Yola – Stand For Myself CD/LP (Easy Eye Sound)
Stand For Myself is the anthemic new album from Yola. Produced by Dan Auerbach, the record is a timeless masterpiece marking an idiosyncratic sonic shift, which will defy all expectations. A sophisticated and diverse sonic mix of symphonic soul and classic pop, tracing an expansive musical thread to the English singer/songwriter’s most eclectic musical inspirations. Yola’s inimitable vocals share nuanced stories of allyship, black feminine strength through vulnerability, collective awakening and loving connection from the sexual to the social. The Grammy-nominated artist declares that it is only when we stand for ourselves, and acknowledge our complexity, that we can be truly alive. For Yola, living is more than merely surviving.

Billie Eilish – Happier Than Ever CD/2xLP/Cassette (Interscope)
Billie Eilish’s highly anticipated second full-length album Happier Than Ever, which she calls the favorite thing she’s ever created, features no outside songwriters or producers, and was written by Billie and her brother Finneas, who produced the album in Los Angeles, CA. In late 2020, the singer released “Therefore I Am”, an audacious ode to being entirely unbothered which followed the release of the ethereal single “My Future”. She told Sirius XM “”Everything about every song is very different but somehow cohesive, and I think that was the same with the last album. We really wanted a project to be cohesive and make sense, but not just be a repeat and a clone of every other song.”

Bleachers – Take The Sadness Out Of Saturday Night CD/LP (RCA)
Bleachers – led by five-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, musician, and producer, Jack Antonoff – follow-up 2017’s critically acclaimed Gone Now with their third studio album, Take The Sadness Out Of Saturday Night. “Stop Making This Hurt” is the first single and third offering from the record issued on the heels of “Chinatown” featuring Bruce Springsteen and “45” which were met with critical praise in late 2020. The New York Times hailed Bleachers’ new music as “anthemic life-affirming pop-rock.”

Los Lobos – Native Sons CD/2xLP (New West)
Los Angeles based band, Los Lobos, has always been inspired by their surroundings and the place they call home. Their music is influenced by rock and roll, Tex-Mex, country, zydeco, folk, R&B, blues, brown-eyed soul, and traditional music such as cumbia, boleros and norteños. With Native Sons, the band set out to showcase all these influences with their own take on the songs of Los Angeles from some of the city’s greatest songwriters. Native Sons features 13-songs from well-known L.A. artists such as Buffalo Springfield, WAR, Jackson Browne and the Beach Boys as well as deep cuts from The Jaguars, The Basters and The Premiers. The album title track is the sole original composition written by the band. [Vinyl edition features an etched D-side.]

Prince – Welcome 2 America CD/2xLP (Legacy)
Recorded in the spring of 2010 and then mysteriously abandoned by Prince before its release, the statement album Welcome 2 America documents The Purple One’s concerns, hopes, and visions for a shifting society, presciently foreshadowing an era of political division, disinformation, and a renewed fight for racial justice. The album features some of Prince’s only studio collaborations with the bassist Tal Wilkenfeld, drummer Chris Coleman, and engineer Jason Agel, with additional contributions from New Power Generation singers Shelby J, Liv Warfield, and Elisa Fiorillo and keyboardist Morris Hayes, who Prince also recruited to co-produce the album.

Cindytalk ‎– The Wind Is Strong… [Reissue/1990] CD/LP (Dais)
Cindytalk ‎– Wappinschaw [Reissue/1994] CD/LP (Dais)
Cindytalk is the mercurial, expressionist outlet of Scottish artist Cinder. An evolution of her early 1980’s Edinburgh-based punk band The Freeze, she launched the project upon moving to London, inspired by the crossroads of exploratory UK post-punk and early European industrial. Her work thrives on chance and transformation, collaging elements of noise, balladry, soundtrack, catharsis, and improvisation. After a series of celebrated albums for the Midnight Music label as well as collaborations with This Mortal Coil and Cocteau Twins, Cinder migrated to the United States, becoming involved with various underground techno collectives around the Midwest and West Coast. Subsequent relocations to Hong Kong and Japan further expanded Cindytalk’s horizons, resulting in a fruitful partnership with Viennese experimental institution Editions Mego, for whom she released five full lengths of swooning, granular atmosphere.

