Upcoming Album of the Week (Ending November 24, 2018)

The Creed II soundtrack was released this past week (the movie came out on Wednesday). I'm excited for the movie, but looking at the tracklist, the soundtrack should be good, as well. The album includes contributions from Rae Sremmurd, Bon Iver, Vince Staples, and Kendrick Lamar.

I hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving! As always, check out the new music I'm looking forward to over at my Upcoming Releases page!

Recently, DAWN announced her fifth solo album, new breed.

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DAWN (aka D∆WN, aka Dawn Richard) started her career as a member of the made-on-TV girl band, Danity Kane. The group disbanded in 2009, at which point she embarked on a solo career and proved her work to be far more interesting than the R&B/pop of Danity Kane.

While still in the general R&B space, her own work is more experimental, punctuated by a trilogy of concept albums ending with 2016's Redemption. She's released various one-off singles and videos since, and featured on the closing track of Dirty Projector's 2017 self-titled album.

The new album was announced on November 7, along with a new song, "new breed." The album will be released on January 25.

Also announced recently:

And the Kids - When This Life Is Over (February 22)
Cherry Glazerr - Stuffed & Ready (February 1)
Chvrches - Hansa Session EP (December 14)
Conor Oberst - “No One Changes”/“The Rockaways” (February 1)
The Decemberists - Traveling On (December 14)
Earl Sweatshirt - Some Rap Songs (November 30)
Emily King - Scenery (February 1)
FEELS - Post Earth (February 22)
Frakkur - Frakkur 2000-2004 (out now)
Ghostface Killah - Ghost Files (November 30)
Girlpool - What Chaos Is Imaginary (February 1)
Guided By Voices - 1000 Dougs (December 7)
Guided By Voices - 1901 Acid Rock (March)
Guided By Voices - Umlaut Over the Özone (March)
Guided By Voices - Warp and Woof (April)
Guided By Voices - Winecork Stonehenge (December 7)
Guided By Voices - Zeppelin Over China (February 1)
Helado Negro - This Is How You Smile (March 8)
Homeshake - Helium (February 15)
Julia Jacklin - Crushing (February 22)
Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith - Tides: Music for Yoga and Meditation (January 11)
Karen O & Danger Mouse - Lux Prima (December 14)
Kodak Black - DYING TO LIVE (December 14)
Meek Mill - Championships (November 30)
Mercury Rev - Bobbie Gentry’s Delta Sweete Revisited (February 8)
Panda Bear - Buoys (February 8)
Rustin Man - Drift Code (February 1)
The Saxophones - Singing Desperately Suite (February 12)
These New Puritans - “Into the Fire” (out now)
Tyler, The Creator - Music Inspired by Illumination & Dr. Seuss' The Grinch (out now)
Vic Mensa - Hooligans (December 14)
Weezer - The Black Album (March 1)
William Tyler - Goes West (January 25)

New Music Friday - May 18, 2018

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases

Bombino - Deran Deran is the sixth album from the Nigerian musician. The album, which follows the Dan Auerbach-produced Nomad, celebrates the artist's culture and heritage. It was recorded in Africa and sung entirely in Tamashek. Watch: "Deran Deran Alkheir" Listen: "Tehigren"

Courtney Barnett - Tell Me How You Really Feel Tell Me How You Really Feel is, somewhat surprisingly, only Barnett's second album. Her body of work is much larger, starting with an acclaimed double EP, A Sea of Split Peas and more recently including, Lotta Sea Lice, a collaboration with Kurt Vile. Watch: "Nameless, Faceless" Watch: "Need a Little Time"

Frog Eyes - Violet Psalms The eighth album from Frog Eyes will also reportedly be the band's last and was followed by a farewell tour. The album was recorded at the home of members Carey Mercer and Melanie Campbell. Although the band has counted members of Wolf Parade and The New Pornographers as bandmates, the record is stripped back to just the four core members. Watch: "Your Boss’s Shirt" Listen: "Pay for Fire"

Patrick Paige II - Letters of Irrelevance Paige is a member of the The Internet, who also released a new album this year. He serves as the band's bassist, but shows off his own voice on his debut. Similar to his work in The Internet, the album combines soul, funk, and hip hop. Watch: "On My Mind/Charge It to the Game" (featuring Syd & Kari Faux) Watch: "The Party Song (Do My Dance)" (featuring Fortebowie) / "The Best Policy"

TT - LoveLaws TT is Theresa Wayman, who is also a member of Warpaint. She's released three albums with her band, including 2016's Heads Up, but LoveLaws is her first solo record. Watch: "I’ve Been Fine" Listen: "Love Leaks"

Other Full-Length Releases

Buck Meek - Buck Meek Listen: "Maybe" Listen: "Cannonball!"

