First Listen: New Releases for 14 April 2023

Artist: Bodywash
Album: I Held the Shape While I Could
Quick Thoughts: This one was a really pleasant surprise. It's like a nice mix between shoegze and electronic-infuenced alt-rock. The album has that perfect hazy feel with a ton going for it, and I'm looking forward to getting back to this one quite a bit.
Songs of Note: "Picture Of," "Massif Central," "Perfect Blue," "Sterilizer"

Artist: Kid Koala
Album: Creatures of the Late Afternoon
Quick Thoughts: The consistently underrated turntablist is back with a very enjoyable record. The beats are great, it's got a nice sense of humor, and it's a good reminder that electronic music can be a lot of fun. I loved this a lot more than I thought I would, so check it out.
Songs of Note: "Hear Now," "Get Level," "The Cards"

Artist: El Michels Affair and Black Thought
Album: Glorious Game
Quick Thoughts: Easily my favorite listen of the week. El Michels Affair makes cinematic instrumental music better than perhaps any other act, and they've worked with Wu Tang in the past so this collaboration with Black Thought makes a lot of sense, and WOW does it work. The whole thing is tremendous, and balances out the great musicality with some excellent rap. Do not miss out on this.
Songs of Note: "Grateful," "Protocol," "The Weather"

Artist: Jonathan Bree
Album: Pre-Code Hollywood
Quick Thoughts: Jonathan Bree is a name I've seen around for a bit, but never dove in. This album is a fascinating presentation that's as much art as it is pop, and it really worked for me in ways I didn't anticipate. This isn't going to work for everyone, but if you're into the more high-class artsy singer-songwriter pop, you should make some time for this.
Songs of Note: "Pre-Code Hollywood," "Miss You," "Politics"

Artist: Chappaqua Wrestling
Album: Plus Ultra
Quick Thoughts: I wanted to highlight Chappaqua Wrestling, which has that sort of post-punk/shoegazey feel while still being modern and immediate. This British band's debut kept surprising me throughout its runtime, and it's probably the best pure rock record I've heard in a while. Give this a listen.
Songs of Note: "Full Round Table," "Wayfinding," "My Fall"

Artist: Natalie Merchant
Album: Keep Your Courage
Quick Thoughts: Natalie Merchant has been at this for more than 40 years now, and I honestly went into this album thinking I wouldn't last long. Turns out I really, really enjoyed this. There's an immediacy to it that I don't feel like we've gotten from her in some time, and a welcome return of sorts. It's worth the listen, check it out.
Songs of Note: "Come On, Aphrodite," "Eye of the Storm," "Tower of Babel"

Artist: Josienne Clarke
Album: Onliness
Quick Thoughts: It's a busy-ish week, but don't sleep on Josienne Clarke, who has an album here that is maybe the best folk record you'll hear this week. Just a lovely listen with song after song worth hearing. Don't miss out.
Songs of Note: "The Birds," "Homemade Heartache," "Chicago," "I Never Learned French," "Workhorse"

Of note:

* Frost Children - Speed Run (Delightfully chaotic.)
* Phoria - River Oblivion
* Feist - Multitides
* Shannon Lay - Covers Vol. 1
* Pynch - Howling at a Concrete Moon
* Petite Noir - MotherFather
* Laveda - A Place You Grew Up In
* Pearly Drops - A Little Disaster
* Temples - Exotico
* Mute Duo - Migrant Flocks
* Kicksie - Slouch
* Kwengface - The Memoir
* Fenne Lily - Big Picture
* The Wood Brothers - Heart is the Hero
* Penny Rich - If Everyone's an Expert, What's Left to be Learnt?
* Penelope Trappes - Heavenly Spheres
* Fruit Bats - A River Running To Your Heart

EPs:

* Pet Shop Boys - Lost
* Fox Medicine - Doom Candy
* Proc Fiskal - RT Hon EP
* Magdalena Bay - mini mix vol. 3
* John Vanderslice - CRYSTALS 3.0
* Goat - Seu Sangue EP
* Patrick Wolf - The Night Safari
* Bad Sounds - Escaping from a Violent Time, Volume III
* audiobooks - Gulliver EP
* Jayla Kai - The Short Song Project III
* Angel Olsen - Forever Means
* cruush - Wishful Thinker

Live albums/Compilations/Reissues:

* Shygirl - Nymph_o

Also out:

* Initiate - Cerebral Circus

Josienne Clarke - "Anyone But Me"

Photo by Alec Bowman_Clarke

The latest single from Josienne Clarke combines sounds that are quite different in a surprisingly perfect mixture. Clarke's vocals sound like traditional folk. In fact, just about as traditional as you can get. But the music in "Anyone But Me" follow a much heavier alt-rock sound. It's all fuzzy guitars and driving drums. The vocals almost seem to be at a much slower tempo, and would be more at home if the song was a ballad. But "Anyone But Me" is a fast rock song. This song should not work at all, but Clarke has crafted a song that flows together brilliantly despite the mismatched parts.

Josienne Clarke says of her upcoming album's title:

“It means both solitude and singularity; being one of a kind, but also alone in the sense that you are apart from other things. So, it has both a positive connotation and a really melancholic one–and I feel like that fits every song that I've ever written.”

You can watch the video for "Anyone But Me" below. Onliness (songs of solitude & singularity) is due out April 14 on Corduroy Punk Records, and can be pre-ordered here. For more on Josienne Clarke, check out the artist's website.

Josienne Clarke - "Words Were Never the Answer"

Photo by Alec Bowman_Clarke

The latest from Josienne Clarke is a short and simple folk song that will enrapture you in less than two minutes. "Words Were Never the Answer" is just Clarke's vocals and an arpeggio providing music. The song is truly a showcase for Clarke's vocals, and those are enough to suck you in. Something about the song feels old fashioned and modern at the same time. This is classic folk music brought modern, sounding familiar and fresh at the same time. The only negative of the song is that it ends so abruptly that you're left desperate for more, but that's hardly a bad thing.

