First Listen, Part Two: New Releases for April 8

And the rest of the week:

Artist: Future of the Left
Album: To Failed States and Forest Clearings
Quick Description: A mini companion EP to go along with their new album.
Why You Should Listen: It's a smaller dose, and perhaps better?
Overall Thoughts: This is music from the same sessions as the album I covered yesterday, and perhaps it's just that it's a much more concise piece that I enjoyed it more. A handful of good songs, the whole is pretty solid, and perhaps jump in on this one first?
Recommendation: A great companion to their other album.

Artist: Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals
Album: Call It What It Is
Quick Description: Ben Harper's latest sort of folky sort of funky effort.
Why You Should Listen: You probably already know if you'd like this.
Overall Thoughts: Ben Harper had a minor hit with "Steal My Kisses" around 15 years ago, and I feel like he's more been on the edges of the sort of jam band thing for a while. I haven't really kept up with him much, but this album was basically what I expected it to be, and there's nothing wrong with that. Not going to blow your socks off, but not a bad listen, either.
Recommendation: Worth it if you're into his previous work.

Artist: Moving Units
Album: Damage With Care
Quick Description: Latest album from the dance/punk band.
Why You Should Listen: Moving Units have been criminally underrated over their tenure.
Overall Thoughts: I feel like Moving Units made a rise during a time where a lot of bands were merging dance instrumentation with rock music, and somehow Moving Units got left behind. I don't know why or how, because they've had some killer songs over the years, and Damage With Care continues along that same line with some great tunes that will, invariably, be missed by a lot of the people who would love it. Really, really good album, so give this a listen.
Recommendation: Definitely recommended this week.

Artist: September Girls
Album: Age of Indignation
Quick Description: Second dream-pop/rock listen from this Irish group.
Why You Should Listen: Their first album was amazing, this one just as good.
Overall Thoughts: I loved their debut album, and this release is definitely an improvement in many ways while still not losing what makes September Girls special. The sort of dreamy, drenched rock music I love so much is on full display here, and while this might feel a little darker on first listen than their first album, this is one I'm excited to get back to.
Recommendation: An album of the week contender. A must listen.

Artist: Parquet Courts
Album: Human Performance
Quick Description: Latest album from the prolific indie rockers.
Why You Should Listen: We love Parquet Courts here, so I assume you do too.
Overall Thoughts: I don't know what's left to say about this band at this point. It feels like we get new music from them every 6-8 months or so, and each album seems better than the one before it. They're a great band, this is a great entry point, fits right in on the current indie scene while still being reminiscent of some of the great stuff of a decade ago.
Recommendation: Simply a must listen.

Artist: Hayes Carll
Album: Lovers and Leavers
Quick Description: First album in five years from the acclaimed Americana artist.
Why You Should Listen: Hayes Carll is considered one of the best for a reason.
Overall Thoughts: KMAG YOYO is at least part of the reason why I love Americana music today. So many of those songs hit home for me, and it's clear Carll is a great songwriter. The new album is definitely on the quieter, more deliberate end, which may be a turn-off to some of us who were expecting the sort of rollicking time KMAG offered, but that does not make this a bad album at all. Instead, it's a piece of work that really measures where Carll is in his life and is so well done it's almost easy to overlook in some senses. But don't overlook it, this looks to be one of those sleeper albums this year that I keep going back to.
Recommendation: Definitely give this a listen.

Artist: Grey Season
Album: Out of the House into the Nigh
Quick Description: Final release from the Boston natives.
Why You Should Listen: This is some smart alt-rock.
Overall Thoughts: I didn't know this band until after their final show, and that's too bad. An EP like this just makes you want to get to know a band more, and the leadoff track will probably just grab you right from the start. I hope the members of this band keep making music, as I'll be looking forward to checking it out.
Recommendation: A solid local listen.


Also out this week:

* Lights - Midnight Machines (her regular acoustic takes on her electronic album)
* Eliza and the Bear - Eliza and the Bear

First Listen, Part One: New Releases for April 8

Kind of a weird week, but a lot to get through and not a ton of time, so this will be split into two posts again!

