This Month's Picks
One Of A Kind (LP)
The Heavy Heavy
The Heavy Heavy's debut full-length album, One of a Kind , delivers more of the soulful breed of retro rock & roll of their EP Life and Life Only , but leans away from Laurel Canyon-esque folk-rock heard on the EP and fully embraces their British roots, finding crucial inspiration in the gritty and groove-heavy hedonism of the Rolling Stones' Goats Head Soup .
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Genre:
Rock
Cope: Live At The Earl (CD)
Manchester Orchestra
To celebrate the 10th-anniversary of their seminal album Cope , Manchester Orchestra took the stage for one night only at Atlanta's tiny, beloved rock venue The Earl to perform a blistering set of the album from start to finish to an audience of fanclub members. Cope remains the band's loudest, fastest, and most pounding album of their career.
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Genre:
Rock
WOOF. [Red Vinyl] (LP)
Fat Dog
Fat Dog's brilliant and mind-bending debut album Woof. is a thrilling blend of electro-punk, rock & roll, techno soundscapes, industrial-pop, and rave euphoria. Front man Joe Love calls it "screaming-into-a-pillow music." We call it a good time. Prepare to have your mind blown by the London-based band's chaotic and infectious sound.
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Genre:
Rock
Ensoulment (CD)
The The
THE THE's first studio album of new songs in 25 years, Ensoulment , delves into deep thoughts on love and sex, war and politics, life and death, and the meaning of what it is to be human in the 21st century in general. Ensoulment echoes THE THE's multi-faceted musical past, but it's richly representative of the mercurial band's here and now as well.
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Genre:
Rock
Manning Fireworks [Red Vinyl] (LP)
MJ Lenderman
The much-buzzed about MJ Lenderman returns with some of the finest work of his brief yet dazzling career. Manning Fireworks is autumnal and essentially lonesome, a record that feels warm, gracious, and ever-so-slightly optimistic, even as Lenderman chronicles the unrepentant foibles and failures of his songs' characters. The music is twangy, fuzzed out, and gritty: it's the sound of epic yet angsty nights out where the lines blur between melancholic hedonism and letting the good times roll. Going nowhere fast has never sounded so good.
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Genre:
Rock
Rose Main Reading Room (LP)
Peel Dream Magazine
Peel Dream Magazine's Rose Main Reading Room is a dreamy, hazy, cosmopolitan record. Inspired in part by New York's cityscape, the band's fourth album is a fusion of underground influences, from dreampop to shoegaze to motorik. This is the kind of album that builds a world and sets a mood — a front-to-back, immersive listen that'll make your days more romantic, lovely, and vivid. Rose Main Reading Room will make you remember why you fell in love with music in the first place.
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Genre:
Rock
Belaya Polosa [Cloudy Clear Vinyl] (LP)
Molchat Doma
From the opening notes of Belaya Polosa , it's clear that Molchat Doma has another hit on their hands. On the first track, the Belarusian post-punk act injects their doomy gothic sound with a late night rave aesthetic, featuring woozy beats, bonkers samples, and driving percussion that beckons listeners to the dancefloor. As the album progresses, we're back in the atmospheric, melancholic territory we expect, with a bit of gothic twang, insistent synths, and glacial melodies. Those electronic elements stick around, adding texture and a sense of icy unease that calls Depeche Mode to mind. Wintry and dark, Belaya Polosa nonetheless possesses a shadowy, beating heart.
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Genre:
Rock
VIVA HINDS [Pink In Clear Vinyl] (LP)
Hinds
The new album from Spanish garage rockers Hinds is irresistible. On Viva Hinds , the band delivers a high-octane version of indie pop: there are songs made for sweaty house parties and songs made for singing along with your best friend. Lyrics alternate between Spanish and English, the dual vocals between singers and guitarists Carlotta Cosials and Ana García Perrote infuse the tracks with energy, joy, and beauty. Beck and Grian Chatten of Fontaines D.C. make guest appearances. Viva Hinds is an exuberant, neon-streaked thrill.
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Genre:
Rock
Hole Erth [Clear Blue Smoke Vinyl] (LP)
Toro y Moi
Chillwave chameleon Toro y Moi morphs genres once again with the nostalgic, creative Hole Erth . Chaz Bear leans into the glitchy, electronic side of his sound as he navigates into lo-fi Soundcloud rap, '90s emo, and a more indie version of — yes — rap rock. The songs feel like a nod to the days of adolescent angst, wonder, and exploration, as filtered through Toro y Moi's lush washes of sound, hushed vocals, and diverse, cross-genre musical knowledge. The album coalesced quickly around sonic experimentations with pals like Don Toliver, Benjamin Gibbard, Kevin Abstract and Lev and that sense of freedom and fun permeates Hole Erth .
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Genre:
Rock
Sonido Cosmico (CD)
Hermanos Gutiérrez
The Ecuadorian-Swiss duo Hermanos Gutiérrez have released their sixth studio album. Following on the success of their Western film soundtrack-inspired album, El Bueno y el Malo , the brothers offer dreamy instrumentals with Latin American psychedelic vibes on Sonido Cosmico . The Western twang still lingers, especially on “El Fantasma,” but elsewhere “Cumbia Lunar” is a lush psych gem, while the title track is an intriguing swirl of melodies and slowly building percussion.
