Album: Woodland
Quick Thoughts: Gillian Welch continues to be the standard-bearer for mainstream rootsy folk music, and this latest collaboration with David Rowlings does not have the hollow, stark feel of All the Good Times (Are Past & Gone), but still feels pure and true regardless of what her early or persistent critics may think. If anything, Welch is too good at this, and we should simply be glad we're still getting new music from her on a regular basis again.
Songs of Note: "Empty Trainload of Sky," "What We Had," "North Country," "The Day the Mississippi Died," "Howdy Howdy"
Album: Now That's What I Call Little Hag
Quick Thoughts: The debut release from Little Hag, with "Tetris" and "Facebook," won us over immediately. The debut, Leash, was a favorite in these parts as well. Then comes Now That's What I Call Little Hag, which really distills the experience to near-perfection. My favorite thing about Little Hag isthat there are certain songs like "1000 Birds" and "Hell Yes" that literally could not be delivered or written but anyone but her, and that sort of unique perspective becomes more and more rare over time. Loved this album.
Songs of Note: "The Machine," "Oops!" "1000 Birds," "You Blew It!" "HHSTTHN," "Hell Yes"
Album: Short n' Sweet
Quick Thoughts: We're at Peak Pop Star right now, and Disney alum Sabrina Carpenter has perhaps her best effort yet that keeps her in the conversation. While Chappell Roan plays around with drag, Billie Eilish with sexual identity, Olivia Rodrigo with brutal honesty, Charli XCX with even more brutal vulnerability, Taylor Swift with world domination, Short n' Sweet decides to Make Music Horny Again. One TikTok I saw described Carpenter as "aggressively heterosexual," and there's something to be said about that - Where "Juno" is a little veiled, "Taste" is more overt and "Bed Chem" isn't leaving you any remaining questions. Considering how hyper-sexualized everything is these days, it's weird to call this refreshing, but there's something about this that sets it apart not only from her previous efforts, but from the pop stars she's competing against. While it may not be the best of the batch, it's absolutely the most compelling.
Songs of Note: "Taste," "Please Please Please," "Good Graces," "Espresso," "Juno"
Album: Legacy
Quick Thoughts: A solid roots record for the summer months, Falcon Jane continually surprised me with Legacy, a record I went back to a few times over the last week. Between Welch, Caleb Caudle, and this, roots fans are eating well this week. Check it out.
Songs of Note: "Man of Action," "I Get Myself," "Oh My God," "Bad Boy," "How Dare You"
Album: Imaginal Disk
Quick Thoughts: I've been a fan of Magdalena Bay for some time now, and their brand of synthpop scratches a particular itch that few other acts do. It's almost a shame that so much of the oxygen is being sucked up by Sabrina Carpenter, because Magdalena Bay should really be a lot bigger than they are. This particular album, their third full-length, is a glossy retro throwback that deserves to be heard. Give this a chance and you'll probably fall in love.
Songs of Note: "Killing Time," "Watching T.V.," "That's My Floor," "Cry for Me"
Album: On the Intricate Inner Workings of the System
Quick Thoughts: Welsh rockers The Bug Club don't take too much too seriously, and the fun is in going along the ride with them. Their first with an American label and their latest after a 47-track concept album, you'll know very quick why Sub Pop is high on them as well as understand whether they're the right band for you. For my money, though, this album is solid enough to make me want to dive into their back catalog. Hope they'll let me join.
Songs of Note: "War Movies," "A Bit Like James Bond," "Cold. Hard. Love." "The Intricate Inner Workings of the System"
Album: Home in Another Life
Quick Thoughts: An unexpected delight. Enumclaw's fuzzy indie-alt strikes that right chord for me perfectly, and while Enumclaw isn't really doing anything new or different, they are doing something really great and memorable. Don't be scared off by "I Still Feel Bad About Masturbation," just enjoy the whole album.
Songs of Note: "Spots," "I'm Scared I'll End Up All Alone," "I Still Feel Bad About Masturbation," "Grocery Store," "This Light of Mine"
Album: YOYOTTA
Quick Thoughts: My favorite listen this week, the 20-something Molly Payton's debut full-length fulfills the promise from her early EPs and shows an artist already fully formed out the gate. There are so, so many memorable tunes here, and it's just the right mix of hooky and noisy to get the sort of broad appeal that could make this indie New Zealander become a household name. Make time for this, it's one of the better listens of the summer.
Songs of Note: "Benchwarmer," "A Hand Held Strong," "Accelerate," "Devotion," "Doing Our Worst"
Album: Part II
Quick Thoughts: I wanted to highlight Shady Cove, who has a great folk-adjacent record out in the second half of August that would otherwise be overshadowed by higher-profile releases. Part II deserves to be heard, because there are some really amazing songs in here.
Songs of Note: "Beach," "Mirrors," "Midwest," "Passenger"
Album: Everything is Love and Death
Quick Thoughts: I hate that Oceanator's latest came out at the same time as so many of these records, because she is absolutely solidifying herself as one of the top indie acts out there. Her debut was one of the best of 2020, and there are so many amazing tracks on Love and Death that I could probably gush about them all day. "Get Out" in particular has been in heavy rotation since it dropped. Do not miss this.
Songs of Note: "First Time," "Happy New Year," "Get Out," "Be Here"
Album: Sweet Critters
Quick Thoughts: I don't recall knowing Caleb Caudle before this week, but I'm paying attention now. This album starts out with two truly killer tracks and then doesn't let up for the rest of the runtime. Yeah, there's a lot of great music out this week, but in terms of pure sounding roots music, you're not going to find too much that surpasses this. A great listen.