Album of the Week:

Artist: She Makes War
Album: Direction of Travel
Quick Description: Smart, interesting indie singer-songwriter rock music.
Why You Should Listen: Every so often an artist appears out of nowhere and gives you a fresh-yet-familiar-sounding album. That's She Makes War.
Overall Thoughts: This is apparently this artist's third album, but I can't say I've heard of her before, and I can't wait until I have enough time to delve into the back catalog a bit. She Makes War makes some interesting music that both sounds like stuff you've heard before, but still surprises you and stays hooked in your head. "In Cold Blood" grabbed me by the time I was interested in this album, and "5000 Miles" just did not let go one bit. When I finished, I wanted to listen again, because I feel like there are layers here that I missed on first listen. If that's not the sign of a great listen, I don't know what is. This blew me away, and it might do the same for you.
Recommendation: One of my favorite recent listens period. A must.

Artist: Peter Wolf
Album: A Cure for Loneliness
Quick Description: Latest solo album from the J. Geils Band singer.
Why You Should Listen: His solo stuff (at least today) sounds nothing like "Centerfold."
Overall Thoughts: I first opted to listen to this because I confused him with Patrick Wolf, who is pretty different. Upon hearing this, I figured out very quickly that this was different, but in a pretty good way. It's certainly well-trod ground, but Wolf's voice is very fitting for the sort of adult contemporary sound he's going for here, and the result is a really solid album. It's good enough where I want to explore his back catalog a bit too, but maybe not to the point of checking out J. Geils again...
Recommendation: A solid listen you shouldn't sleep on.

Artist: Future of the Left
Album: The Peace and Truce of Future of the Left
Quick Description: Fourth album from the post-mclusky UK rockers.
Why You Should Listen: Future of the Left is basically required listening now.
Overall Thoughts: There was some significant concern that this album wouldn't even see United States shores, so the fact that we have it at all is one thing, but I will say that this album is chaotic and strange in ways I didn't love. There's still plenty of the acerbic wit throughout, and there are plenty of great songs in here ("White Privilege Blues" is a distinct highlight), but this feels like a misstep from one of my favorite bands on the first listen through. I wouldn't say not to listen to it, but with so many new releases this might be toward the bottom of the list if their sound isn't your thing.
Recommendation: Feels like a miss.

Artist: M83
Album: Junk
Quick Description: Latest album by the retro/electro act.
Why You Should Listen: M83 has hit a pretty great stride in what they accomplish.
Overall Thoughts: My favorite M83 albums are the earlier ones, before he discovered 80s synths and the retro thing. This is not to say this little niche he's carved out is bad, but it's not really my thing. Junk is his sound perfected, at least in my mind, and I kind of love what he's done with this album. It's kind of irreverent but kind of awesome all at once, and that's a tough balance to make. A solid effort, for sure.
Recommendation: If you like this sort of thing, it needs to be on your list this week.

Artist: The Lumineers
Album: Cleopatra
Quick Description: Much-awaited second album from the rootsy buzz band.
Why You Should Listen: "Ho Hey" was your jam.
Overall Thoughts: I think it's time for some straight talk on The Lumineers. Rising in the wave of Edward Sharpe/Mumford thing, "Hey Ho" was in every movie and commercial for a time, and I feel like we all convinced ourselves that The Lumineers were a big deal. But let's be real: the first album had "Hey Ho," "Dead Sea," and "Big Parade," and beyond that? I can think of dozens of better roots albums. Cleopatra doesn't really expand on anything, and is arguably a step backward considering where it started out, and it makes me wonder if we just all collectively ignored what was in front of us. This isn't compelling, and it might be great for your mom this Mother's Day, but that's it.
Recommendation: Skip it. Very unfortunate.

Artist: Frightened Rabbit
Album: Painting of a Panic Attack
Quick Description: Fifth album from the rockers.
Why You Should Listen: They do a pretty good job with the straightforward modern rock.
Overall Thoughts: Frightened Rabbit came around for me in a time with a lot of bands with "Rabbit" in their titles, and I've confused them with White Rabbits enough over the years to get pretty frustrated by it. I feel like they're a band that's no one's favorite but anyone who likes to listen to rock music enjoys, and that's a fine niche to sit in. It also results in albums like this that are completely pleasant experiences that I might never go to again because it's just not captivating enough with so much interesting stuff surrounding it. Not a pass, but not worth putting ahead of anything else. Just solid rock music.
Recommendation: It's not bad, but it should never take priority.

