First Listen: New Releases for 6 September 2024

Artist: MJ Lenderman
Album: Manning Fireworks
Quick Thoughts: I can't remember the last indie record that came in with the level of buzz this one, and I certainly can't remember the last time the buzz was not only warranted, but kind of understated its quality. On his third solo album, he just has so many great ideas and lyrics throughout this that just hit different. I especially love "Rudolph," which starts out somewhat fun before quickly dropping its weight on the whole thing. It's a tightrope he walks with ease throughout this album, which might be one of the year's best.
Songs of Note: "Manning Fireworks," "Rudolph," "Wristwatch," "She's Leaving You," "Bark at the Moon"

Artist: The Dare
Album: What's Wrong With New York?
Quick Thoughts: So The Dare are not reinventing the wheel with their sleazy party indie, and in fact feel like a modern incarnation of LCD Soundsystem, but the point is less about who they remind me of and more about how well it works. "Girls" is getting a second life on TikTok, but songs like "Good Time" and "All Night" are both songs that could explode in the right circumstances. A great listen.
Songs of Note: "Good Time," "Perfume," "All Night," "Girls"

Artist: Peel Dream Magazine
Album: Rose Main Reading Room
Quick Thoughts: Is "twee" still a thing? If so, is this twee? Does it matter as long as it's great? Peel Dream Magazine has a gentle, fragile little listen here that has so many nice little surprises. A cozy little listen for the start of the fall.
Songs of Note: "Central Park West," "R.I.P. (Running in Place)," "Gems and Minerals," "Lie in the Gutter"

Artist: Okay Kaya
Album: Oh My God - That's So Me
Quick Thoughts: Okay Kaya has a few releases under her belt that are always a little left of center, but this latest album seems to distill her sound in a way that brings it all together. Songs like "Spacegirl (Shirley's)" are compellingly strange, and a strong reminder that no one is quite like her in the indie landscape. Check it out.
Songs of Note: "The Wannabe," "Picture This," "Help, I've Been Put Into Context," "My Bernice," "Spacegirl (Shirley's)"

Artist: New Ghost
Album: A Dagger in Every Tide
Quick Thoughts: I wanted to highlight this record, an indie slice of shoegaze that has a number of great moments but really deserves a full listen to take in. It's exactly what I want from a modern shoegaze record, and it's worth the time in a week with a lot of good releases.
Songs of Note: "Cherry Violence," "Viscera"

Artist: Oahk
Album: Sea Kelp
Quick Thoughts: I didn't know Oahk prior to this week, but Ken has seen them before. The New Hampshire act has an album here that defies any sort of genre categorization, and it's to their benefit. It's equal parts heavy and light, with hints of doomy folk to go along with some memorable songs and moments. Do not sleep on this.
Songs of Note: "She Grows in the Garden," "Nebula Atlantic"

Of note:

* Party Dozen - Crime in Australia (Solid instrumental rock.)
* Hinds - Viva Hinds * Luke Sanger - Dew Point Harmonics * Sarah Kinsley - Escaper * Dummy - Free Energy * LL Cool J - THE FORCE * 65daysofstatic - Disquiet / Utopian Frequencies
* Glacier - A Distant, Violent Shudder * Beth Anderson - I Can't Stand It * His Father's Voice - Black Poison Morning * Webb Chapel - World Cup * Tamar Berk - Good Times for a Change * Laila! - Gap Year! * Chad Crouch - Marquam Nature Park Soundwalk * Nala Sinephro - Endlessness * Cold Gawd - I'll Drown on This Earth * Ant - Collection of Sounds Vol. 1 * Shovels and Rope - Something is Working Up Above My Head * Fred again.. - ten days * American Monoxide - Microwave Ensemble * DATAGIRL - Hello World * Charlotte Rose Benjamin - Moth Mouth * Holy Snakes - O Me! O Life! * The Peawees - One Ride * Adriana McCassim - See It Fades * Emma Russack - About the Girl * Ørdop Wolkenscheidt - Lusatian Gothic * Shadow Wizard Money Gang - INCANTATIONS FROM THE DARK GRIMOIRE * Luke Winslow-King - Flash-A-Magic * Miss Madeline - So Dramatic * The Deslondes - Roll It Out * The Crane Wives - Beyond Beyond Beyond * Midwife - No Depression in Heaven * Missy Higgins - The Second Act * Artificial Go - Hopscotch Fever * Conner Youngblood - Cascades, Cascading, Cascadingly * Amy Allen - Amy Allen * Blomst - STIL * Cathedral Ceilings - La La La... Whatever * Conductor Williams and Rei the Imperial - OPERATION FLAMETHROWER * Tears Run Rings - Everything in the End * Doohickey Cubicle - Super Smeller * Strawberry Sleepover - Filth * Blush Always - An Ode To ? * OK Ikumi - Mountain Shadows EPs:

* Laura Jane Grace - Give and Inch * BASIC - This is BASIC * Georgia Gets By - Split Lip * Massive Nightmares - Massive Nightmares * HOO - Snake Live albums/Compilations/Reissues:

* Red Scare Industries: 20 Years of Dreaming and Scheming (A compilation of unreleased music celebrating the Chicago punk label.)
* The Cardigans - The Rest of the Best - Vol. 1 * Disney - A Whole New Sound Also out:

* Toro y Mopi - Hole Erth * Fat Dog - WOOF. * Mercury Rev - Born Horses