After the heat in September, October comes in with more crucial listening. First up is the latest from Sufjan Stevens and it’s a release that’s more akin to his work from the early aughts. Delicate folk melodies and wistful songwriting are at the core of this release that has Stevens once again garnering strong reviews like so much of his classic works.
A. Savage is best known for his work as one of the vocalists from indie rockers Parquet Courts and today he has a new solo album out in the world. Harp players are having a bit of a renaissance right now in the worlds of indie and jazz music and at the top of the heap is Mary Lattimore who has taken an approach towards ambient dream-pop with each of her splendid releases and this week she’s back with yet another collection of delightful songs.
Not one to miss out on the nostalgia of early-aughts inspired folk-pop, Mutual Benefit’s latest album is out today as well and the singer-songwriter has nailed the timing of the release to align with the swift change in seasons which somehow feels like the natural timeline for which his music was meant to soundtrack.
Keanu Reeves fans rejoice! The actor has reunited with his old bandmates and they’ve gotten back together as Dogstar for a new album, Somewhere Between The Palm Trees And Power Lines, that’s out today. Reeves plays bass in the band and fans of ‘90s alt-rock should take a listen.
News dropped this week that the almighty Sleater-Kinney will return with a new album in early 2024 led by the fiery new single, “Hell.” The album was written by Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein (the band’s core duo) following the news received by Tucker (she’s listed as an emergency contact person) that Brownstein’s mother and step-father had tragically passed away in a car accident while on vacation in Italy.
Cosmic hip-hop artist Ishmael Butler is the mastermind behind the innovative project Shabazz Palaces and this week they shared another icy track from their upcoming mini-LP. On their third single from their upcoming record, Wild Nothing strike back with yet another breezy jam that highlights dream-pop aesthetics with a bleary-eyed ‘80s charm.
Slowcore act Cindy have shared two new tracks: “Likely Story” is an acoustic track with grounding synth lines while “Saw It All” adds a light snare and bass to its endearing, sparkling hum. Michael A. Muller and Spencer Zhan teamed up for a windswept ambient piece called “Mondblume” that gently flows with soothing tones and ethereal pleasures.
Moondling, formerly known as Ishmael, the band, will release their new concept album next month, but this week they shared the lead single, “Lysander,” and it’s a tightly focused track that embodies the boldness of post-rock with leanings towards a hardened emo and post-hardcore sound of the early aughts.
The incendiary Meshell Ndegeocello released her latest album, The Omnichord Real Book, earlier this year, but this week returned with a funky new single feating Anaïs Maviel, Jeff Parker, and Josh Johnson. It’s a groovy tune with a bouncing beat and a sweet solo from Parker that dazzles from within the funkified rhythm.
Former Cymbals Eat Guitars leader Joseph D’Agostino has a new album on the way under his moniker Empty Country and the latest single, “Dustine,” is a swelling song with richly textured guitars that rise with towering power and grandiose noise that blurs the line between homespun emo and classic sounding indie rock.
Industrial noise makers HEALTH announced a new album this week and shared two new tracks full of their brutalist approach to electronic metal, both of which are as dense and heavy as you’d expect from the group and one includes contributions from the legendary Godflesh.
Albums:
Sufjan Stevens | Javelin
A. Savage | Several Songs About Fire
Mary Lattimore | Goodbye, Hotel Arkada
Mutual Benefit | Growing At The Edges
Dogstar | Somewhere Between The Palm Trees And Power Lines
Sam Gendel & Marcella Cytrynowicz | AUDIOBOOK
Pangaea | Changing Channels
Short Fictions | Oblivion Will Own Me and Death Alone Will Love Me (Void Filler)
The Rural Alberta Advantage | The Rise & The Fall
Georgia Gets By | Fish Bird Baby Boy EP
Songs:
Sleater-Kinney | “Hell”
Shabazz Palaces | “Scarface Mace”
Cindy | “Likely Story” / “Saw It All”
Empty Country | “Dustine”
Wild Nothing | “Dial Tone”
Meshell Ndegeocello | “The Atlantiques” (ft Anaïs Maviel, Jeff Parker, & Josh Johnson)
Michael A. Muller / Spencer Zhan | “Mondblume”
Joanna Sternberg | “Neighbors”
HEALTH | “CHILDREN OF SORROW” / “SICKO” (ft Godflesh)
Moondling | “Lysander”
Janelle Monáe | “Champagne Shit” [Remix] (ft Latto and Quavo)
If you’re a Spotify user, you can listen to these songs (and more from 2023) here!
Not Keanu Reeves releasing new music. What happened to the Matrix?
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