We've been sharing sneak peeks at the new Angel Olsen album in our Music News Roundups, and now we have the complete collection of b-sides, cover songs, previously unreleased recordings, and other rarities. KEXP Music Director Don Yates calls it "a first-rate collection...ranging from bristling folk-rock to stripped-down country-folk."
Ian Svenonius (of The Make Up, Chain & The Gang, Nation Of Ulysses, etc.) has a new solo project called Escape-ism. "His debut album under that name is a fine set of minimalist post-punk with shards of angular guitars and hypnotic drum-machine rhythms accompanying his heated vocals and often-sardonic lyrics." Dawn People is the new collaboration between Peter Negroponte of Guerilla Toss and Nick Forte of Raspberry Bulbs. And Denver-based band Tennis share "a fine five-song EP of wistful, hook-filled pop-rock."
Also, this week sees two collections from some indie rock icons. Hüsker Dü deliver a 69-track box set (4LP or 3CD) featuring remasters from soundboard tapes, session masters, and demos captured between 1979 and 1982; 47 previously unreleased tracks; a completely alternate version of their Land Speed Record live album, and a hardbound book featuring 40 previously unpublished photographs. Meanwhile, R.E.M. celebrate the 25th anniversary of their renowned eighth LP Automatic for the People with a deluxe reissue, freshly mixed by original producer Scott Litt and engineer Clif Norrellin in the new Dolby Atmos format, as well as a bonus disc of 20 never-before-heard demos from the Automatic sessions.
This week sees new albums from two soul greats. Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings share their seventh and final album, recorded before Jones passed away from cancer in November 2016. KEXP Music Director Don Yates calls it "a strong set of buoyant old-school soul and funk, with songs mostly written b…
A long-awaited U-Men 2-CD set has hit the streets. KEXP Music Director Don Yates notes the compilation "collects the complete 1984-89 recordings of this legendary Seattle band, whose pre-grunge sound was a feral, adventurous blend of pounding post-punk, raucous Sonics garage-rock, psychobilly and m…