A nice respectable batch of new albums have dropped this first week of June. A curated list with info and hyperlinks for the ones you want to know about most below, plus some other ones you may not have heard of (but should know), with audio and video included for your listening and viewing pleasure.
Algiers, Algiers (Matador)
The debut from this Atlanta-brewed multi-country based experimental trio has a light post-punk steeped in gospel rich soul and dosed in political and social sentiment in. Line Of Best Fit described it best: "Sounds like the end of the world." Check out the video for "Blood" below.
Tom Chapin, 70 (Sundance)
Damaged Bug, Cold Hot Plumbs (Castle Face)
The Darkness, Last Of Our Kind (+180 Records)
The fourth outing from the UK's favorite glam rock quartet.
Dawes, All Your Favorite Bands (Hub Records)
Jason Derülo, Everything Is 4 (Warner Bros.)
Eternal Summers, Gold and Stone (Kanine)
Florence + the Machine, How Big How Blue How Beautiful (Republic)
The much-anticipated third album from the UK outfit led by Florence Welch has already been getting good press from the likes of Rolling Stone and Pitchfork.com.
Fort Lean, Quiet Day (Ooh La La Records)
Melody Gardot, Currency of Man (Verve/Decca)
Robin Gibb, Saved By The Bell: The Collected Works Of Robin Gibb 1968-1970 (Rhino)
Girlpool, Before The World Was Big (Wichita)
The Great Discord, Duende (Metal Blade)
Indigo Girls, One Lost Day (IG Recordings/Vanguard)
Jaga Jazzist, Starfire (Ninja Tune)
The first track from the new album by Norwegian eight-piece post-jazz experimenters Jaga Jazzist (which is led by led by sibling trio, Lars, Martin and Line Horntveth) is a 12-minute epic built on synthesizers and chugging rhythms. See the band perform “Oban" live, in studio, for Oslo Sessions in Norway below. The video also includes an interview with Jaga, which is touring American this summer, though will come no closer than Asheville on June 23.
The Detroit experi-pop trio put out one of my favorite albums in 2013, Wormfood, and have now delivered an intriguing sophomore follow-up to their full-length debut. According to the release, "writer/vocalist/instrumentalist Ryan Spencer draws inspiration for his lyrics from his mercurial relationship with modern love, the undeniably violent tendencies of the human spirit, and his sometimes-debilitating bouts with anxiety & depression. Combined with the eccentric personalities of members Adam Pressley and Ryan Clancy, the result is an encyclopedic appreciation of everything pop – rendering their songs challengingly unique & wistfully familiar." Check out "Don’t Call Me Up" below.
Jamie xx, In Colour (Young Turks)
The producer who is one-third of The xx has already earned a near perfect (9.3) rating on Pitchfork.com (read the review here) for his solo outing.
Jedi Mind Tricks, The Thief And The Fallen (Enemy Soil/The Orchard)
Ben Lee, Love Is The Great Rebellion (Warner Bros.)
Major Lazer, Peace Is The Mission (Mad Decent)
Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard, Django And Jimmie (Legady)
You know both of these outlaw country music legends, who produced their first honky tonk duet outing in 1983's Pancho & Lefty. For their sixth collab, Nelson and Haggard tackle 14 cuts; the title track is a tribute to musicians Django Reinhardt and Jimmie Rodgers, while "Missing Ol' Johnny Cash" pays homage to another musical great with a guest spot by Bobby Bare. Check out "It's All Going to Pot" below.
Christopher Owens, Chrissybaby Forever (Turnstile)
RiFF RAFF, The Purple Panther and The Peach Panther (Mad Decent)
The hilariously terrible rapper threatened to release these two albums this week. However, I can't confirm the existence of either.
Simply Red, Big Love (East West)
SOAK, Before We Forgot How to Dream (Rough Trade)
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, The High Country (Polyvinyl)
Sun Kil Moon, Universal Themes (Caldo Verde)
Rocky Votolato + Chuck Ragan, Kindred Spirit EP (SideOneDummy)
Vows, Soon Enough Love (Section Sign Records)
Wild Yaks, Rejoice! God Loves Wild Yaks (Ernest Jenning Record Co.)
Zella Day, Kicker (Hollywood)
ALSO OUT THIS WEEK
Armored Saint, Win Hands Down
Barenaked Ladies, Silverball
KaiL Baxley, A Light That Never Dies
Database,
Daughn Gibson, Carnation
Ghost Loft, Chocolate Haze EP
Goatsnake, Black Age Blues
Hawksley, Workman Old Cheetah
I The Mighty, Connector
Jeremy Bass, New York In Spring
Jeremy Loops, Trading Change
Joanna Gruesome, Peanut Butter
The Kentucky Headhunters with Johnnie Johnson, Meet Me in Bluesland
Kid Wave, Wonderlust
Maribou State, Portraits
Alexa Melo, Alexa Melo
Motel Pools, Motel Pools EP
Nozinja, Nozinja Lodge
Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Betty's Blend’s, Volume Two: Best Of The West
Roman à Clef, Abandonware
Matt Skiba & the Sekrets, KUTS
Skinless, Only The Ruthless Remain
Tenement, Predatory Headlights
Rolo Tomassi, Grievances
Courtney Yasmineh, Red Letter Day
This article appears in May 28 – Jun 3, 2015.