Artist: Mogwai
Album: Atomic
Quick Description: Latest album by the intrumental rockers.
Why You Should Listen: It's Mogwai. Why haven't you already listened?
Overall Thoughts: If you've heard Mogwai, you already have an opinion of what they do. This album (actually a soundtrack of sorts to a BBC documentary) follows up the stellar Rave Tapes, and while their signature sound is still on display throughout, this album also takes a little longer to get off the ground. Maybe it's more complex, maybe it's just very different due to the medium it accompanies, but it's not exactly what I was expecting, and that means it's a little mixed for me. Truth be told, I'll need more time with this one, but don't sleep on it.
Recommendation: Worth a listen even if it's imperfect.

Artist: Kelley McRae
Album: The Wayside
Quick Description: Rootsy singer-songwriter channels her inner Gillian Welch.
Why You Should Listen: Kelley McRae is underrated, and you need an Americana cleanser after that Lumineers album.
Overall Thoughts: Sweet is the best word to describe this album. I compare it to Welch, but there's not the underlying darkness that seems to permeate a lot of Welch's works. Instead, we get a pretty great album that feels uplifting in its own way, even if I can't say for certain it's meant to be on a first, not-too-close listen. I have loved everything McRae has done up to this point, though, and this continues along the lines of really solid listens from her.
Recommendation: Definitely worth a listen this week.


Also out this week:

* The Dandy Warhols - Distortland (why are you not on Spotify?)
* Deftones - Gore
* Filter - Crazy Eyes

The Julie Ruin - "I Decide"

The Julie Ruin is back with the first single from their upcoming album, Hit Reset. I don't remember even hearing that they were working on an album, so this is the most welcome kind of surprises. "I Decide" doesn't quite have the raw ferocity of Bikini Kill, or the danceability of Le Tigre or even The Julie Ruin's previous album, Run Fast. While it still has a distinctive groove and Kathleen Hanna's distinctive sing-song vocals, "I Decide" feels more indie rock than Hanna's previous projects. The song has a haunting quality that's leaving me very intrigued.

Hit Reset will be out July 8 on Hardly Art. You can pre-order the album here. The band's website appears to be under construction currently but will hopefully be up soon. You can watch the video (which features Katie Crutchfield of Waxahatchee wandering around South By Southwest) for "I Decide" below.

Surgical Meth Machine - "I Don't Wanna"

Al Jourgensen has put together roughly a thousand bands in his multi-decade career, so what's one more? His newest is Surgical Meth Machine. Surgical Meth Machine combines the heavy industrial that Jourgensen is best known for, but also includes a lot more electronic elements than usual. The first song released is "I Don't Wanna," which might be the biggest clusterfuck of noise that will be released in 2016. With industrial beats, squelching guitars, and pure electronic noise, it sounds like maybe three songs being blasted all together, but with Jourgensen involved, that's exactly what you want it to sound like. Plus, the song features vocals from Jourgensen's Lard and Revolting Cocks bandmate Jello Biafra for an adult level temper tantrum.

Surgical Meth Machine's debut album is due out April 15. You can watch the video for "I Don't Wanna" below. For more information, check out Al Jourgensen's website.

Vow - "Green Light"

As we inch closer to the debut album from Vow, they've made another song available to listen to. "Green Light" continues their move away from the synth pop of their first two Eps into more indie rock territory. That's not to say it completely gives up all electronic elements, as there is a strong resemblance to a sunnier New Order here, with just a hint of vocals that remind me of Mazzy Star's Hope Sandoval and Steven Malkmus.

Vow's debut album, Kind Eyes, will be out May 27 on The Native Sound. Be sure to listen to "Green Light" below. For more information on Vow, check out their website. You can also pre-order the album on Bandcamp.

Lonesome Shack - "To the Floor"

Photo by Sarah Garrard

Lonesome Shack delivers completely stripped down dirty blues that has an undeniable boogie to it. The Seattle trio is set to release their fourth album, The Switcher, and has made "To the Floor" available to listen.