Josienne Clarke says of her new single:

“Nothing can be achieved with just melody and sentences, however well you structure them. You only ever make pretty shapes with pain and the best you can hope for is that it resonates somehow with someone else in some way. It’s not intended to be as bleak as that sounds; I’m making light of the foolish grandiosity that drives artistic endeavor and–to be honest–in an industry that’s often so hostile a landscape to the artist we need that kind of motivation, as ‘meaninglessly lovely’ as it is.” 

You can watch the video for "Words Were Never the Answer" below. Onliness (songs of solitude and singularity) is due out April 14 on Corduroy Punk Records. The album can be pre-ordered here. For more on Josienne Clarke, check out the artist's website.

First Listen: New Releases and Music We Missed for 13 August 2021

Another slowish week, so playing a little more catch-up.

Artist: Watchhouse
Album: Watchhouse
Quick Thoughts: Watchhouse is the former Mandolin Orange, a band we love around these parts. The Americana duo has always been consistent, and this rebranding of the name doesn't impact the quality of the music at all. This is really just rock solid Americana with some near-perfect execution, and continues along the trajectory they've set over the years. A favorite this week, for certain.
Songs of Note: "Better Way," "New Star"

Artist: Liz Bills
Album: Liz Bills & the Change
Quick Thoughts: This is a rootsy, soul-tinged affair from a Massachusetts musician that deserves some attention. Liz Bills has an impressive voice and knows how to put a song together, and when it all comes together perfectly, it's hard not to fall for it. I didn't know Liz Bills before Ken sent this one over to me, and I appreciate the introduction - I'll absolutely be coming back for more.
Songs of Note: "Somebody Else," "Gasoline," "Come Back Down to Me"

Artist: El Michels Affair and Liam Bailey
Album: Ekundayo Inversions
Quick Thoughts: So I don't know Liam Bailey at all, but I'm going to look him up now. A singer-songwriter from the UK, he aligned with Leon Michels of El Michels Affair for his previous records (including 2020's Ekundayo, released on Michels's label), and this record is basically a reimagination of the album with the sort of retro buffet El Michels Affair offers. This is truly great, and while I'm looking forward to going back to the original album to see what I missed, I do wonder if this version of it will be the one that sticks with me for the long term.
Songs of Note: "Conquer and Divide," "Angel Face," "Walk With Me," "Ugly Truths," "Superstar"

Artist: Suzie Ungerleider
Album: My Name is Suzie Ungerleider
Quick Thoughts: I had thought this was a new act for me, but I learned after the fact that Suzie Ungerleider previously performed as Oh Suzanna and had a number of solid alt-country albums. This new release is definitely a quieter, more folky affair, and while I don't know whether that's from coming out from behind a pen name or a recent change of pace, but it's still a favorite of the week. She's rebooting her image, and there's no better time to hop onto this particular bandwagon.
Songs of Note: "Summerbaby," "Baby Blues," "Sweet Little Sparrow"

Artist: girlhouse
Album: the girlhouse ep
Quick Thoughts: Wanted to highlight this one in particular as it was a really fun indie rock record with pretty much no filler. With only six tracks, I kept getting surprised and really wanted more when it was all said and done. girlhouse is a name I'll be keeping in mind in the future, because there's nothing but upside here. Make time for this one.
Songs of Note: "pretty girl in la," "loaded gun"

Artist: Josienne Clarke
Album: A Small Unknowable Thing
Quick Thoughts: A lot to love about this folky singer-songwriter effort. I can't recall how I tripped up on this, but it has so many solid songs throughout that I really loved so I had to give it a highlight here. It has a softness to it that's unexpected, and some catchy points throughout that make it worth the time. Don't miss out on this one.
Songs of Note: "Like This," "Sit Out"

Of note:

* The Cocker Spaniels - The Cocker Spaniels Are Still Alive, and So Are You (Lots of good power pop in here.)
* Recognize Ali and Bronze Nazareth - Season of the Seven (Solid rap tunes.)
* Joshua Burnside - Higher Places (Raw roots.)
* Pomplamoose - Impossible à Prononcer (French-language album from the internet superstars.)
* Lovelorn - What's Yr Damage (Super heavy with some really incredible moments.)
* Typhoid Rosie - Queen of Swords
* Jade Bird - Different Kinds of Light
* The Harmony Motel - Topical Depression
* Hate Club - Tightly Wound
* Spud Cannon - Good Kids Make Bad Apples
* Joy Orbison - still slipping vol. 1
* Andrew Hung - Devastations
* Quicksand - Distant Populations
* Wednesday - Twin Plagues
* Devendra Banhart and Noah Georgeson - Refuge
* Magic Castles - Sun Reign
* Bendigo Fletcher - Fits of Laughter
* Proud Father - The View of Earth From Mars

EPs:

* Little Hag - Breakfast (A delightfully nsfw offering.)
* Gabbo - Gabbo
* Double Star - Say Something Now
* Lila Blue - Not Yet
* Morly - Eilogy
* Jackie Hayes - There's Always Going To Be Something
* Tristan Arp - Alternate Looking Glass
* Kalie Shorr - I Got Here By Accident
* MALINDA - The Folks I Love
* Brin, Dntel, More Eaze - Futurangelics
* 808 State - The Extended Pleasure of Dance

Live albums/Compilations/Reissues:

* Dustbowl Revival - Is It You, Is It Me (Deluxe Edition)
* Khruangbin - Mordechai Remixes

Also out:

* Dill the Giant - WEED MAN SON
* Iggy Azalea - The End of an Era