PRESS PLAY: 7 New Albums out June 18th

This week’s batch of new albums features some long-awaited returns, as well as some long-awaited arrivals. XPN Artist to Watch Amythyst Kiah releases Wary + Strange, her solo debut. Bolstered by compositions that previously appeared on Songs of Our Native Daughters (a collaboration between Kiah, Rhiannon Giddens, Leyla McCalla, and Allison Russell), Wary + Strange establishes Kiah as a bold voice in modern Americana. Norwegian folk duo Kings of Convenience break a 12-year silence with Peace or Love, a gentle collection that boasts a pair of guest appearances by Feist. Following tributes to Celia Cruz and Talking Heads, Angélique Kidjo presents Mother Nature, a set of new originals featuring production work from up-and-coming West African producers. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Born This Way, Lady Gaga recruits half a dozen queer artists (including Orville Peck and Big Freedia) to cover the landmark album’s biggest hits. Joan Armatrading‘s Consequences is another masterful entry in the legendary singer-songwriter’s generation-spanning career. The multi-disciplinary Shungudzo brings deft production and biting lyrics to her EP, I’m Not a Mother But I Have Children. Finally, dynastic folk hero Amy Helm returns with her third solo album, the deeply personal What the Flood Leaves Behind. PRESS PLAY on these new albums (and more!) below…

Amythyst Kiah – Wary + Strange
WE LOVE: “Black Myself” “Hangover Blues” “Wild Turkey”

Kings of Convenience – Peace or Love
WE LOVE: “Rocky Trail” “Fever”

Angélique Kidjo – Mother Nature
WE LOVE: “Mother Nature” “Africa, One of a Kind”

Lady Gaga – Born This Way: The Tenth Anniversary
WE LOVE: Orville Peck – “Born This Way (The Country Road Version)” Big Freedia – “Judas”

Joan Armatrading – Consequences
WE LOVE: “Already There” “Like”

Shungudzo – I’m Not a Mother But I Have Children
WE LOVE: “It’s a good day (to fight the system)” “There’s only so much a soul can take”

Amy Helm – What the Flood Leaves Behind
WE LOVE: “Sweet Mama” “Are We Running Out of Love?”

EXTENDED PLAYS (even more new things out this week)…
Backxwash – I Lie Here Buried with My Rings and My Dresses, Deap Vally – American Cockroach EP, Briars of North America – Supermoon, Hannah Georgas – Versions EP, Jonathan Edwards – Right Where I Am, MNDR – Hell to Be With You, Daniel Romano’s Outfit – Fully Plugged In, Mykki Blanco – Broken Hearts & Beauty Sleep, Benjamin Francis Leftwich – To Carry a Whale, Max Bloom – Pedestrian, Dylan LeBlanc – Pastimes EP, Heavy Temple – Lupi Amoris, The Allman Brothers Band – Bear’s Sonic Journals: Allman Brothers Band Fillmore East February 1970 Deluxe Edition