Upcoming Album of the Week (Ending February 23, 2019)

The Oscars air tonight, and I have officially watched all of the Best Picture nominees prior to the ceremony (I think for the first time ever). I capped off the Oscar film viewing last night with A Star Is Born, which I think was very good, though not my pick for Best Picture. However, there were some exciting cameos in the film that made my music-obsessive heart flutter for a moment, including Lukas Nelson, Brandi Carlile, and Marlon Williams!

Go to my Upcoming Releases page for a full list of new music that I'm excited for!

This week, Aldous Harding announced her third album, Designer.

brooklynvegan.com

I single out Aldous Harding for this week not just because she's an incredible newer artist, but also due to her personal and professional connection to one of the cameos I mentioned above. She has previously dated and often recorded with Marlon Williams, both being native New Zealanders. Both have a similar style, rooted in folk, but in contrast to Williams' crooning vocals, Harding displays more of an avant-garde bent to her music.

I first found out about her when I saw her open for Deerhunter a few years back. I was enthralled with her music and immediately checked her out when I got home. At the time, her only record was her debut, Aldous Harding, though she soon released an incredible sophomore album, Party, in 2017.

She announced the third album this past Tuesday, along with the video for "The Barrel."

Designer will be released on April 26.

Also announced recently:

2 Chainz - Rap or Go to the League (March 1)
Alex Lahey - The Best of Luck Club (May 17)
Bruce Hornsby - Absolute Zero (April 12)
Damien Jurado - In the Shape of a Storm (April 12)
Drugdealer - Raw Honey (April 19)
Filthy Friends - Emerald Valley (May 3)
Gesaffelstein - Hyperion (March 8)
Good Cop Bad Cop - Good Cop Bad Cop (March 29)
Guards - Modern Hymns (May 22)
Ioanna Gika - Thalassa (April 5)
Justin Townes Earle - The Saint of Lost Causes (May 24)
Kate Bush - The Other Sides (March 22)
Kehlani - While We Wait (out now)
Lydia Ainsworth - Phantom Forest (May 10)
Marina - Love + Fear (April 26)
More Pain - More Pain (April 19)
Norah Jones - Begin Again (April 12)
Quelle Chris - Guns (March 29)
Sad Planets - Akron, Ohio (April 19)
Sam Cohen - The Future’s Still Ringing in My Ears (May 17)
Tim Hecker - Anoyo (May 10)
Vampire Weekend - Father of the Bride (April 22)
Weyes Blood - Titanic Rising (April 5)
Yoko Ono & John Lennon - Wedding Album Reissue (March 22)

New Music Friday - January 18, 2019

Be sure to view a list of upcoming releases here!

Essential Full-Length Releases

Deerhunter - Why Hasn’t Everything Already Disappeared? Eight albums in and Deerhunter is as good as ever. It's been a minute since the band's last album, 2015's Fading Frontier, though we got an album from one side project (Moses Archuleta's Moon Diagrams released Lifetime of Love in 2017) and an instrumental tour-only cassette from the band. Their record includes production from Cate Le Bon and Ben H. Allen III, who they have worked with previously. Watch: "Death in Midsummer"

James Blake - Assume Form At the start of his career, James Blake's sound was more sonic, with his voice serving as an additional instrument, rather than being lyric-driven. That's gradually changed with each album, culminating in this record, which has many references to his relationship with actress Jameela Jamil. Watch: "Don’t Miss It" Watch: "Mile High" (featuring Travis Scott & Metro Boomin)

Ronnie Milsap - Ronnie Milsap: The Duets Ronnie Milsap has been an influential figure in country music for more than half of a century. On his 29th album, he partners up with some contemporaries and some younger artists for a collection of duets. Collaborators on the record include Luke Bryan, Dolly Parton, Kacey Musgraves, and Willie Nelson. Listen: "No Getting Over Me" (featuring Kacey Musgraves) Listen: "A Woman’s Love" (featuring Willie Nelson)

Sharon Van Etten - Remind Me Tomorrow Across her previous four studio albums, Van Etten's sound has been an often-forlorn folk. On her fifth album, she's changing things up more than a bit. Written while she was pregnant with her child and delving into acting, its lyrics show someone more at ease in life and looking back a bit. It's also a more rock-driven sound, showcasing a different instrumentation than her previous records. Watch: "Comeback Kid" Watch: "Seventeen"

Toro Y Moi - Outer Peace Following the release of his 2017 album, Boo Boo, Chaz Bear eschewed the standard promotional tour in favor of playing a series of DJ sets. He's influenced by those club sounds for this latest record, his sixth. Watch: "Freelance" Watch: "Ordinary Pleasure"

Other Full-Length Releases

Buke & Gase - Scholars Watch: "Scholars" Watch: "Derby"

Future - The WIZRD Watch: "Crushed Up" Watch: "Jumpin on a Jet"

Guster - Look Alive Watch: "Don’t Go" Listen: "Look Alive"

Joe Jackson - Fool Watch: "Fabulously Absolute" Listen: "Big Black Cloud"

Lost Under Heaven - Love Hates What You Become Watch: "For the Wild" Watch: "Post Millennial Tension"

Maggie Rogers - Heard It in a Past Life Watch: "Light On" Watch: "Give a Little"

M. Ward - What a Wonderful Industry Listen: "Motorcycle Ride" Listen: "War & Peace"

Steve Gunn - The Unseen in Between Watch: "New Moon" Watch: "Vagabond"

The Twilight Sad - It Won/t Be Like This All the Time Watch: "VTr" Listen: "Videograms"

Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.