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Genre:
World
Sunday Morning Put-On (CD)
Andrew Bird
Performing as the Andrew Bird Trio, with Alan Hampton on bass and Ted Poor on drums and vibraphone, the acclaimed multi-instrumentalist Bird delivers all jazz covers on this new album. These are rich, evocative takes on standards like the delicate “I Fall In Love Too Easily” and the beautifully melancholy “I Cover the Waterfront.” “You’d Be So Nice to Come Home to” is another highlight with Bird’s smooth vocals adding to the appeal of a cleverly sparse arrangement.
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Genre:
Rock
Take A Picture [Sun Gold Opaque Vinyl] (LP)
Margo Guryan
1960s singer/songwriter Margo Guryan’s work was recorded by artists such as Glen Campbell, Astrud Gilberto, Cass Elliot, and even Spanky and Our Gang. Best known for her song “Sunday Morning,” she released one album in 1968 of gently psychedelic pop with light, sweet vocals. Newly restored from the original two-track safety masters, Take a Picture kicks off with “Sunday Morning” and reaches new heights with the sunny “What Can I Give You.” For fans of modern indie pop groups that often borrow heavily from this sound.
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Genre:
Rock
Duality (CD)
Lindsey Stirling
The new album by violinist, songwriter, and dancer Lindsey Stirling is a fascinating melding of genres: classical, pop, and world music with electronic elements. The instrumental tracks on Duality are as lush and dramatic as an epic adventure film soundtrack. After kicking off with Middle Eastern flair on the dynamic “Evil Twin,” the album moves to the breathtakingly anthemic “Eye Of The Untold Her.” Another highlight, “Kintsugi,” is lovely and stirringly melancholy.
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Genre:
Electronic-Dance
Paint A Room [Red Vinyl] (LP)
Chris Cohen
On his first solo album in five years, Chris Cohen (Deerhoof, The Curtains) delivers gentle songs with thought-provoking lyrics. The overall vibe and instrumentation on Paint a Room reference the subtle grooves of 1970s singer/songwriters. “Wishing Well” stands out in the midst of the set for its jangle-pop liveliness. “Sunever” is another highlight thanks to its intriguing melody and rhythm, while “Night or Day” is a sunny gem with a strong bassline.
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Genre:
Rock
Triple Fire [Black/White Vinyl] (LP)
Geneva Jacuzzi
Eclectic Los Angeles artist Geneva Jacuzzi has released a new album of synth-heavy art-pop and ‘80s-inspired New Wave. From the opening song “Lap of Luxury,” Triple Fire serves up consistently nostalgic, danceable tracks. “Speed of Light” may have a sultry, post-punk vibe, but “Take It Or Leave It” is upbeat and glittering with uplifting melodies. “Bow Tie Eater” is a fun, funky number a la Lene Lovich, and “Heart Full of Poison” could be a lost Book of Love track, offering that same romantic synth-pop vibe.
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Genre:
Rock
Fabulous Rhythms Of Modesto [Dark Red Vinyl] (LP)
Modesto Duran
Fabulous Rhythms Of Modesto is the 1960 solo debut by the great Cuban conga player who performed with a wide range of artists including Perez Prado, Eartha Kitt, Lena Horne, and Harry Belafonte. Reissued here by Numero Group, the album is a lively mix of Afro-Cuban jazz, cha-cha, mambo, and more. “Silent Island” floats on romantic swells; “Chuqui Bambo” is slinky and hypnotic; “Jungle Dream” is a hip-shaking good time.
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Genre:
World, Easy Listening
Vibe Provider (CD)
Emmet Cohen
Award-winning jazz pianist Emmet Cohen chose the nickname of the late jazz legend (his friend and mentor) Michael Funmi Ononaiye for the title of his latest album. Vibe Provider offers Cohen’s dynamic originals as well as his airy takes on classics such as “Surrey With the Fringe on Top.” The title track builds on its lively percussion into a stirring number with melancholy moments.
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Genre:
Jazz
In The Half Light (CD)
Swim Surreal
Pulling pages out of old playbooks and inserting them into their own, Swim Surreal and Zero 7 combine the best elements of disco, '70s smooth soul and, '80s yacht rock grooves, and shined it up into a glossy sheen of psychedelic neo-soul. While earlier tracks like "Don't Call It Love" and "Back To Earth" will have you up and groovin', the album noticeably downshifts with "Masquerade," and ends in a milder, more heartfelt mood. Don't let In The Half Light miss you while the weather is still warm.
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Genre:
Rock
Erbil (CD)
Omar Souleyman
The Syrian artist’s fifth studio album revitalizes the sound he is known for: a jubilant hybrid of electronic and traditional dabke music. These songs are rich in multi-cultural appeal, as evidenced by the opening track “Yal Harak Qalbe,” which offers the kind of lively beat that would be welcome on any dance floor, and “Ma Andi Gherak Mahbuub,” with its industrial grit. Souleyman’s rich voice produces strong melodies throughout.
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Genre:
World
Whirlwind (CD)
Lainey Wilson
Add Lainey Wilson to the list of female country legends. The Nashville-based singer-songwriter has been steadily churning out top-notch twang for some time now, and on Whirlwind , she has created one of her most heart-in-your-gut releases yet. With lonesome Western guitars and urgent riffs, the songs are moody and moving — even when Wilson's at her most celebratory or defiant. Whirlwind is an album for those moments in life that feel like a tightrope walk between beauty and devastation. Unforgettable and incredible.
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Genre:
Country