November 18, 2016 — Stinkweeds
This Week’s New Releases & Staff Picks – 11/18/16
STAFF PICKS
kimber – sylvan esso
lindsay – still corners, papa m
dario – solange
jeff – jay som
dominic – broken social scene
THIS WEEK’S NEW RELEASES
Tori Amos – Boys For Pele [Reissue/1996] 2xCD/2xLP (Rhino)
Newly remastered version of Tori Amos’ 1996 album, expanded with 21 bonus tracks including a selection of B-sides, rare recordings, and four previously unreleased tracks.
Highly Suspect – The Boy That Died Wolf CD/Cassette (300 Entertainment)
“Brooklyn based rockers Highly Suspect’s unburdened and don’t give a fuck attitude is exactly what the state of the world needs right now. Whether it be a slow burning rumination or an aggressive punk flavored kick to the gut, these guys deliver a second album that explodes out of the current state of the world in the best of ways. This is the same band that was nominated for two Grammys for their outstanding debut Mister Asylum album, and we are relieved that if anything, it only added to their creative tension. Not settling for a mediocre sophomore album, they moved to Bogota, Columbia to escape the typical recording process. The Boy Who Died Wolf is far from a sequel to their hit debut, it is a sprint to new ground with their typical genre breaking and confident rock middle finger laced tracks.” – Ear To The Ground
Jay Som – Turn Into CD/LP+MP3 (Polyvinyl)
Jay Som is the moniker of San Francisco-based musician Melina Duterte who, at 22, has already self-released a debut album: a collection of finished and unfinished songs titled Turn Into, which was recently described by Pitchfork as “deceivingly textured and intricate pop songs—flush with nimbly intertwined guitar melodies and distressed fidelity.” While Gold Flake Paint said of Duerte: “Melina Duerte is a wizard. Quite how she manages to eek such lustrous, iridescent wonder out of a collection of scraps (‘finished and unfinished songs’) is proof that what lies in her songwriting is something mystical, an intangible force of feeling that floods the rooms and walls within which it finds itself.” [Limited fuchsia color vinyl pressing also available.]
Justice – Women CD/2xLP+CD (Because Music)
Justice’s new album Woman is a journey that catapults you from the elastic R&B pop of “Pleasure” straight into the rush of “Alakazam!”. Twirls through a dazzling bout of thumping electronic piano and clavinet sparring during “Fire”’s dancefloor peacocking, barely pausing for breath before it lands at “Stop” — a sparkling, bittersweet slice of disco pop that boasts one of the best chorus the pair have ever had on a track. “Randy” has a melody Michael McDonald would have killed a fellow Doobie Brother for (if Michael McDonald was into gut-shuddering electro that is). “Love S.O.S”, meanwhile, sounds like the greatest disco anthem you’ve never heard. [Three-sided double vinyl edition features an etching on the D-side and includes a copy on CD.]
Pink Martini – Je Dis Oui! CD (Heinz)
15 new songs from Portland, Oregon’s globe-trotting “little orchestra” featuring songs in 8 languages, including the band’s first forays into Armenian and Xhosa. Caramel-voiced Rufus Wainwright contributes a memorable rendition of “Blue Moon.” [Vinyl edition due January 27.]
Solange – A Seat At The Table CD (Columbia)
“The third album by Solange Knowles, A Seat At The Table, is a record about black survival in 2016; a combination of straight talk and refracted R&B for what she calls her ‘project on identity, empowerment, independence, grief and healing.’ Beyond titles that telegraph the album’s powerful, political backbone – ‘F.U.B.U.,’ ‘Mad,’ ‘Don’t Touch My Hair’ – it’s a fantastic-sounding LP that takes sonic cues from dusty soul sides while sounding as timely as a freshly sent tweet. Co-executive-produced by Solange and neo-soul sage Rapahel Saadiq, A Seat At The Table derives its sonic power from lightness, with Solange’s simply stated opinions landing harder as a result. A triptych of songs serve as invitations for people to check themselves: ‘Don’t You Wait’ pairs a stuttering bass line and Solange’s falsetto with lyrics about removing negative influences from her life; ‘Don’t Touch My Hair’ uses sparkling synths and drowsy horns as broadsides against those who might deny Solange and other black women their bodily autonomy; the trembling guitars of ‘Don’t Wish Me Well’ provide a glittery backdrop as Solange revels in her personal growth. ‘Junie,’ a lightly percolating shimmy that pays tribute to funk polymath Junie Morrison (Ohio Players, Parliament-Funkadelic), brings Andre 3000’s falsetto and a vamping piano into its heady mix” – Rolling Stone. [Vinyl edition due December 9.]
