It's funny that while we're getting some of our brightest days right now here in Seattle, some of this week's most exciting new releases are some of the year's darkest. Buzzy new British band Savages tops this week's list with one of the best albums so far of the year. Our Music Director, Don Yates, calls their debut"a powerful set of dark, aggressive post-punk, with a lean, brutally efficient sound combining squalling, wiry guitar lines, taut rhythms, seething vocals and boldly uncompromising lyrics of self-empowerment." Trust us, you'll be hearing a lot of this band in the months to follow. Atlanta's Deerhunter take a darker path on their "often-bracing" new album, Monomania, "by shifting towards a more raw and scuzzy sound with noisy garage-rock guitars and distorted vocals, though there are also some sweeter, more melodic moments... with lots of potent song hooks." But if you are looking for something more suited to our seasonal days, check out the second LP from Bay Area rocker (and frequent Ty Segall collaborator) Mikal Cronin. The aptly titled MCII is "an excellent set of aggressive, hook-filled power-pop with well-crafted, sunnily melodic songs featuring crunchy guitars along with occasional piano and strings accompanying Cronin’s smooth vocals and bittersweet lyrics." And if the sun's got you dancing in the streets, try the latest from KEXP fav's Fitz And The Tantrums, whose More Than Just a Dream will make your hip-shakin' a reality.
Maybe it's because we're nearing Gemini's rise, but this week's new releases include a lot of interesting musical pairings. Among them, LA singer-songwriter and British producer/multi-instrumentalist combo AM & Shawn Lee return with a second album that's "a sleek blend of funk, soul, disco, dub, dancehall and other styles, featuring vintage analog synths, propulsive rhythms, smooth vocals and sparkling pop hooks". UK-based multi-instrumentalist/singer-songwriter duo Still Corners are also releasing their second LP, which "features a bigger and cleaner sound for their reverb-drenched dream-pop, moving in a more decidedly ‘80s synth-pop direction with layers of sparkling synths, crisp drum beats and Murray’s breathy vocals." Local singer-songwriter Sonya Wescott, formerly of Seattle band Arthur & Yu, has hooked up with Ayumu Haitani of Japanese band 4 Bonjour’s Parties for a new project called We Are Loud Whispers, and their debut "is a solid outing of dreamy electro-pop, combining atmospheric soundscapes with Wescott’s ethereal vocals." Actress Zooey Deschanel and Portland singer-songwriter M. Ward are back with Volume Three of their breezy collaboration as She & Him, but perhaps the most interesting pairing comes from Aesop Rock & Kimya Dawson whose Rhymesayers collaboration, The Uncluded, combines the former's edgy underground hip-hop with the latter's quirky folk rock in a comically oddball way, and from the wild hip-hop, dubstep, dance mix Ottawa duo (and Electric Pow Wow event holders) A Tribe Called Red.
You'll find these and a terrific debut by Amsterdam artist Cole Williams, a.k.a. The Child Of Lov, whose self-titled album is "a promising blend of woozy R&B, funk, hip hop and electronic grooves" in record stores today. Sample these fine tracks now before you head out there!
AM & Shawn Lee - Two Times (MP3)
The Child of Lov - Give Me
While we're all waiting for the warm weather to officially take hold (we've been given an enticingly cruel taste of it here in Northwest), Vampire Weekend has created the perfect summer album to fuel your anticipation. At times wistfully nostalgic, percolatingly peppy and even fiercely energetic, M…
Whether you're feeling moody or in a mood to dance, you'll find what you need among this week's new releases. Topping the list of must-buys in record stores today comes from U.K. trio Daughter, who were a standout during our CMJ broadcast last year with their highly emotive and engaging performanc…
