A rather light week to end May, probably the ebb before next week's giant release schedule on both June 1 and 2. In the meantime, there are some nuggets worthy of your attention that did drop this week. Take a look at the most noteworthy ones below, with hyperlinks, info, audio and video included.
The Alchemist, Israeli Salad (Alc Records)
Anti-Flag, American Spring (Spinefarm)
The ninth studio LP from the Pittsburgh hardcore punk staple.
A$AP Rocky, At.Long.Last.A$AP (A$AP Worldwide/RCA)
The long-awaited second LP from the ASAP Mob's most well-known member.
The Bad Plus Joshua Redman, The Bad Plus Joshua Redman (Nonesuch)
In 2011, the classy jazz trio from Minneapolis (bassist Reid Anderson, pianist Ethan Iverson and drummer David King) played a week of dates with saxophonist Joshua Redman at the Blue Note in NYC, then performed a few more times before hitting the studio in 2014 to record a debut, which includes seven new compositions along with re-workings of Bad Plus songs "Dirty Blonde" and "Silence Is the Question."
Boosie Badazz, Touch Down 2 Cause Hell (Trill Entertainment/Atlantic)
The artist formerly known as Lil Boosie (and maybe still currently known as Lil Boosie, but definitely known as 'Boosie') drops a sixth studio LP. Last year, he told HotNewHipHop.com the title meant "'I'm back, and I'm better than ever. When you cause hell everybody know about it, and everybody know what's up with Boosie... I'm finna open up everybody's eyes. Even the people's eyes who was closed, who was doubtin' me. I'm finna touch down, cause hell, and just take over the rap game, period." Lots of guest producers and rappers, among them, Rich Homie Quan, Webbie, Keyshia Cole & J. Cole, Chris Brown, Rick Ross and T.I. Jeezy and Akelee add color to the dramatic "Mercy on my Soul" - take a listen below.
Rachel Grimes, The Clearing (Temporary Residence Ltd.)
Eilen Jewell, Sundown Over Ghost Town (Signature Sounds)
LEV, Fear No Evil EP (Vintage Lion Records)
Little Wings, EXPLAINS (Woodsist)
Nneka, My Fairy Tales (Bushqueen)
The worldwide release of the fourth and latest album from the German-Nigerian R&B-soul songstress, who breathes some reggae and Afro-beat vibes into her grooving sounds. Video for "My Love, My Love" below.
Nocturnal Sunshine, Nocturnal Sunshine (I/AM/ME/Kobalt Label Services)
Ozric Tentacles, Technicians of the Sacred (Madfish)
British purveyors of cosmic rock and psychedelic jazz Ozric Tentacles present a double-disc release electronics-embellished release of new instrumentals. According to the release, its aesthetics are heavily inspired by Mayan Astrology. According to member Ed Wynne, “Many years ago in a tent just prior to performing at Glastonbury Festival, we were given our Mayan Astrology reading ... The man doing the readings was getting more and more excited the further he went, he said he was going to tell us something that would change our lives forever. He proceeded to reveal that we are actually Galactic Activation Portals sent to channel messages of love to the world. Upon hearing this statement we questioned: ‘Now that we know this, should we be doing something different with our lives?’ He paused for a moment, then laughed, and as the crowd roared said, ‘Hurry up then, the audience is waiting to hear you!’”
Shopping, Consumer Complaints (FatCat Records)
Originally self-released last year, then picked up by FatCat for re-release this year.
Snarky Puppy, Sylva (Impulse! / UMC)
The Grammy-winning jazz-funk-world fusion ensemble collaborated with Metropole Orkest string section on this suite of songs that, according to bassist, composer and producer Michael League, attempted to capture "the many sides and personalities of the only place where I feel truly connected to the earth as a human being. A place that is at once innocent, frightening, awe-inspiring, impenetrable, fragile, stoic, telling, a shelter, a labyrinth, a temple, a tomb, a sanctuary, a parliament, a prison. The forest." Check out the intriguing trailer for the CD/DVD release below.
So Stressed, The Unlawful Trade of Greco-Roman Art (Honor Press)
Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Multi-Love (Jagjaguwar)
I think I fell in love with the third full-length from UMO within the first keynotes and velvety falsetto croons of the grooving title track. I can't help it, they are just so dang lo-fi loveable. Second single “Can’t Keep Checking My Phone” has that disco flavor everyone seems to be calling on these days, with added percussion, handclaps, and elastic basslines. According to frontman Ruban Nielson, the dancefloor ode is about "missing somebody and that point where you refuse to accept online “connectivity” as a substitute for being with someone IRL. [in real life] When someone you love turns into text and ideas delivered through a device, at some point they’re competing with real things like the aurora borealis, which is another thing that only really makes sense in the flesh. I also read somewhere that the universe might be holographic, and in that case maybe the distance between us is just an illusion. So do you fall in love with the idea of someone? Or the chemicals they give off in person?" Heady. Listen below.
The Vaccines, English Graffiti (Columbia)
ALSO OUT THIS WEEK
Alesso, Forever
BADBADNOTGOOD & Ghostface Killah, Sour Soul (Instrumentals)
Exxiles, Oblivion
Folly & The Hunter, Awake
Hillsong United, Empires
Lifehouse, Out of the Wasteland
The Malpass Brothers, The Malpass Brothers
Adham Shaikh, Basswalla