Soundgarden – Badmotorfinger [Reissue/1991] CD/2xCD/4xCD+2xDVD+Blu-ray/
25th anniversary of Soundgarden’s 2x platinum album. Four editions: Single disc (boring); Expanded double-disc (warmer) which features eight studio outtakes seven tracks from Live At The Paramount; A massive 7-disc (hot) box set which includes everything but the drugs the band took while recording the album, including the full Live At The Paramount concert recorded in 1992, additional video footage, and much more (batteries not included). Deluxe three-sided vinyl reissue featuring an etching on the D-side and a 3D lenticular silver foil sheath also available.
Broken Social Scene – Feel Good Lost [Reissue/2001] LP (Arts & Crafts)
Vinyl reissue of the debut album by Broken Social Scene. Remastered for the 15th anniversary. The band’s Brendan Canning said of the album: “A lot of this record was made during the hours of midnight and seven AM which really informs the quietness of Feel Good Lost.”
The Dean Ween Group – The Deaner Album 2xLP (ATO)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. The Deaner Album is the debut album from The Dean Ween Group. On it, guitarist Mickey “Dean Ween” Melchiondo brings his love of classic guitar rock to 14 original compositions (including four instrumentals) that echo everything from classic rock to cracked country to the quirky mix of soul, funk, metal and punk that defined Ween.
Phish – Big Boat 2xLP (Jemp)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Phish’s 13th album Big Boat was produced by Bob Ezrin (Pink Floyd, Alice Cooper, Kiss), making this the producer’s second collaboration with Phish following 2014’s Fuego, and was recorded between Nashville, New York, and their home state of Vermont. Big Boat takes it’s title from the Jon Fishman-penned “Friends” and the line “We’re on a big boat, like the ones our forefathers sailed.” “Big Boatfeatures frequent references to religion and darkness that evoke a sense of feeling overwhelmed and lost; along the way, allusions to water suggest spiritual searching and emotional rebirth. ‘Breath And Burning,’ with its soulful horns and breezy Latin vibe, combats looming end times with a celebration of life.
Vince Staples – Prima Donna 10” (Def Jam)
“Pushing his versatility, ear for production, and lyricism in new directions, Vince Staples’ hot streak continues.” [8.0] – Pitchfork
Sylvan Esso – Radio b/w Kick Jump Twist 12” (Loma Vista)
First single in advance of the band’s 2017 album. “Sylvan Esso have been dancing their way to the top since the 2014 debut of their acclaimed self-titled album, bolstered by the release of a few bonus tracks last year. The electropop dream team, comprised of singer Amelia Meath and producer Nick Sanborn, have made their highly anticipated return with a concerned new single, ‘Radio.’” — Paste
Touché Amoré – Stage Four LP+MP3 (Epitaph)
Deluxe edition 180gm vinyl LP pressing, includes download card and 36 page harcover LP sized book with expanded artwork. “Touche Amore set the standard for modern melodic hardcore. Their new album Stage Four combines furious energy with earnestness, curiosity, and introspection.” – Chicago Reader
NEXT WEEK’S NEW RELEASES
In addition to all of the Black Friday releases, these will also be released.
THEE OH SEES – Odd Entrances CD/LP
MARTHA WAINWRIGHT – Goodnight City CD/LP
GILLIAN WELCH – Boots No 1 Official Revival Bootleg CD
JULIA HOLTER – Bleed For This Soundtrack CD
BUILT TO SPILL – Ancient Melodies Of The Future LP reissue
DNA – A Taste of DNA LP reissue
SPARKS – Self Titled LP reissue
IKEBE SHAKEDOWN – Hard Steppin LP
AFRICAN HEAD CHARGE – Return Of The Crocodile LP
JACK LEE – Bigger Than Life CD/LP
BODY/HEAD – No Waves LP
ISLANDS – Return To The Sea LP
TERRY DOLAN – Self Titled CD/LP
LUMINEERS – Cleopatra deluxe LP
TWENTY ONE PILOTS – Blurryface Live LP
SHARON JONES – Miss Sharon Jones Soundtrack LP
NIGHTMARES ON WAX – Ground Floor LP