This Week’s New Releases & Staff Picks – 8/9/2019
STAFF PICKS
Kimber – Bonobo
Lindsay – Marika Hackman, Crumb
Dario – Crumb
Paula – Crumb, Ra Ra Riot
THIS WEEK’S NEW RELEASES
Crumb – Crumb/Locket LP (Crumb)
Crumb is the collaboration of Brooklyn-based musicians Lila Ramani (guitar, vocals), Brian Aronow (synth, keys, sax), Jesse Brotter (bass), and Jonathan Gilad (drums). The friends came together in 2016 with the goal of developing and recording a collection of songs Ramani had written in high school and college, the work ultimately resulting in the band’s first two EPs, 2016’s Crumb and 2017’s Locket.
The Regrettes – How Do You Love? CD/LP (WB)
How Do You Love?, the sophomore LP from L.A. power-pop outfit The Regrettes, is a an album about the most universal of emotions: love. Throughout the record, 18-year-old frontwoman Lydia Night details the rise and fall of a relationship – from that first rush of butterflies, through a destructive break-up, to ultimately finding peace and closure.
Denzel Curry – Zuu CD/LP (Loma Vista)
Arriving just 10 months after the release of his critically-acclaimed breakout album Ta13oo, Zuu finds Denzel Curry returning to his South Florida roots both sonically and thematically, reflecting on the lessons his surroundings and family have taught him, while drawing influence from the deep, diverse soundscape of South Florida rap that he was surrounded by. It includes features from Kiddo Marv, Rick Ross, Tay Keith, Ice Billion Berg, and Sam Sneak and production from FNZ, Keanu Beats, Charlie Heat, Mickey De Grand IV, Tay Keith, Rugah Rahj, Plus Pierre, Jasper Harris, and Ronny J.
Marika Hackman – Any Human Friend CD/LP+MP3 (Sub Pop)
“Reverting the classical tropes of pop production, whether this be in melodic form or narrative structure, Hackman’s third studio album, Any Human Friend, is, to put it in her own words: ‘me diving into myself and peeling back the skin further and further, exposing myself in quite a big way. Writing the album over the course of a year and recording tracks in stages with producer David Wrench (Frank Ocean and The xx), Hackman wrote a number of songs in the grips of insomnia. It is an explosive body of work, one that isn’t afraid to discuss sex and female eroticism with a microscopic lens. Peeling away the layers to reveal an intrinsically human record, it closes with the title track. Awash with rich sonic textures and brooding guitar rhythms, it’s emotive and insular, as if the artist had just her own thoughts for company during the project’s creative process. And yet, there’s a defiant sense of community in her writing, one which offers a platform to the overlooked, heartbroken souls.” – The Line Of Best Fit
Ra Ra Riot – Superbloom CD/LP (Rob The Rich Recordings)
Superbloom finds Ra Ra Riot taking a decidedly pop-minded approach to the album-making process. In shedding their inhibitions, Ra Ra Riot ultimately created an impossibly radiant album, a selection of songs powered by imaginative yet indelible melodies. At the same time, the band maintains the offbeat eclecticism they’ve embraced since first forming as a baroque-pop outfit back in the mid-2000s, embedding Superbloom’s lavish arrangements with elements of psychedelia, new wave, punk and country. “Ra Ra Riot may have held back on their natural pop tendencies in the past, but on their latest effort Superbloom, they’re going all in. The band, while from the East Coast, decided to hone in on their infatuation with all things West this time around. Vocalist Wes Miles, guitarist Milo Bonacci, bassist Mathieu Santos, violinist Rebecca Zeller and drummer Kenny Bernard are all ‘outdoorsy people,’ according to Miles, who explains their love for floral elements and desert drives. Those themes all come across in the vibrant record, which is full of lyrical growth and fresh sounds. ‘Just from the very beginning, it was a different experience for us,’ Miles shares. [Limited yellow colored vinyl pressing also available.]