Jonny Greenwood - There Will Be Blood Vinyl Reissue Listen: "Open Spaces" Listen: "Future Markets"

Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith - Tides: Music for Yoga and Meditation Listen: "Tides I" Listen: "Tides II"

New Order - Total Vinyl Reissue Listen: "Ceremony" Listen: "Hellbent"

Prince - The Little Box of Prince Listen: "Let’s Go Crazy" Listen: "Computer Blue"

Upcoming Album of the Week (Ending February 9, 2019)

The Grammys were this past weekend, and it actually included some improvements over previous years! Childish Gambino won for Song of the Year, the first time the award has been given to a hip hop song. It was also a better year for female artists with a 82% improvement in wins over last year's ceremony. This included exciting wins for Brandi Carlile, Cardi B, Kacey Musgraves, Ariana Grande, and St. Vincent.

As always, you can view a fuller list of the albums I'm excited about over at my Upcoming Releases page!

Recently, Andrew Bird announced his fate-tempting 11th album, My Finest Work Yet.

exclaim.ca

I've been a fan of Bird for a number of years, being particularly impressed by his multi-instrumentalism and whistling. His previous album, 2016's Are You Serious, was a particular favorite of mine, perhaps bolstered by an amazing duet with Fiona Apple.

It's hard to imagine that something could top that record, but that's what he's promised here. My Finest Work Yet is not just what he's titled the record, he has stated that he truly considers it to be his finest work.

The album was announced a couple of weeks ago along with its lead single, "Sisyphus," and is scheduled for release on March 22.

Also announced recently:

Aretha Franklin - Songs of Faith: Aretha Gospel (March 22)
Avey Tare - Cows on Hourglass Pond (March 22)
BAILEN - Thrilled to Be Here (April 26)
Beach Slang - MPLS (March 15)
Beth Gibbons & the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra - Henryk Górecki’s Symphony No. 3 (Symphony of Sorrowful Songs) (March 29)
Billie Eilish - When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (March 29)
Brutus - Nest (March 29)
Cage the Elephant - Social Cues (April 19)
Chai - PUNK (March 15)
Charlotte Cornfield - The Shape of Your Name (April 5)
Charly Bliss - Young Enough (May 10)
The Chemical Brothers - No Geography (April 12)
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah - Ancestral Recall (March 22)
Craig Finn - I Need a New War (April 26)
Flying Fish Cove - At Moonset (May 3)
Fontaines D.C. - Dogrel (April 12)
Foxygen - Seeing Other People (April 26)
Gold Connections - Like a Shadow (March 1)
Iron & Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days Reissue (March 22)
Heather Woods Broderick - Invitation (April 19)
Jamila Woods - Legacy! Legacy! (May 10)
Jim James - Uniform Distortion/Clarity (March 22)
Joni 75: A Birthday Celebration (March 8)
Lizzo - Cuz I Love You (April 19)
Marvin Gaye - You’re the Man (March 29)
Mary Lattimore & Mac McCaughan - New Rain Duets (March 22)
The Mountain Goats - In League with Dragons (April 26)
Partner - Saturday the 14th (April 5)
Peter Doherty & The Puta Madres - Peter Doherty & The Puta Madres (April 12)
Ratso - Stubborn Heart (April 5)
Rosie Tucker - Never Not Never Not Never Not (March 8)
Show Me the Body - Dog Whistle (March 29)
Sunn O))) - Life Metal (April)
These New Puritans - Inside the Rose (March 22)
Van Morrison - The Healing Game (Deluxe Edition) (March 22)
Wand - Laughing Matter (April 19)

My Favorite Albums of 2018

25. Anna St. Louis - If Only There Was a River
24. The Carters - EVERYTHING IS LOVE
23. Mac Miller - Swimming
22. Neko Case - Hell-On
21. Vince Staples - FM!

