on my Upcoming Releases page!
Last week, Arctic Monkeys announced their sixth album, Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino.
At their start, the band were a latter part of the post-punk revival of the mid-aughts, but have veered from that sound since their 2006 debut, Whatever People Say I Am, That Is What I Am Not. Their most recent record, 2013's AM, was the culmination of the change, with a psychedelic hard rock sound.
The band has been on hiatus since the end of their AM tour in 2014. During that time, we've gotten a second album from frontman Alex Turner's side project The Last Shadow Puppets, and drummer Matt Helders worked with Iggy Pop on his latest record.
The band announced their latest record on the fifth along with a trailer (no new songs, yet).
Also announced this week:
Arthur Buck - Arthur Buck (June 15)
Beak> - L.A. Playback (out now)
Bombino - Deran (May 18)
Chromeo - Head Over Heels (June 15)
Cold Cave - You & Me & Infinity EP (June 1)
Destroyer - City of Daughters Vinyl Reissue (May 25)
Destroyer - Thief Vinyl Reissue (May 25) Dreams (June 15)
Gang Gang Dance - Kazuashita (June 22)
Gang of Four - Complicit (April 20) Graceland - The Remixes (June 1)
The Horrors - “Fire Escape”/“Water Drop” (out now)
Jenny Hval - The Long Sleep (May 25)
Johnny Marr - Call the Comet (June 15)
Kamasi Washington - Heaven and Earth (June 22)
Kevin Krauter - Toss Up (June 15)
Knxwledge - Gladwement EP (out now)
Lion Babe - “The Wave” (out now)
Los Campesinos! - Hold on Now, Youngster… Vinyl Reissue (October 12)
Los Campesinos! - We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed Vinyl Reissue (October 12)
LUMP - LUMP (June 1)
Melody’s Echo Chamber - Bon Voyage (June 15)
Oneohtrix Point Never - Age Of (June 1)
Palberta - Roach Goin’ Down (June 15)
Patrick Paige II - Letters of Irrelevance (May 18)
Perera Elsewhere - Drive (May 4)
Stuart Staples - Arrhythmia (June 15)
Young Thug - Hear No Evil (out now)
And the saga of Once Upon a Time in Shaolin continues! In the wake of news that Martin Shkreli has been ordered to relinquish his singular copy of the Wu-Tang Clan album, RZA revealed that he tried to buy the album back, but his original contract for the sale of the record prevented it. Oh well! Hopefully, the album finds its way into the hands of someone who can appreciate it and, if it ever gets a wide release, be sure to check it out on my Upcoming Releases page!
This week, Cardi B announced her long-awaited debut album, Invasion of Privacy.
Cardi B started her career in 2015, releasing a couple of mixtapes and scoring a few features spots. She earned her first number one single in June of last year with "Bodak Yellow". While that remains her highest charting track, each single and feature spot since its release has also charted.
She first announced her debut album while accepting iHeartRadio's Best New Artist award earlier this month, but this week, we got the title, artwork, and official release date. Invasion of Privacy will be released on April 6!
Also announced this week:
77:88 - Jellies (July 6)
Angelique Kidjo - Remain in Light (June 8)
Garbage - Version 2.0 Reissue (June 22)
John Parish - Bird Dog Dante (June 15)
Jonny Greenwood - Bodysong Reissue (May 18)
Michael Feuerstack - Natural Weather (May 25)
Mount Kimbie - Love What Survives Remixes Part 1 (May 4)
Mount Kimbie - Love What Survives Remixes Part 2 (May 11)
Paul McCartney - Chaos and Creation in the Backyard Reissue (May 18)
Paul McCartney - NEW Reissue (May 18)
Paul McCartney - Thrillington Reissue (May 18)
Paul McCartney and Wings - Wings Greatest Reissue (May 18)
Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks - Sparkle Hard (May 18)
Sweet Valley - Eternal Champ II (April 20)
The Weeknd - Dear Melancholy, (out now)
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