PRESS PLAY: 9 New Albums out May 21st

This week’s crop of new releases features introductions, re-inventions and just about everything in between. Longtime XPN favorites Lord Huron continue their descent into dusty noir-rock with Long Lost. Built around the apocryphal entity “Mr. Tubbs Tarbell,” a persona that could be characterized as Wolfman Jack’s Black Lodge doppelgänger. Boston trio Lula Wiles showcase their sharp songwriting and deft harmonies on Shame and Sedition. Wink is the Sub Pop debut for Tokyo-based neon-pop combo CHAI, and it’s an uncompromisingly lively listen. Local faves Low Cut Connie offer up Tough Cookies: The Best of The Quarantine Broadcasts; nearly two dozen covers culled from over a year’s worth of livestream performances. Tuareg guitarist Mdou Moctar‘s Afrique Victime is a thrilling document of his captivating technique. Pretenders leader Chrissie Hynde gets a jump on the festivities surrounding Bob Dylan’s 80th birthday with the release of Standing in the Doorway: Chrissie Hynde Sings Bob Dylan. Counting Crows return after a seven year break with Butter Miracle Suite One, the first installment in an expected EP series. Philly’s Mannequin Pussy, riding high from their involvement with the new HBO miniseries Mare of Easttown, let loose with their EP Perfect, the band’s first as a trio. Finally, Louisiana soul veteran Robert Finley teams up with Dan Auerbach for Sharecropper’s Son, his second collaboration with the Black Keys guitarist. PRESS PLAY on these new releases (and lots, lots more) below…

Lord Huron – Long Lost
WE LOVE: “Not Dead Yet” “Long Lost” “Mine Forever”

Lula Wiles – Shame and Sedition
WE LOVE: “In Dreams” “Television”

CHAI – Wink
WE LOVE: “PING PONG!” “Nobody Knows We Are Fun”

Low Cut Connie – Tough Cookies: The Best of The Quarantine Broadcasts
WE LOVE: “Video Games” “Let Me Roll It”

Mdou Moctar – Afrique Victime
WE LOVE: “Afrique Victime” “Tala Tannam”

Chrissie Hynde – Standing in the Doorway: Chrissie Hynde Sings Bob Dylan
WE LOVE: “Standing in the Doorway” “Love Minus Zero / No Limit”

Counting Crows – Butter Miracle Suite One EP
WE LOVE: “Elevator Boots”

Mannequin Pussy – Perfect EP
WE LOVE: “Control” “Perfect”

Robert Finley – Sharecropper’s Son
WE LOVE: “Souled Out on You” “Sharecropper’s Son”

Oliver Wood – Always Smilin’
WE LOVE: “Fine Line” “Face of Reason”

EXTENDED PLAYS… (even more new things out this week)

Allison Russell – Outside Child, No Joy – Can My Daughter See Me From Heaven EP, The Record Company – Side Project EP, BLK JKS – Abantu / Before Humans, Gary Numan – Intruder, Lily Konigsberg – The Best of Lily Konigsberg Right Now, Reigning Sound – A Little More Time with Reigning Sound, Paula Cole – American Quilt, HAERTS – Dream Nation, Fancey – Someone, Luke Reynolds and Adrian Utley – No End in Sight EP, John Hiatt with The Jerry Douglas Band – Leftover Feelings, Audrey Nuna – A Liquid Breakfast, Lambchop – Showtunes, The Tragically Hip – Saskadelphia, Sunny Jain – Phoenix Rise, Trapper Schoepp – May Day, Earth Girl Helen Brown Center for Planetary Intelligence Band – Earth EP, Erika de Casier – Sensational, Ducks Ltd. – Get Bleak EP, Alex Cuba – Mendó, FACS – Present Tense, Travis Linville – I’m Still Here, Gruff Rhys – Seeking New Gods, Lydia Ainsworth – Sparkles & Debris, The Reverend Shawn Amos – The Cause of it All, Sara Bareilles – Amidst the Chaos: Live at the Hollywood Bowl, Micky Dolenz – Dolenz Sings Nesmith