First Listen: New Releases for 4 February
Album: can't hate myself into a different shape
Quick Thoughts: Brimheim came as a surprise to me this week. It's an interesting listen rhhat leans in fairly hard into the lower-fi alt-rock territory, but then you get songs like the title track or "hey amanda" and you realize quickly how special this is. On a whole, I really enjoyed this listen, and I'm looking forward to getting back to it.
Songs of Note: "can't hate myself into a different shape," "baleen feeder," "hey amanda," "hurting me for fun"
Album: Thoughtless Cruelty
Quick Thoughts: In some ways, this is sort of a loud, brash Idles. It's angsty and angry (post?) punk music and I found myself loving it over and over through its entire runtime. I get that this won't be for everyone, and that's fine, but if you're willing to branch out a little bit, there is a lot here to enjoy.
Songs of Note: "Dread," "Plausible Deniability"
Album: Proclaimer of Things
Quick Thoughts: I did not have "The High Water Marks new album" on my 2022 bingo card, but this offshoot Elephant Six act (led by former Apples in Stereo drummer Hilarie Sidney) is a great slice of indie pop. I actually saw them open for the Apples in Stereo at TT the Bears in happier times and found them to be a fun and charming act, and this album has plenty of retro-style tunes that scratch that itch the E6 crew did for me so often.
Songs of Note: "Fantastic Machine," "Jenny," "Fingers and Trees are Only Temporary"
Album: Glitch Princess
Quick Thoughts: Highlighting this one as a really interesting hyperpop-adjacent listen. I liked a lot of this, and when it's working it really, really works well. If you're into the glitchier side of electronic music, this is absolutely worth giving some time.
Songs of Note: "Electric," "Fragments," "Too Dead Inside," "Mandy"
Album: Laurel Hell
Quick Thoughts: Mitski's latest is a departure in many regards. It's very synthy and plays like an 80s pop record in a lot of ways, but is also filled with songs like "The Only Heartbreaker" that harken back to some of her more well-loved tunes. This one had to grow on me a bit, but an album I was a little cold on to start ended up something I loved by the end. Don't skip out on this.
Songs of Note: "The Only Heartbreaker," "Love Me More," "Should've Been Me"
Album: Lighten Up
Quick Thoughts: We like Erin Rae a lot here, and her new album brings a lot of the familiar old-style folk/roots to the forefront. I wish I had more to say about this, but it is a perfect listen in a late-winter setting and is something folk fans shouldn't miss.
Songs of Note: "Candy & Curry," "Can't See Stars," "California Belongs to You," "Modern Woman"
Of note:
* Hollis Brown - In the Aftermath (A full-album cover of Aftermath by The Rolling Stones.)
* Owen FitzGerald - A deep clean you can count on! (Some fun roots moments here.)
* Marissa Nadler - The Path of the Clouds (Strangely upbeat for her.)
* The Reds, Pinks and Purples - Summer at Land's End
* Bitch - Bitchcraft
* Black Country, New Road - Ants From Up There
* A Place to Bury Strangers - See Through You
* Divided Heaven - Oblivion
* Ravagers - Badlands
* Cate Le Bon - Pompeii
* MOTHERMARY - I Am Your God
EPs:
* Softcult - Year of the Snake (Don't sleep on this one.)
* Josienne Clarke - I Promised You Light
* Willow Kayne - Playground Antics
* CHAI - WINK TOGETHER
* Real Bad Man and Smoke DZA - Mood Swings
* Sofia Bolt - Soft Like a Peach
* The Royal Arctic Institute - From Catnap to Coma
* Sebastien Tellier - Symphonic
Live albums/Compilations/Reissues:
* Haiku Hands - Haiku Hands
* K.Flay - Inside Voices / Outside Voices
Also out:
* Outcalls - Greatest Hits, Vol. 1
* Animal Collective - Time Skiffs
