New Music Week 9
Black Lips – Underneath the Rainbow
Black Lips are back with the soundtrack to your life as a juvenile delinquent. Same lo-fi garage/punk you love so much. A little bloozier. Super fun and playful.
RIYL: Fidlar, Ty Segall, Violent Femmes, together PANGEA
Real Estate – Atlas
Real Estate’s latest is a bit of a disappointment depending on who you ask. On the one hand, we have an album that feels smooth and cohesive enough to be a Real Estate album. On the other hand, the unforgettable hooks and sincere melodies that made them are all but gone on this record. Try it out for yourself.
RIYL: Wilco, Tame Impala, Yo La Tengo
The Counterfactuals – Minimally Decent People
Carleton (and one StOlaf) profs make music as The Counterfactuals.
RIYL: The Shins, Edwarde Sharpe, academia
Schoolboy Q – Oxymoron (safe harbor only)
TDE’s sinister, gangsta influenced rapper Schoolboy Q makes his major label debut but falls just short of the hype. However, this album is chalk full of ‘bangers’ which will appeal to your darker sensibilities.
RIYL: Ab Soul, Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock
Mac Demarco – Salad Days
This album takes it easier than any previous Mac release, if that’s even possible. It’s about grappling with getting older, which is hard. Super chill yacht rock.
RIYL: Homeshake, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Ducktails
Damaged Bug – Hubba Bubba
Electronic side project of John Dwyer of Thee Oh Sees. All synth, drum machine, and home-made electronics. Gues he got tired of guitar. Sounds kinda dated. Genre=super weirdo, OK?
RIYL: Thee Oh Sees, Brian Eno, Kraftwerk
Beck – Morning Phase
This is a continuation of Sea Change. A gentle meditation, great exploration of chamber orchestra sounds. Beck really knows how to form a FULL sound. Not nearly as good or fun as his earlier work, but beautiful, very beautiful nonetheless.
RIYL: Eels, Wilco, Beck?