The fact that there are no heavy hitters landing on the record store shelves today, provides the perfect opportunity for you to discover some new music when you go record shopping this week. California band Crystal Antlers return with another blast of damaged psych-rock on their self-released second album. If you liked their distorted yet hooky sound on 2009′s ear-grabbing album, Tentacles, you’re going to love Two-Way Mirror. San Francisco trio Brilliant Colors also return with their own album #2, but choose instead to add more sparkle and shine to their brand of spiky lo-fi indie-pop. Continuing the theme of satisfying sophomore releases, Denver’s Travis Egedy, a.k.a. Pictureplane, is back with what KEXP music reviewer Alex Ruder calls a “scuzzy, dense, and relentlessly kinetic electronic/pop anthems that boast a strong affinity for 90s house and trance flavors as well as lyrics that are both philosophical and sexually-charged.” And speaking of sexually charged, Portland-based boyfriend/girlfriend duo Soft Metals are debuting with a “strong set of dark, romantic, retro-tinged electronic dance music that skillfully mixes 80s synth-pop, brooding post-punk, slick Italo-disco, and early industrial styles into its own icy, seductive sound.”
And speaking of retro sounds... and debuts (we could do this forever), Seattle band Soft Killings channel a mid 90′s post-hardcore sound on their debut, while another boyfriend/girlfriend duo, Tomorrow’s Tulips, have a post-Velvet Underground/Modern Lovers kind of vibe. Other interesting debuts worth checking out include the M. Ward produced solo album from Carlos Forster (for Stars); a debut by Dallas-based, 19 year-old electronic producer Justin Ledford, a.k.a. LDFD; and the first album on the Anticon label for Chicago MC Serengeti. And speaking of Anticon (see?), label co-founder Tim Holland has released the latest from his project Sole & the Skyrider Band on Fake Four Inc. instead, but still collaborates with former Anticon label mates Alias and Yoni Wolf from WHY?.
This week, you can also preview some anticipated future releases by sample a few 7″ singles hitting stores today from Future Islands, AM & Shawn Lee, and Sun Airway. And not to be missed, ongoing smartypants duo They Might Be Giants are releasing their 15th album! You’ll find these and more on Largehearted Boy’s list, but don’t forget to sample these tunes before you head out.
AM & Shawn Lee - Dark Into Light (download)
from Dark Into Light 7″ on ESL
Big Talk - Getaways
from Big Talk on Epitaph
Brilliant Colors - How Much Younger (MP3)
from Again and Again on Slumberland Records
The Bye Bye Blackbirds - Open A Light
from Fixed Hearts on Rainbow Quartz
Dave Cloud and the Gospel of Power - On the Rebound (MP3)
from Practice in the Milky Way on Fire Records
Crystal Antlers - Summer Solstice
from Two-Way Mirror on Recreation Ltd.
Delicate Cutters - Warm Beer and Sympathy (MP3)
from Some Creatures on Skybucket Records
Eternal Tapestry & Sun Araw - Night Gallery III (MP3)
from Night Gallery on Thrill Jockey
Fink - Yesterday Was Hard On All Of Us
from Perfect Darkness on Ninja Tune
Floating Action - Eye of a Needle (MP3)
from Desert Etiquette on Park the Van
Carlos Forster - I Walk I Talk (MP3)
from Family Trees on HUSH Records
Future Islands - Before the Bridge (MP3)
from Before the Bridge 7″ on Thrill Jockey
Carol Kleyn - Blackbird (MP3)
from Love Has Made Me Stronger (remastered) on Drag City
Las Kellies - Keep the Horse (MP3)
from Kellies on Fire Records
LDFD - Outtacontrol (MP3)
from Outtacontrol EP on Magical Properties
Theophilus London - Last Name London
from Timez Are Weird These Days on Reprise
The Piney Gir Country Roadshow - The Sheriff of San Miguel (MP3)
from Jesus Wept on Greyday Records
Pictureplane - Post Physical
from Thee Physical on Lovepump United
Portugal. The Man - Sleep Forever
from In The Mountain In The Cloud on Atlantic
Prurient - A Meal Can Be Made (MP3)
from Bermuda Drain on Hydra Head
Roadside Graves - Love Me More (MP3)
from We Take Care Of Ourselves on Autumn Tone
Rodrigo y Gabriela - Buster Voodoo
from Live in France on ATO Records
Serengeti - Ha Ha (MP3)
from Family & Friends on Anticon
Singer - New Bad Teeth (MP3)
from Mindreading on Drag City
Soft Metals - Psychic Driving (MP3)
from Soft Metals on Captured Tracks
Sole & The Skyrider Band - Napolean (w/ Xiu Xiu) (MP3) (via Brooklyn Vegan) (MP3)
from Hello Cruel World on Fake Four, Inc.
Strong Killings - Annals Of Animals (MP3)
from Strong Killings on Don’t Stop Believin’ Records
Sun Airway - Wild Palms (MP3)
from Wild Palms 7″ on Dead Oceans
They Might Be Giants - Can’t Keep Johnny Down
from Join Us on Idlewild/Rounder
Tomorrow’s Tulips - Eternally Teenage (MP3)
from Eternally Teenage on Galaxia Records
Young Buffalo - Only We Can Keep You from Harm (MP3)
from Young Von Prettylips on Cantora Records
Richard Youngs - Tessellations (MP3)
from Amplifying Host on Jagjaguwar
