Not a huge week for new music releases but there are some definite gems. Check out this week's curated breakdown below, with info, hyperlinks, audio and video for your listening and viewing pleasure.
Ancient Sky, Mosaic (Wharf Cat Records)
Brontosaurus, Safe To Surface (People of Paper)
Melissa Etheridge, A Little Bit Of Me: Live in L.A. (Shout! Factory)
A Blu-ray/CD release showcasing the final night of Etheridge's This Is M.E. tour, recorded on December 12, 2014, at the historic Orpheum Theater in downtown Los Angeles; also featuring special guests Delta Rae.
J. Fernandez, Many Levels of Laughter (Joyful Noise)
FFS, FFS (Domino)
"FFS" is the the acronym for "For Fuck's Sake"; it's also the super group featuring bands from either side of the pond — Gaslgow, Scotland's Franz Ferdinand and LA-spawned Sparks, making for a rather intriguing sonic stew of glam, art and dance rock with light baroque seasoning. I am already a fan solely based on the weird, fun, groove-boppin' third single, "Piss Off," which comes with an equally charming video. Check it out below.
The Glitch Mob, Piece of the Indestructible EP (Glass Air)
Honeyhoney, 3 (Rounder)
Jenny Hval, Apocalypse, girl (Sacred Bones)
Institute, Catharsis (Sacred Bones)
Jack + Eliza, Gentle Warnings (Yebo)
Sonny Landreth, Bound By The Blues (Mascot Label Group)
Muse, Drones (Warner Bros.)
If you've heard the lead-off track of Muse's latest, "Dead Inside," you know that the rest of the album is bound to be a ripper. It is Muse, after all; dudes are professionals with a knack for big arena rock drama.
Martin Newell, Teatime Assortment (Captured Tracks)
Nite School Klik, Nite School Klik EP (Liquid Amber)
The new project that was shrouded in mystery was revealed to be biggie electro producer DJ Shadow along with up and comer G Jones; this is their first official EP, released on Shadow's own label imprint and culling from both their respective styles into a new sonic mix. Check "Nice Nightmares" below. Interview with DJ Shadow about the project here.
No Joy, More Faithful (Mexican Summer)
The third full-length from the Canadian indie rock band outfit formed by singer-guitarist Jasamine White-Gluz and guitarist Laura Lloyd. Latest single “Hollywood Teeth” is a grungy, dreamy, shoe-gazy ode with cooing breathy vocals over rather breezy instrumentals that shift dramatic direction about half-way through into unexpectedly dark realms.
Of Monsters and Men, Beneath The Skin (Republic)
PINS, Wild Nights (Bella Union)
Retro and sinister rock n' roll sneer from a British all-grrl group with definite Hole influences. This LP was recorded in Joshua Tree at Rancho De La Luna with Dave Catching (Queens of the Stone Age, Eagles of Death Metal) and Hayden Scott. Check out the video for "Too Little Too Late" below. NSFW Warning: bird shooting ahead...
Sea Cycles, Ground & Air (Other People Records)
Seoul, I Become A Shade (Grand Jury)
SPIN wrote that the music on the debut outing from Montreal trio Seoul “inhabits a groggy, wispy headspace — a dreamland that you can imagine even its creators getting lost in . . . evocative at times of the swooning emotions and side-chain compression exercises of similarly wilting electronic acts like Toro y Moi and Baths, it’s the perfect sort of half-baked summer synth-pop record.” Listen to "Real June" below. Full album stream at SPIN.
Corey Smith, While the Gettin' Is Good (Sugar Hill)
Sharon Van Etten, I Don't Want to Let You Down EP (Jagjaguar)
Dale Watson, Jonesin' for Jones (Red House/Ameripolitan Records)
Young Guns, Ones And Zeroes (Wind-Up Records)
ALSO OUT THIS WEEK
Boan, Mentiras
Denzel Curry, 2 Zel / Planet Shrooms
Moritz von Oswald Trio, Sounding Lines
Prinzhorn Dance School, Home Economics
The Sandwitches, Our Toast EP
Sightings, Amusers And Puzzlers
Stellar OM Source, Nite-Glo
Tamia, LoveLife
Teen Men, Teen Men
Uniform, Perfect World