Now, Now - Saved Watch: "AZ" Watch: "MJ"

Parquet Courts - Wide Awake! Watch: "Almost Had to Start a Fight/In and Out of Patience" Watch: "Wide Awake"

Quiet Slang - Everything Matters but No One Is Listening Watch: "Dirty Cigarettes" Listen: "Noisy Heaven"

Remember Sports - Slow Buzz Watch: "Pull Through" Watch: "The 1 Bad Man"

Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks - Sparkle Hard

Wax Idols - Happy Ending Watch: "Mausoleum" Listen: "Heaven Knows"

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

The Breeders - Last Splash Vinyl Reissue Watch: "Cannonball" Watch: "Saints"

The Breeders - Mountain Battles Vinyl Reissue Listen: "Mountain Battles" Listen: "Bang On"

The Breeders - Pod Vinyl Reissue Listen: "Hellbound" Listen: "Glorious"

The Breeders - Title TK Vinyl Reissue Watch: "Huffer" Listen: "Off You"

The Fiery Furnaces - Blueberry Boat Vinyl Reissue Listen: "Quay Cur" Listen: "Blueberry Boat"

How to Talk to Girls at Parties: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Listen: Xiu Xiu & Mitski - "Between the Breaths"

Jonny Greenwood - Bodysong Reissue Listen: "Convergence" Listen: "Splitter"

Otis Redding - Dock of the Bay Sessions Watch: "(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay"

Paul McCartney - Chaos and Creation in the Backyard Reissue Listen: "Fine Line" Listen: "How Kind of You"

Paul McCartney - NEW Reissue Watch: "New" Watch: "Queenie Eye"

Paul McCartney - Thrillington Reissue Listen: "Too Many People" Listen: "Ram On"

Paul McCartney and Wings - Wings Greatest Reissue Listen: "Live and Let Die" Listen: "Junior’s Farm"

Pink Floyd - Pulse Remastered and Expanded Listen: "Astronomy Domine" Listen: "What Do You Want from Me"

Pink Floyd - Relics Reissue Listen: "Arnold Layne" Listen: "See Emily Play"

Upcoming Album of the Week (Ending November 3, 2018)

Gwyneth Paltrow got married back in September, but details of her wedding came out this week. Among them was that Girl Talk served as the DJ for the reception. It's been almost a decade since we last got an album from the mash-up artists, though there have been a few EPs and collaborative singles since. Maybe the gig will spur him to release a new record; if that happens, check it out over at my Upcoming Releases page!

This week, Deerhunter announced their eighth album, Why Hasn't Everything Already Disappeared?.

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The latest album from the Atlanta-based "ambient punk" follows 2015's incredible Fading Frontier. The new album was recorded in Marfa, Texas and produced by Cate Le Bon (her bandmate from DRINKS, Tim Presley, also contributed to the record).

Deerhunter has consistently been one of my favorite bands with their previous three records all making it into my music rotation. Along with the album announcement, they also released a new song, "Death in Midsummer." Based on that song, I have every expectation that I'll love the new record just as much!

Why Hasn't Everything Already Disappeared? is set for release on January 18.

Also announced recently:

Beirut - Gallipoli (February 1)
Blocboy JB - Don’t Think That (out now)
Bob Mould - Sunshine Rock (February 8)
Bring Me the Horizons - amo (January 25)
Bryan Ferry and His Orchestra - Bitter-Sweet (November 30)
The C.I.A. - The C.I.A. (December)
Cass McCombs - Tip of the Sphere (February 8)
Freddie Gibbs & Curren$y - Fetti (out now)
Guster - Look Alive (January 18)
Ian Brown - Ripples (March 1)
Jessica Pratt - Quiet Signs (February 8)
Khruangbin - “Christmas Time Is Here” 7” (November 16)
Lee Ranaldo - Electric Trim Live at Rough Trade East (December 14)
Method Man - The Meth Lab II (December 11)
Oneohtrix Point Never - Love in the Time of Lexapro (November 23)
Preoccupations & Protomartyr - “Telemetry at Howe Bridge” (November 16)
Steve Gunn - The Unseen in Between (January 18)
Swervedriver - Future Ruins (January 25)
Toro y Moi - Outer Peace (January 18)
TOY - Happy in the Hollow (January 25)
Vince Staples - FM! (out now)