Filter – Title Of Record [Reissue/1999] CD/2xLP (Craft Recordings)
Expanded 20th anniversary reissue of Filter’s platinum-selling sophomore album featuring the singles “Welcome To The Fold”, “Take A Picture” and “The Best Things”. [This set marks the first time the album has appeared on vinyl.]
The Runaways – The Runaways [Reissue/1976] CD/LP (Modern Harmonic)
The Runaways – Queens Of Noise [Reissue/1977] CD/LP (Modern Harmonic)
After snatching a record deal due to the brute strength of a single rehearsal, The Runaways proceeded to change the face (and gender) of rock and roll with the release of their 1976 eponymous debut. Full of tough, snarling tales of misbehavior and anthems of offbeat adolescence, the album established these juvenile idols and remains a source of inspiration for the next generation of rebels. Arriving mere months after their initial assault, The Runaways cranked up the intensity on their dominant second album Queens Of Noise, painting stark pictures of teenage rebellion across a stunning set of originals.
Pastor T.L. Barrett and the Youth For Christ Choir – “Do Not Pass Me By” Pastor T.L. Barrett and the Youth For Christ Choir Sings! [Reissue/1973] LP (Numero)
The sequel to Pastor Barrett’s landmark 1971 masterpiece Like A Ship…, Do Not Pass Me By finds the young Chicago preacher and his Youth for Christ Choir continuing their genre-bending spiritual journey. Heavy drums, soaring falsettos, euphoric tambourines, sharp horns, and Barrett’s unwavering devotion dance around a 40-piece choir, working together to form sanctified slab of gospel funk.
Bonobo – Animal Magic [Reissue/2000] 2xLP+MP3 (Tru Thoughts)
Since first emerging at the tail end of the ’90s, Simon Green aka Bonobo has become downtempo music’s most marketable star. Animal Magic is still fresh with Green’s signature beats encouraging a state of relaxed bliss that begs to be basked in.
COMING NEXT WEEK!
KING GIZZARD AND THE LIZARD WIZARD – Infest The Rats Nest CD/LP
FRANK TURNER – No Man’s Land CD/LP
CRASS – Best Before 1984 LP
CRASS – Christ CD/LP reissue
CRASS – Feeding Of The Five Thousand CD/LP reissue
CRASS – Penis Envy CD/LP reissue
CRASS – Stations Of CD/LP reissue
CRASS – Ten Notes On A Summer Day CD/LP reissue
HOLD STEADY – Thrashing Thru The Passion CD/LP
L7 – Fast and Frightening 2CD
RIDE – This Is Not A Safe Place CD/LP
RODNEY CROWELL – Texas CD/LP
EILEN JEWELL – Gypsy CD/LP
LILLIE MAE – Other Girls CD/LP
EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY – How Strange, Innocence LP anniversary edition
EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY – The Rescue LP anniversary edition
LOSCIL – Equivalents CD/LP
MICHAEL NAU – No Quit 7″
THEE OH SEES – Face Stabber CD
UNIFORM + THE BODY – Everything That Dies Someday Comes Back LP
UNIFORM + THE BODY – Mental Wounds Not Healing/Everything That Dies CD
CHALI 2NA / KRAFTY KUTS – Adventures Of A reluctant Superhero CD/LP
IKEBE SHAKEDOWN – Kings Left Behind CD/LP
BLANCK MASS – Animated Violence Mild CD/LP
FRANK BLACK – Self Titled LP
FRANK BLACK – Teenager Of The Year LP
HOT WATER MUSIC – Caution LP
HOT WATER MUSIC – Shake Up The Shadows LP
POISON IDEA – Pick Your King LP
SHURA – Forevher CD/LP
JASON LYTLE – Nylonandjuno LP
ZERO 7 – When It Falls LP reissue
STURGILL SIMPSON – Dead Don’t Die 7″