Electric Six – Streets Of Gold CD/LP+12” (Cleopatra)
A high-octane collection of cover songs from Detroit’s fun-loving alternative garage rock collective. [A limited-edition color vinyl pressing featuring a bonus 12” is also available.]

King Woman – Celestial Blues LP (Relapse)
King Woman, the outfit featuring songwriter, vocalist and “tour de force of gloom and woe” (Rolling Stone) Kris Esfandiari, return with their eagerly awaited sophomore album, Celestial Blues. Feeling compelled to reshape the biblical archetypes that once bound her, Esfandiari has created a theatrical tale of rebellion, tragedy, and triumph – a metaphor for her own personal experiences over the years – Celestial Blues was born.

Jim Lauderdale – Hope CD/LP+MP3 (Yep Roc)
Jim Lauderdale has never been content to sit still in any one musical place for long, effortlessly cycling through a wide range of country, rock, and bluegrass shades of Americana. But Hope, album number 34 in the two-time Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter’s distinguished career, nevertheless stands out stylistically as well as thematically. After a year of locked-down isolation, Hope finds Lauderdale breaking out with wide-open arrangements along the lines of Neil Young, The Grateful Dead and Little Feat.

Lump – Animal CD/LP (Partisan)
Lump began in 2018, with a collaboration between Mike Lindsay – a Mercury Prize-winning producer and co-founder of band Tunng, and the GRAMMY-nominated singer-songwriter Laura Marling. “The last record was an experiment,” says Lindsay. “And I thought we weren’t ever going to do another Lump record.” As with the first album, Marling would arrive in the studio without having heard any of Lindsay’s music, with the hope that it would bring the lyrics an immediacy and a spontaneity. Having begun studying for a Masters in psychoanalysis, she found she drew heavily on her course texts for this album’s lyrics. There were other sources too: half-memories, family stories, strange dreams; things she had read, or been told or imagined. Animal was a word Marling threw into a lyric simply to meet a rhythm. But it seemed to capture the mood of the record, and of the band as a whole. “There’s a little bit of a theme of hedonism on the album, of desires running wild,” she says.”Through Lump we find our inner animal, and through that animal we travel into a parallel universe,” adds Lindsay.

Joao Donato, Adrian Younge, and Ali Shaheed Muhammad – João Donato LP (Jazz Is Dead)
Where’s João Donato? It’s a frequently asked question, referring simultaneously to the physical location and the musical moment he inhabits. A sampling of some of his more descriptive song titles suggests Donato’s comfort with musical hybrids: “Bluchanga,” “Sambolero,” and “Sambongo,” to name just a few. Lacking a name for his style of music, Donato’s is a distinct sound, immediately recognizable from the first few bars of any of his compositions. He was funky back when “funk” was a bad word (listen to either of his 1960s Brazilian LPs for proof). His compositions are deceptively simple, while his arrangements are harmonically complex, resulting in songs that are seemingly childlike, yet reveal their intricate details upon repeat listening.

AFI – Bodies LP (Rise)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. California-based rock band AFI are back with their eleventh album, Bodies. The long-standing quartet – comprised of singer Davey Havok, guitarist/keyboardist Jade Puget, bassist Hunter Burgan and drummer Adam Carson – known for their unshakeable connection with their audience is a testament to the band’s knack for reinvention, renewal, and exploration, anchored by an unblemished authenticity. A place in rock ‘n’ roll history assured by magical musical androgyny, both post-modern and timeless, AFI remains guided by the flames of determination that defined their first ten albums and are sure to drive the next ten and beyond.

