Each week KEXP's Music Director Don Yates shares brief insights on new and upcoming releases. See what's coming up this week below, including reviews for new releases from The Love Language, Alejandro Escovedo, Spider Bags, and more.
The Love Language – Baby Grand (Merge)
The fourth album from this LA-via-Raleigh, NC band led by Stuart McLamb is a diverse, well-crafted set ranging from swirling dream-pop, moody New Wave and shimmering, disco-influenced dance-pop to soaring power-pop and wistful folk-pop.
Alejandro Escovedo – The Crossing (Yep Roc)
This veteran Austin artist's latest album is a powerful concept album about two young immigrant rockers (one from Mexico and one from Italy) and their experiences in America, which happen to echo Escovedo's own. With accompaniment by the Italian band Don Antonio and guest appearances from Joe Ely, The MC5's Wayne Kramer, The Stooges' James Williamson and The Only Ones' Peter Perrett and John Perry, the album features a cinematic blend of noirish rock, driving garage-punk, atmospheric folk and more to help flesh out its lyrical themes of migration and cultural identity.
Spider Bags – Someday Everything Will Be Fine (Merge)
This North Carolina band's fifth album is their sharpest, most song-oriented set to date, ranging from driving, psych-tinged garage-rock to rollicking country-rock.
Steve Hauschildt – Dissolvi (Ghostly International)
The latest album from this Chicago-based former member of Emeralds brings more prominent rhythms to his hypnotic ambient electronic music.
Free Cake For Every Creature – The Bluest Star (Double Double Whammy)
The latest album from this Philly-based project led by Katie Bennett is a well-crafted set of gentle indie-pop combining a warm, spacious sound with Bennett's hushed vocals and intimate lyrics of love and friendship's ups and downs.
The Devil Makes Three – Chains Are Broken (New West)
This Santa Cruz, CA band's seventh studio album features a more electric and rock-oriented take on the band's punkish string-band music, combining a muscular, hook-filled sound with often-apocalyptic lyrics.
Michael Nau – Michael Nau and the Mighty Thread (Relearn To Boogie)
The latest album from the Maryland-based former frontman for Cotton Jones and Page France is a solid set of gentle, psych-tinged folk-pop.
Ceremony – East Coast (self-released)
The fifth album from this Fredericksburg, VA project led by former Skywave member John Fedowitz is a solid set of dark, shoegazerish post-punk with a raw, grimy sound combining noisy, effects-laden guitars, driving rhythms and gloomy vocals.
Mike Pace and the Child Actors – Smooth Sailing (Self-Starter Foundation)
The second album from the former frontman for Brooklyn band Oxford Collapse is a diverse, '70s-steeped blend of power-pop, psych-rock, prog-pop, folk-rock and more.
Bilge Rat – Pal (Bee Side Cassettes)
This New Haven, CT trio's second album is a fine set of adventurous, '90s-steeped rock with a dynamic, shape-shifting sound featuring fuzzy, squalling guitars and shifting rhythms.
Robbie Fulks & Linda Gail Lewis – Wild! Wild! Wild! (Bloodshot)
Veteran Chicago roots-rocker Robbie Fulks got together with country/rockabilly veteran Linda Gail Lewis (who's also the younger sister of Jerry Lee) for a diverse, smartly crafted set of rootsy styles ranging from wild-eyed rockabilly and wistful hard country to swing, soul and gospel.
Aaron Lee Tasjan – Karma For Cheap (New West)
This Nashville-based artist's third album is a well-crafted blend of power-pop, glam, psych-rock and more, combining a bright, punchy sound with lyrics of hope and resilience during these troubled times.
Each week KEXP's Music Director Don Yates and DJ Alex Ruder share brief insights on new and upcoming releases. See what's coming up this week below, including reviews for new releases from Santigold, Boy Azooga, Shy Boys, and more.
Each week KEXP's Music Director Don Yates shares brief insights on new and upcoming releases. See what's coming up this week below, including reviews for new releases from The Internet, Israel Nash, Ty Segall & White Fence, and more.
Each week KEXP's Music Director Don Yates shares brief insights on new and upcoming releases. See what's coming up this week below, including reviews for new releases from Dirty Projectors, Wild Pink, Smokescreens, Cold Soda, and more.
