Nightlands "I Can Feel The Night Around Me"
I Can Feel The Night Around Me, the third album from War On Drugs’ bassist Dave Hartley’s band Nightlands, feels like the album where everything has clicked. Sure, his last two albums were great, but upon hearing his latest it feels like they were all building towards to this moment. His mature use of vocal stacking (chorus of one), combined with his obvious otherworldly grasp on music composition (be prepared to be lifted to places you didn’t even know existed simply by unexpected chord lifts), elevates these dream pop tunes into something more substantial. Think middle-era Beach Boys mixed with Philly soul R&B touches, and don’t forget the obvious War On Drugs connection, and you’ve arrived at Nightlands emotive sound. Check out the beautiful first song from the album, “Lost Moon.”
Juliana Hatfield "Pussycat"
Those of you expecting Juliana Hatfield to be excited about the election of Trump have not been paying attention very well. Pussycat, her latest album, is as anti-Trump as it gets. Thankfully, besides bringing her well-deserved Trump vitriol to the album, she also brought a batch of tunes that are as catchy as anything she’s ever written. They are also surprisingly upbeat. Just because things suck, she isn’t gonna let that get her down. Look, I’m not gonna sit here and tell you what Juliana Hatfield sounds like, that’d be silly. Just check out “Impossible Song.”
The Building "Reconciliation"
The Building is a new band from The War On Drugs’ guitarist Anthony LaMarca and his (I’m assuming) brother Angelo LaMarca. Reconciliation is a folk record in the same way that Neil Young is folk. The same way that Kurt Vile is a folk artist. Sure, it’s mostly guitar and vocals. Sometimes that guitar is acoustic, other times it’s distorted. But independent of the effects on the guitar, this is a lovely, pastoral album even when it’s in the red. Check out the Red Red Meat meets WOD strains of “If I.”
The Delta Saints "Monte Vista"
The Delta Saints have been doing their thing for years now. Rather than resting on their laurels (which has to be a horribly uncomfortable way to rest, if you ask me) the guys have decided to continue to push their sound forward. With a Zeppelin-esque push towards country-blues riffs, and a doubling down on sing-a-long-able choruses, this is as easily listenable as The Delta Saints have ever been (and that’s saying something). Monte Vista is a whiskey-soaked party, and the party starts with “California” so get going already!