Xiu Xiu – Dear God, I Hate Myself LP reissue (Kill Rock Stars)
This reissue to celebrate Kill Rock Stars’ anniversary features, remastered content and a bonus 7″. Available on limited edition colored vinyl. The two biggest constants throughout Xiu Xiu’s catalog are honesty and evolution. This Remains true with “Dear God, I Hate Myself” as it delivers a look at responsibility, fear, healing, and societal roles wrapped in rich gothic pop music. The sound is still distinctly Xiu Xiu, but Jamie Stewart’s vocals are finally effortless paired with vibrant melodies full of subtlety and the distinct sonic accents expected of this anticipated Xiu Xiu release. The result is a record that proves that art can be pop and pop can challenge you to look inside yourself. Stewart is joined by new full-time band member Angela Seo on piano, synth, and drum programming; with production handled by Jamie and Deerhoof’s Greg Saunier.

The Anniversary ‎– Designing A Nervous Breakdown [Reissue/2000] LP (Vagrant)
This emo classic is an equally emotional and melodic affair with plenty of punk and new-wave flourishes to go around and divine male/female shared vocals.

Bryan Ferry ‎– Boys And Girls [Reissue/1985] LP (Virgin)
180gm remastered vinyl reissue. Boys And Girls, released in 1985, is the sixth solo album from English singer/songwriter Bryan Ferry (Roxy Music). It would be both a critical and commercial smash, featuring “Slave To Love” and “Don’t Stop To Dance”. An album rich with musical aristocracy, it includes contributions from David Gilmour and Nile Rodgers.

Grouplove – This Is This LP (Atlantic)
Following their Grammy-nominated album Healer, This Is This was produced by Grouplove and collaborator Ricardo Acasuso – with additional songs produced by Dave Sitek (Yeah Yeah Yeahs) and Malay (Frank Ocean). The album was written and recorded during the global pandemic, fueled by all the upheaval and hardship of the past year. Recording this album proved both cathartic and powerfully creative for Grouplove, the sound of five friends finally letting go of all the anxiety, sadness, and frustration they’ve all had to endure.

NEEDTOBREATHE – Into The Mystery CD (New Elektra)
After quietly composing and recording throughout the fall of 2020, Grammy-nominated rock band NEEDTOBREATHE return with their eighth full-length studio album, Into The Mystery which features guest appearances by Jon Foreman of Switchfoot, Natalie Hemby and Carrie Underwood. Just as their critically acclaimed 2020 album Out Of Body impacted audiences, NEEDTOBREATHE capitalized on a rush of inspiration and rode the wave of creativity. Without telling a soul, the band decamped to a historic house-turned-recording studio in Columbia, TN to begin working on new music. Over the course of three weeks, they resided under one roof, laughed during meals, explored their surroundings, and recorded together with co-producer and engineer Konrad Snyder and special guests. Out of this de facto creative hub and “extended summer camp,” they handcrafted an album reflective of the moment, yet independent of all expectations – even their own. [Vinyl edition due October 29.]

Panic! At The Disco – A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out [Reissue/2005] LP (Fueled By Ramen)
As part of Fueled By Ramen’s 25th anniversary reissue campaign, Panic! At The Disco’s debut album has been pressed on silver color vinyl.

Peaches – Pussy Mask 7” (Third Man)
Legendary feminist icon, musician, producer, artist, and peerless iconoclast (Elle) Peaches has always been a political figure, with lyrics famous for their focus on social inequality, body image, gender, and age equality. She was called a heroine by the New York Times and has spent the past two decades upending stereotypes and challenging social norms while championing issues of gender equality and sexual identity with biting wit and fearless originality. On her latest releases, she’s more direct and defiant than ever. “Pussy Mask” a scathing take on the mask-averse political choice during the pandemic.