"To the Floor" is a raw, foreboding song. It just has this dark edge to it. It could be because the entire time you listen to it, you keep expecting it to just explode into this complete breakdown, like a Jon Spencer Blues Explosion album would. But it never does. It just keeps building and building to a climax that never truly comes, all without changing tempo. You wait for a release that you never get. It's both frustrating and glorious. And you can somehow dance to it.

The Switcher will be released on June 24. You can listen to "To the Floor" below. For more information on Lonesome Shack, check out their website. 

Zack Slik - "When I Fall Into Your Eyes of Blue"

Photo by Jessica Pohl

Seeing as we're based in central Massachusetts, we feature a shockingly small (pretty much non-existent, actually) number of bands from Worcester. It's always a bit of a thrill for us when we can, especially when the music is as good as this new song from Zack Slik. "When I Fall Into Your Eyes of Blue" is pure Americana. It's old timey roots and blues done to perfection without being gimmicky. The entire album was recorded live in front of an audience at Wachusett Recording Studio, adding to the authentic rootsy feel.

Zack Slik's new album, Wachusett Recording Session, is due out April 8. You can listen to "When I Fall Into Your Eyes of Blue" below. For more information, check out Zack Slik's website, and find some tour dates/album release dates for this upcoming weekend below.


Friday April 8, The Barn Restaurant and Tavern, Pawlet, VT
Saturday April 9, Rapscallion, Fiskdale, MA (4:00 pm)
Saturday April 9, Nick's, Worcester, MA (9:00 pm)
Sunday April 10, Rye & Thyme, Leominster, MA (11:00 am)
Friday April 15, Rye & Thyme, Leominster, MA
Saturday May 14, The Press Room, Portsmouth, NH

Hallelujah the Hills - "What Do the People Want"

Photo by Ken Sears

We're less than a week away from the release of A Band is Something to Figure Out, the new album from Hallelujah the Hills, so here's a new song from it! "What Do the People Want" is somehow three separate types of songs all in one. It's an Americana power ballad, a punk song with gang vocals, and a blistering late 90s style rocker. It's not really all that surprising, seeing how those are the genres that Hallelujah the Hills have been playing in for years now, but, just like with "We Have the Perimeter Surrounded," "What Do the People Want" has this newfound sense of urgency. Hallelujah the Hills know they have something special here, and that 2016 just might be their year.

A Band is Something to Figure Out will be released April 12th. You can listen to "What Do the People Want" below. Make sure to get your copy via Bandcamp. Hallelujah the Hills have a pair of release shows coming up: May 12 at Great Scott in Boston and May 14 at C'Mon Everybody in NYC. You can find more information on their website.

Gordi - "Can We Work It Out"

I don't really get a lot of the pop music out nowadays. I honestly can't tell the difference between Katy Perry and Robyn. That might be why I'm so shocked at how much I like this new single from Gordi. The stage name of 22 year old Australian Sophie Payten, "Can We Work It Out" is far more rich and lush than your typical pop song. It's less bubble gum and more dream pop. It's a mixture of old fashioned vocal layering with more organic sounding guitars blending with electronic elements. Although it is rare to find unique pop music, it's a very welcome sound.

Gordi's debut EP, Clever Disguise, is due out on May 13th on Jagjaguwar. You can watch the video for "Can We Works It Out" below, and pre-order the EP on iTunes and Amazon. For more info on Gordi, check out her Bandcamp and Facebook. Her current tour dates are also below.

Thu. Apr. 28 - Brisbane, AU @ The Tivoli (w/ Of Monsters And Men)
Fri. Apr. 29 - Brisbane, AU @ The Tivoli (w/ Of Monsters And Men)
Wed. May 4 - Melbourne, AU @ Palais Theatre (w/ Of Monsters And Men)
Thu. May 5 - Melbourne, AU @ Palais Theatre (w/ Of Monsters And Men)
Sun. May 22 - Dublin, IE @ Whelan’s (w/ Highasakite)
Mon. May 23 - Manchester, UK @ The Deaf Institute (w/ Highasakite)
Tue. May 24 - London, UK @ Village Underground (w/ Highasakite)
Fri. May 27 - George, WA @ Sasquatch! Music Festival
Mon. May 30 - San Francisco, CA @ Swedish American Hall
Wed. June 1 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo (Neon Gold’s PopShop Presents)
Sat. June 4 - Minneapolis, MN @ Icehouse
Mon. June 6 - Chicago, IL @ Schubas
Tue. June 7 - Toronto, ON @ The Drake
Thu. June 9 - New York, NY @ Rockwood Music Hall (Communion Presents)