Songs of Note: "Great High Mountain," "The Devil's Voice," "Knee Deep Blues"
Album: Michelin Star
Quick Thoughts: Independent rap can be hit-or-miss, even with the improvements in production that open up the opportunity beyond large studio efforts. Cakeswagg, a Boston-area rapper, kicked my ass this week, and had me wondering how she's been kept secret all this time. "Move Bitch" is awesome, "Flutes" will get stuck in your head for days. Such a great album and such a lovely surprise this week. Check it out.
Songs of Note: "Move Bitch," "Bad Bitch Link Up," "Flutes," "Shots Fired," "Kamikaze"
Album: Sonny Falls
Quick Thoughts: One more shoutout to a late addition from way back in March. Sonny Falls is alt-indie done right, with catchy as hell songs from top to bottom. I didn't want this one to be over, and I just kept getting impressed over and over. Looking forward to spending more time with this one.
Songs of Note: "Going Nowhere," "Dystopian Dracula," "Night Scene," "Kids on Mars," "Had a Thought," "Apocalypse-Lite"
Of note:
* Scrunchies - Colossal (A solid, angsty listen.)
* illuminati hotties - POWER (A welcome, overdue return.)
* Girly Girl Productions - DEMURE (Proof that not everything AI is awful.)
* Fontaines D.C. - Romance (Fontaines D.C. continues to put out unexpectedly compelling rock albums.)
* Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds - Wild God (Not a return to form, but lots of solid moments.)
* Sean Henry - HEAD (Fuzzy indie goodness.)
* Ellen Reid - Big Majestic (Great modern classical/ambient.)
* Nicole Miglis - Myopia
* Jonsi - First Light
* YACHT - New Release
* Sun Kin - painting whales
* Ben Katzman's DeGreaser - Tears On the Beach
* Shehehe - Namedroppers
* India Ramey - Baptized by the Blaze
* Coco and Clair Clair - Girl
* Amy Rigby - Hang in There With Me
* Delta Heavy - Midnight Forever
* Laurie Anderson - Amelia
* Jon Hopkins - RITUAL
* Mikayla Geier - here we go again...
* Steve Wynn - Make It Right
* Tycho - Infinite Health
* Why Bonnie - Wish on the Bone
* Bent Knee - Twenty Pills Without Water
* Gift - Illuminator
* Smoke DZA - THC3 (Kushedgod Bitch)
* Tobe Nwigme - HOOD HYMNS
* Stand Atlantic - Was Here
* Los Bitchos - Talkie Talkie
* Easyhead - Personal Echo Chamber
* Sofi Tukker - BREAD
* MEER - Wheels Within Wheels
* Fake Fruit - Mucho Mistrust
* The Cactus Blossoms - Every Time I Think About You
* MOTHICA - Kissing Death
* Phantom Handshakes - Sirens at Golden Hour
* Melt-Banana - 3+5
* Chime School - The Boy Who Ran the Paisley Hotel
* The Softies - The Bed I Made
* Madge - ravepack2
* Luna Li - When a Thought Grows Wings
* Mura Masa - Curve 1
* Starflyer 59 - Lust for Gold
* Z Berg - Strange Darling - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
* Sycco - Zorb
* Snakeskin - Summoning Suit (LSF-002)
* Boy Band - If I Had What I Wanted Would I Still Want More?
* Heems - VEENA
* Tristwch Y Fenywod - Tristwch Y Fenywod
* Rosie Lowe - Lover, Other
* Frail Talk - Microspirit
* Kishi Bashi - Kantos
* Geneva Jacuzzi - Triple Fire
* Ysr Gramz - Thx U Jxlan
* Ingrid Michaelson - For the Dreamers
* Giant Day - Glass Narcissus
* Ex Pilots - Motel Cable
* Spirit of the Beehive - You'll Have to Lose Something
EPs:
* Pet Shop Boys - Feel
* Sex Week - Sex Week
* Evil - obedience
* gyrofield - These Heavens
* Sulene - Jouska
* Donatachi - Ascension
* Girly Girl Productions - GIRLY SECRET
* Philanthrope - Video Days
* wilt - wilt
* Meg Smith - you fake your british accent
* Pronoun - and it's been raining ever since
* Laura Fell - At Least I Tried
* MALINDA - Look At You Now
* Public Service Broadcasting - The Fun of It
* English Teacher - Live from BBC Maida Vale
* Chelsea Wolfe - Undone EP
Live albums/Compilations/Reissues:
* Lydia Loveless - Sopmething Else (Piano reimaginings of her 2014 album.)
* Sunny Sweeney - Still Provoked (Rootsier reimaginnings of her 2014 album.)
* Oasis - Definitely Maybe - 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition
* Live at Greenfield Lake
Also out:
* lsuuvi - #sameone2
* Nervous Eaters - Rock n Roll Your Heart Away
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ReplyDeleteArtist: Caleb Caudle
Album: Sweet Critters
Quick Thoughts: I don't recall knowing Caleb Caudle before this week, but I'm paying attention now. This album starts out with two truly killer tracks and then doesn't let up for the rest of the runtime. Yeah, there's a lot of great music out this week, but in terms of pure sounding roots music, you're not going to find too much that surpasses this. A great listen.
Songs of Note: "Great High Mountain," "The Devil's Voice," "Knee Deep Blues"