Shout Out Louds "Ease My Mind (Merge)"
Ease My Mind (Merge), the newest LP from Shout Out Louds, aims to do just that. No, not make you shout out loud. It’s here to ease your mind. Don’t believe me? Just ask band members Adam Olenius and Bebban Stenborg: “Ease My Mind celebrates music as a means of escape, a need to take a break from feeling petrified with fear…” And what a break from the real world this is! Full of triumphant melodies, uplifting chord changes, and easy vibes of rock days past. Think of it like War On Drugs/early Arcade Fire with plenty of Xanax; oh and did we say catchy as fuck? We did! Check out “Uh Oh.”
The Clientele "Music For The Age Of Miracles (Merge)"
It’s been 7 long years since The Clientele have graced our ears with a new album. A lot has changed since 2010, but thankfully, the awesomeness of The Clientele isn’t one of them. Music For The Age Of Miracles (Merge) is exactly what you want it to be. Full of smart lyrics, charming songs, and more indie pop warmth than a highly coveted copy of C86. Jam packed with chilling piano turns, bright acoustic guitars, and Alasdair Maclean’s singular vocal style. If The Apples In Stereo were more interested in Rubber Soul, their output might sounds like this stellar LP. Check out the perfect for the first day of autumn lead single “Lunar Days.”
Upper Wilds "Guitar Module 2017 (Thrill Jockey)"
Dan Friel (of Parts & Labor fame) fans, do I ever have a treat for you! His new project, Upper Wilds, has released an introduction of the new sound with Guitar Module 2017 (Thrill Jockey). Performed entirely by Friel on a heavily distorted guitar, along with a sequencer, a keyboard, and a pedal board full of goodies, GM2017 is a big, messy good time. A little like Lightning Bolt but with Dan’s occasional vocals being far less distorted. His guitars certainly thrash, likely causing heads to be banged and devil hands to be thrown up wherever this album is being played, and played LOUD. Crank it to 11 and check out “UFO.”
Walker Lukens "Tell It To The Judge (Modern Outsider)"
The day has finally arrived! Walker Lukens has released this long-awaited Jim Eno-produced follow up to 2013’s Devoted. Tell It To The Judge (Modern Outsider) not only collects a few singles that have already garnered millions of plays, he has also made writing this blurb very, very easy. How? By writing this: “I wanted Tell It To The Judge to feel like one of those late 70s ZZ Top records –fun, to the point, a little funny, full of good grooves… The thing is that it’s 2017. I love hip-hop and I can only take so much of that boys drinking around a campfire feel. I mostly play piano and am not that good at guitar. I spend too much time in my head to play good old rock-n-roll. Thus, I give you Tell It To The Judge.” Thanks Walker, not only for the tremendously fun album, but also for the excellent PR blurb. Check out the premiere single “Don’t Wanna Be Lonely (Don’t Wanna Leave You Alone).”