First Listen, Part Two: New Releases for April 1

And the rest of the week!:

Artist: Tacocat
Album: Lost Time
Quick Description: Fun indie pop!
Why You Should Listen: I feel like the sort of fun, irreverent indie pop-punk that I used to love.
Overall Thoughts: From the first song, "Dana Catherine Scully," you get an idea as to where this album is going, and it's just a lot of fun across the board. Fun indie pop is a commodity I was looking for, and Tacocat is delivering with a little buzz to go with it.
Recommendation: A great listen this week, definitely worth your time.

Artist: Laura Gibson
Album: Empire Builder
Quick Description: Off-center singer-songwriting.
Why You Should Listen: Laura Gibson's brand of folk music is always interesting.
Overall Thoughts: I fell in love with Laura Gibson with La Grande, and when "The Cause" hit Discover Weekly for me, I was surprised by what I was hearing, but in a good way The song feels different but accessible, and what makes Empire Builder great is how it plays with the expectations in such a great way. This was nearly album of the week for me, and for good reason - this was absolutely the most enjoyable listen of the week.
Recommendation: A must-listen. A great album from a great singer-songwriter.

Artist: Teddy Thompson and Kelly Jones
Album: Little Windows
Quick Description: Rootsy throwback tunes from two singer-songwriters.
Why You Should Listen: Best roots album of the week, for sure.
Overall Thoughts: I first learned of Teddy Thompson when I saw him open for Rufus Wainwright ages ago. I don't know Kelly Jones, but I think I want to know her music better after this, which feels like an authentic throwback to classic, rootsy country of the best kind. I can't say a ton of specific songs jump out at me, but, as someone who loves some great male/female duos, this is *so* in my wheelhouse.
Recommendation: A great listen this week.

Artist: Black Mountain
Album: IV
Quick Description: Some heavy, melodic rock music.
Why You Should Listen: Black Mountain makes music I shouldn't love, but do.
Overall Thoughts: I feel like how I like this band is where their appeal is. I really love the sound that Black Mountain puts out there, and there's a melodic, fantastic property to this that just scratches an itch I didn't know I had. I recognize completely that this wouldn't be for everyone, but if you don't mind some heavier tunes on a whole, this should absolutely be part of your listening this week. I don't know many other bands doing it like this, so the uniqueness along is worth the time.
Recommendation: A great listen this week, but not for all.

Artist: Yeasayer
Album: Amen & Goodbye
Quick Description: Latest album from the indie rockers.
Why You Should Listen: Yeasayer is always an interesting listen, even when they sort of miss.
Overall Thoughts: Yeasayer had some pretty great indie hits a few years back, and I feel like they haven't been around for a while and the result of this album is one that just feels... strange. I don't criticize a band known for being a little more experimental and different for doing exactly that, but sometimes it doesn't grab you the way you expect. I'd like more time with it, but on first listen and with so many new releases...
Recommendation: ...it might be worth a look later.

Artist: Frankie Cosmos
Album: Next Thing
Quick Description: Another quick-shot album from the indie singer-songwriter.
Why You Should Listen: With an under-30-minute runtime and some interesting pieces, it's worth a shot.
Overall Thoughts: Frankie Cosmos is also doing something really different, I feel. This has so many songs, many of which are under 2 minutes a piece, so this ends up being a collage more than a whole, and there's something to be said for that. I'd still say, as I did for her EP last year, that it sort of defies description or even criticism, but still worth a look.
Recommendation: A quick hit this week that's worth your time.



Also out this week:

* Bombino - Azel
* Babymetal - Metal Resistance (J-Pop meets metal!)
* Explosions in the Sky - The Wilderness (a great listen!)