20. Troye Sivan - Bloom Watch: "Lucky Strike" Watch: "Dance to This" (featuring Ariana Grande)

19. The 1975 - A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships Watch: "It’s Not Living (If It’s Not with You)" Watch: "Sincerity Is Scary"

18. Gorillaz - The Now Now Watch: "Tranz" Watch: "Fire Flies"

17. Arctic Monkeys - Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino Watch: "Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino" Watch: "Four out of Five"

16. Dream Wife - Dream Wife Watch: "Hey Heartbreaker" Watch: "Let’s Make Out"

15. Natalie Prass - The Future and the Past Watch: "The Fire" Watch: "Sisters"

14. Parquet Courts - Wide Awake! Watch: "Freebird II" Watch: "Mardi Gras Beads"

13. LUMP - LUMP Watch: "May I Be the Light" Watch: "Late to the Flight"

12. Lucy Dacus - Historian Watch: "Addictions" Listen: "Night Shift"

11. Cardi B - Invasion of Privacy Watch: "Money" Watch: "Ring" (featuring Kehlani)

10. Wye Oak - The Louder I Call, the Faster It Runs I was first drawn to Wye Oak with the release of their 2011 album Civilian. They've releases two other albums since, but this is the first that's really caught my ear following that earlier album. It's not too different from Civilian, Jenn Wasner's vocals are beautifully haunting, something that drew me to their music in the first place. Watch: "It Was Not Natural" Watch: "Lifer"

9. Phosphorescent - C’est la vie While not all of his songs are ballads, Phosphorescent makes some of the most achingly beautiful music I've ever heard. His latest is no different with gorgeous tracks like "My Beautiful Boy" and "There from Here." Perhaps the most beautiful, at least to me, is also one of the stranger tracks. On "Christmas Down Under," he harmonizes his own vocals with an auto-tuned voice. Stay with me...it's an amazing result. Watch: "Christmas Down Under" Watch: "C’est La Vie No. 2"

8. Lykke Li - so sad so sexy I've been with Lykke Li since her first album; each record has been even better the previous. I wasn't sure about this album at first, though. Pop's always been a big part of her sound, but it was mixed with electronic synths and arty avant garde styles. This album feels more like a modern pop album, incorporating the trap style that's been popular. As you'll see later, I've loved me some pop this year. That, I think, lifted my opinion of this album. Watch: "utopia" Watch: "deep end"

7. Amen Dunes - Freedom I've been struggling to pinpoint exactly why I liked this album so much, but it's one I kept returning to, especially in the early part of the year. I've listened to Amen Dunes for a few years, but this is the first album of his that's reached repeat status. Watch: "Believe" Watch: "Blue Rose"

6. Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour My preferences in country have tended towards music made in the 60s and 70s, or artists who channel that sound (or, alt-country). Kacey Musgraves tends towards a pop-inflected sound, but sounds so much better than the pop-country that has defined the genre over the past couple of decades. It may be due to her ability to incorporate a variety of genres into a country-based sound. The stand-out track, "High Horse," is a combination I never knew I needed, country and disco! Watch: "High Horse" Watch: "Mother"

5. U.S. Girls - In a Poem Unlimited U.S. Girls also incorporates disco into her sound, but with a very different result. Had I known about her previous record, Half Free, when it came out, it would have easily been one of my favorite albums of 2015. Fortunately, she followed it up with an even better album. Watch: "Pearly Gates" (featuring James Baley) Watch: "Velvet 4 Sale"

4. Ariana Grande - sweetener Before last year, it was easy to write Grande off as a typical pop star. She certainly exudes many of those stereotypical elements, but this album proved (at least to me) that she's a step above many other pop princesses. She had a lot going on over the previous couple of years and all of that makes it onto the album. It's a more personal album than we usually get from the pop world, which makes her a more endearing artist than many of her peers. Watch: "breathin" Watch: "God is a woman"

3. Mitski - Be the Cowboy Mitski is one of those few artists who writes lyrics that I feel I can truly relate to. Her previous record, Puberty 2, which was a favorite of 2016, dealt with themes of otherness. This one tackles loneliness, something the artist felt while touring for that previous record. She's an amazing lyricist who has a way of making the listener feel every emotion. Watch: "Washing Machine Heart" Watch: "Nobody"

2. Dirty Projectors - Lamp Lit Prose Dirty Projectors' previous record, Dirty Projectors, was a favorite of 2017, but seems weaker compared to this. The last album was dour and depressing, this one is much brighter. It also marks a return to the interplay of male and female vocals that previously defined their sound. While the former female members of the band have departed, that role now is taken on by new members and a few guest vocalists, including Syd, Amber Marks, Empress Of, and Haim. Watch: "That’s a Lifestyle" Watch: "Break-Thru"

1. Janelle Monáe - Dirty Computer Monáe's music has previously been presented through the voice of her alter ego, Cindi Mayweather. The character and concepts introduced Afrofuturism into popular music, but she steps away from those concepts here. It's her most personal record, but one that also speaks to both the LGBTQ and black communities. In relaying the black experience to a broad audience, it reminds me a bit of the albums from the Knowles sisters a couple of years back. Watch: "Crazy Classic Life" Watch: "I Like That"