The weekly curated breakdown of new albums out for the week. Info and links 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 & video for your listening and viewing pleasure.
Black Mountain, Black Mountain: 10th Anniversary Edition (Jagjaguwar)
I don't post about anniversary re-issues too often, however, this album by the Austin psych rock outfit is a particular favorite, though it makes me feel old as hell, knowing it's been out for 10 years.
Leon Bridges, Coming Home (Columbia)
Bully, Feels Like (Columbia/Startime)
Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams, Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams (Red House Records)
The couple who worked closely with Levon Helm for seven years before his death - Campbell as his Grammy-winning multi-instrumentalist bandleader and producer and wife Williams as singer and occasional guitarist - present their debut collab, which includes eight originals and three covers, including Grateful Dead hymn “Attics Of My Life" and the tune made famous by the Louvin Brothers' “You’re Running Wild,” featuring some vocals from the late folk icon himself originally recorded during the Dirt Farmer sessions.
Cayucas, Dancing at the Blue Lagoon (Secretly Canadian)
Los Angeles-based twin brothers Zach and Ben Yudin are Cayucas, and this is their sun-splashed follow-up to 2013 debut, Bigfoot. Apparently, the sophomore go-around tells a more personal story, the Yudins drawing from the nostalgia of their childhood growing up in Davis, Calif. First single "Moony Eyed Walrus" is bright and breezy pop bliss. The video is charming too. Check it below.
Class Actress, Movies EP (Casablanca/Republic)
Creepoid, Cemetery Highrise Slum (Collect)
Desaparecidos, Payola (Epitaph)
The Omaha, Nebraska punk band formed in 2001 by Conor Oberst (vocals, guitar), Denver Dalley (guitar), Ian McElroy (keyboards), Landon Hedges (bass / vocals), and Matt Baum (drums), and released a single album, Read Music / Speak Spanish in 2002 on Saddle Creek Records. This is the first new material from Desaparecidos in 13 years and is apparently influenced by '70s/'80s punk and hardcore acts like T.S.O.L. and Cro-Mags, early '80s power-pop ala the Vapors and Tommy Tutone, and was co-produced with Mike Mogis (First Aid Kit, Saintseneca).
Digital Leather, All Faded (FDH Records)
Dave Douglas & High Risk, High Risk (Greenleaf Music)
An electro-acoustic quartet formed by vet trumpeter Douglas, with bassist Jonathan Maron, drummer Mark Guiliana and electronic artist Shigeto. Listen to "Molten Sunset" below.
Fist City, Everything Is A Mess (Transgressive)
T. Hardy Morris, Hardy & The Hardknocks: Drownin On A Mountaintop (Dangerbird)
Dead Confederate primary Morris finally presents a second solo LP, describing the songs he’s created with his new band as “crunge” — "an alt-country/grunge mix that is covered in a heavier layer of dust than the previous LP." His scratchy vocals definitely have a Cobain quality, especially in "Painted on Attitude” - check it below.
Motopony, Welcome You (eOne Music / Fast Plastic)
Kacey Musgraves, Pageant Material (Mercury Nashville)
Musgraves hits Tropicana Field to play the Post-Rays Concert Series on July 25.
London O'Connor, O∆ (self-release)
The first album from a weirdo pop-experimental artist with loads of charm and dry humor, ala all the fake press quotes in his press release:
"My name is London
I am an explorer
this is a symbol I made
O∆." [apparently the symbol for exploration, pronounced "Circle Triangle"]
Check out "GUTS" below, dreamy instrumentals with a bitter lyrical bent. The Orb, Moonbuilding 2703 AD (Kompakt)
The Receiver, All Burn (Kscope)
Set It Off, Duality: Stories Unplugged EP (Equal Vision Records)
Son Lux, Bones (Glassnote)
Richard Thompson, Still (Fantasy Records/Concord)
Thundercat, The Beyond / Where the Giants Roam (Brainfeeder Records)
A surprise mini-album from singer, songwriter and bass whiz Stephen Bruner aka Thundercat with his first solo outing of funky, electro-sexy jazz in a few years, and following fine contributions to two albums that have already dropped in 2015 - Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly and The Epic by Kamasi Washington. Thundercat is joined in production by collaborator Flying Lotus for three tracks, and Herbie Hancock popping up on keys for "Lone Wolf & Cub." First single "Them Changes" below, with Washington on sax.
Various Artists, Buy This Fracking Album (Movement Music Records)
A 24-track, two-disc benefit compilation meant to raise awareness of the dangers of of hydro-fracking, a method for extracting natural gasses from beneath the earths shale that can contaminate water and causes harmful effects to plant, animal, and human life. Among the artists to contribute songs to the album — John Butler Trio, Rootz Underground, Anti Flag, Natalie Merchant and The Felice Brothers, Steve Earle, Meshell Ndegeocello, Bonnie Raitt, Michael Franti, Indigo Girls, and raised more than $60,000 on crowd-funding site Pledge Music, with album proceeds to go towards grassroots anti-fracking nonprofits organizations Marcellus Protest and Food and Water Watch. PledgeCampaign here.
Trey Songz,Trigga Reloaded (Atlantic)
Walter TV, Blessed (Sinderlyn Records)
A Mac Demarco-affiliated outfit featuring two members from his touring band (Joe McMurray and Pierce McGarry) and Demarco himself on bass. Warped and watery "Neighbour" below.
Jane Weaver, The Silver Globe & The Amber Light (Finders Keepers Records)
Wolf Alice, My Love Is Cool (Dirty Hit/RCA)
ALSO OUT THIS WEEK
Bang Gang, The Wolves Are Whispering
Breaking Benjamin, Dark Before Dawn
Eskimo Callboy, Crystals
_LINDEN, Rest And Be Thankful
Lyfe Jennings, Tree of Lyfe
Rickie Lee Jones, Other Side of Desire
Lindemann, Skills in Pills
Mast, Omniverse: Verse 2 EP
Nightjacket, Eternal Phase EP
Pistol George Warren, Oceapur 9
Skoota Warner, Vignettes
Cody Simpson, Free
Smokey, How Far Will You Go?: The S&M Recordings, 1973-81
