A look at album release highlights for the week of Tues., April 14 (excluding Record Store Day releases — a post on that later)...
Ava Luna, Infinite House (Western Vinyl)
There's something inherently bizarre about the music of Ava Luna. It's trippy groovy pop-ishness; some have styled the NYC quintet as postmodern soul and post-punk deconstructionists. First single "Steve Polyester" has spoken word segments and free jazz embellishments; check it below.
Avid Dancer, 1st Bath (Grand Jury)
Blackfoot Gypsies, Handle It (Plowboy Records)
Bop English, Constant Bop (Downtown)
The new project of White Denim frontman James Petralli has a bit of the vintage psych rock drive of his main band but maybe goes in a more alternative direction in Bop English. Digging on the charm of rollin' and boppin', organ-powered "Dani's Blues (It Was Beyond Our Control)," the album's lead-off track. Check it below; if you like, you can listen to a full Soundcloud stream of the album right here.
Kathryn Calder, Kathryn Calder (File Under: Music)
Calexico, Edge Of The Sun (Anti-)
Arizona's much loved alt country/Americana/Tex Mex band takes inspiration from a trip Mexico City for their eighth LP, and gets some help from musical collaborators that include Sam Beam (Iron & Wine), Ben Bridwell (Band of Horses), Nick Urata (Devotchka), Gaby Moreno, and Neko Case among others
The Compulsions, Dirty Fun (Compulsions Records)
The-Dream, Crown EP (Capitol Records/Contra Paris)
Earl Sweatshirt, I Don't Like Shit: I Don't Go Outside (Columbia)
The weirdo alternative rapper/producer from LA and member of Odd Future collective issues a second studio album and hits Orpheum in support on April 30 with Remy Banks.
Greg Holden, Chase The Sun (Warner Bros.)
Les Jupes, Some Kind Of Family (Head in the Sand)
Reba McEntire, Love Somebody (Big Machine Records)
The Mowgli's, Kids In Love (Republic)
Now And On Earth, Blacked Out (Epitaph)
Pale Blue, The Past We Leave Behind (2MR/Captured Tracks)
James Pants, Savage (Stones Throw Records)
SLUG, Ripe (Memphis Industries)
Ian Black was touring bassist for British indie rockers Field Music, and the band’s core members — Peter and David Brewis — produced and played on Black’s debut as SLUG. "Greasy Mind" has a grooving New Wave/post-punkness about it. Video below.
Stealing Sheep, Not Real (Heavenly Recordings)
Gorilla Vs. Bear wrote, "As enchanted as we were by the trippy, technicolor original video for the title track from Liverpool band Stealing Sheep's wonderful forthcoming Not Real LP, we might have easily dismissed a secondary 'live video' as unnecessary, an inessential afterthought. We would have been mistaken; this one, though stark and simple, might somehow be even better." Check the video for "Not Real" below — it's all ominous synthesizers and cooing female vocals. RIYL Metronomy.
Stranger Cat, In The Wilderness (Joyful Noise Recordings)
Tyler, The Creator, Cherry Bomb (Odd Future)
Read more about the new album from the Odd Future rapper here and here.
Villagers, Darling Arithmetic (Domino)
Folk-Americana with vocals that are delicate, high-toned and just heart-squeezingly lovely. I'd compare it to Here We Go Magic, but with more twang. Check out "Courage" below.
The Wombats, Glitterbugs (Bright Antennae Records)
Dwight Yoakam, Second Hand Heart (Warner Bros.)
ALSO OUT THIS WEEK
John Andrews & The Yawns, Bit By The Fang
Christine And The Queens, Saint Claude EP
Citizens!, European Soul
The Damnwells, The Damnwells
Darkness Falls, Dance and Cry
Marie Davidson, Un Autre Voyage
Death Valley, Summertime
DINNER, Three EPs
Halestorm, Into The Wild Life
Hey Elbow, Every Other
Jeremy Bass, Winter Bare
Lotus Crush, Rabbit Hole
Lowland Hum, Lowland Hum
Moon King, Secret Life
Skinny Lister, Down On Deptford Broadway
Suuns And Jerusalem In My Heart, Suuns And Jerusalem In My Heart
Tei Shi, Verde
Triumph Of The Wild, We Come With The Dust
Unnatural Ways, Unnatural Ways
