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).”
Lee Ranaldo "Electric Trim (Mute)"
Founding member of Sonic Youth Lee Ranaldo is back with his first solo-alum since 2013’s Last Night on Earth. Electric Trim (Mute) finds Lee moving in a bit of a new direction. A little lighter in sound than his previous work (but every bit as experimental), this is a joyous collection of tunes. Think of it as somewhere between an acoustically led late-era SY mixed with… well… mixed with a little bit of everything-which makes sense since the album features guest turns from Sharon Van Etten, News Cline, Steve Shelley, and more! Look, Lee has made a career of being hard to pin down, and this is no exception. No amount of describing I do here is going to do these songs justice, so check out the victorious Soundtrack Of Our Lives-esque sounds of the first single “Circular Right As Rain.”