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)