Various Artists – Cold Wave #1 (Soul Jazz) LP
Soul Jazz Records Cold Wave is a new collection of current electronic artists who have been shaped by the early European cold wave artists of the late 70s and early 80s. Aside from the first electronic, no wave, and post-punk artists cited as influences – Suicide, Patrick Cowley, The Normal, Martin Hannett, Laurie Anderson, Public Image – this new generation also show an exquisitely open source of electronic and disparate influences, everything from Underground Resistance to Purcell, from Scientist to New Beat. Most of the featured artists are based in Europe and include Krikor, Dissemblance and VQOA from France, De Ambassade from the Netherlands, Moisture from Sweden, Kreidler from Germany, Céline Gillian and Carcass Identity from Belgium. One exception is FIT Siegel out of Detroit, connecting the electronic pathways of Europe to the Motor City. Distinctive contemporary music rooted in the 80s cold wave movement – limited orange vinyl with fanzine

Quakers ‎– Supa K: Heavy Tremors 2xLP (Stones Throw)
Supa K (formerly known as Katalyst) tells the origin story of the beat tape: They returned to the planet to find humans reaping ecological havoc. From their arsenal of secret weapons comes Heavy Tremors: a sonic assault to help bring the world back into balance. This siege of beats targets the few who systematically pillage the planet and its resources for their own benefit. Play it loud.

King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard ‎– Teenage Gizzard CD/LP (Diggers Factory/ATO)
The Teenage Gizzard album compiles King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard’s early recordings dating from 2010-2011, including singles like “Hey There”, “Ants And Bats”, “Sleep” and “Summer!” as well as the extremely rare Anglesea EP. This ten-track collection of lo-fi garage/surf-rock transports the listener back to the band’s inception, providing a snapshot of a rawer and more primitive King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard before they morphed into the prolific, constantly evolving group we know now. [A 50/50 yellow & magenta with yellow splatter color vinyl pressing is also available.]

Nathaniel Rateliff – Red Rocks 2020 2xLP (Fantasy)
Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. Red Rocks 2020 was recorded in an empty Red Rocks Amphitheatre during Nathaniel Rateliff’s mid-September run of socially distanced shows, which was limited to 125 attendees per night in the 9400-capacity venue. Through Red Rocks 2020, Rateliff offers this 90-minute live experience to the fans who were unable to attend his live shows last year. Red Rocks 2020 features a wide range of music from Rateliff’s celebrated career, which includes songs that had never been performed live, several tracks from And It’s Still Alright and his previously released solo albums – In Memory Of Loss, Falling Faster Than You Can Run and the Shroud EP – as well as “Still Out There Running”, a track from The Night Sweats’ beloved 2017 album Tearing At The Seams. In addition, Rateliff’s close friend Kevin Morby, who was set to open the cancelled Red Rocks dates in August 2020, joins him for a duet on Leonard Cohen’s “There Is A War”. [A limited-edition color vinyl pressing is available.]

Death Valley Girls – Street Venom LP (Suicide Squeeze)
The Deluxe Edition of Street Venom captures the fiery beginnings of one of LA’s most exciting and inspirational underground rock bands while bolstering the sound with a new mix and a remaster. Available on indie exclusive colored vinyl.

Various Artists –Space Jam (Music From And Inspired By The Motion Picture) [Reissue/1996] 2xLP (Atlantic)
Includes tracks by Seal, Coolio, Quad City DJ, B-Real (from Cypress Hill), Busta Rhymes, Coolio, LL Cool J and Method Man (from Wu-Tang Clan) amongst others.

COMING NEXT WEEK!
LCD SOUNDSYSTEM – Long Goodbye: Live at Madison Square Garden 3CD/5LP
DRIVE BY TRUCKERS – Plan 9 Records CD.LP
HIPPO CAMPUS – Good Dog Bad Dream CD/LP
LIARS – Apple Drop CD/LP
FOXING – Draw Down The Moon CD/LP
COLIN HAY – I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself CD/LP
JACKSON BROWNE – Downhill From Everywhere LP
FRANZ FERDINAND – Tonight LP reissue
FRANZ FERDIAND – You Could Have It So Much Better LP reissue
LINGUA IGNOTA – Sinner Get Ready LP
THIS WILL DESTROY YOU + LYMBYC SYSTM – Field Studies LP
BOYSETSFIRE – This Crying This Screaming My Voice Is Being Born LP