Thursday Music News

Indie veterans of Montreal are releasing their 15th album White Is Relic/Irrealis Mood on March 9 via Polyvinyl Records. Today, the Kevin Barnes-led project has shared the second single "Plateau Phase/No Careerism No Corruption" as well as a trippy video for the single directed by Christina Eleni Schneider and Clayton Rychlik. According to Barnes, the song was originally written for Janelle Monae and called "Fucked In Your Driveway." When the song never became anything, Barnes reworked it for himself. "Lyrically, I pulled inspiration from Multiverse Theory, the writings of Wilhelm Reich and the economist Guy Standing, Eastern European party culture, and Bluets by Maggie Nelson, as well as my burgeoning new love affair with a woman of mystery and magic," explains Barnes. Catch of Montreal on Tuesday, May 1 at Neumos. [ Paste ]

The Drums have shared a one-off charity single today called "Meet Me in Mexico." Proceeds from the song will go towardsReconstruir México and Lago Tanganica 67, organizations that are aiding the recovery from last fall's earthquakes in Mexico. Bandleader Jonny Pierce said of the song: "I am grateful beyond measure for the love poured out to me from my Mexican and Mexican-American fans. I contribute much of the longevity of my career to their devotion and passion for the work I put into the world. I wrote this song when I had reached a mountaintop of frustration with Donald Trump and his Country Club of Dumb Americans. I found myself wanting to get out of America. Mexico seemed like an obvious choice—a place to go of which I have only good memories. Mexico, I love you and I’m with you." The Drums released their latest album Abysmal Thoughts last year. [ SPIN ]

The annual tradition of Record Store Day is sacred to music and vinyl enthusiasts who believe in supporting brick-and-mortar stores. To help advance the cause, the people behind the holiday pick a famous musician as the embassador. This year's embassadors have been revealed to be hip hop duo Run the Jewels. El-P tweeted the announcement, exclaiming: “BRING ME MY SCEPTER AND CEREMONIAL ROBE. FOR @runjewels ARE THIS YEARS RECORD STORE DAY AMBASSADORS. i was told i can park anywhere now.” Run the Jewels will be in Seattle on Friday, March 9 to play the Key Arena with Lorde and Tove Styrke. [ Consequence of Sound ]

Baltimore dream pop duo Wye Oak are releasing their 6th album The Louder I Call, The Faster It Runs on April 6 via Merge. They've previously shared the fantastic title track and today a video for the song has been unveiled. Directed by Dan Huiting, the video was shot in the desert of New Mexico's White Sands National Monument, as the band members traipsed through the sand. Wye Oak will make a stop in Seattle on Sunday, July 15 to play Neumos. [ Under the Radar ]

Shamir has been constantly evolving his sound and succeeding with every step. Last year his album Hope was a hushed, intimate peek inside his head. Today, Shamir has debuted the single "Room," the A-side of an upcoming 7-inch of the same name. According to him, the song is about, "feeling trapped even when there's an opening presented to you, those times you feel stuck and depressed to the point that making it out of bed feels like an impossible feat. 'Room' is a song for those that need that extra push to keep going and take advantage of all the open doors put in your path." Don't miss Shamir when he plays Chop Suey on Tuesday, February 27 with Pardoner and Michete. [ The Fader ]