After a discography of 11 full-length albums, Seattle's own Car Seat Headrest makes their label debut on Matador Records. KEXP Music Director Don Yates notes, "The album reworks 11 songs from his extensive Bandcamp catalog with help from a new backing band (this also marks the first time he’s recorded with a full band). The end result is an emotionally powerful set of lo-fi rock ranging from moody psych-pop and synth-pop to raging punk, with consistently strong, smartly written songs juxtaposing sunny melodies with often-dark and wry lyrics of frustration, loneliness and alienation."
EL VY -- a collaboration between The National frontman Matt Berninger with Brent Knopf of Ramona Falls (and formerly with Menomena) -- release their debut, "a sharply crafted blend of playful funk-inflected rock and moody, atmospheric ballads." And Real Estate frontman Martin Courtney releases his solo debut, "an often-gorgeous set of breezy, ‘70s-influenced psych-pop with a warm sound featuring acoustic and gently ringing electric guitars, atmospheric keyboards, occasional strings and unhurried rhythms accompanying his wistful vocals and reflective lyrics."
New York '70s-revivalists Escort share their sophomore release, "another impressive set of slinky house and disco grooves with bright synths, funky guitars, occasional strings and horns, propulsive rhythms and Adeline Michele’s warm, confident vocals." And Jack White's Third Man Records has two stand-out releases this week, including the latest from Detroit band Timmy’s Organism, "a solid set of raw, psych-tinged garage-rock with a heavy sound featuring pummeling rhythms and fiery fuzztone guitar riffs," and the second album from Austin band VIDEO, "a fine set of aggressive post-punk with angular guitars, driving rhythms, barking vocals and angst-fueled lyrics."
(Various Artists)
from [Cease and Desist] DIY! (Cult Classics From the Post-Punk Era 1978-82) on Optimo
(Various Artists)
from Ork Records: New York, New York on Numero
All Them Witches – “Dirt Preachers”
from Dying Surfer Meets His Maker on New West
Beach House – “Elegy To The Void”
from Thank Your Lucky Stars physical version on Sub Pop
Beach Slang – “Young & Alive”
from The Things We Do to Find People Who Feel Like Us on Polyvinyl
Blu / Madlib / MED – “Finer Things feat. Phonte, Likewise”
from Bad Neighbor on Bang Ya Head
Boogarins – “6000 Dias”
from Manual on Other Music Recording Company
British Sea Power – “Sea of Brass”
from Sea of Brass on Golden Chariot
Car Seat Headrest – “Something Soon”
from Teens of Style on Matador
The Chills – “America Says Hello”
from Silver Bullets on Fire Records
Dreamcrusher – “Fear (And No Feeling)”
from Hackers All of Them Hackers on Fire Talk
Drive-By Truckers – “Girls Who Smoke”
from It's Great to Be Alive! on ATO
Edie Brickell / Steve Martin – “Won't Go Back”
from So Familiar on Rounder
EL VY – “Silent Ivy Hotel”
from Return to the Moon on 4AD
Erasure
from Always: The Very Best of Erasure on BMG / Mute
Escort – “Animal Nature”
from Animal Nature on Escort
Eugene Mirman
from I'm Sorry (You're Welcome) on Sub Pop
G. Love & Special Sauce – “New York City”
from Love Saves the Day on Brushfire / Republic
GEMS – “Living as A Ghost”
from Kill the One You Love on Carpark Records
Greys – “I'd Hate To Be An Actor”
from Repulsion on Carpark/Buzz
Hieroglyphic Being / J.I.T.U. Ahn-Sahm-Buhl – “Civilization That Is Dying”
from We Are Not the First on Rvng Intl.
Hooded Menace – “Elysium of Dripping Death”
from Darkness Drips Forth on Relapse
J Dilla – “Dillatronic #34”
from Dillatronic on Vintage Vibez
Jeffrey Lewis & Los Bolts – “Outta Town”
from Manhattan on Rough Trade
Kirk Knight – “Dead Friends ft. Noname Gypsy & Thundercat”
from Late Knight Special on Pro Era/Cinematic
Laura Stevenson – “Jellyfish”
from Cocksure on Don Giovanni
Laurel Halo – “Situation”
from In Situ on Honest Jon's
Le Volume Courbe – “Rusty”
from I Wish Dee Dee Ramone Was Here With Me on Ring the Alarm/Pickpocket
Lionel Loueke
from Gaïa on Blue Note
Martin Courtney – “Vestiges”
from Many Moons on Domino
Maserati – “Rehumanizer II”
from Rehumanizer on Temporary Residence
My Disco – “1991”
from Severe on Temporary Residence
The Neighbourhood – “The Beach”
from Wiped Out! on Sony BMG
Nils Frahm and Ólafur Arnalds – “Four”
from Collaborative Works on Erased Tapes
Painted Zeros – “Pretty Rig”
from Floriography on Don Giovanni
Pictureplane – “Technomancer”
from Technomancer on Anticon
Pinkish Black – “Bottom of the Morning”
from Bottom of the Morning on Relapse
The Promise Ring – “Why Did Ever We Meet?”
from Nothing Feels Good reissue on Jade Tree
Rabit – “Pandemic”
from Communion on Tri Angle
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings – “Ain't No Chimneys In The Projects”
Acclaimed Canadian artist Grimes returns with her highly-anticipated album, Art Angels. KEXP Music Director Don Yates calls her fourth full-length, "her most brightly melodic and also her most aggressive-sounding release, featuring a cleaner, more luminous sound for her adventurous dance-pop while …
Seattle's own Beat Connection make their Anti- Records debut with an album KEXP's Music Director Don Yates describes as, a "first-rate set of sleek electro-pop inflected with New Wave, R&B, funk and other styles, with consistently strong songs featuring bright synths, jangly guitars, shimmering…
